UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Dr Jitendra Singh Announces First National Call of ₹2,000 Crore BIRAC–RDI Fund Under ₹1 Lakh Crore RDI Initiative to Boost Biotech Sector

Q1. With reference to the governance and financing architecture of the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The Scheme is backed by a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore.
2. The ANRF Governing Board that gives the Scheme its overarching strategic direction is chaired by the Prime Minister.
3. The Special Purpose Fund set up within ANRF is the sole entity that directly disburses money to each individual startup.
4. A Special Purpose Fund established within ANRF serves as the custodian of the funds.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1, 2 and 4
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 1, 3 and 4

Q2. The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme is operationalised through the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), whose administrative/anchor department is which one of the following?

• A. Department of Science & Technology
• B. Department of Biotechnology
• C. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
• D. Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Q3. With reference to the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. BIRAC was set up by the Government of India in 2012.
2. It is a not-for-profit Section 8 Public Sector Enterprise.
3. It functions under the Department of Biotechnology.
4. It is a statutory body created by a specific Act of Parliament.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 1, 2 and 4
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 1 and 3 only

Q4. With reference to the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. BIRAC is a not-for-profit Section 8 Public Sector Enterprise.
2. BIRAC operates under the Department of Biotechnology.
3. BIRAC was established in 2012.
4. BIRAC is the apex governing body of the RDI Scheme, chaired by the Prime Minister.

• A. 1 only
• B. 4 only
• C. 2 and 3
• D. 3 and 4

Q5. Which one of the following was the first Second-Level Fund Manager to issue a call for proposals under the RDI Scheme?

• A. Technology Development Board (TDB)
• B. BIRAC
• C. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
• D. Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)

Q6. With reference to the Second-Level Fund Managers (SLFMs) under the RDI Scheme, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. TDB acts as the SLFM for projects spanning all RDI sunrise and strategic sectors.
2. BIRAC oversees initiatives in biotechnology and allied domains.
3. TDB and BIRAC are the only two entities that can ever function as Second-Level Fund Managers under the Scheme.
4. Second-Level Fund Managers may include Alternative Investment Funds, Development Finance Institutions and NBFCs.

• A. 1, 2 and 4
• B. 1, 2 and 3
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 1 and 3 only

Q7. With reference to the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and its establishing Act, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. The Department of Science & Technology is the administrative department of ANRF.
2. The Prime Minister is the ex-officio President of the ANRF Governing Board.
3. The Act repealed the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) Act, 2008.
4. The Union Minister of Finance and the Union Minister of Home Affairs are the ex-officio Vice-Presidents of the Board.

• A. 1 only
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 4 only
• D. 3 and 4

Q8. With reference to the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. ANRF was established through an Act of Parliament passed in 2023.
2. ANRF subsumed the erstwhile Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
3. ANRF aims to raise more than 70% of its funding from non-government sources.
4. ANRF is administered by the Ministry of Education.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 1, 3 and 4
• C. 2 and 4 only
• D. 1 and 2 only

Q9. According to the Government of India's assessment, India's bioeconomy grew approximately how many fold over the decade ending 2024 (from about USD 10 billion in 2014 to USD 165.7 billion in 2024)?

• A. About 4-fold
• B. About 8-fold
• C. About 16-fold
• D. About 25-fold

Q10. With reference to India's bioeconomy, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. India's bioeconomy reached USD 165.7 billion in 2024.
2. The bioeconomy has a stated target of USD 300 billion by 2030.
3. In 2024 the bioeconomy contributed about 4.25% to India's GDP.
4. The bioeconomy already contributes the single largest share of India's GDP among all sectors of the economy.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 1, 2 and 4
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 2, 3 and 4

Q11. The ₹2,000 crore BIRAC–RDI Fund, aimed at bridging the lab-to-industry gap in biotech, operates within a scheme that draws its overarching strategic direction from which one of the following bodies?

• A. The ANRF Governing Board chaired by the Prime Minister
• B. The NITI Aayog Governing Council
• C. The BIRAC Board of Directors chaired by the Secretary, DBT
• D. The Empowered Technology Group under the Principal Scientific Adviser

Q12. With reference to the ministerial portfolios held by Dr Jitendra Singh at the time of the BIRAC–RDI Fund announcement, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. He holds Independent Charge of the Ministry of Science and Technology.
2. He holds Independent Charge of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
3. He is a Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.
4. He is the Cabinet Minister for Health and Family Welfare.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 1, 2 and 4
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 1 and 4 only