UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India AI Governance Guidelines
Q1. With reference to the seven Sutras that underlie the India AI Governance Guidelines (2026), consider the following:
1. Innovation over Restraint
2. Precautionary Restraint by Default
3. Understandable by Design
4. Data Localisation by Default
Which of the above is/are correctly identified as Sutras of the Guidelines?
- Innovation over Restraint
- Precautionary Restraint by Default
- Understandable by Design
- Data Localisation by Default
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 2
Q2. The seven Sutras are enunciated in the India AI Governance Guidelines, which were developed and released in 2026 under which one of the following umbrella programmes?
- A. National Quantum Mission
- B. IndiaAI Mission
- C. Digital India Bhashini
- D. National Programme on Artificial Intelligence, NITI Aayog
Q3. With reference to the release of the India AI Governance Guidelines, consider the following statements:
1. They were issued by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
2. They were released in February 2026.
3. They were brought out just ahead of the India-AI Impact Summit hosted by India.
4. They were released by NITI Aayog as the 'National Strategy for AI'.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- They were issued by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
- They were released in February 2026.
- They were brought out just ahead of the India-AI Impact Summit hosted by India.
- They were released by NITI Aayog as the 'National Strategy for AI'.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q4. Which one of the following is the nodal ministry that formulated and operationalises the India AI Governance Guidelines?
- A. NITI Aayog
- B. Department of Science & Technology
- C. Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
- D. Department of Telecommunications
Q5. Under the institutional architecture recommended by the India AI Governance Guidelines, which one of the following is envisaged as the apex inter-ministerial body to coordinate implementation of the Guidelines?
- A. Technology & Policy Expert Committee
- B. AI Governance Group
- C. IndiaAI Safety Institute
- D. Data Protection Board of India
Q6. The India AI Governance Guidelines conclude that a new horizontal AI statute is not required at this stage. Accordingly, statutory enforcement and oversight of AI are to remain with which one of the following?
- A. A newly created National AI Authority
- B. The IndiaAI Safety Institute
- C. Existing sectoral regulators within their legal mandate
- D. The AI Governance Group
Q7. Consider the following statements comparing the IndiaAI Mission (approved 2024) with NITI Aayog's National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (2018):
1. The IndiaAI Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet, whereas the 2018 Strategy was a document brought out by NITI Aayog.
2. The IndiaAI Mission is the first Indian initiative ever to identify any priority sectors for AI, which the 2018 Strategy never did.
3. Both use an inclusive 'AI for All' framing.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The IndiaAI Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet, whereas the 2018 Strategy was a document brought out by NITI Aayog.
- The IndiaAI Mission is the first Indian initiative ever to identify any priority sectors for AI, which the 2018 Strategy never did.
- Both use an inclusive 'AI for All' framing.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q8. The IndiaAI Mission approved by the Union Cabinet is built around how many strategic pillars?
- A. Five
- B. Six
- C. Seven
- D. Eight
Q9. Consider the following statements about the evolution of India's AI policy:
1. NITI Aayog released the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in 2018.
2. India hosted the GPAI Summit in New Delhi in 2023.
3. India was elected the Lead Chair of the GPAI in 2023.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- NITI Aayog released the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in 2018.
- India hosted the GPAI Summit in New Delhi in 2023.
- India was elected the Lead Chair of the GPAI in 2023.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q10. In the context of the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, the guiding theme 'Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya' is best rendered as which one of the following?
- A. Welfare for all, Happiness of all
- B. Prosperity for all, Security for all
- C. Knowledge for all, Progress for all
- D. Development for all, Trust for all
Q11. The drafting committee that prepared the India AI Governance Guidelines, constituted in July 2025, was set up by which one of the following?
- A. Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India
- B. Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
- C. NITI Aayog
- D. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
Q12. The India AI Governance Guidelines adopt an 'innovation over restraint' posture, framing AI as a catalyst for which one of the following national visions?
- A. Digital India 2030
- B. New India 2040
- C. Viksit Bharat 2047
- D. Amrit Kaal 2035