UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Memorandum of Cooperation Signed between Digital Bharat Nidhi and Government of Andhra Pradesh for Expedited Rollout of Amended BharatNet Programme

Q1. The Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN), which finances the Amended BharatNet Programme, was created by rechristening which one of the following pre-existing funds?

  • A. The Universal Service Obligation Fund
  • B. The Digital India Infrastructure Fund
  • C. The Telecom Development and Investment Fund
  • D. The Universal Access and Connectivity Fund

Q2. With reference to the Digital Bharat Nidhi, consider the following groups: 1. Women 2. Persons with disabilities 3. Economically and socially weaker sections 4. Non-Resident Indians residing in urban areas Which of the above are correctly identified as target beneficiary groups for whom DBN funds may be allocated?

  1. Women
  2. Persons with disabilities
  3. Economically and socially weaker sections
  4. Non-Resident Indians residing in urban areas
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. In which year was the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) — the initiative later restructured as BharatNet — approved by the Government of India?

  • A. 2009
  • B. 2011
  • C. 2014
  • D. 2016

Q4. Under the Amended BharatNet Programme, optical fibre connectivity in ring topology is envisaged for how many Gram Panchayats across the country?

  • A. 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats
  • B. 2.64 lakh Gram Panchayats
  • C. 13,426 Gram Panchayats
  • D. 6 crore Gram Panchayats

Q5. Consider the following statements comparing the Amended BharatNet Programme (ABP) with the earlier BharatNet approach: 1. Whereas the earlier network was largely built on a linear topology, the ABP envisages a ring topology to enhance network resilience. 2. Under the ABP, BSNL is designated as the single Project Management Agency for operation and maintenance of the entire network. 3. The ABP was approved with a total outlay of ₹42,847 crore, lower than the original BharatNet approvals. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Whereas the earlier network was largely built on a linear topology, the ABP envisages a ring topology to enhance network resilience.
  2. Under the ABP, BSNL is designated as the single Project Management Agency for operation and maintenance of the entire network.
  3. The ABP was approved with a total outlay of ₹42,847 crore, lower than the original BharatNet approvals.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Under the Amended BharatNet Programme, the single Project Management Agency responsible for the operation and maintenance of the entire network is:

  • A. Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL)
  • B. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)
  • C. RailTel Corporation of India
  • D. Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)

Q7. With reference to the Amended BharatNet Programme in Andhra Pradesh under the 2026 MoC, consider the following: 1. 1,692 Phase-I Gram Panchayats are to be upgraded from linear to ring topology. 2. 11,254 Phase-II Gram Panchayats are to be covered. 3. 480 newly created Gram Panchayats are to be included. 4. The programme in the State is to be implemented through the Special Purpose Vehicle Gujarat Fibre Grid Network Limited (GFGNL). Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. 1,692 Phase-I Gram Panchayats are to be upgraded from linear to ring topology.
  2. 11,254 Phase-II Gram Panchayats are to be covered.
  3. 480 newly created Gram Panchayats are to be included.
  4. The programme in the State is to be implemented through the Special Purpose Vehicle Gujarat Fibre Grid Network Limited (GFGNL).
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 4

Q8. Of the 13,426 Gram Panchayats to be covered under the Andhra Pradesh MoC for the Amended BharatNet Programme, the single largest share belongs to which category?

  • A. Phase-I Gram Panchayats being upgraded from linear to ring topology
  • B. Phase-II Gram Panchayats
  • C. Newly created Gram Panchayats
  • D. Demand-based non-Gram-Panchayat villages

Q9. Consider the following statements: 1. The Department of Telecommunications functions under the Ministry of Communications. 2. Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia holds the Communications portfolio along with the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region. 3. Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar is the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development. 4. The Digital Bharat Nidhi is administered under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Which of the above are correctly identified?

  1. The Department of Telecommunications functions under the Ministry of Communications.
  2. Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia holds the Communications portfolio along with the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region.
  3. Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar is the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development.
  4. The Digital Bharat Nidhi is administered under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. Consider the following statements about the two ministers associated with the Ministry of Communications: 1. Both the Cabinet Minister and the Minister of State concerned are attached to the Ministry of Communications. 2. The Minister of State additionally holds the Rural Development portfolio, while the Cabinet Minister additionally holds the Development of the North Eastern Region portfolio. 3. The Ministry of Communications comprises the Department of Telecommunications and the Department of Electronics. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Both the Cabinet Minister and the Minister of State concerned are attached to the Ministry of Communications.
  2. The Minister of State additionally holds the Rural Development portfolio, while the Cabinet Minister additionally holds the Development of the North Eastern Region portfolio.
  3. The Ministry of Communications comprises the Department of Telecommunications and the Department of Electronics.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. With reference to rural digital connectivity initiatives, consider the following statements: 1. BharatNet provides broadband/optical-fibre infrastructure connectivity to Gram Panchayats. 2. PMGDISHA is a digital-literacy scheme delivered largely through Common Service Centres. 3. PMGDISHA is implemented by the Department of Telecommunications. 4. Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections are a deliverable envisaged under the Amended BharatNet Programme. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. BharatNet provides broadband/optical-fibre infrastructure connectivity to Gram Panchayats.
  2. PMGDISHA is a digital-literacy scheme delivered largely through Common Service Centres.
  3. PMGDISHA is implemented by the Department of Telecommunications.
  4. Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) connections are a deliverable envisaged under the Amended BharatNet Programme.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 1 only

Q12. The Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA), aimed at rural digital literacy, was implemented on the ground primarily through which one of the following?

  • A. Common Service Centres via CSC e-Governance Services India Limited
  • B. Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL)
  • C. BSNL acting as the Project Management Agency
  • D. The Digital Bharat Nidhi