UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Under Chips to Startups (C2S), India made significant progress towards its target of training 85,000 semiconductor engineers;

Q1. The Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme, the umbrella capacity-building scheme for semiconductor design talent, was formally launched by MeitY in which year?

• A. 2019
• B. 2021
• C. 2022
• D. 2024

Q2. With reference to the stated deliverables of the Chips to Startup (C2S) Programme over its five-year period, consider the following: 1. Training of 85,000 industry-ready engineers 2. Development of 175 ASICs 3. Working prototypes of 20 System on Chips (SoCs) 4. Setting up of 50 silicon fabrication units (fabs) Which of the above is/are correctly identified as C2S deliverables?

1. Training of 85,000 industry-ready engineers
2. Development of 175 ASICs
3. Working prototypes of 20 System on Chips (SoCs)
4. Setting up of 50 silicon fabrication units (fabs)

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

Q3. In the context of the C2S Programme, the 'EDA tools' made available across 315 academic institutions refer to which one of the following?

• A. Electronic Design Automation software used to design and verify integrated circuits
• B. Embedded Device Architecture firmware loaded onto fabricated chips
• C. Electronic Data Aggregation platforms for collating institutional research output
• D. Engineering Design Approval portals for clearing chip tape-out requests

Q4. How many industry partners support the world-class Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tool stack deployed across the 315 academic institutions under the C2S Programme?

• A. 4
• B. 5
• C. 6
• D. 8

Q5. With reference to the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 1.0 and ISM 2.0, consider the following statements: 1. ISM 1.0, approved in December 2021, was backed by a Rs 76,000 crore incentive framework. 2. Under ISM 2.0, the C2S footprint is to be scaled up from 315 to 500 academic institutions. 3. ISM 1.0 was launched purely as a capacity-building mission without any fiscal or incentive support. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. ISM 1.0, approved in December 2021, was backed by a Rs 76,000 crore incentive framework.
2. Under ISM 2.0, the C2S footprint is to be scaled up from 315 to 500 academic institutions.
3. ISM 1.0 was launched purely as a capacity-building mission without any fiscal or incentive support.

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

Q6. The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 1.0, with its Rs 76,000 crore incentive framework, was approved in December 2021 by which authority?

• A. The Union Cabinet
• B. The Governing Council of NITI Aayog
• C. MeitY through an executive order
• D. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India

Q7. With reference to the status of the C2S Programme as conveyed in the March 2026 progress update, consider the following: 1. C2S is currently active in 315 academic institutions. 2. Under ISM 2.0, the coverage is to expand to 500 academic institutions. 3. The programme spans regions from Assam to Gujarat and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. 4. The 85,000-engineer goal is set against a five-year timeline. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. C2S is currently active in 315 academic institutions.
2. Under ISM 2.0, the coverage is to expand to 500 academic institutions.
3. The programme spans regions from Assam to Gujarat and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
4. The 85,000-engineer goal is set against a five-year timeline.

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

Q8. With reference to the C2S Programme's progress as stated in March 2026 against its targets, consider the following statements: 1. India covered significant ground on the 85,000-engineer target within about 4 years of a 10-year timeline. 2. The C2S target of 85,000 engineers had already been fully achieved as of March 2026. 3. Under ISM 2.0, the number of participating institutions is to rise from 315 to 500. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. India covered significant ground on the 85,000-engineer target within about 4 years of a 10-year timeline.
2. The C2S target of 85,000 engineers had already been fully achieved as of March 2026.
3. Under ISM 2.0, the number of participating institutions is to rise from 315 to 500.

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

Q9. Which organisation has been designated as the nodal implementing agency for the C2S Programme under MeitY?

• A. Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC)
• B. Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)
• C. Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate
• D. Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali

Q10. The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), under which the C2S Programme operates, functions as an arm of which Union ministry?

• A. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)
• B. Ministry of Science and Technology
• C. Ministry of Heavy Industries
• D. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)

Q11. As the global semiconductor industry is projected to grow from about USD 800-900 billion to USD 2 trillion, the worldwide demand for skilled professionals is estimated at nearly how many?

• A. 1 million
• B. 2 million
• C. 5 million
• D. 10 million

Q12. With reference to the academic scope and design focus of the C2S Programme, consider the following: 1. It focuses on Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) and Embedded System Design. 2. It targets only PhD scholars, excluding B.Tech and M.Tech students. 3. Creation of an IP-core repository is among its stated deliverables. 4. It is open to academia, R&D organisations, startups and MSMEs. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. It focuses on Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) and Embedded System Design.
2. It targets only PhD scholars, excluding B.Tech and M.Tech students.
3. Creation of an IP-core repository is among its stated deliverables.
4. It is open to academia, R&D organisations, startups and MSMEs.

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