UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Bio Pharma SHAKTI scheme

Q1. The Bio Pharma SHAKTI scheme was formally proposed by the Government of India in which one of the following?

• A. Union Budget 2024-25
• B. Union Budget 2025-26
• C. Union Budget 2026-27
• D. National Health Policy 2025

Q2. Within the Government of India, which is the lead administrative department responsible for implementing the Bio Pharma SHAKTI scheme?

• A. Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
• B. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology
• C. Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• D. Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

Q3. Under the Bio Pharma SHAKTI scheme, the 'India Clinical Trial Sites Network' refers to which one of the following?

• A. A network of 1,000 nationally accredited clinical trial sites to be developed under ICMR
• B. A registry of 1,000 bulk-drug manufacturing units under the Department of Pharmaceuticals
• C. A network of 1,000 primary health centres for NCD screening under the National Health Mission
• D. A panel of 1,000 CDSCO-empanelled drug inspectors for biologic approvals

Q4. As announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, what is the total outlay of the Bio Pharma SHAKTI scheme over five years?

• A. ₹3,000 crore
• B. ₹6,000 crore
• C. ₹10,000 crore
• D. ₹13,000 crore

Q5. The BioE3 Policy, 2024, which complements Bio Pharma SHAKTI, is implemented by which one of the following?

• A. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology
• B. Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
• C. Indian Council of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• D. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation

Q6. With reference to India's non-communicable disease burden that underpins the demand for biologics, consider the following statements: 1. NCDs account for over 66% of all deaths in India. 2. Among NCDs, cardiovascular diseases contribute the largest share of deaths. 3. Cancers account for a larger share of NCD deaths than cardiovascular diseases. 4. Biologics and biosimilars are increasingly important for managing NCDs such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. NCDs account for over 66% of all deaths in India.
2. Among NCDs, cardiovascular diseases contribute the largest share of deaths.
3. Cancers account for a larger share of NCD deaths than cardiovascular diseases.
4. Biologics and biosimilars are increasingly important for managing NCDs such as cancer and autoimmune disorders.

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

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding biologics and biosimilars as regulated in India: 1. Biologics are large, complex molecules produced by living cells. 2. A biosimilar is an exact, identical copy of its reference biologic, just as a generic is identical to a small-molecule drug. 3. A similar biologic must be comparable in quality, safety and efficacy to an approved reference biological product. 4. Small-molecule generic drugs can be reproduced as identical copies of the original. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

1. Biologics are large, complex molecules produced by living cells.
2. A biosimilar is an exact, identical copy of its reference biologic, just as a generic is identical to a small-molecule drug.
3. A similar biologic must be comparable in quality, safety and efficacy to an approved reference biological product.
4. Small-molecule generic drugs can be reproduced as identical copies of the original.

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

Q8. In the context of Bio Pharma SHAKTI and Dr Jitendra Singh's 'next industrial revolution' narrative, the term 'biomanufacturing' is best described as which one of the following?

• A. Large-scale production of products and materials using biological systems such as living cells and microorganisms
• B. Chemical synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients from petrochemical feedstock
• C. Assembly-line fabrication of medical devices and diagnostic equipment
• D. Use of artificial intelligence to computationally design new drug molecules