UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Over 1 Lakh Startups have at Least One-Woman Director/Partner Among 2.12 Lakh Recognised by DPIIT

Q1. With reference to the categories of entities eligible for recognition as a startup by DPIIT under the Startup India initiative, consider the following: 1. A private limited company 2. A registered partnership firm 3. A sole proprietorship 4. A Multi-State Cooperative Society Which of the above is/are correctly identified as an eligible entity form?

1. A private limited company
2. A registered partnership firm
3. A sole proprietorship
4. A Multi-State Cooperative Society

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

Q2. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which grants recognition to startups under the Startup India initiative, functions under which one of the following Ministries?

• A. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
• B. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• C. Ministry of Corporate Affairs
• D. Ministry of Finance

Q3. Which one of the following is the single operating agency designated for the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS)?

• A. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
• B. National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) Ltd
• C. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
• D. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

Q4. Consider the following statements about the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS): 1. It has a corpus of Rs.10,000 crore committed over the 14th and 15th Finance Commission cycles. 2. SIDBI acts as its operating agency. 3. It directly invests equity in individual startups selected by DPIIT. 4. It commits capital to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds which in turn invest in startups. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. It has a corpus of Rs.10,000 crore committed over the 14th and 15th Finance Commission cycles.
2. SIDBI acts as its operating agency.
3. It directly invests equity in individual startups selected by DPIIT.
4. It commits capital to SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds which in turn invest in startups.

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

Q5. Under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), seed financial assistance is routed to eligible startups primarily through which one of the following intermediaries?

• A. Approved incubators
• B. SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds
• C. Scheduled Commercial Banks
• D. National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company

Q6. Under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), assistance of up to Rs.50 lakh provided to a startup for market entry, commercialisation or scaling up is extended in which one of the following forms?

• A. An outright non-repayable grant
• B. Convertible debentures or debt/debt-linked instruments
• C. Direct equity shareholding acquired by the incubator
• D. A collateral-free guarantee on a bank loan

Q7. Consider the following statements comparing the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) with other flagship Startup India schemes: 1. Unlike FFS, which provides equity capital through AIFs, CGSS enables collateral-free debt funding to startups. 2. CGSS is operationalised by the NCGTC, whereas FFS is operated by SIDBI. 3. CGSS was operationalised before the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme was launched. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Unlike FFS, which provides equity capital through AIFs, CGSS enables collateral-free debt funding to startups.
2. CGSS is operationalised by the NCGTC, whereas FFS is operated by SIDBI.
3. CGSS was operationalised before the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme was launched.

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

Q8. Under the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), guarantees are available on credit extended by which of the following lending institutions? 1. Scheduled Commercial Banks 2. Non-Banking Financial Companies 3. SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds 4. Microfinance Self-Help Groups Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

1. Scheduled Commercial Banks
2. Non-Banking Financial Companies
3. SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds
4. Microfinance Self-Help Groups

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

Q9. With reference to the DPIIT data on women-led startups released in 2026, consider the following: 1. As on 31 January 2026, 2,12,283 entities were recognised as startups by DPIIT. 2. Of these, 1,02,054 had at least one woman director/partner. 3. This implies roughly 48% of recognised startups had at least one woman director/partner. 4. The status of recognised entities as active, dissolved or struck-off is maintained by DPIIT. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

1. As on 31 January 2026, 2,12,283 entities were recognised as startups by DPIIT.
2. Of these, 1,02,054 had at least one woman director/partner.
3. This implies roughly 48% of recognised startups had at least one woman director/partner.
4. The status of recognised entities as active, dissolved or struck-off is maintained by DPIIT.

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

Q10. With reference to scheme-wise support to women-led startups under Startup India (data as on 31 January 2026), consider the following statements: 1. Cumulative AIF investment in women-led startups under FFS exceeds the amount approved to women-led startups under SISFS. 2. Among the three flagship schemes, the amount guaranteed to women-led startups under CGSS is the smallest. 3. Around Rs.294 crore has been approved to women-led startups under SISFS. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Cumulative AIF investment in women-led startups under FFS exceeds the amount approved to women-led startups under SISFS.
2. Among the three flagship schemes, the amount guaranteed to women-led startups under CGSS is the smallest.
3. Around Rs.294 crore has been approved to women-led startups under SISFS.

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

Q11. The Startup India Action Plan, comprising 19 action points across simplification, funding support and incubation, was unveiled on which one of the following dates?

• A. 16 January 2016
• B. 15 August 2015
• C. 1 April 2016
• D. 16 January 2021

Q12. Which one of the following schemes specifically requires financing of at least one woman borrower (and one SC/ST borrower) per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise, with loans ranging from Rs.10 lakh to Rs.1 crore?

• A. Stand-Up India
• B. Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana
• C. Mahila Udyam Nidhi
• D. Startup India Seed Fund Scheme