UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — NITI Aayog releases reports on “Ease of Doing Research & Development in India”

Q1. Which one of the following is the single overarching reform framework proposed by NITI Aayog in its reports on 'Ease of Doing Research & Development in India'?

  • A. ROPE — Removing Obstacles & Promoting Enablers
  • B. EoDB — Ease of Doing Business framework
  • C. STIP — Science, Technology and Innovation Policy
  • D. PARAKH — Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge

Q2. Under its 'Ease of Doing Research & Development in India' exercise, NITI Aayog released exactly how many documents?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four

Q3. Which one of the following is the nodal body responsible for compiling and publishing India's official national Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) statistics?

  • A. Department of Science and Technology (DST)
  • B. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
  • C. NITI Aayog
  • D. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Q4. With reference to India's Gross Expenditure on R&D (GERD) as highlighted around the Ease of Doing R&D reports, consider the following statements: 1. India's GERD is around 0.64% of GDP. 2. India's GERD as a share of GDP is higher than that of China. 3. The reports set a target of raising GERD to about 2% of GDP. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India's GERD is around 0.64% of GDP.
  2. India's GERD as a share of GDP is higher than that of China.
  3. The reports set a target of raising GERD to about 2% of GDP.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. With reference to the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) and the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme, consider the following statements: 1. ANRF was established by an Act of Parliament passed in 2023. 2. ANRF subsumed the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). 3. The RDI Scheme envisages a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore. 4. The Department of Biotechnology is the nodal department for implementing the RDI Scheme. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. ANRF was established by an Act of Parliament passed in 2023.
  2. ANRF subsumed the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
  3. The RDI Scheme envisages a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore.
  4. The Department of Biotechnology is the nodal department for implementing the RDI Scheme.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q6. The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme approved by the Union Cabinet in 2025 envisages a ₹1 lakh crore corpus to be deployed over a period of how many years?

  • A. Four years
  • B. Five years
  • C. Six years
  • D. Ten years

Q7. With reference to the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, consider the following: 1. The Prime Minister as Chairperson. 2. Chief Ministers of all States. 3. The Chief Justice of India. 4. Lt Governors of Union Territories (without legislature). Which of the above is/are correctly identified as part of the Governing Council?

  1. The Prime Minister as Chairperson.
  2. Chief Ministers of all States.
  3. The Chief Justice of India.
  4. Lt Governors of Union Territories (without legislature).
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q8. In the context of NITI Aayog, the 'Governing Council' is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. The apex body chaired by the Prime Minister comprising Chief Ministers of States/UTs with legislature and Lt Governors, embodying cooperative federalism
  • B. The full-time executive body of Members and the CEO that runs day-to-day operations
  • C. A council of domain experts appointed to draft five-year plans replacing the Planning Commission
  • D. The board of secretaries of central ministries that approves NITI Aayog's budget

Q9. With reference to the draft Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) of 2020, consider the following: 1. It was intended to be India's fifth national STI policy. 2. Its Secretariat was coordinated by the Office of the PSA, NITI Aayog and DST. 3. The consultation process began in 2020. 4. It formally replaced the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB). Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. It was intended to be India's fifth national STI policy.
  2. Its Secretariat was coordinated by the Office of the PSA, NITI Aayog and DST.
  3. The consultation process began in 2020.
  4. It formally replaced the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
  • A. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. The consultation process for the draft Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP), which would be India's fifth such policy, was initiated in which year?

  • A. 2018
  • B. 2019
  • C. 2020
  • D. 2021

Q11. The nine-month consultation and nationwide survey that underpin the 'Ease of Doing Research & Development in India' reports were carried out by which single body?

  • A. NITI Aayog
  • B. Department of Science and Technology
  • C. Anusandhan National Research Foundation
  • D. Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser

Q12. The 'Viksit Bharat' vision — to which India's R&D and innovation reforms are anchored — targets India becoming a developed nation by which year?

  • A. 2040
  • B. 2045
  • C. 2047
  • D. 2050