UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — DoT and SEBI Sign MoU to Strengthen Fight Against Telecom-Linked Financial Frauds

Q1. Under the 2026 DoT–SEBI Memorandum of Understanding on telecom-linked financial frauds, consider the following items exchanged between the two bodies. Which of the following is/are NOT correctly identified as part of the data/tools shared under the MoU?

  1. Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) shared by DoT with SEBI
  2. Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL) shared automatically by DoT
  3. SEBI's inputs on telecom resources linked to money-mule and impersonation accounts
  4. Aadhaar biometric authentication records of every investor, shared by SEBI with DoT
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q2. With reference to the 2026 DoT–SEBI MoU and the earlier DoT–FIU-IND MoU on combating telecom-enabled financial frauds, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The DoT–SEBI MoU marks DoT's tie-up with a securities-market regulator, whereas the DoT–FIU-IND MoU involved a financial-intelligence agency.
  2. Both arrangements rely on DoT's Digital Intelligence Platform / Financial Fraud Risk Indicator for exchanging actionable fraud intelligence.
  3. The DoT–SEBI MoU replaced and discontinued the Sanchar Saathi citizen-reporting portal.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Which one of the following is the lead/nodal unit within the Department of Telecommunications that operates the Digital Intelligence Platform and served as DoT's intelligence arm for the MoU signed with SEBI?

  • A. AI & Digital Intelligence Unit (AI&DIU)
  • B. Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)
  • C. Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC)
  • D. Digital Bharat Nidhi (DBN)

Q4. With reference to the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) and the Sanchar Saathi portal, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Digital Intelligence Platform is directly accessible to citizens for lodging fraud complaints.
  2. The Digital Intelligence Platform serves as the backend repository for citizen-initiated requests made on the Sanchar Saathi portal.
  3. The Financial Fraud Risk Indicator is an analytical output generated within the Digital Intelligence Platform.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. With reference to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

  1. SEBI was established as a statutory body under the SEBI Act, 1992.
  2. SEBI's statutory duty includes protecting the interests of investors in securities.
  3. SEBI functions under the Ministry of Finance.
  4. SEBI has its headquarters in New Delhi.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4

Q6. Consider the following as functions assigned to SEBI under the SEBI Act, 1992. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Protecting the interests of investors in securities.
  2. Formulating the country's monetary policy.
  3. Promoting the development of the securities market.
  4. Regulating the securities market.
  • A. 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4

Q7. The 'Chakshu' facility, which allows citizens to report suspected fraud communication received over call, SMS or WhatsApp, functions as a part of which one of the following?

  • A. Sanchar Saathi portal of the Department of Telecommunications
  • B. National Cybercrime Reporting Portal of I4C
  • C. Digital Intelligence Platform accessed directly by citizens
  • D. SEBI SCORES investor grievance portal

Q8. Which one of the following is the citizen-facing facility specifically meant for reporting suspected fraud communications received via call, SMS or WhatsApp?

  • A. Chakshu
  • B. Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI)
  • C. Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL)
  • D. ASTR

Q9. The Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), used to coordinate stakeholders against misuse of telecom resources in financial fraud, is operationalised by which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications
  • B. Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs
  • C. Securities and Exchange Board of India
  • D. Financial Intelligence Unit-India, Ministry of Finance

Q10. The Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) classifies a mobile number into how many risk categories of financial fraud?

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

Q11. Consider the following bodies. Which of them is/are correctly identified as entities with which the Department of Telecommunications has signed MoUs for sharing information to combat telecom-linked financial frauds?

  1. WhatsApp (Meta)
  2. World Health Organization
  3. Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND)
  4. Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q12. Consider the following pairs of body and its parent ministry. Which of the pairs is/are correctly matched?

  1. Securities and Exchange Board of India — Ministry of Finance
  2. Department of Telecommunications — Ministry of Communications
  3. Financial Intelligence Unit-India — Ministry of Finance
  4. Digital Communications Commission — Ministry of Home Affairs
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4