UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia releases revised guidelines for Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Scheme to strengthen India’s global telecom footprint
Q1. The Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Scheme, whose revised guidelines were released in 2026, is best described as a mechanism to:
- A. fund Indian entities' participation in global telecom standardization bodies and support indigenous innovation in 5G-Advanced and 6G
- B. exclusively finance the roll-out of rural broadband under the universal service mandate
- C. solely provide viability-gap funding to private operators for purchasing 5G spectrum
- D. act only as a regulatory authority that certifies imported telecom equipment for the Indian market
Q2. With reference to the revised TDIP Scheme compared with the earlier TDIP mechanism, consider the following statements:
1. The revised TDIP Scheme confines eligibility only to legacy telecom equipment manufacturers, unlike the earlier mechanism.
2. The revised guidelines add support for pilots and proofs-of-concept aimed at real-world deployment.
3. Both the revised and the earlier TDIP centre on Indian engagement in international telecom standardization.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The revised TDIP Scheme confines eligibility only to legacy telecom equipment manufacturers, unlike the earlier mechanism.
- The revised guidelines add support for pilots and proofs-of-concept aimed at real-world deployment.
- Both the revised and the earlier TDIP centre on Indian engagement in international telecom standardization.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. Under the revised TDIP guidelines (2026), consider the following as recognised eligible stakeholders:
1. Startups
2. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
3. Academic and research institutions
4. Individual retail telecom subscribers
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as an eligible stakeholder?
- Startups
- Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
- Academic and research institutions
- Individual retail telecom subscribers
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 3 and 4
Q4. Regarding the revised TDIP guidelines released in 2026, consider the following statements:
1. The revised guidelines carry an outlay of ₹203 crore for the period 2026–31.
2. They were released by the Union Minister of Communications.
3. The scheme is implemented by the Department of Posts.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The revised guidelines carry an outlay of ₹203 crore for the period 2026–31.
- They were released by the Union Minister of Communications.
- The scheme is implemented by the Department of Posts.
- A. 1 only
- B. 1 and 2 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. The Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme, launched in October 2022, was launched by which one of the following bodies?
- A. Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)
- B. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
- C. Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI)
- D. Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT)
Q6. What percentage of the annual collections of the Universal Service Obligation Fund is earmarked for the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme?
Q7. The Bharat 6G Vision document is founded on how many core guiding principles?
- A. Two
- B. Three
- C. Four
- D. Five
Q8. Which one of the following is the apex industry-academia collaborative platform launched in 2023 to help realise the Bharat 6G Vision?
- A. Bharat 6G Alliance
- B. Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI)
- C. Telecom Centre of Excellence, India
- D. Telecom Technology Development Fund
Q9. In the context of global telecom standard-setting bodies, oneM2M is best described as:
- A. a global standards initiative developing a common horizontal service layer for IoT/M2M communications
- B. a specialized agency of the United Nations that allocates radio-frequency spectrum
- C. the body that develops and maintains cellular radio access standards such as LTE and 5G
- D. India's national telecommunications standards development organisation
Q10. Consider the following statements about international telecom standards bodies:
1. The ITU is a specialized agency of the United Nations, headquartered in Geneva.
2. 3GPP develops the technical specifications for mobile cellular standards such as LTE and 5G.
3. Both the ITU and 3GPP are agencies of the United Nations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The ITU is a specialized agency of the United Nations, headquartered in Geneva.
- 3GPP develops the technical specifications for mobile cellular standards such as LTE and 5G.
- Both the ITU and 3GPP are agencies of the United Nations.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q11. With reference to the Ministry of Communications and the TDIP Scheme, consider the following:
1. The Department of Telecommunications is a department under the Ministry of Communications.
2. The Department of Posts is a department under the Ministry of Communications.
3. The Department of Telecommunications is the implementing department for the TDIP Scheme.
4. The Department of Electronics and Information Technology is a department under the Ministry of Communications.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The Department of Telecommunications is a department under the Ministry of Communications.
- The Department of Posts is a department under the Ministry of Communications.
- The Department of Telecommunications is the implementing department for the TDIP Scheme.
- The Department of Electronics and Information Technology is a department under the Ministry of Communications.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 2, 3 and 4
Q12. Under which one of the following legislations was the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) restructured and renamed as the Digital Bharat Nidhi?
- A. Telecommunications Act, 2023
- B. Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
- C. TRAI Act, 1997
- D. Information Technology Act, 2000