UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Ease of Doing Business: Strengthening India’s Business Framework

Q1. The Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP), under which States and UTs are assessed on reform implementation, is prepared and operationalised exclusively by which one of the following?

  • A. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • B. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
  • C. Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel
  • D. NITI Aayog, in coordination with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Q2. BRAP 2026 has been described as the eighth edition of the Business Reforms Action Plan. How many editions of BRAP had been implemented and assessed before BRAP 2026?

  • A. Five
  • B. Six
  • C. Seven
  • D. Eight

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 with the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026: 1. The 2023 Act decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts. 2. The 2026 Bill covers 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries. 3. The 2026 Bill decriminalises fewer provisions than the 2023 Act did. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2023 Act decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 Central Acts.
  2. The 2026 Bill covers 784 provisions across 79 Central Acts administered by 23 Ministries.
  3. The 2026 Bill decriminalises fewer provisions than the 2023 Act did.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Which one of the following was the first legislation enacted under the Jan Vishwas framework to decriminalise minor and technical offences to enhance ease of doing business?

  • A. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023
  • B. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026
  • C. The Companies (Amendment) Act, 2020
  • D. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025

Q5. With reference to BRAP 2026, consider the following statements: 1. It is the eighth edition of the Business Reforms Action Plan. 2. It was rolled out by DPIIT on 11 November 2025. 3. Its guidebook outlines eight essential and five desirable features. 4. It was the first edition of BRAP to introduce ranking of States and UTs on reform implementation. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is the eighth edition of the Business Reforms Action Plan.
  2. It was rolled out by DPIIT on 11 November 2025.
  3. Its guidebook outlines eight essential and five desirable features.
  4. It was the first edition of BRAP to introduce ranking of States and UTs on reform implementation.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q6. The eighth edition of the Business Reforms Action Plan, designated BRAP 2026, was actually rolled out by DPIIT in which year?

  • A. 2023
  • B. 2024
  • C. 2025
  • D. 2026

Q7. Which one of the following is the World Bank's flagship report that has replaced the discontinued Doing Business Report as the principal global benchmark of the business environment?

  • A. Business Ready (B-READY)
  • B. World Development Report
  • C. Global Competitiveness Index
  • D. World Bank Enterprise Surveys

Q8. The World Bank Group formally discontinued its Doing Business Report, following data irregularities, in which year?

  • A. 2018
  • B. 2020
  • C. 2021
  • D. 2024

Q9. With reference to the District Business Reform Action Plan (D-BRAP), consider the following statements: 1. It is a State-led initiative to localise BRAP at the district level. 2. It identifies 154 reforms, each with a defined objective and assessment checklist. 3. It includes a dedicated reform area on fostering start-up growth in Tier-II and Tier-III cities. 4. Its reforms are to be implemented only at the level of State Secretariats. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It is a State-led initiative to localise BRAP at the district level.
  2. It identifies 154 reforms, each with a defined objective and assessment checklist.
  3. It includes a dedicated reform area on fostering start-up growth in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
  4. Its reforms are to be implemented only at the level of State Secretariats.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. The set of 154 identified reforms intended to extend Ease of Doing Business to the grassroots, implemented across District Collectorates, Development Authorities and Urban Local Bodies, are undertaken under which one of the following initiatives?

  • A. District Business Reform Action Plan (D-BRAP)
  • B. Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP)
  • C. PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan
  • D. Startup India Mission

Q11. With reference to the chronology of India's Ease of Doing Business reforms, consider the following statements: 1. The Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) was launched in 2015. 2. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act was enacted in 2023. 3. The World Bank's Business Ready (B-READY) report was launched in 2024. 4. The District Business Reform Action Plan (D-BRAP) was launched in 2018. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Business Reforms Action Plan (BRAP) was launched in 2015.
  2. The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act was enacted in 2023.
  3. The World Bank's Business Ready (B-READY) report was launched in 2024.
  4. The District Business Reform Action Plan (D-BRAP) was launched in 2018.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 3 and 4 only

Q12. Consider the following statements about decriminalisation under the Jan Vishwas framework: 1. It replaces imprisonment for minor procedural offences with graded monetary penalties, while retaining strict criminal action for serious public-health and safety violations. 2. It shifts minor and technical defaults from criminal prosecution to civil and administrative enforcement mechanisms. 3. It removes all penalties, both criminal and monetary, for the categories of offences it covers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It replaces imprisonment for minor procedural offences with graded monetary penalties, while retaining strict criminal action for serious public-health and safety violations.
  2. It shifts minor and technical defaults from criminal prosecution to civil and administrative enforcement mechanisms.
  3. It removes all penalties, both criminal and monetary, for the categories of offences it covers.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3