UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi and President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron to jointly inaugurate Bharat Innovates 2026 on June 14, 2026, in Nice, France

Q1. 'Bharat Innovates 2026', sometimes seen in the news, is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A bilateral defence-technology joint exercise between India and France conducted under the Horizon 2047 Roadmap.
  • B. A Government of India deep-tech and innovation showcase organised by the Union Ministry of Education to globally position India's HEI-led deep-tech ecosystem.
  • C. A joint Indo-French quantum computing research consortium anchored at IIT Bombay under the Department of Science and Technology.
  • D. A flagship export-promotion trade fair organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to support Indian MSMEs in European markets.

Q2. Bharat Innovates 2026, the flagship deep-tech showcase under the India-France Year of Innovation 2026, will cover how many frontier technology sectors?

  • A. 10
  • B. 12
  • C. 13
  • D. 15

Q3. In the context of India-France relations, the 'Horizon 2047 Roadmap' is best described as which of the following?

  • A. A bilateral document adopted in July 2023 charting the course of the India-France Strategic Partnership over the next 25 years, until the centenaries of India's independence and Indo-French diplomatic relations
  • B. A UN-coordinated sustainable development financing framework committing France to support Indian climate transition projects through 2047
  • C. An India-EU trade liberalisation pact aimed at the full implementation of an Indo-European Free Trade Agreement by 2047
  • D. A joint ISRO-CNES space exploration programme targeting an Indo-French crewed mission to Mars by 2047

Q4. Which Union Ministry organised the Bharat Innovates 2026 Pre-Event Roadshow in Paris that engaged the French innovation ecosystem, including La French Tech and VivaTech, ahead of the Nice showcase?

  • A. Ministry of Education
  • B. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
  • C. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
  • D. Department of Science and Technology

Q5. According to the Ministry of Education, approximately how many representatives from the French business and innovation ecosystem (including La French Tech, VivaTech, ESCP, ESSEC and INRIA) participated in the Bharat Innovates 2026 Pre-Event Roadshow held in Paris?

  • A. More than 20
  • B. More than 50
  • C. More than 150
  • D. More than 500

Q6. The Draft National Deep Tech Startup Policy (NDTSP) released for public consultation was prepared on the recommendation of which one of the following bodies?

  • A. Governing Council of NITI Aayog
  • B. Prime Minister's Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC)
  • C. Governing Board of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation
  • D. Inter-Ministerial Board constituted under DPIIT

Q7. With reference to the geographical location of the city of Nice, France, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Nice is situated on the Mediterranean coast of France, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
  2. Nice lies at the foot of the Alps and is located close to the land border with Italy.
  3. Nice is the administrative capital of the Var département.
  4. Nice is located on France's Atlantic coast, close to the country's land border with Spain.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q8. The Baie des Anges, the bay of the Mediterranean Sea on which the city of Nice is situated, is bordered by how many municipalities (communes)?

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

Q9. Under the India-France Project-75 programme, the six Scorpene-class submarines for the Indian Navy were constructed in collaboration with Naval Group of France at which one of the following Indian shipyards?

  • A. Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited, Kolkata
  • B. Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam
  • C. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai
  • D. Cochin Shipyard Limited, Kochi

Q10. Which one of the following is the first Scorpene-class submarine commissioned into the Indian Navy under Project-75, built in collaboration with France?

  • A. INS Khanderi
  • B. INS Kalvari
  • C. INS Karanj
  • D. INS Vagir

Q11. With reference to the Institution's Innovation Council (IIC) programme being implemented in Higher Education Institutions in India, which one of the following is the nodal body that runs the programme?

  • A. Atal Innovation Mission under NITI Aayog
  • B. Innovation Cell of the Ministry of Education
  • C. Department of Science and Technology
  • D. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

Q12. With reference to the institutional architecture for promoting innovation in India, consider the following statements: 1. The Institution's Innovation Council (IIC) programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Education's Innovation Cell, whereas the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) functions under NITI Aayog. 2. The Atal Tinkering Labs of AIM are targeted at school students of classes VI to XII, whereas IICs are constituted in Higher Education Institutions. 3. The Smart India Hackathon is jointly organised by the Atal Innovation Mission and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Institution's Innovation Council (IIC) programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Education's Innovation Cell, whereas the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) functions under NITI Aayog.
  2. The Atal Tinkering Labs of AIM are targeted at school students of classes VI to XII, whereas IICs are constituted in Higher Education Institutions.
  3. The Smart India Hackathon is jointly organised by the Atal Innovation Mission and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3
  • NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam
    NRAA-Funded Wild Rice Conservation Project Secures Major Milestone in Assam

    The notification of Borjuli site in Sonitpur, Assam as a Biodiversity Heritage Site under an NRAA-funded wild rice conservation project is a named, verifiable fact. Biodiversity Heritage Sites and wild crop genetic resource conservation are tested Prelims topics.

  • India Advances Global Green Hydrogen Leadership under National Green Hydrogen Mission

    Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), a landmark commercial deal for green ammonia and methanol export to Japan (IHI Corporation named) is a concrete outcome. India's green hydrogen ambitions and NGHM are recurring Prelims themes; this adds a factual export-deal hook.

  • NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"
    NITI Aayog launches report on "Strategic Roadmap for Making Ayurveda Global"

    A named NITI Aayog report on Ayurveda's global expansion is testable as a policy document. NITI Aayog reports, AYUSH sector initiatives, and traditional medicine diplomacy are recurring Prelims themes; the report's launch date and authoring body are clean factual hooks.

  • INDIAN NAVAL SHIP TRIKAND RESPONDS TO PIRACY ATTEMPT ON MV GOLDEN ARSENAL IN THE GULF OF ADEN

    A named Indian Navy anti-piracy operation with specific ship (INS Trikand — identified as a stealth frigate), vessel flag state (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), and location (Gulf of Aden) offers testable facts. India's maritime security operations are plausible Prelims hooks but appear occasionally, not frequently.

  • Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan launches nationwide ‘Viksit Bharat – G-Ram G Act’ from Andhra Pradesh with Chief Minister Shri Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan

    A newly named nationwide scheme launched by the Rural Development ministry that explicitly positions itself as moving 'beyond MGNREGA' is potentially testable. However, the excerpt lacks concrete numbers or statutory grounding, keeping it at 3 rather than 4.

  • MANAS: A Digital Shield Against Drugs

    MANAS is a named government digital initiative (national narcotics helpline) with a specific mandate under Nasha Mukt Bharat. Named government portals/helplines with specific functions are tested in Prelims, though this release is a backgrounder without new launch data.

  • VB-G RAM G Act comes into force across the country from today; “A historic day for rural India”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    The VB-G RAM G Act (likely a renamed/revised MGNREGA or rural employment guarantee framework) came into force across India from July 1, 2026. Key facts: national launch in Tirupati on July 2; revised wage rates notified with no daily wage below ₹300; national average wage increased by over 10%. A new central Act coming into force with specific wage figures is high-priority Prelims material.

  • India Achieves Major Milestone with Approval of Country’s First PinS Instrument Approach Procedure for Helicopter Operations

    DGCA approved India's first Private Point-in-Space (PinS) Instrument Approach Procedure for helicopter operations, implemented at Undavalli Heliport (developed by AAI). This is a named first in Indian aviation with a specific location and implementing body — classic Prelims material for science/tech and aviation sections.

  • 11 Years of Digital India: Better Healthcare & Digital Markets Making Lives Easier

    This release contains high-quality testable data: Greece is named as the 10th country to adopt UPI; every second real-time digital transaction globally is processed via India's UPI; 13 lakh Anganwadi workers connected via Poshan Tracker covering 9 crore beneficiaries. Multiple concrete facts that are prime Prelims material.

  • India, EU Advance Cooperation on Sustainable Ship Recycling; Three Indian Yards Ready for EU Recognition

    India has a 35.4% global market share in sustainable ship recycling. Three Indian ship-recycling yards are ready for EU recognition. India committed $8 billion to strengthen shipbuilding and recycling, with a target of recycling 16,000 ships. These are specific, verifiable figures in a sector where India leads globally — strong Prelims material on maritime/shipping sector.

  • GAGAN: Navigating India’s Skies with Precision

    Detailed backgrounder on GAGAN (GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation), India's Satellite-Based Augmentation System developed jointly by ISRO and Airports Authority of India (AAI). It enhances GPS accuracy for aviation, is certified to international standards, and supports satellite-based landing approaches. GAGAN is a recurring Prelims topic and this backgrounder consolidates key testable facts about its developers, purpose, and certification status.

    • The Hindu

    Latest PIB

    Latest from The Hindu

    Explore