UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Dr. Jitendra Singh Launches Phase-III of "Biomedical Research Career Programme" (BRCP) with collaborative funding by Department of Biotechnology, GoI and the London based Wellcome Trust, UK
Q1. Phase-III of the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP) was formally launched in July 2026 by which one of the following Union Ministers?
- A. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology
- B. Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister for Electronics & Information Technology
- C. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister for Health & Family Welfare
- D. Shri Bhupender Yadav, Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change
Q2. Dr. Jitendra Singh, who launched BRCP Phase-III, holds the office of 'Minister of State (Independent Charge)' for Science & Technology. In this context, 'Independent Charge' most precisely means that the Minister of State:
- A. heads the ministry/department directly without a Cabinet Minister placed above him for that portfolio
- B. is a Cabinet Minister who additionally holds independent judicial powers
- C. is a nominated member of the Council of Ministers with no departmental responsibility
- D. is an official appointed by the department who is not a member of Parliament
Q3. On the Indian side, the Biomedical Research Career Programme and its implementing 'India Alliance' are operationalised by which one of the following?
- A. Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology
- B. Department of Science & Technology, Ministry of Science & Technology
- C. Indian Council of Medical Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
- D. Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
Q4. With reference to the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance that implements the BRCP, consider the following statements:
1. It was set up in 2008-09 as a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle.
2. It is registered as a public trust based in India.
3. It receives contributions from both the Department of Biotechnology and the Wellcome Trust.
4. It functions as a subordinate wing of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It was set up in 2008-09 as a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle.
- It is registered as a public trust based in India.
- It receives contributions from both the Department of Biotechnology and the Wellcome Trust.
- It functions as a subordinate wing of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q5. Which one of the following statements about the institutional operationalisation of India's bioeconomy strategy is correct?
- A. The BioE3 Policy was brought in by the Department of Biotechnology as India's first dedicated biotechnology policy
- B. India's bioeconomy is coordinated exclusively by NITI Aayog with no line-ministry involvement
- C. The bioeconomy is regulated solely by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- D. Bioeconomy targets are set only by the Reserve Bank of India
Q6. India's bioeconomy trajectory towards the USD 300 billion (2030) target is anchored in the BioE3 Policy. This policy was approved by the Union Cabinet in which year?
- A. 2024
- B. 2021
- C. 2022
- D. 2025
Q7. With reference to the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), consider the following statements:
1. It functions under the Ministry of Science & Technology.
2. The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a Public Sector Undertaking under it.
3. The Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) was created under it by subsuming several autonomous institutions.
4. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is an autonomous body under it.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It functions under the Ministry of Science & Technology.
- The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is a Public Sector Undertaking under it.
- The Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) was created under it by subsuming several autonomous institutions.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is an autonomous body under it.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q8. Which one of the following is the apex autonomous body created by the Department of Biotechnology by subsuming the governance of multiple erstwhile research institutions?
- A. Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC)
- B. Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)
- C. Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB)
- D. Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI)
Q9. With reference to the Wellcome Trust, consider the following statements:
1. It is a London-based global charitable research foundation.
2. It originated from the bequest of Sir Henry Wellcome.
3. It is one of the two funding partners of the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance.
4. It is the sole global funder of all biomedical research.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It is a London-based global charitable research foundation.
- It originated from the bequest of Sir Henry Wellcome.
- It is one of the two funding partners of the DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance.
- It is the sole global funder of all biomedical research.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q10. The Wellcome Trust, the UK partner in the Biomedical Research Career Programme, was established from the bequest of which one of the following individuals?
- A. Sir Henry Wellcome
- B. Sir Alexander Fleming
- C. Sir Joseph Lister
- D. Sir Ronald Ross
Q11. With reference to the Biomedical Research Career Programme (BRCP), consider the following statements:
1. It was originally launched in 2008-09.
2. Over 2008-2026 it has supported more than 500 researchers.
3. Its Phase-III has a total outlay of about Rs.1,500 crore.
4. In Phase-III, the Wellcome Trust contributes Rs.1,000 crore and DBT contributes Rs.500 crore.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- It was originally launched in 2008-09.
- Over 2008-2026 it has supported more than 500 researchers.
- Its Phase-III has a total outlay of about Rs.1,500 crore.
- In Phase-III, the Wellcome Trust contributes Rs.1,000 crore and DBT contributes Rs.500 crore.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 3 and 4 only
Q12. Consider the following pairs relating to India-UK science and technology cooperation:
1. Newton-Bhabha Fund — a bilateral India-UK research and innovation programme
2. India-UK Science & Innovation Council (SIC) — the apex bilateral S&T dialogue mechanism
3. MRC-DBT Joint Centre Partnerships — India-UK collaboration in areas such as cancer biology and antimicrobial resistance
4. DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance — an India-Germany biomedical research partnership
Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?
- Newton-Bhabha Fund — a bilateral India-UK research and innovation programme
- India-UK Science & Innovation Council (SIC) — the apex bilateral S&T dialogue mechanism
- MRC-DBT Joint Centre Partnerships — India-UK collaboration in areas such as cancer biology and antimicrobial resistance
- DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance — an India-Germany biomedical research partnership
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 3