UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RDI FUND UNDER ANRF

Question 1

The Governing Board of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which provides strategic direction to the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme, is chaired by which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Prime Minister

Answer

The Union Minister of Science and Technology

Answer

The Cabinet Secretary

Answer

The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India

Question 2

Under the two-tier structure of the RDI Scheme, the Special Purpose Fund channels capital to Second-Level Fund Managers (SLFMs). Which of the following categories are correctly identified as eligible SLFM categories?
1. Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)
2. Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs)
3. Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)
4. Regional offices of the Reserve Bank of India
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 4 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4 only

Answer

1, 3 and 4 only

Question 3

Consider the following statements regarding the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF):
1. It was established under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Act, 2023.
2. The Act repealed and subsumed the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB).
3. ANRF functions administratively under the Ministry of Education.
4. The Special Purpose Fund of the RDI Scheme is housed within ANRF.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

3 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 only

Answer

1 and 4 only

Question 4

Which one of the following is the nodal implementing department for the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme?

Accepted Answer

The Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology

Answer

The Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology

Answer

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Answer

The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR)

Question 5

The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme with a ₹1 lakh crore corpus was approved by which authority and in which year?

Accepted Answer

The Union Cabinet, in July 2025

Answer

The ANRF Governing Board, in 2025

Answer

The Empowered Group of Secretaries, in 2025

Answer

The Union Cabinet, in 2024

Question 6

Which one of the following was the first Second-Level Fund Manager to launch a funding call under the RDI Fund?

Accepted Answer

The Technology Development Board (TDB)

Answer

The Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC)

Answer

An Alternative Investment Fund selected in the round that closed on 31 January 2026

Answer

The Deep-Tech Fund of Funds

Question 7

In the context of the RDI Scheme, the Special Purpose Fund (SPF) is best described as which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

A fund within ANRF that custodises the corpus and routes capital to second-level fund managers

Answer

A vehicle that directly invests the entire ₹1 lakh crore corpus as equity in startups

Answer

A grant window that disburses the whole corpus to government research laboratories

Answer

A sovereign wealth fund managed by the Reserve Bank of India

Question 8

Consider the following statements comparing the two designated Second-Level Fund Managers of the RDI Fund:
1. BIRAC launched its first RDI Fund call earlier than TDB did.
2. TDB and BIRAC were each allotted ₹2,000 crore in the first tranche, taking the initial allocation to ₹4,000 crore.
3. BIRAC's ₹2,000 crore call is to be deployed over a period of up to five years.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

1 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 9

As disclosed on the implementation of the RDI Scheme, consider the following matches:
1. Special Financial Rules for the Special Purpose Fund — approved by the Ministry of Finance.
2. Body that recommends the fund managers — the Empowered Group of Secretaries.
3. Nodal implementing department — the Department of Science and Technology.
4. Custodian of the ₹1 lakh crore corpus — the Special Purpose Fund within ANRF.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

Accepted Answer

1, 3 and 4 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 4 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4 only

Question 10

Which one of the following is the apex inter-ministerial body that oversees implementation and undertakes periodic performance review of the RDI Scheme?

Accepted Answer

The Empowered Group of Secretaries, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary

Answer

The Governing Board of ANRF, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary

Answer

The Executive Council of ANRF, chaired by the Cabinet Secretary

Answer

The Empowered Group of Secretaries, chaired by the Principal Scientific Adviser

Question 11

How is the financing approach of the RDI Scheme most accurately described relative to earlier science-funding models?

Accepted Answer

Deployment of growth and risk capital through fund managers as long-term loans or equity, rather than outright grants

Answer

Provision of research grants exclusively to government research laboratories

Answer

Direct disbursement of the entire corpus as tax rebates to all private firms

Answer

Interest-free assistance channelled only through state governments

Question 12

Under the RDI Scheme, the technology sectors of strategic importance are grouped into how many broad domains (covering energy security & climate action; deep-tech; AI applications; biotech and allied areas; and the digital economy)?

Accepted Answer

Five

Answer

Three

Answer

Four

Answer

Seven

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — PARLIAMENT QUESTION: RDI FUND UNDER ANRF

Q1. The Governing Board of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), which provides strategic direction to the ₹1 lakh crore RDI Scheme, is chaired by which one of the following?

Q4. Which one of the following is the nodal implementing department for the Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme?

Q5. The Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme with a ₹1 lakh crore corpus was approved by which authority and in which year?

Q6. Which one of the following was the first Second-Level Fund Manager to launch a funding call under the RDI Fund?

Q7. In the context of the RDI Scheme, the Special Purpose Fund (SPF) is best described as which one of the following?

Q10. Which one of the following is the apex inter-ministerial body that oversees implementation and undertakes periodic performance review of the RDI Scheme?

Q11. How is the financing approach of the RDI Scheme most accurately described relative to earlier science-funding models?

Q12. Under the RDI Scheme, the technology sectors of strategic importance are grouped into how many broad domains (covering energy security & climate action; deep-tech; AI applications; biotech and allied areas; and the digital economy)?