UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi takes charge of the Union Ministry of Education

Q1. The Ministry of Human Resource Development was re-designated as the Ministry of Education in conjunction with the approval of the country's principal contemporary education policy. Which one of the following is that policy?

  • A. National Policy on Education, 1986
  • B. Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
  • C. National Education Policy, 2020
  • D. National Policy on Education, 1968

Q2. Which one of the following correctly describes the 2020 change concerning the Ministry of Human Resource Development?

  • A. It was bifurcated into the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
  • B. It was renamed the Ministry of Education, restoring a designation the ministry had borne prior to 1985.
  • C. It was renamed the Ministry of Education for the very first time in independent India's history.
  • D. It was merged with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to form the Ministry of Education.

Q3. Into how many departments is the Union Ministry of Education organised?

  • A. One
  • B. Two
  • C. Three
  • D. Four

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the two departments of the Union Ministry of Education and their Secretaries: 1. The Department of Higher Education is headed by Secretary Dr Vineet Joshi. 2. The Department of School Education and Literacy is headed by Secretary Shri T. K. Anil Kumar. 3. The Ministry's two constituent departments are the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Technical Education. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Department of Higher Education is headed by Secretary Dr Vineet Joshi.
  2. The Department of School Education and Literacy is headed by Secretary Shri T. K. Anil Kumar.
  3. The Ministry's two constituent departments are the Department of Higher Education and the Department of Technical Education.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. Consider the following Union Ministries: 1. Ministry of Education 2. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution 3. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy 4. Ministry of Coal Which of the above are correctly identified as portfolios held by Shri Pralhad Joshi as of 26 July 2026?

  1. Ministry of Education
  2. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
  3. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
  4. Ministry of Coal
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q6. Including the Ministry of Education, how many distinct Union Ministries did Shri Pralhad Joshi hold charge of upon assuming the education portfolio on 26 July 2026?

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

Q7. The Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, which distribute the business of the Government among its Ministries and Departments, were first made by the President under Article 77(3) of the Constitution in which year?

  • A. 1950
  • B. 1961
  • C. 1973
  • D. 1985

Q8. The framing, notification and periodic amendment of the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules is administered by which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Home Affairs
  • B. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
  • C. Cabinet Secretariat
  • D. Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions

Q9. Before assuming charge of the Ministry of Education, Shri Pralhad Joshi had served (2019–2024) as the Union Minister of which one of the following combinations of portfolios?

  • A. Steel, Mines and Labour and Employment
  • B. Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • C. Power and Heavy Industries
  • D. Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs

Q10. During his 2019–2024 tenure, Shri Pralhad Joshi simultaneously held how many Union portfolios?

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

Q11. In the 5+3+3+4 curricular design of the National Education Policy 2020, the 'Foundational Stage' comprises which one of the following?

  • A. The first two years of primary schooling (Grades 1 and 2) only, covering ages 6–8
  • B. Three years of pre-primary education only, covering ages 3–6
  • C. Three years of Anganwadi/pre-school plus Grades 1 and 2, covering ages 3–8
  • D. Grades 1 to 5, covering ages 6–11

Q12. Shri Jayant Chaudhary, the Union Minister of State for Education, simultaneously holds Independent Charge of which one of the following Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
  • B. Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
  • C. Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • D. Ministry of Rural Development