UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — NIPUN Bharat Mission and Foundational Literacy and Numeracy

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding programmes relating to literacy and early childhood learning and the departments that implement them: 1. NIPUN Bharat was launched by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the aegis of the centrally sponsored scheme Samagra Shiksha. 2. The New India Literacy Programme, meant for non-literates in the age group of 15 years and above, is implemented by the Department of Higher Education. 3. Vidya Pravesh, a play-based school readiness module for children entering Grade 1, is an initiative of the Department of School Education and Literacy. 4. Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, which covers early childhood care and education for children aged 3-6 years, is implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. NIPUN Bharat was launched by the Department of School Education and Literacy under the aegis of the centrally sponsored scheme Samagra Shiksha.
  2. The New India Literacy Programme, meant for non-literates in the age group of 15 years and above, is implemented by the Department of Higher Education.
  3. Vidya Pravesh, a play-based school readiness module for children entering Grade 1, is an initiative of the Department of School Education and Literacy.
  4. Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, which covers early childhood care and education for children aged 3-6 years, is implemented by the Department of School Education and Literacy.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q2. In the foundational-stage initiatives of the Department of School Education and Literacy, 'Vidya Pravesh' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A national repository of play-based teaching-learning material and toys for the foundational stage
  • B. An annual sample household survey of the reading and arithmetic ability of rural children
  • C. A three-month play-based school preparation module for children entering Grade 1
  • D. A twelve-week bridge course for out-of-school children rejoining schooling at the upper primary stage

Q3. Samagra Shiksha, the scheme under whose aegis NIPUN Bharat was launched, is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A central sector scheme for elementary education alone, which subsumed the District Primary Education Programme and school nutrition support
  • B. An integrated centrally sponsored scheme for school education from pre-school to Class XII, which subsumed Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and Teacher Education
  • C. An integrated centrally sponsored scheme confined to Classes I to VIII, which subsumed Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme
  • D. A central sector scheme for secondary and higher secondary education, which subsumed Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan and the Model Schools Scheme

Q4. The National Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission, which NIPUN Bharat operationalises, was first announced as part of which one of the following?

  • A. The report of the Fifteenth Finance Commission on school education grants
  • B. The action plan drawn up following the National Achievement Survey 2021
  • C. The draft framework prepared by the Kasturirangan Committee on teacher education
  • D. The AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan announcements

Q5. The Foundational Learning Study 2022, conducted as the baseline for the NIPUN Bharat goal of universal foundational literacy and numeracy by 2026-27, found the share of students up to Grade 3 meeting the minimum standard of proficiency in numeracy to be closest to which one of the following?

  • A. 32%
  • B. 42%
  • C. 52%
  • D. 62%

Q6. Which one of the following correctly states the status accorded to the goal of foundational literacy and numeracy under the National Education Policy, 2020?

  • A. It is made a statutory entitlement enforceable in all States through an amendment to the Right to Education Act, 2009
  • B. It must be achieved by the States exclusively through anganwadi centres before a child's entry into Grade 1
  • C. It is accorded the highest priority, to be attained by every child by Grade 3, with Grade 5 as the outer limit
  • D. It is left entirely to the States, the Centre having no financial role beyond the issue of guidelines

Q7. Apart from the Ministry of Education, representatives of how many Union Ministries were included as members of the National Steering Committee set up for the implementation of the NIPUN Bharat Mission?

  • A. Five
  • B. Seven
  • C. Nine
  • D. Eleven

Q8. Which one of the following correctly describes the presiding arrangement of the apex committee constituted to steer the implementation of the NIPUN Bharat Mission?

  • A. Chaired by the Union Minister of Education, with the Secretary, School Education and Literacy, as Vice-Chairperson
  • B. Chaired by the Union Minister of Education, with the Minister of State for Education as Vice-Chairperson
  • C. Chaired by the Minister of State for Education, with the Secretary, School Education and Literacy, as Vice-Chairperson
  • D. Chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, with the Union Minister of Education as Vice-Chairperson

Q9. Which one of the following is India's first integrated curriculum framework covering children in the age group of 3 to 8 years?

  • A. National Curriculum Framework, 2005
  • B. National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education, 2009
  • C. National Curriculum Framework for School Education, 2023
  • D. National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage

Q10. The centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha scheme, one of whose major interventions is foundational literacy and numeracy, is administered at the Centre by which one of the following?

  • A. The Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education
  • B. The Department of School Education and Literacy under the Ministry of Education
  • C. The Ministry of Women and Child Development through its Department of Women and Child Development
  • D. The National Council of Educational Research and Training under the Ministry of Education

Q11. With reference to the current status of Samagra Shiksha and the NIPUN Bharat Mission, consider the following statements: 1. The allocation for Samagra Shiksha in 2026-27 is of the order of Rs 42,100 crore, which is about 30 per cent of the Ministry of Education's budget. 2. The Centre-State funding ratio for Samagra Shiksha is 60:40 in most States and 90:10 in the Himalayan and north-eastern States. 3. The National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage has been adopted by all 36 States and Union Territories. 4. NIPUN Bharat is funded as a standalone central sector scheme with a separate budget line outside Samagra Shiksha. Which of the statements given above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The allocation for Samagra Shiksha in 2026-27 is of the order of Rs 42,100 crore, which is about 30 per cent of the Ministry of Education's budget.
  2. The Centre-State funding ratio for Samagra Shiksha is 60:40 in most States and 90:10 in the Himalayan and north-eastern States.
  3. The National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage has been adopted by all 36 States and Union Territories.
  4. NIPUN Bharat is funded as a standalone central sector scheme with a separate budget line outside Samagra Shiksha.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q12. The Rashtriya Sarvekshan that assesses competencies of students at the end of the foundational, preparatory and middle stages is conducted by PARAKH, which functions as which one of the following?

  • A. A survey division of the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • B. An assessment wing of the National Council for Teacher Education under the Ministry of Education
  • C. A national assessment centre established under the NCERT by the Ministry of Education
  • D. An autonomous statutory authority set up under the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration