UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — SARAS Mela 2026

Q1. With reference to the 'Lakhpati Didi' measure under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The ₹1 lakh threshold is applied to the combined annual turnover of the Self-Help Group to which the woman belongs.
  2. Because the assessment period may be counted in business cycles as well as agricultural seasons, members running non-farm enterprises can also be assessed.
  3. A member whose products sell for more than ₹1 lakh at a SARAS Mela does not become a Lakhpati Didi on that basis alone, since the measure is about income and not gross sales.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 3 only

Q2. With reference to the institutional design of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Self-Help Groups are federated into village-level organisations, which in turn are federated into cluster-level federations.
  2. No capital subsidy is sanctioned to Self-Help Groups under the mission.
  3. The interest subvention on bank loans is extended to all Self-Help Groups alike, whether or not their members are women.
  4. Federations of Self-Help Groups at village, Gram Panchayat or cluster level may be registered under the laws in force in their respective States.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q3. Consider the following assertion: The organisation of the National SARAS Mela 2026 at Vijayawada illustrates cooperative federalism in the implementation of welfare schemes. Which of the following statements support the above assertion?

  1. The Union Ministry of Rural Development organised the Mela in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh Government's Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty.
  2. Women entrepreneurs from 34 States and Union Territories took part in the Mela.
  3. Annual sales from SARAS Melas exceed ₹200 crore.
  4. DAY-NRLM, under which SARAS Melas are held, is implemented by the Union ministry with support from State Rural Livelihoods Missions.
  • A. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4