Science & Technology MCQs for UPSC Prelims — August 2026
Q1. With reference to the India AI Governance Guidelines and the deepfake-related machinery under the IT Rules, consider the following statements:
1. The Guidelines were prepared by a drafting committee chaired by Prof. Balaraman Ravindran of IIT Madras.
2. The Guidelines recommend new institutions including an AI Governance Group, a Technology & Policy Expert Committee and an AI Safety Institute.
3. The Guidelines adopt an entirely rule-based approach that mandates prior licensing of all AI models before any deployment in India.
4. Grievance Appellate Committees under the IT Rules make every intermediary content decision final and unappealable in all circumstances.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The Guidelines were prepared by a drafting committee chaired by Prof. Balaraman Ravindran of IIT Madras.
- The Guidelines recommend new institutions including an AI Governance Group, a Technology & Policy Expert Committee and an AI Safety Institute.
- The Guidelines adopt an entirely rule-based approach that mandates prior licensing of all AI models before any deployment in India.
- Grievance Appellate Committees under the IT Rules make every intermediary content decision final and unappealable in all circumstances.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 3 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 4 only
Q2. With reference to India's regulatory response to deepfakes and generative AI, consider the following statements:
1. 'Synthetically generated information' is defined as information artificially or algorithmically created, generated, modified or altered using a computer resource so that it reasonably appears to be authentic or true.
2. Under the draft amendments circulated in October 2025, a visible label on synthetically generated visual content must cover at least ten per cent of the surface area of the display.
3. The India AI Governance Guidelines released in November 2025 rest on seven guiding principles ('sutras') that include 'Innovation over Restraint' and 'People First'.
4. The IT Amendment Rules notified in February 2026 require the label on synthetically generated visual content to appear only at the beginning of the content.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 'Synthetically generated information' is defined as information artificially or algorithmically created, generated, modified or altered using a computer resource so that it reasonably appears to be authentic or true.
- Under the draft amendments circulated in October 2025, a visible label on synthetically generated visual content must cover at least ten per cent of the surface area of the display.
- The India AI Governance Guidelines released in November 2025 rest on seven guiding principles ('sutras') that include 'Innovation over Restraint' and 'People First'.
- The IT Amendment Rules notified in February 2026 require the label on synthetically generated visual content to appear only at the beginning of the content.
- A. 1 and 4 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3
- D. 1, 3 and 4