Social Justice MCQs for UPSC Prelims — April 2026

Q1. The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)/Anganwadi Services scheme delivers a package comprising how many distinct services?

  • A. Four
  • B. Five
  • C. Six
  • D. Eight

Q2. In the context of NFHS-5 child nutrition indicators, 'stunting' is best defined as which one of the following?

  • A. Low height-for-age, reflecting chronic undernutrition
  • B. Low weight-for-height, reflecting acute undernutrition
  • C. Low weight-for-age, a composite of chronic and acute undernutrition
  • D. Low blood haemoglobin concentration

Q3. The 8th Poshan Pakhwada (2026) is distinctive as the first edition explicitly centred on which one of the following outcomes?

  • A. Neuro-developmental (brain development) outcomes in early childhood
  • B. Anaemia reduction among adolescent girls
  • C. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Anganwadis
  • D. Millet-based dietary diversification

Q4. POSHAN Abhiyaan (the National Nutrition Mission) is implemented by which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  • B. Ministry of Women and Child Development
  • C. Ministry of Rural Development
  • D. Ministry of Education

Q5. Under POSHAN Abhiyaan (2018), the annual reduction target set for anaemia among young children, women and adolescent girls was:

  • A. 2% per annum
  • B. 3% per annum
  • C. 6% per annum
  • D. One-third over the mission period

Q6. Which one of the following is the umbrella Centrally Sponsored Scheme under which the Poshan Pakhwada is currently conducted?

  • A. Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0
  • B. Mission Shakti
  • C. Mission Vatsalya
  • D. POSHAN Abhiyaan

Q7. Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 — the umbrella scheme that subsumed Anganwadi Services, POSHAN Abhiyaan and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls — was announced in which Union Budget?

  • A. 2018-19
  • B. 2020-21
  • C. 2021-22
  • D. 2023-24

Q8. In the context of the Jan Andolan under POSHAN Abhiyaan, the term 'Poshan Pakhwada' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A fortnight-long intensive nutrition-awareness campaign observed in the March/April period
  • B. A month-long nutrition celebration observed every September
  • C. A weekly nutrition bulletin circulated by Anganwadi Centres
  • D. An annual nutrition household survey conducted by the National Statistical Office

Q9. With reference to caste enumeration in Census 2027 compared with post-independence census practice, consider the following statements: 1. Unlike censuses conducted after independence, which enumerated only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Census 2027 will enumerate all castes. 2. The decision to include caste enumeration was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on 30 April 2025. 3. The approval of caste enumeration was accorded separately from the Union Cabinet's later approval of the overall scheme for conduct of Census 2027. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Unlike censuses conducted after independence, which enumerated only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Census 2027 will enumerate all castes.
  2. The decision to include caste enumeration was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs on 30 April 2025.
  3. The approval of caste enumeration was accorded separately from the Union Cabinet's later approval of the overall scheme for conduct of Census 2027.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q10. The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 is best described as which one of the following?

  • A. A non-statutory exercise conducted separately from the decennial population census
  • B. The only caste count ever carried out under statutory census authority since Independence
  • C. A component fully integrated into the 2011 Census schedule under the Census Act, 1948
  • D. The single source whose individual records are always protected under Section 15 of the Census Act

Q11. With reference to caste enumeration in Census 2027, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Caste was last fully enumerated in an Indian Census in 1931.
  2. The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 was a statutory exercise conducted under the Census Act, 1948.
  3. The decision to include caste enumeration in Census 2027 was taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs in April 2025.
  4. In Census 2027, caste data will be captured during the Population Enumeration phase.
  • A. 1, 3 and 4
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q12. In the context of the Indian Census, the term 'synchronous census' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. Enumeration of the entire population with reference to a single common moment of time
  • B. A census conducted simultaneously with the updation of the National Population Register
  • C. Counting completed nationwide within a single day by door-to-door visit
  • D. A census whose field operations are synchronised with the schedule of general elections

Q13. Since which year has the decennial Population Census been conducted in India synchronously and without a break?

  • A. 1872
  • B. 1881
  • C. 1865
  • D. 1891

Q14. As used in NEP 2020, the term 'Foundational Literacy and Numeracy' most precisely refers to which one of the following?

  • A. The ability to read with understanding and to perform basic mathematical operations by the end of Grade 3
  • B. Universal enrolment of all children in pre-primary Anganwadi education by age 3
  • C. Compulsory coding and computational-thinking competency for every child by the Middle Stage
  • D. Digital and financial literacy attained by every learner by the end of the Secondary Stage

Q15. Shri Jayant Chaudhary, who was present at the launch of the CT+AI curriculum, holds independent charge of which one of the following ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
  • B. Ministry of Education
  • C. Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology
  • D. Ministry of Women & Child Development

Q16. With reference to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), consider the following statements: 1. CBSE was reconstituted in its present form in 1962. 2. CBSE functions under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. 3. CBSE affiliates schools within India as well as in foreign countries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. CBSE was reconstituted in its present form in 1962.
  2. CBSE functions under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education.
  3. CBSE affiliates schools within India as well as in foreign countries.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q17. AI was first offered by CBSE as a subject in Class IX (session 2019-20); the new curriculum begins AI/computational thinking in Class III. By how many classes (grades) earlier does formal AI exposure now begin?

  • A. Four classes earlier
  • B. Five classes earlier
  • C. Six classes earlier
  • D. Seven classes earlier

Q18. Consider the following person–position pairings associated with the CT+AI curriculum: 1. Dharmendra Pradhan — Union Education Minister 2. Jayant Chaudhary — Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship 3. Sanjay Kumar — Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy 4. Karthik Raman — Chairman, CBSE Which of the above pairings is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Dharmendra Pradhan — Union Education Minister
  2. Jayant Chaudhary — Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
  3. Sanjay Kumar — Secretary, Department of School Education & Literacy
  4. Karthik Raman — Chairman, CBSE
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q19. With reference to the development and launch of the CBSE CT+AI curriculum, consider the following statements: 1. The resource material was prepared by an expert committee chaired by a faculty member of IIT Madras. 2. CBSE is the implementing body for the curriculum under the Department of School Education & Literacy. 3. The curriculum was formally launched at IIT Madras, Chennai. 4. The curriculum is scheduled for rollout from the academic session 2026-27. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The resource material was prepared by an expert committee chaired by a faculty member of IIT Madras.
  2. CBSE is the implementing body for the curriculum under the Department of School Education & Literacy.
  3. The curriculum was formally launched at IIT Madras, Chennai.
  4. The curriculum is scheduled for rollout from the academic session 2026-27.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q20. The 5+3+3+4 curricular and pedagogical structure that NCF-SE 2023 elaborates into four stages was mandated by which one of the following?

  • A. National Education Policy 2020
  • B. National Curriculum Framework 2005
  • C. Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009
  • D. National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 itself

Q21. With reference to the policy lineage of the CBSE CT+AI curriculum, consider the following statements: 1. NEP 2020 recommended the introduction of coding from the Middle Stage. 2. The National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage was released in 2022. 3. NCF-SE 2023 was developed by NCERT. 4. NEP 2020 was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2019. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. NEP 2020 recommended the introduction of coding from the Middle Stage.
  2. The National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage was released in 2022.
  3. NCF-SE 2023 was developed by NCERT.
  4. NEP 2020 was approved by the Union Cabinet in 2019.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q22. The CBSE, which has launched the CT+AI curriculum operationalising NEP 2020, functions under which one of the following?

  • A. Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education
  • B. Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education
  • C. Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
  • D. Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology

Q23. The CBSE Computational Thinking and AI curriculum for Classes III–VIII draws its curricular base primarily from which of the following framework documents released in 2023?

  • A. National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023
  • B. National Curriculum Framework for the Foundational Stage 2022
  • C. National Curriculum Framework for Teacher Education 2009
  • D. National Curriculum Framework 2005

Q24. The Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence curriculum newly launched by CBSE is designed to span how many consecutive classes (grades)?

  • A. Five classes
  • B. Six classes
  • C. Seven classes
  • D. Eight classes