Education & Skill Schemes — Set 10

Correct Answer: B. Upper primary education for disadvantaged girls

KGBVs specifically focus on providing upper primary education (classes 6-8) for girls from SC, ST, OBC, minority, and BPL families in educationally backward blocks. They are residential schools ensuring safe and supportive environments for girls who might otherwise drop out. KGBV addresses structural barriers to girls' education including distance, safety, and poverty.

Correct Answer: B. Developing world-class institutions to improve global rankings

The primary objective of the Institutes of Eminence scheme is to develop 20 top Indian institutions into world-class universities that compete globally in research, teaching, and innovation. These institutes get financial support, academic autonomy, and freedom from regulatory constraints. The goal is to place Indian universities in global top 500 rankings.

Correct Answer: B. Providing long-term loans repayable from institutional revenues

HEFA provides long-term, interest-bearing loans to central educational institutions for capital works such as building new labs, classrooms, hostels, and libraries. These loans are repaid by institutions from their internal revenues like fees and grants. HEFA enables institutions to upgrade infrastructure without depending on budgetary allocations.

Correct Answer: B. Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) in targeted districts

Under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) improved significantly in many targeted districts after 2015. The scheme combines awareness campaigns, strict enforcement of PC-PNDT Act, and incentives for girl child enrollment in school. National-level improvements in SRB have been recorded since the scheme's launch.

Correct Answer: B. 49% government equity

NSDC was set up as a public-private partnership with the Government of India holding 49% equity and the private sector holding 51%. This minority government stake was intentional to encourage private sector leadership in skill development. The government has since increased its engagement through the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Correct Answer: C. 2026-27

The NIPUN Bharat mission sets 2026-27 as the target year to ensure that all children attain basic reading and arithmetic skills by the end of Grade 3. The mission monitors progress at state and district levels using assessment frameworks. It was launched in July 2021 as a national mission under Samagra Shiksha.

Correct Answer: B. Core competencies and application of knowledge

NEP 2020 recommends transforming board examinations to test core competencies, higher order thinking, application, analysis, and critical thinking rather than rote memorization. The policy also proposes offering board exams twice a year to reduce stress on students. This shift aims to make exams a tool for learning rather than a source of anxiety.

Correct Answer: B. Providing non-formal vocational training to neo-literate and illiterate adults

Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSS) provide non-formal vocational training and skill development to neo-literate, semi-literate, and school dropout adults, particularly women, SC, ST, and OBC communities. They focus on skills that are marketable in the local economy. JSS operates under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Correct Answer: B. Atmanirbhar Bharat package

PM eVIDYA was launched in May 2020 as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package announced to mitigate the economic and social impact of COVID-19. It integrated DIKSHA, SWAYAM, SWAYAM PRABHA, and the One Class One Channel initiative under a unified framework. PM eVIDYA transformed India's approach to digital and remote learning.

Correct Answer: C. 18+ languages including regional languages

DIKSHA hosts content in 18+ languages including major regional languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, and others. This multilingual approach ensures that students across all states can access curriculum-aligned digital content in their own languages. DIKSHA has been adopted by all states and UTs as their school e-learning platform.