UPPCS Prelims 2020 · GS Paper I: Human Development Report 1997 introduced the concept of Human Poverty Index (HPI) but Human…

UPPCS Prelims 2020 · GS Paper I

Human Development Report 1997 introduced the concept of Human Poverty Index (HPI) but Human Development Report replaced it with Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) in the year

Answer (c) & explanation

Option (c), 2010, is correct. The Human Development Report 1997 introduced the Human Poverty Index, later split into HPI-1 for developing and HPI-2 for developed countries. The Human Development Report 2010, the 20th-anniversary edition, replaced it with the Multidimensional Poverty Index, developed with Oxford's Poverty and Human Development Initiative. The MPI uses ten indicators across health (nutrition, child mortality), education (years of schooling, attendance) and living standards (cooking fuel, sanitation, water, electricity, housing, assets). 1999 (a), 2005 (b) and 2015 (d) are wrong. Concept: 2010 also brought the Inequality-adjusted HDI and the Gender Inequality Index. NITI Aayog estimated that 24.8 crore Indians escaped multidimensional poverty between 2013-14 and 2022-23.

Trap

The HPI came in 1997, and the MPI replaced it in 2010, not 2005.

Question as printed in UPPSC's official question booklet. Source: uppsc.up.nic.in

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UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I

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The sub-indices are Access, Usage and Quality (c). The RBI launched the FI-Index in August 2021. It covers banking, investments, insurance, postal services and pension, and gives one value between 0 and 100. Its three parameters are Access (35%), Usage (45%) and Quality (20%). Options (a), (b) and (d) list areas or ideas that are not its sub-indices; GDP contribution and affordability are not parameters.

Notice the logic: usage has the most weight, because an account that is never used does not mean real inclusion. Quality includes financial literacy and consumer protection. The index is published every July, and it has risen steadily, helped by Jan Dhan (2014) and UPI.

Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.

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UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I

Which one of the following best describes the key objective of India's 'Open Network for Digital Commerce' (ONDC) initiative ?

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ONDC aims to break the dominance of large platforms (c). The Open Network for Digital Commerce, a DPIIT initiative (2021-22), is an open set of rules, like UPI for shopping. A buyer on one app can buy from a seller listed on another app. This interoperability lets small sellers reach buyers without joining a giant platform. Option (a) is wrong: it does not give the government control of transactions. Option (b) is wrong: private players can join; they are not replaced. Option (d) is wrong: it does not force UPI payments.

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options (a), (b) and (d) use strong words: "all", "replace", "mandate". A public digital platform usually opens a market; it does not take it over.

Answer as per the official UPSC answer key.

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UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I

Which one of the following statements about Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Central Bank Digital Currency (Digital Rupee) is not correct ?

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Statement (d) is not correct (d). Under UPI, money moves between bank accounts; the deposit is a liability of the bank. The Digital Rupee (e₹) is like a currency note in digital form, a direct liability of the RBI, not of users or banks. Option (a) is correct: UPI is a payment system, while the e-rupee is sovereign currency. Option (b) is correct: an e-rupee transfer moves value from wallet to wallet with no separate settlement. Option (c) is correct: e-rupee wallet transactions do not appear in bank statements.

Notice the legal base: the RBI Act was amended in 2022 to let the RBI issue a CBDC. Pilots began that year in wholesale (e₹-W) and retail (e₹-R) forms.

Trap

a "not correct" question. Look for the statement that puts the RBI's liability on someone else.

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UPSC Prelims 2026 · GS Paper I

Which of the following statements about Real-World Assets (RWA) Tokenization are correct ?

  • 1. Tokenization is the process of turning real world assets into digital tokens using blockchain technology.
  • 2. Tokenization of real world assets offers 24x7 access, promoting financial inclusion.
  • 3. Tokenization of real world assets will allow the access to high growth investment opportunities for individuals in India.

Select the answer using the code given below :

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All three statements are correct (a). Statement 1 is right: tokenization turns a real asset, like a building, bond or gold, into digital tokens recorded on a blockchain. Statement 2 is right: tokens can be traded 24x7, which widens financial inclusion. Statement 3 is right: small, fractional tokens let ordinary individuals get into high-growth investments that once needed crores. So options (b), (c) and (d) fail.

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