Where is the Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC), in the news for upgrades under PM E-DRIVE, located?
- A.Manesar, Haryana
- B.Oragadam, Chennai
- C.Ahmednagar, Maharashtra
- D.Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is Oragadam, Chennai. The Global Automotive Research Centre sits at Oragadam on the outskirts of Chennai and works under the National Automotive Board of the Ministry of Heavy Industries. It is an authorised testing agency under Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, which permits it to test vehicles and components and to carry out homologation and certification. Its new and upgraded facilities cover electric vehicle and battery testing to the AIS-156 standard, EMI and EMC testing under AIS-004 Part 3 Rev.1, heavy commercial vehicle testing, an improved powertrain laboratory, advanced passive safety testing and ADAS testing. Options A, C and D name places associated with other automotive testing and research establishments in the country, but none of them is the site of GARC, so each is incorrect here.
Read the full article: PM E-DRIVE: GARC Gets Rs 221.13 Crore for EV Testing
Practice Questions
Under which central scheme is the Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC) upgrading its vehicle testing infrastructure?
- A.FAME India Phase II
- B.PM E-DRIVE
- C.PM-KUSUM
- D.PLI Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell
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GARC, which works under the National Automotive Board, is modernising its laboratories with funds from this scheme, and it has been allotted Rs 221.13 crore for the purpose.
Read the full explanation →What is the total outlay of the PM E-DRIVE scheme?
- A.Rs 7,800 crore
- B.Rs 10,900 crore
- C.Rs 13,500 crore
- D.Rs 22,113 crore
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That is the total outlay of the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement scheme, and within it Rs 780 crore has been earmarked for upgrading the testing agencies that certify vehicles in India.
Read the full explanation →As of 6 November 2026, how many equipment items were listed on the I-STEM portal?
- A.4,044
- B.18,250
- C.31,540
- D.45,000
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As of 6 November 2026, the day its API integration with the Startup India Portal was launched, I-STEM listed 31,540 equipment items across 4,044 registered institutions, giving researchers and innovators a large national pool of scientific resources.
Read the full explanation →Who chaired the launch of the API integration between the Startup India and I-STEM portals on 6 November 2026?
- A.Dr. Parvinder Maini
- B.Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood
- C.Ateesh Kumar Singh
- D.Dr. Vishal Choudhary
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He described the integration as an institutional convergence that can lower R&D costs, avoid duplication of capital-intensive facilities and raise the use of publicly funded infrastructure.
Read the full explanation →What does the acronym I-STEM, whose portal was integrated with the Startup India Portal in November 2026, stand for?
- A.Indian Scheme for Technology and Engineering Mentorship
- B.Indian Science, Technology and Engineering Facilities Map
- C.Integrated Startup Technology Enablement Mission
- D.Indian Society for Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
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I-STEM is the portal that maps scientific equipment and research facilities across academic and research institutions so that they can be shared.
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