Q1. Which of the following best defines the "skill gap" in the context of the Indian labor market?
Skill Development and Employment Generation: RAS Prelims MCQs
88 RAS Prelims MCQs on skill development and employment cover the institutions of skilling, the schemes for jobs and the measurement of unemployment. NSDC, PMKVY and RPL, NAPS, SANKALP and STRIVE, MGNREGA, PM-SYM, SVAMITVA, the PLFS and the Four Labour Codes are asked as facts, matches and statements.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
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Q2. Match the sub-missions under the National Skill Development Mission in List I with their core objectives in List II:
| Sub-missions | Core Objectives |
|---|---|
| A. Institutional Training | i. Coordinating skill efforts across various Central and State ministries |
| B. Convergence | ii. Upgrading ITIs and improving training delivery |
| C. Trainers | iii. Ensuring global mobility of skilled Indian workers |
| D. Overseas Employment | iv. Improving the quality and availability of vocational teachers |
Explanation
The National Skill Development Mission utilizes specialized sub-missions to streamline vocational training. Institutional training focuses on upgrading Industrial Training Institutes for better delivery. Convergence ensures unified efforts across various ministries. The trainers sub-mission improves teacher quality, while overseas employment initiatives facilitate global mobility for the Indian workforce. These components collectively aim to create a highly skilled and employable labor pool.
Q3. Which of the following statements regarding the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is incorrect?
Explanation
The National Skill Development Corporation is a unique public-private partnership where the private sector holds a majority stake of fifty-one percent. The Government of India, through the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, maintains the remaining forty-nine percent of the equity. This structure allows for industry-led initiatives in the skilling landscape while receiving strategic government support.
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY):
I. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
II. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a key component to certify individuals with informally acquired skills.
III. The scheme places the entire financial burden of training on the enrolled candidates.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
II. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a key component to certify individuals with informally acquired skills.
III. The scheme places the entire financial burden of training on the enrolled candidates.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana serves as the premier scheme for skill certification under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. It incorporates Recognition of Prior Learning to validate competencies acquired through informal experience. Unlike many vocational programs, the scheme provides free training and monetary rewards, ensuring that the financial burden does not fall on candidates.
Q5. The Skill India Mission, launched in 2015, originally set a quantitative target to train a specific number of individuals by the year 2022. What was this target?
Explanation
When the Skill India Mission was officially inaugurated in July 2015, the government established an ambitious quantitative objective. The primary goal was to provide vocational training and certification to over forty crore individuals by the year 2022. This target encompassed several flagship schemes designed to improve employability and standardise training protocols across diverse industrial sectors nationwide.
Q6. Given below are two statements, one labeled as
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in India have increasingly adopted the Dual System of Training (DST).
Reason (R): The Dual System of Training bridges the gap between theoretical learning and practical industry requirements by integrating on-the-job training. In the context of the above statements, which one of the following is correct?
Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R):
Assertion (A): Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in India have increasingly adopted the Dual System of Training (DST).
Reason (R): The Dual System of Training bridges the gap between theoretical learning and practical industry requirements by integrating on-the-job training. In the context of the above statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
Industrial Training Institutes are adopting the Dual System of Training to better prepare students for the modern job market. This model combines theoretical classroom education with practical on-the-job training within industrial units. By allowing students to gain real-world experience during their course, the system effectively bridges the historical gap between vocational education and actual industrial requirements.
Q7. Under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), what is the maximum percentage of the prescribed stipend that the Government of India reimburses to the employer?
Explanation
The National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme provides financial incentives to encourage establishments to engage more apprentices. Under this initiative, the Government of India reimburses twenty-five percent of the prescribed monthly stipend paid to each apprentice, capped at fifteen hundred rupees. This financial support reduces the burden on employers, particularly small enterprises, while promoting essential hands-on learning opportunities.
Q8. Match the types of unemployment in List I with their defining characteristics in List II:
| Types of Unemployment | Defining Characteristics |
|---|---|
| A. Structural Unemployment | i. Temporary unemployment when workers are transitioning between jobs |
| B. Frictional Unemployment | ii. More workers are engaged in a job than actually required |
| C. Cyclical Unemployment | iii. Job losses due to an economic recession or downturn |
| D. Disguised Unemployment | iv. Mismatch between the skills workers possess and the skills demanded by industry |
Explanation
Different types of unemployment reflect various economic conditions. Structural issues arise from a mismatch between worker skills and industry needs. Frictional unemployment occurs during brief transitions between jobs. Cyclical trends are linked to economic downturns and recessions.
Q9. Consider the following statements regarding the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA):
I. It guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
II. At least one-third of the beneficiaries under the scheme must be women.
III. If work is not provided within 15 days of demand, the applicant is entitled to an unemployment allowance.
IV. Social audits of MGNREGA works are mandatorily conducted by the State Government officials only.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. It guarantees 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to a rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
II. At least one-third of the beneficiaries under the scheme must be women.
III. If work is not provided within 15 days of demand, the applicant is entitled to an unemployment allowance.
IV. Social audits of MGNREGA works are mandatorily conducted by the State Government officials only.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act provides a legal guarantee for one hundred days of wage employment to rural households. It emphasizes gender equality by reserving one-third of jobs for women. Furthermore, the provision of an unemployment allowance ensures government accountability if work is not offered within fifteen days. Social audits are conducted by the Gram Sabha.
Q10. Which of the following statements correctly describes the primary objective of the Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY)?
Explanation
The Pradhan Mantri Rozgar Protsahan Yojana was designed to encourage employers to hire more workers in the formal sector. By paying the full employer contribution towards the Employee Pension Scheme and Employee Provident Fund for new employees, the government significantly reduces recruitment costs. This initiative facilitates the formalization of the workforce while ensuring that more workers receive social security benefits.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | (b) Disparity between workforce skills and those demanded by employers |
| 2 | (b) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 3 | (c) The Government of India holds 100 percent of the equity base of NSDC. |
| 4 | (a) I and II only |
| 5 | (c) 40 crore individuals |
| 6 | (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A. |
| 7 | (d) 25 percent |
| 8 | (a) A-iv, B-i, C-iii, D-ii |
| 9 | (b) I, II, and III only |
| 10 | (a) Incentivizing formal employment by paying the employer’s contribution to the Pension Scheme |
Key facts from Skill Development and Employment Generation
- The order of institutions is ITIs (1950s), NSDC (2008), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (2014) and the National Skill Development Mission (2015).
- SANKALP is a World Bank assisted project for institutional mechanisms; STRIVE is for the relevance and efficiency of ITIs; NAPS gives financial support to employers for apprentices.
- The Rajasthan Skill and Livelihoods Development Corporation (RSLDC) is the apex State body for skill development.
- Under MGNREGA, the State pays an unemployment allowance if work is not given within 15 days of demand.
- The Periodic Labour Force Survey gives urban estimates quarterly; PM-SYM promises a minimum pension of Rs 3,000 a month after age 60.
- The Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana was a response to COVID-19; 29 central labour laws were merged into four Labour Codes.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Skill Development and Employment Generation?
This page has 88 practice MCQs on Skill Development and Employment Generation (Indian Economy). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
What is the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) under PMKVY?
A component that certifies the informally acquired skills of uncertified workers against the National Skills Qualification Framework. It helps workers to get formal recognition and better jobs, and it also builds their self-esteem and employability.
Who pays the unemployment allowance under MGNREGA?
The State Government. If a rural applicant demands work and the Gram Panchayat cannot provide it within 15 days, the State must pay the allowance at the rate laid down in the Act.
How often does the PLFS give urban estimates?
Quarterly. The Periodic Labour Force Survey was launched to get high-frequency data on labour force, employment and unemployment, and it also gives annual estimates for both rural and urban areas.