Q11. Which of the following is the most direct economic effect of the rapidly expanding start-up ecosystem in India’s metropolitan cities?
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.
Showing 11–20 of 88 questions
Q12. Consider the following landmark government initiatives targeting employment and livelihood:
I. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
II. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
III. PM SVANidhi
IV. Startup India Action Plan
Which of the following represents the correct chronological order of their launch?
I. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
II. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
III. PM SVANidhi
IV. Startup India Action Plan
Which of the following represents the correct chronological order of their launch?
Explanation
Landmark employment initiatives followed a specific timeline in India. The rural employment guarantee act was passed in two thousand five, followed by the skill development scheme in two thousand fifteen. The startup action plan was subsequently launched in early two thousand sixteen. Finally, the specialized scheme for street vendors was introduced in two thousand twenty to provide relief during the pandemic.
Q13. India is currently experiencing a "demographic dividend." Which of the following is an exception to the conditions required for a country to reap the benefits of this demographic dividend?
Explanation
To capitalize on a demographic dividend, a country requires a high proportion of working-age individuals relative to dependents. A sudden surge in fertility rates would increase the child dependency ratio, diverting resources from productive investments into basic childcare. Successful realization of the dividend instead depends on improved healthcare, quality education, skill development, and the creation of ample employment opportunities.
Q14. Consider the following statements regarding the recent Labour Reforms in India (the Four Labour Codes):
I. The Code on Wages universally applies minimum wages across all sectors.
II. The Industrial Relations Code increases the threshold for requiring government permission for retrenchment from 100 to 300 workers.
III. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code mandates welfare facilities for inter-state migrant workers.
IV. The Code on Social Security introduces a framework to provide social security to gig workers and platform workers.
V. The Four Labour Codes were created by adding 29 entirely new laws to the Constitution without replacing any existing central labour acts.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. The Code on Wages universally applies minimum wages across all sectors.
II. The Industrial Relations Code increases the threshold for requiring government permission for retrenchment from 100 to 300 workers.
III. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code mandates welfare facilities for inter-state migrant workers.
IV. The Code on Social Security introduces a framework to provide social security to gig workers and platform workers.
V. The Four Labour Codes were created by adding 29 entirely new laws to the Constitution without replacing any existing central labour acts.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The recent labor reforms in India involved the consolidation of twenty-nine existing central labor laws into four simplified codes. These codes address wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety. The claim that these codes were created without replacing any existing acts is incorrect, as the primary objective of this legislative overhaul was to modernize and streamline the historical legal framework.
Q15. Which of the following characteristics is the odd one out when describing employment in the informal sector in India?
Explanation
The informal sector in India is primarily characterized by the absence of formal legal protections and social security benefits for workers. Employment in this segment typically lacks written contracts, paid leave, and job security, making individuals highly vulnerable to economic fluctuations. Mandatory enrollment in retirement funds like the provident fund organization is a hallmark of formal employment and does not apply here.
Q16. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in India has historically been significantly lower than the male participation rate.
Statement II: The burden of unpaid domestic care work is one of the primary structural constraints limiting women’s participation in the formal workforce.
Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Statement I: The Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) in India has historically been significantly lower than the male participation rate.
Statement II: The burden of unpaid domestic care work is one of the primary structural constraints limiting women’s participation in the formal workforce.
Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
Female labor participation in India remains lower than male participation due to various deep-seated structural and social factors. One of the most significant barriers is the disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic care work placed on women. This responsibility often prevents them from seeking or maintaining formal employment, highlighting the need for policies that support child care and flexible working arrangements.
Q17. Which of the following is the most appropriate description of the SVAMITVA scheme’s role in the rural economy?
Explanation
The SVAMITVA scheme utilizes advanced drone technology to accurately map land parcels in rural inhabited areas. By providing villagers with formal property cards, the initiative establishes clear ownership records for residential assets. These legal documents allow rural residents to use their property as financial collateral, thereby facilitating access to institutional credit and reducing land-related disputes within the village community.
Q18. In the context of the PM SVANidhi scheme, identify the correct pair of loan tranches available to street vendors upon timely repayment:
Explanation
The PM SVANidhi scheme provides affordable working capital loans to street vendors to help them resume their livelihoods. Initially, vendors can access a first tranche of ten thousand rupees. Upon timely repayment of this initial loan, they become eligible for an enhanced second tranche of twenty thousand rupees. This graduated credit structure encourages financial discipline and helps vendors build credit history.
Q19. A family of six is working on a 2-hectare agricultural farm. Even if two members migrate to the city for work, the total agricultural output of the farm remains unchanged. This scenario is a classic application of which economic concept?
Explanation
Disguised unemployment is a common phenomenon in the agricultural sector where the number of people working on a farm exceeds the actual requirement. In such cases, the marginal productivity of additional workers is zero, meaning their removal does not decrease the total output. This situation reflects a lack of alternative employment opportunities, forcing family members to share existing agricultural tasks inefficiently.
Q20. In the context of the "Future of Work," the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation in manufacturing is most likely to result in which of the following?
Explanation
The integration of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and automation is reshaping the manufacturing landscape. These tools primarily automate routine, repetitive tasks that were previously performed by human workers. However, this shift simultaneously increases the demand for high-level cognitive skills, complex problem-solving abilities, and technical expertise required to manage, maintain, and innovate alongside these sophisticated robotic and digital systems.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 11 | (d) Growth of the gig economy and platform- based employment |
| 12 | (b) I, II, IV, III |
| 13 | (c) A sudden increase in total fertility and child dependency |
| 14 | (c) V only |
| 15 | (a) Mandatory enrollment in the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) |
| 16 | (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct. |
| 17 | (b) Mapping rural lands with drones to provide property records for securing credit |
| 18 | (b) 1st Tranche: Rs 10,000 | 2nd Tranche: Rs 20,000 |
| 19 | (c) Disguised unemployment |
| 20 | (d) Substituting routine tasks while increasing demand for complex problem-solving |
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.