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 51–60 of 88 questions
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Skill Development and Employment Generation
Q51. Consider the following statements regarding rural development and employment programs: I. The PURA (Provision of Urban Amenities to Rural Areas) concept was envisioned by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. II. The Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban Mission aims to develop a cluster of smart villages. III. These schemes intend to curb distress migration by bridging the rural-urban divide. IV. Both schemes focus heavily on establishing large-scale metropolitan airports in villages. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Rural development initiatives like the smart cluster mission and the urban amenities concept aim to bridge the rural-urban divide. By improving local infrastructure and economic opportunities, these programs help reduce distress migration to cities. While they focus on creating essential services like healthcare, education, and digital connectivity within village clusters, the establishment of large-scale metropolitan airports is not part of their mandate.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Skill Development and Employment Generation
Q52. Consider the following statements regarding the PM SVANidhi scheme: Statement I: The scheme encourages the digital empowerment of street vendors by offering monthly cashback incentives on digital transactions. Statement II: The scheme requires vendors to deposit heavy gold collateral to avail the working capital loan. Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
The PM SVANidhi scheme encourages the digital empowerment of street vendors by offering monthly cashback incentives to those who adopt electronic payment methods. This initiative helps vendors build a verifiable digital footprint. Importantly, the scheme is designed to be accessible to poor urban dwellers; therefore, it does not require any collateral, such as gold or property, to avail of the working capital loan.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Skill Development and Employment Generation
Q53. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R): Assertion (A): Disguised unemployment in agriculture does not negatively affect the total farm output if surplus workers are withdrawn. Reason (R): The marginal physical productivity of the surplus workers in a situation of disguised unemployment is essentially zero. In the context of the above statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
In many agricultural regions, the presence of more workers than necessary leads to disguised unemployment. Because the marginal physical productivity of these surplus laborers is essentially zero, their withdrawal does not decrease the total farm output. This situation indicates that the available labor is not being utilized efficiently, highlighting the urgent need for creating non-farm employment opportunities to absorb the excess rural workforce.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Skill Development and Employment Generation
Q54. Match the technological trends of the "Future of Work" in List I with their primary employment implications in List II:
Technological Trends
Employment Implications
A. Artificial Intelligence
i. Transition from long-term contracts to freelance, task-based work
B. Gig Economy Platforms
ii. Automation of cognitive tasks and data analysis
C. Blockchain Technology
iii. Demand for skills in secure, decentralized digital ledger systems
D. Internet of Things (IoT)
iv. Demand for hardware-software integration and smart sensor management
Explanation
Technological advancements are fundamentally changing employment dynamics. Artificial intelligence automates complex cognitive tasks, while gig platforms facilitate a shift toward freelance work. Blockchain creates demand for experts in secure, decentralized ledgers. Additionally, the growth of interconnected devices requires professionals skilled in managing sensors and hardware-software integration. Understanding these implications is vital for aligning education and training with the evolving requirements of the global digital economy.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Skill Development and Employment Generation
Q55. Consider the following stages of the skill acquisition and placement process:
Explanation
The standard process for skill development programs begins with mobilization, where potential candidates are identified and encouraged to enroll. Once enrolled, they undergo rigorous vocational training followed by a formal assessment to evaluate their progress. Successful candidates receive official certification, which validates their competencies. The final and most crucial stage is placement, where certified individuals are connected with relevant employment opportunities.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Skill Development and Employment Generation
Q56. The apex decision-making body of the National Skill Development Mission (NSDM) is its Governing Council. Who serves as the Chairperson of this Governing Council?
Explanation
The National Skill Development Mission features a robust governance structure to ensure high-level political commitment. At the apex level, the Governing Council is chaired by the Prime Minister of India. This council provides the overarching policy direction and monitors the progress of skilling initiatives across various ministries. Having the Prime Minister at the helm ensures better coordination and prioritized implementation of national skills programs.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Skill Development and Employment Generation
Q57. The funding model of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) involves providing financial assistance to the private sector. This financial assistance is primarily delivered in which form?
Explanation
To catalyze the growth of a sustainable vocational training ecosystem, the National Skill Development Corporation provides critical financial assistance to private sector partners. This support is primarily delivered through soft loans with favorable terms and equity investments in training ventures. This funding model encourages private entities to establish high-quality training centers while maintaining financial accountability, rather than relying solely on non-refundable government grants.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Skill Development and Employment Generation
Q58. Consider the following statements regarding the third iteration of PMKVY (PMKVY 3.0): I. It marked a shift towards a more decentralized approach with greater responsibilities given to States/UTs. II. District Skill Committees (DSCs) were empowered to identify local skill gaps and mobilize candidates. III. It introduced an exclusive focus on IT and coding skills, banning all traditional vocational courses. IV. It was heavily integrated with the ‘Skill India Portal’ for robust data management. V. It was designed to cater strictly to the age group of 45-60 years. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The third phase of the national skill development scheme introduced a decentralized approach by empowering District Skill Committees to identify local needs. It leveraged the integrated skill portal for better data management and tracking. While it focused on modernizing skills, it did not ban traditional courses or restrict age groups to older adults. Instead, it sought to make the skilling process more responsive to regional industrial requirements.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Skill Development and Employment Generation
Q59. Identify the correct pair among the following initiatives operating under the Skill India Mission:
Explanation
SANKALP is a centrally sponsored scheme to strengthen institutional mechanisms and quality in skill development. UDAAN, STRIVE and JSS are described wrongly in the other options.
RAS PrelimsIndian Economy · Skill Development and Employment Generation
Q60. Consider the following statements regarding Apprenticeship Training in India: I. The Apprentices Act, 1961 makes it legally optional for all companies, regardless of size, to engage apprentices. II. Apprentices are legally considered regular employees and are entitled to provident fund and bonus benefits. III. The National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) covers degree and diploma holders in engineering and non-engineering streams. Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The Apprentices Act, 1961 makes engaging apprentices mandatory for establishments above a size, not optional, and apprentices are trainees and not regular employees. NATS covers degree and diploma holders, so only I and II are incorrect.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
51
(a) I, II, and III only
52
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.
53
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
54
(a) A-ii, B-i, C-iii, D-iv
55
(b) Mobilization Training Assessment Certification Placement
56
(d) Prime Minister of India
57
(a) Soft loans and equity investments
58
(a) I, II, and IV only
59
(b) SANKALP : Centrally sponsored scheme for institutional mechanisms and quality
60
(a) I and II only
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.
