Q11. Which of the following best defines the primary objective of the Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) scheme?
Social Justice and Empowerment: RAS Prelims MCQs
48 RAS Prelims MCQs on social justice and empowerment cover the constitutional provisions, commissions and welfare schemes. Article 15, the Mandal Commission, the 103rd Amendment on EWS reservation, the Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, minority welfare schemes and the laws for senior citizens and Denotified Tribes 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 48 questions
Q12. Which of the following portals or schemes is the odd one out, as it is not primarily related to the welfare of senior citizens?
Explanation
PM-DAKSH is a national action plan for skilling marginalized groups, including Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes, to enhance their employability. It is not primarily focused on senior citizens. Conversely, the SACRED and SAGE portals, along with Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana, are specifically designed to provide employment, elderly care products, and physical aids to the elderly, ensuring their social and economic well-being.
Q13. Arrange the following child welfare and nutrition programmes in the chronological order of their initial launch:
I. Mid-Day Meal Scheme (National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education)
II. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
III. Poshan Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission)
IV. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
I. Mid-Day Meal Scheme (National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education)
II. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS)
III. Poshan Abhiyan (National Nutrition Mission)
IV. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Explanation
The evolution of child welfare in India began with the Integrated Child Development Services in 1975, followed by the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in 1995 to improve school nutrition. Later, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative was launched in 2015 to protect the girl child. Finally, the Poshan Abhiyan was introduced in 2018 as a comprehensive mission to eradicate malnutrition across the country.
Q14. What is the most appropriate description of the primary objective of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)?
Explanation
The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana aims to safeguard the health of women and children by providing clean cooking fuel through LPG connections. By replacing traditional fuels like firewood and coal, the scheme reduces indoor air pollution and respiratory illnesses. It empowers women by saving their time and improving their quality of life, particularly for those living in households below the poverty line.
Q15. Consider the following schemes and organizations related to social security in India:
I. Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
II. Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)
III. Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
IV. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM)
V. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
Which of the combination represents schemes primarily providing old age pension or post-retirement financial security directly to unorganized sector workers?
I. Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
II. Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC)
III. Atal Pension Yojana (APY)
IV. Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM)
V. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)
Which of the combination represents schemes primarily providing old age pension or post-retirement financial security directly to unorganized sector workers?
Explanation
The Atal Pension Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan are key social security schemes designed to provide post-retirement financial security to workers in the unorganized sector. These schemes offer guaranteed monthly pensions to subscribers after they reach sixty years of age. Unlike MGNREGA or ESIC, these initiatives focus specifically on voluntary contributions and government co-contributions to build a dedicated retirement corpus.
Q16. Identify the correct pair regarding minority welfare schemes and their target areas:
Explanation
Padho Pardesh gives an interest subsidy on loans for overseas studies for minority students. The other schemes are described with the wrong purposes.
Q17. The Denotified Tribes (DNTs) in India refers specifically to those communities that were:
Explanation
Denotified Tribes are the communities that were notified as criminal tribes under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 and were denotified after independence.
Q18. Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)?
Explanation
Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana is a completely government-funded scheme, and beneficiaries are not required to pay any annual premium to maintain their health cover. It provides five lakh rupees per family annually for secondary and tertiary care. Beneficiary identification is primarily based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 data, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations receive medical treatment.
Q19. Consider the following statements regarding Article 16 of the Constitution:
I. It guarantees equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment under the State.
II. It permits the State to make provisions for the reservation of appointments in favor of any backward class of citizens.
III. It explicitly prohibits reservation in promotions for all categories of employees.
Which of the combination of statements given above is incorrect?
I. It guarantees equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment under the State.
II. It permits the State to make provisions for the reservation of appointments in favor of any backward class of citizens.
III. It explicitly prohibits reservation in promotions for all categories of employees.
Which of the combination of statements given above is incorrect?
Explanation
Article 16 of the Constitution guarantees equality of opportunity in public employment but also enables the State to provide reservations for backward classes. Crucially, Clause 4A specifically permits the State to provide reservations in matters of promotion for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Therefore, stating that the article explicitly prohibits reservations in promotions for all categories is legally incorrect under the current constitutional framework.
Q20. Consider the following statements regarding the evolution of the reservation policy:
Statement I: The Poona Pact of 1932 resulted in the abandonment of separate electorates for the depressed classes in favor of reserved seats within the general Hindu electorate.
Statement II: The Communal Award of 1932 was strictly opposed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as it denied representation to the depressed classes.
Which of the following is correct?
Statement I: The Poona Pact of 1932 resulted in the abandonment of separate electorates for the depressed classes in favor of reserved seats within the general Hindu electorate.
Statement II: The Communal Award of 1932 was strictly opposed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as it denied representation to the depressed classes.
Which of the following is correct?
Explanation
The Poona Pact of 1932 was a significant agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. It led to the rejection of separate electorates for depressed classes in favor of reserved seats within the general electorate. While Ambedkar initially supported the Communal Award for providing separate representation, Gandhi’s opposition led to the compromise. This event was pivotal in shaping India’s reservation policies.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 11 | (d) To empower rural women by facilitating community participation and access to various government schemes |
| 12 | (c) PM-DAKSH Yojana |
| 13 | (d) II, I, IV, III |
| 14 | (a) To protect the health of women and children by providing clean cooking fuel via LPG connections |
| 15 | (b) III and IV |
| 16 | (b) Padho Pardesh - Interest subsidy on loans for overseas studies |
| 17 | (a) Notified as "criminal tribes" under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 |
| 18 | (d) The scheme requires beneficiaries to pay an annual premium of Rs. 1000 to maintain the health cover. |
| 19 | (c) III only |
| 20 | (c) Statement I is true but Statement II is false |
Key facts from Social Justice and Empowerment
- Article 15 prohibits discrimination only on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
- The Mandal Commission, the Second Backward Classes Commission, was appointed in 1979.
- The 103rd Amendment, which introduced EWS reservation, amended Articles 15 and 16.
- Under PMUY, beneficiaries are identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 and the support is Rs 1,600 per connection.
- Ayushman Bharat PMJAY covers 3 days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days of post-hospitalisation costs.
- Padho Pardesh gives an interest subsidy on loans for overseas studies; Denotified Tribes were those notified under the Criminal Tribes Act of 1871.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Social Justice and Empowerment?
This page has 48 practice MCQs on Social Justice and Empowerment (Indian Economy). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
When was the Mandal Commission appointed?
In 1979, as the Second Backward Classes Commission under B. P. Mandal. Its recommendation of 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes in central posts was implemented in 1990.
Which Amendment introduced EWS reservation?
The 103rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 2019, which amended Articles 15 and 16 to allow reservation for economically weaker sections in education and public employment, up to 10 per cent.
What does PM Ujjwala Yojana provide?
Free LPG connections to women from poor households, identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011, with a financial support of Rs 1,600 per connection to meet the cost of the connection.