01
With reference to labour-market indicators, consider the following statements:
- The Labour Force Participation Rate includes employed persons and unemployed persons seeking or available for work.
- The Worker Population Ratio measures employed persons as a proportion of the labour force.
- A helper in a household enterprise may be classified as employed even without receiving a separate wage.
- A low unemployment rate necessarily implies a high Worker Population Ratio.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Correct Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only
Statement-wise Analysis
Statement 1
Correct − The labour force consists
of employed persons and those unemployed persons who satisfy the
relevant availability or job-search criteria.
Statement 2
Incorrect − The Worker Population
Ratio uses the population, not the labour force, as its denominator.
Statement 3
Correct − Unpaid helpers contributing
to household economic enterprises may be included within self-employment.
Statement 4
Incorrect − Unemployment can be
low because many people remain outside the labour force; the Worker
Population Ratio may therefore remain low.
02
With reference to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, consider the following statements:
- It was adopted by the International Labour Conference under the framework of the International Labour Organization.
- Fishing vessels, warships and naval auxiliaries are excluded from its general scope of application.
- Failure to pay a seafarer’s contractual wages for at least two months can constitute abandonment under the Convention.
- A foreign ship covered by the Convention may be inspected by a port State only when such inspection has been requested by the flag State.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Correct Answer: (c) Only three
Statement-wise Analysis
Statement 1
Correct − The Maritime Labour
Convention, 2006 was adopted by the 94th Maritime Session of the
International Labour Conference, the principal deliberative body of
the International Labour Organization.
Statement 2
Correct − The Convention generally
covers publicly and privately owned ships ordinarily engaged in
commercial activities, but excludes fishing vessels, ships engaged
in similar pursuits, warships and naval auxiliaries.
Statement 3
Correct − Abandonment includes the
unilateral severance of ties by the shipowner, including failure to
pay contractual wages for a period of at least two months.
Statement 4
Incorrect − A Member State may
inspect a covered foreign ship when it is in one of its ports to
determine compliance with the Convention. A prior request from the
flag State is not prescribed as a necessary condition.
03
With reference to District Mineral Foundations and PMKKKY, consider the following statements:
- District Mineral Foundations derive their statutory basis from the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
- PMKKKY projects are financed through funds accruing to District Mineral Foundations.
- Revised guidelines prescribe minimum expenditure shares for both high-priority sectors and directly affected areas.
- DMF funds may ordinarily discharge every environmental liability that falls upon a mining operator under the polluter-pays principle.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3 only
Statement-wise Analysis
Statement 1
Correct − Section 9B of the Mines
and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 provides for
the establishment of District Mineral Foundations in
mining-affected districts.
Statement 2
Correct − District Mineral
Foundations implement PMKKKY through contributions linked to mining
operations that accrue to the DMF funds.
Statement 3
Correct − The revised guidelines
require at least 70% of expenditure to be directed towards
high-priority sectors and at least 70% of the funds to be utilised
in directly affected areas.
Statement 4
Incorrect − PMKKKY guidelines
state that environmental and other obligations falling upon mining
operators under the polluter-pays principle should not be shifted
to DMF funds.
04
Consider the following statements concerning Section 301 trade action and MFN tariffs:
- Section 301 is part of United States domestic trade law.
- A Section 301 duty may be imposed in addition to the ordinary MFN tariff.
- MFN treatment means that a WTO member must grant its closest strategic partner the lowest tariff.
- Adoption of a forced-labour import prohibition automatically exempts a country’s exports from all U.S. tariffs.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Statement-wise Analysis
Statement 1
Correct − Section 301 forms part
of the United States Trade Act of 1974 and operates under U.S.
domestic trade law.
Statement 2
Correct − A Section 301 duty is an
additional trade measure and may be imposed over and above the
ordinary MFN customs tariff.
Statement 3
Incorrect − MFN treatment is a
principle of non-discrimination under which comparable trading
partners ordinarily receive equal tariff treatment; it does not
reserve the lowest tariff for strategic allies.
Statement 4
Incorrect − A forced-labour
import prohibition may affect market access or tariff policy, but
its adoption does not automatically exempt a country’s exports from
all U.S. tariffs.
05
With reference to national symbols and the legislative process, consider the following statements:
- Article 51A(a) expressly refers to respect for the National Flag and National Anthem.
- Article 51A(a) expressly designates Vande Mataram as the National Song.
- An amendment Bill changes the existing law immediately upon its introduction in either House of Parliament.
- The National Honour Act penalises intentionally preventing the singing of the National Anthem or disturbing an assembly engaged in such singing.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 4 only
Statement-wise Analysis
Statement 1
Correct − Article 51A(a) requires
every citizen to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals
and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem.
Statement 2
Incorrect − Article 51A(a) does
not mention or designate Vande Mataram as the National Song.
Statement 3
Incorrect − Introduction of an
amendment Bill does not alter the existing law. The Bill must be
passed by both Houses of Parliament and receive the President’s
assent before becoming law.
Statement 4
Correct − The Prevention of
Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 penalises intentionally
preventing the singing of the National Anthem or causing disturbance
to an assembly engaged in such singing.
06
Consider the following pairs:
| No. | Institution | Function |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | AERA | Economic regulation of major airports |
| 2. | DGCA | Civil-aviation safety regulation |
| 3. | Competition Commission of India | Granting licences for scheduled airlines |
| 4. | Supreme Court | Court of record under Article 129 |
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Correct Answer: (b) Only three
Pair-wise Analysis
Pair 1
Correct − The Airports Economic
Regulatory Authority regulates aeronautical tariffs and performance
standards at major airports.
Pair 2
Correct − The Directorate General
of Civil Aviation performs safety, airworthiness and other
technical-regulatory functions in civil aviation.
Pair 3
Incorrect − The Competition
Commission of India enforces competition law. It does not grant
operating licences to scheduled airlines.
Pair 4
Correct − Article 129 of the
Constitution declares the Supreme Court to be a court of record
with the power to punish for contempt of itself.
07
Consider the following statements concerning electricity distribution and disaster finance:
- Wheeling charges may be levied for using another entity’s electricity network.
- A universal-service obligation permits a supplier to serve only commercially attractive consumers.
- SDRF assistance is relief and need not equal the full value of private losses.
- Additional NDRF assistance may be considered for a disaster of severe nature after the prescribed assessment.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Correct Answer: (a) 1, 3 and 4 only
Statement-wise Analysis
Statement 1
Correct − Wheeling enables
electricity to be conveyed through a network owned or operated by
another licensee, for which wheeling charges may be levied.
Statement 2
Incorrect − Universal-service
obligations are intended to prevent selective supply and require
service to eligible consumers rather than only commercially
attractive users.
Statement 3
Correct − Assistance from the
State Disaster Response Fund is relief governed by prescribed norms;
it is not comprehensive compensation for the entire value of
private losses.
Statement 4
Correct − Additional assistance
from the National Disaster Response Fund may be considered for a
disaster of severe nature after the prescribed assessment and
approval process.