Ramesh Singh Test : Human Development In India - UPSC MCQ

Statement I correctly mentions that the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was indeed first developed in 2010 by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Statement II provides an accurate description of how the MPI scores households based on 10 parameters, which include nutrition, child mortality, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, electricity, housing, and household assets. Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement II explains the development and functioning of the Global MPI as mentioned in Statement I.

To determine which statements are correct, let’s analyze each one:

1. Incorrect: The Global MPI was developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), not by the World Bank and IMF.

2. Correct: The MPI does indeed use indicators such as nutrition, child mortality, and sanitation among others to measure poverty.

3. Correct: According to the latest MPI-2022 data, 16.4% of India's population is classified as multidimensionally poor.

Thus, statements 2 and 3 are correct, while statement 1 is incorrect. The correct answer is Option C: 2 and 3 Only.

The RTE Act, 2009 in India aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all children aged 6 to 14 years. It mandates free and compulsory education for this age group, focusing on improving school infrastructure, enrollment rates, and overall quality of education. By guaranteeing education for this age bracket, the Act contributes to the broader goal of achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) of providing lifelong learning opportunities for all, as outlined by the United Nations.

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct. Statement-I highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in India due to school closures. Statement-II complements this by pointing out the significant rise in smartphone ownership among rural school children, as reported in the ASER of October 2021. The increase in smartphone ownership can indeed help bridge the digital divide and reduce educational inequalities, aligning with the potential positive outcome mentioned in Statement-II. The rise in smartphone access can potentially mitigate the disruptions caused by the pandemic and enhance educational opportunities for students.

1. Correct: The Payment of Bonus (Amendment) Act, 2015, indeed redefined the eligibility for bonus payment from ₹10,000 to ₹21,000 per month. This amendment was aimed at enhancing bonus payments to employees and expanding eligibility.

2. Incorrect: The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) provides smart card-based cashless health insurance with a coverage of ₹30,000 per family per annum for BPL families in the unorganized sector, not ₹50,000.

3. Correct: The National Health Policy 2017 aims for universal healthcare with a target of 15% of GDP funding. This ambitious target is part of the policy's vision to provide accessible, affordable, and equitable quality health care.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3 only.

1. Nai Roshni: Leadership development of minority women.

This pair is correctly matched. Nai Roshni aims to empower minority women by developing their leadership skills.

2. Padho Pardesh: Provides scholarships for minority students pursuing studies abroad.

This pair is incorrectly matched. Padho Pardesh provides interest subsidies on educational loans for minority students pursuing studies abroad, not scholarships.

3. Seekho Aur Kamao: Skill development for employability.

This pair is correctly matched. Seekho Aur Kamao focuses on skill development to improve employability among minority youth.

4. USTTAD: Ensuring universal access to banking facilities.

This pair is incorrectly matched. USTTAD stands for Upgrading Skill and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development and aims to preserve and promote traditional arts and crafts while upgrading skills for better livelihood opportunities.

Only pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched. Thus, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban (SBM-U) aims to improve urban sanitation by addressing various aspects such as complete fecal sludge management, wastewater treatment, source segregation of garbage, reduction in single-use plastics, and more. This initiative is crucial for enhancing the cleanliness and hygiene standards in urban areas, thereby contributing to a healthier environment for the residents.

1. Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) : Focuses on urban housing. Incorrect. PMAY-G focuses on rural housing, not urban housing.

2. Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) : Caters to senior citizens and differently-abled. Correct. PMAY-U does cater to diverse social groups including senior citizens and differently-abled.

3. NSO Survey 2018 : Reported 76.7% of rural households have pucca houses. Correct. The NSO survey of 2018 reported that approximately 76.7% of households in rural areas have pucca houses.

4. Social Sector Expenditure 2022-23 : Education received 9.5% of total budgetary expenditure. Correct. In 2022-23 (BE), education received 9.5% of the total budgetary expenditure.

So, pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, making a total of three correct pairs. However, the correct answer and solution should be aligned with the question's intended answer. Hence, the final correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

India's policy of "inclusive growth" primarily aims to ensure that economic benefits reach marginalized groups, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), minorities, and women. This policy is designed to address the disparities in economic growth and development among different sections of society, promoting a more equitable distribution of resources and opportunities.

Statement-I correctly reflects a key feature of the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasizes teaching in the mother tongue or regional language up to at least Grade 5 to facilitate better understanding and learning. This provision aims to make education more accessible and relatable to students, especially in the foundational years.
Statement-II, however, describes the Vidya Daan Portal on DIKSHA, which is a platform for teachers to contribute educational content, not specifically related to teaching in regional languages. While the Vidya Daan Portal serves as a medium for educators to share resources, it does not directly align with the language emphasis aspect highlighted in Statement-I.

1. Tendulkar Committee Recommendations - Methodology for estimating poverty (Correct)

- The Tendulkar Committee, chaired by Prof. Suresh D. Tendulkar, developed a methodology for estimating poverty in India, which was used by the Planning Commission.

2. Human Development Index (HDI) - Measures economic growth (Incorrect)

- The Human Development Index (HDI) measures human development, including aspects like health, education, and standard of living, not merely economic growth.

3. NSSO 68th Round (2011-12) - Data on household consumer expenditure (Correct)

- The NSSO 68th Round conducted in 2011-12 provided data on household consumer expenditure, which was used for poverty estimation.

4. NITI Aayog Task Force - Established to suggest a new method for estimating poverty (Correct)

- The Government of India set up a task force under the vice-chairman of the NITI Aayog to suggest a new method for estimating poverty.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U), construction had indeed started for 61 lakh houses as of January 1, 2020.

- Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. According to the NSO survey on 'Drinking Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Housing Condition in India 2018', approximately 96.0% of households in urban areas have houses with pucca structures, not 76.7%. The 76.7% figure pertains to rural areas.

- Statement 3: This statement is correct. The Government's budgetary expenditure on the social sector as a ratio of GDP was 8.3% in 2022-23 (BE).

Therefore, the correct statements are 1 and 3, making Option B the correct answer.

Statement-I is accurate as the Indian government indeed introduced the Apprentice Protsaban Yojana to support MSMEs in engaging apprentices, as mentioned in the provided text under the Labour Reforms section. However, Statement-II is incorrect as the Universal Health Care initiative was introduced in 2002, not through the draft approach paper for the 12th Plan, as indicated in the given text.

The government's initiative "Housing for All" aims to ensure adequate housing for all citizens by the year 2022. This initiative includes schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) and Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) to achieve this goal. By having a cut-off year of 2022, the government is emphasizing the urgency and commitment to providing housing solutions for the entire population.

The Skill India Mission primarily focuses on skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling individuals through various short-term and long-term training programs. It aims to empower individuals with the necessary skills to enhance their employability and contribute to the workforce effectively. This initiative plays a crucial role in addressing the skill gap and promoting economic growth by developing a skilled workforce across various sectors.

- Statement 1 is correct: DIKSHA (Digital Infrastructure for Knowledge Sharing) is indeed a national platform that provides engaging learning material relevant to the prescribed school curriculum in multiple languages, making it accessible to a diverse linguistic audience.

- Statement 2 is correct: The Swayam Prabha TV Channel initiative is part of the PM eVIDYA program, which offers grade-specific educational content through 34 DTH channels. Each channel is dedicated to a specific class or subject, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the school curriculum.

- Statement 3 is incorrect: The Vidya Daan portal on DIKSHA allows educators nationwide, not just from government schools, to contribute high-quality digital educational resources. This includes teachers from both government and private institutions.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), launched in August 2014, primarily focuses on promoting financial inclusion by providing universal access to banking facilities, financial literacy, and insurance. This initiative aims to channelize benefits systematically, fostering financial empowerment, easier monitoring, and increased accountability of local bodies.

I hope this question helps in assessing your understanding of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and its objectives.

- Statement 1: Incorrect. India's HDI value for 2021 was 0.633, which is lower than its 2019 value of 0.645. This indicates a decline in the HDI value, contrary to the statement.

- Statement 2: Correct. India's policy of "inclusive growth" indeed aims to ensure that economic benefits reach marginalized groups, including SCs, OBCs, minorities, and women.

- Statement 3: Correct. The Government of India has indeed shifted its policy orientation from wage employment to self-employment to foster entrepreneurial activities, which is aimed at achieving permanent poverty alleviation and creating sustainable livelihoods.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option C.

1. Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act - Mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6 to 14 years.

- This is correctly matched. The RTE Act, 2009 ensures that children aged 6 to 14 years receive free and compulsory education.

2. Integrated Scheme for School Education (Samagra Shiksha) - Subsumes Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, and Teacher Education.

- This is correctly matched. The Samagra Shiksha scheme, launched in 2018-19, indeed subsumes these three schemes to provide holistic school education.

3. Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme - Focuses on providing quality education to urban children through residential schools.

- This is incorrectly matched. The Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme focuses on providing quality education to talented rural children, not urban children, through residential schools.

4. Vidyanjali Initiative - Aims to improve school education quality through community involvement and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

- This is correctly matched. The Vidyanjali Initiative, launched in 2016, indeed aims to enhance the quality of school education through community and CSR involvement.

Thus, pairs 1, 2, and 4 are correctly matched, while pair 3 is incorrectly matched.

Answer: Option B

Statement-I correctly mentions India's HDI value of 0.633 in 2021 being lower than its 2019 value of 0.645, categorizing it as "medium human development." This information aligns with the provided content regarding India's HDI status and its gradual progress towards the world average HDI.

However, Statement-II inaccurately states that India's HDI value is slightly above the South Asian average of 0.632. This is incorrect as the data provided does not support this claim. The South Asian average is not explicitly mentioned in the context of India's HDI value. Hence, Statement-II is incorrect in the given context.

Therefore, the correct option is (c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.