Economic and Social Development Archives

68. Consider the following statements regarding World Toilet Organization

Consider the following statements regarding World Toilet Organization :

1. It is one of the agencies of the United Nations.

2. World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College are the initiatives of this organization, to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.

3. The main focus of its function is to grant funds to the least developed countries and developing countries to achieve the end of open defecation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”2 only” option2=”3 only” option3=”1 and 2″ option4=”2 and 3″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2024

Download PDF Attempt Online

Let’s evaluate each statement about the World Toilet Organization (WTO):
1. It is one of the agencies of the United Nations. This is incorrect. The World Toilet Organization is an international non-profit organization founded in 2001, not an agency of the United Nations.
2. World Toilet Summit, World Toilet Day and World Toilet College are the initiatives of this organization, to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. This is correct. WTO organizes the World Toilet Summit and founded World Toilet Day (which is now officially recognized by the UN as 19 November). It also runs the World Toilet College to provide training in sanitation.
3. The main focus of its function is to grant funds to the least developed countries and developing countries to achieve the end of open defecation. This is incorrect. While WTO works towards improving sanitation globally, its primary function is advocacy, raising awareness, capacity building through education and training (like the World Toilet College), and fostering innovation and collaboration. Granting large-scale funds is typically the role of development banks, governments, and larger international aid organizations, not the core activity of WTO.
Therefore, only statement 2 is correct.

– World Toilet Organization is a non-profit, not a UN agency.
– WTO initiated World Toilet Day (now a UN observance) and holds summits and training programs.
– WTO focuses on advocacy, education, and capacity building rather than being a primary funding body.

World Toilet Day, initiated by the WTO, was officially declared a United Nations day in 2013. It serves to raise awareness of the global sanitation crisis and mobilize action towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6, which includes the target of ensuring access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and ending open defecation by 2030.

69. With reference to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rules in India

With reference to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rules in India, consider the following statements :

CSR rules specify that expenditures that benefit the company directly or its employees will not be considered as CSR activities.
CSR rules do not specify minimum spending on CSR activities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 only” option3=”Both 1 and 2″ option4=”Neither 1 nor 2″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2024

Download PDF Attempt Online

The question is about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rules in India under the Companies Act, 2013. Let’s examine the statements:
Statement 1: “CSR rules specify that expenditures that benefit the company directly or its employees will not be considered as CSR activities.” This statement is correct. The CSR rules (specifically Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013 and associated rules/clarifications) explicitly exclude activities undertaken in the normal course of business, activities that benefit only employees of the company, or activities conducted solely for the benefit of the company itself from being considered as CSR expenditure.
Statement 2: “CSR rules do not specify minimum spending on CSR activities.” This statement is incorrect. Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 mandates that companies meeting certain turnover, net worth, or net profit criteria in any financial year must constitute a CSR Committee and “shall ensure that the company spends, in every financial year, at least two per cent. of the average net profit of the company made during the three immediately preceding financial years”. This clearly specifies a minimum spending requirement for eligible companies.
Therefore, only statement 1 is correct.

The Companies Act, 2013 made India the first country to legally mandate CSR spending for eligible companies. The objective is to encourage businesses to contribute to societal goals through corporate resources. The law specifies eligible activities and mandates a minimum expenditure based on profitability.

Eligible CSR activities are listed in Schedule VII of the Act and include areas like eradicating hunger and poverty, promoting education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, protection of national heritage, etc. If a company fails to spend the mandated amount, it is required to explain the reasons in its annual report or transfer the unspent amount to a designated fund within a specified timeframe, depending on whether the project is ongoing or not.

70. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India’s public sector

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: India’s public sector health care system largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care.

Statement-II: Under India’s decentralized approach to health care delivery, the States are primarily responsible for organizing health services.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

[amp_mcq option1=”Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I” option2=”Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I” option3=”Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect” option4=”Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2023

Download PDF Attempt Online

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct individually, but Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I. India’s public healthcare system does have a predominant focus on curative care, and health is indeed a State subject. However, the State being primarily responsible for health services doesn’t inherently lead to a focus on curative care; this focus stems from historical development, resource allocation patterns, disease burden, and infrastructure priorities.

– Statement I is correct: India’s public health system has historically prioritized and invested more in curative care (treating illnesses) through hospitals and clinics, compared to robust preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative health services, although efforts are being made to change this focus.
– Statement II is correct: Under India’s federal structure, Public Health and Sanitation is listed in the State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, making States primarily responsible for organizing and delivering health services.
– The decentralization of health as a State subject provides states autonomy but doesn’t explain the *reason* for the focus on curative care. This focus is driven by historical context, disease profile, infrastructure development priorities, and resource constraints.

Improving the balance between curative, preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative care is a key goal of India’s National Health Policy. The focus on strengthening primary healthcare, including wellness centres and public health initiatives, aims to shift the balance towards prevention and promotion.