Social Development Archives

1. Which among the following is not the area of the concern of social def

Which among the following is not the area of the concern of social defense under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment ?

Substance abuse prevention

Care of older persons

Beggary prevention and welfare of transgenders

Minimum wages of labour

This question was previously asked in

UPSC SO-Steno – 2018

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Minimum wages of labour is not an area of concern falling under the social defense mandate of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

– The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is responsible for the welfare, social justice, and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society.
– Its areas of concern under social defense and related divisions typically include programs for vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, older persons, victims of substance abuse, beggars, transgender persons, and often aspects related to correctional services and prevention of social deviance.
– Minimum wages for labour are primarily dealt with by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, which is responsible for formulating and implementing labour laws, including those related to wages, industrial relations, social security for workers, etc.

Options A, B, and C (Substance abuse prevention, Care of older persons, Beggary prevention and welfare of transgenders) are all established areas of focus for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under its various departments and schemes.

2. In the case of surrogacy, according to recommendations made by Law Com

In the case of surrogacy, according to recommendations made by Law Commission of India, birth certificate would bear the name of

biological mother carrying baby

commissioning parents only

commissioning mother and surrogate mother

surrogate mother and her husband

This question was previously asked in

UPSC SO-Steno – 2017

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According to the recommendations made by the Law Commission of India in its 228th Report (2009) on Surrogacy, the birth certificate would bear the name of the commissioning parents only.

The Law Commission recommended that the commissioning parents should be recognized as the legal parents from the time of the child’s birth, and the birth certificate should show their names as parents. This was intended to prevent any legal issues regarding the child’s parentage and to protect the identity and privacy of the surrogate mother. The report advocated for altruistic surrogacy and strongly recommended against commercial surrogacy.

The recommendations aimed to provide a legal framework for surrogacy in India. While legislation has evolved since this report, the recommendation regarding the birth certificate primarily naming commissioning parents was a significant point to establish their legal parenthood immediately upon birth.

3. Which one of the following types of schools is not covered under the

Which one of the following types of schools is not covered under the Mid Day Meal Scheme (NP-MDMS)?

Government schools

Government aided schools

Local body schools

Private schools

This question was previously asked in

UPSC SO-Steno – 2017

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Option D is correct. The Mid Day Meal Scheme (NP-MDMS), now PM POSHAN, is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that covers children studying in Government schools, Government-aided schools, Local body schools, Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) and Alternative & Innovative Education (AIE) centres, Madarsas and Maqtabs supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Private schools are generally not covered under this scheme.

– The Mid Day Meal Scheme aims to provide cooked meals to eligible children in schools.
– The scheme primarily targets government and government-supported educational institutions.

– The objectives of the scheme include improving the nutritional status of children, encouraging poor children to attend school regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities, and providing nutritional support to children of primary and upper primary stages in drought-affected areas during summer vacation.
– The scheme does not extend to purely private schools that do not receive government aid.

4. Which one of the following ministries of the Government of India has i

Which one of the following ministries of the Government of India has issued the directive to eliminate commercial dealing in organs, especially those involving foreign citizens ?

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Ministry of Power

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2024

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Directives and regulations concerning organ transplantation, including preventing commercial dealing and issues involving foreign citizens, are handled by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This ministry is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws like the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, which regulates organ transplantation activities in India.

Health-related matters, particularly those involving medical procedures like organ transplantation and ethical guidelines, are governed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, explicitly prohibits commercial dealing in human organs and tissues and lays down rules for transplantation procedures. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issues guidelines and directives to hospitals and state authorities to ensure compliance with the law and prevent illegal activities like organ trafficking.

7. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the New Educati

Which of the following statements is/are correct about the New Education Policy under Higher Education ?

1. NEP 2020 aims to increase gross enrolment ratio in higher education to 50 percent by 2035
2. The policy envisages a broad-based, multi-disciplinary, holistic under-graduate education system
3. Establishment of an Academic Bank Credit for digitally storing academic credit earned from different higher education institutions
4. Once admission is taken, there is no provision for multiple entry and exit from the programme

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only

1 and 2 only

1, 2 and 3 only

1, 2, 3 and 4

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2021-22

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Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct.

The New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 sets a target to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in higher education to 50% by 2035. It promotes broad-based, multi-disciplinary, and holistic undergraduate education. A key feature is the establishment of an Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) to facilitate credit transfer and flexibility.

Statement 4 is incorrect. The NEP 2020 explicitly provides for multiple entry and exit options within undergraduate programmes, allowing students to leave and rejoin their studies at various points and receive appropriate certification (e.g., Certificate after one year, Diploma after two years, Bachelor’s degree after three years, Bachelor’s with research after four years).

10. Under the Abolition and Rehabilitation of Bonded Labours Scheme, which

Under the Abolition and Rehabilitation of Bonded Labours Scheme, which among the following statements is/are correct?

1. The Central Government bears 100 percent expenditure and the States are not required to pay any contribution for the purpose of cash rehabilitation assistance for bonded labour.
2. Bonded labour rehabilitation fund is created at the district level by each State with permanent corpus of at least ₹10 lakhs at the disposal of the District Magistrate.
3. Immediate financial assistance of ₹50,000 per rescued labourer is provided by the concerned District Magistrate from the corpus fund.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 only

1 and 2 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Combined Section Officer – 2019-20

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Based on external sources indicating B as the answer for this specific question, the intended correct option is B) 1 and 2 only.

According to the Modified Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Rehabilitation of Bonded Labourers, 2016, a District Level Corpus Fund of minimum ₹10 Lakhs is to be created in each district, at the disposal of the District Magistrate (Statement 2 is correct based on the 2016 scheme). However, statement 1, claiming 100% expenditure by the Central Government and no contribution from States, is generally incorrect for States (sharing is 60:40 for general states, 90:10 for NE/Sikkim states). It is 100% for Union Territories. Statement 3 regarding ₹50,000 immediate financial assistance is also incorrect; the immediate assistance is ₹20,000 as per the 2016 scheme. Given that only statement 2 appears factually correct based on standard scheme details, and no option is “2 only”, there appears to be an error in the question or options as presented. Assuming the question/options have an error and B is the intended answer, it implies statement 1 is also considered correct for the purpose of this question, despite contradicting standard information about state contributions under the scheme.

The discrepancy in Statement 1 might relate to a misunderstanding of the scheme’s funding pattern or be based on outdated information or a specific component of the scheme not commonly highlighted. The 2016 scheme clearly specifies shared funding for states. Statement 3 is clearly factually incorrect regarding the amount of immediate assistance. Statement 2 is correct as per the 2016 scheme. The presence of options combining these statements suggests a potential flaw in the question’s design or underlying data source.