Explore UPSC Prelims Topic Wise Questions on Indian Economy focusing on Welfare Programs and Schemes. Delve into comprehensive resources covering essential aspects of government initiatives aimed at social welfare and economic development. Enhance your understanding of various schemes designed to uplift marginalized communities and promote inclusive growth. From poverty alleviation programs to employment generation schemes, grasp the intricacies of India’s socioeconomic landscape through targeted questions tailored to UPSC Prelims preparation. Dive deep into the nuances of each scheme, understand their objectives, implementation strategies, and impact on society. With a structured approach to studying these topics, aspirants can effectively navigate the UPSC Prelims examination, ensuring a solid grasp of Indian Economy and its welfare-centric policies. Start your preparation today to excel in one of the most competitive examinations in India.
Q1. Which one of the following is true regarding the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY)? (1995)
(a) It was launched during the Prime Ministership of Indira Gandhi
(b) It aims at creating one million jobs annually
(c) The target group of JRY are the urban poor living below the poverty line
(d) Under the scheme 30% of the employment generated is reserved for women
Ans. (d)
The Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY), initiated in 1989 during the tenure of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, emerged from the consolidation of the ‘National Rural Employment Programme’ (NREP) and the ‘Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme’ (RLEGP). This scheme encompasses two subsidiary initiatives: the ‘Indira Awas Yojana’ (IAY) and the ‘Million Wells Scheme’ (MWS). Its significant contributions include the enhancement of durable community assets and the elevation of the living standards of the impoverished rural populace. A notable feature of the JRY is the allocation of 30% of job opportunities specifically for the female demographic.
Q2. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists. (1997)
| List I | List II |
| A. Rashtriya Mahila Kosh | 1. Empowerment of women |
| B. Mahila Samriddhi Yojana | 2. Education for women’s equality |
| C. Indira Mahila Yojana | 3. Promotion of savings among rural women |
| D. Mahila Samakhya Programme | 4. Meeting credit needs of the poor women |
Codes
A B C D
(a) 3 2 1 4
(b) 1 3 4 2
(c) 4 3 2 1
(d) 4 1 2 3
Ans. (c)
The correct associations are A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1. The Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK), inaugurated in 1993, functions as an independent entity under the patronage of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. It is dedicated to the socio-economic upliftment of women, addressing the financial requirements of impoverished women. The Mahila Samriddhi Yojana, initiated on October 2, 1993, aims to encourage savings habits among rural women. It supports SC/ST and marginalized women in establishing their own enterprises by providing the necessary financial assistance. Indira Mahila Yojana (IMY), which focuses on educational equality for women, was launched on August 20, 1995. It strives to mobilize women at the grassroots level, enabling them to engage in decision-making processes and empowering them. The Mahila Samakhya Programme began in 1988 as a direct initiative of the New Education Policy (1986) and its subsequent Programme of Action, with the objective of educating and empowering women in rural regions.
Q3. Schemes of (i) Urban Micro-Enterprises (ii) Urban Wage Employment and (iii) Housing and Shelter Upgradation are parts of (1997)
(a) Integrated Rural Development Programme
(b) Nehru Rozgar Yojana
(c) Jawahar Rozgar Yojana
(d) Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana
Ans. (b)
The ‘Nehru Rozgar Yojana’ (NRY), launched as a central government initiative in 1989, encompasses the Schemes of Urban Micro-Enterprises, Urban Wage Employment, and Housing and Shelter Upgradation. The NRY’s primary goal is to generate employment opportunities for the urban jobless and the underprivileged who are inadequately employed. The program envisages two forms of employment: the establishment of individual self-employment projects and the offering of wage employment by developing assets that are beneficial both socially and economically, as well as improving housing conditions in urban localities.
Q4. The Employment Assurance Scheme envisages financial assistance to rural areas for guaranteeing employment to at least (1999)
(a) 50 per cent of the men and women seeking jobs in rural areas
(b) 50 per cent of the men seeking jobs in rural areas
(c) one man and one woman in a rural family living below the poverty line
(d) one person in a rural landless household living below the poverty line
Ans. (c)
The Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS) was established in 1993 with the intention of offering financial support to rural regions, ensuring that at least one male and one female member from economically disadvantaged families gain employment. The primary aim of the EAS was to create meaningful job opportunities, particularly manual labor, during periods of reduced agricultural activity. In 2001, the EAS was integrated with the Jawahar Gram Samriddhi Yojana to create the comprehensive Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY).
Q5….Instil into the vast millions of workers, me and women who actually do the job a sense partnership and cooperative performance…’. (2000)
The above passage relates to
(a) Planned Development
(b) Community Development Programme
(c) Panchayati Raj System
(d) Integrated Development Programme
Ans. (b)
This excerpt is from a discourse delivered by the former Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, concerning the Community Development Programme (CDP). Initiated in the aftermath of India’s independence, this pioneering developmental initiative was inaugurated on October 2, 1952, coinciding with the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth. The CDP drew upon domestic and international experiences and was set in motion following the advisories of the Fiscal Commission (1949) and the Grow More Food Enquiry Committee (1952).
Regrettably, the CDP did not achieve its intended goals, primarily due to the disproportionate allocation of its advantages and the lack of well-articulated priorities within the programme.
Q6. The Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana which came into operation from 1st December, 1997 aims to provide gainful employment to the urban unemployed or underemployed poor but does not include (2000)
a) Nehru Rozgar Yojana
(b) Urban Basic Services Programme
(c) Prime Minister’s Integrated Urban Poverty Eradications Programme
(d) Prime Ministers Rozgar Yojana
Ans. (d)
The Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY), which commenced on December 1, 1997, does not encompass the Prime Minister Rozgar Yojana. The SJSRY aims to provide meaningful employment to the urban jobless and those who are inadequately employed by fostering self-employment opportunities and offering wage employment.
The scheme initially comprised the Nehru Rozgar Yojana, Urban Basic Services for the Poor (UBSP), and the Prime Minister’s Integrated Urban Poverty Eradication Programme (PMIUPEP). However, in 2009-10, the SJSRY underwent a comprehensive revision, introducing components such as the Urban Self-Employment Programme, Urban Women Self-Help Programme, Skill Training for Employment Promotion amongst Urban Poor (STEP-UP), Urban Wage Employment Programme, and the Urban Community Development Network.
Q7 . Consider the following schemes launched by the Union Government. (2001)
1. Antyodaya Anna
2. Gram Sadak Yojana
3. Sarvapriya
4. Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojana
Which of these were announced in the year 2000?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans. (a)
Statements (1) and (2) are indeed accurate. The Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and the Gram Sadak Yojana (GSY) were both inaugurated in the year 2000.
The AAY scheme was designed to pinpoint the poorest families, estimated at one crore, from the BPL category within the framework of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) across various states. These identified families were entitled to receive staple grains at a deeply subsidized price of ₹2 per kg for wheat and ₹3 per kg for rice. The responsibility for covering distribution expenses, including the margins for dealers and retailers as well as transportation costs, was assigned to the States/UTs. Consequently, the beneficiaries of the scheme received the full advantage of the food subsidy.
The Gram Sadak Yojana, also known as the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), was established by the Indian government with the objective of ensuring connectivity. Specifically, the scheme aimed to construct all-weather roads, complete with necessary water courses and cross-drainage structures that remain operational throughout the year, thereby connecting isolated rural habitations.
Q8. Consider the following statements. (2002)
The objectives of the National Renewal Fund set-up in February, 1992 were
1. to give training and counselling for workers affected by retrenchment or VRS.
2. redevelopment of workers.
Which of these statement(s) is/are correct?
(a) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) Both 1 and 2
(c) Only 1
(d) Only 2
Ans. (c)
Indeed, statement (1) is correct. The National Renewal Fund (NRF), established in February 1992, was primarily designed to offer retraining and counselling to employees impacted by layoffs or Voluntary Retirement Schemes (VRS). Additionally, the NRF aimed to:
- Protect the interests of workers potentially affected by industrial technological advancements or the shutdown of ailing units.
- Assist companies with the expenses associated with the retraining and reassignment of workers due to modernization and technological changes.
- Allocate funds for compensating employees who are impacted by the reorganization or closure of industrial entities, encompassing both public and private sectors.
- Provide financial support for job creation initiatives in both the organized and unorganized sectors, thereby establishing a social safety net for the workforce.
Statement (2) is incorrect as worker redevelopment was not an objective of the NRF.
Q9 . With reference to the government’s welfare schemes, consider the following statements. (2002)
1. Under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana, the food grains are available to the poorest of the families at 2 per kg for wheat and 3 per kg for rice. Under the National Old Age Pension Scheme, the
2. old and destitute are provided 75 per month as central pension, in addition to the amount provided by most State Government
3. Government of India has allocated 25 kg food grain per below poverty line family per month, at less than half the economic cost.
Which of these statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1,2 and 3
Ans. (d)
Under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), staple grains are distributed to the most impoverished families at a nominal price of ₹2 per kg for wheat and ₹3 per kg for rice. Initiated on December 25, 2000, AAY is a government-backed initiative aimed at providing food security to the destitute by supplying 35 kg of rice and wheat each month at a highly reduced cost.
The National Old Age Pension Scheme, also known as the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), offers a monthly pension of ₹775 to the elderly in need, supplemented by additional amounts from state governments. Eligibility for IGNOAPS includes all individuals over 60 years old who are below the poverty line. Beneficiaries between 60-79 years receive a monthly pension of ₹300 (₹200 from the Central Government and ₹100 from the State Government), while those aged 80 and above are entitled to ₹500 per month.
Furthermore, the Government of India provides 25 kg of food grains per month to each family living below the poverty line through the Public Distribution System (PDS), priced at less than half the market rate. The PDS is designed to manage food scarcity and ensure access to essential commodities at economical rates.
Q10. With reference to Power Sector in India, consider the following statements. (2002)
1. Rural electrification has been treated as a Basic Minimum Service under the Prime Minister’s Gramodaya Yojana.
2. 100% Foreign Direct Investment in power is allowed without upper limit.
3. The Union Ministry of Power has signed a Memorandum of understanding with 14 states.
Which of these statement(s) is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) Only 3
Ans. (b)
Indeed, statements (1) and (2) are correct. The Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojana (PMGY), which was initiated in the year 2000, recognizes rural electrification as a fundamental service. The scheme provides supplementary central funding to states to enhance basic amenities, including primary healthcare, education, housing, potable water, and electricity in rural areas.
Furthermore, the current foreign direct investment (FDI) policy allows up to 100% FDI under the automatic route in the power sector of India, with the exception of atomic energy. This policy applies to all areas of the power sector, including the generation, transmission, distribution, and trading of electricity.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
