UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs 239th meeting of Central Board of Trustees (CBT), EPF

Q1. With reference to the Central Board of Trustees (CBT), EPF, consider the following statements about its structure. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. It is chaired by the Union Minister for Labour & Employment.
2. The Central Provident Fund Commissioner functions as its Member-Secretary.
3. Its Vice-Chairperson is the Minister of State for Labour & Employment.
4. It is a bipartite body comprising only Government and employees' representatives.

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 1 and 4
• C. 2 and 4
• D. 1, 3 and 4

Q2. The Central Board of Trustees, EPF, is described as a 'tripartite' body. The three groups represented on it are:

• A. Central Government, employers and employees
• B. Central Government, State Governments and trade unions
• C. Employers, employees and the judiciary
• D. Parliament, the Reserve Bank of India and employers

Q3. The Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance (EDLI) Scheme administered by the EPFO came into force in which year?

• A. 1952
• B. 1976
• C. 1995
• D. 2020

Q4. The EPF interest rate for FY 2025-26 was recommended by the CBT; before it can be notified and credited, concurrence of which body is required?

• A. Ministry of Finance, Government of India
• B. Reserve Bank of India
• C. Securities and Exchange Board of India
• D. Ministry of Labour & Employment acting alone

Q5. Consider the following financial-year and EPF interest-rate pairings. Which of the pairings given above is/are correctly matched?

1. FY 2021-22 — 8.10%
2. FY 2022-23 — 8.15%
3. FY 2023-24 — 8.25%
4. FY 2025-26 — 8.15%

• A. 1, 2 and 3
• B. 2 and 4
• C. 1 and 4
• D. 3 only

Q6. The Code on Social Security, 2020 is best described as:

• A. A consolidation of nine central labour laws on social security, including the EPF & MP Act, 1952
• B. A consolidation of laws on industrial relations and trade unions
• C. A code dealing with occupational safety, health and working conditions
• D. A code consolidating the laws relating to wages and bonus

Q7. Of the four labour codes enacted in 2019-2020, which one provides the statutory framework that is to replace the EPF & MP Act, 1952?

• A. The Code on Social Security, 2020
• B. The Code on Wages, 2019
• C. The Industrial Relations Code, 2020
• D. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

Q8. The pilot for auto-initiation of claim settlement of small inoperative EPF accounts was approved at which forum?

• A. The 239th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees, EPF
• B. The 238th meeting of the Central Board of Trustees, EPF
• C. A meeting of the EPFO Executive Committee
• D. A meeting of the EPFO Pension Implementation Committee

Q9. The one-time Amnesty Scheme approved by the CBT at its 239th meeting is intended primarily for:

• A. Income-tax recognised trusts yet to be covered or granted exemption under the EPF & MP Act, 1952
• B. Employers who deducted but failed to deposit employees' provident-fund contributions
• C. Members holding small inoperative accounts seeking automatic settlement
• D. State Government employees outside the purview of EPFO

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding the applicability of the EPF & MP Act, 1952. Which one of the statements is NOT correct?

1. It applies to every factory in a Schedule-I industry employing 20 or more persons.
2. Employees drawing wages up to Rs 15,000 per month are eligible to be members.
3. It mandatorily applies to establishments employing fewer than 10 persons.
4. An apprentice engaged under the Apprentices Act is excluded from membership.

• A. 1 only
• B. 2 only
• C. 3 only
• D. 4 only

Q11. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), which administers the EPF schemes, functions as a statutory body under which Union Ministry?

• A. Ministry of Labour & Employment
• B. Ministry of Finance
• C. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• D. Ministry of Corporate Affairs