UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre set to expand mechanised sanitation scheme to rural India

Question 1

With reference to the intended outcomes officially listed for the NAMASTE scheme, consider the following:
1. Zero fatalities in sanitation work in India
2. Elimination of direct contact of sanitation workers with human faecal matter
3. Strengthening of Emergency Response Sanitation Units (ERSUs)
4. Creation of storm water drainage networks in the covered cities
Which of the above is/are NOT correct as a stated intended outcome of the scheme?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3

Answer

1 and 4

Question 2

Health insurance coverage extended to Sewer and Septic Tank Workers as a component of NAMASTE is provided under which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Ayushman Bharat — Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana

Answer

Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana of the Life Insurance Corporation of India

Answer

Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana of the Department of Financial Services

Answer

Employees' State Insurance Scheme of the ESI Corporation

Question 3

The 2026 proposal to extend NAMASTE beyond the AMRUT cities to rural areas, bringing drain cleaners and STP/FSTP workers within its ambit, has been moved by which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, which is the scheme's nodal ministry

Answer

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, which is the scheme's urban partner ministry

Answer

The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti

Answer

The National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation, the implementing agency

Question 4

How much is the outlay proposed in 2026 for the expanded NAMASTE scheme running up to 2030-31?

Accepted Answer

₹498.73 crore

Answer

₹23.06 crore

Answer

₹349.73 crore

Answer

₹77,640 crore

Question 5

Consider the following statements regarding the parameters of NAMASTE as originally sanctioned and as proposed to be expanded:
1. As originally sanctioned, the scheme was to run for three years, from FY 2023-24 to FY 2025-26.
2. The outlay originally sanctioned for the scheme was of the order of ₹349.73 crore.
3. Waste pickers engaged in solid waste management were not part of the original target group but were added later as a target group.
4. The proposed expanded scheme is to run from the current fiscal only up to 2028-29.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2, 3 and 4 only

Answer

1, 3 and 4 only

Question 6

NAMASTE, including the upfront capital subsidy extended to sanitation workers for procuring sanitation vehicles and equipment, is operationalised through which one of the following agencies?

Accepted Answer

National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation

Answer

National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation

Answer

National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation

Answer

Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation

Question 7

With reference to the law on manual scavenging and the official data on hazardous cleaning deaths, consider the following:
1. The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act came into force on 6 December 2013.
2. Section 7 of that Act bars any person, local authority or agency from engaging or employing anyone for hazardous cleaning of a sewer or septic tank.
3. Government data placed in Parliament report 332 sanitation worker deaths in 18 States and Union Territories due to hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks between January 2021 and June 2026.
4. The Act requires all sanitation workers to be enumerated through the Waste Picker Enumeration App launched on World Environment Day, 2025.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

4 only

Answer

1 only

Answer

2 and 3

Answer

3 and 4

Question 8

Which one of the following was the first central legislation prohibiting the employment of manual scavengers, which the 2013 Act supersedes?

Accepted Answer

The Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993

Answer

The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989

Answer

The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, formerly the Untouchability (Offences) Act

Answer

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, as amended

Question 9

Consider the following statements about the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation:
1. It provides loans to Safai Karamcharis, scavengers and their dependants to enable them to break away from their traditional occupation.
2. It functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
3. It extends education loans to students of the target community for professional or technical education at graduation and higher levels.
4. It promotes self-employment ventures through grants, subsidy, soft loans or advances routed through State Channelising Agencies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

1, 3 and 4 only

Answer

1 and 2 only

Answer

2 and 3 only

Answer

1 and 4 only

Question 10

With reference to the constitution and working of the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation, consider the following:
1. It was incorporated in January 1997 under Section 25 of the Companies Act as a 'Not For Profit' organisation.
2. Its entire share capital is subscribed by the State Governments.
3. It imparts skill development and entrepreneurial training to the target group.
4. It disburses all its financial assistance directly to individual beneficiaries without any State-level intermediary.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

Accepted Answer

2 and 4

Answer

1 and 3

Answer

3 only

Answer

1, 2 and 3

Question 11

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes, which has flagged the continued rejection of applications under the self-employment and capital subsidy components of NAMASTE, consists of how many persons in all as provided in the Constitution?

Accepted Answer

Five

Answer

Three

Answer

Four

Answer

Seven

Question 12

The State Annual Action Plans of States and Union Territories under AMRUT, the mission covering the 500 cities to which NAMASTE was originally confined, are approved by which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, through the mission directorate

Answer

The Ministry of Jal Shakti, through its Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation

Answer

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, through its urban wing

Answer

The Ministry of Rural Development, through its Department of Rural Development

UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Centre set to expand mechanised sanitation scheme to rural India

Q2. Health insurance coverage extended to Sewer and Septic Tank Workers as a component of NAMASTE is provided under which one of the following?

Q3. The 2026 proposal to extend NAMASTE beyond the AMRUT cities to rural areas, bringing drain cleaners and STP/FSTP workers within its ambit, has been moved by which one of the following?

Q4. How much is the outlay proposed in 2026 for the expanded NAMASTE scheme running up to 2030-31?

Q6. NAMASTE, including the upfront capital subsidy extended to sanitation workers for procuring sanitation vehicles and equipment, is operationalised through which one of the following agencies?

Q8. Which one of the following was the first central legislation prohibiting the employment of manual scavengers, which the 2013 Act supersedes?

Q11. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes, which has flagged the continued rejection of applications under the self-employment and capital subsidy components of NAMASTE, consists of how many persons in all as provided in the Constitution?

Q12. The State Annual Action Plans of States and Union Territories under AMRUT, the mission covering the 500 cities to which NAMASTE was originally confined, are approved by which one of the following?