UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Free bus travel has given women more mobility

Q1. Between the Time Use Surveys of 2019 and 2024, the share of women aged 15–59 making at least one trip a day rose by 6.6 percentage points in four States with fare-free buses for women (men: +3.7 points) and by 4.4 points in twelve other large States (men: +7.6 points). In Telangana, which began its scheme in December 2023, the share rose by 10.9 points; in Andhra Pradesh, which began its scheme in August 2025, it rose by 0.8 points. The two were one State until 2014. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. Men's trip-making rose faster in the four free-bus States than in the twelve other large States.
  2. Since women's trip-making rose in the other large States as well, not all of the rise in the free-bus States can be attributed to the schemes.
  3. The data establish that free bus travel alone caused the rise in women's trip-making in Telangana.
  4. Andhra Pradesh can serve as a comparison case for Telangana because its scheme began only after the 2024 survey.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only

Q2. With reference to the economic case for subsidising public bus travel, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. When users do not take into account the benefits their bus use confers on others, such as less road congestion, the market tends to under-provide the service, which can justify a subsidy.
  2. A subsidy qualifies as a merit subsidy only when all of its benefits accrue to the individual who receives it.
  3. Fare revenue that a State transport undertaking forgoes under a free-travel scheme is a fiscal cost even if no additional buses are put on the road.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Official GDP estimates understate the total contribution women make to household and economic well-being in India.
  2. Unpaid domestic and caregiving services that household members produce for their own use fall outside the production boundary used for GDP, and women in India spend far more time on such work than men.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q4. Consider the following assertion: 'Fare-free bus travel, by itself, may not substantially raise women's participation in paid work.' Which of the following statements, based on the Time Use Surveys, support/supports the above assertion?

  1. Women aged 15–59 spent about 305 minutes a day on unpaid domestic services in 2024.
  2. In 2024, 41% of women aged 15–59 took part in caregiving for household members, against 21.4% of men.
  3. In the four free-bus States, women's trip-making rose faster than men's between 2019 and 2024.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 3 only