UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — I stand with youth fighting for rights: Rahul

Q1. With reference to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), consider the following statements: 1. It is conducted by the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. 2. It was launched in 2017-18 and replaced the quinquennial Employment–Unemployment Surveys as the principal source of labour-market data. 3. Its employment and unemployment estimates are compiled from monthly establishment-level returns filed by employers registered with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation. 4. Before the switch to calendar-year reporting, its annual reports were based on a July–June survey period. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It is conducted by the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
  2. It was launched in 2017-18 and replaced the quinquennial Employment–Unemployment Surveys as the principal source of labour-market data.
  3. Its employment and unemployment estimates are compiled from monthly establishment-level returns filed by employers registered with the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation.
  4. Before the switch to calendar-year reporting, its annual reports were based on a July–June survey period.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q2. Consider the following statements comparing the Periodic Labour Force Survey design in force before January 2025 with the revamped design: 1. The number of First Stage Units surveyed annually was raised from 12,800 to over 22,000. 2. The annual household sample was raised from about 1.02 lakh households to about 2.72 lakh households. 3. The basic stratum from which First Stage Units are selected was changed from the district to the NSS region. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The number of First Stage Units surveyed annually was raised from 12,800 to over 22,000.
  2. The annual household sample was raised from about 1.02 lakh households to about 2.72 lakh households.
  3. The basic stratum from which First Stage Units are selected was changed from the district to the NSS region.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding youth (15-29 years) unemployment rates in usual status as reported for 2025 in comparison with 2024: 1. The all-India youth unemployment rate declined to 9.9 per cent from 10.3 per cent. 2. The urban youth unemployment rate declined to 13.6 per cent from 14.3 per cent. 3. The rural youth unemployment rate, at 8.3 per cent, was higher than in the preceding year. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The all-India youth unemployment rate declined to 9.9 per cent from 10.3 per cent.
  2. The urban youth unemployment rate declined to 13.6 per cent from 14.3 per cent.
  3. The rural youth unemployment rate, at 8.3 per cent, was higher than in the preceding year.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. In the Periodic Labour Force Survey, the Worker Population Ratio is defined as which one of the following?

  • A. The percentage of persons in the labour force who are engaged in any economic activity
  • B. The percentage of persons in the population who are either working or seeking or available for work
  • C. The percentage of employed persons in the population
  • D. The percentage of persons in the 15-29 years age group who are engaged in any economic activity

Q5. With reference to the transition in PLFS reporting effective from 2025, consider the following statements: 1. The survey period was shifted from the July–June agricultural year to the January–December calendar year to keep uniformity with international practice. 2. The Annual Report for 2025 is the first comprehensive annual report based on a calendar year as the survey period. 3. Quarterly estimates of labour market indicators, earlier confined to urban areas, were extended to rural areas. 4. With the shift, annual indicators are now published only under the Current Weekly Status, the usual status framework having been discontinued. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The survey period was shifted from the July–June agricultural year to the January–December calendar year to keep uniformity with international practice.
  2. The Annual Report for 2025 is the first comprehensive annual report based on a calendar year as the survey period.
  3. Quarterly estimates of labour market indicators, earlier confined to urban areas, were extended to rural areas.
  4. With the shift, annual indicators are now published only under the Current Weekly Status, the usual status framework having been discontinued.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 4 only

Q6. The rotational panel scheme adopted in the Periodic Labour Force Survey from January 2025 means which one of the following?

  • A. Each selected household is visited once in each of four consecutive quarters, an identical schedule being canvassed at every visit
  • B. Each selected household is visited four times in four consecutive months, once with a first visit schedule and thrice with a revisit schedule
  • C. One-fourth of the selected first stage units is replaced every month, each sampled household within a unit being enumerated only once
  • D. Each selected household is enumerated twice in a year, in the first and the third quarter, with a first visit and a revisit schedule respectively

Q7. PLFS replaced the five-yearly Employment–Unemployment Surveys with continuous annual reporting on a July–June cycle. How many annual reports were brought out on that cycle before the move to calendar-year reporting?

  • A. Five
  • B. Six
  • C. Seven
  • D. Nine

Q8. In PLFS, the Current Weekly Status of a person is the activity status determined on the basis of which one of the following reference periods?

  • A. The last 365 days preceding the date of survey, the major time criterion being applied to fix the principal status
  • B. Each of the seven days preceding the date of survey, a person being treated as employed only if employed on all the seven days
  • C. The calendar month preceding the date of survey, from which the monthly bulletin indicators are compiled
  • D. The last 7 days preceding the date of survey

Q9. For the first time in Indian law, statutory definitions of 'gig worker' and 'platform worker' were provided under which one of the following?

  • A. The Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008
  • B. The Code on Social Security, 2020
  • C. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020
  • D. The Industrial Relations Code, 2020

Q10. Under the Code on Social Security, 2020, at what rate may an aggregator be required to contribute to the Social Security Fund?

  • A. 1 to 2 per cent of the amount paid or payable by the aggregator to gig and platform workers, subject to a ceiling of 5 per cent of its annual turnover
  • B. 2 to 5 per cent of the annual turnover of the aggregator, subject to a ceiling of 8 per cent of the amount paid or payable by it to such workers
  • C. 1 to 2 per cent of the annual turnover of the aggregator, subject to a ceiling of 5 per cent of the amount paid or payable by it to such workers
  • D. A flat 3 per cent of the annual turnover of the aggregator, subject to a ceiling of 10 per cent of the amount paid or payable by it to such workers

Q11. With reference to the framework operationalised by the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025, consider the following: 1. A Consent Manager must be a company incorporated in India. 2. The Data Protection Board of India is to function as a fully digital body consisting of four members. 3. A request by a Data Principal for access to or correction of personal data must be addressed within a maximum of ninety days. 4. The maximum penalty for failure to observe reasonable security safeguards is fifty crore rupees. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. A Consent Manager must be a company incorporated in India.
  2. The Data Protection Board of India is to function as a fully digital body consisting of four members.
  3. A request by a Data Principal for access to or correction of personal data must be addressed within a maximum of ninety days.
  4. The maximum penalty for failure to observe reasonable security safeguards is fifty crore rupees.
  • A. 1 and 4 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q12. Under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, who is a beneficiary of Part A of the scheme, and on what terms?

  • A. An employer establishment that generates additional employment, receiving a monthly incentive for each additional employee retained for a sustained period
  • B. A first-time employee registered with the EPFO drawing wages up to one lakh rupees a month, receiving one month's EPF wage up to fifteen thousand rupees in two instalments
  • C. Any existing EPFO member drawing wages up to fifteen thousand rupees a month, receiving an incentive equal to two months' wages in a single instalment
  • D. A youth interning with a participating company for at least six months, receiving monthly financial assistance along with a one-time grant on joining