UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — State’s duty is to ensure living wages for workers, not label them as ‘terrorists’, says SC
Q1. The Union-level statutory wage law through which the State operationalises the living-wage endeavour of Article 43 is administered by which one of the following ministries?
- A. Ministry of Labour and Employment
- B. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- C. Ministry of Corporate Affairs
- D. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Q2. The obligation on the State to secure to all workers a living wage and conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life is contained in which one of the following?
- A. Article 43, Part IV
- B. Article 43A, Part IV
- C. Article 41, Part IV
- D. Article 39, Part IV
Q3. Consider the following pairs of Directive-Principle articles and their subjects:
1. Article 39A — Equal justice and free legal aid
2. Article 42 — Just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief
3. Article 43A — Participation of workers in management of industries
4. Article 41 — Uniform civil code
Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?
- Article 39A — Equal justice and free legal aid
- Article 42 — Just and humane conditions of work and maternity relief
- Article 43A — Participation of workers in management of industries
- Article 41 — Uniform civil code
- A. 1 and 4
- B. 4 only
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 3 only
Q4. With reference to how Directive Principles differ from Fundamental Rights, consider the following statements:
1. Unlike Fundamental Rights, the Directive Principles are not enforceable by any court.
2. Article 37 declares the Directive Principles to be fundamental in the governance of the country.
3. Fundamental Rights are placed in Part IV while the Directive Principles are placed in Part III.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Unlike Fundamental Rights, the Directive Principles are not enforceable by any court.
- Article 37 declares the Directive Principles to be fundamental in the governance of the country.
- Fundamental Rights are placed in Part IV while the Directive Principles are placed in Part III.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q5. Under the Code on Wages, 2019, the single national benchmark fixed by the central government below which no minimum wage set by any government may fall is termed the:
- A. Floor wage
- B. National minimum wage
- C. Fair wage
- D. Subsistence wage
Q6. With reference to the National Security Act, 1980, consider the following statements:
1. It came into force after the Maintenance of Internal Security Act had been repealed in 1978.
2. The maximum period of detention under it is twelve months from the date of detention.
3. Unlike its predecessor, it dispenses with any reference of the detention to an Advisory Board.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- It came into force after the Maintenance of Internal Security Act had been repealed in 1978.
- The maximum period of detention under it is twelve months from the date of detention.
- Unlike its predecessor, it dispenses with any reference of the detention to an Advisory Board.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q7. With reference to the 2026 Noida workers' episode that reached the Supreme Court, consider the following statements:
1. The workers' protest was over a demand for a wage hike.
2. Following the protest, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a high-powered committee.
3. Two persons, including a journalist, were placed under preventive detention under the National Security Act, 1980.
4. The Supreme Court granted interim release to the detainees at the first hearing.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- The workers' protest was over a demand for a wage hike.
- Following the protest, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted a high-powered committee.
- Two persons, including a journalist, were placed under preventive detention under the National Security Act, 1980.
- The Supreme Court granted interim release to the detainees at the first hearing.
- A. 4 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 1 and 4
- D. 2 and 3
Q8. In the Noida workers' matter heard by the Supreme Court in 2026, the journalist and his associate were placed in preventive detention under which one of the following laws?
- A. National Security Act, 1980
- B. Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967
- C. COFEPOSA, 1974
- D. Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act, 1978
Q9. Consider the following safeguards claimed to apply to a person held under a preventive-detention law:
1. Detention beyond three months ordinarily requires the opinion of an Advisory Board.
2. The grounds of detention must be communicated to the detenu.
3. The detenu must be afforded the earliest opportunity of making a representation against the order.
4. Every such detainee must invariably be produced before the nearest magistrate within twenty-four hours.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- Detention beyond three months ordinarily requires the opinion of an Advisory Board.
- The grounds of detention must be communicated to the detenu.
- The detenu must be afforded the earliest opportunity of making a representation against the order.
- Every such detainee must invariably be produced before the nearest magistrate within twenty-four hours.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 only
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 1 and 4
Q10. Which one of the following alone can finally and authoritatively determine whether a State's preventive-detention action against protesting workers is consistent with the constitutional living-wage duty?
- A. The Supreme Court of India
- B. The National Human Rights Commission
- C. The Central Administrative Tribunal
- D. The National Legal Services Authority