UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Understanding inequality in India’s growth story

Q1. With reference to the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24, which one of the following is the agency that conducts the survey?

  • A. National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • B. Central Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance
  • C. National Council of Applied Economic Research under NITI Aayog
  • D. Directorate General of Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Rural Development

Q2. How many existing central labour laws have been rationalised and consolidated into the four Labour Codes that were brought into force in November 2025?

  • A. 21
  • B. 29
  • C. 38
  • D. 44

Q3. Which one of the following is the primary statutory instrument that, as of 2026, provides the legal guarantee of wage employment to rural households in India?

  • A. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005
  • B. The Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025
  • C. The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) framework
  • D. The National Rural Livelihoods Mission Act, 2011

Q4. With reference to the findings of the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) 2023-24 compared with HCES 2022-23, consider the following statements: 1. Average rural Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) rose from ₹3,773 to ₹4,122. 2. The all-India consumption Gini coefficient declined from 0.266 to 0.237. 3. Average urban MPCE declined from ₹6,996 to ₹6,459. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Average rural Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) rose from ₹3,773 to ₹4,122.
  2. The all-India consumption Gini coefficient declined from 0.266 to 0.237.
  3. Average urban MPCE declined from ₹6,996 to ₹6,459.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3