UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — AI’s next test — reaching India’s informal women worker

Q1. With reference to the International Labour Organization's global estimates of informal employment published in its 'Women and Men in the Informal Economy: A Statistical Picture (Third edition)', consider the following statements: 1. Africa records a higher share of informal employment in total employment than Asia and the Pacific. 2. Globally, the share of employed men in informal employment exceeds the corresponding share of employed women. 3. When agriculture is excluded, the share of informal employment in global employment falls below one-third. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Africa records a higher share of informal employment in total employment than Asia and the Pacific.
  2. Globally, the share of employed men in informal employment exceeds the corresponding share of employed women.
  3. When agriculture is excluded, the share of informal employment in global employment falls below one-third.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. According to the ILO's third-edition global estimates on the informal economy, how many people worldwide make their living in the informal economy, and what proportion of the world's employed population do they constitute?

  • A. About 3 billion, roughly 75 per cent of global employment
  • B. About 2 billion, roughly 61 per cent of global employment
  • C. About 1.5 billion, roughly 45 per cent of global employment
  • D. About 1 billion, roughly 40 per cent of global employment

Q3. The India AI Governance Guidelines released by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in November 2025 organise their key recommendations under how many pillars of AI governance?

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

Q4. The IndiaAI Mission, approved by the Union Cabinet in 2024, is implemented through which one of the following bodies?

  • A. IndiaAI, an Independent Business Division under MeitY
  • B. The National e-Governance Division, an autonomous business division functioning under the same Ministry
  • C. The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, a scientific society functioning under the same Ministry
  • D. The Frontier Technology Hub established under NITI Aayog's technology and innovation vertical

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding UN Women in relation to the United Nations bodies that preceded it: 1. It was created by consolidating four pre-existing United Nations entities, including UNIFEM and INSTRAW. 2. Unlike the entities it replaced, it combines normative support work with operational activities at the country level. 3. Its creation transferred to it all gender-related mandates of the United Nations system, leaving no gender-equality functions with any other United Nations fund, programme or agency. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It was created by consolidating four pre-existing United Nations entities, including UNIFEM and INSTRAW.
  2. Unlike the entities it replaced, it combines normative support work with operational activities at the country level.
  3. Its creation transferred to it all gender-related mandates of the United Nations system, leaving no gender-equality functions with any other United Nations fund, programme or agency.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Which one of the following is the governing body that provides intergovernmental support to, and supervision of, the operational activities of UN Women?

  • A. The Commission on the Status of Women, the United Nations' principal intergovernmental body dedicated to gender equality
  • B. The UN-Women Executive Board
  • C. The Third Committee of the General Assembly, which handles social, humanitarian and cultural questions
  • D. The Committee for Programme and Coordination of the Economic and Social Council

Q7. According to ILO global estimates, which one of the following economic sectors records the highest level of informal employment worldwide?

  • A. Construction, where informality is estimated at more than 90 per cent
  • B. Wholesale and retail trade, where informality is estimated at about 50 per cent
  • C. Domestic work, where informality is estimated at about 68 per cent
  • D. Agriculture, where informality is estimated at more than 90 per cent

Q8. In ILO statistical usage, 'employment in the informal sector' is distinguished from 'informal employment' in that the former is:

  • A. An enterprise-based concept, covering jobs located in unincorporated enterprises that are unregistered or fall below a size threshold
  • B. A job-based concept, covering any job that lacks social protection or employment benefits, whatever the enterprise
  • C. A residence-based concept, covering workers in rural areas engaged outside registered establishments
  • D. An income-based concept, covering workers whose earnings fall below the statutory national minimum wage

Q9. The Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, the first global standard-setting instrument on the subject, was adopted in November 2021 by how many States?

  • A. 141 UNESCO Member States, constituting a two-thirds majority of the General Conference
  • B. 167 UNESCO Member States, the remainder recording abstentions
  • C. All 195 United Nations Member States, without a single exception
  • D. 193 UNESCO Member States at its General Conference

Q10. Which one of the following is the Pension Fund Manager responsible for pension pay-out under the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan (PM-SYM), the Centre's flagship contributory pension scheme for unorganised workers?

  • A. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, which administers social security for organised-sector establishments
  • B. Life Insurance Corporation of India, which also handles pension pay-out under the scheme
  • C. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority, which regulates the National Pension System
  • D. The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, which refinances rural credit institutions