UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — From Margins to Mainstream
Q1. The SMILE scheme was launched in February 2022. Which one of the following correctly describes its administrative authority and nature?
- A. It is administered by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment as a Central Sector Scheme
- B. It is administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as a Central Sector Scheme
- C. It is jointly administered by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and the Ministry of Women & Child Development
- D. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented and funded largely by State governments
Q2. In the context of welfare of marginalised groups, the acronym 'SMILE' stands for which one of the following?
- A. Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise
- B. Scheme for Marginalized Individuals' Livelihood and Employment
- C. Support for Minorities in Livelihood and Enterprise
- D. Social Mainstreaming of Individuals for Livelihood and Empowerment
Q3. With reference to the legal and judicial framework for transgender rights in India, consider the following statements:
1. The Supreme Court in NALSA v. Union of India (2014) recognised transgender persons as a 'third gender'.
2. The judgment upheld the right of a transgender person to self-identify their gender.
3. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act was enacted in 2019 and its Rules were notified in 2020.
4. The NALSA judgment made it compulsory for every transgender person to undergo sex reassignment surgery before being granted legal recognition.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- The Supreme Court in NALSA v. Union of India (2014) recognised transgender persons as a 'third gender'.
- The judgment upheld the right of a transgender person to self-identify their gender.
- The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act was enacted in 2019 and its Rules were notified in 2020.
- The NALSA judgment made it compulsory for every transgender person to undergo sex reassignment surgery before being granted legal recognition.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1, 3 and 4
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 1 and 2 only
Q4. Under the framework operationalising the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, a Certificate of Identity to a transgender person is issued by which authority?
- A. The District Magistrate
- B. The Sub-Registrar of the area
- C. The Municipal Commissioner
- D. The National Council for Transgender Persons
Q5. As per the SMILE 'From Margins to Mainstream' data, the Garima Greh shelter homes supported by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment are spread across how many States/UTs?
Q6. In the context of transgender welfare, what does a 'Garima Greh' refer to?
- A. A shelter home providing transgender persons with food, medical care and skill-development support
- B. A shelter home exclusively for rescued beggars providing them vocational training
- C. A residential school run for the children of transgender persons
- D. A community health centre that performs gender-affirming surgery for transgender persons
Q7. Which one of the following statements correctly describes 'Ayushman Bharat TG Plus'?
- A. A composite health package under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY giving every transgender person ₹5 lakh annual cover, including gender-affirming care
- B. A cover that reimburses ₹5 lakh solely for sex reassignment surgery and no other treatment
- C. A scheme available only to below-poverty-line transgender persons irrespective of Ayushman eligibility
- D. An annual cash transfer of ₹5 lakh to every holder of a transgender identity certificate
Q8. Ayushman Bharat TG Plus was operationalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment with which of the following bodies?
- A. National Health Authority
- B. National Council for Transgender Persons
- C. National Health Mission
- D. NITI Aayog
Q9. As per the latest SMILE implementation data, what is the total outlay sanctioned for the scheme for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26?
- A. ₹100 crore
- B. ₹265 crore
- C. ₹365 crore
- D. ₹500 crore
Q10. Of the total SMILE outlay for 2021-22 to 2025-26, the larger share of funds was earmarked for which one of the following?
- A. Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons
- B. Comprehensive Rehabilitation of Persons engaged in the act of Begging
- C. Construction of Garima Greh shelter homes alone
- D. Ayushman Bharat TG Plus premium payments
Q11. Consider the following milestones in India's transgender-welfare framework and their years:
1. NALSA v. Union of India judgment — 2014
2. Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act — 2019
3. Launch of the National Portal for Transgender Persons — 2020
4. Launch of the SMILE umbrella scheme — 2018
Which of the pairings given above is/are NOT correctly matched?
- NALSA v. Union of India judgment — 2014
- Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act — 2019
- Launch of the National Portal for Transgender Persons — 2020
- Launch of the SMILE umbrella scheme — 2018
- A. 3 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 3 and 4
- D. 1 and 2
Q12. Which one of the following best describes the 'National Portal for Transgender Persons'?
- A. An online platform through which transgender persons can apply for a Certificate of Identity and I-card without any physical interface
- B. A portal that issues the Certificate of Identity only after a mandatory medical board screening of the applicant
- C. A grievance-redressal portal meant exclusively for reporting acts of discrimination against transgender persons
- D. An employment portal that reserves a fixed quota of government vacancies for transgender persons