UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs 198th Meeting of Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) at New Delhi

Q1. When the Employees' State Insurance Scheme was first inaugurated in 1952 at Kanpur and simultaneously at Delhi, the initial number of employees brought under its coverage was approximately:

• A. 60,000
• B. 1,20,000
• C. 5,00,000
• D. 12,00,000

Q2. With reference to the institutional architecture under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948, consider the following statements: 1. The ESI Corporation is chaired by the Union Minister of Labour & Employment, whereas its Standing Committee is chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment. 2. Although the ESI Act was enacted in 1948, the scheme became operational only in 1952. 3. The Director General is the sole ex-officio member who sits on both the Corporation and the Standing Committee. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The ESI Corporation is chaired by the Union Minister of Labour & Employment, whereas its Standing Committee is chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment.
2. Although the ESI Act was enacted in 1948, the scheme became operational only in 1952.
3. The Director General is the sole ex-officio member who sits on both the Corporation and the Standing Committee.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Under the ESI scheme, the 'wage ceiling' of ₹21,000 per month is best defined as:

• A. the maximum monthly wage up to which an employee is mandatorily covered under the ESI Act
• B. the maximum monthly cash benefit payable to an insured person
• C. the minimum monthly wage an employer must pay an insured worker
• D. the wage above which the employer's rate of contribution is doubled

Q4. With reference to the contribution structure under the ESI scheme, consider the following statements: 1. The total contribution of 4% of wages comprises an employer share of 0.75% and an employee share of 3.25%. 2. The total contribution rate was reduced from 6.5% to 4% with effect from 1 July 2019. 3. The wage ceiling for coverage is ₹21,000 per month for general employees and ₹25,000 per month for Persons with Disability. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The total contribution of 4% of wages comprises an employer share of 0.75% and an employee share of 3.25%.
2. The total contribution rate was reduced from 6.5% to 4% with effect from 1 July 2019.
3. The wage ceiling for coverage is ₹21,000 per month for general employees and ₹25,000 per month for Persons with Disability.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. With reference to the Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana (ABVKY), consider the following: 1. It provides relief to insured persons covered under Section 2(9) of the ESI Act who become unemployed. 2. The relief is payable at the rate of 50% of the average daily earnings of the claimant. 3. A claimant must have been in insurable employment for a minimum of two years to be eligible. 4. The relief may be claimed any number of times so long as the person remains in insurable employment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. It provides relief to insured persons covered under Section 2(9) of the ESI Act who become unemployed.
2. The relief is payable at the rate of 50% of the average daily earnings of the claimant.
3. A claimant must have been in insurable employment for a minimum of two years to be eligible.
4. The relief may be claimed any number of times so long as the person remains in insurable employment.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 4 only
• C. 1, 2 and 3
• D. 3 only

Q6. To be eligible for relief under the ABVKY, an insured person must have contributed for not less than how many days in each of the three consecutive contribution periods immediately preceding the claim?

• A. 50 days
• B. 70 days
• C. 78 days
• D. 91 days

Q7. A key governance decision taken at the 198th ESIC meeting was that all new and upcoming ESI Hospitals would henceforth be directly managed by which body?

• A. the Employees' State Insurance Corporation itself
• B. the respective State Governments
• C. the National Health Authority
• D. the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

Q8. The Cancer Care Facility approved at the 198th ESIC meeting for the ESIC Medical College & Hospital at Joka (Kolkata) takes the specific form of a:

• A. Radiation Oncology Block
• B. Bone Marrow Transplant Unit
• C. Nuclear Medicine Wing
• D. Palliative Care Hospice

Q9. The package of benefits available to insured persons under the ESI scheme — sickness, maternity, disablement, dependants' and medical benefit — is enumerated under which provision of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948?

• A. Section 46
• B. Section 2(9)
• C. Section 39
• D. Section 56

Q10. With reference to the integration of AYUSH into ESIC healthcare, consider the following statements: 1. The systems of medicine offered through ESIC's AYUSH units include Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. 2. The 198th ESIC meeting approved an MoU between ESIC and the Ministry of Ayush to integrate traditional medicine into healthcare delivery. 3. Unlike the earlier Revised AYUSH Policy, the new MoU mandates that AYUSH treatment replace allopathic treatment across all ESIC hospitals. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The systems of medicine offered through ESIC's AYUSH units include Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy.
2. The 198th ESIC meeting approved an MoU between ESIC and the Ministry of Ayush to integrate traditional medicine into healthcare delivery.
3. Unlike the earlier Revised AYUSH Policy, the new MoU mandates that AYUSH treatment replace allopathic treatment across all ESIC hospitals.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 2 and 3 only
• C. 1 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Although the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) administer different benefits, both function exclusively under which single Union Ministry?

• A. Ministry of Labour & Employment
• B. Ministry of Finance
• C. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
• D. Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment