Poverty & Unemployment (Part – I)

Total Questions: 57

31. The SAARC Ministerial Conference on Poverty Alleviation was held in: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002]

(a) Kathmandu
(b) New Delhi
(c) Islamabad
(d) Dhaka

Correct Answer: (c) Islamabad

Solution:The SAARC Ministerial Conference on Poverty Alleviation was held in Islamabad, Pakistan in April, 2002. In this meeting the SAARC Finance/Planning Ministers, prepared a 'Plan of Action on Poverty Alleviation'. At the 13th SAARC Summit (Dhaka, November 2005), the Leaders declared the decade of 2006-2015 as the 'SAARC Decade of Poverty Alleviation'. Under this agenda, the first Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation was held on 8 August, 2006 in Colombo. After that, second such meeting was held on 27 May, 2008 in Male, third on 5 April, 2013 in Kathmandu and fourth on 29 July, 2015 in Thimpu.

32. Main features of Indian social structure are: [U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2014]

(i) Excess population in villages

(ii) Various religions

(iii) Various Castes

(iv) Poverty

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) (i), (ii) and (iii)
(b) (i), (iii) and (iv)
(c) (iii) and (iv)
(d) (ii) and (iv)

Correct Answer: (a) (i), (ii) and (iii)

Solution:Rural society (more population in villages), complex society (ethnic, linguistic, religious and caste divisions), traditional society, multiculturalism etc. are the main features of Indian social structure, while poverty is part of the socio-economic structure.

33. With reference to the Indian economy after the 1991 economic liberalization, consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2020]

1. Worker productivity (Rs. per worker at 2004-05 prices) increased in urban areas while it decreased in rural areas.

2. The percentage share of rural areas in the workforce steadily increased.

3. In rural areas, the growth in non-farm economy increased.

4. The growth rate in rural employment decreased.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 4 only

Correct Answer: (b) 3 and 4 only

Solution:According to NITI Aayog's paper "Changing Structure of Rural Economy of India: Implications for Employment and Growth 2017"The worker productivity in rural areas in 2004-05 was Rs. 32273 and in 2011-12, it was Rs. 101755.

While in urban areas in 2004-05 it was Rs. 120419 and in 2011-12, Rs. 282515. It means, worker productivity has increased for both rural and urban areas. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

The percentage share of rural areas in the workforce has steadily declined from 77.8% in 1993-94 to 70.9% in 2011-12. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

The share of agricultural activities in rural economy has declined from 57.0 percent in 1993-94 to 39.2 percent in 2011- 12, and growth in non-farm economy has increased. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

The growth rate in rural employment has decreased from 1.45% during 1994-2005 to (-) 0.28 between 2005-12. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

34. The rate of growth of employment in India has generally been of the order of: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1998]

(a) 2 percent per annum
(b) 3 percent per annum
(c) 5 percent per annum
(d) 7 percent per annum

Correct Answer: (a) 2 percent per annum

Solution:

As per the question period, the rate of growth of employment in India was almost 2 percent per year.

35. Unemployment problem leads to poverty because: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]

(a) People living below poverty line increase
(b) There is rapid increase in population
(c) It increases inflation
(d) It leads to rise in interest rate

Correct Answer: (a) People living below poverty line increase

Solution:Unemployment means unutilized human resources which can generate income if employed efficiently, unemployment means lack of ways to generate income. Therefore, rise in unemployment leads to decrease in income and the people who are on the brink of poverty line falls below the poverty line. Hence problem of unemployment rises poverty.

36. Name the Indian State which has the maximum percent age of educated unemployed persons? [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]

(a) Kerala
(b) Andhra Pradesh
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Gujarat

Correct Answer: (a) Kerala

Solution:KP. Kannah, an economist in Kerala, attributes the unemployment in Kerala to 'educated unemployment. This is a situation where a person cannot find a job suitable to his qualifications. Kerala has highest level of educated unemployed in India.

37. Consider the following statements and select the correct answer using the code given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2006, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]

Assertion (A): Educated unemployment increases with high rate of economic growth.

Reason (R): It happens only when there is lack of professional education.

Codes:

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

Solution:

With high rate of growth, unutilized resources come into play through creation of employment. In which, those who are educated according to employment get employed easily, but, those who are deprived of professional/skilled education, do not get employed due to lack of employment opportunities. Therefore, educated employment rises with lack of professional education.

Even though India's economy is growing at a fast pace, the 'higher educated' are reporting the highest rate of unemployment against the national average. The brisk economic growth is not leading to enough jobs with less than one percent growth in employment creation.

38. In the following question, a statement followed by two assumptions numbered I and II are given. You have to consider the statement and the assumptions and decide which of the assumptions follows from the statement. [R.A.S./R.T.S.(Pre) 2013]

Statement: Unemployment allowance should be given to all uemployed Indian youth above 18 years of age. Assumptions:

I. Unemployed youth in India need monetary support.

II. The government has sufficient funds to provide allowance to all unemployed youth.

(a) Only 1 follows
(b) Only II follows
(c) Either 1 or II follows
(d) Both I and II follow

Correct Answer: (a) Only 1 follows

Solution:Only the first assumption balances the statement, not the second. Unemployed youth need financial help, so that they can fulfill their minimum requirements and carry out future targeted plans.

39. Assertion (A): Roots of urban poverty lies in rural areas. Assertion (B): Level of education is normally low in rural areas. [U.P.R.O/A.R.O. (Mains) 2013]

Consider the above statements and find out the correct answer from the code given below:

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Solution:People tend to migrate from rural areas to urban areas in search of jobs. On the other hand, the level of education is normally low in rural areas, this is why the people migrated from rural to urban areas get poor jobs, where they remain poor and also increase the concentration of poverty in urban areas. Therefore, Assertion (A) and Reason (R) both are true and Reason explicitly explains Assertion.

40. As per the number of employed males per thousand in urban areas in year 1999-2000, put the name of following States in descending order: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2003, U.P.U.D.A./.D.A.(Pre) 2001]

A. Meghalaya

B. Nagaland

C. Assam

D. West Bengal