UGC NET/JRF EXAM, JUNE-2025 Labour and Social Welfare

Total Questions: 100

91. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions:

Social Security is an instrument of social and economic justice: a wise investment which yields good dividend in the long run. Social security has wider aims than the prevention or relief of poverty. Where social security programmes did have as an objective the fight against poverty, the effort was mainly concentrated on those not at work. The objective of social security is compensation, restoration and prevention.

Access to social security has become a fundamental human right to which every individual is entitled as a member of the society. The right to social security is recognized in numerous human rights instruments such as International Labour Organization, UDHR and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and is a basic human right.

There are two main currents in the movement towards social securitysocial insurance and social assistance. Both are complementary to each other. Tax-financed social benefits are usually targeted at the needy, and are often awarded based on an income or assets test.

The other component is financed by contributions and its benefits are awarded when a specific risk or contingency occurs. The statutory social security schemes cater only for a small proportion of the population. The ultimate goal of social security is to ensure that everyone has the means of livelihood.

Effective social security means secure access to benefits and services that maintain and enhance an individual's employability and the guarantee of at least a minimum income level, including adequate and secure pensions when no longer active, together with basic social services (including healthcare). Currently, social security schemes in many countries have come under increasing financial, structural and budgetary pressures.

Where social security programmes did have as an objective the fight against poverty, its efforts are focused upon:

Correct Answer: 3. Those individuals not at work
Solution:The passage states that where social security programmes aimed to fight poverty, the effort was mainly concentrated on those not at work. This means that social security measures for poverty reduction were directed toward individuals who were unemployed, inactive or otherwise outside the labour market.

The focus was not on marginalised groups within organised or unorganised sectors, but specifically on people who were not engaged in work at all.

92. The right to social security is recognized in numerous human rights instruments, excluding:

Correct Answer: 4. World Health Organization
Solution:The passage clearly lists the human-rights instruments that recognize the right to social security: the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). The World Health Organization (WHO) is not listed as one of these instruments and does not issue binding human-rights covenants on social security. Hence, this is the correct exclusion.

93. Which are the two main currents in the movement towards social security?

Correct Answer: 3. Social assistance and social insurance
Solution:The passage identifies two main currents in the movement towards social security, namely social insurance and social assistance. These two approaches complement each other: social insurance is contribution-based and compensates for specific risks (like illness, injury, unemployment), while social assistance is tax-funded and targeted at the needy based on income or asset criteria.

94. What is tax-financed social benefits for the needy that are awarded based on an income or assets test called?

Correct Answer: 2. Social assistance
Solution:Tax-financed social benefits targeted at the needy and awarded after an income or asset test are called social assistance. This form of support is designed to help individuals who do not have sufficient means of livelihood and therefore rely on state resources. The passage explicitly links tax-financed benefits with social assistance, making this the accurate option.

95. A social security funded by contributions and its benefits awarded to cover a specific risk or contingency is called?

Correct Answer: 4. Social insurance
Solution:A system that is funded through contributions and provides benefits when a specific risk or contingency occurs is known as soc insurance. Under this model, workers an employers typically contribute to a fund, and benefits are paid out in cases like sickness, disability, unemployment, or old age.

The key characteristics mentioned-contribution-based and risk-contingent-match the definition of social insurance precisely.

96. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions:

A real growth area in the Organizational Behaviour research is positive organizational scholarship, also called positive OB. It studies how organizations develop human strengths, foster vitality and resilience and unlock potential- it studies what is good about them. The aim is to create a positive work environment for its employees.

Some key topics in positive ОВ research are engagement, hope, optimism and resilience. Positive organizational scholars have studied a concept called 'reflected best-self by asking employees to think about when they were at their personal best in order to understand how to exploit their strengths.

Although positive organizational scholarship does not deny the value of the negative (such as critical feedback) it does challenge researchers to exploit employees' strengths rather than dwell on their limitations. One aspect of a positive work environment is the organization's culture that influences employee behaviour strongly.

What is the upcoming growth area in organizational behaviour called?

Correct Answer: 2. Positive organizational scholarship
Solution:The passage states directly that the real growth area in organizational behaviour research is positive organizational scholarship, also called positive OB.

This field focuses on studying positive qualities, strengths and constructive processes within organizations to create a better work environment. Therefore, option 2 exactly matches the term used in the passage.

97. What is the objective of the researchers in this new focus to Organizational Behaviour?

Correct Answer: 2. Researchers hope to help organizations create positive work environments for employees
Solution:The passage explains that the central aim of this research trend is to create a positive work environment for employees. This involves developing human strengths, fostering vitality resilience and unlocking potential.

The researchers' intent is not to find faults or reduce costs but to enhance the environment in which employees function.

98. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a key topic of research in positive ОВ?

Correct Answer: 4. Optimization
Solution:The passage lists the main topics of research in positive OB: engagement, hope, optimism and resilience. Optimization is not mentioned anywhere as a key topic. Therefore, option 4 is not a topic covered in positive OB according to the passage.

99. According to the passage, what does 'reflected best-self denote?

Correct Answer: 1. How an employee feels when they are at their personal best
Solution:The concept of reflected best-self refers to asking employees to reflect on moments when they were performing at their personal best. The goal is to help them understand and leverage their strengths.

It is not about moral judgement, defensive actions, or general organizational development, but specifically about personal best performance.

100. As per the passage, which of the following is NOT a part of positive OB?

Correct Answer: 2. It pushes researchers to dwell on employees limitations
Solution:The passage clearly states that positive organizational scholarship does not dwell on employee limitations. Instead, it emphasizes exploiting strengths, fostering positivity, and studying what is good in organizations. Therefore, option 2 is the statement that is NOT a part of positive OB.