Indian Economy Quiz:

August 7, 2022

Consider the following about Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan:
I. To enhance and strengthen the skills and capacity of the existing teachers.
II. Nationwide cleanliness by 2010.
III. To promote girls’ education and also the education of the differently-abled or children with special needs.
IV. To add additional classrooms, toilets, drinking water facilities in the schools.
Which of the above given statements is/are the objectives of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan?

(A) I, II and III only
(B) I, III and IV only
(C) II and IV
(D) None of the above

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ANSWER – B

It is a flagship programme of the government of India, that was started in 2001, to achieve the Universalisation of Elementary Education (UEE). The broad objectives of SSA are mentioned below:

To open new schools in those habitations where there are no schooling facilities
To strengthen the existing school infrastructure
To provide alternate schooling facilities
To construct new schools
To maintain school improvement grants
To provide free textbooks, uniforms to the children
To understand the educational needs of traditionally excluded categories
SSA also seeks to bridge the digital divide by offering computer education to children

Which organisation conducts sample surveys to estimate poverty line periodically (normally every five years)?

(A) Non Governmental Organisation (NGO)
(B) The National Poverty Organisation (NPO)
(C) NITI Aayog
(D) National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO)

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ANSWER – D

The poverty line is estimated periodically (normally every five years) by conducting sample surveys. These surveys are carried out by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO). However, for making comparisons between developing countries, many international organisations like the World Bank use a uniform standard for the poverty line: minimum availability of the equivalent of $1 per person per day.

Who always insisted that India would be truly independent only when the poorest of its people become free of human suffering?

(A) Pandit Nehru
(B) Mahatma Gandhi
(C) Abul Kalam
(D) B R Ambedkar

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ANSWER – B

Consider the following about Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan:
I. The legal backing to SSA was provided when free and compulsory education for the children in the age group of 6-14 was made a fundamental right in the Indian Constitution under Article 21.
II. Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India anchors the SSA Programme.
III. Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has been now renamed as Ministry of Education.
Which of the above given statements is/are not correct?

(A) I, II, and III
(B) II and III
(C) I and II
(D) Only I

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ANSWER – D

The legal backing to SSA was provided when free and compulsory education for the children in the age group of 6-14 was made a fundamental right in the Indian Constitution under Article 21 A.
Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India (GoI) anchors the SSA Programme and it has been operational since 2000-2001.
Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has been now renamed as Ministry of Education.

Which of the following statements is true about Poverty Line?

(A) Poverty line is universally fixed.
(B) Poverty line may vary with time and place.
(C) Poverty line may vary with time but is consistent with place.
(D) Poverty line exists in socialist countries only.

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ANSWER: B

A person is considered poor if his or her income or consumption level falls below a given “minimum level” necessary to fulfill basic needs. What is necessary to satisfy basic needs is different at different times and in different countries. Therefore, poverty line may vary with time and place.

Each country uses an imaginary line that is considered appropriate for its existing level of development and its accepted minimum social norms. For example, a person not having a car in the United States may be considered poor. In India, owning of a car is still considered a luxury.

Why are calorie requirements in rural areas considered to be higher than in urban areas ?

(A) Since people living in rural areas engage themselves in more mental work
(B) Since people living in rural areas do not have balanced meals
(C) Since people living in rural areas engage themselves in more physical work
(D) None of the above

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ANSWER: C

Consider the following about Mid Day Meal Scheme:
I. It is one meal that is provided to all children enrolled in government schools only and supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).
II. The objective is to increase the enrolment of the children belonging to disadvantaged sections in the schools.
III. In 2021, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme was renamed ‘PM POSHAN’ or Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman.
Which of the above given statements is/are correct?

(A) I, II, and III
(B) II and III
(C) I and II
(D) Only I

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ANSWER: B

Mid Day Meal Scheme is one meal that is provided to all children enrolled in government schools, government-aided schools, local body schools, special training centres (STC), madrasas and maktabs supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

The main objectives of the MDM scheme are:

To increase the enrolment of the children belonging to disadvantaged sections in the schools.
Leading enrolment to increased attendance in the schools.
To retain children studying in classes 1-8.
To provide nutritional support to the children of the elementary stage in drought-affected areas.

In September 2021, the Mid-Day Meal Scheme was renamed ‘PM POSHAN’ or Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman. PM POSHAN will extend the hot cooked meals to students studying in pre-primary levels or Bal Vatikas of government and government-aided primary schools, in addition to those already covered under the mid-day scheme.

Which of the following would you consider as poor people?

(A) Landless labourers in villages or people living in overcrowded jhuggis in cities.
(B) Daily wage workers at construction sites or child workers in dhabas.
(C) Beggars with children in tatters.
(D) All of the above

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ANSWER: D

Issues related to poverty:

Landlessness
Unemployment
Size of families
Illiteracy
Poor health/malnutrition
Child labour
Helplessness

Which of the following social groups are most vulnerable to poverty ?

(A) Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe households.
(B) Other Backward Classes households
(C) Casual labourers
(D) None of the above

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ANSWER: A

The proportion of people below poverty line is also not same for all social groups and economic categories in India. Social groups which are most vulnerable to poverty are scheduled caste and scheduled tribe households.

_________to poverty is a measure, which describes the greater probability of certain communities of becoming, or remaining, poor in the coming years.

(A) Social exclusion
(B) Indebtedness
(C) Vulnerability
(D) None of the above

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ANSWER: C

Vulnerability to poverty is a measure, which describes the greater probability of certain communities (say, members of a backward caste) or individuals (such as a widow or a physically handicapped person) of becoming, or remaining, poor in the coming years.
Further, it is analysed on the basis of the greater risks these groups face at the time of natural disasters (earthquakes, tsunami), terrorism etc.
Additional analysis is made of their social and economic ability to handle these risks. In fact, vulnerability describes the greater probability of being more adversely affected than other people when bad time comes for everybody, whether a flood or an earthquake or simply a fall in the availability of jobs.