What is the maximum guaranteed maturity period under the PM Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY) designed for senior citizens?
- Fifteen years
- Twenty years
- Ten years
- Five years
Explanation: PMVVY provided an assured pension and return of purchase price for senior citizens for a fixed policy term of exactly 10 years.
Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), what minimum proportion of beneficiaries must be women?
- One third
- Two thirds
- One fourth
- One half
Explanation: MGNREGA mandates that at least one-third of the beneficiaries who have registered and requested work shall be women.
The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) primarily falls under the administrative jurisdiction of which ministry?
- Ministry of Finance
- Social Justice Ministry
- Rural Development Ministry
- Ministry of Labour
Explanation: NSAP is administered by the Ministry of Rural Development, providing direct financial assistance to the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities.
Which entity bears the entire financial burden of the income support provided under the PM-KISAN scheme?
- Shared equally
- State Governments
- Union Government
- Local Panchayats
Explanation: PM-KISAN is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding directly from the Government of India.
The 'Bhavishya' platform is an online tracking system introduced specifically to streamline services for which group of people?
- ESI beneficiaries
- Pensioners
- EPF subscribers
- Unorganized workers
Explanation: Bhavishya is a portal launched by the Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare to track pension sanction and payment processes for retirees.
Which public sector institution was granted the exclusive privilege to operate the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY)?
Explanation: The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) was the sole institution authorized to operate this pension scheme for senior citizens.
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) offers a life insurance cover for death due to which of the following?
- Any cause
- Accidents only
- Natural causes only
- Specified diseases
Explanation: PMJJBY is a one-year life insurance scheme renewable annually, providing a cover of ₹2 lakhs for death due to any reason.
The 'Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan' was a massive rural public works scheme launched specifically to support migrants during which major crisis?
- 2016 Demonetization
- 2008 Financial Crisis
- COVID-19 pandemic
- 1991 Economic Crisis
Explanation: Launched in June 2020, the scheme provided immediate employment and livelihood opportunities to returnee migrant workers affected by COVID-19 lockdowns.
The Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme completely absorbed and replaced which earlier centrally sponsored health insurance initiative?
Explanation: The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY), launched in 2008, was subsumed into PM-JAY to provide a massively expanded health cover.
To protect bank depositors, what is the maximum principal and interest amount insured by the DICGC per depositor per bank?
- Two lakh rupees
- Ten lakh rupees
- Five lakh rupees
- One lakh rupees
Explanation: The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) raised the deposit insurance limit from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakhs in 2020.
What is the primary beneficiary target and objective of the SMILE scheme launched by the Ministry of Social Justice?
- Transgender welfare
- Malnutrition eradication
- Women empowerment
- Tribal education
Explanation: SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) provides comprehensive welfare, medical, and rehabilitation measures for transgender persons and beggars.
Which Union Ministry presents the annual 'Nari Shakti Puraskar' to recognize exceptional contributions to women's empowerment and social security?
- Ministry of Labour
- Ministry of WCD
- Home Ministry
- Ministry of Education
Explanation: The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) awards these national honors annually on International Women's Day.
The Swavalamban Scheme, which originally aimed to encourage savings among unorganized sector workers, was officially replaced by?
- PMJJBY
- PM-SYM
- e-Shram
- Atal Pension Yojana
Explanation: Atal Pension Yojana replaced the Swavalamban Yojana in 2015 to provide a more defined and guaranteed pension structure for the unorganized sector.
The 'Nirman Shramik Kalyan Yojana' specifically caters to the health, education, and social security needs of which occupational group?
- Domestic helps
- Construction workers
- Sanitation workers
- Handloom weavers
Explanation: Funded by a dedicated cess, this scheme provides social security, housing assistance, and scholarships for building and other construction workers.
Which specific demographic group is explicitly and categorically excluded from receiving income support under the PM-Kisan scheme?
- Small farmers
- Institutional landholders
- Tenant farmers
- Marginal farmers
Explanation: Institutional landholders, along with certain high-income groups and constitutional post holders, are strictly excluded from PM-Kisan benefits.
Under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, an establishment must register if its employee count crosses what threshold?
- Hundred employees
- Fifty employees
- Ten employees
- Twenty employees
Explanation: The EPF Act becomes mandatorily applicable to factories and specific establishments employing 20 or more persons.
The enactment of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 fundamentally shifted India's approach to food security from welfare to what?
- Natural right
- Constitutional right
- Fundamental right
- Legal right
Explanation: The NFSA converted the existing welfare-based PDS into a legally enforceable right, guaranteeing subsidized foodgrains to 75% of the rural and 50% of the urban population.
Under the Code on Social Security, 2020, which entity manages the dedicated 'Social Security Fund' created for unorganized workers?
- Social Security Board
- State Governments
- NITI Aayog
- Central Government
Explanation: The National Social Security Board is mandated to oversee and manage the dedicated fund for the welfare of gig, platform, and unorganized workers.
A RuPay debit card issued under the PM Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) provides the account holder with which built-in safety net?
- Life insurance
- Crop insurance
- Health insurance
- Accidental insurance
Explanation: PMJDY RuPay cards come with an inbuilt free accidental insurance cover of ₹2 lakhs (for accounts opened after Aug 2018) to provide baseline security.
Which dedicated savings scheme was launched specifically to secure the educational and marriage expenses of girls under the Beti Bachao campaign?
- Kasturba Gandhi Balika
- PM Matru Vandana
- Kanya Shiksha Yojana
- Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
Explanation: The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana provides high interest rates and tax benefits to encourage parents to build a fund for their female child's future.
Which specific portal was launched by the Ministry of Labour to create a national database of unorganized workers?
- Shram Suvidha
- Udyam portal
- NCS portal
- e-Shram portal
Explanation: The e-Shram portal registers unorganized workers to provide them with social security benefits and issues a 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN).
Which constitutional article explicitly directs the State to make provisions securing public assistance in cases of old age and sickness?
- Article 43
- Article 45
- Article 41
- Article 39
Explanation: Article 41 of the DPSP mandates the State to make effective provision for securing the right to work, education, and public assistance in certain cases.
Under the Stand-Up India scheme, bank loans are facilitated to SC/ST and women entrepreneurs specifically for setting up what?
- Greenfield enterprise
- Brownfield enterprise
- Cooperative society
- NGO operation
Explanation: Stand-Up India facilitates bank loans between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 Crore strictly for setting up a greenfield (brand new) enterprise in manufacturing, services, or trading.
The previously existing 'Aam Admi Bima Yojana' for unorganized sector workers was eventually subsumed into which broader scheme?
Explanation: To consolidate overlapping insurance schemes, the AABY was merged into the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana for better administration.
The Payment of Gratuity Act mandates the payment of gratuity to employees who have rendered continuous service for at least?
- Seven years
- Five years
- Three years
- Ten years
Explanation: The Act requires a minimum of five years of continuous service with a single employer to become legally eligible for gratuity benefits upon exit.
Which scheme provides cash maternity benefits to pregnant women and lactating mothers for their first living child?
- Ayushman Bharat
- PM-SYM
- PMMVY
- PM-Kisan
Explanation: Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) provides a cash incentive of ₹5,000 to pregnant women for their first living child to ensure proper nutrition.
The Code on Social Security, 2020, uniquely proposes establishing a dedicated Social Security Fund primarily covering which workers?
- Formal sector workers
- Gig workers
- Government employees
- Corporate executives
Explanation: The 2020 Code legally recognizes and mandates the creation of a Social Security Fund specifically for unorganized workers, gig workers, and platform workers.
Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana - NRLM focuses heavily on mobilizing rural poor women into which specific community groups?
- Producer companies
- Joint liability groups
- Self help groups
- Cooperatives
Explanation: DAY-NRLM systematically aims to organize rural poor women into Self Help Groups (SHGs) to provide them with financial literacy and credit access.
The comprehensive framework for the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act, 1948, was largely based on the report of which committee?
- Adarkar Committee
- Mudaliar Committee
- Bhore Committee
- Rege Committee
Explanation: Professor B.P. Adarkar's 1944 report on health insurance for industrial workers formed the foundational basis for the ESI Act.
The Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme is an example of what specific type of social security mechanism?
- Zero contribution pension
- Non contributory pension
- Fully funded pension
- Market-linked pension
Explanation: It is a non-contributory scheme, meaning the beneficiaries do not pay into the fund; the state provides the financial assistance entirely from tax revenues.
The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) savings account can be opened in the name of a girl child up to what age?
- Ten years
- Five years
- Twelve years
- Eight years
Explanation: An SSY account can be opened anytime before the girl child attains the age of 10 years to build a fund for her education and marriage.
Which centralized platform acts as a single-window system to process, track, and disburse all Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT)?
- PFMS
- UMANG
- PRAGATI
- e-GramSwaraj
Explanation: The Public Financial Management System (PFMS) under the Ministry of Finance acts as the central digital hub for executing all DBT payments.
The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), which provides direct financial assistance to vulnerable groups, was introduced during which Five-Year Plan?
- Seventh Plan
- Ninth Plan
- Tenth Plan
- Eighth Plan
Explanation: NSAP came into effect in August 1995, falling within the Eighth Five-Year Plan (1992-1997), marking a major step in welfare policy.
The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, significantly increased the duration of paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to?
- 26 weeks
- 16 weeks
- 20 weeks
- 24 weeks
Explanation: The 2017 amendment increased the paid maternity leave to 26 weeks for the first two children, providing better maternal care and social security.
Which statutory entity actively implements and manages the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) scheme in India?
Explanation: The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) is the statutory body that administers the comprehensive ESI social security and health scheme.
Under the PM Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM), what is the assured minimum monthly pension after 60 years of age?
- Five thousand rupees
- Two thousand rupees
- One thousand rupees
- Three thousand rupees
Explanation: PM-SYM guarantees a minimum monthly pension of ₹3,000 for unorganized workers upon attaining 60 years of age, based on equal contributions.
The PM SVANidhi scheme was specifically launched to provide affordable working capital micro-credit facilities to which group?
- Handloom weavers
- Marginal farmers
- Street vendors
- Domestic workers
Explanation: PM SVANidhi was launched by MoHUA during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide affordable, collateral-free working capital loans to street vendors.
The 'Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana' (PMRPY) primarily incentivized employers to undertake which specific action?
- Hiring female workers
- Formal job creation
- Green energy use
- Exporting goods
Explanation: PMRPY incentivized employers to create new formal sector jobs by paying the employer's full 12% EPF contribution for new employees for three years.
Under PM-JAY, eligible beneficiary families are primarily identified using data extracted from which specific nationwide survey?
- NFHS 5
- SECC 2011
- Census 2011
- NSSO 75th round
Explanation: Beneficiary families under Ayushman Bharat are identified based on the socio-economic deprivation and occupational criteria of the SECC 2011.
Under the PM Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) scheme, what exact proportion of the monthly contribution is paid by the Central Government?
- Fifty percent
- Hundred percent
- Twenty five percent
- Zero percent
Explanation: PM-SYM is a 50:50 matching contribution scheme where the subscriber and the Central Government contribute equal amounts to the pension fund.
For the calculation of statutory retirement benefits, an employee's continuous service tenure is determined under the Payment of Gratuity Act of which year?
Explanation: The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972, establishes the legal framework for paying gratuity to employees rendering continuous service of five years or more.
The Maternity Benefit Act legally applies to factories, mines, and establishments employing a minimum of how many persons?
- Fifty or more
- Five or more
- Ten or more
- Twenty or more
Explanation: The Act is applicable to any establishment employing 10 or more persons, ensuring maternity protection in both organized and eligible unorganized sectors.
Which global organization originally adopted the landmark Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102)?
Explanation: The International Labour Organization (ILO) adopted Convention 102, which serves as the global blueprint for the nine branches of social security.
Under the Stand-Up India scheme, bank branches are explicitly mandated to facilitate at least one loan to whom?
- SC/ST or woman
- Transgender individuals
- PwD candidates
- Minority communities
Explanation: The scheme mandates every bank branch to provide at least one loan to an SC/ST borrower and at least one to a woman borrower for setting up greenfield enterprises.
Atal Pension Yojana (APY) is administered and regulated by which statutory body?
Explanation: APY is administered by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) through the National Pension System (NPS) architecture.
What is the maximum age limit for a citizen to join the Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)?
- 70 years
- 60 years
- 65 years
- 50 years
Explanation: PMSBY, an accidental death and disability insurance scheme, is available to bank account holders aged between 18 and 70 years.
PM-Kisan Maan-Dhan Yojana provides a guaranteed monthly pension to eligible small and marginal farmers upon reaching what age?
- 65 years
- 55 years
- 50 years
- 60 years
Explanation: The scheme provides a fixed pension of ₹3,000 per month to eligible small and marginal farmers after they attain the age of 60 years.
PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) provides free food grains entirely in addition to the normal quota under which act?
- Essential Commodities Act
- APMC Act
- FSSAI Act
- NFSA 2013
Explanation: PMGKAY provided additional free food grains (5 kg per person) specifically to beneficiaries already covered under the National Food Security Act, 2013.
Which major social security scheme allows early partial withdrawal up to 25% for critical illnesses or children's higher education?
Explanation: The National Pension System (NPS) permits partial withdrawals up to 25% of the subscriber's own contribution for specific life events like critical illness.
In addition to cheap credit, the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme automatically provides cardholders with which vital social security coverage?
- Health insurance
- Crop failure insurance
- Life insurance
- Personal accident insurance
Explanation: KCC holders are covered under a personal accident insurance scheme against death or permanent disability resulting from accidents.
Under the Atal Pension Yojana (APY), a subscriber can elect to receive a guaranteed monthly pension ranging from ₹1,000 up to a maximum of?
- Three thousand rupees
- Ten thousand rupees
- Two thousand rupees
- Five thousand rupees
Explanation: APY allows subscribers to choose a guaranteed monthly pension of ₹1000, ₹2000, ₹3000, ₹4000, or ₹5000 based on their contribution levels.
Which specific online portal serves as the primary grievance redressal management system for subscribers of the EPFO?
- Shram Suvidha
- CPGRAMS
- EPFiGMS
- e-Shram
Explanation: The EPF i-Grievance Management System (EPFiGMS) is a customized portal for resolving complaints related to provident fund accounts and claims.
The Supreme Court has consistently held that the right to social security and health is an integral part of which fundamental right?
- Article 14
- Article 21
- Article 19
- Article 23
Explanation: The judiciary has expansively interpreted Article 21 (Protection of Life and Personal Liberty) to include the right to health and social security.
Under the EPF Act, what percentage of an employee's basic salary is typically contributed to the Provident Fund?
- Ten percent
- Twelve percent
- Eight percent
- Fifteen percent
Explanation: Both the employee and the employer typically contribute 12% of the employee's basic salary and dearness allowance to the Employees' Provident Fund.
The core, foundational objective of the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is to achieve universal and comprehensive what?
- Digital literacy
- Financial inclusion
- Healthcare access
- Universal basic income
Explanation: PMJDY aims to ensure comprehensive financial inclusion by providing access to banking, remittance, credit, insurance, and pension services to all unbanked households.
Recently, the annual auto-debit premium for the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) was increased from ₹330 to what amount?
- 400 rupees annually
- 436 rupees annually
- 500 rupees annually
- 346 rupees annually
Explanation: To ensure the financial viability of the scheme, the government increased the PMJJBY premium from ₹330 to ₹436 per annum in 2022.
The PM-Kisan scheme provides direct income support to landholding farmer families of how much amount annually?
- Ten thousand rupees
- Four thousand rupees
- Eight thousand rupees
- Six thousand rupees
Explanation: PM-KISAN provides income support of ₹6,000 per year transferred directly in three equal installments to all eligible landholding farmer families.
To seamlessly release installments under the PM-Kisan scheme, the beneficiary farmer's details must be actively seeded with which document?
- PAN card
- Aadhaar number
- Ration card
- Voter ID
Explanation: Aadhaar seeding is mandatory to authenticate beneficiaries and execute direct benefit transfers (DBT) directly into their bank accounts to prevent leakages.
Ayushman Bharat - PM Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) provides a secondary and tertiary care health cover of what amount?
- Five lakh rupees
- Two lakh rupees
- Three lakh rupees
- Ten lakh rupees
Explanation: PM-JAY provides a cashless cover of ₹5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization.
The Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, which first attempted to provide a legislative framework for informal sector welfare, was enacted in?
Explanation: Enacted in 2008, this Act aimed to provide social security and welfare to unorganized workers, though it was later subsumed by the 2020 Labour Codes.