UPSC Prelims 2011 · GS Paper I

Question 41: Economy and Social Development

Among the following who are eligible to benefit from the "Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act" ?

aAdult members of only the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe households

bAdult members of below poverty line (BPL) households

cAdult members of households of all backward communities

dAdult members of any household

AnswerThe answer is (d).

Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, every rural household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work is entitled to up to 100 days of wage employment a year, whatever its caste, community or income. It is a legal guarantee that is demand-driven, and it is not restricted to BPL families, SC or ST households or backward communities. Of the options, (d) states this best; the Act applies to rural households.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Not restricted to SC and ST households.
(b) Not restricted to BPL households; any rural household can apply.
(c) Not restricted to backward communities.
(d) Right: adult members of any (rural) household willing to do unskilled work are eligible.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2011, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.