UPSC Prelims 2017 · GS Paper I

Question 3: Economy and Social Development

‘Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme’ is sometimes mentioned in the news with reference to

aCertifying the skills acquired by construction workers through traditional channels.

bEnrolling the persons in Universities for distance learning programmes.

cReserving some skilled jobs to rural and urban poor in some public sector undertakings.

dCertifying the skills acquired by trainees under the National Skill Development Programme.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

The Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme assesses and certifies skills that people have picked up on the job or through traditional apprenticeship rather than in a classroom. It runs under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana and has been used widely for construction workers, who mostly learn by working. The certificate is aligned to the National Skills Qualification Framework, so informal workers get a recognised credential. Remember: RPL certifies skills a worker already has; it does not train from scratch.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Right: RPL certifies skills gained informally, such as by construction workers.
(b) Wrong: RPL has nothing to do with enrolment in distance-learning courses.
(c) Wrong: it involves no reservation of jobs in public sector undertakings.
(d) Wrong: trainees under skill programmes are trained and certified normally; RPL is for skills learnt earlier, outside such courses.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.