2017 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2017 · GS Paper I

Question 61: Economy and Social Development

With reference to ‘National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)’, which of the statements given below is/are correct ?

  1. 1.Under NSQF, a learner can acquire the certification for competency only through formal learning.
  2. 2.An outcome expected from the implementation of NSQF is the mobility between vocational and general education.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

a1 only
b2 only
cBoth 1 and 2
dNeither 1 nor 2

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The National Skills Qualification Framework organises qualifications into levels according to the knowledge, skills and aptitude needed. It recognises learning gained through formal, non-formal and informal routes, so a learner can be certified for competency without formal schooling and Statement 1 is wrong. One of its expected outcomes is mobility between vocational and general education, so a learner can move across the two streams, which makes Statement 2 right. Remember: NSQF recognises prior and informal learning.

  • 1. Competency can be certified for formal, non-formal and informal learning.
  • 2. The framework aims at mobility between vocational and general education.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.

    What you needed to know: Competency can be certified for formal, non-formal and informal learning.

    The red flag in statement 1 is “only”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “only” were true 27% of the time (82 statements). A hint, not a rule.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: The framework aims at mobility between vocational and general education.

Only (b) is left. This one needs every statement.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: certification is not limited to formal learning.
  • (b) Right: only Statement 2, mobility between vocational and general education, is correct.
  • (c) Wrong: statement 1 is false.
  • (d) Wrong: statement 2 is correct.

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.