UPSC Prelims 2018 · GS Paper I
Question 25: Economy and Social Development
With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements :
- 1.The families coming under the category of ‘below poverty line (BPL)’ only are eligible to receive subsidised food grains.
- 2.The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
- 3.Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a ‘take-home ration’ of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, the eldest woman in a household, aged 18 years or above, is treated as the head of the household for issuing the ration card (Section 13). The entitlements cover Priority households and Antyodaya (AAY) households, not BPL families alone, so statement 1 is wrong. Pregnant women and lactating mothers get a meal or take-home ration under Schedule II norms of 600 kcal and 18-20 g of protein a day, not 1600 calories.
- 1. Priority and AAY households are covered, not BPL families alone.
- 2. The eldest woman aged 18 or above is the head of household for the ration card.
- 3. The Act's norm for these women is 600 kcal a day, not 1600.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: Priority and AAY households are covered, not BPL families alone.
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.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (d) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: The eldest woman aged 18 or above is the head of household for the ration card.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statement 3.
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: statement 1 is false.
- (b) Right: only the eldest-woman provision is correct.
- (c) Wrong: statements 1 and 3 are false.
- (d) Wrong: the calorie figure in statement 3 is wrong.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2018, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.