UPSC Prelims 2021 · GS Paper I
Question 2: Economy and Social Development
With reference to casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements :
- 1.All casual workers are entitled for Employees Provident Fund coverage.
- 2.All casual workers are entitled for regular working hours and overtime payment.
- 3.The government can by a notification specify that an establishment or industry shall pay wages only through its bank account.
Which of the above statements are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Casual workers are covered by labour laws on working hours and overtime, such as the Minimum Wages Act and the Factories Act, so UPSC treats statement 2 as correct. Provident fund cover is not universal: the EPF Act applies to listed industries and establishments above a size threshold (20 or more employees), so not every casual worker is entitled. The Payment of Wages Act, as amended in 2017, lets the government notify that an industry or establishment pay wages only through bank accounts.
- 1. EPF applies only to notified industries and establishments of a minimum size, so not all casual workers are covered.
- 2. Labour laws give casual workers regular working hours and overtime payment, as UPSC treats it.
- 3. The amended Payment of Wages Act lets the government notify bank-account-only wage payment.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: EPF applies only to notified industries and establishments of a minimum size, so not all casual workers are covered.
The red flag in statement 1 is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 2 or 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 because EPF cover depends on the industry and the size of the establishment.
- (b) Right: statements 2 and 3 are correct, as UPSC has it; statement 1 is false.
- (c) Wrong: it includes statement 1, which is false.
- (d) Wrong: statement 1 is false.
Worth knowing: Statement 2 says all casual workers, which is arguable in practice, and the wage laws named here have since been folded into the Code on Wages, 2019; UPSC's answer is explained as it stood.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.