1. Consider the following statements about India Skills Report 2020:

(1) It has been published by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

(2) As per the Report, female employability has been continuously increasing for the last few years in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b) Explanation: India Skills Report is a joint initiative of Wheebox (a global talent-assessment company), Tagged by People Strong and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with UNDP, AICTE and AIU. This is the 7th edition of India Skills Report (2020). So, statement (1) is not correct. As per the Report, though the female participation at work has declined steadily over the years, female employability witnessed an upward trend at 47 per cent this year from 38 per cent in 2017 and 46 per cent in 2018. So, statement (2) is correct. Therefore, the correct answer is (b).

2. Which of the following statements most appropriately defines land pooling?

(a) Aggregation of land by farmers for joint cultivation.

(b) Aggregation of land by private individuals for putting out on lease.

(c) Aggregating small pieces of land, developing the necessary infrastructure and return

of developed land.

(d) Creation of a land bank by the government after the compulsory acquisition.

Answer: (c) Explanation: The system of land pooling will replace the process of land acquisition, wherein the government acquired land by giving a fixed compensation, and the ownership changed hands. With complaints of low compensation and forceful acquisition, the system became unpopular in the last few years. Recently, the Delhi Land Pooling Policy has been approved. The idea behind land pooling is to aggregate small land pieces into a large parcel, develop necessary infrastructures such as water supply, sewage system and drainage, make provision for larger social and other infrastructure, including metros and main roads, and return the developed land to owners or developers. Parts of this land parcel will be sold by the government to recover the cost of developing infrastructure and public spaces. So, statement (c) is correct and statements (a), (b) and (d) are not correct. Therefore, the correct answer is (c)

3. Which of the following components are included while calculating the score in the India

Innovation Index 2019?

(1) Human Capital

(2) Safety and Legal Environment

(3) Knowledge Diffusion

(4) Knowledge Output

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 3 and 4 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (d) Explanation: NITI Aayog with Institute for Competitiveness as the knowledge partner released the India Innovation Index (III) 2019. Karnataka is the most innovative major state in India. The study examines the innovation ecosystem of Indian states and union territories. The India Innovation Index 2019 is calculated as the average of the scores of its two dimensions - Enablers and Performance. The Enablers are the factors that underpin innovative capacities, grouped in five pillars: (1) Human Capital, (2) Investment, (3) Knowledge Workers, (4) Business Environment, and (5) Safety and Legal Environment. The Performance dimension captures benefits that a nation derives from the inputs, divided into two pillars: (6) Knowledge Output and (7) Knowledge Diffusion. So, statements (1), (2), (3) and (4) are correct. Therefore, the correct answer is (d).

4. Which of the following States has topped NITI Aa og s Sustainable Development Goal Index 2019?

(a) Goa

(b) Kerala

(c) Andhra Pradesh

(d) Himachal Pradesh

Answer: (b) Explanation: NITI Aayog released the second edition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index, which comprehensively documents the progress made by India States and Union Territories towards achieving the 2030 SDG targets. India composite score has improved from 57 in 2018 to 60 in 2019, thereby showing noticeable progress. All three states that were in the A piran category (with score/s in the range of 0 - 49) - Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam - have graduated to the Performer category (50 - 64). Five states - Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, and Sikkim - moved up from the Performer category to the Fron R nner category (65 99). Kerala achieved the first rank in the composite SDG Index with a score of 70, followed by Himachal Pradesh at 69. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu ranked at the third position with a score of 67. The biggest improvers since 2018 are UP (which has moved from the 29th position to the 23rd), Orissa (23rd to 15th), and Sikkim (15th to 7th). While Bihar improved its score from 48 in 2018 to 50 in 2019, it still has a long way to go in achieving the targets. So, option (b) is correct, while options (a), (c) and (d) are not correct. Therefore, the correct answer is (b).

5. Consider the following statements with respect to Consumer Price Index - Rural (CPI- R):

(1) CPI-R gives more than 2/3rd weightage to food, beverages and tobacco.

(2) Labour Bureau publishes the Index.

(3) The wages under MG-NREGA are linked to CPI-R currently.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 3 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) None of the above

Answer: (d) Explanation: Consumer Price Indices (CPI) measure changes over time in the general level of prices of goods and services that households acquire for consumption. CPI numbers are widely used as a macroeconomic indicator of inflation, as a tool by governments and central banks for inflation targeting and for monitoring price stability, and as deflators in the national accounts. The index tracks these prices at the level of a particular item, i rural and urban price movement as well as the price movement of the entire basket of goods and services at rural, urban as well as at an all-India level. The consumption basket in CPI-Rural and CPI-Urban is given in the figure (do not see inflation figures). CPI-R gives 57.54% weightage to food, beverages and tobacco. So, statement (1) is not correct. Presently the consumer price indices compiled in India are CPI for Industrial workers CPI (IW), CPI for Agricultural Labourers CPI (AL) and; Rural Labourers CPI (RL) and (Urban) and CPI (Rural). The CPI (IW) and CPI (AL&RL) compiled are occupation-specific and centre specific and are compiled by Labour Bureau. CPI (Urban) and CPI (Rural) are compiled by the Central Statistical Organisation. They encompass the entire population. So, statement (2) is not correct. A Committee constituted to study inter-alia the appropriate index for revising Mahatma Gandhi NREGA wages has recommended using consumer price index-rural instead of the existing consumer price index for agricultural labour (CPI-AL) for revising Mahatma Gandhi NREGA wage every year. So, statement (3) is not correct. Therefore, the correct answer is (d).