Social problems: population, education, health, employment and poverty. - Question Bank

1. What does the term 'feminization of poverty' describe?
A) The increasing number of men living in poverty
B) A trend where women represent a disproportionately large percentage of the poor population
C) The lack of women in the workforce
D) The unequal distribution of wealth between genders
2. What is the primary focus of the 'Midday Meal Scheme' in India?
A) To provide free textbooks to students
B) To improve the nutritional status of primary school children
C) To offer vocational training
D) To promote adult literacy
3. Which of the following is a key factor contributing to the 'poverty trap'?
A) High levels of education
B) Access to capital and resources
C) Inability to escape poverty due to a cycle of disadvantages
D) Government welfare programs
4. What does the term 'underutilization of labor' refer to in the context of employment?
A) People actively seeking jobs but not finding them
B) People working fewer hours than they desire or are capable of
C) People working in jobs below their skill level
D) Seasonal unemployment
5. What is the main goal of the 'National Skill Development Mission'?
A) To promote agricultural research
B) To create a large pool of skilled manpower for industry
C) To provide free housing
D) To improve public transportation
6. Which of the following is a challenge related to 'health infrastructure' in remote areas?
A) Overcrowding of hospitals
B) Lack of qualified medical personnel and equipment
C) Excessive availability of specialized doctors
D) High patient turnover
7. What is a common measure of 'relative poverty'?
A) The inability to afford basic survival needs
B) Having an income significantly below the median income of the society
C) Lack of access to clean drinking water
D) Malnutrition
8. What is the primary objective of the 'Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram' (JSSK)?
A) To provide free and cashless delivery and other services to pregnant women and sick newborns
B) To offer free education to children
C) To provide employment opportunities to unemployed youth
D) To subsidize housing for the poor
9. Which factor contributes most significantly to poverty in rural India?
A) High levels of industrialization
B) Dependence on agriculture with low productivity and lack of alternative livelihoods
C) Abundant availability of skilled labor
D) Access to advanced technology
10. What is the significance of the 'Sex Ratio at Birth'?
A) It indicates the total number of males and females in a population
B) It measures the number of females born per 1,000 males born
C) It reflects the life expectancy of women
D) It shows the literacy rate among women
11. What is the primary aim of the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' scheme?
A) To provide financial assistance to all women
B) To address the declining child sex ratio and promote the education of girls
C) To offer free vocational training to women
D) To subsidize housing for women
12. What is a major challenge in implementing poverty alleviation programs effectively?
A) Lack of target beneficiaries
B) Corruption and leakages in the system
C) Excessive government funding
D) Low participation from beneficiaries
13. What does the term 'fertility rate' refer to in demography?
A) The total number of children born in a population
B) The average number of children born to a woman during her reproductive years
C) The rate at which people migrate into a country
D) The death rate of infants
14. Which of the following is a leading cause of death in India, related to health issues?
A) Accidental injuries
B) Cardiovascular diseases
C) Natural disasters
D) Infectious diseases only
15. What is 'underemployment'?
A) Being unemployed and actively seeking work
B) Being employed in a job that does not fully utilize one's skills or pays very little
C) Being employed in a temporary job
D) Being employed in the informal sector
16. What is the main goal of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA)?
A) To provide free housing to rural families
B) To guarantee at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every rural household
C) To promote industrial development in rural areas
D) To provide free healthcare services to the elderly
17. Which of the following is a non-communicable disease (NCD)?
A) Influenza
B) Tuberculosis
C) Diabetes
D) Malaria
18. What does the term 'epidemic' denote?
A) A disease that affects a large number of people in a population in a specific region at a given time
B) A disease that occurs worldwide
C) A disease that is endemic to a particular region
D) A disease that affects only animals
19. What is a key challenge in achieving universal healthcare coverage in India?
A) Over-availability of private healthcare facilities
B) High out-of-pocket expenditure for medical treatments
C) Lack of demand for healthcare services
D) Excessive government funding for public health
20. What is the primary focus of 'inclusive education'?
A) Providing education only to gifted students
B) Educating children with special needs alongside their peers in mainstream schools
C) Offering separate schools for students with disabilities
D) Focusing solely on vocational training
21. Which of the following is a direct consequence of a high dependency ratio?
A) Increased savings rate
B) Reduced burden on the working population
C) Increased demand for social welfare programs
D) Lower unemployment rates
22. What does the dependency ratio in demography represent?
A) The ratio of employed people to unemployed people
B) The ratio of the non-working-age population (children and elderly) to the working-age population
C) The percentage of women in the workforce
D) The proportion of people living in urban areas
23. What is a significant issue related to the rapid urbanization driven by population growth?
A) Improved sanitation and living conditions
B) Strain on urban infrastructure and services
C) Reduction in crime rates
D) Increased availability of green spaces
24. Which of the following is considered a 'social problem' in the context of population?
A) Low birth rates
B) Gender imbalance
C) Decreasing urbanization
D) Stable age structure
25. What is a common indicator of poverty in rural areas?
A) High levels of industrialization
B) Low agricultural productivity and lack of non-farm employment
C) Access to advanced technology
D) High literacy rates
26. Which government scheme in India aims to provide food security to the population?
A) MGNREGA
B) PMUY
C) National Food Security Act (NFSA)
D) PMJDY
27. What does the Gini Coefficient measure?
A) The rate of population growth
B) The level of education in a country
C) The extent of income inequality within a population
D) The average lifespan of a population
28. Which of the following is a characteristic of absolute poverty?
A) Lack of access to the internet
B) Inability to afford basic necessities for survival
C) Not being able to afford a second home
D) Having a lower income than one's neighbors
29. What is the main objective of poverty alleviation programs?
A) To increase the income of the rich
B) To provide subsidies to corporations
C) To raise the living standards of the poor and provide them with opportunities
D) To encourage migration to urban areas
30. Which committee in India proposed the concept of a 'poverty line' based on calorie intake?
A) Rangarajan Committee
B) Tendulkar Committee
C) Alagh Committee
D) Narsimham Committee
31. What is the primary definition of poverty used by economists?
A) Lack of access to luxury goods
B) Inability to meet basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing
C) Having an income below the national average
D) Not owning a vehicle
32. What is a major consequence of high unemployment rates in a country?
A) Increased economic productivity
B) Reduced social unrest
C) Increased poverty and crime rates
D) Higher tax revenues
33. Which government initiative aims to enhance vocational skills among the youth in India?
A) Make in India
B) Digital India
C) Skill India Mission
D) Startup India
34. What does 'disguised unemployment' specifically refer to?
A) Unemployment due to economic recession
B) People employed in a job but producing very little or nothing
C) Unemployment among educated youth
D) Seasonal unemployment in agriculture
35. Which sector is the largest employer in India?
A) Industry
B) Services
C) Agriculture
D) Information Technology
36. What is considered the most direct measure of unemployment?
A) The percentage of the population below the poverty line
B) The number of people actively seeking work but unable to find it
C) The average income of a household
D) The rate of inflation
37. What is the main objective of the Ayushman Bharat Yojana?
A) To provide free education to all citizens
B) To ensure access to affordable and quality healthcare services
C) To promote industrial development
D) To eradicate poverty through direct cash transfers
38. Which of the following is a significant cause of malnutrition in India?
A) Excessive consumption of fruits and vegetables
B) Lack of awareness about balanced diets and poor access to nutritious food
C) Over-reliance on fortified foods
D) High levels of physical activity
39. What does 'Life Expectancy at Birth' measure?
A) The average number of years a person lives in a specific city
B) The average number of years a newborn infant is expected to live if current mortality patterns are to continue
C) The maximum age reached by individuals in a population
D) The average lifespan of people in a particular profession
40. What is the primary challenge associated with healthcare access in rural India?
A) Overcrowding of hospitals
B) Shortage of healthcare professionals and infrastructure
C) High cost of advanced medical treatments
D) Excessive availability of specialized doctors
41. Which government program in India focuses on improving maternal and child health?
A) Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
B) National Health Mission (NHM)
C) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
D) Skill India Mission
42. What is a key indicator of a nation's health status?
A) GDP growth rate
B) Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
C) Unemployment rate
D) Inflation rate
43. What does the term 'Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER)' in education signify?
A) The number of students enrolled in a specific grade
B) The total number of students enrolled in all levels of education
C) The ratio of total enrolment in a specific level of education to the population of the age group that is supposed to be enrolled in that level
D) The percentage of students who graduate from a program
44. Which constitutional amendment in India made education a fundamental right for children aged 6 to 14?
A) 86th Amendment Act, 2002
B) 42nd Amendment Act, 1976
C) 97th Amendment Act, 2011
D) 73rd Amendment Act, 1992
45. What is the primary goal of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in India?
A) To provide higher education opportunities
B) To achieve universal elementary education
C) To promote adult literacy programs
D) To establish international schools
46. Which of the following is a major challenge faced by the Indian education system?
A) Excessive funding for higher education
B) Low enrollment rates in primary schools
C) Poor quality of education and infrastructure
D) Lack of vocational training programs
47. What is a common indicator used to measure a country's literacy rate?
A) Percentage of population with a college degree
B) Percentage of population aged 7 and above who can read and write
C) Percentage of population enrolled in primary school
D) Average years of schooling completed
48. Which policy aims to control population growth by encouraging smaller families?
A) Economic liberalization policy
B) Population stabilization policy
C) Industrial development policy
D) Agricultural reform policy
49. What does the term 'demographic transition' refer to in population studies?
A) The shift from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates
B) A sudden surge in population growth
C) The migration of people from rural to urban areas
D) An increase in the average lifespan of a population
50. Which of the following is a significant consequence of rapid population growth in developing countries?
A) Increased per capita income
B) Reduced pressure on resources
C) Strain on public services like healthcare and education
D) A decline in unemployment rates