Directions (1-5): Read the following passage and answer the questions as directed.
Monthly measurement of the unemployment rate is one of the requirements of the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The SDDS — India was one of the early signatories —was (A) ……………………………. in 1996 to help countries access the international capital markets by providing adequate economic and financial information publicly. India complies with many requirements of the SDDS, but it has taken an exception with respect to the measurement of unemployment.
The Government of India does not produce any measure of monthly unemployment rate, nor does it have any plans to do so. Official plans to measure unemployment at an annual and quarterly frequency is in a shambles. This does not befit India’s claims to be the fastest growing economy and as the biggest beneficiary of a famed demographic dividend.
The Centre for Monitoring India Economy (CMIE), a private enterprise, (B)…………………………………………………………….. that fast frequency measures of unemployment can be made and that seeking an exception on SDDS compliance is unnecessary.
Q1. As per the passage, how can the establishment of SDDS help countries access the international capital markets?
by providing adequate social and financial information publicly
by providing adequate economic and cultural information publicly
by providing adequate economic and political information publicly
by providing adequate economic and financial information publicly
None of the Above
Solution:
"by providing adequate economic and financial information publicly" is correct here. Refer first paragraph.
Q2. Which of the following can replace the word 'befit' given in bold in the passage?
differ
suit
disagree
curb
Both (a) and (b)
Solution:
Befit: be appropriate for; suit.
Q3. Which of the following words can fill in the blank in (A) to make it meaningful?
figure
create
habitual
established
None of the above
Solution:
'Established' is grammatically and contextually correct here.
Q4. Which of the following words is opposite in meaning to the word given in bold in the passage above? SHAMBLES
Harmony
Disarray
Muddle
Both (a) and (c)
Chaos
Solution:
Shambles: a state of total disorder.
Q5. Which of the following phrases can suitably fit in the blank given in (B) to make it grammatically and contextually correct?
has demonstrate over the past three years
has demonstrated over the past three years
have demonstrated over the past three years
having demonstrated over the past three years
None of the Above
Solution:
"has demonstrated over the past three years" is grammatically and contextually correct.
Directions (6-10): Read the following passage and answer the questions as directed.
The CMIE decided to fill India’s gap in generating fast frequency measures of household well-being in 2014. In its household survey, called the Consumer Pyramids Household Survey (CPHS), the sample size was 172,365 (I) of the official National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), which was 101,724. In both surveys, the sample selection method has been broadly the same.
The CPHS is comprehensive, surveying its entire sample every four months. Each survey is a wave. The CPHS is also a continuous survey, and so, for example, three waves are completed in a year. The CMIE’s CPHS thus has a much larger sample and is conducted at a much higher frequency than the NSSO’s.
Further, the CPHS is conducted as face-to-face interviews necessarily using GPS-enabled smartphones or tablets. Intense validation systems ensure high fidelity of data capture. All validations are conducted in real-time while the teams are in the field. The data capture machinery (II) high quality data in real time obviating the need for any further “cleaning”, post field operations.
Once the data is collected and validated in real-time, it is automatically deployed for estimations without any human intervention. In 2016, the CMIE added questions regarding employment/unemployment to the CPHS. Since then, the CMIE has been generating labour market indicators regularly and (III) available for public use.
Q6. Which of the following is/are true in context to the CPHS survey of the CMIE?
The CPHS is comprehensive.
CPHS is a continuous survey.
The CPHS is conducted at a much higher frequency than the NSSO’s.
The CPHS is conducted as face-to-face interviews necessarily using GPS-enabled smartphones or tablets.
All are correct
Solution:
All are correct. Refer second and third paragraph.
Q7. In the Question below three phrases are given which must be filled in the positions given in I,II and III in the passage. From the options given below, choose the correct order of phrases that should be filled in the positions given.
A. making these freely
B. ensures delivery of
C. as compared to that
ABC
CBA
BAC
BCA
CAB
Solution:
CBA is the correct order for the blanks.
Q8. Which of the following statements is/are incorrect as per the passage above?
CMIE added questions regarding employment/unemployment to the CPHS in 2019.
As per the Consumer Pyramids Household Survey (CPHS), the sample size was 172,365.
The NSSO is conducted at a lower frequency than CPHS.
Intense validation systems in CPHS ensure high accuracy of data capture.
All are correct
Solution:
Statement (a) is incorrect. Refer last paragraph.
Q9. Choose the word which is most opposite in meaning of the word 'comprehensive' as used in the passage?
Broad
Exhaustive
Limited
Infinite
Both (b) and (c)
Solution:
Comprehensive: of large content or scope; wide-ranging.
Q10. Choose the word which is most Similar in meaning to the word 'ensure' as used in the passage?
endanger
assure
repudiate
veto
Both (b) and (c)
Solution:
Ensure: make certain of obtaining or providing (something).
Directions (11-15): Read the following passage and answer the questions as directed.
Specifically, India’s female labour participation rate is very low. Official statistics have always shown that India’s female labour participation rate is low and falling. Researchers have shown that this fall is because of rising household incomes that reduce the need for women to join the labour force; increased enrolment in higher education by women which delays their entry into the labour force, and cultural and security factors that keep women away from the labour market in India. Further, it is evident that employers are also biased against hiring women.
The CPHS shows that the situation with respect to women’s participation in the labour force is extremely poor —(A) ………………………………………... The entire brunt of demonetisation was borne by women. Their labour participation fell sharply while that of men did not.
After the demonetisation jolt came the Goods and Services Tax shock of July 2017 that drove away small enterprises which could not compete in a tax-compliant environment out of business. This caused a substantial loss of jobs. Preliminary estimates suggest that employment shrunk by 11 million in 2018. The brunt of this was again borne largely by women. But men too were also impacted.
Male labour participation rate was 74.5% in 2016. This dropped to 72.4% in 2017 and then to 71.7% in 2018. In contrast, female labour participation was as low as 15.5% in 2016 which dropped to 11.9% in 2017 and then 11% in 2018. Urban female labour participation rates fell faster than rural female participation. In urban India it dropped from 15.2% in 2016 to 10.5% in 2018. The corresponding values for rural women were 15.6% and 11.3%, respectively.
Q11. Which of the following statements is/are correct as per the passage above?
Male labour participation rate was 78.5% in 2016.
India’s female labour participation rate is very low
Urban female labour participation rates fell faster than rural female participation.
Both (b) and (c)
All are correct
Solution:
Both (b) and (c) are correct.
Q12. In the passage above, two lines are given in bold. In the lines a phrase is used, i.e., 'bear the brunt of' in context of the passage. What is the meaning of this phrase?
To enjoy the best part of an unpleasant or problematic situation.
To suffer the worst part of an unpleasant or problematic situation.
To support someone in an unpleasant or problematic situation.
To get good results for your hardwork.
Both (b) and (c)
Solution:
Bear the brunt of: To suffer the worst part of an unpleasant or problematic situation.
Q13. What are the reasons for the fall in India’s female labour participation rate in context of the passage?
Rising household incomes
Increased enrolment in higher education by women
Cultural and Security factors
Employers are also biased against hiring women.
All are correct
Solution:
All are correct. Refer first paragraph.
Q14. Which of the following phrases can suitably fit in the blank given in (A) to make it grammatically and contextually correct?
much poorer then what the official agencies tell us
much poorer than who the official agencies tell us
much poorer than what the official agencies telling us
much poorer than what the official agencies tell us
None of the Above
Solution:
"much poorer than what the official agencies tell us" is grammatically and contextually correct.
Q15. Which of the following can replace the word 'jolt' given in bold in the passage?
shocking
surprise
impacted
disadvantage
Both (b) and (c)
Solution:
Jolt: give a surprise or shock to (someone) in order to make them act or change.