UPSC 2022: Nexus 71—80

Labour Bureaus, Coal Controllers, UN Credentials & Greenwashing. [Set A]

Question 71

Industrial Relations Data

In India, which one of the following compiles information on industrial disputes, closures, retrenchments and lay-offs in factories employing workers?

(a) Central Statistics Office
(b) Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
(c) Labour Bureau
(d) National Technical Manpower Information System

Official Verdict: (c) Labour Bureau

The Core Concept: The Labour Bureau, an attached office under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, is the nodal agency for collecting, compiling, and disseminating labor statistics in India. It publishes critical data on industrial relations—specifically tracking strikes, lockouts, closures, retrenchments, and lay-offs across factories to monitor the pulse of the industrial workforce.

Tethered to: REALM 229: Industrial Relations

Question 72

Energy Governance

In India, what is the role of the Coal Controller's Organization (CCO)?

CCO is the major source of Coal Statistics in Government of India.
It monitors progress of development of Captive Coal/Lignite blocks.
It hears any objection to the Government's notification relating to acquisition of coal-bearing areas.
It ensures that coal mining companies deliver the coal to end users in the prescribed time.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Official Verdict: (a) 1, 2 and 3

The Core Concept: The CCO is a subordinate office under the Ministry of Coal. It compiles the national Coal Directory (1 is true), monitors captive block development (2 is true), and acts as the appellate authority under the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act, 1957 to hear objections to land acquisition (3 is true). However, the physical delivery of coal to end-users (like power plants) is governed by commercial Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs) between the mining companies (like CIL) and the buyers. The CCO does not logistics-manage or ensure the delivery of coal (4 is false).

Tethered to: REALM 68: Coal

Question 73

Tribal Constitutional Rights

If a particular area is brought under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which one of the following statements best reflects the consequence of it?

(a) This would prevent the transfer of land of tribal people to non-tribal people.
(b) This would create a local self-governing body in that area.
(c) This would convert that area into a Union Territory.
(d) The State having such areas would be declared a Special Category State.

Official Verdict: (a)

The Core Concept: The Fifth Schedule protects the administrative and land rights of Scheduled Tribes. Crucially, it empowers the Governor to make regulations to explicitly prohibit or restrict the transfer of land by or among members of the Scheduled Tribes in that area to non-tribals, safeguarding them from exploitation by outsiders and corporate entities (solidified by the historic Samatha Judgement). Creating autonomous self-governing districts is a feature of the Sixth Schedule, not the Fifth.

Tethered to: REALM 21: Fifth Schedule Areas

Question 74

Urban Governance

Consider the following statements:

The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to promote sustainable sanitation and is funded by the Government of India and the World Health Organization.
The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an apex body of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs... and provides innovative solutions to address the challenges of Urban India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Official Verdict: (b) 2 only

The Core Concept: The India Sanitation Coalition (ISC) is a multi-stakeholder platform, but it is not directly funded by the GoI and WHO; it was launched at FICCI and brings together the private sector, NGOs, and foundations to drive the WASH agenda (Statement 1 is false). The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), established in 1976, is indeed the premier, apex think-tank under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) dedicated to research, capacity building, and innovative solutions for India's urbanization challenges (Statement 2 is true).

Tethered to: REALM 96: Sanitation & Social Justice

Question 75

Environmental Law & Institutions

Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986?

(a) Central Water Commission
(b) Central Ground Water Board
(c) Central Ground Water Authority
(d) National Water Development Agency

Official Verdict: (c) Central Ground Water Authority

The Core Concept: Do not confuse the Board with the Authority. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is an older subordinate office. However, pursuant to a Supreme Court directive to regulate indiscriminate groundwater pumping, the Government invoked Section 3(3) of the powerful umbrella legislation—the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986—to constitute the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA), granting it statutory penal powers to regulate and control groundwater extraction nationwide.

Tethered to: REALM 46: Groundwater Resources

Question 76

United Nations Organs

With reference to the "United Nations Credentials Committee", consider the following statements:

It is a committee set up by the UN Security Council and works under its supervision.
It traditionally meets in March, June and September every year.
It assesses the credentials of all UN members before submitting a report to the General Assembly for approval.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Official Verdict: (a) 3 only

The Core Concept: The Credentials Committee is appointed directly by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) at the beginning of each regular session, not the UN Security Council (1 is false). Because the UNGA regular session begins in September, the committee is appointed then, and it does not have a mandate to meet traditionally in March, June, and September (2 is false). Its sole job is to review the formal credentials of representatives of member states (especially when competing governments claim the same seat, like Afghanistan or Myanmar) and report back to the UNGA (3 is true).

Tethered to: REALM 170: UN General Assembly

Question 77

Maritime Law

Which one of the following statements best describes the 'Polar Code'?

(a) It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.
(b) It is the agreement of the countries around the North Pole regarding the demarcation of their territories...
(c) It is a set of norms to be followed by the countries whose scientists undertake research studies...
(d) It is a trade and security agreement of the member countries of the Arctic Council.

Official Verdict: (a) It is the international code of safety for ships operating in polar waters.

The Core Concept: As Arctic sea ice melts, new shipping routes are opening up in incredibly hazardous, environmentally sensitive waters. The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) is a binding international framework adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). It sets strict design, construction, equipment, operational, and environmental protection standards specifically for maritime vessels navigating the harsh ice environments of the Arctic and Antarctic.

Tethered to: REALM 179: International Maritime Organization

Question 78

United Nations Architecture

With reference to the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:

The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
Permanent Observers in the UN General Assembly can maintain missions at the UN headquarters.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Official Verdict: (d) 1, 2 and 3

The Core Concept: Observer status is a privilege granted by the UNGA to allow participation in debates (without voting rights). Non-member states like the Holy See (Vatican) and the State of Palestine famously hold this status (1). Over 80 inter-governmental organizations, including the European Union, Interpol, and the African Union, have also been granted this status (2). These Permanent Observers have the right to establish and maintain physical permanent missions at the UN Headquarters in New York to facilitate continuous diplomatic engagement (3).

Tethered to: REALM 170: UN General Assembly

Question 79

Statutory Commodity Boards

With reference to the "Tea Board" in India, consider the following statements:

The Tea Board is a statutory body.
It is a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
The Tea Board's Head Office is situated in Bengaluru.
The Board has overseas offices at Dubai and Moscow.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Official Verdict: (d) 1 and 4

The Core Concept: The Tea Board of India was established by the Tea Act of 1953, making it a Statutory Body (1 is true). Because tea is a major export and commercial plantation crop, the board operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, not Agriculture (2 is false). Its headquarters is located in Kolkata (near the massive Assam/Darjeeling tea estates), not Bengaluru (which hosts the Coffee Board) (3 is false). To promote Indian tea globally, it maintains overseas offices in key markets like Dubai and Moscow (4 is true).

Tethered to: REALM 34: Tea

Question 80

Environmental Ethics

Which one of the following best describes the term "greenwashing"?

(a) Conveying a false impression that a company's products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound
(b) Non-inclusion of ecological/environmental costs in the Annual Financial Statements of a country
(c) Ignoring the disastrous ecological consequences while undertaking infrastructure development
(d) Making mandatory provisions for environmental costs in a government project/programme

Official Verdict: (a)

The Core Concept: Coined in the 1980s, "Greenwashing" is a portmanteau of "green" and "whitewashing." It refers to the unethical corporate marketing practice of spending more time and money claiming to be "green" through advertising and packaging than actually implementing business practices that minimize environmental impact. It is fundamentally a deceit to capitalize on the growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly products.

Tethered to: REALM 356: Ethics of Greenwashing