The Role of the Government and MGNREGA — Practice Q&A
Medium (Application & Explanation)
1. Why does the government provide basic services that private companies often avoid? Explain with examples.
Answer:
- Private companies focus on profit. They avoid places where profits are low or uncertain.
- The government aims for public welfare. It provides services even at a loss.
- It builds schools and hospitals in rural areas so the poor get education and healthcare.
- It provides electricity to remote villages to improve quality of life.
- It builds roads and bridges to connect people and markets.
- It funds police and judiciary to ensure security and justice for all.
2. What is inclusive growth? How does the government ensure development for all?
Answer:
- Inclusive growth means growth that benefits everyone, not just the rich.
- The government makes rules and laws to ensure fairness in the economy.
- It runs welfare programs to support poor and weak sections.
- Through PDS, it gives subsidized food so no one goes hungry.
- It offers scholarships to help poor students study and progress.
- It supports healthcare programs for mothers and children to improve well-being.
3. Why do workers in the unorganised sector need protection? How does the government help?
Answer:
- Workers in the unorganised sector have low wages and no job security.
- They often lack benefits like paid leave, pension, or health insurance.
- They face exploitation because they are weak and unaware of their rights.
- The government makes laws and schemes to protect these workers.
- MGNREGA gives rural adults a Right to Work and a source of income.
- This protection improves dignity, stability, and basic security for families.
4. Describe the main features of MGNREGA and how it works for rural households.
Answer:
- It is a law that gives every rural household a legal Right to Work.
- Any adult can demand work from the local panchayat office.
- The government must provide work within 15 days of request.
- It guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment per household per year.
- Workers are paid the minimum wage, often into bank accounts.
- It acts as a safety net and reduces poverty in rural areas.
5. How does MGNREGA help create useful assets for villages? Explain with examples.
Answer:
- The work under MGNREGA focuses on asset creation for the village.
- It includes digging ponds for water conservation.
- It supports planting trees for afforestation and better climate.
- It builds rural roads to improve connectivity and access to markets.
- It develops irrigation canals to support farms and raise output.
- These assets help the village for the long term, not just for today.
High Complexity (Analysis & Scenario-based)
6. A remote village has no electricity and poor roads. Private firms avoid investing there. What should the government do? Analyse the outcomes.
Answer:
- The government should treat this as public welfare and step in directly.
- It should build roads and bridges to connect the village to nearby towns.
- It should extend electricity even if it is costly and unprofitable.
- It should also build schools and health centres to serve the people.
- These steps raise access, mobility, and quality of life for all.
- Over time, better infrastructure can attract business, create jobs, and reduce poverty.
7. How does MGNREGA reduce disguised unemployment during the farm off-season? Use an example to explain.
Answer:
- Disguised unemployment means too many people on a small farm adding little output.
- In the off-season, such workers have no income and sit idle.
- Under MGNREGA, they can demand work from the local panchayat.
- Within 15 days, they get paid work like road building or pond digging.
- They earn minimum wage and support their family with dignity.
- The village also gains useful assets, so both people and the village benefit.
8. A poor student from a rural family wants to continue studies. Explain how government actions ensure equal opportunity.
Answer:
- The government builds schools even in rural areas for easy access.
- It gives scholarships to poor or marginalised students to reduce cost.
- PDS provides subsidized food, improving nutrition and learning ability.
- Healthcare programs help children and mothers stay healthy and attend school.
- Better roads make travel to school easier and safer.
- These steps together support inclusive growth and equal opportunity.
9. If work is not given within 15 days or wages get delayed under MGNREGA, what could happen? Suggest solutions within the law’s framework.
Answer:
- The safety net becomes weak, and families face distress.
- People may fall back into poverty and take exploitative jobs.
- Village assets get delayed, slowing local development.
- The law requires timely work and minimum wage payments into bank accounts.
- Authorities should ensure demand for work is recorded and work is given in 15 days.
- Payments must be made on time to protect trust and ensure relief.
10. In a drought year, should the government focus more on PDS or MGNREGA? Give a balanced analysis using the chapter ideas.
Answer:
- PDS is vital to prevent hunger by giving subsidized food quickly.
- MGNREGA gives income through work and builds water-related assets.
- In drought, both food security and income security are essential.
- PDS gives immediate relief. MGNREGA creates ponds and canals for the future.
- A balanced plan: strengthen PDS now and expand MGNREGA for water conservation.
- This ensures short-term survival and long-term resilience for rural families.