UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 21
With reference to casual workers employed in India, consider the following statements:
- All casual workers are entitled for Employees Provident Fund coverage.
- All casual workers are entitled for regular working hours and overtime payment.
- The government can by a notification specify that an establishment or industry shall pay wages only through its bank account.
Which of the above statements are correct?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Correct Option: B (2 and 3 only)
Explanation: Universal EPF entitlement does not follow merely from casual employment. Work-hour/overtime protections can apply, and government may prescribe bank-based wage payments under labour law.
Statement / Pair / Item-wise Analysis:
1. Incorrect / does not qualify - EPF coverage depends on the establishment and applicable eligibility rules, not every casual worker automatically.
2. Correct / qualifies - Working-hour and overtime protections can extend to casual workers under applicable labour statutes.
3. Correct / qualifies - Wage-payment laws empower governments to notify covered establishments for bank/cheque payments.
Option-wise Analysis:
A. Incorrect-includes item 1, which is not valid (EPF coverage depends on the establishment and applicable eligibility rules, not every casual worker automatically); omits valid item 3 (Wage-payment laws empower governments to notify covered establishments for bank/cheque payments).
B. Correct-selects exactly the supported statements/items: 2, 3.
C. Incorrect-includes item 1, which is not valid (EPF coverage depends on the establishment and applicable eligibility rules, not every casual worker automatically); omits valid item 2 (Working-hour and overtime protections can extend to casual workers under applicable labour statutes).
D. Incorrect-includes item 1, which is not valid (EPF coverage depends on the establishment and applicable eligibility rules, not every casual worker automatically).
Review note: Labour entitlements vary by statute, jurisdiction, and establishment; “all” in statement 2 is an exam-level generalization.