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Q63 (IAS/2017) Economy › Schemes, Inclusion & Social Sector › Employment generation programmes Official Key

Consider the following in respect of 'National Career Service' : 1. National Career Service is an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India. 2. National Career Service has been launched in a Mission Mode to improve the employment opportunities to uneducated youth of the country. Which of the above statements is/are correct ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is **Neither 1 nor 2**.

**Statement 1 is incorrect:** National Career Service was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Labour & Employment[1], not by the Department of Personnel and Training. Therefore, the claim about DoPT being the implementing ministry is false.

**Statement 2 is incorrect:** While the Government is implementing the National Career Service (NCS) as a Mission Mode Project for providing a variety of employment related services[2], the objective is not specifically for "uneducated youth." Instead, the National Career Service (NCS) Portal offers employment and career services[3] broadly, and it was launched with a focus on providing right skills and generating employment[1] for the general population seeking employment opportunities.

Since both statements contain factual errors, option D (Neither 1 nor 2) is the correct answer.

Sources
  1. [1] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 19: Population and Demographic Dividend > TACKLING SKILL DEFICIT THROUGH HUMAN CAPITAL > p. 575
  2. [2] https://rsdebate.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/676797/1/IQ_243_02082017_U2034_p228_p229.pdf
  3. [3] https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget2024-25/economicsurvey/doc/eschapter/echap08.pdf
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following in respect of 'National Career Service' : 1. National Career Service is an initiative of the Department of Personn…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 3.3/10 · 3.3/10

This is a classic 'Ministry Swap' trap. DoPT manages government bureaucrats, not public employment—that is the Labour Ministry's domain. The question tests your functional intuition of government departments rather than rote memorization of every single portal.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is the National Career Service (NCS) an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Government of India?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 19: Population and Demographic Dividend > EXAMPLE Previous Years' Preliminary Examination Questions EXAMPLE PREVIOUS > p. 577
Strength: 4/5
“National Career Service is an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India. • 2. National Career Service has been launched in a Mission Mode to improve the employment opportunities to uneducated youth of the country. Which of the above statements is/are correct? (b) 2 only (a) 1 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) Both 1 & 2 3. With reference to 'National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)', which of the statements given below is/are correct? 1. Under NSQF, a learner can acquire the certification for competency only through formal learning. 2. An outcome expected from the implementation of NSQF is the mobility between vocational and general education.”
Why relevant

This snippet explicitly states NCS is an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training (an example claim in a study question).

How to extend

A student could note this claim as one authoritative-sounding source and then check other official descriptions (ministerial responsibility) or launch notifications to confirm or refute it.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 19: Population and Demographic Dividend > TACKLING SKILL DEFICIT THROUGH HUMAN CAPITAL > p. 575
Strength: 5/5
“• 2. Craftsman Training Scheme Under this scheme, long-term vocational training in around 137 trades is imparted through around 15,700 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The scheme is being implemented by MSDE.• National Career Service Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Labour & Employment. 3. with a focus on providing right skills and generating employment. As per the Period Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2017-18, only 13.53 per cent of the persons in the productive age group (15-59 years) have received skill training. Moreover, among these 13.53 per cent, only 2.26 per cent have received formal vocational/technical training. Thus, there is need for a lot more emphasis to improve the current situation of skill deficit.”
Why relevant

This snippet gives a different attribution: it says National Career Service was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Labour & Employment.

How to extend

A student can treat this as a conflicting example and consult launch-year press releases or ministry portals (Labour vs DoPT) to resolve which ministry actually sponsored NCS.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 74: Public Services > Central Services > p. 546
Strength: 3/5
“The personnel of Central Services work under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Central Government. They manage specialized (functional and technical) positions in various departments of the Central Government. Most of them are controlled and managed by their respective ministries/departments, while a few of them are controlled and managed by the Ministry of Personnel. It (Ministry of Personnel) also determines the general policies pertaining to all the Central Services. In fact, the Ministry of Personnel is the central personnel agency in the Government of India. Before independence, the Central Services were classified into Class I, Class II, Subordinate and Inferior services.”
Why relevant

Describes the Department of Personnel and Training as the central personnel agency that determines general policies for Central Services.

How to extend

A student could infer that if NCS were primarily an employment/career platform for the public and central services it might plausibly be linked to DoPT; they should compare the stated objectives of NCS with DoPT's mandate.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 44: Union Public Service Commission > ROLE > p. 426
Strength: 3/5
“While the Department of Personnel and Training is the central personnel agency in India. The role of the UPSC is not only limited, but also recommendations made by it are only of advisory nature and hence, not binding on the government. It is upto the Union government to accept or reject that advise. Further, the government can also make rules which regulate the scope of the advisory functions of the UPSC<sup>5</sup>. Also, the emergence of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in 1964 affected the role of the UPSC in disciplinary matters. This is because both are consulted by the government while taking disciplinary action against a civil servant.”
Why relevant

Reiterates DoPT's role as the central personnel agency in India (context about its typical functions).

How to extend

Using this pattern, a student can ask whether NCS's functions (career services, employment facilitation) fall under typical DoPT responsibilities or align better with labour/employment ministries.

Statement 2
Was the National Career Service (NCS) launched in Mission Mode by the Government of India?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"In addition, the Government is implementing the National Career Service (NCS) as a. Mission Mode Project for providing a variety of employment related services ..."
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states the Government is implementing the National Career Service (NCS) as a Mission Mode Project.
  • Direct government/official parliamentary source wording ties NCS implementation to 'Mission Mode Project'.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"National Career Service (NCS) Project as a. Mission Mode Project for transformation of the. National Employment Service to provide a variety of employment ..."
Why this source?
  • Official Ministry annual report language describes the National Career Service (NCS) Project as a Mission Mode Project.
  • Specifically links NCS to transformation of the National Employment Service, indicating formal government implementation in mission mode.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 19: Population and Demographic Dividend > EXAMPLE Previous Years' Preliminary Examination Questions EXAMPLE PREVIOUS > p. 577
Strength: 4/5
“National Career Service is an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India. • 2. National Career Service has been launched in a Mission Mode to improve the employment opportunities to uneducated youth of the country. Which of the above statements is/are correct? (b) 2 only (a) 1 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2 (c) Both 1 & 2 3. With reference to 'National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)', which of the statements given below is/are correct? 1. Under NSQF, a learner can acquire the certification for competency only through formal learning. 2. An outcome expected from the implementation of NSQF is the mobility between vocational and general education.”
Why relevant

Contains an exam-style item that states 'National Career Service has been launched in a Mission Mode' as one of the proposition-options, showing that this claim appears in study material/questions.

How to extend

A student could treat this as a lead to check primary government releases or DoPT pages to confirm whether NCS was formally described as launched 'in Mission Mode'.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 7: Indian Economy after 2014 > Mission > p. 240
Strength: 5/5
“• Create a demand for skilling across the country• Correct and align skilling with required competencies• Connect the supply of skilled human resources with sectoral demands• Certify and assess in alignment with global and national standards The objectives and targets under the Policy will be met in mission mode approach and for that National Skill Development Mission was launched on 15th July 2015 (World Youth Skills Day 15th July) to implement and coordinate all skilling efforts in the country towards the objectives laid down in the policy. The Mission is housed under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and the key institutional mechanism for achieving the objectives of the Mission has been divided into a three-tier structure:”
Why relevant

Explains the phrase 'mission mode approach' with a concrete example: National Skill Development Mission was explicitly launched 'in mission mode' and housed under a specific ministry.

How to extend

Use this pattern (mission mode initiatives are launched and housed under a central ministry) to check if NCS is similarly described and administratively placed under DoPT.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 26: Institutions and Measures > Barriers > p. 378
Strength: 4/5
“• Higher cost of Electric Vehicles, Challenges in battery technology; Consumer mindset, Inadequate government support • Objective to resolve these barriers by providing government intervention/support, adoption of mission mode approach for fast decision making and ensuring collaboration amongst various stakehoiders. • The NCEM will be the apex body in the Government of India for making recommendations in these matters.”
Why relevant

Describes the 'mission mode approach' as an adoption for fast decision making and inter-stakeholder collaboration, giving a functional definition of what 'mission mode' implies.

How to extend

Compare this definition to official descriptions of NCS to see whether NCS's stated objectives and administrative setup match a 'mission mode' characterization.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 13: Food Processing Industry in India > III. National Mission on Food Processing > p. 414
Strength: 3/5
“National Mission on Food Processing is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) launched in 2012. It envisaged improving the outreach in terms of planning, supervision and monitoring of food processing schemes.”
Why relevant

Shows the common pattern of naming and announcing programs as 'National Mission on ...' (example: National Mission on Food Processing) with launch-year details in study texts.

How to extend

Check whether NCS is similarly presented in official documents as a 'Mission' (name/launch record) or instead as an 'initiative/scheme' to judge the plausibility of the statement.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Major Reforms Undertaken in Seeds Sector > p. 299
Strength: 3/5
“• National Mission for Seeds was launched in 2012 to ensure availability of high-quality certified seeds at reasonable price to farmers. Another centrally sponsored scheme was launched before that in 2005-06 named 'Development and Strengthening of Infrastructure Facilities for Production and Distribution of Quality Seeds'. The scheme is ongoing and its objectives include - production and multiplication of highyielding certified/quality seeds of all crops in sufficient quantities in order to make them available even in the remotest part of India.”
Why relevant

Provides another example (National Mission for Seeds) of government programs launched as 'Missions', reinforcing that many sectoral programs use the 'Mission' label.

How to extend

Use this pattern to look up whether the NCS carries the 'Mission' label or was launched with a 'mission mode' announcement in government notifications.

Statement 3
Does the National Career Service (NCS) have the stated objective of improving employment opportunities for uneducated youth in India?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 19: Population and Demographic Dividend > TACKLING SKILL DEFICIT THROUGH HUMAN CAPITAL > p. 575
Presence: 4/5
“• 2. Craftsman Training Scheme Under this scheme, long-term vocational training in around 137 trades is imparted through around 15,700 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs). The scheme is being implemented by MSDE.• National Career Service Launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Labour & Employment. 3. with a focus on providing right skills and generating employment. As per the Period Labour Force Survey (PLFS) 2017-18, only 13.53 per cent of the persons in the productive age group (15-59 years) have received skill training. Moreover, among these 13.53 per cent, only 2.26 per cent have received formal vocational/technical training. Thus, there is need for a lot more emphasis to improve the current situation of skill deficit.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names National Career Service and states it was launched with a focus on 'providing right skills and generating employment'.
  • Links NCS to skill-improvement and employment generation objectives, which align with improving job opportunities.
Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 7: Factors of Production > Technology paving the way for accessing knowledge, skills, and job opportunities > p. 177
Presence: 4/5
“A variety of online courses are available to students through Government platforms like SWAYAM (Study Webs of Active Learning for Young Aspiring Minds), which offers courses for Grade 9 onwards and operates on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) through which learners can explore subjects like robotics, aquaculture, textile printing, and so on that are free of cost. Students benefit from learning at their own pace, from anywhere, while pursuing other jobs or courses. Online portals, like the Government's National Career Service, help people find job opportunities across various sectors, from plumbing to accounting. This is how technology has eliminated geographical barriers, allowing people access to knowledge, skill development and jobs in India and abroad.”
Why this source?
  • Describes the Government's National Career Service as an online portal that helps people find job opportunities 'from plumbing to accounting', indicating coverage of low-skill occupations.
  • Implies NCS facilitates access to jobs for those in lower-skill or less-educated segments by removing geographic and informational barriers.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC loves attributing schemes to the 'wrong but sounding-right' Ministry. Always verify the Nodal Ministry for flagship schemes. If a statement combines a high-level administrative status ('Mission Mode') with a specific target group, prioritize the administrative status.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter/Trap. The Ministry swap (DoPT vs MoLE) is a standard elimination pattern found in India Year Book and Economy texts (e.g., Nitin Singhania).
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Skill India & Employment Ecosystem. Specifically, the digitization of old Employment Exchanges into the NCS.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Map these Portals to Ministries: NCS (Labour), ASEEM (Skill Development), UDYAM (MSME), e-Shram (Labour), SWAYAM (Education). Identify which are 'Mission Mode Projects' (MMP) under the National e-Governance Plan.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Don't just read the scheme name. Ask: 'Who runs this?' If the scheme is for the general public (unemployed youth), why would the internal HR department (DoPT) run it? Logical inconsistency = Wrong Statement.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Role of the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) as central personnel agency
💡 The insight

Several references identify DoPT as the central personnel agency responsible for general personnel policies in the central government.

High-yield for UPSC: questions often ask which ministry/department is the 'central personnel agency' or which body frames personnel policy. Mastering DoPT's central role helps distinguish administrative responsibilities from line ministries and appears in polity and governance questions. Link this to topics on central services, cadre control and inter-ministerial functions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 74: Public Services > Central Services > p. 546
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 44: Union Public Service Commission > ROLE > p. 426
🔗 Anchor: "Is the National Career Service (NCS) an initiative of the Department of Personne..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Ministry ownership of national employment/skill portals (example: National Career Service)
💡 The insight

One reference explicitly attributes the National Career Service to the Ministry of Labour & Employment rather than DoPT.

Important for scheme-identification questions: UPSC often asks which ministry/department launched or administers a national scheme/portal. Learning typical custodians (e.g., labour schemes under Ministry of Labour & Employment) improves accuracy in static and current-affairs linked questions. Practice by mapping major national schemes to their parent ministries.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 19: Population and Demographic Dividend > TACKLING SKILL DEFICIT THROUGH HUMAN CAPITAL > p. 575
🔗 Anchor: "Is the National Career Service (NCS) an initiative of the Department of Personne..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Distinguishing personnel policy (DoPT) from sectoral scheme ownership (line ministries)
💡 The insight

Evidence contrasts DoPT's personnel-policy role with a scheme (NCS) credited to the Ministry of Labour & Employment, highlighting the difference between cross-cutting personnel functions and sectoral program administration.

Conceptual clarity here prevents conflation of administrative control with program ownership — a common trap in MCQs. This helps when answering questions on which body issues service rules versus which ministry implements sectoral schemes (labour, health, education). Organize notes by 'personnel policy' vs 'scheme administration' and drill with past MCQs.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 74: Public Services > Central Services > p. 546
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 19: Population and Demographic Dividend > TACKLING SKILL DEFICIT THROUGH HUMAN CAPITAL > p. 575
🔗 Anchor: "Is the National Career Service (NCS) an initiative of the Department of Personne..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Mission-mode approach in government programmes
💡 The insight

The question asks whether NCS was launched in 'Mission Mode'; several references describe other programmes explicitly launched or implemented in a mission-mode approach.

High-yield for UPSC: many contemporary schemes are described as launched or implemented in 'mission mode' and questions test recognition of this terminology and its implications (urgency, coordination, targets). Understanding this helps answer scheme-classification and governance questions; link with governance, public administration, and scheme implementation questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 7: Indian Economy after 2014 > Mission > p. 240
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 26: Institutions and Measures > Barriers > p. 378
🔗 Anchor: "Was the National Career Service (NCS) launched in Mission Mode by the Government..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Difference between 'Mission' and 'Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)'
💡 The insight

Several references label programmes either as 'National Mission' or as 'centrally sponsored scheme', highlighting different nomenclature and funding/implementation patterns relevant when classifying schemes like NCS.

High-yield: UPSC often asks about scheme types, funding shares, and centre-state roles. Mastering this distinction helps in prelims and mains when identifying which ministry or funding pattern applies; useful across polity, governance and economy topics.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 13: Food Processing Industry in India > III. National Mission on Food Processing > p. 414
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 26: Institutions and Measures > 26.1 NATIONAL BAMBOO MISSION > p. 375
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Major Reforms Undertaken in Seeds Sector > p. 299
🔗 Anchor: "Was the National Career Service (NCS) launched in Mission Mode by the Government..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Institutional housing and implementing ministry of national missions
💡 The insight

References show missions are housed/implemented by specific ministries/divisions (e.g., NSDM under MSDE; Bamboo Mission under Horticulture Division), a pattern relevant to identifying ownership of schemes like NCS.

Medium-high: Knowing which ministry implements a national mission is repeatedly tested in prelims and aids answers in mains (scheme analysis, institutional roles). It also helps in cross-linking sectoral missions with administrative ministries for policy questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 7: Indian Economy after 2014 > Mission > p. 240
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 26: Institutions and Measures > 26.1 NATIONAL BAMBOO MISSION > p. 375
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > 11.5 National Livestock Mission > p. 340
🔗 Anchor: "Was the National Career Service (NCS) launched in Mission Mode by the Government..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 National Career Service (NCS) — purpose & functions
💡 The insight

References explicitly describe NCS as a government portal focused on skills and employment generation and helping users find jobs across skill levels.

High-yield for UPSC: knowing the objectives and functional role of flagship employment portals helps answer policy, governance and economy questions. Connects to topics on digital governance, labour-market interventions, and skill development policy. Prepares candidate for questions on program objectives, target groups, and implementation mechanisms.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 19: Population and Demographic Dividend > TACKLING SKILL DEFICIT THROUGH HUMAN CAPITAL > p. 575
  • Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science, Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 7: Factors of Production > Technology paving the way for accessing knowledge, skills, and job opportunities > p. 177
🔗 Anchor: "Does the National Career Service (NCS) have the stated objective of improving em..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

Model Career Centres (MCCs). NCS isn't just a website; it involves upgrading physical Employment Exchanges into MCCs. The next logical question is on the integration of NCS with the Udyam (MSME) and e-Shram (Unorganized Workers) portals.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Internal vs External' Heuristic. DoPT (Dept of Personnel & Training) is the HR manager for Government Servants (IAS, IPS, CSS). It does not serve the unemployed public. Any scheme targeting the general youth population cannot logically be a DoPT initiative. Eliminate Statement 1.

🔗 Mains Connection

GS-3 Economy (Employment): NCS addresses 'Frictional Unemployment' by reducing information asymmetry between employers and job seekers. It represents a structural shift from 'Employment Exchange' (Passive registration) to 'Career Service' (Active counseling).

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2018 · Q78 Relevance score: 1.54

With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements : 1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy. 3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

NDA-II · 2014 · Q78 Relevance score: 1.13

, Consider the following statements : 1. Mobile Seva, the National Mobile Governance Initiative of Department of Electronics and Information Technology of India, has won the United Nations Public Service Award, 201 4. 2, The innovative initiative is aimed at mainstreaming mobile governance in the country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

CDS-II · 2024 · Q116 Relevance score: 0.29

Which one of the following statements is correct about NISHTHA, a Government of India initiative?

IAS · 2013 · Q96 Relevance score: -0.22

With reference to National Legal Services Authority, consider the following statements : 1. Its objective is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of equal opportunity. 2. It issues guidelines for the State Legal Services Authorities to implement the legal programmes and schemes throughout the country. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

IAS · 2006 · Q60 Relevance score: -0.61

Consider the following statements in respect of welfare schemes launched by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India: I. Drinking water for rural areas is one of the component of the Bharat Nirman Plan. II. In the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 there is a provision that the statutory minimum wage applicable to agricultural workers in the State has to be paid to the workers under the Act. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?