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General Studies 2021 GS Paper II 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Comment

GS Paper II — Q7

'Earn while you learn' scheme needs to be strengthened to make vocational education and skill training meaningful." Comment…

'Earn while you learn' scheme needs to be strengthened to make vocational education and skill training meaningful." Comment. (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

"व्यावसायिक शिक्षा और कौशल प्रशिक्षण को सार्थक बनाने के लिए 'सीखते हुए कमाना (अर्न व्हाइल यू लर्न)' की योजना को सशक्त करने की आवश्यकता है।" टिप्पणी कीजिए। (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में दीजिए)

Q7 of the 2021 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper II, as printed
The question as printed in the 2021 General Studies paper
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Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

The ‘Earn While You Learn’ model, operationalized through the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) under Skill India, integrates workplace training with formal education to enhance youth employability. Strengthening this model is essential, as several structural bottlenecks hinder its effectiveness.

Key Gaps Apprentices frequently receive stipends below statutory minimum wages, making participation financially unviable for underprivileged youth. Weak monitoring and poor industry-academia coordination often dilute training quality, reducing apprenticeships to low-cost labor rather than structured learning. Furthermore, entrenched social stigma against vocational tracks and the absence of clear vertical career progression pathways deter broader student uptake.

Measures Needed Stipends must be mandatorily revised and indexed to inflation. Introducing dual certification (academic credentials paired with NSQF-aligned skill certificates) and utilizing transparent digital apprenticeship portals will ensure quality oversight and parity of esteem. Adopting best practices from the German dual VET model can secure structured private-sector ownership.

A strengthened framework is vital to transform vocational education into an aspirational, market-aligned pathway to formal employment.

What "Comment" is asking you to do

Take a position on the statement and support it. Comment usually attaches to a quoted line in the short slots, so the reasoning must be compressed — an opening view, a few load-bearing reasons, and the limit of the claim.

Structure that answers it

Unpack what the statement asserts → your stance → two or three supporting reasons → the qualification that limits it

Where marks are lost

Neutral summary; a comment without a stance has not answered. Equally costly is accepting the quoted line wholesale and never testing where it fails.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: GS2 Governance & Social Justice (Vocational Education). comment: context > arguments both sides > judgment > close Full marks: Sharp analysis of the scheme's mechanics, specific examples of failure, and actionable, realistic reforms.

Key points expected

  • Define 'Earn while you learn' (e.g., apprenticeship/NSDC model)
  • Identify specific weaknesses (e.g., industry disconnect, low wages)
  • Provide a clear judgment on the need for strengthening
  • Suggest 2-3 concrete measures for meaningful skill training

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. The answer Contextualize the scheme, analyze its current gaps, and provide a judgment on necessary reforms. 10 marks · 150 words

    comment— context → arguments both sides → judgment → close

    Must cover

    • Define 'Earn while you learn' (e.g., apprenticeship/NSDC model)
    • Identify specific weaknesses (e.g., industry disconnect, low wages)
    • Provide a clear judgment on the need for strengthening
    • Suggest 2-3 concrete measures for meaningful skill training

    Loses marks

    • Reciting general education policy without focusing on 'earn while learn'
    • Vague suggestions without specific institutional or policy changes
    • Ignoring the 'meaningful' aspect of the prompt

    Earns more

    • Mention specific schemes (NSDC, PMKVY, Apprenticeship Act)
    • Reference industry-academia collaboration gaps
    • Discuss the 'meaningful' aspect (employability vs. mere training)

    Extra mark

    • Cite specific data on skill mismatch or unemployment
    • Reference 2nd ARC or Law Commission recommendations on education

Practice this exact question

Write your answer and it is marked point by point against the model answer above — what you covered, what you missed, what you got wrong.

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