Delhi's Dual Thrust: Empowering Workers and Boosting Business Ease

Answer: A

Statement 1 is correct. The Factories Act, 1948, generally restricts women from working between 7 PM and 6 AM, but state governments are empowered to make exemptions, provided adequate safety and transport facilities are ensured. Many states have amended their rules or introduced new provisions to allow women to work night shifts in various sectors. Statement 2 is correct. Single-window clearance systems are designed to streamline and expedite the process of obtaining various licenses, permits, and approvals required for businesses by providing a single point of contact, thereby reducing bureaucratic hurdles and time. Statement 3 is incorrect. While the central government introduced the 'Model Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2016' to serve as a template, the actual implementation and specific provisions (like 24x7 operation) for shops and establishments fall under the respective state-level Shops and Establishments Acts. Labour is a concurrent subject, but specific regulations for shops and establishments are largely state-driven.

Answer: B

Statement 1 is correct. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH Code), which subsumes several older laws including the Factories Act, allows women to be employed in all establishments for all types of work, including night shifts, with their consent and subject to safety, health, and welfare provisions. This is a significant reform aimed at promoting gender equality in the workforce. Statement 2 is incorrect. While allowing women to work night shifts can increase overall workforce participation, its direct and primary impact is not specifically on the 'gig economy'. The gig economy is characterized by short-term contracts or freelance work, often facilitated by digital platforms, and while some gig roles might involve flexible hours, the reform primarily addresses traditional employment structures and factory/establishment work. The link is indirect and not a primary expected outcome. Statement 3 is correct. Article 39(d) is a Directive Principle of State Policy (DPSP) that directs the State to ensure 'equal pay for equal work for both men and women'. While not directly enforceable, it is a fundamental principle guiding legislation like the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 (now subsumed under the Code on Wages, 2019), which aims to empower women economically.

Answer: A

Statement 1 is correct. The CPCB classifies industries into Red, Orange, Green, and White categories based on their pollution potential. Green Category industries are those with relatively low pollution potential. Statement 2 is correct. Reducing approval timelines for Green Category industries is a measure to enhance ease of doing business, specifically targeting industries that are less polluting, thereby promoting sustainable industrial development by making it easier for such industries to establish and operate. Statement 3 is incorrect. While Green Category industries have a lower pollution potential, they are generally still required to obtain 'Consent to Establish' and 'Consent to Operate' from the respective State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) or Pollution Control Committees (PCCs). The process might be simpler or faster, but they are not entirely exempt from these statutory requirements under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Only 'White Category' industries (non-polluting) are typically exempt from 'Consent to Establish/Operate'.

Answer: C

Statement A is correct. GST is indeed a destination-based consumption tax, meaning the revenue from IGST (Integrated GST) on inter-state supplies and SGST (State GST) on intra-state supplies accrues to the consuming state. Statement B is correct. The GST Council is the constitutional body (Article 279A) that makes recommendations to the Union and State Governments on issues relating to GST. It is chaired by the Union Finance Minister, and all states are members. Statement C is incorrect. GST compensation to states for revenue loss was guaranteed for a period of five years from the date of GST implementation (July 1, 2017), i.e., until June 30, 2022, as per the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017. It was not for ten years. Statement D is correct. GST refunds are crucial for businesses, especially exporters, to ensure that taxes paid on inputs are returned, preventing cascading effects and making exports competitive. For traders, it ensures that excess tax paid or input tax credit accumulated is returned, preventing the tax burden from being passed on unfairly.