Nepali Language and General Knowledge

(B) वाष्पीकरण

तालाबजस्ता खुला जलसतहबाट पानी वाफमा बदलिएर वायुमण्डलमा जाने प्रक्रियालाई वाष्पीकरण भनिन्छ। वाष्पोत्सर्जन चाहिँ बिरुवाका पातबाट हुने जलक्षति हो।

नाइट्रोजन

पृथ्वीको वायुमण्डलमा नाइट्रोजन ग्यास करिब ७८ प्रतिशत मात्रामा पाइन्छ, जुन सबैभन्दा बढी हो। अक्सिजन करिब २१ प्रतिशत पाइन्छ।

International Labour Organization (ILO)

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations dealing with labour and social justice. It was established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles as part of the League of Nations and became a UN specialized agency in 1946. Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland. It is the only UN agency with a tripartite structure, in which representatives of governments, employers and workers participate on an equal footing. Nepal became a member of the ILO in 1966. The ILO was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.

Major functions of the ILO:

1. Formulation of international labour standards: It adopts conventions and recommendations on labour rights such as working hours, wages, safety, social security and freedom of association, and supervises their implementation.
2. Protection of labour rights and social justice: It works to eliminate forced labour, child labour and discrimination in employment, and to promote decent work for all.
3. Technical assistance and advisory service: It provides technical cooperation, expert advice and training to member countries for improving labour administration and employment policy.
4. Research and publication: It collects labour statistics and carries out research on employment, wages and working conditions, and publishes reports and studies.
5. Promotion of social dialogue and tripartism: It brings governments, employers and workers together for collective bargaining and peaceful settlement of labour disputes.
6. Employment generation and poverty reduction: It assists in employment planning, vocational training and skill development programmes to reduce unemployment and poverty.

Concept of Social Security

Social security is a system of protection provided by the state (or an employer) to individuals and families against loss of income and against expenses arising from certain social risks — old age, sickness, maternity, employment injury, unemployment, disability, and death of the breadwinner. It guarantees a minimum level of income and access to basic services so that a person can live with dignity even when unable to earn.

Its main instruments are:

• Social insurance — contributory schemes (pension, provident fund, gratuity, maternity and sickness benefits).
• Social assistance — non-contributory, tax-funded support for the poor, elderly, disabled and vulnerable (old-age allowance, single-woman allowance, disability allowance).
• Social protection services — health care, nutrition, housing and welfare services.

In short, social security is the institutional guarantee of economic security and dignity to citizens against social and economic risks.

Need / Justification of Social Security in Nepal

1. Widespread poverty and low income — A large section of the population lives below or near the poverty line. Their earnings are low and irregular, so they cannot save for old age or illness. Social security is the only cushion available to them.

2. Large informal and unorganised workforce — Most workers in Nepal are in agriculture, construction, transport and the informal sector, without any pension, provident fund or insurance. Extending social security brings them within a safety net.

3. Rising old-age and dependent population — With increasing life expectancy and out-migration of youth, the number of elderly people living without family support is growing. Old-age allowances are essential for their survival.

4. High labour migration and remittance dependence — Millions of Nepalis work abroad in risky jobs. Social security (insurance, compensation, welfare fund for migrant workers) protects them and their families from accidents, death and exploitation.

5. Vulnerability to natural disasters — Nepal is prone to earthquakes, floods and landslides, which destroy homes and livelihoods. Social security provides relief and rehabilitation support to affected families.

6. Reduction of inequality and social exclusion — Dalits, women, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities and people in remote districts have historically been excluded. Targeted social security measures reduce inequality and promote inclusive development.

7. Investment in human capital — Health care, maternity benefits and child grants improve nutrition, health and education, which raise productivity and long-term growth.

8. Political and social stability — Economic insecurity breeds discontent. Social security reduces social tension, crime and conflict, and strengthens democracy and peace.

9. Constitutional and legal obligation — The Constitution of Nepal (2015) guarantees the right to social security as a fundamental right (Article 43), and the Social Security Act, 2074 BS provides the legal framework. Fulfilling this obligation is the duty of the state.

10. Support to a welfare state and SDGs — Social security is a core element of the welfare state and is directly linked to SDG targets on poverty, health, decent work and reduced inequality.

Conclusion: Social security is not charity but a right. In a country like Nepal with poverty, informality, migration and disaster risk, it is indispensable for protecting the poor and vulnerable, ensuring dignified living, and achieving inclusive and sustainable development.

Justification: "The pension system enhances the professional morale of employees engaged in public service."

1. Financial security after retirement A pension guarantees a regular income after retirement, when an employee can no longer earn a salary. This removes the fear of destitution in old age and lets employees work peacefully throughout their service period.

2. Attraction and retention of capable manpower Because public service often pays less than many private-sector jobs, the pension works as a deferred reward. It attracts talented persons to government service and encourages experienced employees to remain in service instead of leaving for better-paying jobs.

3. Freedom from corruption and undue pressure An employee who knows that old age is secured does not feel compelled to earn extra money through dishonest means. Thus the pension indirectly promotes honesty, integrity and discipline in public service.

4. Sense of recognition and respect The pension is a form of gratitude from the state for the service rendered by the employee. This recognition raises the employee's self-respect and sense of dignity, which directly lifts professional morale.

5. Independence and dignity in old age With a pension, a retired employee does not have to depend on others for daily needs. This independence keeps him socially respected and mentally satisfied, and the awareness of such a future keeps serving employees motivated.

6. Family security and peace of mind Pension benefits such as family pension, gratuity and medical facilities protect the employee's family after his death. This security removes worry about the family's future and allows the employee to concentrate fully on his duties.

7. Positive effect on work efficiency A satisfied and secure employee works with greater devotion, punctuality and responsibility. Higher morale leads to better service delivery to the public, which is the ultimate goal of public administration.

Conclusion Thus, the pension system is not merely a retirement benefit; it is an important motivational tool. By providing economic security, social respect and mental peace, it raises the professional morale of public servants and makes public service attractive, stable and efficient.

Need of Health Insurance in Nepal

1. Reduces out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure: Around 50–55% of total health expenditure in Nepal is borne directly by households as OOP payment. Health insurance protects families from catastrophic medical bills.
2. Protection against catastrophic illness: Serious diseases (cancer, kidney failure, heart disease) can push even middle-income families below the poverty line. Insurance pools risk and prevents this.
3. Equity in access to health care: Poor and marginalized groups often delay or avoid treatment due to cost. Insurance improves access to quality health services irrespective of ability to pay.
4. Supports Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Insurance is a key financing strategy to achieve UHC, a target under SDG-3 (good health and well-being) and the Constitution of Nepal (Article 35 – right to health).
5. Reduces financial burden on the state: Government funds are limited; pooled contributions from citizens reduce dependence on tax-based financing alone.
6. Promotes preventive and promotive health: Insured persons are more likely to seek timely check-ups, reducing complications and long-term treatment costs.
7. Social protection and financial risk protection: It acts as a social security tool, especially for informal-sector workers, senior citizens and low-income households.

Challenges of Health Insurance in Nepal

1. Low enrolment and renewal rate: Though the Social Health Insurance Program (SHIP) was launched in 2016, enrolment remains far below target and many members do not renew.
2. Inadequate benefit package and ceiling: The annual coverage limit (Rs 1,00,000 per family) is insufficient for major surgeries and chronic diseases.
3. Weak health infrastructure: Shortage of hospitals, specialists and diagnostic services, especially in rural and remote districts, limits service delivery.
4. Fraud and moral hazard: Fake claims, unnecessary prescriptions and over-billing by some service providers drain the insurance fund.
5. Poor awareness and literacy: Many citizens, particularly in rural areas, do not understand the concept, process and benefits of insurance.
6. Inadequate funding and sustainability: Premium collection is low while claims are rising, creating a financial sustainability gap in the insurance board.
7. Geographical difficulty: Difficult terrain and lack of transport make it hard to reach insurance service points in hill and mountain districts.
8. Weak coordination: Poor coordination among federal, provincial and local governments, and between the Health Insurance Board and service providers, hampers implementation.
9. Limited service providers: Empanelled hospitals are few in number and unevenly distributed, forcing patients to travel far for treatment.
10. Lack of trust: Instances of claim rejection and delay reduce public confidence in the scheme.

Conclusion: Health insurance is essential for financial risk protection and UHC in Nepal, but its success depends on expanding the benefit package, strengthening health infrastructure, controlling fraud and raising public awareness.

Employees Provident Fund (Karmachari Sanchaya Kosh) — Assistant Level 4

Main objectives of its establishment

1. To encourage and institutionalise the habit of compulsory saving among salaried employees so that they have a fund for their old age and for the period after retirement.
2. To provide financial security to employees and their families at the time of retirement, resignation, permanent disability or death.
3. To collect small monthly contributions from employees and equal contributions from employers and build them into a substantial lump sum through safe investment.
4. To invest the accumulated fund in productive sectors of the national economy and thereby contribute to national development.
5. To provide loans and advances to members for essential needs such as housing, education and medical treatment, and to run welfare schemes for members.

Services provided by the Employees Provident Fund

1. Provident fund (Sanchaya) service: Collection of monthly deposits from members and matching contributions from employers, maintenance of individual member accounts, and payment of the accumulated amount with interest on retirement, resignation or death.
2. Pension (Pension) service: Payment of monthly pension to retired employees of the Government of Nepal and to the employees of organisations that have signed pension agreements with the Fund.
3. Special loan service: Grant of loans to members against their own deposits for house construction, purchase of land or house, education of children and medical treatment.
4. Karmachari Sahanchaya service: Operation of the special savings scheme for employees of organised institutions, with attractive interest rates and easy withdrawal facilities.
5. Welfare and insurance schemes: Provision of accidental insurance cover, medical expenses and other welfare benefits to members and their families.
6. Other facilities: Payment of gratuity and other retirement benefits on behalf of member organisations, issue of account statements and interest certificates, and online services such as e-statement and online deposit payment.

The Pension Fund Act, 2075 limits how the amount collected in the Pension Fund may be invested (with the aim of safety and reasonable return):

1. Not more than 40% of the fund in shares, debentures and other securities of companies or corporate bodies.
2. Within that, not more than 25% in the shares or securities of any single company or institution.
3. Not more than 20% of the fund as fixed deposit in any one commercial bank or financial institution.
4. Not more than 10% in foreign currency deposits in banks outside Nepal.
5. Of the amount deposited abroad, not more than 5% in any single foreign bank.
6. The remaining amount must be invested in securities issued or guaranteed by the Government of Nepal.

The Steering Committee (Sanchalak Samiti) is the policy-making body of the Employees Provident Fund (Karmachari Sanchaya Kosh), formed under the Employees Provident Fund Act, 2019. Its main functions are:

1. Formulate policies, rules and procedures for operating the Fund and give overall direction.
2. Approve the annual programme, budget and investment plan.
3. Oversee collection of contributions, maintenance of member accounts, interest rates and payment of deposits, loans, advances and pensions.
4. Direct the safe and profitable investment of the Fund as per the Act and government directions.
5. Approve loans, advances and other facilities to members.
6. Appoint the Executive Director (Kosh Pramukh) and staff and decide their service conditions.
7. Monitor and evaluate the Fund's work and ensure financial discipline.
8. Advise the Government on provident fund and social security matters and submit reports and accounts.
9. Settle disputes and grievances between the Fund and its members.
10. Delegate authority to the Executive Director and subordinate bodies.

Contributory social security is a system of social protection in which the worker, the employer, and (in most cases) the government each contribute a fixed portion of the worker's salary into a fund, and the worker receives benefits (medical care, accident compensation, pension, maternity benefit, etc.) out of that fund. It is "contributory" because the beneficiary himself contributes to the scheme; it is not a free grant from the State. In Nepal it is operated mainly under the Contribution-Based Social Security Act, 2074 and the Social Security Fund (SSF).

Importance

1. Income security in old age — the worker gets a monthly pension after retirement, so he does not become destitute.
2. Protection against risks — medical treatment, maternity, accident, disability and dependent-family benefits are available when the earning member is unable to work.
3. Dignified life for workers in the informal sector — self-employed persons, farmers, drivers, domestic workers etc. can also join and get benefits.
4. Reduces poverty and inequality — a regular pension or medical support keeps the family above the poverty line.
5. Less burden on the State — since the fund is built from contributions, the government does not have to bear the whole cost of relief.
6. Labour stability and productivity — a secure worker is more loyal and productive; it also helps in formalising the economy.
7. Promotes social justice — equal treatment of workers and protection of the vulnerable (women, disabled, informal workers).

Examples

• A teacher in a private school deposits 11% of salary and the school deposits 20%; after retirement he draws a pension from the SSF.
• A worker injured in a factory gets free treatment and accident compensation from the Fund.
• A woman worker gets maternity benefit for 98 days.
• A self-employed taxi driver deposits a fixed amount monthly and becomes entitled to old-age pension and medical facilities.

(b) हामी

'हामी' ले वक्ता (बोल्ने व्यक्ति) सहितको समूहलाई जनाउँदै नामको सट्टामा प्रयोग भएको हुनाले यो सर्वनाम हो। राम्रो विशेषण, पुस्तक नाम र हिँड्नु क्रिया हो।

(a) उहाँ आउनुभयो ।

स्पष्टीकरण: ‘उहाँ' आदरार्थी सर्वनाम हो र त्यसको क्रियापद पनि आदरार्थी (बहुवचन) रूपमै — आउनुभयो — प्रयोग हुनुपर्छ। यहाँ सर्वनाम र क्रियापद दुवै आदरार्थी रूपमा भएकाले वाक्य व्याकरणको दृष्टिले शुद्ध छ। (प्रश्नमा चारै विकल्प एउटै छापिएका छन्; शुद्ध वाक्य भनेकै यही हो।)

(a) आशीर्वाद

‘आशीर्वाद’ शब्दमा ‘शी’ (श + ी) र ‘र्वा’ (र + ् + व + ा) हुन्छ; ‘आर्शीवाद’, ‘आशिर्वाद’, ‘आर्शिवाद’ मा वर्णक्रम तथा मात्रा मिलेको छैन।

(a) हरिले पानी खान्छ।

यहाँ ‘खान्छ’ सकर्मक क्रिया हो, त्यसैले कर्ता ‘हरि’ मा कर्ता कारकको ‘ले’ विभक्ति लाग्नु शुद्ध हो। अन्य वाक्यमा कर्तामा ‘ले’ नलाग्नु, ‘लाई’ लाग्नु वा ‘द्वारा’ लाग्नु अशुद्ध छ।

(a) पूर्णिमा

शुद्ध हिज्जे पूर्णिमा हो — पू + र् + ण + ि + मा। यसमा ‘पू’ मा दीर्घ ऊ, ‘ण’ मुन्द्राे तल पूर्ण विरामसहित र् हलन्त, र ‘ण’ पछि छाेटो इकारान्त ‘ि’ लागेर ‘मा’ आउँछ। विकल्प (b) मा ‘पु’ छाेटो उ, (c) मा ‘णी’ दीर्घ ई, र (d) मा दुवै त्रुटि भएकाले अशुद्ध हुन्।

(b) मबाट पुस्तक पढिन्छ ।

कारण: कर्तृवाच्यको वाक्यलाई भाववाच्यमा बदल्दा कर्तामा “बाट/द्वारा” लाग्छ र क्रिया अकर्मक ढाँचामा परिणत हुन्छ। “म पुस्तक पढ्छु” को भाववाच्य “मबाट पुस्तक पढिन्छ” हुन्छ।

(a) यो राम्रो केटा हो।

यहाँ ‘राम्रो’ विशेषणले पुलिङ्गी विशेष्य ‘केटा’को गुण बताएको छ, त्यसैले विशेषण र विशेष्यबीच लिङ्ग र वचनको सहमति मिलेको छ।
(b) मा ‘केटा राम्रो हो’ अशुद्ध मानिन्छ; त्यहाँ ‘राम्रो छ’ हुनुपर्छ। (c) र (d) मा ‘केटी’सँग पुलिङ्गी ‘राम्रो’ को प्रयोग अशुद्ध छ; ‘राम्री’ हुनुपर्छ।

(a) विद्या + आलय = विद्यालय

विद्या (आकारान्त) र आलय जोड्दा अन्त्यको ‘आ’ र आदिको ‘आ’ मिली दीर्घ ‘आ’ हुन्छ — आ + आ = आ, त्यसैले विद्यालय बन्छ।

उत्तर: षष्ठी तत्पुरुष समास

विद्यालय = विद्या + आलय (विद्यायाः आलयः) — यहाँ पूर्वपदको षष्ठी विभक्ति लोप भएको छ, त्यसैले यो षष्ठी तत्पुरुष समास हो।

नोट: प्रश्नमा चारै विकल्प एउटै (विद्यालय) छापिएको छ — यो छापा त्रुटि हो। सही विकल्पमा "षष्ठी तत्पुरुष" हुनुपर्ने थियो।

**(b) हरि पानी खान्छ।

कारण: वर्तमानकालको सामान्य क्रियामा सकर्मक क्रियाको कर्तामा ‘ले’ विभक्ति लाग्दैन। त्यसैले ‘हरि पानी खान्छ’ शुद्ध वाक्य हो।
(a) मा ‘हरिले’ अनावश्यक रूपमा ‘ले’ लागेको छ, (c) मा ‘हरिलाई’ गलत कारक हो, र (d) मा ‘हरिद्वारा’ करण कारकको गलत प्रयोग भएको छ।