- What is the primary role of the government in enforcing safety laws?
a) To ensure companies maximize their profits
b) To guarantee workers’ safety and implement safety standards
c) To promote industrial development without restrictions
d) To allow companies to self-regulate their safety measures - Why did the Indian government fail to enforce safety laws in the Union Carbide (UC) plant?
a) The plant followed strict safety regulations
b) The government refused to recognize it as hazardous to attract investment
c) There were no safety concerns at the plant
d) The government implemented all required safety laws - How did municipal officials in Bhopal react to the installation of the MIC production unit in 1978?
a) They strictly opposed it and forced UC to relocate
b) They ignored it completely
c) They objected, but the government overruled them to support investment
d) They encouraged its expansion due to job creation - What was the government’s reasoning for allowing UC to operate without stricter safety laws?
a) It wanted to prioritize worker safety over industrial growth
b) It considered the investment from UC essential for economic growth
c) It had strong laws in place to prevent disasters
d) It planned to relocate the factory to a safer area - What was one of the key failures in the enforcement of safety laws at the UC plant?
a) Regular safety inspections were conducted
b) The plant had a modern emergency warning system
c) Government inspectors approved safety procedures despite repeated leaks
d) The government forced UC to implement advanced safety measures - What fundamental right is violated when safety laws are not enforced properly?
a) Right to Equality
b) Right to Property
c) Right to Life (Article 21)
d) Right to Education - What lesson was learned after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy regarding safety laws?
a) Industries should be given full control over safety decisions
b) Foreign companies should not be allowed in India
c) Stronger laws and better enforcement are needed to protect workers
d) Government should not intervene in industrial safety matters - Why is enforcement of safety laws crucial in workplaces?
a) To ensure companies make more profits
b) To provide safe working conditions and prevent industrial accidents
c) To reduce the number of workers in factories
d) To allow industries to operate without restrictions - What problem arises when safety laws exist but are not enforced?
a) Industrial growth slows down
b) Workers get higher wages
c) Workplace accidents and environmental disasters occur
d) Foreign investment increases - What is one key step in improving enforcement of safety laws?
a) Reducing fines for companies violating safety regulations
b) Strengthening government inspections and penalties for violations
c) Allowing companies to set their own safety standards
d) Eliminating all safety laws to promote industrial growth
Answers with Explanations
- b) To guarantee workers’ safety and implement safety standards – The government is responsible for ensuring safety laws protect workers from hazardous conditions.
- b) The government refused to recognize it as hazardous to attract investment – The government prioritized economic investment over safety concerns.
- c) They objected, but the government overruled them to support investment – Municipal officials raised safety concerns, but their objections were ignored.
- b) It considered the investment from UC essential for economic growth – The government saw the factory as a key investment and avoided stricter safety regulations.
- c) Government inspectors approved safety procedures despite repeated leaks – Safety violations were ignored, even after repeated gas leaks from the factory.
- c) Right to Life (Article 21) – Unsafe working conditions violate the Right to Life, which ensures citizens live in a safe and healthy environment.
- c) Stronger laws and better enforcement are needed to protect workers – The Bhopal Gas Tragedy showed the consequences of weak safety laws and poor enforcement.
- b) To provide safe working conditions and prevent industrial accidents – Proper enforcement of safety laws helps protect workers from preventable disasters.
- c) Workplace accidents and environmental disasters occur – Poor enforcement leads to disasters like the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, where lack of safety oversight resulted in mass casualties.
b) Strengthening government inspections and penalties for violations – Better enforcement mechanisms, including strict inspections and penalties, help ensure companies follow safety regulations.
