This is Set 8 of 42 in the smartvidya question bank on the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964. Part I: General conduct and core values. This set covers Rule 3C(1) and (2), the Explanations on "sexual harassment", circumstances and "workplace", and related instructions.
Try each question first, then tap Show answer to see the correct option, a short explanation and the rule reference. The gift limits in Rule 13(3) are as revised in 2019, and share-trading intimation follows the DoPT OM of 07.02.2019.
Set 8: Rule 3C – Prohibition of sexual harassment of working women
1. What does Rule 3C(1) prohibit?
(a) Posting of women officers to remote areas
(b) Any act of sexual harassment of any woman at her workplace by a Government servant
(c) Recruitment of women to certain posts
(d) Employment of women in night shifts
Ans. (b) Any act of sexual harassment of any woman at her workplace by a Government servant — Explanation: Rule 3C(1) says no Government servant shall indulge in any act of sexual harassment of any woman at her workplace. [Ref: Rule 3C(1)]
2. Rule 3C(2) places a duty on which Government servants?
(a) Only the Head of Department
(b) Only members of the Complaints Committee
(c) Every Government servant who is in charge of a workplace
(d) Only women Government servants
Ans. (c) Every Government servant who is in charge of a workplace — Explanation: Rule 3C(2) says every Government servant in charge of a workplace shall take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment to any woman at that workplace. [Ref: Rule 3C(2)]
3. Rule 3C was inserted in the Conduct Rules following which Supreme Court judgment?
(a) Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan
(b) Indra Sawhney v. Union of India
(c) Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India
(d) Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala
Ans. (a) Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan — Explanation: The Vishaka judgment of 1997 laid down guidelines to prevent sexual harassment at the workplace. The Government then inserted Rule 3C and issued instructions to implement those guidelines. [Ref: Rule 3C; Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997)]
4. Under the Explanation to Rule 3C, which of the following is included in "sexual harassment"?
(a) Refusing leave to a woman employee in public interest
(b) Transferring a woman employee under a general transfer policy
(c) Assigning heavy work to a woman employee on merit
(d) Making sexually coloured remarks
Ans. (d) Making sexually coloured remarks — Explanation: The Explanation lists unwelcome acts including physical contact and advances, a demand or request for sexual favours, sexually coloured remarks, showing pornography, and other unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
5. Acts of sexual harassment listed in the Explanation to Rule 3C must be:
(a) Reported within one month
(b) Committed during office hours only
(c) Repeated at least three times
(d) Unwelcome, whether done directly or by implication
Ans. (d) Unwelcome, whether done directly or by implication — Explanation: The definition covers "unwelcome" acts or behaviour, "whether directly or by implication". A single unwelcome act is enough. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
6. Which of the following is NOT listed as an act of sexual harassment in the Explanation to Rule 3C?
(a) Physical contact and advances
(b) Showing pornography
(c) A demand or request for sexual favours
(d) A fair written warning to a woman employee for late attendance
Ans. (d) A fair written warning to a woman employee for late attendance — Explanation: A legitimate administrative warning is not sexual harassment. The other three are expressly listed in the Explanation. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
7. The Explanation to Rule 3C lists circumstances which may amount to sexual harassment when connected with such an act. Which of these is one of them?
(a) A transfer made at the woman's own request
(b) A general circular on office timings
(c) An implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment in employment
(d) A routine promotion on seniority
Ans. (c) An implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment in employment — Explanation: The listed circumstances are implied or explicit promise of preferential treatment, threat of detrimental treatment, threat about present or future employment status, interference with work or a hostile environment, and humiliating treatment likely to affect health or safety. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
8. A superior hints to a woman subordinate that her confirmation depends on "being nice" to him. Which circumstance under the Explanation to Rule 3C does this reflect?
(a) Showing pornography
(b) A casual remark with no link to employment
(c) Implied threat about her present or future employment status
(d) Interference only with her leave
Ans. (c) Implied threat about her present or future employment status — Explanation: Linking her confirmation to such conduct is an implied threat about her present or future employment status, one of the listed circumstances. It is also a demand for sexual favours. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
9. "Creating an intimidating or offensive or hostile work environment" for a woman is treated under Rule 3C as:
(a) A circumstance that may amount to sexual harassment
(b) Relevant only if physical contact occurs
(c) Relevant only for Group 'A' officers
(d) Outside the scope of Rule 3C
Ans. (a) A circumstance that may amount to sexual harassment — Explanation: Interference with her work or creating an intimidating, offensive or hostile work environment is one of the circumstances listed in the Explanation. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
10. Which of the following is included in "workplace" under the Explanation to Rule 3C?
(a) Only the room where she works
(b) Any place visited by the employee arising out of or during the course of employment, including transport provided by the employer
(c) Only places owned by the Central Government
(d) Only the office building where the woman is posted
Ans. (b) Any place visited by the employee arising out of or during the course of employment, including transport provided by the employer — Explanation: The Explanation gives "workplace" a wide meaning, covering places visited in the course of employment and transport provided by the employer. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
11. Can a dwelling place or house be a "workplace" under the Explanation to Rule 3C?
(a) Only if the woman is a domestic worker employed by the Government
(b) No, homes are never workplaces
(c) Yes, a dwelling place or a house is expressly included
(d) Only if it is Government accommodation
Ans. (c) Yes, a dwelling place or a house is expressly included — Explanation: The definition of workplace expressly includes a dwelling place or a house, so harassment in such a place can fall under Rule 3C. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
12. A woman officer is harassed by a colleague in an office vehicle provided for an inspection tour. Is this covered by Rule 3C?
(a) No, a vehicle is not a workplace
(b) Yes, transportation provided by the employer during employment is part of the workplace
(c) Only if the incident happened within office hours
(d) Only if the vehicle was inside office premises
Ans. (b) Yes, transportation provided by the employer during employment is part of the workplace — Explanation: The Explanation includes any place visited during the course of employment, including transportation provided by the employer for the journey. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
13. Which of these places is expressly included in "workplace" under the Explanation to Rule 3C?
(a) Railway stations used for personal travel
(b) Private cinema halls
(c) Shopping malls
(d) Hospitals or nursing homes
Ans. (d) Hospitals or nursing homes — Explanation: Hospitals and nursing homes, sports institutes, stadiums and sports complexes are among the places expressly included, along with Government establishments and places visited in the course of employment. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
14. Under Rule 3C, a department, organisation or unit is a "workplace" when it is established, owned, controlled or wholly or substantially financed by:
(a) Funds provided directly or indirectly by the Central Government
(b) International agencies only
(c) Private donations only
(d) A State Government only
Ans. (a) Funds provided directly or indirectly by the Central Government — Explanation: The first limb of the workplace definition covers bodies established, owned, controlled or wholly or substantially financed directly or indirectly by the Central Government. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
15. A Head of Office receives a complaint of sexual harassment but takes no action and sets up no mechanism. Which provision has he breached?
(a) Rule 3B(i)
(b) Rule 3C(2)
(c) Rule 3C(1)
(d) Rule 3A(a)
Ans. (b) Rule 3C(2) — Explanation: Rule 3C(2) requires every Government servant in charge of a workplace to take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment. Inaction breaches that duty, even though he did not harass anyone himself. [Ref: Rule 3C(2)]
16. In line with the Vishaka guidelines, a Complaints Committee on sexual harassment should be:
(a) Headed by a woman, with not less than half its members women, and include a third-party member such as an NGO representative
(b) Headed by the Head of Department, with no outside members
(c) Made up only of men to ensure neutrality
(d) Constituted only after a complaint is received
Ans. (a) Headed by a woman, with not less than half its members women, and include a third-party member such as an NGO representative — Explanation: The Vishaka guidelines, adopted through DoPT instructions, require the committee to be headed by a woman, with at least half its members women, and a third party such as an NGO familiar with the issue. [Ref: Rule 3C; Vishaka guidelines; DoPT OMs 1998–1999]
17. In a disciplinary case for sexual harassment of a Central Government servant, the report of the Complaints Committee is treated as:
(a) A police report under the Criminal Procedure Code
(b) A preliminary report that must be followed by a fresh inquiry
(c) The inquiry report under the CCS (CCA) Rules
(d) Advisory only, not binding in any way
Ans. (c) The inquiry report under the CCS (CCA) Rules — Explanation: The Complaints Committee is deemed to be the inquiring authority, and its report is treated as the inquiry report under the CCS (CCA) Rules. The disciplinary authority then acts on it. [Ref: Rule 3C; CCS (CCA) Rules, Rule 14(2) proviso]
18. Which Act passed in 2013 deals with sexual harassment of women at workplace, and aligns with Rule 3C?
(a) The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 only
(b) The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013
(c) The Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 2013
(d) The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2013
Ans. (b) The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 — Explanation: The 2013 Act gives statutory backing to workplace protections. The definitions in Rule 3C follow the same concepts of sexual harassment and workplace. [Ref: Rule 3C; SH Act, 2013]
19. A male Government servant sends repeated unwelcome messages of a sexual nature to a woman colleague's mobile phone at night. Is this covered by Rule 3C?
(a) No, because it happened outside office hours
(b) Only if the phone was provided by the Government
(c) No, because there was no physical contact
(d) Yes, unwelcome verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature can be sexual harassment
Ans. (d) Yes, unwelcome verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature can be sexual harassment — Explanation: The Explanation includes any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature. Physical contact is not required, and conduct directed at a colleague in connection with her employment is covered even when it happens through messages. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
20. Consider these statements about Rule 3C: 1. Only physical acts amount to sexual harassment. 2. A person in charge of a workplace must take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment. 3. Hospitals are included in "workplace". Which are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 2 and 3 only
Ans. (d) 2 and 3 only — Explanation: Verbal and non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature is also covered, so the first statement is wrong. The second restates Rule 3C(2), and hospitals are expressly part of the workplace definition. [Ref: Rule 3C]
21. "Humiliating treatment likely to affect her health or safety" appears in Rule 3C as:
(a) One of the circumstances that may amount to sexual harassment
(b) An exception to Rule 3C(1)
(c) A ground for special casual leave
(d) A duty of the Complaints Committee
Ans. (a) One of the circumstances that may amount to sexual harassment — Explanation: It is the last of the listed circumstances in the Explanation that may amount to sexual harassment when connected with such an act. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
22. Rule 3C protects which persons against sexual harassment?
(a) Only women Government servants of Group 'A'
(b) Only permanent women employees
(c) Any woman at her workplace
(d) Only women who have made a written complaint
Ans. (c) Any woman at her workplace — Explanation: Rule 3C(1) uses the words "any woman at her workplace". It is not limited by rank, status or permanence. [Ref: Rule 3C(1)]
23. A Government servant's duties under Rule 3C(2) are best described as:
(a) Preventive: taking appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment
(b) Advisory: giving advice only if asked
(c) Investigative: conducting police inquiries
(d) Punitive: imposing penalties personally
Ans. (a) Preventive: taking appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment — Explanation: Rule 3C(2) requires the person in charge of a workplace to take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment. Inquiry and penalty follow the Complaints Committee and disciplinary process. [Ref: Rule 3C(2)]
24. A sports complex run by a Central Government-funded body is the venue where a woman coach is harassed by a visiting official. Is the complex a "workplace" under Rule 3C?
(a) Yes, sports institutes, stadiums and sports complexes are expressly included
(b) Only during official competitions
(c) Only if the complex is owned directly by a Ministry
(d) No, only offices are workplaces
Ans. (a) Yes, sports institutes, stadiums and sports complexes are expressly included — Explanation: The workplace definition expressly includes sports institutes, stadiums, sports complexes and competition or games venues. [Ref: Rule 3C, Explanation]
25. What is the heading of Rule 3C?
(a) Observance of Government's policies
(b) Prohibition of sexual harassment of working women
(c) Protection of women employees' service conditions
(d) Promptness and courtesy
Ans. (b) Prohibition of sexual harassment of working women — Explanation: Rule 3C is titled "Prohibition of sexual harassment of working women". [Ref: Rule 3C]
Want all 1,050 questions in one PDF? The CCS (Conduct) Rules ebook has every set with answers, explanations, rule references and quick-revision tables. Get the ebook
Next: Set 9. See all sets under the label CCS Conduct Rules. For exam preparation, attempt the full set before checking answers and note the rule number of every question you miss.
These questions are prepared for practice from the text of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and related Government of India instructions. Always check the latest DoPT orders before relying on any point for official decisions.