Read the following passage about THE RIGHT TO DISCONNECT: KERALA'S PIONEERING LEGISLATION and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sh...

Read the following passage about THE RIGHT TO DISCONNECT: KERALA'S PIONEERING LEGISLATION and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the best answer to each of the following questions from 23 to 30.

Kerala is preparing to introduce important new legislation known as the Right to Disconnect Bill 2025. This proposed law aims to give workers in government agencies and private companies the legal right to ignore work-related communications—including phone calls, emails, online meetings, and text messages—once their working hours finish. The main goal focuses on protecting employees' rest periods, ensuring job responsibilities don't interfere with evenings, weekends, or holidays, thereby improving work-life balance and mental health within today's always-connected digital culture.

Under this legislation, staff members cannot receive punishment such as demotion, dismissal, or penalties for disconnecting after completing their duties. The proposal establishes local complaint-handling committees specifically designed to address problems from private sector workers. Should Kerala successfully implement these regulations, it would become India's first state to enforce such protective rights, representing a significant achievement in employment standards and establishing an example for other regional governments nationwide.

Several countries worldwide have already adopted similar laws. France has established one of the clearest legal frameworks, which mandates larger organizations to negotiate rules regarding after-hours communication practices. Spain and Portugal have regulations that protect workers from being forced to respond to work messages beyond normal operating hours. Belgium incorporates disconnection rights into its work-life balance laws, while Germany, although it lacks a single national legislation, has numerous companies and labor courts that limit expectations surrounding after-hours email contact.

These international examples demonstrate that Kerala's initiative follows a broader global trend toward establishing legal limits around digital workplace demands and protecting personal time boundaries. The legislation reflects growing understanding that constant connectivity can negatively affect employee health, productivity, and family relationships. By following established international models while changing them to local situations, Kerala's proposal represents forward-thinking labor policy, potentially inspiring similar reforms across developing economies struggling with modern workplace challenges.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/al

Question 23: Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a type of work communication that employees can ignore?

A. Phone calls

B. Emails

C. Online meetings

D. Fax messages

Question 24: The word “their” in paragraph 1 refers to _________.

A. workers

B. government agencies

C. private companies

D. communications

Question 25: The word “dismissal” in paragraph 2 is OPPOSITE in meaning to _________.

A. resignation                                B. appointment                                C. suspension                                D. termination

Question 26: The word “mandates” in paragraph 3 could be best replaced by _________.

A. suggests                                        B. permits                                        C. requires                                        D. recommends

Question 27: Which of the following best paraphrases the underlined sentence in paragraph 4?

A. Global cases show Kerala's policy differs from international movements regulating digital work and protecting private time.

B. International examples suggest Kerala's legislation leads worldwide efforts creating legal frameworks for digital work and personal boundaries.

C. Worldwide cases show Kerala's proposal aligns with global movements establishing legal limits on digital work and personal time.

D. Foreign instances reveal Kerala's regulation initiates global trends developing legal boundaries for workplace technology and rest periods.

Question 28: Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. Germany has implemented comprehensive national legislation specifically mandating strict disconnection rights for all employees across industries.

B. Kerala's Right to Disconnect Bill primarily focuses on protecting government workers while excluding private sector employees from coverage.

C. France requires larger companies to negotiate agreements about communication practices outside regular working hours for their employees.

D. Belgium was the first European nation to introduce disconnection rights legislation before France established similar workplace protections.

Question 29: In which paragraph does the writer mention the punishment employees are protected from?

A. Paragraph 4                                B. Paragraph 1                                C. Paragraph 2                                D. Paragraph 3

Question 30: In which paragraph does the writer discuss examples from European countries?

A. Paragraph 1                                B. Paragraph 4                                C. Paragraph 2                                D. Paragraph 3