UPSC 2010 › Indian Economy

36 questions · 2010 · answers as per the UPSC key

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Topics: Fiscal Policy & Budget (5)Banking & Financial Sector (4)International Institutions & Reports (4)International Trade & WTO (4)Agriculture & Rural Development (3)National Income & Economic Growth (3)Economic Planning & Five-Year Plans (2)Financial Markets & Capital Markets (2)Inflation & Price Indices (2)Monetary Policy & Money Supply (2)Taxation (2)Digital Payments & Financial Inclusion (1)External Sector & Balance Of Payments (1)Infrastructure & Industry (1)

In the context of the affairs

of which of the following is the phrase “Special Safeguard Mechanisms” mentioned in the news frequently ?

(a) United Nations Environment Programme
(b) World Trade Organisation
(c) ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement
(d) G-20 Summits
Show answer
Answer: (b) World Trade Organisation

Which of the following terms indicates a mechanism used by commercial banks for providing credit to the government ?

(a) Cash Credit Ratio
(b) Debt Service Obligation
(c) Liquidity Adjustment Facility
(d) Statutory Liquidity Ratio
Show answer
Answer: (d) Statutory Liquidity Ratio

In order to comply with TRIPS Agreement, India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999. The difference/differences between a “Trade Mark” and a Geographical Indication is/are

  1. A Trade Mark is an individual or a company’s right whereas a Geographical Indication is a community’s right.
  2. A Trade Mark can be licensed whereas a Geographical Indication cannot be licensed.
  3. A Trade Mark is assigned to the manufactured goods whereas the Geographical Indication is assigned to the agricultural goods/products and handicrafts only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only

The SEZ Act, 2005 which came into effect in February 2006 has certain objectives. In this context, consider the following :

  1. Development of infrastructure facilities.
  2. Promotion of investment from foreign sources.
  3. Promotion of exports of services only.

Which of the above are the objectives of this Act ?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Which one of the following statements is an appropriate description of deflation ?

(a) It is a sudden fall in the value of a currency against other currencies
(b) It is a persistent recession in both the financial and real sectors of economy
(c) It is a persistent fall in the general price level of goods and services
(d) It is a fall in the rate of inflation over a period of time
Show answer
Answer: (c) It is a persistent fall in the general price level of goods and services

With reference to the Non-banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in India, consider the following statements:

  1. They cannot engage in the acquisition of securities issued by the government.
  2. They cannot accept demand deposits like Savings Account.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 only

Which one of the following was NOT stipulated in the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003?

(a) Elimination of revenue deficit by the end of the fiscal year 2007-08
(b) Non-borrowing by the Central Government from Reserve Bank of India except under certain circumstances
(c) Elimination of primary deficit by the end of the fiscal year 2008-09
(d) Fixing government guarantees in any financial year as a percentage of GDP
Show answer
Answer: (c) Elimination of primary deficit by the end of the fiscal year 2008-09

In the parlance of financial investments, the term ‘bear’ denotes

(a) An investor who feels that the price of a particular security is going to fall
(b) An investor who expects the price of particular shares to rise
(c) A shareholder or a bondholder who has an interest in a company, financial or otherwise
(d) Any lender whether by making a loan or buying a bond
Show answer
Answer: (a) An investor who feels that the price of a particular security is going to fall

A great deal of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to India comes from Mauritius than from many major and mature economies like UK and France. Why?

(a) India has preference for certain countries as regards receiving FDI
(b) India has double taxation avoidance agreement with Mauritius
(c) Most citizens of Mauritius have ethnic identity with India and so they feel secure to invest in India
(d) Impending dangers of global climatic change prompt Mauritius to make huge investments in India
Show answer
Answer: (b) India has double taxation avoidance agreement with Mauritius

Consider the following countries:

  1. Brazil
  2. Mexico
  3. South Africa According to UNCTAD, which of the above is/are categorized as “Emerging Economies”?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Which one of the following is not related to United Nations?

(a) Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
(b) International Finance Corporation
(c) International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
(d) Bank for International Settlements
Show answer
Answer: (d) Bank for International Settlements

In the context of Indian economy, consider the following pairs:

  1. Melt down – Fall in stock prices
  2. Recession – Fall in growth rate
  3. Slow down – Fall in GDP

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 only

With reference to BRIC countries, consider the following statements:

  1. At present, China’s GDP is more than the combined GDP of all the three other countries.
  2. China’s population is more than the combined population of any two other countries.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 only

Which of the following is/are treated as artificial currency?

(a) ADR
(b) GDR
(c) SDR
(d) Both ADR and SDR
Show answer
Answer: (c) SDR

As regards the use of international food safety standards as reference point for the dispute settlements, which one of the following does WTO collaborate with?

(a) Codex Alimentarius Commission
(b) International Federation of Standards Users
(c) International Organization for Standardization
(d) World Standards Cooperation
Show answer
Answer: (a) Codex Alimentarius Commission

An objective of the National Food Security Mission is to increase the production of certain crops through area expansion and productivity enhancement in a sustainable manner in the identified districts of the country. What are those crops?

(a) Rice and wheat only
(b) Rice, wheat and pulses only
(c) Rice, wheat, pulses and oilseeds only
(d) Rice, wheat, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables
Show answer
Answer: (b) Rice, wheat and pulses only

In India, the interest rate on savings accounts in all the nationalized commercial banks is fixed by

(a) Union Ministry of Finance
(b) Union Finance Commission
(c) Indian Banks’ Association
(d) None of the above
Show answer
Answer: (d) None of the above

In the context of governance, consider the following :

  1. Encouraging Foreign Direct Investment inflows
  2. Privatization of higher educational Institutions
  3. Down-sizing of bureaucracy
  4. Selling/off-loading the shares of Public Sector Undertakings

Which of the above can be used as measures to control the fiscal deficit in India ?

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 3 and 4 only
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2, 3 and 4

Inclusive growth as enunciated in the Eleventh Five Year Plan does NOT include one of the following:

(a) Reduction of poverty
(b) Extension of employment opportunities
(c) Strengthening of capital market
(d) Reduction of gender inequality
Show answer
Answer: (c) Strengthening of capital market

Which one of the following is responsible for the preparation and presentation of Union Budget to the Parliament?

(a) Department of Revenue
(b) Department of Economic Affairs
(c) Department of Financial Services
(d) Department of Expenditure
Show answer
Answer: (b) Department of Economic Affairs

Consider the following actions by the Government:

  1. Cutting the tax rates
  2. Increasing the government spending
  3. Abolishing the subsidies In the context of economic recession, which of the above actions can be considered a part of the "fiscal stimulus" package?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

When the Reserve Bank of India announces an increase of the Cash Reserve Ratio, what does it mean?

(a) The commercial banks will have less money to lend
(b) The Reserve Bank of India will have less money to lend
(c) The Union Government will have less money to lend
(d) The commercial banks will have more money to lend
Show answer
Answer: (a) The commercial banks will have less money to lend

With reference to India, consider the following statements:

  1. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) in India is available on a monthly basis only.
  2. As compared to Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI(IW)), the WPI gives less weight to food articles.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

In the context of India’s Five Year Plans, a shift in the pattern of industrialization, with lower emphasis on heavy industries and more on infrastructure begins in

(a) Fourth Plan
(b) Sixth Plan
(c) Eighth Plan
(d) Tenth Plan
Show answer
Answer: (b) Sixth Plan

With reference to the National Investment Fund to which the disinvestment proceeds are routed, consider the following statements :

  1. The assets in the National Investment Fund are managed by the Union Ministry of Finance.
  2. The National Investment Fund is to be maintained within the Consolidated Fund of India.
  3. Certain Asset Management Companies are appointed as the fund managers.
  4. A certain proportion of annual income is used for financing select social sectors.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 3 only
Show answer
Answer: (c) 3 and 4

In India,

which of the following is regulated by the Forward Markets Commission ?

(a) Currency Futures Trading
(b) Commodities Futures Trading
(c) Equity Futures Trading
(d) Both Commodities Futures and Financial Futures Trading
Show answer
Answer: (b) Commodities Futures Trading

Which one of the following is not a feature of Limited Liability Partnership firm ?

(a) Partners should be less than 20
(b) Partnership and management need not be separate
(c) Internal governance may be decided by mutual agreement among partners
(d) It is corporate body with perpetual succession
Show answer
Answer: (a) Partners should be less than 20

With reference to the institution of Banking Ombudsman in India, which one of the statements is not correct ?

(a) The Banking Ombudsman is appointed by the Reserve Bank of India
(b) The Banking Ombudsman can consider complaints from Non-Resident Indians having accounts in India
(c) The orders passed by the Banking Ombudsman are final and binding on the parties concerned
(d) The service provided by the Banking Ombudsman is free of any fee
Show answer
Answer: (c) The orders passed by the Banking Ombudsman are final and binding on the parties concerned

With reference to India, consider the following :

  1. Nationalization of Banks
  2. Formation of Regional Rural Banks
  3. Adoption of villages by Bank Branches

Which of the above can be considered as steps taken to achieve the “financial inclusion” in India ?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Consider the following statements :

  1. Purchase and sale of shares and securities on behalf of customers.
  2. Acting as executors and trustees of wills.

The functions of commercial banks in India include

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
UPSC 2010 · Q143 · Indian Economy › Taxation · Save

In India, the tax proceeds of which one of the following as a percentage of gross tax revenue has significantly declined in the last five years ?

(a) Service tax
(b) Personal income tax
(c) Excise duty
(d) Corporation tax
Show answer
Answer: (c) Excise duty
UPSC 2010 · Q145 · Indian Economy › Taxation · Save

Consider the following statements : In India, taxes on transactions in Stock Exchanges and Futures Markets are

  1. Levied by the Union
  2. Collected by the States

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 only

In India, during the last decade the total cultivated land for which one of the following crops has remained more or less stagnant ?

(a) Rice
(b) Oilseeds
(c) Pulses
(d) Sugarcane
Show answer
Answer: (c) Pulses

Consider the following statements :

  1. The Union Government fixes the Statutory Minimum Price of sugarcane for each sugar season.
  2. Sugar and sugarcane are essential commodities under the Essential Commodities Act.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

With reference to Indian economy, consider the following statements :

  1. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased by four times in the last 10 years.
  2. The percentage share of Public Sector in GDP has declined in the last 10 years.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2 only

The International Development Association, a lending agency, is administered by the

(a) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(b) International Fund for Agricultural Development
(c) United Nations Development Programme
(d) United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Show answer
Answer: (a) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development