UPSC 2011 › Indian Economy

23 questions · 2011 · answers as per the UPSC key

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

India has experienced persistent and high food inflation in the recent past. What could be the reasons?

  1. Due to a gradual switchover to the cultivation of commercial crops, the area under the cultivation of food grains has steadily decreased in the last five years by about 30%.
  2. As a consequence of increasing incomes, the consumption patterns of the people have undergone a significant change.
  3. The food supply chain has structural constraints.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

In terms of economy, the visit by foreign nationals to witness the XIX Commonwealth Games in India amounted to

(a) Export
(b) Import
(c) Production
(d) Consumption
Show answer
Answer: (a) Export

Which one of the following statements appropriately describes the “fiscal stimulus”?

(a) It is a massive investment by the Government in manufacturing sector to ensure the supply of goods to meet the demand surge caused by rapid economic growth
(b) It is an intense affirmative action of the Government to boost economic activity in the country
(c) It is Government’s intensive action on financial institutions to ensure disbursement of loans to agriculture and allied sectors to promote greater food production and contain food inflation
(d) It is an extreme affirmative action by the Government to pursue its policy of financial inclusion
Show answer
Answer: (b) It is an intense affirmative action of the Government to boost economic activity in the country

Consider the following actions which the Government can take:

  1. Devaluing the domestic currency.
  2. Reduction in the export subsidy.
  3. Adopting suitable policies which attract greater FDI and more funds from FIIs.

Which of the above actions can help in reducing the current account deficit?

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

A rapid increase in the rate of inflation is sometimes attributed to the "base effect". What is "base effect" ?

(a) It is the impact of drastic deficiency in supply due to failure of crops
(b) and
(c) given above is correct in this context
(d) None of the statements (a),
Show answer
Answer: (c) given above is correct in this context
UPSC 2011 · Q16 · Indian Economy › Taxation · Save

Which one of the following is not a feature of “Value Added Tax”?

(a) It is a multi-point destination-based system of taxation
(b) It is a tax levied on value addition at each stage of transaction in the production-distribution chain
(c) It is a tax on the final consumption of goods or services and must ultimately be borne by the consumer
(d) It is basically a subject of the Central Government and the State Governments are only a facilitator for its successful implementation
Show answer
Answer: (d) It is basically a subject of the Central Government and the State Governments are only a facilitator for its successful implementation

“A closed economy” is an economy in which

(a) the money supply is fully controlled
(b) deficit financing takes place
(c) only exports take place
(d) neither exports nor imports take place
Show answer
Answer: (d) neither exports nor imports take place

Both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) are related to investment in a country.

Which one of the following statements best represents an important difference between the two?

(a) FII helps bring better management skills and technology, while FDI only brings in capital
(b) FII helps in increasing capital availability in general, while FDI only targets specific sectors
(c) FDI flows only into the secondary market, while FII targets primary market
(d) FII is considered to be more stable than FDI
Show answer
Answer: (b) FII helps in increasing capital availability in general, while FDI only targets specific sectors

With reference to "Aam Aadmi Bima Yojana", consider the following statements:

  1. The member insured under the scheme must be the head of the family or an earning member of the family in a rural landless household.
  2. The member insured must be in the age group of 30 to 65 years.
  3. There is a provision for free scholarship for up to two children of the insured who are studying between classes 9 and 12.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

In the context of global oil prices, "Brent crude oil" is frequently referred to in the news. What does this term imply?

  1. It is a major classification of crude oil.
  2. It is sourced from North Sea.
  3. It does not contain sulphur.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

With what purpose is the Government of India promoting the concept of "Mega Food Parks"?

  1. To provide good infrastructure facilities for the food processing industry.
  2. To increase the processing of perishable items and reduce wastage.
  3. To provide emerging and eco-friendly food processing technologies to entrepreneurs.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(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

Microfinance is the provision of financial services to people of low-income groups. This includes both the consumers and the self-employed. The service/services rendered under microfinance is/are:

  1. Credit facilities
  2. Savings facilities
  3. Insurance facilities
  4. Fund Transfer facilities

Select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

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

Among the following who are eligible to benefit from the “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act”?

(a) Adult members of only the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe households
(b) Adult members of below poverty line (BPL) households
(c) Adult members of households of all backward communities
(d) Adult members of any household
Show answer
Answer: (d) Adult members of any household

With reference to the period of colonial rule in India, "Home Charges" formed an important part of drain of wealth from India. Which of the following funds constituted "Home Charges"?

  1. Funds used to support the India Office in London.
  2. Funds used to pay salaries and pensions of British personnel engaged in India.
  3. Funds used for waging wars outside India by the British.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(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

What is the difference between "vote-on-account" and "interim budget"?

  1. The provision of a "vote-on-account" is used by a regular Government, while an "interim budget" is a provision used by a caretaker Government.
  2. A "vote-on-account" only deals with the expenditure in Government's budget, while an "interim budget" includes both expenditure and receipts.

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

Regarding the International Monetary Fund, which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) It can grant loans to any country
(b) It can grant loans to only developed countries
(c) It grants loans to only member countries
(d) It can grant loans to the central bank of a country
Show answer
Answer: (c) It grants loans to only member countries

Why is the offering of "teaser loans" by commercial banks a cause of economic concern?

  1. The teaser loans are considered to be an aspect of sub-prime lending and banks may be exposed to the risk of defaulters in future.
  2. In India, the teaser loans are mostly given to inexperienced entrepreneurs to set up manufacturing or export units.

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 the context of Indian economy, consider the following statements:

  1. The growth rate of GDP has steadily increased in the last five years.
  2. The growth rate in per capita income has steadily increased in the last five 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: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

In India,

which of the following have the highest share in the disbursement of credit to agriculture and allied activities?

(a) Commercial Banks
(b) Cooperative Banks
(c) Regional Rural Banks
(d) Microfinance Institutions
Show answer
Answer: (a) Commercial Banks

Which of the following can aid in furthering the Government's objective of inclusive growth?

  1. Promoting Self-Help Groups
  2. Promoting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
  3. Implementing the Right to Education Act

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

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

Why is the Government of India disinvesting its equity in the Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)?

  1. The Government intends to use the revenue earned from the disinvestment mainly to pay back the external debt.
  2. The Government no longer intends to retain the management control of the CPSEs.

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: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Economic growth is usually coupled with

(a) Deflation
(b) Inflation
(c) Stagflation
(d) Hyperinflation
Show answer
Answer: (b) Inflation

The lowering of Bank Rate by the Reserve Bank of India leads to

(a) More liquidity in the market
(b) Less liquidity in the market
(c) No change in the liquidity in the market
(d) Mobilization of more deposits by commercial banks
Show answer
Answer: (b) Less liquidity in the market