UPSC 2018 › Indian Economy

20 questions · 2018 · answers as per the UPSC key

Take test Free
Topics: Agriculture & Rural Development (3)Human Development, Poverty & Employment Schemes (3)National Income & Economic Growth (3)Banking & Financial Sector (2)Digital Payments & Financial Inclusion (2)International Trade & WTO (2)Taxation (2)Financial Markets & Capital Markets (1)Fiscal Policy & Budget (1)Monetary Policy & Money Supply (1)

As per the NSSO 70th Round "Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households", consider the following statements :

  1. Rajasthan has the highest percentage share of agricultural households among its rural households.
  2. Out of the total agricultural households in the country, a little over 60 percent belong to OBCs.
  3. In Kerala, a little over 60 percent of agricultural households reported to have received maximum income from sources other than agricultural activities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Which one of the following best describes the term "Merchant Discount Rate" sometimes seen in news ?

(a) The incentive given by a bank to a merchant for accepting payments through debit cards pertaining to that bank.
(b) The amount paid back by banks to their customers when they use debit cards for financial transactions for purchasing goods or services.
(c) The charge to a merchant by a bank for accepting payments from his customers through the bank's debit cards.
(d) The incentive given by the Government to merchants for promoting digital payments by their customers through Point of Sale (PoS) machines and debit cards.
Show answer
Answer: (c) The charge to a merchant by a bank for accepting payments from his customers through the bank's debit cards.
UPSC 2018 · Q8 · Indian Economy › Taxation · Save

With reference to India's decision to levy an equalization tax of 6% on online advertisement services offered by non-resident entities, which of the following statements is/are correct ?

  1. It is introduced as a part of the Income Tax Act.
  2. Non-resident entities that offer advertisement services in India can claim a tax credit in their home country under the "Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements".

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

Consider the following statements :

  1. The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Review Committee Report has recommended a debt to GDP ratio of 60% for the general (combined) government by 2023, comprising 40% for the Central Government and 20% for the State Governments.
  2. The Central Government has domestic liabilities of 21% of GDP as compared to that of 49% of GDP of the State Governments.
  3. As per the Constitution of India, it is mandatory for a State to take the Central Government's consent for raising any loan if the former owes any outstanding liabilities to the latter.

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

Consider the following statements :

  1. The quantity of imported edible oils is more than the domestic production of edible oils in the last five years.
  2. The Government does not impose any customs duty on all the imported edible oils as a special case.

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 one of the following links all the ATMs in India ?

(a) Indian Banks' Association
(b) National Securities Depository Limited
(c) National Payments Corporation of India
(d) Reserve Bank of India
Show answer
Answer: (c) National Payments Corporation of India

Consider the following statements :

  1. Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) is the amount that banks have to maintain in the form of their own funds to offset any loss that banks incur if the account-holders fail to repay dues.
  2. CAR is decided by each individual bank.

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

With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements :

  1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised food grains.
  2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
  3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a 'take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

India enacted The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 in order to comply with the obligations to

(a) ILO
(b) IMF
(c) UNCTAD
(d) WTO
Show answer
Answer: (d) WTO

International Labour Organization's Conventions 138 and 182 are related to

(a) Child labour
(b) Adaptation of agricultural practices to global climate change
(c) Regulation of food prices and food security
(d) Gender parity at the workplace
Show answer
Answer: (a) Child labour

Consider the following countries :

  1. Australia
  2. Canada
  3. China
  4. India
  5. Japan
  6. USA

Which of the above are among the 'free-trade partners' of ASEAN ?

(a) 1, 2, 4 and 5
(b) 3, 4, 5 and 6
(c) 1, 3, 4 and 5
(d) 2, 3, 4 and 6
Show answer
Answer: (c) 1, 3, 4 and 5

Which one of the following statements correctly describes the meaning of legal tender money ?

(a) The money which is tendered in courts of law to defray the fee of legal cases
(b) The money which a creditor is under compulsion to accept in settlement of his claims
(c) The bank money in the form of cheques, drafts, bills of exchange, etc.
(d) The metallic money in circulation in a country
Show answer
Answer: (b) The money which a creditor is under compulsion to accept in settlement of his claims

If a commodity is provided free to the public by the Government, then

(a) the opportunity cost is zero.
(b) the opportunity cost is ignored.
(c) the opportunity cost is transferred from the consumers of the product to the tax-paying public.
(d) the opportunity cost is transferred from the consumers of the product to the Government.
Show answer
Answer: (c) the opportunity cost is transferred from the consumers of the product to the tax-paying public.

Increase in absolute and per capita real GNP do not connote a higher level of economic development, if

(a) industrial output fails to keep pace with agricultural output.
(b) agricultural output fails to keep pace with industrial output.
(c) poverty and unemployment increase.
(d) imports grow faster than exports.
Show answer
Answer: (c) poverty and unemployment increase.

Consider the following statements : Human capital formation as a concept is better explained in terms of a process which enables

  1. individuals of a country to accumulate more capital.
  2. increasing the knowledge, skill levels and capacities of the people of the country.
  3. accumulation of tangible wealth.
  4. accumulation of intangible wealth.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Despite being a high saving economy, capital formation may not result in significant increase in output due to

(a) weak administrative machinery
(b) illiteracy
(c) high population density
(d) high capital-output ratio
Show answer
Answer: (d) high capital-output ratio

Consider the following statements :

  1. The Reserve Bank of India manages and services Government of India Securities but not any State Government Securities.
  2. Treasury bills are issued by the Government of India and there are no treasury bills issued by the State Governments.
  3. Treasury bills offer are issued at a discount from the par value.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Consider the following :

  1. Areca nut
  2. Barley
  3. Coffee
  4. Finger millet
  5. Groundnut
  6. Sesamum
  7. Turmeric The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has announced the Minimum Support Price for which of the above ?
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 7 only
(b) 2, 4, 5 and 6 only
(c) 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2, 4, 5 and 6 only

With reference to the governance of public sector banking in India, consider the following statements :

  1. Capital infusion into public sector banks by the Government of India has steadily increased in the last decade.
  2. To put the public sector banks in order, the merger of associate banks with the parent State Bank of India has been affected.

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
UPSC 2018 · Q97 · Indian Economy › Taxation · Save

Consider the following items :

  1. Cereal grains hulled
  2. Chicken eggs cooked
  3. Fish processed and canned
  4. Newspapers containing advertising material

Which of the above items is/are exempted under GST (Goods and Services Tax) ?

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