Indian Economy › Fiscal Policy & Budget – UPSC Prelims PYQs

46 questions · 1995–2026 · answers as per the UPSC key

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Which one of the following best describes the ‘Crowding Out Effect’ in the context of fiscal policy ?

(a) A situation where private investment increases due to increased Government spending
(b) A situation where Government borrowing leads to higher interest rates, which reduces private investment
(c) A situation where an increase in taxes leads to increased private sector investment
(d) A situation where Government spending has no impact on aggregate demand
Show answer
Answer: (b) A situation where Government borrowing leads to higher interest rates, which reduces private investment

Consider the following statements : I. Capital receipts create a liability or cause a reduction in the assets of the Government. II. Borrowings and disinvestment are capital receipts. III. Interest received on loans creates a liability of the Government.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) I and II only
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II and III
Show answer
Answer: (a) I and II only

Suppose the revenue expenditure is ₹ 80,000 crores and the revenue receipts of the Government are ₹ 60,000 crores. The Government budget also shows borrowings of ₹ 10,000 crores and interest payments of ₹ 6,000 crores. Which of the following statements are correct? I. Revenue deficit is ₹ 20,000 crores. II. Fiscal deficit is ₹ 10,000 crores. III. Primary deficit is ₹ 4,000 crores.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) I and II only
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II and III
Show answer
Answer: (d) I, II and III

A country's fiscal deficit stands at ₹ 50,000 crores. It is receiving ₹ 10,000 crores through non-debt creating capital receipts. The country's interest liabilities are ₹ 1,500 crores. What is the gross primary deficit?

(a) ₹ 48,500 crores
(b) ₹ 51,500 crores
(c) ₹ 58,500 crores
(d) None of the above
Show answer
Answer: (a) ₹ 48,500 crores

Which of the following statements with regard to recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission of India are correct? I. It has recommended grants of ₹ 4,800 crores from the year 2022–23 to the year 2025–26 for incentivizing States to enhance educational outcomes. II. 45% of the net proceeds of Union taxes are to be shared with States. III. ₹ 45,000 crores are to be kept as performance-based incentive for all States for carrying out agricultural reforms. IV. It reintroduced tax effort criteria to reward fiscal performance.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) I, II and III
(b) I, II and IV
(c) I, III and IV
(d) II, III and IV
Show answer
Answer: (c) I, III and IV

Consider the following :

  1. Demographic performance
  2. Forest and ecology
  3. Governance reforms
  4. Stable government
  5. Tax and fiscal efforts For the horizontal tax devolution, the Fifteenth Finance Commission used how many of the above as criteria other than population area and income distance?
(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) All five
Show answer
Answer: (b) Only three

Consider the following statements : The 'Stability and Growth Pact' of the European Union is a treaty that

  1. limits the levels of the budgetary deficit of the countries of the European Union
  2. makes the countries of the European Union to share their infrastructure facilities
  3. enables the countries of the European Union to share their technologies

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Show answer
Answer: (a) Only one

With reference to the expenditure made by an organisation or a company, which of the following statements is/are correct ?

  1. Acquiring new technology is capital expenditure.
  2. Debt financing is considered capital expenditure, while equity financing is considered revenue expenditure.

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: (a) 1 only

With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements :

  1. A share of the household financial savings goes towards government borrowings.
  2. Dated securities issued at market-related rates in auctions form a large component of internal debt.

Which of the above statements 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

Which among the following steps is most likely to be taken at the time of an economic recession?

(a) Cut in tax rates accompanied by increase in interest rate
(b) Increase in expenditure on public projects
(c) Increase in tax rates accompanied by reduction of interest rate
(d) Reduction of expenditure on public projects
Show answer
Answer: (b) Increase in expenditure on public projects

The money multiplier in an economy increases with which one of the following?

(a) Increase in the Cash Reserve Ratio in the banks
(b) Increase in the Statutory Liquidity Ratio in the banks
(c) Increase in the banking habit of the people
(d) Increase in the population of the country
Show answer
Answer: (c) Increase in the banking habit of the people

Along with the Budget, the Finance Minister also places other documents before the Parliament which include ‘The Macro Economic Framework Statement’. The aforesaid document is presented because this is mandated by

(a) Long standing parliamentary convention
(b) Article 112 and Article 110(1) of the Constitution of India
(c) Article 113 of the Constitution of India
(d) Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003
Show answer
Answer: (d) Provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003

In the context of the Indian economy, non-financial debt includes which of the following ?

  1. Housing loans owed by households
  2. Amounts outstanding on credit cards
  3. Treasury bills

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

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

With reference to the 'Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act, 1988 (PBPT Act)', consider the following statements :

  1. A property transaction is not treated as a benami transaction if the owner of the property is not aware of the transaction.
  2. Properties held benami are liable for confiscation by the Government.
  3. The Act provides for three authorities for investigations but does not provide for any appellate mechanism.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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

Consider the following statements :

  1. Tax revenue as a percent of GDP of India has steadily increased in the last decade.
  2. Fiscal deficit as a percent of GDP of India has steadily increased in the last decade.

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

There has been a persistent deficit budget year after year. Which action/actions of the following can be taken by the Government to reduce the deficit?

  1. Reducing revenue expenditure
  2. Introducing new welfare schemes
  3. Rationalizing subsidies
  4. Reducing import duty

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Which of the following is/are included in the capital budget of the Government of India?

  1. Expenditure on acquisition of assets like roads, buildings, machinery, etc.
  2. Loans received from foreign governments
  3. Loans and advances granted to the States and Union Territories

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

With reference to the Fourteenth Finance Commission, which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. It has increased the share of States in the central divisible pool from 32 percent to 42 percent.
  2. It has made recommendations concerning sector-specific grants.

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: (a) 1 only

A decrease in tax to GDP ratio of a country indicates which of the following?

  1. Slowing economic growth rate
  2. Less equitable distribution of national income

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: (a) 1 only

There has been a persistent deficit budget year after year. Which of the following actions can be taken by the government to reduce the deficit?

  1. Reducing revenue expenditure
  2. Introducing new welfare schemes
  3. Rationalizing subsidies
  4. Expanding industries

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

With reference to Union Budget, which of the following is/are covered under Non-Plan Expenditure?

  1. Defence expenditure
  2. Interest payments
  3. Salaries and pensions
  4. Subsidies

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(d) None
Show answer
Answer: (c) 1, 2, 3 and 4

In India, deficit financing is used for raising resources for

(a) economic development
(b) redemption of public debt
(c) adjusting the balance of payments
(d) reducing the foreign debt
Show answer
Answer: (a) economic development

Which one of the following is likely to be the most inflationary in its effect?

(a) Repayment of public debt
(b) Borrowing from the public to finance a budget deficit
(c) Borrowing from banks to finance a budget deficit
(d) Creating new money to finance a budget deficit
Show answer
Answer: (d) Creating new money to finance a budget deficit

Which of the following is/are among the noticeable features of the recommendations of the Thirteenth Finance Commission?

  1. A design for the Goods and Services Tax, and a compensation package linked to adherence to the proposed design
  2. A design for the creation of lakhs of jobs in the next ten years in consonance with India's demographic dividend
  3. Devolution of a specified share of central taxes to local bodies as grants

Select the correct answer using the codes given below :

(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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

Which one of the following statements is correct? Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act (FRBMA) concerns

(a) fiscal deficit only
(b) revenue deficit only
(c) both fiscal and revenue deficit
(d) neither fiscal deficit nor revenue deficit
Show answer
Answer: (c) both fiscal and revenue deficit

With reference to Indian Public Finance, consider the following statements:

  1. Disbursements from Public Accounts of India are subject to the Vote of Parliament.
  2. The Indian Constitution provides for the establishment of a Consolidated Fund, a Public Account and a Contingency Fund for each State.
  3. Appropriations and disbursements under the Railway Budget are subject to the same form of Parliamentary control as other appropriations and disbursements.

Which of these statements given above are correct?

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

The government holding in BPCL is

(a) More than 70%
(b) Between 60% and 70%
(c) Between 50% and 60%
(d) Less than 50%
Show answer
Answer: (b) Between 60% and 70%

With reference to the Indian Public Finance consider the following statements:

  1. External liabilities reported in Union Budget are based on historical exchange rates.
  2. The continued high borrowing has kept the real interest rates high in the economy.
  3. The upward trend in the ratio of Fiscal Deficit to GDP in recent years has an adverse effect to private investments.
  4. Interest payments is the single largest component of the non-plan revenue expenditure of the Union Government.

Which of these statements are correct?

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

Consider the following: I. Market borrowing II. Treasury bills

III. Special securities issued to RBI

Which of these is/are component(s) of internal debt?

(a) I only
(b) I and II
(c) II only
(d) I, II and III
Show answer
Answer: (d) I, II and III

Match List I with List II

and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:

List I (Term) I. Fiscal deficit II. Budget deficit III. Revenue deficit IV. Primary deficit

List II (Explanation) A) Excess of Total Expenditure over Total Receipts B) Excess of Revenue Expenditure over Revenue Receipts C) Excess of Total Expenditure over Total Receipts less borrowings D) Excess of Total Expenditure over Total Receipts less borrowings and Interest Payments

(a) I-C, II-A, III-B, IV-D
(b) I-D, II-C, III-B, IV-A
(c) I-A, II-C, III-B, IV-D
(d) I-C, II-A, III-D, IV-B
Show answer
Answer: (a) I-C, II-A, III-B, IV-D

The Union Budget, 2000 awarded a Tax Holiday for the North-eastern Region to promote industrialisation for

(a) 5 years
(b) 7 years
(c) 9 years
(d) 10 years
Show answer
Answer: (d) 10 years

Assertion (A): Fiscal deficit is greater than budgetary deficit.

Reason (R): Fiscal deficit is the borrowings from the Reserve Bank of India plus other liabilities of the Government to meet its expenditure.

(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Show answer
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

Economic Survey in India is published officially, every year by the

(a) Reserve Bank of India
(b) Planning Commission of India
(c) Ministry of Finance, Government of India
(d) Ministry of Industries, Government of India
Show answer
Answer: (c) Ministry of Finance, Government of India

Which of the following come under Non-plan expenditure? I. Subsidies II. Interest payments III. Defence expenditure IV. Maintenance expenditure for the infrastructure created in the previous plans

Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:

Codes:

(a) I and II
(b) I and III
(c) II and IV
(d) I, II, III and IV
Show answer
Answer: (d) I, II, III and IV

A redistribution of income in a country can be best brought about through

(a) progressive taxation combined with progressive expenditure
(b) progressive taxation combined with regressive expenditure
(c) regressive taxation combined with regressive expenditure
(d) regressive taxation combined with progressive expenditure
Show answer
Answer: (a) progressive taxation combined with progressive expenditure

The following Table shows the percentage distribution of revenue expenditure of Government of India in 1989-90 and 1994-95: (Heads: Defence, Interest Payments, Subsidies, Grants to States/UTs Other) Based on this table, it can be said that the Indian economy is in poor shape because the Central Government continues to be under pressure to

(a) reduce expenditure of defence
(b) spend more and more on interest payments
(c) reduce expenditure on subsidies
(d) spend more and more as grants-in-aid to State Governments/Union Territories
Show answer
Answer: (b) spend more and more on interest payments
This question uses a table or figure from the original paper that is not reproduced here.

Which of the following are among the non-plan expenditures of the Government of India? I. Defence expenditure II. Subsidies III. All expenditures linked with the previous plan periods IV. Interest payment

Choose the correct answer from the codes given below:

(a) I and II
(b) I and III
(c) II and IV
(d) I, II, III and IV
Show answer
Answer: (d) I, II, III and IV