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Salient Features and Challenges before Indian Economy

Description: Salient Features and Challenges of Indian Economy
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: Salient Features and Challenges of Indian Economy Indian Economy Indian Economics Human Capital Development International Economic Forums Economic Reforms
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According to the definition provided by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), who among the following is considered as unemployed in India, if he/she does not have any job/work to do?

  1. A person above 14 years of age

  2. A person above 16 years of age

  3. A person above 17 years of age

  4. A person above 18 years of age


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) has given an official estimation of unemployment using the International Labor Organization definition. According to this definition, any person aged 16 and above will be called as unemployed if they are out of work, need a job, have vigorously wanted work in the last four weeks and are available to start work in the next two weeks, have found a job and are waiting to join the job in the next two weeks.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. The Indian definition of child labour considers every human being below 18 years of age a child.
  2. According to UNICEF, India has the highest number of child labourers in the world.
  3. Agriculture is the largest employer of child labour in India.
  1. Only 3

  2. Only 1 and 3

  3. Only 2 and 3

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Indian definition of child labour considers every human being below 14 years of age a child.

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. In India, the concept of 'financial inclusion' was introduced by eminent economist, Mr. Amartya Sen.
  2. The Ministry of Finance set up the Khan Commission in 2004 to look into financial inclusion.
  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Statement 1 is wrong: Financial inclusion or inclusive financing is the delivery of financial services, at affordable costs, to sections of disadvantaged and low income segments of society. In India, financial inclusion first featured in 2005, when it was introduced by K C Chakrabarthy, the chairman of Indian Bank. Statement 2 is wrong: Khan Commission was set up by the RBI, not by the Ministry of Finance.

One of the challenges that the Indian economy faces today is lack of 'social overhead capital'. What does social overhead capital mean?

  1. Social responsibility of the corporate houses

  2. Infrastructure

  3. Retirement benefits to the employees

  4. Participation of women in economic development


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Social Overhead Capital comprises of such industries which help in the growth of other industries. Social overhead capital or infrastructure as it is now called, includes such industries like railways and other means of transport, electricity and other sources of energy, communication, banking, etc. Unfortunately not much attention was paid to this during the British rule and consequently the development of industries in India remained slow and tardy.

One of the biggest challenges of Indian agriculture is the 'marginal' size of land holdings. What do you mean by 'marginal land holdings'?

  1. Holdings of less than 0.5 hectare

  2. Holdings of less than 1 hectare

  3. Holdings of less than 2 hectares

  4. Holdings of less than 5 hectares


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

In India, marginal holdings of less than 1 hectare (ha) accounts for 60% of all holdings but only 20% of total cultivated area. On the other hand, holdings above 2 hectares accounts for only around 20% of all holdings but 60% of cultivated area, with holdings above 10 hectares accounting for just 1% of holdings, but 12% of area.

Which of the following were the causes/reasons behind the depreciation of Indian rupee in year 2012?

  1. Adverse capital account imbalance
  2. Persistent Inflation
  3. Widening current account deficit
  4. Interest Rate Difference
  1. Only 3

  2. Only 1 and 3

  3. Only 1, 2 and 3

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

While a country like China will be more than happy with a depreciating currency, the same doesn't apply for India. China exports more than it imports, thus a depreciating currency makes its exports cheaper in the International market, in turn making China more competitive. India on the other hand does not enjoy this luxury, mainly because of increasing demand of oil, which constitutes a major portion of its import basket. The fall of oil price to $90/barrel has helped India to fight the depreciating rupee up to some extent but at the same time Euro zone, one of the major trading partners of India is under severe economic crisis. This has significantly impacted Indian exports because of reduced demand. Thus India continues to see current account deficit of around 4.3%, depleting the Forex Reserve and thus depreciating INR. Capital Account flows: Deficit countries need capital flows and surplus countries generate capital outflows. India needs dollars to finance its current account deficit. Institutional investors investing in India are directly impacted by the global market uncertainty. Persistent inflation: India has experienced high inflation, above 8%, for almost two years. If inflation becomes a prolonged one, it leads to overall worsening of economic prospects and capital outflows and eventual depreciation of the currency. Interest Rate Difference: Higher real interest rates generally attract foreign investment but due to slowdown in growth there is increasing pressure on RBI to decrease the policy rates. Under such conditions foreign investors tend to stay away from investing. This further affects the capital account flows of India and puts a depreciating pressure on the currency.

The following question consists of two statements, one labelled as 'Assertion' and the other labelled as 'Reason (R)'. You are to examine these two statements carefully and decide if the Assertion (A) and the Reason (R) are individually true and if so, whether the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

Assertion: India's Gini coefficient is lower than that of many developing countries, including China. Reason: Various steps taken by different authorities accompanied by political will have led to India's good performance on the Lorenz Curve. Mark you answer as

  1. if both assertion and reason are true and statement 2 is the correct explanation for statement 1

  2. if both assertion and reason are true but statement 2 is not the correct explanation for statement 1

  3. if assertion is true but reason is wrong

  4. if reason is correct but assertion itself is wrong


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

India's Gini coefficient is lower than that of many developing countries, including China. But this is not due to steps taken by authorities or due to political will. Instead, the National Sample Survey's data under-represent the rich. Moreover, while for other developing countries the Gini coefficient often refers to income distribution, India's refers to distribution of consumption expenditure (as NSS does not collect income data), which is usually less than that of income (partly because the rich tend to save more than the poor).

Which of the following describes the difference between Fiscal Deficit and Budget Deficit?

  1. Fiscal Deficit = Budget Deficit – Interest Payment

  2. Fiscal Deficit = Budget Deficit – External Commercial Borrowings

  3. Fiscal Deficit = Budget Deficit – Money from all borrowings

  4. Fiscal Deficit = Budget Deficit – Subsidy


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

A Budget Deficit is the excess of spending over income for a government, corporation, or individual over a particular period of time. The opposite of a deficit is a surplus. Fiscal deficit is noticed when government's total expenditures exceed the revenue that it generates (excluding money from borrowings). Deficit differs from debt, which is an accumulation of yearly deficits. Fiscal deficit is regarded as a positive economic event by some economists like Keynes.

Which of the following challenges does India face today?

  1. Shortage of food
  2. Agro-based economy
  3. Debt ridden to IMF
  4. Low growth rate
  1. Only 2 and 4

  2. Only 1 and 4

  3. Only 2 and 3

  4. None of these


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

In the past, there have been fundamental and irreversible changes in the economy, government policies, outlook of business and industry, and in the mindset of the Indians in general. Let’s have a look over India’s progress chart.

  1. From a shortage economy of food and foreign exchange, India has now become a surplus one.
  2. From an agro-based economy, it has emerged as a service oriented one.
  3. From the low-growth of the past, the economy has become a high-growth one in the long-term. In fact, in post 2008 period, the resistance of Indian economy manifested by its impressive growth has been highly appreciated throughout the globe.
  4. After having been an aid recipient, India has now joined the aid givers club. India has become a net creditor to IMF, since July 2003.

Which of the following are the reasons for India's burgeoning current account deficit in 2012 - 13?

  1. Inelastic demand for gold
  2. Excessive import of crude oil
  3. Fiscal crisis in European countries
  4. High inflation
  1. Only 1 and 2

  2. Only 1, 2 and 3

  3. Only 2 and 3

  4. All 1, 2, 3 and 4


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The current account is that part of Balance of Payment (BOP) account which details the balance of goods and services traded with the rest of the world. The excess of imports of goods and services over their export is referred to as Current Account Deficit (CAD). Robust demand for gold and continuing high crude oil prices (which India imports a lot), along with decelerating growth in emerging and developing economies, are responsible for adversely affecting India's trade balance. High rate of inflation persisting in the economy attracts cheap imports and makes export costly in the international market. High fiscal deficit run by the government is one factor behind the high inflation.

Consider the following statements:

  1. In order to contain the problem of tax evasion, the Government of India had decided to introduce GAAR or General Anti Avoidance Rules.
  2. GAAR empowers the Revenue Authorities to deny tax benefits of transactions or arrangements, which do not have any commercial substance or consideration other than achieving the tax benefit.

Which of the statements given above is/are true?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Statement 1 is wrong. GAAR is a step to contain the problem of tax avoidance, not to contain tax evasion. Tax avoidance is generally the legal exploitation of the tax regime to one's own advantage, to attempt to reduce the amount of tax that is payable by means that are within the law whilst making a full disclosure of the material information to the tax authorities. Statement 2 is perfectly correct: GAAR is a concept which generally empowers the Revenue Authorities in a country to deny the tax benefits of transactions or arrangements which do not have any commercial substance or consideration other than achieving the tax benefit.

Very often we hear the terms 'Foreign Direct Investment' and 'Foreign Institutional Investment'. Which of the following statements is/are correct in relation to them?

  1. FDI is an investment that a parent company makes in a foreign country. On the contrary, FII is an investment made by an investor in the market of a foreign nation.
  2. FDI can enter the stock market easily and also withdraw from it easily, but FII cannot enter and exit that easily.
  3. Foreign Direct Investment targets a specific enterprise. The FII provides for increasing capital availability in general.
  1. Only 1 and 2

  2. Only 1

  3. Only 1 and 3

  4. 1, 2 and 3


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: FDI or Foreign Direct Investment is an investment that a parent company makes in a foreign country. On the contrary, FII or Foreign Institutional Investor is an investment made by an investor in the market of a foreign nation. Statement 2 is incorrect: In FII, the companies only need to get registered in the stock exchange to make investments. Foreign Institutional Investment is also known as hot money as the investors have the liberty to sell it and take it back. But in Foreign Direct Investment, this is not possible. In simple words, FII can enter the stock market easily and also withdraw from it easily. Statement 3 is correct: Foreign Direct Investment only targets a specific enterprise. It aims to increase the enterprises capacity or productivity or change its management control. In an FDI, the capital inflow is translated into additional production. The FII investment flows only into the secondary market. It helps in increasing capital availability in general rather than enhancing the capital of a specific enterprise.

Which of the following factors are responsible for the depreciation of Indian rupee (in 2011-12)?

  1. Capital account flows
  2. Persistent inflation
  3. Interest rate difference
  4. Current account deficit
  1. Only 2 and 4

  2. Only 1, 2 and 4

  3. Only 2, 3 and 4

  4. All 1, 2, 3 and 4


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Indian currency (INR) has depreciated close to 22% in the last 1 year. The persistent decline in rupee is a cause of concern. Factors that pushed INR into the well are: 1. Continued Global uncertainty: Owing to uncertainty prevailing in Europe and slump in international market, investors prefer to stay away from risky investments (flight to security). 2. Current Account Deficit: While a country like China will be more than happy with a depreciating currency, the same doesn't apply for India. China exports more than it imports, thus a depreciating currency makes its exports cheaper in the International market, in turn making China more competitive. 3. Capital Account flows: Deficit countries need capital flows and surplus countries generate capital outflows. India needs dollars to finance its current account deficit. 4. Persistent inflation: India has experienced high inflation, above 8%, for almost two years. If inflation becomes a prolonged one, it leads to overall worsening of economic prospects and capital outflows and eventual depreciation of the currency. 5. Interest Rate Difference: Higher real interest rates generally attract foreign investment but due to slowdown in growth there is increasing pressure on RBI to decrease the policy rates. Under such conditions foreign investors tend to stay away from investing. 6. Lack of reforms: Key policy reforms like Direct Tax Code (DTC) and Goods and Service Tax (GST) have been in the pipe line for years. A retrospective tax law (GAAR) has already earned a lot of flak from the business community.

These days very often we hear that India's high current account deficit has become a major cause of concern for the economists. Which of the following are recorded in the current account?

I. Goods II. Services III. Income IV. Current Transfers

  1. Only I, II and III

  2. Only I and II

  3. Only II

  4. All of the above


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

In economics, the current account is one of the three primary components of the balance of payments, the other two being - capital account and financial account. In the current account, goods, services, income and current transfers are recorded. A current account surplus increases a country's net foreign assets by the corresponding amount, and a current account deficit does the reverse. Both government and private payments are included in the calculation. It is called the current account because goods and services are generally consumed in the current period.

Which of the following statements is/are correct in relation to the Gini Index?

  1. Gini Index measures the extent to which the distribution of income among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution.
  2. A Gini Index of 0 (zero) represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.
  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Gini Index measures the extent to which the distribution of income (or, in some cases, consumption expenditure) among individuals or households within an economy deviates from a perfectly equal distribution. The Gini Index measures the area between the Lorenz curve and a hypothetical line of absolute equality, expressed as a percentage of the maximum area under the line. Thus, a Gini Index of 0 represents perfect equality, while an index of 100 implies perfect inequality.

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