UPSC PYQs: Economy & Social Development

Review complete published questions grouped by subject: Economy & Social Development.

45 published questions

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Questions

Which is an objective of Rainfed Area Development under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture? 1. Encourage monoculture in rainfed zones. 2. Expand irrigated rice cultivation. 3. Raise productivity and reduce climatic risk through integrated farming systems.2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Rainfed Area Development
For Eri Silk, what are important implications of obtaining OEKO-TEX certification? 1. It improves access to premium markets demanding assurance against harmful chemicals. 2. It strengthens international safety/quality credibility for eco-conscious textile markets. Which is correct?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Textiles and standards
With reference to Sagarmala, consider three propositions: I. It promotes sustainable port-led growth. II. Growth in coastal/inland-waterway shipping and better port performance supports the effectiveness of that strategy. III. Sagarmala 2.0 extends the framework toward maritime innovation aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047. Which relationships are correct?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Sagarmala
An online retailer lists products without holding inventory; when an order arrives, a third-party supplier ships directly to the customer. Which business model is this?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Digital commerce
The Reserve Bank of India's Financial Inclusion Index is built around which three broad sub-indices?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Financial Inclusion Index
What is the central objective of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · ONDC
Which statement comparing UPI and the Digital Rupee (e₹) is NOT correct?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · CBDC and UPI
Regarding tokenization of Real-World Assets (RWA), consider: 1. It represents real-world assets as digital tokens on a blockchain or distributed ledger. 2. It can support 24×7 transferability and fractional ownership, potentially widening access. 3. It can provide smaller investors access to high-value assets that were previously difficult to enter. Which are correct?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Asset tokenization
A bond whose proceeds finance a combination of eligible environmental and social projects is generally classified as what?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Sustainable finance
Which service is principally provided through the M1xchange platform? 1. Collateral-backed term loans. 2. Discounting/financing of trade receivables and invoices. 3. Issuing formal corporate credit ratings.2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · TReDS
What is meant by the 'crowding-out' effect in macroeconomics?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Crowding out
Regarding rare-earth elements and critical minerals, consider: 1. Rare-earth elements are important inputs in technologies such as AI hardware, robotics and space systems. 2. China is the largest producer, followed by India as the world's second-largest rare-earth miner. 3. India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission in 2025. 4. Rare-earth elements comprise only 13 metallic elements. Which are correct?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Critical minerals
Regarding aviation insurance and passenger liability, consider: 1. Aviation hull insurance can cover the aircraft body, engines and associated onboard equipment. 2. Under the Montreal Convention framework, carriers face strict/no-fault liability up to a prescribed threshold for passenger death or bodily injury. Which is correct?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Aviation insurance
Regarding crowdfunding, consider: 1. It raises comparatively small contributions from a large number of people, commonly through online platforms, for a project or venture. 2. It can provide SMEs or start-ups an alternative route to finance, sometimes with lower intermediation costs than traditional channels. Which is correct?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Crowdfunding
Consider committee–subject–institution associations: 1. R.N. Malhotra Committee — insurance-sector reform — IRDAI. 2. L.C. Gupta Committee — derivatives-market roadmap — SEBI. 3. Urjit Patel Committee — housing-lending reform — RBI. 4. Y.H. Malegam Committee — microfinance reform — RBI. Which rows are correctly matched?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Financial-sector committees
Regarding Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), consider: 1. They cannot accept demand deposits. 2. Every NBFC-like financial institution without exception must register with RBI. 3. NBFCs are part of the payment-and-settlement system and may issue cheques drawn on themselves. 4. Deposits with deposit-taking NBFCs do not receive DICGC deposit insurance. Which are correct?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · NBFCs
Regarding multidimensional poverty measurement, consider: 1. The Alkire-Foster method underpins multidimensional poverty indices. 2. NITI Aayog's national MPI uses 12 indicators. 3. Maternal health and bank-account ownership are indicators common to both India's national MPI and the UNDP/OPHI Global MPI. Which are correct?2026 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Multidimensional Poverty Index
With reference to investments, consider the following: I. Bonds II. Hedge Funds III. Stocks IV. Venture Capital. How many of the above are treated as Alternative Investment Funds?2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Which of the following are the sources of income for the Reserve Bank of India? I. Buying and selling Government bonds II. Buying and selling foreign currency III. Pension fund management IV. Lending to private companies V. Printing and distributing currency notes2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Consider the following statements: I. The Reserve Bank of India mandates all the listed companies in India to submit a Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report (BRSR). II. In India, a company submitting a BRSR makes disclosures in the report that are largely non-financial in nature. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Consider the following statements: Statement I: In India, income from allied agricultural activities like poultry farming and wool rearing in rural areas is exempted from any tax. Statement II: In India, rural agricultural land is not considered a capital asset under the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Consider the following statements: I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member. II. India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified. III. The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals. Which of the statements given above are correct?2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Consider the following statements: Statement I: As regards returns from an investment in a company, generally, bondholders are considered to be relatively at lower risk than stockholders. Statement II: Bondholders are lenders to a company whereas stockholders are its owners. Statement III: For repayment purpose, bondholders are prioritized over stockholders by a company. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Consider the following statements: I. India accounts for a very large portion of all equity option contracts traded globally thus exhibiting a great boom. II. India's stock market has grown rapidly in the recent past even overtaking Hong Kong's at some point of time. III. There is no regulatory body either to warn the small investors about the risks of options trading or to act on unregistered financial advisors in this regard. Which of the statements given above are correct?2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
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?2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Suppose the revenue expenditure is Rs.80,000 crores and the revenue receipts of the Government are Rs.60,000 crores. The Government budget also shows borrowings of Rs.10,000 crores and interest payments of Rs.6,000 crores. Which of the following statements are correct? I. Revenue deficit is Rs.20,000 crores. II. Fiscal deficit is Rs.10,000 crores. III. Primary deficit is Rs.4,000 crores.2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
A country's fiscal deficit stands at Rs.50,000 crores. It is receiving Rs.10,000 crores through non-debt creating capital receipts. The country's interest liabilities are Rs.1,500 crores. What is the gross primary deficit?2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
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.2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Consider the following statements in respect of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development(IBRD): I. It provides loans and guarantees to middle income countries. II. It works single-handedly to help developing countries to reduce poverty. III. It was established to help Europe rebuild after the World War II. Which of the statements given above are correct?2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Consider the following statements in respect of RTGS and NEFT: I. In RTGS, the settlement time is instantaneous while in case of NEFT, is takes some time to settle payments. II. In RTGS, the customer is charged for inward transactions while that is not the case for NEFT. III. Operating hours for RTGS are restricted on certain days while this is not true for NEFT. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Consider the following countries: I. United Arab Emirates II. France III. Germany IV. Singapore V. Bangladesh. How many countries amongst the above are there other than India where international merchant payments are accepted under UPI?2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Consider the following activities: I. Production of crude oil II. Refining, storage and distribution of petroleum III. Marketing and sale of petroleum products IV. Productions of natural gas. How many of the above activities are regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board in our country?2025 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Consider the following statements: Statement-I: If the United States of America (USA) were to default on its debt, holders of US Treasury Bonds will not be able to exercise their claims to receive payment. Statement-II: The USA Government debt is not backed by any hard assets, but only by the faith of the Government.2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Current Affairs (Economics)
Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Syndicated lending spreads the risk of borrower default across multiple lenders. Statement-II: The syndicated loan can be a fixed amount/lump sum of funds, but cannot be a credit line.2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Current Affairs (Economics)
Consider the following statements in respect of the digital rupee: 1. It is a sovereign currency issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in alignment with its monetary policy. 2. It appears as a liability on the RBI’s balance sheet. 3. It is insured against inflation by its very design. 4. It is freely convertible against commercial bank money and cash.2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Current Affairs (Economics)
Consider the following statements: Statement-I: India does not import apples from the United States of America. Statement-II: In India, the law prohibits the import of Genetically Modified food without the approval of the competent authority.2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Current Affairs (Economics)
Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Recently, Venezuela has achieved a rapid recovery from its economic crisis and succeeded in preventing its people from fleeing/emigrating to other countries. Statement-II: Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves.2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Current Affairs (Economics)
Consider the following statements: 1. In India, Non-Banking Financial Companies can access the Liquidity Adjustment Facility window of the Reserve Bank of India. 2. In India, Foreign Institutional Investors can hold the Government Securities (G-Secs). 3. In India, Stock Exchanges can offer separate trading platforms for debts.2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
In India, which of the following can trade in Corporate Bonds and Government Securities? 1. Insurance Companies 2. Pension Funds 3. Retail Investors2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
Consider the following: 1. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETF) 2. Motor vehicles 3. Currency swap. Which of the above is/are considered financial instruments?2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
With reference to the sectors of the Indian economy, consider the following pairs: Economic activity: Sector. 1. Storage of agricultural produce: Secondary 2. Dairy farm: Primary 3. Mineral exploration: Tertiary 4. Weaving cloth: Secondary. How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
With reference to physical capital in Indian economy, consider the following pairs: Items: Category. 1. Farmer's plough: Working capital 2. Computer: Fixed capital 3. Yarn used by the weaver: Fixed capital 4. Petrol: Working capital. How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
With reference to the rule/rules imposed by the Reserve Bank of India while treating foreign banks, consider the following statements: 1. There is no minimum capital requirement for wholly owned banking subsidiaries in India. 2. For wholly owned banking subsidiaries in India, at least 50% of the board members should be Indian nationals.2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
With reference to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) rules in India, consider the following statements: 1. CSR rules specify that expenditures that benefit the company directly or its employees will not be considered as CSR activities. 2. CSR rules do not specify minimum spending on CSR activities.2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics
With reference to the Indian economy, "Collateral Borrowing and Lending Obligations" are the instruments of:2024 · Prelims GS1 · Economy & Social Development · Economics