Indian Economy MCQs

Notes:
The Index of Eight Core Industries includes Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement, and Electricity. Pharmaceuticals are not included in this index. The Index serves as an indicator for measuring the industrial performance in India, and is released monthly by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry since 2004.

Notes:
The 11th Five Year Plan was implemented from 2007-2012, when Manmohan Sigh was India’s Prime Minster. The main slogan for the 11th FYP was “Faster and more inclusive growth”. The 11th FYP made special emphasis on Financial Inclusion, poverty reduction, empowerment through education and skill development etc.

Notes:
The Tendulkar Committee was formed in 2005 and submitted its report in 2009. It shifted poverty measurement from a calorie-based model to a broader Poverty Line Basket approach. This included private expenditure on health and education alongside food and other needs. The committee recommended separate monetary values for rural and urban areas, utilized the Mixed Reference Period data, and made adjustments for price changes based on consumption patterns.

Notes:
Sweat equity shares are offered to employees or directors for their work or know-how, as per Section 54 of the Companies Act, 2013. Such shares are issued to retain and attract skilled personnel by granting ownership stakes without immediate cash outflow. SEBI regulates sweat equity issuance for listed companies. Companies often use sweat equity during initial stages to incentivize and retain employees without cash expenditure.

Notes:
An increase in any of the reverse repo rate, cash reserve ratio, statutory liquidity ratio, or bank rate reduces liquidity or increases borrowing costs for banks, leading to higher market interest rates. All four are contractionary monetary tools used by central banks to moderate inflation and control credit growth by tightening monetary conditions.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India sets the Bank Rate to influence lending rates. When the Bank Rate increases, borrowing from the RBI becomes costlier for commercial banks. This leads to higher lending and deposit rates in the economy. The last significant change in India’s Bank Rate was in May 2022, set at 4.65%. The Bank Rate mechanism is used as a monetary policy tool.

Notes:
Foreign banks in India failing to meet priority sector lending targets must deposit the shortfall with SIDBI for one year as per RBI guidelines. Domestic banks deposit shortfalls in the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund under NABARD. The RBI’s 2020 guidelines specify a 40 percent lending target for foreign banks with 20 or more branches in India, based on their Adjusted Net Bank Credit.

Notes:
A Custodial Account in India is specifically designed for minor persons, allowing adults to manage assets on behalf of minors until they reach the age of majority, which is 18 years. This type of account ensures that minors can benefit from investments and savings while being protected under legal guardianship. Custodial accounts are commonly used for educational savings and other financial planning purposes for children.

Notes:
Customs duty is governed by the Customs Act, 1962. It is imposed to regulate import and export of goods. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) administers India’s foreign trade policies. The Foreign Trade Policy of India is updated every five years. Customs duties are revised to align with international agreements and World Trade Organization guidelines.

Notes:
Self Help Groups (SHGs) are small groups of poor people. The members of an SHG face similar problems. They help each other, to solve their problems. SHGs promote small savings among their members.