Indian Economy MCQs
Indian Economy Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for SSC, State and all One Day Examinations of India. Objective Questions on Indian Economy for competitive examinations.
1. What is the Bank Rate as per RBI's current definition?
[A] The rate at which RBI is ready to buy or rediscount bills of exchange or other commercial papers eligible for purchase
[B] The rate at which RBI lends short-term funds to banks against government securities under repo operations
[C] The rate at which commercial banks lend money to their customers
[D] The rate at which banks borrow overnight funds from RBI without collateral
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [The rate at which RBI is ready to buy or rediscount bills of exchange or other commercial papers eligible for purchase]
Notes:
The Bank Rate is the standard rate notified by RBI for buying or rediscounting eligible bills of exchange or other commercial papers. It is not the same as the repo rate, which applies to short-term borrowing by banks against government securities. In the current operating framework, the Bank Rate is aligned with the MSF rate and is also used as the benchmark for certain penalty charges and related calculations.
2. Which of the following pairings does not represent a set of complementary goods?
[A] Printers and Ink Cartridges
[B] Tea and Sugar
[C] Mobile Phones and SIM cards
[D] Tea and Coffee
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tea and Coffee]
Notes:
Complementary goods, defined by their negative cross elasticity of demand, are products whose demand is influenced by one another. When the price of a good declines, the demand for its complementary good rises. Printers need ink cartridges, tea is often consumed with sugar, and mobile phones require SIM cards for operation. However, tea and coffee are substitutes, not complements, as they are consumed separately and often in place of one another, hence they are not complementary goods.
3. Which economic law states “bad money drives out good money”?
[A] Wagner’s law
[B] Keynes’ law
[C] Grimm’s law
[D] Gresham’s law
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Gresham’s law]
Notes:
Gresham’s law, enunciated by Sir Thomas Gresham, states that inferior currency (bad money) in circulation displaces valuable or superior currency (good money) if both are accepted at same face value, as people hoard the good currency and spend the bad.
4. Which option is an example of Green Field Investment?
[A] Investment in agriculture land for future development
[B] Investment in a new factory complex on undeveloped land
[C] Cleaning and converting an old cement factory to commercial use
[D] Cleaning and converting an old cement factory to residential use
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Investment in a new factory complex on undeveloped land]
Notes:
Green Field Investment refers to setting up a new facility on previously undeveloped land. The term is commonly used in foreign direct investment when a parent company builds its operations in a foreign country from scratch. Such investments involve construction of new plants, buildings, and infrastructure, often in areas where no prior facilities exist. This is distinct from Brown Field Investment, which involves modifying or upgrading an existing facility.
5. Which among the following bodies in India protects the interests of consumers against anti-competitive practices of market entities?
[A] National Consumer Forum
[B] Competition Commission of India
[C] National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission
[D] Central Vigilance Commission
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Competition Commission of India]
Notes:
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) is the statutory body responsible for preventing practices that have an adverse effect on competition in India. It enforces the Competition Act, 2002 and works to promote fair competition, protect consumer interests and ensure freedom of trade in markets. It is a quasi-judicial authority and the correct choice among the given options. The consumer forums and the Central Vigilance Commission do not perform this competition-regulation function.
6. The government has responsibility to ensure availability of which among the following to all consumers regardless of their ability to pay price?
[A] Giffen Goods
[B] Supplementary Goods
[C] Merit Goods
[D] Complementary Goods
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Merit Goods]
Notes:
The correct answer is Merit Goods. Merit goods are products or services that the government believes are beneficial for individuals and society, and thus should be available to all, regardless of their ability to pay. Examples include education and healthcare. Governments often subsidize these goods to ensure equitable access, as they can lead to positive externalities, such as a more educated workforce and improved public health.
7. Which fund did NABARD launch in 1995-96 for rural infrastructure financing?
[A] National Credit Fund
[B] National Rural Credit Fund
[C] National Credit Stabilization Fund
[D] Rural Infrastructure Development Fund
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Rural Infrastructure Development Fund]
Notes:
The Rural Infrastructure Development Fund was set up by the Government of India in 1995-96 through NABARD. It began with an initial corpus of Rs. 2,000 crore. RIDF aims to provide low-cost finance for rural infrastructure, including roads, irrigation, and bridges. By 2023-24, total allocation reached approximately Rs. 4,98,411 crore. The fund covers 39 eligible activities across India.
8. In economy, which among the following can be measured by calculating concentration ratios?
[A] Devlopment
[B] Inflation
[C] Competition
[D] Social Security
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Competition]
Notes:
Competition is generally measured by calculating concentration ratios. Concentration ratios indicate whether an industry consists of a few large firms or many small firms. Two of the most commonly used metrics are the Herfindahl Hirschman Index (HHI) and the N-firm concentration ratio.
9. Which term is not formally linked with Indian government budgets?
[A] Outcome Budget
[B] Gender Budget
[C] Austerity Budget
[D] Performance Budget
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Austerity Budget]
Notes:
Austerity Budget is not a formal budget category used in the Indian Union Budget framework. In contrast, Gender Budget is used to highlight budgetary provisions for women-focused outcomes, while Performance Budget is a budgeting approach that links spending to targets and achievements. Outcome-based reporting has also been used in budget documents to track results and outputs. Therefore, the term not formally linked with Indian government budgets is Austerity Budget.
10. Commercial Paper (CP) is issued in the form of which instrument?
[A] Demand Draft
[B] Promissory Note
[C] Cheque
[D] Bill of Exchange
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Promissory Note]
Notes:
Commercial Paper is issued as an unsecured promissory note. It was first introduced in India in 1990. CPs have maturities ranging from 7 days to 1 year. Only companies with a high credit rating can issue CPs. The Reserve Bank of India regulates CP issuance. CPs are used for short-term funding needs by corporate bodies, primary dealers, and financial institutions.
