Selling offloading the shares of Public Sector Undertakings.

1.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 / offloading the shares of Public Sector Undertakings.
Which of the above can be used as measures to control the fiscal deficit in India? [UPSC 2010 (CS-P)]
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 3 and 4 only
Answer: (d)
2.In the context of independent India's economy, which one of the following was the earliest event to take place? [UPSC 2009(CS-P)]
(a) Nationalisation of Insurance companies
(b) Nationalisation of State bank of India
(c) Enactment of Banking Regulation Act
(d) Introduction of First Five-Year Plan
Answer: (c)
3.In the context of Indian economy, consider the following pairs:
Term Most appropriate description
1. Melt down — Fall in stock prices
2. Recession — Fall in growth rate
3. Slow down — Fall in GDP
Which of the pairs given above is / are correctly matched? [UPSC 2010 (CS-P)]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
4.In the context of Indian economy, consider the following statements:
1. The growth rate of GDP has steadily increased in the last five years
2. The growth rate in per capita income has steadily increased in the last five years. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC 2011 (CS-P)]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b)
5.In the context of the affairs of which of the following is the phrase “Special Safeguard Mechanisms” mentioned in the news frequently? [UPSC 2010 (CS-P)]
(a) United Nations Environment Programme
(b) World Trade Organization
(c) ASEAN – India Free Trade Agreement
(d) G – 20 Summits
Answer: (b)
6.In the parlance of financial investments, the term ‘bear’ denotes: [UPSC 2010 (CS-P)]
(a). An investor who feels that the price of a particular security is going to fall.
(b). An investor who expects the price of particular share to rise.
(c). A shareholders or a bondholder who has an interest in a company.
(d). Any lender whether by making a loan or buying a bond.
Answer: (a)
7.In the Union Budget 2011-12, a full exemption from the basic customs duty was extended to the bio-based asphalt (bioasphalt). What is the importance of this material?
1. Unlike traditional asphalt, bio-asphalt is not based on fossil fuels.
2. Bioasphalt can be made from non- renewable resources.
3. Bioasphalt can be made from organic waste materials.
4. It is eco-friendly to use bioasphalt for surfacing of the roads.
Which of the statements given above are correct? [UPSC 2011 (CS-P)]
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (b)
8.India has experienced persistent and high food inflation in the recent past. What could be the reasons?
1. Due to a gradual switchover to the cultivation of commercial crops, the area under the cultivation of food grains has steadily decreased in the last five years by about 30%.
2. As a consequence of increasing incomes, the consumption patterns of the people have undergone a significant change.
3. The food supply chain has structural constraints.
Which of the statements given above are correct? [UPSC 2011 (CS-P)]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)
9.India is regarded as a country with “Demographic Dividend” This is due to  [UPSC 2011 (CS-P)]
(a) Its high population in the age group below 15 years
(b) Its high population in the age group of 15-64 years
(c) Its high population in the age group above 65 years
(d) Its high total population
Answer: (b)
10.India maintained its early cultural contacts and trade links with Southeast Asia across the Bay of Bengal. For this pre-eminence of early maritime history of Bay of Bengal, which of the following could be the most convincing explanation /explanations? [UPSC 2011 (CS-P)]
(a) As compared to other countries, India had a better ship-building technology in ancient and medieval times
(b) The rulers of southern India always patronized traders, Brahmin priests and Buddhist monks in this context
(c) Monsoon winds across the Bay of Bengal facilitated sea voyages
(d) Both (a) and (b) are convincing explanations in this context
Answer: (d)