Consider the following statements: 1. Tax revenue as a percent of GD

Consider the following statements:

  • 1. Tax revenue as a percent of GDP of India has steadily increased in the last decade.
  • 2. Fiscal deficit as a percent of GDP of India has steadily increased in the last decade.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2017
The correct option is D, as neither statement 1 nor statement 2 is correct.
Both statements claim a “steadily increased” trend over the last decade (referring to the decade prior to the question’s likely year, e.g., 2003-2013).
1. Tax revenue as a percent of GDP: India’s tax-to-GDP ratio has historically fluctuated based on economic cycles, policy changes (like tax reforms), and collection efficiency. While there have been efforts to increase it, it did not show a *steady* increase over a full decade; there were ups and downs, including a dip after the 2008 global financial crisis.
2. Fiscal deficit as a percent of GDP: Governments aim to manage and often reduce the fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP for macroeconomic stability. While stimulus measures or economic slowdowns can lead to temporary increases, a *steady* increase over a decade is not a typical pattern or policy goal and generally has not happened in the Indian context; it fluctuates based on budgetary policies and economic conditions.
Economic indicators like tax-to-GDP ratio and fiscal deficit are influenced by numerous factors and rarely exhibit a strictly ‘steady’ trend over a long period like a decade. Analyzing specific government budgets and economic reports from the relevant period would confirm the non-steady nature of these trends.
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