Nature of Indian Economy

61. Which one of the following countries was ranked 1 st in the IMD World

Which one of the following countries was ranked 1st in the IMD World Competitiveness ranking 2019?

Singapore
USA
India
Switzerland
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UPSC Geoscientist – 2020
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According to the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2019, Singapore was ranked 1st. This ranking assesses economies based on criteria such as economic performance, government efficiency, business efficiency, and infrastructure.
Singapore topped the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking in 2019.
In the 2019 ranking, the top five countries were Singapore, Hong Kong SAR, USA, Switzerland, and UAE. India was ranked 43rd. The ranking is published annually by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD).

62. Other things remaining constant, the market supply for a good increase

Other things remaining constant, the market supply for a good increases if:

  • its price increases.
  • price of its factors of production decreases.
  • price of other goods decreases.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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The correct answer is C) 2 and 3 only.
Market supply increases when the supply curve shifts to the right. Let’s analyze the statements:
1. Its price increases: An increase in the price of the good leads to an increase in the quantity supplied, causing a movement *along* the supply curve, not a shift of the entire curve.
2. Price of its factors of production decreases: Lower input costs reduce the cost of production, making the good more profitable to produce at any given price. This leads to an increase in supply, shifting the supply curve to the right.
3. Price of other goods decreases: Assuming these are substitute goods in production (producers can produce either Good A or Good B), a decrease in the price of Good B makes producing Good A relatively more profitable. Producers will shift resources towards producing Good A, increasing its supply (shifting the supply curve right).
Therefore, statements 2 and 3 describe factors that cause the market supply curve to shift to the right, indicating an increase in market supply.
Factors that can cause a shift in the supply curve include changes in input prices, technology, prices of related goods (substitutes or complements in production), expectations, government policies (taxes, subsidies), and the number of sellers. A change in the good’s own price causes only a movement along the supply curve, changing the quantity supplied.

63. Which one of the following central features is not associated with Cap

Which one of the following central features is not associated with Capitalist Economy ?

There is generalised commodity production — it has market value.
Productive wealth is held predominantly in private hands.
Economic life is organised according to market principles.
Economic organisation is based on planning, a supposedly rational process of resource allocation.
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Capitalist economies are characterized by private ownership of the means of production, generalized commodity production for market exchange, and economic life being primarily guided by market forces (supply, demand, price mechanism). Resource allocation is determined by market competition and individual choices, not by a central planning authority. Statement D describes a centrally planned economy, not a capitalist one.
Key features of Capitalism include private property, free markets, competition, wage labour, and profit motive. Central planning is a characteristic of socialist or command economies.
While modern capitalist economies often have some degree of government intervention and regulation (mixed economies), the fundamental organization of economic life is based on market principles rather than comprehensive central planning.

64. During 2020 – 21, when India was passing through the adverse effects o

During 2020 – 21, when India was passing through the adverse effects of COVID-19, which one of the following sectors witnessed positive growth ?

Mining and quarrying
Electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services
Financial, real estate and professional services
Public administration, defence and other services
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During the financial year 2020-21, India’s economy was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a significant contraction in GDP. However, some sectors managed to register positive growth. Based on provisional estimates by the National Statistical Office (NSO) for FY 2020-21, the ‘Electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services’ sector recorded a positive growth rate of 1.9%. Other sectors like ‘Public Administration, Defence and Other Services’ (+5.8%) and ‘Financial, Real Estate and Professional Services’ (+1.5%) also showed positive growth. However, among the given options, ‘Electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services’ is consistently highlighted as a resilient sector with positive growth during this period in various reports. While multiple options showed positive growth, option B represents a sector known for its essential nature and relative stability even during economic downturns.
The Indian economy contracted in FY 2020-21 due to COVID-19. Essential service sectors like utilities and government services often show resilience.
Other major sectors like Mining and quarrying, Manufacturing, Construction, and Trade, hotels, transport, communication & services related to broadcasting witnessed significant contractions in FY 2020-21. The Agriculture sector also showed positive growth (3.6%), but it was not among the options.

65. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists :

List I
(Curve)		 List II
(Indication)
A. Lorenz curve 1. Inflation and employment
B. Phillips curve 2. Tax rates and tax revenue
C. Engel curve 3. Inequality in distribution of income or wealth
D. Laffer curve 4. Income and proportion of expenditure on food

Code :
A) 3 4 1 2
B) 2 1 4 3
C) 3 1 4 2
D) 2 4 1 3

3 4 1 2
2 1 4 3
3 1 4 2
2 4 1 3
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Matching the curves with their indications:
A. Lorenz curve is used to represent inequality in the distribution of income or wealth. (3)
B. Phillips curve shows the inverse relationship between the rate of inflation and the rate of unemployment in an economy. (1)
C. Engel curve describes how household expenditure on a particular good or service varies with household income. For necessary goods like food, the proportion of expenditure decreases as income rises. (4)
D. Laffer curve is a theoretical representation of the relationship between tax rates and the amount of tax revenue collected by governments. (2)
Thus, the correct matching is A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2.
– Lorenz curve: Further visually represented by the Gini coefficient.
– Phillips curve: Represents a short-run trade-off, which may not hold in the long run.
– Engel curve: Derived from Engel’s Law regarding food expenditure proportion.
– Laffer curve: Suggests that beyond a certain point, increasing tax rates may decrease tax revenue due to reduced economic activity.
– The Lorenz curve was developed by Max O. Lorenz in 1905.
– The Phillips curve was described by A. W. Phillips based on observations in the UK economy.
– Engel’s Law was formulated by Ernst Engel in the 19th century.
– The Laffer curve was popularized by economist Arthur Laffer in the 1970s.

66. Which one of the following is true of a pure voluntary exchange betwee

Which one of the following is true of a pure voluntary exchange between two parties A and B ?

A can exploit B or vice versa
Both gain; it is a win-win situation
If A makes profit, it must be at the cost of B
Both can lose
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A pure voluntary exchange between two parties, A and B, occurs because both parties expect to benefit from it. If either party did not believe they would be better off (or at least not worse off) by exchanging, they would not voluntarily agree to the trade. Therefore, in a pure voluntary exchange, both parties gain; it is considered a win-win situation based on their subjective valuations of the goods or services being exchanged.
Pure voluntary exchange implies mutual benefit and is a win-win situation for the participants.
This principle is fundamental to market economics. Voluntary trade allows resources to move to higher-valued uses according to the preferences of individuals, increasing overall welfare. The concept assumes rationality and perfect information, though real-world exchanges may involve asymmetric information or coercion, deviating from the “pure voluntary” ideal.

67. Which one of the following is the opportunity cost of a chosen activit

Which one of the following is the opportunity cost of a chosen activity ?

Out of pocket cost
Out of pocket cost plus cost incurred by the Government
Value of all opportunities forgone
Value of next best alternative that is given up
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Opportunity cost is the value of the next best alternative that must be forgone to pursue a certain action. It represents the benefits you could have received by taking an alternative action. When you choose one activity, you give up the opportunity to engage in other activities; the opportunity cost is the value of the single best option you did not choose.
Opportunity cost is the value of the next best alternative foregone.
It is distinct from explicit or ‘out-of-pocket’ costs (accounting costs). Economic decision-making often considers both explicit and implicit (opportunity) costs. For example, the opportunity cost of attending college includes not only tuition and books (explicit costs) but also the income you could have earned if you had worked instead of studying (implicit cost).

68. Which one of the following may lead to movement along the demand curve

Which one of the following may lead to movement along the demand curve of a commodity ?

Change in its price
Change in price of the other commodities
Change in income of the consumer
Change in tastes and preferences of consumers
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A movement along the demand curve of a commodity is caused solely by a change in the price of that commodity itself. The demand curve plots the relationship between the price of a good and the quantity demanded, assuming all other factors are held constant (ceteris paribus). When the price changes, there is a movement from one point to another along the same demand curve.
Change in the commodity’s own price causes movement along the demand curve.
Changes in other factors that affect demand, such as consumer income, price of other commodities (substitutes or complements), tastes and preferences, expectations, etc., cause a *shift* in the entire demand curve (either to the left or right).

69. A market, in which there are a large number of firms, homogeneous prod

A market, in which there are a large number of firms, homogeneous product, infinite elasticity of demand for an individual firm and no control over price by firms, is termed as

oligopoly
imperfect competition
monopolistic competition
perfect competition
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A market described by a large number of firms, homogeneous product, infinite elasticity of demand for an individual firm, and no control over price by firms is termed as perfect competition.
These characteristics are defining features of a perfectly competitive market structure. Firms in perfect competition are price takers because they are so small relative to the market and the product is identical, meaning they cannot influence the market price.
In contrast, oligopoly involves a few firms, monopolistic competition involves many firms but with differentiated products, and imperfect competition is a broader term encompassing market structures that deviate from perfect competition (like monopolistic competition and oligopoly).

70. Normally, there will not be a shift in the demand curve when

Normally, there will not be a shift in the demand curve when

price of a commodity falls
consumers want to buy more at any given price
average income rises
population grows
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Normally, there will not be a shift in the demand curve when the price of a commodity falls.
A change in the price of the commodity itself leads to a movement along the existing demand curve (either expansion or contraction of demand).
A shift in the demand curve (either to the left or right) is caused by changes in factors *other than* the price of the commodity. These factors include changes in consumer income, tastes and preferences, prices of related goods (substitutes and complements), population size, and consumer expectations.
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