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Indian EconomyHardAsked in: UPSC Civil Services · CSE Prelims 2019, GS Paper I

Consider the following statements : 1. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) is the first regulatory body set up by the Government of India. 2. One of the tasks of PNGRB is to ensure competitive markets for gas. 3. Appeals against the decisions of PNGRB go before the Appellate Tribunals for Electricity. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.2 and 3 only
  3. C.1 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3

Correct answer

B. 2 and 3 only

Explanation

The correct answer is B, 2 and 3 only. PNGRB promotes competition in gas markets and its decisions are appealed before the electricity tribunal, but it was far from the first regulator in India. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board was set up under the PNGRB Act, 2006. Regulators such as SEBI (statutory from 1992), TRAI (1997), the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (1998) and IRDA (1999) came well before it, so statement 1 is wrong. The Act asks the Board to protect consumers and to promote competitive markets in the downstream oil and gas sector, for example by authorising city gas distribution networks and regulating access to pipelines, so statement 2 is correct. The Act names the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity, set up under the Electricity Act, 2003, as the appellate body for its decisions, so statement 3 is correct. Option A is wrong because it includes statement 1 and leaves out statement 3. Option C is wrong because it includes statement 1. Option D is wrong because statement 1 is false. Exam tip: PNGRB, 2006, downstream oil and gas regulator; appeals go to APTEL.

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Q1.Indian EconomyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2018, GKHard

The Fourteenth Finance Commission assigned different weights to the following parameters for distribution of tax proceeds to the States :

1. Income distance

2. Population

3. Demographic changes

4. Area

Arrange the aforesaid parameters in descending order in terms of their weights.

  1. A.1-2-3-4
  2. B.1-2-4-3
  3. C.1-3-2-4
  4. D.4-3-2-1
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 1-2-4-3

Income distance had the highest weight, followed by population, area and demographic change. The Fourteenth Finance Commission, chaired by Y.V.

Q2.Indian EconomyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2024, GKHard

Which one of the following statements for a firm's equilibrium in Perfect Competition is not correct ?

  1. A.The market price must be greater or equal to average variable cost in the short run.
  2. B.The market price must be equal to marginal cost.
  3. C.The market price must be equal to average cost in the long run.
  4. D.The marginal cost decreases at the equilibrium output.
Show answer
Correct answer: D. The marginal cost decreases at the equilibrium output.

This statement is not correct, because at the equilibrium of a competitive firm marginal cost must be rising. A firm in perfect competition is a price taker, so the price it gets equals its marginal revenue.

Q4.Indian EconomyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2024, GKEasy

Which of the following is not included in the Capital Account of the Balance of Payments of a country?

  1. A.Foreign Direct Investment
  2. B.Commercial Borrowing
  3. C.Invisibles
  4. D.External Assistance
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Invisibles

Invisibles are part of the current account of the balance of payments, not the capital account. The balance of payments records all of a country's transactions with the rest of the world and has two main parts.

Q5.Indian EconomyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2024, GKEasy

Which one among the following was the focus of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan?

  1. A.Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
  2. B.Social Justice and Equality
  3. C.Food, Work and Productivity
  4. D.Attainment of Self-reliance
Show answer
Correct answer: A. Sustainable and Inclusive Growth

The Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012-17) had the theme "Faster, More Inclusive and Sustainable Growth". It continued the inclusive-growth idea of the Eleventh Plan (2007-12), whose theme was "Towards Faster and More Inclusive Growth", and added sustainability as a stated goal.