Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is 2 only.

Key Points

• Indian Agriculture:
  • ​The share of agriculture in the gross domestic product (GDP) has reached almost 20 per cent for the first time in the last 17 years, making it the sole bright spot in GDP performance during 2020-21, according to the Economic Survey 2020-2021.​ Hence statement 1 is not correct.
  • The resilience of the farming community in the face of adversities made agriculture the only sector to have clocked a positive growth of 3.4 per cent at constant prices in 2020-21 when other sectors slid.
  • The share of agriculture in GDP increased to 19.9 per cent in 2020-21 from 17.8 per cent in 2019-20. The last time the contribution of the agriculture sector in GDP was at 20 per cent was in 2003-04.
• Dependence on monsoon:
  • Reliance on seasonal rainfall hampers productivity. Additionally, change in climatic conditions and erratic weather patterns such as cyclones and droughts can impact the yields of agricultural crops.
  • The growth of India’s agriculture sector has been dependent on monsoons, and as a result, it has been volatile. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • The government is now encouraging micro-irrigation to improve water usage/efficiency.
• Government initiatives:
  • Improve soil fertility on a sustainable basis through the soil health card scheme.
  • Provide improved access to irrigation and enhanced water efficiency through Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY).
  • Support organic farming through Paramparagat Krishi VikasYojana (PKVY).
  • Creation of a unified national agriculture market to boost the income of farmers.
  • To mitigate risk in the agriculture sector, “Pradhan Mantri Fasal BimaYojana (PMFBY) has been launched for implementation from Kharif 2016.

The correct answer is 1 only

Key Points

• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
  • SIDBI is the principal development financial institution for the promotion, financing and development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in India.
  • It was established on April 2, 1990, through an Act of Parliament (thus, it is a statutory body).
  • It is headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
  • SIDBI aims to facilitate and strengthen credit flow to MSMEs and address both financial and developmental gaps in the MSME eco-system across the country. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • It coordinates functions of institutions engaged in similar activities.
  • Currently, the shares of SIDBI are held by Central Government and 29 other institutions including public sector banks (PSBs), insurance companies owned and controlled by Central Government.

• Functions of SIDBI:
  • It aims at emerging as a single-window to meet the developmental and financial needs of MSMEs in order to make them globally competitive, strong, vibrant and to protect the institution as a customer-friendly financial body. 
  • It also aims at enhancing the wealth of shareholders through the modern technology platform.
  • It is involved in the promotion and development of the MSME sector.
  • It is the principal institution for the development, promotion and financing of the MSME sector and for the coordination of functions of the institutions engaged in similar activities.
  • SIDBI retained its position in the top 30 Development Banks of the World in the ranking of The Banker, London.
     
• Note: Statement 2 is not correct, because SIDBI does not provide all type of loan to the agriculture sector.

The correct answer is Orphan children.

• Palanhar Yojana of the Rajasthan government is associated with orphan children.

Key Points

• Palanhar Yojana
  • ​This scheme was launched in 2004-05 for the care and up keeping of Orphan children.
  • A person (normally a near relative) taking responsibility for caring and bringing up such a child is called "Palanhar".
  • In this Scheme `500 per month is given for the children of 0-6 years who go to Anganwari and `1,000 per month is given for school going children of age 6-18 years and an annual grant of `2,000/-.

Additional Information

• Mukhya Mantri Hunar Vikas Yojana
  • This scheme is for higher education/skill development programme to beneficiaries of PalanharYojana and children staying in Government and Non-government Institutional Homes.

The correct answer is Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

Key Points

• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade is the nodal department for the formulation of the policy on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
  • It is a central government department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • It controls the maintenance and management of data on inward FDI into India.
  • The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade plays a vital role in the liberalization and rationalization of the FDI policy.

 Additional Information

The correct answer is All of the above.

Key Points

• Meaning of Economic Reforms:
  • Economic reforms refer to the fundamental changes that were launched in 1991 with the plan of liberalising the economy and quickening its rate of economic growth.
  • The Narasimha Rao Government, in 1991, started the economic reforms in order to rebuild internal and external faith in the Indian economy.
  • The reforms intended at bringing in larger cooperation of the private sector in the growth method of the Indian economy.
  • Policy changes were proposed with regard to technology up-gradation, industrial licensing, removal of restrictions on the private sector, foreign investments, and foreign trade.
  • The essential features of the economic reforms are – Liberalisation, Privatisation, and Globalisation, commonly known as LPG.
• Need for Economic Reforms
  • Poor performance of the industrial sector. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • Adverse balance of payments. Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • The rise in the fiscal deficit. Hence statement 3 is correct.
  • Inflation. Hence statement 4 is correct.
  • The Gulf War