Economic Development

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2018

1. “Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to
achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Comment on the progress made in India
in this regard.

2. Comment on the important changes introduced in respect of the Long Term Capital
Gains Tax (LTCGT) and Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT) in the Union Budget for 2018-
2019.

3. How are principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by
erstwhile Planning Commission in India?

4. How would the recent phenomena of protectionism and currency manipulations in

2017

5. Among several factors for India’s potential growth, savings rate is the most effective one.
Do you agree? What are the other factors available for growth potential?

6. Account for the failure of manufacturing sector in achieving the goal of labour-intensive
exports. Suggest measures for more labour-intensive rather than capital-intensive exports.

7. Examine the development of Airports in India through joint ventures under Public –
Private Partnership (PPP) model. What are the challenges faced by the authorities in this
regard.

8. What are the reasons for poor acceptance of cost-effective small processing unit? How
the food processing unit will be helpful to uplift the socio-economic status of poor
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farmers?

9. One of the intended objectives of Union-Budget 2017-18 is to ‘transform, energize and

10. “Industrial growth rate has lagged behind in the overall growth of Gross-Domestic-
Product (GDP) in the post-reform period” Give reasons. How far the recent changes in
Industrial Policy are capable of increasing the industrial growth rate?

11. What are the salient features of ‘inclusive growth’? Has India been experiencing such a
growth process? Analyse and suggest measures for inclusive growth.

2016

12. How globalization has led to the reduction of employment in the formal sector of the
Indian economy? Is increased informalization detrimental to the development of the
country?

13. Women empowerment in India needs gender budgeting. What are the requirements
and status of gender budgeting in the Indian context?

14. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is necessary for bringing unbanked to the
institutional finance fold. Do you agree with this for financial inclusion of the poor section
of the Indian society? Give arguments to justify your opinion.

15. What are ‘Smart Cities’? Examine their relevance for urban development in India. Will
it increase rural-urban differences? Give arguments for ’Smart Villages’ in the light of
PURA and RURBAN Mission.

16. Justify the need for FDI for the development of the Indian economy. Why there is gap
between MoUs signed and actual FDIs? Suggest remedial steps to be taken for increasing
actual FDIs in India.

17. Comment on the challenges for inclusive growth which include careless and useless
manpower in the Indian context. Suggest measures to be taken for facing these challenges.

18. Give an account of the current status and the targets to be achieved pertaining to
renewable energy sources in the country. Discuss in brief the importance of National
Programme on Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

2015

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19. The nature of economic growth in India in recent times is often described as jobless
growth. Do you agree with this view? Give arguments in favour of your answer.

20. How can the ‘Digital India’ programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and
income? What steps has the Government taken in this regard?

21. In what way could replacement of price subsidy with Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
change the scenario of subsidies in India? Discuss.

22. What are the impediments in marketing and supply chain management in developing
the food processing industry in India? Can e-commerce help in overcoming these
bottlenecks?

23. Craze for gold in Indians has led to a surge in import of gold in recent years and put
pressure on balance of payments and external value of rupee. In view of this, examine the
merits of Gold Monetization Scheme.

24. “Success of ‘Make in India’ programme depends on the success of ‘Skill India’
programme and radical labour reforms.” Discuss with logical arguments.

25. To what factors can the recent dramatic fall in equipment costs and tariff of solar
energy be attributed? What implications does the trend have for the thermal power
producers and the related industry?

26. There is a clear acknowledgement that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are a tool of
industrial development, manufacturing and exports. Recognising this potential, the whole
instrumentality of SEZs require augmentation. Discuss the issues plaguing the success of
SEZs with respect to taxation, governing laws and administration.

2014

27. Normally countries shift from agriculture to industry and then later to services, but
India shifted directly from agriculture to services. What are the reasons for the huge growth
of services vis-à-vis industry in the country? Can India become a developed country
without a strong industrial base?

28. “While we flaunt India’s demographic dividend, we ignore the dropping rates of
employability.” What are we missing while doing so? Where will the jobs that India
desperately needs come from? Explain.

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29. The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation
and Resettlement Act, 2013 has come into effect from 1st January, 2014. What are the key
issues which would get addressed with the Act in place? What implications would it have on
industrialization and agriculture in India?

30. Capitalism has guided the world economy to unprecedented prosperity. However, it
often encourages short-sightedness and contributes to wide disparities between the rich
and the poor. In this light, would it be correct to believe and adopt capitalism for bringing
inclusive growth in India? Discuss.

31. Explain how Private Public Partnership arrangements, in long gestation infrastructure
projects, can transfer unsustainable liabilities to the future. What arrangements need to be
put in place to ensure that successive generations’ capacities are not compromised?

32. National Urban Transport Policy emphasises on ‘moving people’ instead of ‘moving
vehicles’. Discuss critically the success of the various strategies of the Government in this
regard.

33. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the defence sector is now set to be liberalized. What
influence this is expected to have on Indian defence and economy in the short and long
run?

34. Should the pursuit of carbon credits and clean development mechanisms set up under
UNFCCC-be maintained even though there has been a massive slide in the value of a
carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India’s energy needs for economic growth.

2013

35. With a consideration towards the strategy of inclusive growth, the new Companies Bill,
2013 has indirectly made CSR a mandatory obligation. Discuss the challenges expected in
its implementation in right earnest. Also discuss other provisions in the Bill and their
implications.

36. What were the reasons for the introduction of Fiscal Responsibility and Budget
Management (FRBM) Act, 2003? Discuss critically its salient features and their
effectiveness.

37. What is the meaning of the term ‘tax expenditure’? Taking housing sector as an
example, discuss how it influences the budgetary policies of the government.

38. Food Security Bill is expected to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India. Critically
discuss various apprehensions in its effective implementation along with the concerns it
has generated in WTO.
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39. Examine the impact of liberalization on companies owned by Indians. Are they
competing with the MNCs satisfactorily? Discuss.

40. (a) Discuss the impact of FDI entry into Multi-trade retail sector on supply chain
management in commodity trade pattern of the economy.

(b) Though India allowed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in what is called multi-brand
retail through the joint venture route in September 2012, the FDI, even after a year, has not
picked up. Discuss the reasons.

41. Discuss the rationale for introducing Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. Bring out
critically the reasons for the delay in roll out for its regime.

42. Write a note on India’s green energy corridor to alleviate the problem of conventional
energy.

43. Adoption of PPP model for infrastructure development of the country has not been free
of criticism. Critically discuss pros and cons of the model.

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