UPSC CSE PRELIMS (GS)
2026 - SET A
ANALYSIS
ECONOMY
Total Questions: 17
Q24. In what way(s) does the Vizhinjam International Seaport represent a structural shift in India’s maritime trade and logistics policy?
- By functioning exclusively as a domestic cargo hub to reduce reliance on coastal shipping and eliminate the need for foreign collaborations.
- By focusing primarily on passenger cruise tourism and heritage shipping to increase Kerala’s profile as a maritime heritage destination.
- By leveraging its natural deep draft and strategic location to reduce dependence on foreign trans-shipment ports, enhance revenue retention, and reposition India in regional maritime trade.
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only
Q29. Which of the following is/are the most significant implication(s) of obtaining Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk in the global textile industry?
- It allows Indian exporters to compete in high-end markets that prioritise chemical-free products.
- It confirms that Eri Silk meets international safety, environmental, and quality standards, enabling its entry into premium eco-conscious markets.
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q35. Consider the following statements with reference to the Sagarmala Programme of the Government of India:
- The Sagarmala Programme seeks to achieve port-led economic growth through cost-effective and sustainable coastal infrastructure.
- The success of the Sagarmala Programme is reflected in significant growth in coastal and inland waterway shipping, along with improved global port rankings.
- Sagarmala 2.0 aims to position India as a global maritime innovation hub aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat 2047 visions.
Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?
- Statement 2 validates the effectiveness of the strategies envisioned in statement 1.
- Statement 3 extends the objectives of statement 1 by embedding them into a future-oriented innovation framework.
- Statement 1 contradicts statement 3 by focusing only on traditional infrastructure instead of modern innovation.
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only
Q87. An e-commerce revenue model where the seller has control over pricing but doesn’t keep products in stock and instead transfers customer orders and shipment details to a third-party supplier, who then ships the goods directly to the customer, is called:
(a) Dropshipping Model
(b) Affiliate Revenue Model
(c) Transaction Fee Revenue Model
(d) Agency Revenue Model
Q88. Which one of the following correctly represents the three key sub-indices of the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?
(a) Access, Usage, and Quality
(b) Banking access, GDP contribution, and Financial literacy
(c) Access, Affordability, and Transparency
(d) Credit access, Insurance depth, and Pension coverage
Q89. Which one of the following best describes the key objective of India’s ‘Open Network for Digital Commerce’ (ONDC) initiative?
(a) To allow government control over all digital commerce transactions
(b) To replace private e-commerce players
(c) To break the dominance of large e-commerce platforms by enabling interoperability across networks
(d) To mandate UPI-based payments for all online transactions
Q90. Which one of the following statements about Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Central Bank Digital Currency (Digital Rupee) is not correct?
(a) UPI is a real-time payment system but Digital Rupee is akin to sovereign paper currency.
(b) In case of UPI, settlement for end users happens instantly as the money gets immediately debited or credited but in case of Digital Rupee, there is no settlement as the wallet balance gets transferred to another wallet.
(c) UPI transactions are recorded by banks and reflected in bank statements but in case of Digital Rupee, no data is captured in bank statements as transactions are from one wallet to another.
(d) In both the cases (UPI and Digital Rupee), the liability lies with the users and their respective banks.
Q91. Which of the following statements about Real-World Assets (RWA) Tokenization are correct?
- Tokenization is the process of turning real world assets into digital tokens using blockchain technology.
- Tokenization of real world assets offers 24×7 access, promoting financial inclusion.
- Tokenization of real world assets will allow access to high growth investment opportunities for individuals in India.
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
Q92. A bond whose proceeds are used only to finance or refinance a combination of both environmental and social projects is called:
(a) Green Bond
(b) Social Bond
(c) Sustainability Bond
(d) Sovereign Bond
Q93. Which of the following statements about Mixchange’s role in Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) financing is/are correct?
- Mixchange provides collateral based loans to MSMEs.
- Mixchange facilitates discounting of invoices and Bills of Exchange for MSMEs.
- Mixchange functions as a credit rating agency for MSMEs.
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 only
Q94. Which one of the following best describes the ‘Crowding Out Effect’ in the context of fiscal policy?
(a) A situation where private investment increases due to increased Government spending
(b) A situation where Government borrowing leads to higher interest rates, which reduces private investment
(c) A situation where an increase in taxes leads to increased private sector investment
(d) A situation where Government spending has no impact on aggregate demand
Q95. Which of the following statements about Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Critical Minerals is/are correct?
- Modern technological innovations including Artificial Intelligence, robotics and space exploration extensively utilise Rare Earth Elements (REEs).
- China has the highest share in mining of REEs followed by India.
- The Government of India launched the National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM) in 2025 to establish a robust framework for self-reliance in the critical mineral sector.
- Rare Earth Elements are a set of 13 metallic elements.
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 4
Q96. Which of the following statements about insurance in aviation sector is/are correct?
- ‘Aviation Hull Insurance’ covers the physical aircraft, including the body, engine, and on-board equipment.
- Under the Montreal Convention, adopted in 1999 by over 130 countries, including India, airlines are strictly liable to pay compensation to the family/nominee of every deceased passenger without requiring the family to prove fault.
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q97. Which of the following statements about Crowdfunding is/are correct?
- Crowdfunding is solicitation of funds (small amount) from multiple investors through a web-based platform or social networking site for a specific project.
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are able to raise funds at lower cost of capital without undergoing rigorous procedures.
Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Q98. With reference to different Committees in India, consider the following details:
- R.N. Malhotra Committee — Comprehensive reforms of Insurance sector in India — Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India
- L.C. Gupta Committee — Preparing a roadmap for the introduction of derivatives trading in India — Securities and Exchange Board of India
- Urjit R. Patel Committee — Preparing a roadmap for reforming bank lending to the Housing sector — Reserve Bank of India
- Y.H. Malegam Committee — Preparing a roadmap for reforms in Microfinance sector in India — Reserve Bank of India
In which of the above rows are all the details correctly matched?
(a) 2 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 2 and 4
Q99. Consider the following statements about the Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in India:
- NBFCs cannot accept demand deposits.
- All the NBFCs operating in India have to be registered with the RBI.
- NBFCs form part of the payment and settlement system and can issue cheque drawn on itself.
- Deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) is not available to the depositors of deposit taking NBFCs.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 4
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4
Q100. Consider the following statements about Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI):
- MPI is calculated using Alkire-Foster methodology.
- MPI calculated by NITI Aayog has a total of twelve indicators.
- Maternal Health and Bank Account are common indicators in the MPI of NITI Aayog and MPI of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2 only