Approach to Current Affairs for TSPSC Exams

Hyderabad:  This article is in continuation to last week’s article. Economy Disinvestments – Government over the last couple of years has been actively disinvesting – selling its shares in Public Sector Undertakings (PSU). All major disinvestments – PSU name, percentage of disinvestment and money raised from disinvestment is important. Examples: Disinvestment of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited […]

Hyderabad:  This article is in continuation to last week’s article.

Economy

Disinvestments – Government over the last couple of years has been actively disinvesting – selling its shares in Public Sector Undertakings (PSU). All major disinvestments – PSU name, percentage of disinvestment and money raised from disinvestment is important.

Examples:

1. Disinvestment of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
2. HAL is the first major disinvestment carried out by the government for the 2021 fiscal for which it set an ambitious target of Rs.2.1 trillion.
3. % of GoI’s shares disinvested: 14.82
4. Method of disinvestment: offer for sale (OFS)
5. Receipts: Rs.4,924.23 crore
6. GoI’s shareholding post disinvestment: 75.15 (initially, it was 89.97 per cent)

Budget – The highlights of the budget of the Government of India and State Government are important. Special focus should be on

•  Achievements of the previous financial year – the growth rate and so on
• New schemes announced – aim, target segment, budget allocation, sector and so on
• Existing schemes discussed in the budget – continuance, change of name of the scheme, merger with a new scheme, extension of the scheme to other social groups or regions and so on.
• Taxation proposals – increase or decrease in taxes and reasons for the same, new taxes proposed (on/how much), new cesses proposed and its purpose, new surcharges and so on.

Q. The union Budget for FY 2022-23 this year aims to strengthen the infrastructure with its focus on which of the following?

1. PM Gati Shakti

2. Financing of investments

3. Productivity Enhancement & Investment

4. Inclusive Development

5. Disinvestments of various PSUs

Choose the correct code.

a) 1, 2 and 5

b) 3 and 4

c) 2, 3 and 4

d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: d

Explanation:

1. The union Budget for FY 2022-23 this year aims to strengthen the infrastructure with its focus on four priorities of:

2. PM Gati Shakti

3. Inclusive Development

4. Productivity Enhancement & Investment, Sunrise opportunities, Energy Transition, and Climate Action

5. Financing of investments

Q. In 2022-23, States will be allowed a fiscal deficit of what percent of GSDP?

a) 3%

b) 4%

c) 5%

d) 6%

Answer: b

In 2022-23, States will be allowed a fiscal deficit of 4% of GSDP, of which 0.5% will be tied to power sector reforms.

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) Programme?

1. During the union Budget 2022-23, it was announced that RAMP programme is to be rolled out at an estimated cost of Rs.6,000 crore

2. It aims to improve the condition of MSMEs and agricultural marketing in India

3. RAMP will incentivise fintech and will increase digital lending and borrowing.

Choose the correct code.

a. 1 and 2

b. 2 and 3

c. 1 and 3

d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: c

Explanation:

RAMP is a post Covid-19 resilience and recovery programme. It aims to improve the condition of MSMEs in India. The MSMEs were badly affected due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. It provides better access to finance to the MSMEs.

Economic Survey – It is an annual document of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance presents the Survey in the Parliament every year, just before the union Budget. It brings out the economic trends in the country and facilitates a better appreciation of the mobilisation of resources and their allocation in the union Budget. The Survey analyses the trends in agricultural and industrial production, infrastructure, employment, money supply, prices, imports, exports, foreign exchange reserves and other relevant economic factors that have a bearing on the Budget. Candidates must focus on the facts related to the trends in the economic survey.

Highlights of Economic Survey:

· GDP growth rate projected in the range of 8-8.5% for the next fiscal 2022-23 (FY23)

· Agriculture least hit by pandemic, sector to grow by 3.9% in 2021-22 after growing 3.6% the previous year

· Crop diversification towards oilseeds, pulses and horticulture needs to be given priority

· Industrial sector likely to grow at 11.8%

· Survey pegs services sector to see 8.2% growth in 2021-22

· India’s total exports are expected to grow by 16.5% in 2021-22 surpassing pre-pandemic levels

· Imports are expected to grow by 29.4% in 2021-22

· Middle-class borrowing to own houses well below the 21.1% growth year-on-year; also below the level of the last four years

· India has the third largest startup ecosystem in the world after the US and China.

· Delhi saw 5,000 new startups versus 4,514 in Bengaluru between April 2019 and December 2021

· UPI takes centre stage, with the country seeing 4.6 billion transactions worth Rs.8.26 lakh crore in December 2021 alone

· Five sectors capture around 83% of the aggregate pipeline value: Roads (27%), Railways (25%), Power (15%), Oil & Gas pipelines (8%) and Telecom (6%)

Q. Which of the following are the features of this year’s Economic Survey?

1. The theme of this year’s Economic survey relates to the art and science of policy making under conditions of extreme uncertainty

2. The central theme of this year’s Economic Survey is the “Agile approach”.

3. This year’s survey uses various examples to highlight the use of satellite and geospatial data to reflect the infrastructural growth in the country.

Choose the correct code.

a) 1 and 2

b) 2 and 3

c) 1 and 3

d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d

PERSONS IN NEWS

Candidates can expect two to three questions from this segment and must focus on:

· Persons who have passed away recently – their field, contributions and achievements

· Persons who are in news for their recent achievements, especially Indians, in various spheres – sports, science and technology, literature, arts and so on

Q. Which of the following statement(s) are true regarding Lata Mangeshkar.

1. She was the first female singer to receive Bharat Ratna Award for her contributions to the nation

2. She was the recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award

3. She also received honorary doctorates from the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1989

Which of the above statement(s) is/are true?

a) 2 only

b) 1 and 2

c) 2 and 3

d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: c

Explanation: In 2001, in recognition of her contributions to the nation, she was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour; she is only the second female singer, after MS Subbulakshmi, to receive this honour.

Q. Read the following statements and choose the correct answers.

Statement I – Mithali Raj of India has won the ICC Women Cricketer of the year 2021.

Statement II – Ellyse Perry of Australia was the first woman player to win the award.

Choose the correct code.

a) Statement I is true; Statement II is false

b) Statement I is false; Statement II is true

c) Both statements I and II are true

d) Both statements I and II are false

Answer: b

Explanation: Smriti Mandhana of India has won the ICC Women Cricketer of the year 2021. She is the second woman player to win the award in the world. Ellyse Perry of Australia was the first woman player to win the award.

The award was introduced in 2006. It adjudges the best international cricketer based on their twelve month period performances. Between 2006 and 2011, the award was presented in a single category called ‘Women’s Player of the Year’. In 2017, separate categories were introduced for One Day and T20 cricket.

By Deepika Reddy

Director, Shikara Academy

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