Those public sector undertakings which are making profits should be privatised. Do you agree with this view? Why?
An efficient and profit earning PSU is a revenue generator for the government. But if a PSU is an inefficient and loss making one, then the same PSU exerts unnecessary burden on the government's scarce revenues and further may lead to budget deficit. The loss making PSUs should be privatised whereas it would not be fair to privatise a profit making PSU. Privatising a PSU may lead to concentration of monopoly power in the private hands. Further some of the PSUs like, water, railways, etc. enhance the welfare of the nation and are meant to serve the general public at a very nominal cost. Privatisation of such important PSUs will lead to loss of welfare of poor people. Hence, only less important PSUs should be privatised while leaving the core and important PSUs to be owned by the public sector. Instead of privatisation of profit-making PSUs, the government can allow more degree of autonomy and accountability in their operations, which will not only increase their productivity and efficiency but also enhance their competitiveness with their private counterparts.
How is RBI controlling the commercial banks?
Distinguish between the following
(i) Strategic and Minority sale
(ii) Bilateral and Multi-lateral trade
(iii) Tariff and Non-tariff barriers.
Agriculture sector appears to be adversely affected by the reform process. Why?
Why were reforms introduced in India?
Do you think outsourcing is good for India? Why are developed countries opposing it?
Why did RBI have to change its role from controller to facilitator of financial sector in India?
Do you think the navaratna policy of the government helps in improving the performance of public sector undertakings in India? How?
What do you understand by devaluation of rupee?
Why are tariffs imposed?
Why has the industrial sector performed poorly in the reform period?
What was the focus of the economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India? What were the impacts of these policies?
What are the two major sources of human capital in a country?
What do you mean by rural development? Bring out the key issues in rural development.
Define a plan?
Who is a worker?
Explain the term ‘infrastructure’.
What is meant by environment?
Why are regional and economic groupings formed?
Why calorie-based norm is not adequate to identify the poor?
Name some notable economists who estimated India’s per capita income during the colonial period?
Explain the two categories into which infrastructure is divided. How are both interdependent?
The following table shows distribution of workforce in India for the year 1972-73. Analyse it and give reasons for the nature of workforce distribution. You will notice that the data is pertaining to the situation in India 30 years ago!
Place of Residence | Workforce (in millions) | ||
Male | Female | Total | |
Rural Urban |
125 32 |
69 7 |
195 39 |
Explain the relevance of intergenerational equity in the definition of sustainable development.
Explain the Great Leap Forward campaign of China as initiated in 1958.
What is a ‘global burden of disease’?
Critically evaluate the role of the rural banking system in the process of rural development in India.
Suppose you are a resident of a village, suggest a few measures to tackle the problem of poverty.
How can creation of income earning assets address the problem of poverty?
Explain the supply-demand reversal of environmental resources.
What is organic farming and how does it promote sustainable development?