Important MCQ Chapter 2 IED

Read the following hypothetical text and answer the questions that follow:

The performance of Indian economy during the period of first seven five-year plans (1950-1990) was satisfactory if not very impressive.

On the eve of independence, India was an industrially backward country, but during this period of first seven plans our industries became far more diversified, with the stress being laid on the public investments in the industrial sector.
The policy of import substitution led to protection of the domestic industries against the foreign producers but we failed to promote a strong export surplus.

Although public sector expanded to a large extent but it could not bring desired level of improvement in the secondary sector.

Excessive government regulations prevented the natural trajectory of growth of entrepreneurship as there was no competition, no innovation and no modernization on the front of the industrial sector.

Many Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) incurred huge losses due to operational inefficiencies, red-tapism, poor technology and other similar reasons.

These PSUs continued to function because it was difficult to close a government undertaking even it is a drain on country's limited resources.

On the Agricultural front, due to the measures taken under the Green Revolution, India more or less became selfsufficient in the production of food grains.

So, the needs for reform of economic policy was widely felt in the context of changing global economic scenario to achieve desired growth in the country.

Question 1

Which of the following was not a reason for the public sector to play a major role in the initial phase of Indian Economic Planning?

1. Private entrepreneurs lacked sufficient capital for investment.
2. Government aimed at social welfare.
3. The market was big enough to encourage private industrialists for investment.
4. The government wanted to protect the indigenous producers from the foreign competition.

Question 2

Inward looking trade strategy aimed at _________ .

1. Protecting domestic industries from international competition
2. Industrialization
3. Improving performance of public sector
4. None of the above

Question 3

Mechanization of the Indian agriculture was one of the causes of ___________ in India.

1. Green Revolution
2. White Revolution
3. Yellow Revolution
4. None of the above

Question 4

Read the following statements - Assertion (A) and Reason (R).

Assertion (A): Many public sector undertakings incurred huge losses due to operational inefficiencies.

Reason (R): Red-tapism was one of the reasons for continuation of such enterprises.

Select the correct alternative from the following:

1. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
2. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
3. Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
4. Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.