Q1. Which of the following best describes the ‘Sacrifice Ratio’ in the context of macroeconomics?
A. The ratio of imported inflation to domestic inflation in an energy-dependent economy.
B. The percentage of GDP growth lost for every one percentage point reduction in the inflation rate.
C. The loss in foreign exchange reserves required to stabilize the exchange rate during an oil shock.
D. The amount of fiscal deficit a government accepts to keep the inflation rate within the target range.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
- Sacrifice Ratio measures the cost of disinflation, i.e., how much output (GDP/employment) is sacrificed to reduce inflation.
- Option B correctly captures this as loss in GDP per 1% reduction in inflation.
- Option A is incorrect: relates to inflation composition, not disinflation cost.
- Option C is incorrect: relates to external sector management, not monetary policy trade-off.
- Option D is incorrect: refers to fiscal policy, whereas sacrifice ratio is a monetary economics concept.
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data and India’s workforce structure:
- Nearly 90% of India’s workforce is concentrated in the informal sector.
- The informal sector is legally defined by the presence of formal contracts and social security for at least 50% of its workers.
- Urbanisation of social reproduction refers to a shift in survival-based economies focusing on basic needs like housing and care work.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2, and 3
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: Around 90% workforce is informal, lacking job security and social protection.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: Informal sector is defined by absence (not presence) of formal contracts and social security.
- Statement 3 is correct: Concept reflects shift from production → survival economy (housing, care, services).
- Hence, 1 and 3 only are correct.
Q3. Which of the following scholars argued that caste groups construct historical identities and celebrate regional icons primarily to enhance their political bargaining power in contemporary India?
A. M N Srinivas
B. Andre Beteille
C. Christophe Jaffrelot
D. B R Ambedkar
Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
- Christophe Jaffrelot emphasised that caste groups mobilise politically by constructing historical narratives and identities.
- M.N. Srinivas → Sanskritization concept (social mobility).
- Andre Beteille → shift from ritual hierarchy to power-based hierarchy.
- B.R. Ambedkar → caste critique and annihilation framework, not electoral mobilisation theory.
Q4. With reference to the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, the subject of ‘Prisons’ and their administration falls under which list?
A. Union List (List I)
B. State List (List II)
C. Concurrent List (List III)
D. Residuary Powers of the Union
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
- Prisons fall under State List (Entry 4, List II).
- States are responsible for prison administration, infrastructure, and management.
- However, Supreme Court directives and central laws influence uniform standards indirectly.
Q5. Assertion (A): Inherited Peripheral Neuropathy (IPN) specifically affects the peripheral nerves, leading to muscle weakness and sensory loss, while often leaving the central nervous system unaffected.
Reason (R): Peripheral nerves are particularly vulnerable to disruptions in protein synthesis due to their immense length and high demand for sustained metabolic activity over large distances.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C. A is true, but R is false.
D. A is false, but R is true.
Correct Answer: A
Explanation:
- Assertion is correct: IPN affects peripheral nerves, causing motor and sensory deficits.
- Reason is correct: Peripheral nerves require continuous protein synthesis over long axonal distances, making them highly vulnerable to molecular disruptions (e.g., ARS mutations).
- The reason directly explains why peripheral nerves are preferentially affected, making option A correct.
