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Comprehension:

Read the given paragraph carefully and answer the following questions.

Government Budget

The Indian economy is on a strong wicket and stable footing, demonstrating resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges. The Indian economy has consolidated its post-Covid recovery with policymakers – fiscal and monetary – ensuring economic and financial stability. Nonetheless, change is the only constant for a country with high growth aspirations. For the recovery to be sustained, there has to be heavy lifting on the domestic front because the environment has become extraordinarily difficult to reach agreements on key global issues such as trade, investment and climate. The headline inflation rate is largely under control, although the inflation rate for some specific food items is elevated. The trade deficit was lower in FY24 than in FY23, and the current account deficit for the year is around 0.7% of GDP. In fact, the current account registered a surplus in the last quarter of the financial year. Foreign exchange reserves are ample. Public investment has sustained capital formation in the last several years even as the private sector shed its balance sheet blues and began investing in FY22. Now, it has to receive the baton from the public sector and sustain the investment momentum in the economy. The signs are encouraging. National income data show that non-financial private-sector capital formation, measured in current prices, expanded vigorously.

The headline inflation rate is largely under control, although the inflation rate for some specific food items is elevated.

In the above statement, what is meant by control?

  1. Within the range of the acceptable inflation rate.
  2. Price rise of basic consumption item is not in control.
  3. Price of items for daily consumption are growing in such a manner that they are manageable through implementing policy tools if need arises.
  4. No price rise has been witnessed.

Solution

✅ Correct Option: 1

Option 1 -> 'Under control' means inflation is within acceptable target range.

Option 2 -> This describes what is NOT under control, contradicts the statement.

Option 3 -> Too specific about daily consumption items and focuses on potential policy intervention rather than current state.

Option 4 -> 'Under control' doesn't mean zero inflation, which would be unrealistic and undesirable.


Hence, Option 1: Within the range of the acceptable inflation rate -> When economists or policymakers state that inflation is 'under control,' they mean it is within the target range set by the central bank or monetary authority (typically 2-6% in many economies). This does not imply zero inflation, but rather that the rate of price increase is at manageable and expected levels that support economic stability and growth. The statement acknowledges that while overall (headline) inflation is within acceptable bounds, certain specific items like food may have higher inflation rates, which is a common occurrence -> correct

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