140. What was a primary objective of liberalisation in India’s New Economic Policy of 1991?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I (29 November, Shift 2) — 2025]
(A) Embargo trade with enemy countries
(B) Increase restrictions on economic activity
(C) Open various sectors of the economy
(D) Raise non-tariff barriers to imports
Answer: (C) Open various sectors of the economy
Explanation: Liberalisation lowered licensing barriers and widened participation in several sectors. It aimed to improve competition, investment and productive efficiency while integrating India more closely with world markets. More restrictive import barriers would work against that purpose.
139. What was the inward-looking trade strategy adopted in India’s early Five-Year Plans called?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I (14 November, Shift 3) — 2025]
(A) Export enhancement
(B) Free-trade expansion
(C) Import substitution
(D) Foreign-investment expansion
Answer: (C) Import substitution
Explanation: Import substitution encouraged domestic manufacture of previously imported products. India used tariffs, quotas and industrial policy to support self-reliance. The strategy contrasted with export-oriented development, under which external markets become a major source of industrial demand.
138. In which year was the Services Exports from India Scheme launched?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I (14 November, Shift 2) — 2025]
(A) 2015
(B) 2017
(C) 2011
(D) 2008
Answer: (A) 2015
Explanation: The Services Exports from India Scheme formed part of the Foreign Trade Policy 2015–2020. It provided incentives to eligible service exporters earning foreign exchange. Its arrangements changed subsequently, so the answer refers to the launch year.
137. What was the minimum plant-and-machinery investment requirement for an Export Oriented Unit in the cited scheme?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I (27 November, Shift 2) — 2025]
(A) ₹5 crore
(B) ₹10 crore
(C) ₹1 crore
(D) ₹3 crore
Answer: (C) ₹1 crore
Explanation: Under the cited Export Oriented Units policy, a project ordinarily needed at least one crore rupees invested in plant and machinery. EOU provisions are intended to promote export-oriented production and foreign-exchange earnings and can be revised by later trade policies.
136. When did India launch the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I (20 November, Shift 1) — 2025]
(A) 1998
(B) 2002
(C) 2019
(D) 2015
Answer: (D) 2015
Explanation: The Merchandise Exports from India Scheme began under the 2015–2020 Foreign Trade Policy. It used duty-credit incentives for eligible exports to improve competitiveness. Trade-remission and incentive arrangements have since changed, but the examination asks about the original launch.
135. How many main processes change the size of a population?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I (14 November, Shift 1) — 2025]
(A) Three
(B) Five
(C) Six
(D) Seven
Answer: (A) Three
Explanation: Births, deaths and migration are the three principal processes producing population change. Births add residents, deaths reduce the total, and migration changes the population of a particular region through inflows or departures. Their combined effects determine growth.
134. Which of these is a natural component of population change: (I) births, (II) migration?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I (28 November, Shift 1) — 2025]
(A) Only I
(B) Only II
(C) Both I and II
(D) Neither I nor II
Answer: (A) Only I
Explanation: Natural increase is measured through births minus deaths. Migration is a separate component of population change arising from movement into or out of an area. Thus births count as a natural component, but migration is not part of natural increase.
133. The Census of India is conducted under which Act?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I (24 November, Shift 3) — 2025]
(A) Census Act, 1948
(B) Census Act, 1965
(C) Census Act, 1932
(D) Census Act, 1954
Answer: (A) Census Act, 1948
Explanation: The Census Act, 1948 provides the legal basis for census operations in independent India. The Registrar General and Census Commissioner administers enumeration under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. The Act also provides for handling census information.
132. Which influence population distribution: (I) topography, (II) climate?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I (28 November, Shift 3) — 2025]
(A) Only I
(B) Only II
(C) Both I and II
(D) Neither I nor II
Answer: (C) Both I and II
Explanation: Terrain and climate shape settlement opportunities. Fertile plains and river valleys generally support large populations, while steep mountains and extremely arid or cold regions often have fewer residents. Employment, transport and historical conditions also influence population distribution.
131. How many people in developing economies received emergency social-protection responses during COVID-19, according to the World Bank’s 2025 report?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I (17 June, Shift 1) — 2025]
(A) 4.7 billion
(B) 3.2 billion
(C) 1.7 billion
(D) 2.7 billion
Answer: (C) 1.7 billion
Explanation: The World Bank’s 2025 report cited emergency social-protection measures reaching about 1.7 billion people in developing economies during the pandemic. Such programmes included income support and other safety-net interventions to mitigate livelihood disruptions.
