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Which of the following was/were the feature(s) of Lenin’s New Economic Policy (NEP) for the Soviet Union ? 1. Private retail trading was strictly forbidden 2. Private enterprise was strictly forbidden 3. Peasants were not allowed to sell their surplus 4. To secure liquid capital, concessions were allowed to foreign capitalists, but the State retained the option of purchasing the products of such concerns Sclcct the correct answer using the code given below :
Explanation
Lenin's New Economic Policy (NEP), introduced in 1921, was a 'strategic retreat' from the rigid policies of War Communism. Contrary to statements 1, 2, and 3, the NEP actually permitted private retail trading and small-scale private enterprise, particularly in businesses employing fewer than 20 people. A key feature was the replacement of grain requisitioning with a 'tax in kind,' which allowed peasants to sell their surplus produce on the open market to incentivize production. Statement 4 is correct as the Soviet state sought to secure liquid capital and technical expertise by granting concessions to foreign capitalists. However, the State maintained a commanding role in the economy, retaining control over 'heavy industry, foreign trade, banking, and transport' while reserving the option to purchase products from these foreign-backed concerns.