Question map
Consider the following statements : 1. The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Review Committee Report has recommended a debt to GDP ratio of 60% for the general (combined) government by 2023, comprising 40% for the Central Government and 20% for the State Governments. 2. The Central Government has domestic liabilities of 21% of GDP as compared to that of 49% of GDP of the State Governments. 3. As per the Constitution of India, it is mandatory for a State to take the Central Government's consent for raising any loan if the former owes any outstanding liabilities to the latter. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
Explanation
The correct answer is option C (statements 1 and 3 only).
**Statement 1 is correct:** The Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Review Committee Report has recommended a debt-to-GDP ratio of 60 per cent for the general (combined) Government by 2023, comprising 40 per cent for the Central Government and 20 per cent for the State Governments.[1]
**Statement 2 is incorrect:** The statement reverses the actual figures. The Central Government's domestic liabilities were significantly higher than the State Governments' liabilities, not 21% versus 49% as claimed in the statement. This makes statement 2 factually wrong.
**Statement 3 is correct:** A state cannot raise any loan without the consent of the Centre, if there is still outstanding any part of a loan made to the state by the Centre or in respect of which a guarantee has been given by the Centre.[2] This constitutional requirement under Article 293 makes it mandatory for states with outstanding Central liabilities to seek permission before borrowing.
Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are correct, making option C the right answer.
Sources- [1] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 5: Indian Tax Structure and Public Finance > begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|c} > p. 126
- [2] Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 15: Centre State Relations > I Borrowing by the Centre and the States > p. 157
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis is a classic 'Committee + Constitution + Data' hybrid. Statement 1 and 3 are standard textbook material (NK Singh Report & Laxmikanth). Statement 2 is a 'Data Swap' trap—UPSC inverted the debt figures for Centre and States to test your macroeconomic common sense.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Did the FRBM Review Committee Report recommend a combined (general) government debt‑to‑GDP target of 60% by 2023, with 40% for the Central Government and 20% for State Governments?
- Statement 2: According to the FRBM Review Committee Report or official government data around 2017–2018, were the Central Government's domestic liabilities 21% of GDP and the State Governments' domestic liabilities 49% of GDP?
- Statement 3: Under the Constitution of India (e.g., Article 293 and related provisions), is a State required to obtain the Central Government's consent to raise any loan if the State has outstanding liabilities to the Central Government?
- Explicitly states the committee's recommendation to reduce overall government debt to 60% by 2022-23 with a 40% threshold for Centre and 20% for States.
- Mentions this allocation (40% Centre, 20% States) as the combined target, directly matching the statement's substance.
- Directly asserts the FRBM Review Committee recommended a 60% general government debt ratio by 2023, comprising 40% Centre and 20% States.
- Language mirrors the statement's numbers and timeline, providing corroborative support.
- Contains the same formulation listing a 60% general government target with 40% Centre and 20% States by 2023 as a stated proposition.
- Serves as an additional source echoing the recommendation's numbers and deadline.
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