This is the Vocab24 daily quiz of 21 January 2026, the same 26 questions the app served that day, on the day's vocabulary and editorial. One mark for a right answer, minus 0.25 for a wrong one; the explanation opens as soon as you tap.
Out of the given alternatives select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of given word.
Defunct
Out of the given alternatives select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of given word.
Disabuse
Out of the given alternatives select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of given word.
Disconsolate
Out of the given alternatives select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of given word.
Censorious
Out of the given alternatives select the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
Supine
Out of the given alternatives select the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
Overweening
Out of the given alternatives select the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
Supernumerary
Out of the given alternatives select the word opposite in meaning to the given word.
Frenetic
Out of given alternatives, choose the word which can be substituted for the given words/ sentence.
To free someone from a false belief or misconception.
Out of given alternatives, choose the word which can be substituted for the given words/ sentence.
Very unhappy and unable to be comforted.
Out of given alternatives, choose the word which can be substituted for the given words/ sentence.
Lying face upward; or showing lazy lack of interest.
Out of given alternatives, choose the word which can be substituted for the given words/ sentence.
Unreal; imaginary; wildly fanciful.
A statement with one blank is given below. Choose the set of words from the given options which can be used to fill the given blank.
Kites........ last year also.
Explanation: Definition: <br> The sentence refers to an action that took place in the past, as indicated by last year. In simple past tense, the correct structure is Subject + past tense verb. The verb fly changes to flew in the past tense. Correct Answer: <br> The correct option is Option A: flew. Explanation: <br> - The verb flew is the simple past tense of fly. <br> - Since last year clearly indicates a completed action in the past, the simple past tense is the correct choice. <br> - The correct sentence is: Kites flew last year also. <br> Why Other Options Are Incorrect: <br> - Option B: did fly ? Incorrect because did fly is only used for emphasis or in negative/interrogative sentences (e.g., Did kites fly last year? ). In a normal past statement, we use flew instead. <br> - Option C: flying ? Incorrect because flying is a present participle and requires an auxiliary verb (e.g., were flying ). <br> - Option D: were flown ? Incorrect because were flown is in the passive voice, meaning someone/something made the kites fly. The sentence does not suggest a passive structure. <br> Final Answer: Option A: flew.
A statement with one blank is given below. Choose the set of words from the given options which can be used to fill the given blank.
Can I borrow........ sugar?
Explanation: Sugar here is considered an uncountable thing and that is why 'some' is used to refer to a portion of the sugar.
A statement with one blank is given below. Choose the set of words from the given options which can be used to fill the given blank.
I looked... you at the party, but I didn't see you.
Explanation: 'looked for' means anticipated or expected.
Out of given alternatives select the option which best expresses the meaning of given idiom/ phrase.
The parliamentary inquiry into the Bofors deal has not brought to light any startling facts.
Explanation: brought to light: made known.
Out of given alternatives select the option which best expresses the meaning of given idiom/ phrase.
He is a plain, simple and sincere man. He will always call a spade a spade.
Explanation: call a spade a spade: speak plainly without avoiding unpleasant or embarrassing issues.
Out of given alternatives select the option which best expresses the meaning of given idiom/ phrase.
It is difficult to keep a level head in these days of mounting prices.
Explanation: keep a level head: to remain calm.
Which of phrases given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold type to make the grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark 'd' as the answer.
It was in the context of this policy (a)/ and also as a follow up of the recommendations of the committee (b)/ that this workshop was organised (c)/ No error (d)
Which of phrases given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold type to make the grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark 'd' as the answer.
The accelerating pace of life in our metropolitan city (a)/ has had the tremendous effect (b)/ on the culture and life style of the people (c)/ No error (d)
Which of phrases given below each sentence should replace the phrase printed in bold type to make the grammatically correct? If the sentence is correct as it is, mark 'd' as the answer.
The old woman has had the best medical facilities available (a)/ but she will not be cured (b)/ unless she does not have strong desire to live (c)/ No error (d)
Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions. <br><br><br> For an economy that is undeniably in slowdown mode, it does come as a surprise that the first Budget of the Modi 2.0 government has eschewed any sort of pump priming, instead preferring to leave the job of stepping up investment to the private sector. The template for a growth process driven by monetary accommodation and fiscal prudence was spelt out rather clearly in the Economic Survey, tabled in Parliament on Thursday. If one were to compare this growth slide with the post-GFC period, it is clear that the Centre has consciously chosen not to go down the path laid out by the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. It is believed, and not without reason, that the fiscal stimulus then administered led to both deficit and inflation going out of gear. Expenditures were poorly managed, with corruption in delivery processes no doubt playing a role in the double digit inflation rates of the UPA-2 years. Yet, from there, it seems a tad excessive to altogether shut out the fiscal option to get the economy moving, particularly when there are better technological processes in place to ensure quality spending. An increase of Rs. 3.3 lakh crore in the projected expenditure of the Centre in 2019- 20 over the revised estimates of 2018-19 is insignificant when seen against the Rs. 3.15 lakh crore increase in 2018-19 over the actuals of 2017-18 — given inflation and nominal GDP growth of 12 per cent projected in 2019-20. The fiscal squeeze is underscored in relation to capital expenditure: it has been slashed to Rs. 8.7 lakh crore in 2019-20 from Rs. 9.2 lakh crore in the revised estimates for 2018- 19, with Railways bearing the brunt. It would appear that uncertain revenue collections on both the direct taxes and GST fronts have prompted this fiscal conservatism. While the tax revenue estimates for 2019-20 are conservative in relation to the interim Budget, they seem ambitious when seen against the revisions made by the Controller General of Accounts for 2018-19. The Centre has budgeted a disinvestment mop-up of Rs. 1.06 lakh crore to plug this gap. <br><br> Indeed, the push to privatisation marks one of the boldest aspects of this Budget, highlighting the quiet confidence of a government that is looking at the medium term to execute structural reforms. In a significant departure, government holding would include shares held by public sector entities as well. Air India has been squarely placed on the bloc and others shall follow suit. The 51 per cent threshold too may be relooked at. This marks a break, after more than a decade of pussyfooting over disinvestment. While NDA 1 botched it up, leading to adverse political fallout, this government is expected to learn from earlier mistakes. <br><br> The Budget is rich in micro details, having proposed several positive steps to galvanize the capital and debt markets, the latter aimed at pushing infrastructure finance. The Centre will back by one-time guarantee the purchase of high-rated pooled assets of NBFCs by PSBs, a move that could ease the liquidity crisis in the sector and help MSMEs conduct their business. Banks will be recapitalized to the extent of Rs. 70,000 crore to boost credit. With a view to expanding financing options, mandatory public float level has been raised from 25 per cent to 35 per cent. This is a far-sighted move, aimed at raising retail participation. Possibly responding to criticism post-DeMo, that the taxman had become an obstreperous presence in the business ecosystem, the Finance Minister announced steps to make procedures easier, including making PAN and Aadhaar inter-operable. Start-ups too have much to cheer about, as do women in the SHG space. However, it seems that some proposals have not been thought through. The prospect of a tax benefit from a sale of a house being ploughed into a start-up could give rise to malpractices<br><br> However, the big picture that emerges from both the Survey and the Budget is that big ticket public spending in economic sectors will be restricted, possibly to affordable housing, road building and PMKisan. Worryingly, the role of education, public health and skills-building in powering a ‘$5 trillion economy’ has not received much attention. The transformative potential of Swachh Bharat in recycling waste has received welcome emphasis. But how ‘nal se jal’ for all by 2024 will become a reality is not very clear. The Modi government has brought about game-changing reforms by way of the bankruptcy code, GST and direct benefit transfers. In the rural space, income transfers indicate a paradigm shift. This vision needs to be carried forward, with private players – creating a stock market niche for social activities is an innovative step. Finally, it is not clear whether private sector will pick up the tab. In the US and EU, negative interest rates didn’t spur investment. Triggers to investment have remained one of those mysteries in economics.
Which among the following can sum up the opinion of the author regarding the budget proposals of the government?
Explanation: In the given passage it can be seen that the author is appreciating some of the proposals of the government since it has brought about changes in the ecosystem of the country whereas the rest are not clear in terms of implementation guidelines and the execution of the same. The author is not sure whether the government will be able to execute these things at all. Among the given options, we can see that Option D gives us the correct choice whereas others can be eliminated because of the fact that they do not follow from the passage. This makes Option D the correct choice among the given options.
Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions. <br><br><br> For an economy that is undeniably in slowdown mode, it does come as a surprise that the first Budget of the Modi 2.0 government has eschewed any sort of pump priming, instead preferring to leave the job of stepping up investment to the private sector. The template for a growth process driven by monetary accommodation and fiscal prudence was spelt out rather clearly in the Economic Survey, tabled in Parliament on Thursday. If one were to compare this growth slide with the post-GFC period, it is clear that the Centre has consciously chosen not to go down the path laid out by the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. It is believed, and not without reason, that the fiscal stimulus then administered led to both deficit and inflation going out of gear. Expenditures were poorly managed, with corruption in delivery processes no doubt playing a role in the double digit inflation rates of the UPA-2 years. Yet, from there, it seems a tad excessive to altogether shut out the fiscal option to get the economy moving, particularly when there are better technological processes in place to ensure quality spending. An increase of Rs. 3.3 lakh crore in the projected expenditure of the Centre in 2019- 20 over the revised estimates of 2018-19 is insignificant when seen against the Rs. 3.15 lakh crore increase in 2018-19 over the actuals of 2017-18 — given inflation and nominal GDP growth of 12 per cent projected in 2019-20. The fiscal squeeze is underscored in relation to capital expenditure: it has been slashed to Rs. 8.7 lakh crore in 2019-20 from Rs. 9.2 lakh crore in the revised estimates for 2018- 19, with Railways bearing the brunt. It would appear that uncertain revenue collections on both the direct taxes and GST fronts have prompted this fiscal conservatism. While the tax revenue estimates for 2019-20 are conservative in relation to the interim Budget, they seem ambitious when seen against the revisions made by the Controller General of Accounts for 2018-19. The Centre has budgeted a disinvestment mop-up of Rs. 1.06 lakh crore to plug this gap. <br><br> Indeed, the push to privatisation marks one of the boldest aspects of this Budget, highlighting the quiet confidence of a government that is looking at the medium term to execute structural reforms. In a significant departure, government holding would include shares held by public sector entities as well. Air India has been squarely placed on the bloc and others shall follow suit. The 51 per cent threshold too may be relooked at. This marks a break, after more than a decade of pussyfooting over disinvestment. While NDA 1 botched it up, leading to adverse political fallout, this government is expected to learn from earlier mistakes. <br><br> The Budget is rich in micro details, having proposed several positive steps to galvanize the capital and debt markets, the latter aimed at pushing infrastructure finance. The Centre will back by one-time guarantee the purchase of high-rated pooled assets of NBFCs by PSBs, a move that could ease the liquidity crisis in the sector and help MSMEs conduct their business. Banks will be recapitalized to the extent of Rs. 70,000 crore to boost credit. With a view to expanding financing options, mandatory public float level has been raised from 25 per cent to 35 per cent. This is a far-sighted move, aimed at raising retail participation. Possibly responding to criticism post-DeMo, that the taxman had become an obstreperous presence in the business ecosystem, the Finance Minister announced steps to make procedures easier, including making PAN and Aadhaar inter-operable. Start-ups too have much to cheer about, as do women in the SHG space. However, it seems that some proposals have not been thought through. The prospect of a tax benefit from a sale of a house being ploughed into a start-up could give rise to malpractices<br><br> However, the big picture that emerges from both the Survey and the Budget is that big ticket public spending in economic sectors will be restricted, possibly to affordable housing, road building and PMKisan. Worryingly, the role of education, public health and skills-building in powering a ‘$5 trillion economy’ has not received much attention. The transformative potential of Swachh Bharat in recycling waste has received welcome emphasis. But how ‘nal se jal’ for all by 2024 will become a reality is not very clear. The Modi government has brought about game-changing reforms by way of the bankruptcy code, GST and direct benefit transfers. In the rural space, income transfers indicate a paradigm shift. This vision needs to be carried forward, with private players – creating a stock market niche for social activities is an innovative step. Finally, it is not clear whether private sector will pick up the tab. In the US and EU, negative interest rates didn’t spur investment. Triggers to investment have remained one of those mysteries in economics.
Which among the following is correct regarding the public investments in the economy as per the Union Budget?
Explanation: It is clear from the passage that the government has decided to restrict the public spending in the economy and it mainly wants the private sector to come forward and contribute to the economy. The private sector is expected to be a part of the growth story of the country and that is why the government has set an ambitious growth target but has not stepped up the public spending. Among the given options we can see that Option D is our pick whereas the rest can be eliminated for the fact that they are not correct as per the information given in the passage. This makes Option D the correct choice among the given options.
Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions. <br><br><br> For an economy that is undeniably in slowdown mode, it does come as a surprise that the first Budget of the Modi 2.0 government has eschewed any sort of pump priming, instead preferring to leave the job of stepping up investment to the private sector. The template for a growth process driven by monetary accommodation and fiscal prudence was spelt out rather clearly in the Economic Survey, tabled in Parliament on Thursday. If one were to compare this growth slide with the post-GFC period, it is clear that the Centre has consciously chosen not to go down the path laid out by the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. It is believed, and not without reason, that the fiscal stimulus then administered led to both deficit and inflation going out of gear. Expenditures were poorly managed, with corruption in delivery processes no doubt playing a role in the double digit inflation rates of the UPA-2 years. Yet, from there, it seems a tad excessive to altogether shut out the fiscal option to get the economy moving, particularly when there are better technological processes in place to ensure quality spending. An increase of Rs. 3.3 lakh crore in the projected expenditure of the Centre in 2019- 20 over the revised estimates of 2018-19 is insignificant when seen against the Rs. 3.15 lakh crore increase in 2018-19 over the actuals of 2017-18 — given inflation and nominal GDP growth of 12 per cent projected in 2019-20. The fiscal squeeze is underscored in relation to capital expenditure: it has been slashed to Rs. 8.7 lakh crore in 2019-20 from Rs. 9.2 lakh crore in the revised estimates for 2018- 19, with Railways bearing the brunt. It would appear that uncertain revenue collections on both the direct taxes and GST fronts have prompted this fiscal conservatism. While the tax revenue estimates for 2019-20 are conservative in relation to the interim Budget, they seem ambitious when seen against the revisions made by the Controller General of Accounts for 2018-19. The Centre has budgeted a disinvestment mop-up of Rs. 1.06 lakh crore to plug this gap. <br><br> Indeed, the push to privatisation marks one of the boldest aspects of this Budget, highlighting the quiet confidence of a government that is looking at the medium term to execute structural reforms. In a significant departure, government holding would include shares held by public sector entities as well. Air India has been squarely placed on the bloc and others shall follow suit. The 51 per cent threshold too may be relooked at. This marks a break, after more than a decade of pussyfooting over disinvestment. While NDA 1 botched it up, leading to adverse political fallout, this government is expected to learn from earlier mistakes. <br><br> The Budget is rich in micro details, having proposed several positive steps to galvanize the capital and debt markets, the latter aimed at pushing infrastructure finance. The Centre will back by one-time guarantee the purchase of high-rated pooled assets of NBFCs by PSBs, a move that could ease the liquidity crisis in the sector and help MSMEs conduct their business. Banks will be recapitalized to the extent of Rs. 70,000 crore to boost credit. With a view to expanding financing options, mandatory public float level has been raised from 25 per cent to 35 per cent. This is a far-sighted move, aimed at raising retail participation. Possibly responding to criticism post-DeMo, that the taxman had become an obstreperous presence in the business ecosystem, the Finance Minister announced steps to make procedures easier, including making PAN and Aadhaar inter-operable. Start-ups too have much to cheer about, as do women in the SHG space. However, it seems that some proposals have not been thought through. The prospect of a tax benefit from a sale of a house being ploughed into a start-up could give rise to malpractices<br><br> However, the big picture that emerges from both the Survey and the Budget is that big ticket public spending in economic sectors will be restricted, possibly to affordable housing, road building and PMKisan. Worryingly, the role of education, public health and skills-building in powering a ‘$5 trillion economy’ has not received much attention. The transformative potential of Swachh Bharat in recycling waste has received welcome emphasis. But how ‘nal se jal’ for all by 2024 will become a reality is not very clear. The Modi government has brought about game-changing reforms by way of the bankruptcy code, GST and direct benefit transfers. In the rural space, income transfers indicate a paradigm shift. This vision needs to be carried forward, with private players – creating a stock market niche for social activities is an innovative step. Finally, it is not clear whether private sector will pick up the tab. In the US and EU, negative interest rates didn’t spur investment. Triggers to investment have remained one of those mysteries in economics.
Which among the following is/are correct regarding the ‘nal se jal’ scheme announced by the government in the Union Budget? <br><br> I. The scheme will be implemented by the Government of India through the state governments. <br> II. The government wants to ensure that it is implemented within the next five years i.e. before the end of its term. <br> III. The author is very much hopeful regarding the scheme that it will do wonders for the country in the years to come.
Explanation: Refer to, The transformative potential of Swachh Bharat in recycling waste has received welcome emphasis. But how ‘nal se jal’ for all by 2024 will become a reality is not very clear. Statement I is not correct since it is not mentioned how the scheme is going to be rolled out in the country. The author has also mentioned that the execution part of the said scheme is not clear at all and that is why he is not at all expectant regarding the said scheme. Statement II is correct since the government has set a target in order to finish the scheme by the year 2024. In 2024, this government is also going to finish its term and that is why it won’t be an aberration to say that the government wants to conclude the implementation part by the end of its term. Statement III is not correct for the fact that the author is not at all hopeful regarding the scheme of providing water to the citizens of the country due to the fact that the implementation part is not at all clear in the Union Budget. This makes Option E the correct choice among the given options
Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions. <br><br><br> For an economy that is undeniably in slowdown mode, it does come as a surprise that the first Budget of the Modi 2.0 government has eschewed any sort of pump priming, instead preferring to leave the job of stepping up investment to the private sector. The template for a growth process driven by monetary accommodation and fiscal prudence was spelt out rather clearly in the Economic Survey, tabled in Parliament on Thursday. If one were to compare this growth slide with the post-GFC period, it is clear that the Centre has consciously chosen not to go down the path laid out by the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. It is believed, and not without reason, that the fiscal stimulus then administered led to both deficit and inflation going out of gear. Expenditures were poorly managed, with corruption in delivery processes no doubt playing a role in the double digit inflation rates of the UPA-2 years. Yet, from there, it seems a tad excessive to altogether shut out the fiscal option to get the economy moving, particularly when there are better technological processes in place to ensure quality spending. An increase of Rs. 3.3 lakh crore in the projected expenditure of the Centre in 2019- 20 over the revised estimates of 2018-19 is insignificant when seen against the Rs. 3.15 lakh crore increase in 2018-19 over the actuals of 2017-18 — given inflation and nominal GDP growth of 12 per cent projected in 2019-20. The fiscal squeeze is underscored in relation to capital expenditure: it has been slashed to Rs. 8.7 lakh crore in 2019-20 from Rs. 9.2 lakh crore in the revised estimates for 2018- 19, with Railways bearing the brunt. It would appear that uncertain revenue collections on both the direct taxes and GST fronts have prompted this fiscal conservatism. While the tax revenue estimates for 2019-20 are conservative in relation to the interim Budget, they seem ambitious when seen against the revisions made by the Controller General of Accounts for 2018-19. The Centre has budgeted a disinvestment mop-up of Rs. 1.06 lakh crore to plug this gap. <br><br> Indeed, the push to privatisation marks one of the boldest aspects of this Budget, highlighting the quiet confidence of a government that is looking at the medium term to execute structural reforms. In a significant departure, government holding would include shares held by public sector entities as well. Air India has been squarely placed on the bloc and others shall follow suit. The 51 per cent threshold too may be relooked at. This marks a break, after more than a decade of pussyfooting over disinvestment. While NDA 1 botched it up, leading to adverse political fallout, this government is expected to learn from earlier mistakes. <br><br> The Budget is rich in micro details, having proposed several positive steps to galvanize the capital and debt markets, the latter aimed at pushing infrastructure finance. The Centre will back by one-time guarantee the purchase of high-rated pooled assets of NBFCs by PSBs, a move that could ease the liquidity crisis in the sector and help MSMEs conduct their business. Banks will be recapitalized to the extent of Rs. 70,000 crore to boost credit. With a view to expanding financing options, mandatory public float level has been raised from 25 per cent to 35 per cent. This is a far-sighted move, aimed at raising retail participation. Possibly responding to criticism post-DeMo, that the taxman had become an obstreperous presence in the business ecosystem, the Finance Minister announced steps to make procedures easier, including making PAN and Aadhaar inter-operable. Start-ups too have much to cheer about, as do women in the SHG space. However, it seems that some proposals have not been thought through. The prospect of a tax benefit from a sale of a house being ploughed into a start-up could give rise to malpractices<br><br> However, the big picture that emerges from both the Survey and the Budget is that big ticket public spending in economic sectors will be restricted, possibly to affordable housing, road building and PMKisan. Worryingly, the role of education, public health and skills-building in powering a ‘$5 trillion economy’ has not received much attention. The transformative potential of Swachh Bharat in recycling waste has received welcome emphasis. But how ‘nal se jal’ for all by 2024 will become a reality is not very clear. The Modi government has brought about game-changing reforms by way of the bankruptcy code, GST and direct benefit transfers. In the rural space, income transfers indicate a paradigm shift. This vision needs to be carried forward, with private players – creating a stock market niche for social activities is an innovative step. Finally, it is not clear whether private sector will pick up the tab. In the US and EU, negative interest rates didn’t spur investment. Triggers to investment have remained one of those mysteries in economics.
Which among the following is/are correct regarding the reforms introduced in the Union Budget by the government? <br><br> I. The MSME Sector is going to get a boost since the government has decided to buy the high-rated assets of the NBFCs. <br> II. The banks in the country are going to be capitalized by the government so that they can start lending more. <br> III. The government has decided to decrease the income tax levels for the middle-class population of the country.
Explanation: Statement I is correct since it is mentioned in the passage that the government has decided to purchase the high-rated assets from the NBFCs and it is going to give a one-time guarantee to such organizations. Therefore the MSME sector is going to get a boost since it will get credit from the NBFCs more. Refer to, The Budget is rich in micro details, having proposed several positive steps to galvanize the capital and debt markets, the latter aimed at pushing infrastructure finance. The Centre will back by one-time guarantee the purchase of high-rated pooled assets of NBFCs by PSBs, a move that could ease the liquidity crisis in the sector and help MSMEs conduct their business. Banks will be recapitalized to the extent of Rs. 70,000 crore to boost credit. Statement II is also correct for the fact that the banks are going to be given capital by the government so that they are also interested in lending to the MSME sector of the country and also to the others. It will ensure that the growth cycle of the economy is in track. Statement III is not correct since there is no reference in the passage regarding the decrease in the income tax slab for the middle class population of the country. So it cannot be termed as correct. This makes Option A the correct choice among the given options.
Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions. <br><br><br> For an economy that is undeniably in slowdown mode, it does come as a surprise that the first Budget of the Modi 2.0 government has eschewed any sort of pump priming, instead preferring to leave the job of stepping up investment to the private sector. The template for a growth process driven by monetary accommodation and fiscal prudence was spelt out rather clearly in the Economic Survey, tabled in Parliament on Thursday. If one were to compare this growth slide with the post-GFC period, it is clear that the Centre has consciously chosen not to go down the path laid out by the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. It is believed, and not without reason, that the fiscal stimulus then administered led to both deficit and inflation going out of gear. Expenditures were poorly managed, with corruption in delivery processes no doubt playing a role in the double digit inflation rates of the UPA-2 years. Yet, from there, it seems a tad excessive to altogether shut out the fiscal option to get the economy moving, particularly when there are better technological processes in place to ensure quality spending. An increase of Rs. 3.3 lakh crore in the projected expenditure of the Centre in 2019- 20 over the revised estimates of 2018-19 is insignificant when seen against the Rs. 3.15 lakh crore increase in 2018-19 over the actuals of 2017-18 — given inflation and nominal GDP growth of 12 per cent projected in 2019-20. The fiscal squeeze is underscored in relation to capital expenditure: it has been slashed to Rs. 8.7 lakh crore in 2019-20 from Rs. 9.2 lakh crore in the revised estimates for 2018- 19, with Railways bearing the brunt. It would appear that uncertain revenue collections on both the direct taxes and GST fronts have prompted this fiscal conservatism. While the tax revenue estimates for 2019-20 are conservative in relation to the interim Budget, they seem ambitious when seen against the revisions made by the Controller General of Accounts for 2018-19. The Centre has budgeted a disinvestment mop-up of Rs. 1.06 lakh crore to plug this gap. <br><br> Indeed, the push to privatisation marks one of the boldest aspects of this Budget, highlighting the quiet confidence of a government that is looking at the medium term to execute structural reforms. In a significant departure, government holding would include shares held by public sector entities as well. Air India has been squarely placed on the bloc and others shall follow suit. The 51 per cent threshold too may be relooked at. This marks a break, after more than a decade of pussyfooting over disinvestment. While NDA 1 botched it up, leading to adverse political fallout, this government is expected to learn from earlier mistakes. <br><br> The Budget is rich in micro details, having proposed several positive steps to galvanize the capital and debt markets, the latter aimed at pushing infrastructure finance. The Centre will back by one-time guarantee the purchase of high-rated pooled assets of NBFCs by PSBs, a move that could ease the liquidity crisis in the sector and help MSMEs conduct their business. Banks will be recapitalized to the extent of Rs. 70,000 crore to boost credit. With a view to expanding financing options, mandatory public float level has been raised from 25 per cent to 35 per cent. This is a far-sighted move, aimed at raising retail participation. Possibly responding to criticism post-DeMo, that the taxman had become an obstreperous presence in the business ecosystem, the Finance Minister announced steps to make procedures easier, including making PAN and Aadhaar inter-operable. Start-ups too have much to cheer about, as do women in the SHG space. However, it seems that some proposals have not been thought through. The prospect of a tax benefit from a sale of a house being ploughed into a start-up could give rise to malpractices<br><br> However, the big picture that emerges from both the Survey and the Budget is that big ticket public spending in economic sectors will be restricted, possibly to affordable housing, road building and PMKisan. Worryingly, the role of education, public health and skills-building in powering a ‘$5 trillion economy’ has not received much attention. The transformative potential of Swachh Bharat in recycling waste has received welcome emphasis. But how ‘nal se jal’ for all by 2024 will become a reality is not very clear. The Modi government has brought about game-changing reforms by way of the bankruptcy code, GST and direct benefit transfers. In the rural space, income transfers indicate a paradigm shift. This vision needs to be carried forward, with private players – creating a stock market niche for social activities is an innovative step. Finally, it is not clear whether private sector will pick up the tab. In the US and EU, negative interest rates didn’t spur investment. Triggers to investment have remained one of those mysteries in economics.
Which among the following will give us an idea regarding the disinvestment by the government, as described in the passage?
Explanation: Refer to, Indeed, the push to privatisation marks one of the boldest aspects of this Budget, highlighting the quiet confidence of a government that is looking at the medium term to execute structural reforms. It is clear that the government is going to give a push to the privatization of the economy by selling stake in various public sector companies of the country. It is even ready to relax norms for the same. Among the given options, we can see that Option C gives us the correct choice whereas the rest are incorrect for being out of context. This makes Option C the correct choice among the given options.
30 questions in 15 minutes, All India rank, streak and explanations. Free: play it here after logging in, or in the app.
Free. Mobile number + OTP, no password.
