UPSC Mains 2021 · GS III · Q1 · 10 marks · 150 words

Explain the difference between computing methodology of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) before the year 2015 and after the year 2015.

हिन्दी में

भारत की सकल घरेलू उत्पाद (जी.डी.पी.) के वर्ष 2015 के पूर्व तथा वर्ष 2015 के पश्चात् परिकलन विधि में अन्तर की व्याख्या कीजिए ।

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Examine the advantages of adopting new computation methodology for calculation of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2015. Also, discuss the limitations of using GDP as a measure of development of a country.”

Raghav JhunjhunwalaAIR 4 · CSE 2025 · 259 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a date or context

The GDP computation methodology underwent structural change in 2015 to harmonize it with the existent International practices.

Some changes:

Body · points and prose

(1) shift from factor cost Approach to market Price Basis. GDP_FC → GDP_mp. (2) change in source of data: ex: Annual survey of Industries (ASI) data to be used. (3) change in Base-Yr to 2011-12.

India has becomes the 5th largest country by nominal GDP and 3rd largest nation by GDP in PPP terms.

→ By 2070, we can become No.2, as predicted by IMF.

Limitations of using GDP as a tool to measure development

(1) Doesn't focus on composition → Country can produce only military equipments and can still be no.1

(2) Doesn't focus on Distribution → A few people/units can produce everything and yet achieve high GDP.

(3) Doesn't focus on Environmental sustainability → NO account of Natural capital depletion → Increase in pollution which reduces both capacity & efficiency of production.

(4) Doesn't include the value of Externalities: Either positive or negative which affects the production & consumption decisions.

(5) Too simplistic; yet too complex ↓ Only output changes is measured. ↓ Calculation flows Ex: Inclusion of mining in secondary sector.

What are some better methods

(1) HDI (Human Devt. Index)

Diagram
- Focuses on 3 aspects - Health - Education - Std. of living

much comprehensive measure.

(2) Green GDP → Adjusting for environmental capital degradation from the GDP figures.

(3) Adjusted Net savings

Close · a summary

= Physical growth + Human capital growth - Natural Reduction.

Thus; GDP methodology can be further improved and also be complemented with other sources.

But, because of its comparability, it remains a preferred tool.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2021, General Studies Paper III, Q1. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.