2015 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2015 · GS Paper I

Question 60: Economy and Social Development

With reference to the Union Government, consider the following statements :

  1. 1.The Department of Revenue is responsible for the preparation of Union Budget that is presented to the Parliament.
  2. 2.No amount can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without the authorization from the Parliament of India.
  3. 3.All the disbursements made from Public Account also need the authorization from the Parliament of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a1 and 2 only
b2 and 3 only
c2 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).

Under Article 114(3), no money can be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund of India without Parliament's appropriation, so statement 2 is correct. The Union Budget is prepared by the Department of Economic Affairs of the Finance Ministry, not the Department of Revenue, so statement 1 is wrong. The Public Account is operated by the executive, and payments from it do not need Parliament's authorisation, so statement 3 is wrong.

  • 1. The Department of Economic Affairs prepares the Budget, not the Department of Revenue.
  • 2. Withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund need parliamentary appropriation.
  • 3. The executive spends from the Public Account without Parliament's vote.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.

    What you needed to know: The executive spends from the Public Account without Parliament's vote.

    The red flag in statement 3 is “all”. In UPSC’s papers, statements with “all” were true 41% of the time (76 statements). A hint, not a rule.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) goes: it includes 1.

    What you needed to know: The Department of Economic Affairs prepares the Budget, not the Department of Revenue.

Only (c) is left. You didn’t need statement 2.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Wrong: the Budget is prepared by the Department of Economic Affairs.
  • (b) Wrong: Public Account payments do not need parliamentary authorisation.
  • (c) Correct: only the Consolidated Fund rule in statement 2 holds.
  • (d) Wrong: statements 1 and 3 are false.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2015, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.