2017 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2017 · GS Paper I

Question 27: Economy and Social Development

The term ‘Domestic Content Requirement’ is sometimes seen in the news with reference to

aDeveloping solar power production in our country
bGranting licences to foreign T.V. channels in our country
cExporting our food products to other countries
dPermitting foreign educational institutions to set up their campuses in our country

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

Domestic Content Requirement is a rule that equipment or components be sourced locally. India's National Solar Mission required solar projects to use domestically made cells and modules, and the United States challenged this at the WTO; a WTO ruling in 2016 went against India's requirement. So the term appears in the news in connection with developing solar power in India. It is not about TV channel licences, food exports or foreign university campuses. Remember: DCR = local-content rule in solar power, disputed at the WTO.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Right: the term relates to local-content rules in India's solar power programme.
  • (b) Wrong: licensing of foreign TV channels does not involve DCR.
  • (c) Wrong: food exports are not governed by a DCR.
  • (d) Wrong: foreign educational campuses are not linked to DCR.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.