2019 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2019 · GS Paper I

Question 69: Polity and Governance

In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.?

  1. 1.Ad Hoc Committees set up by the Parliament
  2. 2.Parliamentary Department Related Standing Committees
  3. 3.Finance Commission
  4. 4.Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission
  5. 5.NITI Aayog

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a1 and 2
b1, 3 and 4
c3, 4 and 5
d2 and 5

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (a).

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Independent regulators are accountable to Parliament, and their working is reviewed by ad hoc committees set up by Parliament and by the Departmentally Related Standing Committees. The Finance Commission recommends the division of taxes between the Centre and the states, the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission was a one-time expert body that drafted reforms, and NITI Aayog is a policy think tank, so none of these reviews regulators.

  • 1. Parliament's ad hoc committees can review regulators.
  • 2. Departmentally Related Standing Committees review regulators.
  • 3. The Finance Commission recommends tax devolution.
  • 4. The FSLRC was a one-time body that drafted reforms.
  • 5. NITI Aayog is a policy think tank.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (c) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: Parliament's ad hoc committees can review regulators.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (b) goes: it leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: Departmentally Related Standing Committees review regulators.

Only (a) is left. You didn’t need statements 3, 4 or 5.

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) Correct: ad hoc parliamentary committees and standing committees review regulators.
  • (b) The Finance Commission and FSLRC do not review regulators.
  • (c) None of the Finance Commission, FSLRC or NITI Aayog reviews regulators.
  • (d) NITI Aayog does not review regulators.

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

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2019, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.