UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Fiscal deficit at 63% of full-year target: CGA

Q1. According to the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) monthly accounts for April–January 2025-26, which one of the following constituted the LARGEST single component of the Union Government's total receipts during the period?

  • A. Net tax revenue to the Centre
  • B. Non-tax revenue
  • C. Non-debt capital receipts
  • D. Disinvestment proceeds

Q2. With reference to the Union Government's fiscal position as released by the CGA for April–January 2025-26 vis-à-vis the corresponding period of the previous year, consider the following statements: 1. The fiscal deficit at January-end 2025-26 stood at 63% of the Budget Estimate, lower than 74.5% recorded in the same period of FY 2024-25. 2. The fiscal deficit target as a percentage of GDP in BE 2025-26 (4.4%) is lower than that estimated for BE 2026-27 (4.3%). 3. Total receipts up to January 2026 stood at 79.5% of the corresponding Revised Estimate for 2025-26. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The fiscal deficit at January-end 2025-26 stood at 63% of the Budget Estimate, lower than 74.5% recorded in the same period of FY 2024-25.
  2. The fiscal deficit target as a percentage of GDP in BE 2025-26 (4.4%) is lower than that estimated for BE 2026-27 (4.3%).
  3. Total receipts up to January 2026 stood at 79.5% of the corresponding Revised Estimate for 2025-26.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The Controller General of Accounts (CGA), which releases the monthly Union Government accounts used to track the fiscal deficit, functions under which one of the following?

  • A. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
  • B. Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance
  • C. Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
  • D. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation

Q4. Consider the following definitions used in the Union Budget: 1. Fiscal Deficit = Total Expenditure − Total Receipts (excluding borrowings) 2. Revenue Deficit = Revenue Expenditure − Revenue Receipts 3. Primary Deficit = Fiscal Deficit − Interest Payments 4. Effective Revenue Deficit = Revenue Deficit + Grants for creation of capital assets Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Fiscal Deficit = Total Expenditure − Total Receipts (excluding borrowings)
  2. Revenue Deficit = Revenue Expenditure − Revenue Receipts
  3. Primary Deficit = Fiscal Deficit − Interest Payments
  4. Effective Revenue Deficit = Revenue Deficit + Grants for creation of capital assets
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • C. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4