UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Moody’s projects India’s GDP to grow 6.4% in FY27

Q1. In early February 2026, the projection that India would be the single fastest-growing G-20 economy in FY27 with GDP growth of exactly 6.4% was released in a Banking System Outlook report by which one of the following?

  • A. Moody's Ratings
  • B. S&P Global Ratings
  • C. Fitch Ratings
  • D. the Reserve Bank of India

Q2. According to Moody's February 2026 projection, India was identified as the fastest-growing economy within which one of the following groupings?

  • A. G-20
  • B. G-7
  • C. BRICS
  • D. SAARC

Q3. Moody's revised its India GDP growth forecast downward to 6% in 2026. This revision was primarily attributed to which one of the following developments?

  • A. Escalation of the West Asia (Israel) conflict, raising energy import costs and inflation risks
  • B. A sharp series of interest-rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve
  • C. A domestic non-performing-asset crisis in India's public sector banks
  • D. A widespread failure of the south-west monsoon

Q4. In Moody's rationale for cutting India's growth forecast, the channel through which a West Asia conflict is expected to raise Indian inflation is best described as:

  • A. Higher crude oil and LPG import costs, as West Asia supplies over half of India's crude imports and over 90% of its LPG
  • B. A collapse in India's software services exports to the Gulf region
  • C. A sudden withdrawal of foreign portfolio investment from Indian equity markets
  • D. A fall in remittances from Indian workers in the Gulf countries

Q5. With reference to Moody's sovereign rating of India, consider the following statements: 1. Baa3 is the lowest investment-grade rating on Moody's scale. 2. Moody's upgraded India's rating to Baa2 in November 2017. 3. India's current Moody's sovereign rating is Ba1, a sub-investment (junk) grade. 4. In June 2020, Moody's downgraded India's rating back to Baa3. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Baa3 is the lowest investment-grade rating on Moody's scale.
  2. Moody's upgraded India's rating to Baa2 in November 2017.
  3. India's current Moody's sovereign rating is Ba1, a sub-investment (junk) grade.
  4. In June 2020, Moody's downgraded India's rating back to Baa3.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q6. On Moody's rating scale, India's sovereign rating of 'Baa3' is best described as:

  • A. The lowest rung of investment grade, one notch above speculative (junk) grade
  • B. The highest investment-grade rating available
  • C. A speculative-grade (junk) rating below investment grade
  • D. A rating denoting that the issuer is in default

Q7. Among the 'Big Three' global credit rating agencies, which one is dual-headquartered in New York and London?

  • A. Fitch Ratings
  • B. Moody's Ratings
  • C. S&P Global Ratings
  • D. DBRS Morningstar

Q8. Consider the following as members of the 'Big Three' global credit rating agencies: 1. Moody's Ratings 2. S&P Global Ratings 3. Fitch Ratings 4. CRISIL Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Moody's Ratings
  2. S&P Global Ratings
  3. Fitch Ratings
  4. CRISIL
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1, 3 and 4
  • D. 2, 3 and 4

Q9. With reference to Moody's February 2026 Banking System Outlook for India, consider the following: 1. India's banking sector asset quality would remain resilient. 2. Some stress persists among MSME borrowers. 3. Banks hold sufficient reserves to absorb loan losses. 4. Moody's assigned a 'negative' outlook to India's banking sector. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. India's banking sector asset quality would remain resilient.
  2. Some stress persists among MSME borrowers.
  3. Banks hold sufficient reserves to absorb loan losses.
  4. Moody's assigned a 'negative' outlook to India's banking sector.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 3 and 4

Q10. Moody's February 2026 Banking System Outlook projected India's system-wide non-performing assets (NPAs) to remain within which of the following ranges?

  • A. 2–2.5%
  • B. 4–4.5%
  • C. 6–6.5%
  • D. 8–9%

Q11. Apart from Moody's original estimate, an FY27 (2026-27) GDP growth projection for India of 6.4% was also made by which one of the following?

  • A. International Monetary Fund (IMF)
  • B. World Bank
  • C. Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
  • D. Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Q12. With reference to India's growth relative to other economies, consider the following statements: 1. India's projected FY27 growth exceeds China's projected 2026 growth of about 4.2%. 2. India is projected to be the fastest-growing G-20 economy in 2026, ahead of Indonesia. 3. India's FY27 growth is projected to be higher than its FY26 growth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India's projected FY27 growth exceeds China's projected 2026 growth of about 4.2%.
  2. India is projected to be the fastest-growing G-20 economy in 2026, ahead of Indonesia.
  3. India's FY27 growth is projected to be higher than its FY26 growth.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3