UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Survey predicts upbeat India, troubled world

Q1. With reference to the Economic Survey 2025-26 vis-à-vis its predecessor editions, consider the following statements: 1. It upgrades India's medium-term growth potential from the 6.5% benchmark of earlier Surveys to about 7%. 2. Its projected FY27 real GDP growth range is higher than its own FY26 real GDP growth estimate. 3. Unlike previous editions, it adopts an explicit probabilistic three-scenario framework to characterise the global outlook. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. It upgrades India's medium-term growth potential from the 6.5% benchmark of earlier Surveys to about 7%.
  2. Its projected FY27 real GDP growth range is higher than its own FY26 real GDP growth estimate.
  3. Unlike previous editions, it adopts an explicit probabilistic three-scenario framework to characterise the global outlook.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Who is the principal author of the Economic Survey 2025-26 tabled in Parliament on 29 January 2026?

  • A. Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister
  • B. V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Adviser
  • C. Sanjeev Sanyal, Member, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister
  • D. Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India

Q3. In the Economic Survey 2025-26, the expression 'systemic shock cascade' refers to which one of the following?

  • A. A scenario in which financial, technological and geopolitical stresses mutually amplify one another rather than unfolding independently
  • B. A coordinated tightening of monetary policy by major central banks to anchor global inflation expectations
  • C. A sequential default of emerging-market sovereign bonds triggered by a reserve-currency appreciation
  • D. A domestic chain of bank failures arising from a sudden spike in non-performing assets

Q4. How many distinct probabilistic global scenarios for 2026 are outlined in the Economic Survey 2025-26?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Five
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