UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Core upgrade

Q1. With reference to the individual weights of core industries in the old (2011-12 base) and revised (2022-23 base) series of the Index of Core Industries (ICI), consider the following statements: 1. Under the 2011-12 base series, Refinery (Petroleum) Products carried the largest individual weight among the eight core industries. 2. In the revised 2022-23 base series, the weight of Electricity has risen to more than 30% of the index, up from under 20% earlier. 3. After the addition of Iron Ore, the combined weight of the core industries in the IIP basket rose from about 40% to nearly 44%. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under the 2011-12 base series, Refinery (Petroleum) Products carried the largest individual weight among the eight core industries.
  2. In the revised 2022-23 base series, the weight of Electricity has risen to more than 30% of the index, up from under 20% earlier.
  3. After the addition of Iron Ore, the combined weight of the core industries in the IIP basket rose from about 40% to nearly 44%.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. Consider the following industries: 1. Iron Ore 2. Aluminium 3. Refinery Products 4. Textiles Which of the above is/are correctly identified as being among the nine core industries in the revised (2022-23 base) Index of Core Industries?

  1. Iron Ore
  2. Aluminium
  3. Refinery Products
  4. Textiles
  • A. 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 1 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q3. With reference to the Index of Core Industries (ICI) and its relationship with the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), consider the following statements: 1. The ICI is compiled and released by the Office of the Economic Adviser under the DPIIT. 2. Under the 2011-12 series, the eight core industries accounted for 40.27% of the weight of items in the IIP. 3. The ICI is compiled and released by the Reserve Bank of India as a leading indicator of the IIP. 4. The ICI is released ahead of the monthly IIP and acts as a leading indicator of it. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. The ICI is compiled and released by the Office of the Economic Adviser under the DPIIT.
  2. Under the 2011-12 series, the eight core industries accounted for 40.27% of the weight of items in the IIP.
  3. The ICI is compiled and released by the Reserve Bank of India as a leading indicator of the IIP.
  4. The ICI is released ahead of the monthly IIP and acts as a leading indicator of it.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q4. With reference to the Index of Core Industries (ICI) and the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), consider the following statements: 1. The IIP is compiled by the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. 2. In the revised series, the combined weight of the nine core industries in the IIP basket fell to 32.88%. 3. Under the revised series, the ICI weights are derived from the IIP 2022-23 series weights. 4. The ICI is released on a quarterly basis, whereas the IIP is released monthly. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The IIP is compiled by the National Statistical Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
  2. In the revised series, the combined weight of the nine core industries in the IIP basket fell to 32.88%.
  3. Under the revised series, the ICI weights are derived from the IIP 2022-23 series weights.
  4. The ICI is released on a quarterly basis, whereas the IIP is released monthly.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 4 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 only

Q5. In the revised 2022-23 base series of the Index of Core Industries, only Raw Coal is retained in the coal component to remove double-counting. How many other grades of coal were excluded in this revision?

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

Q6. With reference to the methodological changes in the revised (2022-23 base) Index of Core Industries compared with the earlier (2011-12 base) series, consider the following statements: 1. Steel is now measured using gross production data instead of the net production used earlier. 2. Only Raw Coal is retained, with Coal Middling and Washed Coal excluded. 3. The revised ICI adopts base year 2024, in line with the new Consumer Price Index series. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Steel is now measured using gross production data instead of the net production used earlier.
  2. Only Raw Coal is retained, with Coal Middling and Washed Coal excluded.
  3. The revised ICI adopts base year 2024, in line with the new Consumer Price Index series.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q7. The June 2026 print of the Index of Core Industries, the first under the revised 2022-23 series, was released by which of the following?

  • A. National Statistical Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • B. Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
  • C. Monetary Policy Department, Reserve Bank of India
  • D. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance

Q8. In the June 2026 Index of Core Industries, which core industry recorded the highest year-on-year output growth?

  • A. Cement
  • B. Electricity
  • C. Steel
  • D. Iron Ore

Q9. With reference to India's 2026 cycle of statistical base-year revisions, consider the following statements: 1. The new GDP (national accounts) series adopted 2022-23 as its base year. 2. The new Index of Industrial Production series adopted 2022-23 as its base year. 3. The new Consumer Price Index series adopted 2022-23 as its base year. 4. The revised Index of Core Industries adopted 2022-23 as its base year. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The new GDP (national accounts) series adopted 2022-23 as its base year.
  2. The new Index of Industrial Production series adopted 2022-23 as its base year.
  3. The new Consumer Price Index series adopted 2022-23 as its base year.
  4. The revised Index of Core Industries adopted 2022-23 as its base year.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 1 and 4

Q10. The comprehensive 2026 base-year revision of GDP, the Index of Industrial Production and the Consumer Price Index was undertaken by which of the following bodies?

  • A. Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT
  • B. Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
  • C. Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
  • D. NITI Aayog

Q11. With reference to the differences between the Index of Core Industries (ICI) and the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), consider the following statements: 1. The IIP covers manufacturing, mining and electricity, whereas the ICI covers only core infrastructure industries. 2. The core industries form part of the IIP basket. 3. Both the ICI and the IIP are released on a monthly basis. 4. The IIP is released ahead of the ICI each month and serves as a leading indicator of it. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The IIP covers manufacturing, mining and electricity, whereas the ICI covers only core infrastructure industries.
  2. The core industries form part of the IIP basket.
  3. Both the ICI and the IIP are released on a monthly basis.
  4. The IIP is released ahead of the ICI each month and serves as a leading indicator of it.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 4 only

Q12. Consider the following core industries and their administrative ministries: 1. Coal — Ministry of Coal 2. Electricity — Ministry of Power 3. Fertilizers — Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare 4. Crude Oil — Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Which of the pairs given above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Coal — Ministry of Coal
  2. Electricity — Ministry of Power
  3. Fertilizers — Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare
  4. Crude Oil — Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
  • A. 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 only
  • D. 3 and 4