- Banks such as Bank of Maharashtra and Punjab and Sind Bank that have (A) spreadmanpower, network, and (B) resources thin could be turned into (C) vibrant regional institutions to serve agriculture, trade and (D) commerce.
(a) Only D-A (b) Only C-B (c) Both A-C
(d) Only C-D (e) All are correct
- Liberal parties have (A) roots faced a unique ‘strategic conundrum’ (B) arisingfrom their (C) unique beliefs and movement (D) always.
(a) Only D-A
(b) Only C-B
(c) Both C-A and D-B
(d) Only C-D
(e) All are correct
Directions (3-10) Read the following passage and answer the following questions based on the given passage. Some of the words are highlighted which would help you to answer some of the questions given.
People who have been yearning for major economic reforms from the Narendra Modi government, it seems, will have to wait to have their dreams come true. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday presented the third round of stimulus measures to resuscitate the struggling economy, but once again these have largely failed to live up to the initial hype around them. The previous two rounds of the stimulus plan, presented at press conferences held by the Minister over the last few weeks, focused primarily on reviving the automobile sector, boosting the confidence of foreign investors who were spooked by the Budget announcements in July, and improving the health of dangerously fragile state-owned banks by doing everything short of privatising them. This time around the focus has been on helping out the underperforming export and real estate sectors through piecemeal fiscal reforms. Among other things, Ms. Sitharaman announced a new tax refund scheme and greater priority sector lending for the export sector to incentivise exports. It is expected that the new tax breaks to the exports sector will cause a dent of up to ₹50,000 crore to the government’s revenue. Further, external commercial borrowing norms have been eased to make it easier for Indian real estate companies to tap funds from abroad, and funds worth ₹10,000 crore have also been allocated to aid the completion of affordable housing projects. With lack of demand and major supply-side stoppage being the primary issues facing exports and real estate, it is doubtful whether the present measures will be enough to revive these flailing sectors.
Overall, cutting across all three stimulus rounds announced till date, the government has been relying almost entirely on providing fiscal relief, in the form of tax cuts coupled with a tiny amount of government spending, to wade through what seems like a structural crisis in the economy. The hope seems to be that these measures combined with a looser monetary policy stance adopted by the RBI will boost spending and revive growth. This is, however, a far cry from what many expected from a government that promised radical structural reforms when it rose to power in 2014. Without enacting any major supply-side reforms like land and labour reforms that can raise potential growth, it is also hard to see how greater spending can raise growth for very long. The government may believe that the present slowdown, marked by five consecutive quarters of dropping growth, is merely a cyclical one. But given the size of its victory in two consecutive elections, the government should aim higher by trying to push through long-pending structural reforms that can raise India’s growth trajectory to the next level.
- What steps were taken by the government to revive the economy as per the given passage?
(I) Encouraging the foreign investors.
(II) Privatising the state owned banks.
(III) Resuscitating the automobile sector.
(a) Only (I)
(b) Only (II)
(c) Both (I) and (II)
(d) Both (II) and (III)
(e) All (I), (II) and (III)
- What would be the effect of the tax refund scheme as per the given passage?
(a) The products produced will be of inferior quality.
(b) The GDP of the country would be enhanced.
(c) The end users will have to bear the burden and will have to adjust accordingly.
(d) The government revenue would shrunk by huge margin.
(e) None of these
- Which of the following reform(s) has/have the author advised in the passage?
(a) Holding elections with a quantified budget.
(b) Providing funds to the schemes like affordable housing.
(c) Growth can be increased drastically by implementing supply-side reforms.
(d) Both (b) and (c)
(e) None of these
- What can be inferred from the given passage?
(a) The stimulus incentives hold promise, but structural reforms are nowhere on the horizon
(b) Taking one step forward and two steps back undermines the legitimacy of policy change
(c) While RBI looks at how to create a broad-based debt market, it should lay the regulatory groundwork
(d) A ₹50,000-crore package for housing, half funded by the Centre, is expected to rescue affordable housing projects that haven’t yet gone bust
(e) None of these
- Which of the following facts strengthen the argument that the reforms presented by the government won’t suffice?
(a) The automobile sector and banking sector are still under huge debt.
(b) The export sector is facing an issue lack of supply.
(c) The prominent bottlenecks at the supply-side.
(d) Both (b) and (c)
(e) None of these
- Which of the statement(s) explain the exact meaning of the phrase “to wade through” as used in the passage?
(I) The enemy waded through the power and yielded to them.
(II) The officials had to wade through pages of legal jargon before we could sign the contract.
(III) Wading through waist-high water is quite a workout.
(a) Only (I)
(b) Only (III)
(c) Both (I) and (III)
(d) Both (II) and (III)
(e) All of these
- Which of the following words is most similar to the word “coupled” as given in the passage?
(a) married (b) conjoined (c) adjourned
(d) prorogued (e) None of these
- Which of the following words is most OPPOSITE to the word “affordable” as given in the passage?
(a) temperate (b) exorbitant (c) nominal
(d) subjugate (e) None of these
Directions (11-20): In the following questions, a sentence is divided into four parts consisting of a highlighted word in each part. Choose the option reflecting the word which is either misspelt or grammatically incorrect. If all the highlighted words are correct, choose option (e) i.e. “all are correct” as your answer choice.
- After the unconventional35 basis points cut in intereste rates in August, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) returned to a normal 25 basis points cut .
(a) unconventional
(b) intereste
(c) Reserve
(d) returned
(e) All are correct
- Hitting out at the Modi gormentover the “massive joblessness” and the dwindling economy, Mr. Gandhi said the “GDP growth was not visible” anymore.
(a) gorment (b) joblessness (c) dwindling
(d) visible (e) All are correct
- The President commuteddeath sentences to life impresonment in at least 20 cases over the past nine years, based on the recommendations received from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
(a) commuted
(b) imprisonment
(c) recommendations
(d) Ministry
(e) All are correct
- The Supreme Court sorta response from the CBI to a petition of former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram challenging a Delhi High Court order that rejected his plea.
(a) sort (b) petition (c) challenging
(d) rejected (e) All are correct
- Hong Kong’s embatled leader invoked colonial-era emergencypowers for the first time in more than 50 years in a dramatic move intended to quell escalating violence.
(a) embatled (b) emergency (c) dramatic
(d) quell (e) All are correct
- The shadowbank may also announce a buyback of its oversees bonds next week, and plans to fund the trustee account on its Masala bond.
(a) shadow (b) announce (c) oversees
(d) trustee (e) All are correct
- Indian stokemarkets slumped in afternoon trade with Sensex falling over 700 points at day’s low.
(a) stoke (b) slumped (c) afternoon
(d) falling (e) All are correct
- The reviewprovided a detailed overview of the synthesis, properties and applications of nanoparticles (NPs) exist in different form.
(a) review (b) detailed (c) applications
(d) exist (e) All are correct
- India beganits campaign in the ICC World Test Championship on a rousing note a few weeks ago, overwhelming the West Indies 2-0 in the Caribbean.
(a) began
(b) campaign
(c) rousing
(d) overwhelming
(e) All are correct
- Few peopletoday would credit Mahatma Gandhi, whose 150th birth aniversary falls today, with great rigour in economic thinking.
(a) people (b) credit (c) aniversary
(d) rigour (e) All are correct
Directions (21-25): Two columns are given in each question and each column has three parts of a sentence. Choose the most suitable pair, which makes a grammatically correct and contextually coherent statement.
- COLUMN I
(A) The Delhi Cabinet approved a Bill to set up “India’s first” sports university in Delhi,
(B) Making the announcement, the CM said that the university will come up in 90 acres of land
(C) A passionate sportsperson can now devote all his time to playing and excelling in sports
COLUMN II
(D) emphasis on sports and to groom the students for a career in sports.
(E) which will offer graduation, post graduation and doctorate degrees in different sports.
(F) then it will be passed in the winter session of the Assembly.
(a) A-E (b) B-E (c) C-F
(d) Both (a) and (b) (e) None of these
- COLUMN I
(A) They were joined by students in a protest march through
(B) The protesters were against a recent circular by the university
(C) The teachers have been protested lack of promotions over the last 10 years,
COLUMN II
(D) will have major implications on the quality of teaching.
(E) of over 3,000 teachers are due for years now.
(F) which allows only guest appointments against full-time regular vacancies.
(a)A-E (b) B-F (c) C-F
(d) C-D (e) None of these
- COLUMN I
(A) Now every working professional here
(B) I am happy that from now on the officials working here will be
(C) The initiative will ensure working women spend quality time with the
COLUMN II
(D) children which will create a favourable atmosphere for both.
(E) who has a child at home and wants to spend quality time with him or her can do so.
(F) able to stay closer to their children, visit them, feed them and play with them.
(a) A-E (b) B-F (c) C-D
(d) A-E, B-F and C-D (e) None of these
- COLUMN I
(A) The Grey Line is a standard-gauge section and out of the 4.295 km, 2.57 km is elevated
(B) The Grey Line of Delhi Metro, which will connect Najafgarh to the rapid transit network,
(C) The Dwarka-Najafgarh corridor of Delhi Metro will be formally
COLUMN II
(D) inspecting the corridor for safety on Wednesday.
(E) the Delhi Metro network will expand to 377 km with 274 stations.
(F) will be opened for services on Friday, officials said.
(a)A-E (b) B-F (c) C-F
(d) C-D (e) None of these
- COLUMN I
(A) Though Mr. Narbir’s name did not figure in the first list of 78 candidates,
(B) The most surprising exclusion was Haryana PWD Minister Rao Narbir Singh,
(C) Though ticket was denied to Mr. Inderjit Singh’s daughter Arti Rao Singh
COLUMN II
(D) ticket to his daughter and supporters could proved harmful.
(E) it was expected that he could be fielded from Rewari or Kosli.
(F) had openly opposed him in Lok Sabah election.
(a) A-E (b) B-F (c) C-F
(d) C-D (e) None of these
Directions (26-30): In the following questions a sentence is given, some parts of the sentence are given in bold which may have grammatical or spelling error or they may be contextually incorrect. Two columns (A) and (B) are given, column (A) consists of bold parts of the sentence and column (B) consists of the appropriate replacement for the bold parts. Match the correct replacements. If the sentence is correct mark no error as your answer.
- By launching a trade war againstChina, the United States government that had pressured many a country to liberalise trade and globalise seems to have turned against its own agenda
| COLUMN (A) | COLUMN (B) |
| (1) against | (4) on |
| (2) many a country | (5) many country |
| (3) agenda | (6) perspective |
(a) 1-4 (b) 3-6 (c) 2-5
(d) (a), (b) and (c) (e) No error
- The U.S. justifies its actions against China by citingthat country’s significance as a source of inadequate reciprocated imports into the U.S. Imports from China account for more than a fifth of aggregate U.S. imports
| COLUMN (A) | COLUMN (B) |
| (1) citing | (4) siting |
| (2) inadequate | (5) inadequately |
| (3) aggregate | (6) aggregating |
(a) 1-4 (b) 2-5 (c) 3-6
(d) 2-5 and 3-6 (e) No error
- Bhutan’s unequivocalsupport to India on strategic issues had meant a lot to India on the international stage and at the United Nations.
| COLUMN (A) | COLUMN (B) |
| (1) unequivocal | (4) unequivocally |
| (2) issues had meant | (5) issues has meant |
| (3) on the international stage | (6) form the international stage |
(a) 1-4 (b) 3-6 (c) 2-5
(d) 1-4 and 2-5 (e) No error
- The fourth national tiger survey has generatedmuch euphoria, whereas the first one in 2006 had casted a pall of gloom
| COLUMN (A) | COLUMN (B) |
| (1) has generated | (4) generates |
| (2) euphoria | (5) euthanasia |
| (3) had casted | (6) had cast |
(a) 1-4 (b) 2-5 (c) 3-6
(d) (b) and (c) (e) No error
- These methods for tiger monitoring could estimate numbers using ‘distancesampling’ and the extent of tiger habitat employing ‘occupancy sampling of tiger spoor’.
| COLUMN (A) | COLUMN (B) |
| (1) could | (4) is to |
| (2) sampling | (5) sampled |
| (3) habitat | (6) habbitat |
(a) 1-4 (b) 3-6 (c) 2-5
(d) 1-4 and 2-5 (e) No error
SOLUTIONS
- (e): The given sentence is grammatically and contextually correct. Hence, option (e) is correct answer choice.
- (a): The words ‘roots’ and ‘always’ need to be interchanged to form a grammatically and contextually correct sentence. Hence, option (a) is correct answer choice.
- (e): As per the lines “focused primarily on reviving the automobile sector, boosting the confidence of foreign investors who were spooked by the Budget announcements in July, and improving the health of dangerously fragile state-owned banks by doing everything short of privatising them.” All the given statements are true. Hence, option (e) is correct answer choice.
- (d): As per the lines “It is expected that the new tax breaks to the exports sector will cause a dent of up to ₹50,000 crore to the government’s revenue.” Option (d) is correct. For options (a), (b) and (c), they are either not mentioned in the passage or are incorrect. Hence, option (d) is correct answer choice.
- (c): As per the lines “enacting any major supply-side reforms like land and labour reforms that can raise potential growth, it is also hard to see how greater spending can raise growth for very long” option (c) is correct. Option (b) is the reform already implemented by the government. Option (a) is not mentioned in the passage. Hence, option (c) is correct answer choice.
- (a): From the given options (a) can be easily inferred as the passage we can check that the government is trying to stimulate the economy but the reforms introduced need more structural architecture. Option (d) is incorrect as there is no mention of quantity of budget allocated for the housing projects. Hence, option (a) is correct answer choice.
- (d): As per the lines “With lack of demand and major supply-side stoppage being the primary issues facing exports and real estate, it is doubtful whether the present measures will be enough to revive these flailing sectors.” option (b) and (c) are correct. Hence, option (d) is correct answer choice.
- (d): The meaning if the phrase “wade through” is “to struggle to do or complete something (usually due to some factor that is slowing down progress).” And as per the statements given (I) is contextually incorrect. As for (II) and (III), these correctly explain the meaning of the given phrase. Hence, option (d) is correct answer choice.
- (b): The meaning of the word “coupled” is “link or combine (something) with something else”. As per the given words “conjoined” is the synonym of the given word. Hence, option (b) is correct answer choice.
Adjourn: break off (a meeting, legal case, or game) with the intention of resuming it later.
Prorogue: discontinue a session of (a parliament or other legislative assembly) without dissolving it.
- (b): The meaning of the word “affordable” is “being within the financial means of most people”. From the given words “temperate” and “nominal” are the synonym of the given word. “Exorbitant” is the antonym of the given word. Hence, option (b) is correct answer choice.
Subjugate: to bring under one’s control by force of arms.
- (b): The correct spelling is “INTEREST”.
- (a): The correct spelling is “GOVERNMENT”.
- (b): The correct spelling is “IMPRISONMENT”.
- (a): “sort” in the sentence is used incorrectly. It must be replaced by “sought” to make the sentence contextually correct. “Sought” which is past form of seek means to attempt or desire to obtain or achieve (something).
Whereas sort means (V) to arrange systematically in groups; separate according to type.
- (a): The correct spelling is “EMBATTLED” which means involved in or prepared for war, especially because surrounded by enemy forces.
- (c): The use of word ‘oversees’ is incorrect contextually and grammatically. As ‘oversees’ means “supervise (a person or their work), especially in an official capacity”, which does not go as per the context of the sentence. Rather ‘overseas’ should be used. Hence, option (c) is correct answer choice.
- (a): The sentence is discussing about the fall in Sensex. Sensex is related to ‘Stock market’. So the use of ‘Stoke’ in the sentence is contextually incorrect.
Stoke means “encourage or incite (a strong emotion or tendency).”
Thus, correct answer will be (a).
- (d): The word ‘exist’ should be ‘existing’ in order to form a grammatically correct sentence. Thus, correct answer choice will be (d).
- (e): All the words used are grammatically and contextually correct. Thus, correct answer will be (e).
- (c): The word ‘anniversary’ is misspelt. Thus, correct answer will be (c).
- (d): Only A-E and B-E can make a contextually correct and grammatically meaningful sentence. Rest of the phrases fail to do so either because they are part of some other sentence or because they are independent sentence.
Sentences thus formed are:
A-E: The Delhi Cabinet approved a Bill to set up “India’s first” sports university in Delhi, which will offer graduation, post graduation and doctorate degrees in different sports.
B-E: Making the announcement, the CM said that the university will come up in 90 acres of land, which will offer graduation, post graduation and doctorate degrees in different sports.
- (b): Only B-F can make a contextually correct and grammatically meaningful sentence. Rest of the phrases fail to do so either because they are part of some other sentence or because they are independent sentence.
Sentence thus formed by combining B-F is:
The protesters were against a recent circular by the university which allows only guest appointments against full-time regular vacancies.
- (d): All of the options can make a contextually correct and grammatically meaningful sentence.
Sentences thus formed are:
A-E: Now every working professional here who has a child at home and wants to spend quality time with him or her can do so.
B-F: I am happy that from now on the officials working here will be able to stay closer to their children, visit them, feed them and play with them.
C-D: The initiative will ensure working women spend quality time with the children which will create a favourable atmosphere for both.
- (b): Only B-F can make a contextually correct and grammatically meaningful sentence. Rest of the phrases fails to do so either because they are part of some other sentence or because they are independent sentence.
Sentence thus formed by combining B-F is :
The Grey Line of Delhi Metro, which will connect Najafgarh to the rapid transit network, will be opened for services on Friday, officials said.
- (a): Only A-E can make a contextually correct and grammatically meaningful sentence. Rest of the phrases fail to do so either because they are part of some other sentence or because they are independent sentence.
Sentence thus formed by combining A-E is:
Though Mr. Narbir’s name did not figure in the first list of 78 candidates, it was expected that he could be fielded from Rewari or Kosli.
- (e): The given sentence has no error. ‘Many’ is followed by plural countable noun whereas ‘many a’ is followed by countable noun in singular.
- (b): In phrase ‘inadequate reciprocated imports’ ‘imports’ which is a noun qualified by reciprocated (an adjective). To qualify an adjective an adverb is required so inadequate must be replaced by inadequately.
- (c): Past perfect tense cannot be used without reference to past time. Hence, option (c) is the correct option.
- (c): Past and past participle form of cast is cast only. Hence, option (c) would be the correct answer.
- (e): No improvement required.