Economics 2023 Paper II 50 marks 150 words Compulsory Comment

Q1

Answer the following questions in about 150 words each: (a) Land system during the British rule was responsible for sustained poverty and stagnant growth in India. Comment. (10 marks) (b) How did V. K. R. V. Rao improve upon the earlier national income estimates of India? (10 marks) (c) Examine the impacts of Green Revolution on production and productivity in the agriculture sector. (10 marks) (d) Deceleration and structural retrogression have been the key features of industrial sector in India during 1965-80. Give reasons. (10 marks) (e) Examine the factors responsible for acceleration in the growth of national income in the decade of 1980s as against 1960s and 1970s. (10 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

निम्नलिखित में से प्रत्येक प्रश्न का उत्तर लगभग 150 शब्दों में लिखिए : (a) भारत में लम्बे समय तक गरीबी तथा धीमी संवृद्धि के लिए ब्रिटिश काल की भूमि व्यवस्था उत्तरदायी थी। टिप्पणी कीजिए। (10 अंक) (b) वी० के० आर० वी० राव ने भारत में अपने से पूर्व के राष्ट्रीय आय प्राकलनों में किस प्रकार सुधार किया था? (10 अंक) (c) कृषि-क्षेत्र में उत्पादन तथा उत्पादकता पर हरित क्रांति के प्रभावों का परीक्षण कीजिए। (10 अंक) (d) वर्ष 1965-80 की अवधि में अवमंदन एवं संरचनात्मक प्रतिगमनता भारतीय औद्योगिक क्षेत्र की प्रमुख विशेषताएं रही हैं। कारण बताइए। (10 अंक) (e) 1960 एवं 1970 के दशकों की तुलना में 1980 के दशक में, राष्ट्रीय आय में त्वरित वृद्धि के उत्तरदायी कारकों का परीक्षण कीजिए। (10 अंक)

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Directive word: Comment

This question asks you to comment. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'comment' in part (a) requires a balanced critical assessment, while parts (b)-(e) demand explanation, examination, and analysis. Allocate approximately 30 words per sub-part (150 words total), spending roughly equal time on each since all carry 10 marks. Structure each sub-part with a precise opening statement, 2-3 analytical points with evidence, and a brief concluding observation. Prioritize conceptual clarity over exhaustive coverage given the severe word constraint.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): British land systems (Permanent Settlement, Ryotwari, Mahalwari) created exploitative agrarian relations, heavy revenue burden, and deindustrialization that perpetuated poverty and stagnation; must acknowledge limited counter-arguments (railways, commercialization)
  • Part (b): V.K.R.V. Rao's contributions—first scientific estimate (1940), use of product and income methods, sectoral disaggregation, correction of Dadabhai Naoroji and Findlay Shirras underestimates, establishment of base year methodology
  • Part (c): Green Revolution impacts—HYV seeds, irrigation, chemical inputs raised wheat/rice yields; regional disparities (Punjab vs. Eastern India); environmental costs; income inequality; food security achievement
  • Part (d): Industrial deceleration 1965-80—regulatory burden (MRTP, FERA), public sector inefficiency, forex crisis, oil shocks, neglect of exports, capital-intensive bias, 'Licence Raj' constraints
  • Part (e): 1980s acceleration factors—liberalization measures (Rajiv Gandhi era), green revolution spillovers, remittances from Gulf migration, expansionary fiscal policy, nascent export growth, improved agricultural terms of trade

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness25%12.5Demonstrates precise command across all five sub-parts: correctly identifies land system mechanisms for (a), Rao's methodological innovations for (b), Green Revolution's dual effects for (c), specific policy constraints causing industrial stagnation for (d), and distinguishes 1980s drivers from earlier decades for (e); no factual errors or anachronismsCovers most concepts adequately but with minor inaccuracies—e.g., conflates land systems, vague on Rao's specific improvements, lists Green Revolution impacts without nuance, generic explanation of industrial stagnation, incomplete distinction between decadesMajor conceptual errors—misidentifies land systems, confuses Rao with other economists, describes Green Revolution one-dimensionally, fails to explain structural retrogression, or presents 1980s growth without comparative analysis
Diagram / model10%5Where applicable, employs appropriate frameworks—e.g., production possibility frontier to illustrate stagnation in (a), growth accounting decomposition for (e), or sectoral shift diagrams for (d)—enhancing analytical clarity within word limitsMentions relevant models without clear application or attempts basic diagrammatic representation with minor errors; acceptable given 150-word constraint but adds limited valueNo attempt at diagrammatic or model-based analysis where clearly applicable, or misapplies frameworks (e.g., unrelated supply-demand curves without context)
Quantitative reasoning15%7.5Integrates specific data points effectively—e.g., Rao's 1940 estimate of Rs. 8,700 crore national income, growth rate comparisons (1960s: 3.5%, 1970s: 3.0%, 1980s: 5.6%), yield statistics for Green Revolution crops, industrial growth deceleration figuresProvides approximate figures or broad trends without precision; mentions 'low growth' or 'increased yields' without specific numbers or correct orders of magnitudeNo quantitative evidence, or factually incorrect data (e.g., wrong decades, invented statistics, confused units) undermining credibility
Indian / empirical examples25%12.5Rich empirical grounding: for (a)—Bengal famine, deindustrialization of textile centers; for (b)—comparison with Naoroji's 'Poverty and Un-British Rule'; for (c)—Punjab-Haryana vs. Bihar-Orissa regional contrast; for (d)—specific industries (steel, textiles); for (e)—Gulf remittance corridors, electronics policySome relevant examples but limited specificity—mentions regions or industries without concrete illustration, or provides generic examples applicable to any developing countryNo Indian-specific examples, or inappropriate/irrelevant illustrations that demonstrate poor understanding of the historical context
Policy implication25%12.5Draws explicit policy lessons: (a) links to post-independence land reform imperatives; (b) establishes foundation for modern CSO methodology; (c) informs sustainable agriculture and second Green Revolution debates; (d) explains 1991 reforms' rationale; (e) contextualizes 1980s as precursor to liberalizationBrief concluding policy observations without clear linkage to analysis, or generic statements about 'need for reform' without specificity to the historical episode discussedNo policy implications drawn, or completely anachronistic/imappropriate recommendations (e.g., suggesting 1991-style reforms for 1965-80 period)

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