Prelims · Economy & social development · 32 questions

Industry, infrastructure & investment

Every UPSC Prelims question on this topic, 2016–2026, newest first. Tap an option to check yourself; the answer and explanation open below it.

Asked in 9 of 11 years · most in 2017 (5)

UPSC syllabus: “Economic and Social Development-Sustainable Development, Poverty, Inclusion, Demographics, Social Sector Initiatives, etc.” See the full syllabus →

Prelims 2016 · Q7

Easy

Which one of the following is a purpose of 'UDAY', a scheme of the Government?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) Providing for financial turnaround and revival of power distribution companies

UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana), approved by the Union Cabinet on 5 November 2015, was a rescue-and-reform package for the loss-making State power distribution companies (DISCOMs). Its stated aim was their financial turnaround and revival.

✓ (d) States were to take over 75 per cent of DISCOM debt as on 30 September 2015 over two years, cutting the interest burden, while DISCOMs committed to reduce losses and costs.
✗ (b) Electrifying villages and households was the task of separate schemes such as the Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana, not UDAY, which dealt with the finances of distribution companies.
✗ (c) UDAY did not decide the fuel mix of power generation; it worked at the distribution end of the power sector.

Remember · UDAY (Nov 2015) = Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana: States take over 75% of DISCOM debt; DISCOMs cut losses. Target: financial turnaround of power distribution companies.

Sources

PIB, Ministry of Power: UDAY for financial turnaround of Power Distribution Companies (5 November 2015) ↗ “UDAY provides for the financial turnaround and revival of Power Distribution companies (DISCOMs), and importantly also ensures a sustainable permanent solution to the problem. … States shall take over 75% of DISCOM debt as on 30 September 2015 over two years - 50% of DISCOM debt shall be taken over in 2015-16 and 25% in 2016-17.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2016, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2016 · Q61

Hard

Recently, India's first 'National Investment and Manufacturing Zone' was proposed to be set up in

Answer & explanation

Answer: (a) Andhra Pradesh

The first National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ) to be cleared was at Prakasam in Andhra Pradesh. In March 2016 the Government told Lok Sabha that only two NIMZs, Prakasam (Andhra Pradesh) and Medak (Telangana), had received final approval, so Andhra Pradesh is the answer.

✓ (a) Prakasam in Andhra Pradesh was one of the only two NIMZs with final approval in March 2016; the other, Medak, is in Telangana, which is not among the options.
✗ (b) Gujarat's Ahmedabad-Dholera Investment Region was only announced as an NIMZ within the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor; it had no final approval in 2016.
✗ (c) Maharashtra's NIMZs (Shendra-Bidkin and Nagpur) had been announced or given in-principle approval only, not final approval.
✗ (d) Uttar Pradesh's sites (Dadri-Noida-Ghaziabad, Auraiya, Jhansi) were also announced or at in-principle stage in 2016.
• Since then By December 2018 three NIMZs had final approval: Prakasam (Andhra Pradesh), Sangareddy (Telangana) and Kalinganagar (Odisha), with 13 more at in-principle stage (PIB, Lok Sabha reply of 27 Dec 2018).

Remember · NIMZs are large developed manufacturing zones under the National Manufacturing Policy, 2011. Prakasam (Andhra Pradesh) and Medak (Telangana) got the first final approvals.