India Growth & Key Indicators — Set 3

Correct Answer: B. 68

India ranked around 68th in the Global Competitiveness Index before WEF suspended it during COVID-19. The GCI was last published in 2019. India's ranking reflected strengths in market size and innovation but weaknesses in infrastructure and institutional quality. WEF has since focused on a new 'Competitiveness Reset' framework.

Correct Answer: B. 70 per lakh live births

The SDG 3 target is to reduce the global Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. India's MMR has fallen from 254 in 2004-06 to 97 in 2018-20 as per SRS (Sample Registration System) data. While India has made significant progress, states like UP, Rajasthan, and MP still have higher MMR compared to Kerala and Maharashtra.

Correct Answer: B. 32 per 1,000 live births

India's Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) is approximately 32 per 1,000 live births as per recent estimates, down from 109 in 1990. The SDG target is to reduce U5MR to below 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030. Malnutrition, pneumonia, diarrhoea, and neonatal complications are major causes. Progress has been uneven across states.

Correct Answer: B. 28

India's Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) was 28 per 1,000 live births as per the Sample Registration System (SRS) 2020 data. This is a dramatic improvement from 129 per 1,000 in 1971. Kerala has the lowest IMR (6) while UP and MP have higher rates. IMR is a key indicator of public health and socioeconomic development.

Correct Answer: B. WEF (World Economic Forum)

The Global Gender Gap Index is published annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and measures gender parity across four dimensions: economic participation, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment. Iceland consistently ranks 1st. India's rank has fluctuated around 127-135 out of 146 countries, with low scores in economic participation and political empowerment.

Correct Answer: B. 2–3%

India's Current Account Deficit (CAD) typically ranges between 2–3% of GDP in recent years, though it narrows during COVID years due to reduced imports. India's CAD is mainly driven by oil imports and gold imports. A high CAD puts pressure on the rupee. In 2021-22, CAD widened to about 1.2% of GDP; in 2022-23 it reached about 2% of GDP.

Correct Answer: B. NITI Aayog SDG India Index

The NITI Aayog SDG India Index tracks India's progress on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals across states and UTs. First published in 2018, it covers 115+ indicators. The index assigns scores from 0–100 and classifies states as Aspirant (<50), Performer (50-64), Front Runner (65-99), and Achiever (100). Kerala and Himachal Pradesh are consistent top performers.

Correct Answer: B. $620 billion

India's foreign exchange reserves were approximately $620–640 billion in early 2024 (after touching an all-time high of $645 billion in September 2021). Forex reserves are managed by RBI and include foreign currency assets (FCAs), gold, SDRs, and Reserve Tranche Position with IMF. Adequate reserves are crucial for import cover and exchange rate stability.

Correct Answer: B. Investment rate in the economy

Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) as a percentage of GDP represents the investment rate — the share of output being invested in fixed assets like machinery, buildings, and infrastructure. India's GFCF rate is around 28–30% of GDP. Higher GFCF typically leads to higher future growth as it builds productive capacity. The target for sustained high growth is typically 35%+ of GDP.

Correct Answer: D. 99%

India has achieved near-universal Net Enrolment Ratio (NER) at the primary level (Class 1-5), reaching approximately 99% as per UDISE+ data. This is a result of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Right to Education Act (RTE) 2009. However, dropout rates increase at secondary level, and learning outcomes remain a concern as highlighted by ASER reports.