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Topic Balance of Payments
Asked 5 times across 3 UPSC exams over 18 years (2006–2024), peaking in 2014.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 3 of 5 PYQs
- Most asked in 2014
- Recurs across 5 years (2006–2024)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 2006 → CAPF 2023 → CDS 2024
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (3 of 5) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CDS2024
Which of the following is not included in the Capital Account of the Balance of Payments of a country ?
- A Foreign Direct Investment
- B Commercial Borrowing
- C Invisibles ✓
- D External Assistance
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Economy › External Sector & Trade
CAPF2023
An Indian businessperson buys shares in a British car company. This transaction will be reflected in :
- A Balance of Trade, but not in Balance of Payments.
- B Balance of Payments, but not in Balance of Trade. ✓
- C both Balance of Payments and Balance of Trade.
- D neither Balance of Payments nor Balance of Trade.
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Economy › External Sector & Trade
CSE2020
With reference to the international trade of India at present, which of the following statements is/are correct ?
- India's merchandise exports are less than its merchandise imports
- India's imports of iron and steel, chemicals, fertilisers and machinery have decreased in recent years
- India's exports of services are more than its imports of services
- India suffers from an overall trade/current account deficit
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
- A 1 and 2 only
- B 2 and 4 only
- C 3 only
- D 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Economy › External Sector & Trade
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