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Topic

Fiscal deficit

Asked 16 times across 5 UPSC exams over 46 years (1979–2025), peaking in 2025.
16
PYQs
5
Exams
12
Years active
1979–2025
Span
2025
Peak
14/16
Answers
📅 Full chronological timeline →

Key insights

  • Most tested in CSE — 8 of 16 PYQs
  • Most asked in 2025
  • Recurs across 12 years (1979–2025)

How it travelled across exams

First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1979 → CAPF 2014 → CDS 2018 → CBI 2023 → LDCE 2024

How the concept evolved

179
194
201
106
110
114
118
120
121
223
124
325
Rising — more than half its appearances (9 of 16) 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.
CSE2025

Suppose the revenue expenditure is ₹ 80,000 crores and the revenue receipts of the Government are ₹ 60,000 crores. The Government budget also shows borrowings of ₹ 10,000 crores and interest payments of ₹ 6,000 crores. Which of the following statements are correct?

  1. Revenue deficit is ₹ 20,000 crores
  2. Fiscal deficit is ₹ 10,000 crores
  3. Primary deficit is ₹ 4,000 crores

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A I and II only
  2. B II and III only
  3. C I and III only
  4. D I, II and III ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Economy › Public Finance & Budget
CSE2025
A country's fiscal deficit stands at ₹ 50,000 crores. It is receiving ₹ 10,000 crores through non-debt creating capital receipts. The country's interest liabilities are ₹ 1,500 crores. What is the gross primary deficit?
  1. A ₹ 48,500 crores ✓
  2. B ₹ 51,500 crores
  3. C ₹ 58,500 crores
  4. D None of the above
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Economy › Public Finance & Budget
CAPF2025
Which one among the following is the estimated fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP of India in the Budget Estimates of 2025-26?
  1. A 4·8 percent
  2. B 4·4 percent
  3. C 5·0 percent
  4. D 5·6 percent
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Economy › Public Finance & Budget

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