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Topic Fiscal federalism
Asked 18 times across 3 UPSC exams over 45 years (1980–2025), peaking in 2024.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 11 of 18 PYQs
- Most asked in 2024
- Recurs across 13 years (1980–2025)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1980 → CDS 2014 → CAPF 2019
How the concept evolved
280
184
193
195
100
102
110
112
214
115
119
324
225
Long-running — most appearances (12 of 18) predate 2016, and it still returns.
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
Which of the following statements with regard to recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission of India are correct?
- It has recommended grants of ₹ 4,800 crores from the year 2022–23 to the year 2025–26 for incentivizing States to enhance educational outcomes
- It recommends that the net proceeds of Union taxes are to be shared with States
- It reintroduced tax effort criteria to reward fiscal performance
- It reintroduced fiscal capacity criteria to reward fiscal performance
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A I, II and III
- B II, III and IV
- C I, II and IV ✓
- D II, III and IV
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Economy › Planning & Reforms
CDS2025
Which of the following criteria are specified for granting Special Category Status to States in India ?
- Hilly and difficult terrain
- Economic and infrastructural backwardness
- Strategic coastal zone
- Sizeable share of tribal population Select the answer
using the code given below :
- A 1 and 2 only
- B 3 and 4 only
- C 1, 2 and 4 only
- D 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Economy › Planning & Reforms
CAPF2024
Consider the following statements
- The 15th Finance Commission used fiscal effort as a criterion for horizontal devolution unlike the 14th Finance Commission
- Both the 14th and the 15th Finance Commission used pre-2011 demographic variables as a criteria for horizontal devolution
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2 ✓
- D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Economy › Public Finance & Budget
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