to earn revenues.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nQuestion 8.
\nWhat is the meaning of quantitative restrictions?
\nAnswer:
\nQuantitative restrictions are imposed by the government to restrict the quantity of goods that can be imported or exported. These can be imposed by means of quotas and licenses. Under this restriction, quantity of trade remains fixed. Quantitative restrictions are imposed to promote domestic industries and protect them from foreign competition.<\/p>\n
Question 9.
\nThose public sector undertakings which are making profits should be privatised. Do you agree with this view? Why?
\nAnswer:
\nPrivatisation implies shedding of the ownership or management of a government owned enterprise, The main motive pf public sector enterprises is social or economic welfare of the people while the main\u00a0 motive of private sector is to earn profit even at the cost of public welfare. Privatising the profit making j PSUs will affect the development of poorer section of the society.<\/p>\n
Thus, public sector undertakings ; which are making profits should not be privatised. A country can achieve \u2018growth with justice’ objective or sustainable development only through public sectors participation in the growth process. However, it is essential to privatise those public sector undertaking which are making losses.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Question 10.
\nDo you think outsourcing is good for India? Why developed countries are opposing it?
\nAnswer:
\nOutsourcing means a company going out to a source outside the company to buy regular services that were formerly used to be provided departmentally and internally. In recent times, outsourcing has intensified in modes of communications, particularly Information Technology (IT), voice based business process, record keeping, accountancy, banking services, music recording, film editing, book transcription, clinical advice or even teaching.<\/p>\n
India, where wages are low and skilled workers are plentiful, is able to take advantage of the competitiveness of their manpower. Thus, outsourcing is good for India. Developed countries are opposing it to avoid migration of manpower from underdeveloped countries to developed countries.<\/p>\n
Question 11.
\nIndia has certain advantages, which makes it a favourite outsourcing destination. What are these advantages?
\nAnswer:
\nAdvantages of India as an outsourcing destination are:<\/p>\n
\n- Low wage rate<\/li>\n
- Abundant skilled workers<\/li>\n
- Rapid technological development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Most multinational corporations and even small companies are outsourcing their services to India where these can be availed at a cheaper cost with reasonable degree of skill and accuracy. These advantages make India a favourite outsourcing destination.<\/p>\n
Question 12.
\nDo you think the navaratna policy of the government helps in improving the performance of public sector undertakings in India? How?
\nAnswer:
\nIn 1996, in order to improve efficiency, infuse professionalism and enable them to compete more effectively in the liberalised global environment, the government chose nine PSUs and declared them as Navaratnas.<\/p>\n
They were given greater managerial and operational autonomy in taking various decisions to run the company efficiently and hence, increase their profits. Greater operational, financial and managerial autonomy had also been granted to 97 other profit-making enterprises referred to as \u2018Miniratnas\u2019.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The first set of navaratna companies is as under.<\/p>\n
\n- BPCL<\/li>\n
- HPCL<\/li>\n
- IOCL (Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.)<\/li>\n
- ONGC<\/li>\n
- SAIL<\/li>\n
- IPCL<\/li>\n
- BHEL<\/li>\n
- NTPC<\/li>\n
- BSNL<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
GAIL and MTNL are the other two PSUs, which were also given the same status.<\/p>\n
Question 13.
\nWhat are the major factors responsible for the high growth of the service sector?
\nAnswer:
\nThe following factors are responsible for the high growth of the service sector:<\/p>\n
\n- Increased demand for services such as banking, insurance, transportation, communication, etc.<\/li>\n
- Introduction of New Economic Policy encouraged large inflow of foreign capital in India<\/li>\n
- Cheap manpower and latest developments in IT and telecommunications made India a favourite outsourcing destination<\/li>\n
- Awareness about education increased the number of qualified people who could contribute more towards services sector<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Question 14.
\nAgricultural sector appears to be adversely affected by the reform process.Why?
\nAnswer:
\nAgriculture appears to be adversely affected by the reform process because the reforms have not been able to benefit agriculture, which is evident from the decelerating growth rate. The most important issue is the existence of large food-stock in the country and still having more than 250 million people below the poverty line.<\/p>\n
Per capita availability of foodgrains and nutritional quality has been declining despite mounting stocks of food grains. Cuts in the subsidies given to the foodgrains producers also raised prices of food grains as the burden of such cuts is passed on to the consumers. However, agricultural subsidies are declining due to the adoption of reform process in this sector also.<\/p>\n
Question 15.
\nWhy has the industrial sector performed poorly in the reform period?
\nAnswer:
\nThe following factors are responsible for poor performance of industrial sector during the reform period:<\/p>\n