Indian Economic Development

Ch 3 Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation: An Appraisal

Class 11 • Indian Economic Development

NCERT Class 11 Economics Chapter 3 Questions (MCQ, One-Word or Descriptive)

This page provides complete NCERT Class 11 Indian Economic Development Chapter 3 questions, including MCQs, one-word and descriptive questions. All questions are extracted line-by-line from NCERT for full syllabus coverage and exam preparation.

This chapter, Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation: An Appraisal, discusses the fundamental shift in India’s economic policy in 1991 following a severe balance of payments crisis. Foreign exchange reserves had fallen to barely two weeks of imports, forcing India to approach the World Bank and IMF for a $7 billion loan.

In return, India agreed to conditionalities that led to the New Economic Policy (NEP), comprising stabilisation measures (short-term) and structural reforms (long-term). The chapter systematically explains the three pillars: Liberalisation (deregulating industry, financial sector, taxes, foreign exchange, and trade), Privatisation (disinvestment of public sector undertakings and granting Maharatna/Navratna/Miniratna status to improve efficiency), and Globalisation (integrating the Indian economy with the world, including outsourcing and WTO membership).

The chapter provides an assessment of reforms over three decades. While GDP growth increased significantly (from 5.6% in 1980-91 to 9.4% in 2021-22), driven mainly by the services sector, agriculture and industry have underperformed. Public investment in agriculture declined, cheap imports hurt domestic manufacturers, and disinvestment proceeds have been used to cover revenue shortfalls rather than infrastructure.

The chapter also raises critical issues: social justice, employment generation, the Siricilla tragedy (powerloom workers’ suicides due to power tariff hikes), and the debate on whether globalisation benefits only high-income groups while widening inequalities. It concludes by presenting both opportunities (access to global markets, technology) and challenges (loss of welfare, economic disparities) of the reform process, encouraging critical thinking through “Work These Out” activities and discussion questions.

Section A: Descriptive Questions

  1. What was the purpose of introducing liberalisation in India? Page 41
  2. What were the two groups of policies under the New Economic Policy (NEP)? Page 40
  3. Explain the term disinvestment. Page 44
  4. What is globalisation? Page 45
  5. Define outsourcing. Page 45
  6. Why was the rupee devalued in 1991? Page 42
  7. What is the difference between stabilisation measures and structural reform measures? Page 40
  8. How has the agricultural sector been adversely affected by economic reforms? Page 50
  9. Why has the industrial sector performed poorly during the reform period? Page 50
  10. What are the criticisms of disinvestment in India? Page 50-51

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Section B1: Objective MCQs

Page 39

In which year did India meet with an economic crisis relating to external debt?

A) 1985B) 1991C) 1995D) 2000
View Answer
Correct Answer: 1991
Reference: NCERT Page 39
Page 39

How long were India’s foreign exchange reserves sufficient for before the 1991 crisis?

A) One monthB) Two weeksC) Three monthsD) One week
View Answer
Correct Answer: Two weeks
Reference: NCERT Page 39
Page 40

Which international agencies did India approach for a loan to manage the 1991 crisis?

A) WTO and ADBB) World Bank and IMFC) UNDP and ILOD) RBI and SEBI
View Answer
Correct Answer: World Bank and IMF
Reference: NCERT Page 40
Page 40

What amount of loan did India receive from World Bank and IMF in 1991?

A) $5 billionB) $7 billionC) $10 billionD) $15 billion
View Answer
Correct Answer: $7 billion
Reference: NCERT Page 40
Page 41

Industrial licensing was abolished for all but which of the following products?

A) Textiles and steelB) Alcohol, cigarettes, hazardous chemicals, electronics, aerospace, drugs and pharmaceuticalsC) Food grains and fertilizersD) Machinery and equipment
View Answer
Correct Answer: Alcohol, cigarettes, hazardous chemicals, electronics, aerospace, drugs and pharmaceuticals
Reference: NCERT Page 41
Page 41

Which industries are still reserved for the public sector after 1991 reforms?

A) Steel and coalB) Atomic energy generation and core railway transport activitiesC) Banking and insuranceD) Telecommunications
View Answer
Correct Answer: Atomic energy generation and core railway transport activities
Reference: NCERT Page 41
Page 41

The financial sector in India is regulated by which institution?

A) SEBIB) Ministry of FinanceC) Reserve Bank of India (RBI)D) NABARD
View Answer
Correct Answer: Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Reference: NCERT Page 41
Page 42

Foreign investment limit in banks was raised to approximately what percentage?

A) 51%B) 100%C) 49%D) 74%
View Answer
Correct Answer: 74%
Reference: NCERT Page 42
Page 42

Which tax is levied on incomes of individuals and profits of business enterprises?

A) Indirect taxB) Goods and Services TaxC) Direct taxD) Customs duty
View Answer
Correct Answer: Direct tax
Reference: NCERT Page 42
Page 42

In which year was the Indian constitution amended to introduce GST?

A) 1991B) 2000C) 2016D) 2020
View Answer
Correct Answer: 2016
Reference: NCERT Page 42
Page 42

What does GST stand for?

A) General Sales TaxB) Goods and Services TaxC) Governor’s Statutory TaxD) Gross Settlement Tariff
View Answer
Correct Answer: Goods and Services Tax
Reference: NCERT Page 42
Page 44

Which of the following is NOT a Maharatna PSE according to Box 3.1?

A) Indian Oil Corporation LimitedB) Steel Authority of India LimitedC) Hindustan Aeronautics LimitedD) None of the above
View Answer
Correct Answer: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (it is a Navratna)
Reference: NCERT Page 44
Page 46

The WTO was founded in which year?

A) 1948B) 1991C) 1995D) 2001
View Answer
Correct Answer: 1995
Reference: NCERT Page 46
Page 46

GATT was established in which year?

A) 1948B) 1950C) 1960D) 1971
View Answer
Correct Answer: 1948
Reference: NCERT Page 46
Page 48

India’s foreign direct investment (FDI) increased from about $100 million in 1990-91 to how much in 2022-23?

A) $6 billionB) $23 billionC) $100 billionD) $646 billion
View Answer
Correct Answer: $23 billion
Reference: NCERT Page 48
Page 48

India’s foreign exchange reserves increased from about $6 billion in 1990-91 to about how much in 2023-24?

A) $100 billionB) $200 billionC) $500 billionD) $646 billion
View Answer
Correct Answer: $646 billion
Reference: NCERT Page 48
Page 48

Which sector has mainly driven the GDP growth in India during the reform period?

A) AgricultureB) IndustryC) ServicesD) Mining
View Answer
Correct Answer: Services
Reference: NCERT Page 48
Page 47

According to Table 3.1, what was the GDP growth rate during 2021-22?

A) 5.60%B) 6.40%C) 8.00%D) 9.40%
View Answer
Correct Answer: 9.40%
Reference: NCERT Page 47
Page 51

The Siricilla tragedy (Box 3.3) is associated with which sector?

A) AgricultureB) Powerloom textile industryC) Information TechnologyD) Banking
View Answer
Correct Answer: Powerloom textile industry
Reference: NCERT Page 51
Page 51

How many powerloom workers committed suicide in Siricilla?

A) 20B) 35C) 50D) 100
View Answer
Correct Answer: 50
Reference: NCERT Page 51

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Section B2: Factual One-Liners

In which year was the New Economic Policy (NEP) announced? Page 40

Reveal Answer
1991 (Page 40)

What is the term for selling part of equity of PSEs to the public? Page 44

Reveal Answer
Disinvestment (Page 44)

What is the full form of WTO? Page 46

Reveal Answer
World Trade Organisation (Page 46)

What is the full form of GATT? Page 46

Reveal Answer
General Agreement on Trade and Tariff (Page 46)

What is the term used for voice-based business process outsourcing? Page 45

Reveal Answer
Call centre or BPO (Page 45)

Which PSE status is given to Indian Oil Corporation Limited? Page 44

Reveal Answer
Maharatna (Page 44)

Which PSE status is given to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited? Page 44

Reveal Answer
Navratna (Page 44)

Which PSE status is given to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited? Page 44

Reveal Answer
Miniratna (Page 44)

The reduction of rupee value against foreign currencies is called? Page 42

Reveal Answer
Devaluation (Page 42)

Taxes levied on goods and services are called? Page 42

Reveal Answer
Indirect taxes (Page 42)

The integration of the economy with the world economy is called? Page 45

Reveal Answer
Globalisation (Page 45)

Which organisation succeeded GATT? Page 46

Reveal Answer
WTO (Page 46)

Name the subsidiary of ONGC engaged in oil and gas exploration in other countries (Box 3.2). Page 46

Reveal Answer
ONGC Videsh (Page 46)

Which company established in 1907 is one of the top ten global steel companies (Box 3.2)? Page 46

Reveal Answer
Tata Steel (Page 46)

The town in Andhra Pradesh where 50 powerloom workers committed suicide due to power sector reforms (Box 3.3). Page 51

Reveal Answer
Siricilla (Page 51)

Which Indian IT company has offices in 31 countries and employs about 15,000 persons abroad (Box 3.2)? Page 46

Reveal Answer
HCL Technologies (Page 46)

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This post was last modified on May 5, 2026 9:41 pm