UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 59
Consider the following :
- Demographic performance
- Forest and ecology
- Governance reforms
- Stable government
- Tax and fiscal efforts
For the horizontal tax devolution, the Fifteenth Finance Commission used how many of the above as criteria other than population area and income distance?
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Correct Option: B (Only three)
Explanation: Among the five listed, the Fifteenth Finance Commission included demographic performance, forest/ecology and tax/fiscal effort as horizontal-devolution criteria.
Statement / Pair / Item-wise Analysis:
1. Correct/True - Demographic performance was a stated criterion.
2. Correct/True - Forest and ecology was a criterion.
3. Incorrect/False - Governance reforms were not a separate horizontal-devolution criterion.
4. Incorrect/False - Stable government was not a listed formula criterion.
5. Correct/True - Tax and fiscal effort was included alongside population, area and income distance.
Option-wise Analysis:
A. Incorrect-it counts 2, but items 1, 2, 5 qualify, giving 3.
B. Correct-exactly 3 of the 5 listed items satisfy the condition.
C. Incorrect-it counts 4, but only 3 qualify; item(s) 3, 4 do not.
D. Incorrect-it counts 5, but only 3 qualify; item(s) 3, 4 do not.