Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Economy Quiz Tests HCES, Oil Exports, Tax Disclosure and SRVA
This article is a quiz for people preparing for India’s civil services examination.
It asks questions about important parts of the economy.
The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey records what households buy and spend money on.
Its information helps officials study poverty and inequality.
India buys much of its crude oil from other countries but can export refined fuel because it has large refineries.
A tax scheme called FAST-DS allows certain taxpayers to disclose some foreign assets.
Special Rupee Vostro Accounts help businesses settle international trade using Indian rupees.
Money in these accounts cannot be changed into any foreign currency without following rules.
VWAP is a way of calculating a market price by considering both price and the number of shares traded.
The Household Consumption Expenditure Survey collects household spending data and supports analysis of poverty, inequality and social exclusion.
India imports most of its crude oil but remains a net exporter of petroleum products because of its large refining capacity.
The FAST-DS disclosure scheme covers specified foreign assets up to Rs 1 crore or Rs 5 crore, depending on the category.
Special Rupee Vostro Accounts provide an additional mechanism for settling international trade in Indian rupees, but balances are not freely convertible.
VWAP calculates a stock or index closing price using both trading volume and price during the final 30 minutes.
- Who
- UPSC aspirants and taxpayers, businesses and institutions involved in India’s economy are the main subjects of the quiz topics.
- What
- Indian Express’s Economy quiz explains five topics: HCES, petroleum trade, FAST-DS, SRVAs and VWAP.
- When
- The article identifies the next HCES as expected to begin in mid-2027; the FAST-DS window runs from August 16 to December 31.
- Where
- The topics concern India’s statistical, tax, energy, banking and financial-market systems.
- Why
- The quiz is intended to help readers revise important Economy topics for the UPSC Preliminary Examination.
- HCES purpose
- Collects household consumption and expenditure data on goods and services.
- HCES agency
- Conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
- HCES frequency
- Previously conducted every five years; the ministry intends to conduct it about every three years.
- Oil dependence
- India imports over 88% of its crude oil requirement and about half of its natural-gas consumption.
- FAST-DS limits
- Covers specified foreign income or assets up to Rs 1 crore, and certain already-taxed or non-resident-acquired assets up to Rs 5 crore.
- SRVA restriction
- Balances are not freely convertible into any foreign currency and remain subject to the applicable regulatory framework.
- VWAP period
- The article describes closing-price calculation using price and volume during the final 30 minutes of trading.