📘 Q.8 IAS Prelims 2022 — Economics (Public Finance | Government Borrowing & Internal Debt)
🧷 Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk
📌 The Question:
With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements:
- A share of the household financial savings goes towards government borrowings.
- Dated securities issued at market-related rates in auctions form a large component of internal debt.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
✅ Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
🧠 Classroom Explanation
- Statement 1 is correct
- Household financial savings include:
- Bank deposits
- Insurance and pension funds
- Mutual funds
- Small savings schemes
- Debt securities
- The Government borrows from the market by issuing G-Secs and Treasury Bills.
- Banks, insurance companies, provident and pension funds invest household savings into these instruments.
- Hence, a part of household financial savings ultimately finances government borrowing.
- Household financial savings include:
- Statement 2 is correct
- Public Debt of the Central Government is classified into:
- Internal Debt
- External Debt
- Internal debt mainly consists of:
- Marketable debt → Dated Government Securities & Treasury Bills
- Non-marketable debt → small savings, special securities
- Dated securities issued via auctions at market-related interest rates constitute the largest share of internal debt.
- As of recent years, dated securities account for nearly two-thirds of total public debt.
- Public Debt of the Central Government is classified into:
👉 Therefore, both statements are correct.
🔍 Curiosity Raiser
When households save more,
does the Government breathe easier—or borrow bigger?
🧘 IAS Monk Whisper
Savings sleep in homes,
but awaken as sovereign debt.
