Read the following statements : Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Choose the correct option from those given below

Question 69 of 77

Q. Read the following statements : Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Choose the correct option from those given below : Assertion (A) : Unilateral Transfers are recorded in the Current Account of the Balance of Payments (BoP) of a nation. Reason (R) : Capital account records transactions which cause a change in the assets or liabilities of the country. Options : (A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A). (B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A). (C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false. (D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Rajasthan RbseCBSE Class XII Board 2026MCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★

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Concept understanding — Current Account Deficit

The Current Account Deficit: Spending More Than You Earn, But With a Country

Think of your monthly allowance. If you spend ₹2,000 but only earn ₹1,500, you have a deficit of ₹500. You cover that gap by borrowing from a friend or dipping into savings. A country does the same thing on a massive scale — that's the Current Account Deficit (CAD).

The Everyday Intuition

A country's current account is like its income-and-expenditure diary with the rest of the world. It records three main things:

Goods (exports and imports of physical items — phones, wheat, oil)
Services (IT exports, tourism, shipping)
Transfers (money sent home by workers abroad, foreign aid)

When the total money flowing out for imports, services, and transfers exceeds the money flowing in from exports, services, and transfers, you have a deficit. The country is a net borrower from the world.

Note

A deficit is not automatically "bad." It means the country is consuming or investing more than it produces — which can be fine if the borrowed money goes into productive assets (factories, roads) that generate future income.

The Precise Definition (NCERT Style)

The current account is part of the Balance of Payments (BoP) — the record of all economic transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world.

\text{Current Account Balance} = (X - M) + (X_{\text{services}} - M_{\text{services}}) + \text{Net Transfers} + \text{Net Income}

Where:

$X$ = Exports of goods
$M$ = Imports of goods
$X_{\text{services}}$ = Exports of services (e.g., Indian IT firms selling software to the US)
$M_{\text{services}}$ = Imports of services (e.g., Indians using Netflix)
Net Transfers = Money received from abroad minus money sent abroad (e.g., remittances from Indians working in the Gulf)
Net Income = Earnings from investments abroad minus payments to foreign investors (e.g., dividends paid to a Japanese company that owns a factory in India)

If this total is negative, the country has a Current Account Deficit.

Why It Matters (The "So What?")

A CAD must be financed. How? By borrowing from abroad or selling assets to foreigners. This shows up on the other side of the BoP — the Capital Account. If a country runs a CAD of $50 billion, it must attract$ 50 billion of foreign investment (FDI, FII, loans) to balance the books.

Three things to watch:

Sustainability — A small CAD (say 2-3% of GDP) is normal for a growing economy like India. A large, persistent CAD (5%+ of GDP) signals trouble: the country is living beyond its means and may struggle to repay.
Currency pressure — To finance a CAD, the country needs foreign currency (dollars). High demand for dollars can weaken the rupee. A weaker rupee makes imports costlier (inflation) but helps exports.
The J-Curve effect — When the rupee depreciates, the trade deficit often worsens initially before improving. Why? Imports are priced in dollars and become more expensive in rupees immediately, while export volumes take time to respond. The graph of the trade balance over time looks like a "J" — dipping first, then rising. …

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Both the Assertion (A) and the Reason (R) are true statements regarding the Balance of Payments. However, the Reason (R) defines the Capital Account and does not explain why Unilateral Transfers are recorded in the Current Account.

The Balance of Payments (BoP) is a comprehensive record of all economic transactions between the residents of a country and the rest of the world over a specific period, typically a year. It is divided into two main accounts: the Current Account and the Capital Account. Understanding what each account records is crucial for analyzing a nation's international economic position.

Let's examine Assertion (A): Unilateral Transfers are recorded in the Current Account of the Balance of Payments (BoP) of a nation.

Unilateral transfers are one-sided transactions, meaning they involve no quid pro quo (no return payment or obligation). These include gifts, remittances (money sent by residents working abroad to their home country), grants, and donations. Since these transfers do not create any future claims or liabilities, they are considered current transactions. The Current Account records the flow of goods, services, income, and these unilateral transfers. Therefore, Assertion (A) is true.

Now, let's look at Reason (R): Capital account records transactions which cause a change in the assets or liabilities of the country.

The Capital Account records all international transactions that involve a resident country's assets or liabilities. These transactions create future claims or obligations. Examples include foreign direct investment (FDI), foreign institutional investment (FII), external commercial borrowings (ECBs), loans from international financial institutions, and changes in foreign exchange reserves. When a country borrows from abroad, its liabilities increase; when it invests abroad, its assets increase. These are capital transactions. Therefore, Reason (R) is also true. …

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