Q.Differentiate between devaluation and depreciation.

Let’s start with something you already know. Suppose you have ₹100 and you want to buy a toy that costs $2. If the exchange rate is ₹50 =$1, you can buy exactly one toy. Now imagine the rate changes to ₹100 = $1. Your ₹100 now buys only$1 — you can no longer afford the toy. The rupee has become weaker relative to the dollar. That’s the everyday feeling of a currency losing value.

What is Currency Depreciation?

Depreciation is the fall in the value of one currency in terms of another currency under a flexible (floating) exchange rate system. In this system, the market — supply and demand for currencies — decides the rate. If more people want to sell rupees and buy dollars, the rupee’s price falls. That’s depreciation.

Example: If the rate moves from ₹70/$to ₹80/$, the rupee has depreciated. Each dollar now costs more rupees.

What is Currency Devaluation?

Devaluation is the official reduction in the value of a currency by the government or central bank under a fixed exchange rate system. Here, the government pegs the currency to another currency (say, the dollar) and then deliberately lowers that peg.

Example: If the government had fixed ₹70/$and then announces a new fixed rate of ₹80/$, that’s devaluation.

Why Does It Matter? The Real Effects

1. Exports become cheaper, imports become costlier

When the rupee depreciates (or is devalued), Indian goods become cheaper for foreigners. A shirt that costs ₹500 earlier cost $10 at ₹50/$. Now at ₹100/$, it costs only$5. Foreign buyers buy more — exports rise.

But the reverse is painful. An imported laptop that cost $1000 earlier cost ₹50,000. Now it costs ₹1,00,000. Imports become expensive, hurting consumers and industries that rely on foreign raw materials.

2. Impact on the trade balance

If exports rise and imports fall, the trade deficit (exports minus imports) may shrink. But this is not guaranteed — if demand for imports is inelastic (people must buy them anyway), the import bill actually rises in rupee terms.

3. Inflation pressure

Since imported oil, machinery, and components cost more, production costs rise. Firms pass this on to consumers. This is called imported inflation.

4. Debt burden

If India has borrowed in dollars, a weaker rupee means we need more rupees to repay the same dollar debt. This increases the burden on the government and companies.

The Formula (Yes, there is one — but it’s simple)

The NCERT textbook does not give a separate formula for depreciation/devaluation itself. But the concept is tied to the exchange rate:

More commonly, we write it as:

If this number rises, the domestic currency (₹) has depreciated or been devalued.

There is also the percentage change formula:

Example: Rate goes from ₹70/$to ₹80/$.

The rupee has depreciated by 14.3% against the dollar.

A Diagram in Words

Draw a standard supply-and-demand graph for dollars. On the vertical axis, put “₹ per $” (the exchange rate). On the horizontal axis, put “Quantity of$”. …