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• In 1991-92 NABARD started promoting self-help groups on a large scale. And it was the real take-off point for the ‘SHG movement’. In 1993, the Reserve Bank of India also allowed SHGs to open saving accounts in banks. Facility of availing bank services was a major boost to the movement. Hence statement 1 is incorrect. • NABARD has, from time to time, issued a number of guidelines/instructions to RRBs and Cooperative Banks on Self Help Group-Bank Linkage Programme (SHG- BLP). The members of an SHG face similar problems. They help each other, to solve their problems. SHGs promote small savings among their members. The savings are kept with the bank. This is the common fund in the name of the SHG. The SHG gives small loans to its members from its common fund. Hence statement 2 is correct. • The Indian micro finance sector has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. GOI has taken initiatives to widen the reach of RRBs all over India, especially in rural areas where commercial banks and other financial institution are beyond the reach of rural poor. Micro financing is one of the distinctive functional areas of RRBs. Hence statement 3 is correct. • The two important models of microfinance involving credit linkages with banks in India are SHG - Bank Linkage Model: This model involves the SHGs financed directly by the banks viz., CBs (Public Sector and Private Sector), RRBs and Cooperative Banks. MFI - Bank Linkage Model: This model covers financing of Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) by banking agencies for on-lending to SHGs and other small borrowers.

• NEER is a measure of value of a currency against a weighted average of several foreign currency. An increase in NEER indicates appreciation of rupee. Hence statement 1 is correct. • REER: • The real effective exchange rate (REER) compares a nation's currency value against the weighted average of the currencies of its major trading partners. • It is an indicator of the international competitiveness of a nation in comparison with its trade partners. • The formula is weighted to take into account the relative importance of each trading partner to the home country. • An increasing REER indicates that a country is losing its competitive edge. Hence statement 2 is incorrect. • A nation's nominal effective exchange rate (NEER), adjusted for inflation in the home country, equals its real effective exchange rate (REER). • An increase in REER implies that exports become more expensive and imports become cheaper; therefore, an increase indicates a loss in trade competitiveness. Hence statement 3 is correct.

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With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements: 1. An increase in Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) indicates the appreciation of rupee. 2. An increase in the Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) indicates an improvement in trade competitiveness. 3. An increasing trend in domestic inflation relative to inflation in other countries is likely to cause an increasing divergence between NEER and REER. Which of the above statements are correct ?

Consider the following statements: 1. The Self-Help Group (SHG) programme was originally initiated by the State Bank of India by providing microcredit to the financially deprived. 2. In an SHG, all members of a group take responsibility for a loan that an individual member takes. 3. The Regional Rural Banks and Scheduled Commercial Banks support SHGs. How many of the above statements are correct?

On separating the Odd and the Even Series, we observe the following pattern: ODD SERIES - 3, 7, 13, 21, 31, 43 - Gaps of 4,6,8,10,12 - series is proper EVEN SERIES - 2, 4, 10, 18, 28, 40 - Gaps of 2,6,8,10,12 - replacement of first term by 0 will make it consistent, therefore option (a) is the correct answer.

Draw a table to compactly summarise the data or solve directly using the below deductions to save time - 1. Shortlist Blue covers, ie R, Q & T 2. Old - P Q R T & Gazetteers - Q T U, So old Gazetteers - Q T 3. Common Books - Q & T Therefore option (c) is the correct answer.