Q21 · UPSC Prelims 2023 · Set A · Current Affairs and GK

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Consider the following statements:Statement-I: Interest income from the deposits in Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs) distributed to their investors is exempted from tax, but the dividend is taxable.Statement-II: InvITs are recognized as borrowers under the 'Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002'.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
B Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
C Statement-I is correct but Statement- II is incorrect
D Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Correct answer: (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Explanation

  1. A

    Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

    Both correct and II explains I. Statement-I gets the tax treatment backwards.

  2. B

    Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

    Both correct but II does not explain I. I is still false.

  3. C

    Statement-I is correct but Statement- II is incorrect

    I correct, II incorrect. Dividends / interest from InvITs are not in that exempt-vs-taxable split.

  4. D

    Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

    I incorrect, II correct. InvITs are treated as borrowers under SARFAESI; the tax sentence in I is wrong.

Summary. Official key is (d). Interest distributed by InvITs is generally taxable in investors’ hands; the ‘interest exempt, dividend taxable’ split in Statement-I is not the law. InvITs are notified as borrowers under SARFAESI, so Statement-II stands and does not need I.

Same topic · past papers

UPSC has asked this before

These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.

  1. 2023 · Q72 · General Studies · 2 marks

    With reference to Central Bank digital currencies, consider the following statements : 1. It is possible to make payments in a digital currency without using US dollar or SWIFT system. 2. A digital currency can be distributed with a condition programmed into it such as a time-fame for spending it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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