UPSC is wrong in this Economy MCQ on RBI Sources of Income in the Official Prelims-2025 Answerkey

- 💾 Download the topicwise PYQ paperset, monthly current affairs magazine, & more from https://unacademy.com/content/upsc/downloads/ (But wait for 2-3 days for updating with new things) - 👩🏻‍🏫 Prelims + Mains: https://unacademy.com/goal/upsc-civil-services-examination-ias-preparation/KSCGY/subscribe?plan_type=plus&referral_code=mrunal.org - 📆 Free Annual economy updates Win25: https://Mrunal.org/win26 TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 01:15 Complaint Window Problem 02:06 Marks and Scoring Stakes 02:40 RBI Income Sources 05:01 Seigniorage Explained 06:06 Demonetization Gains 08:31 Solving the Question 09:37 Final Verdict Dr. Mrunal Patel, UPSC Educator and Economy Subject Expert, dissects a disputed question from UPSC 2025 Prelims on RBI sources of income and explains why the official answer key may be wrong. Useful for UPSC, SSC-CGL, State PSC, Banking, IBPS, RBI Grade B, CAPF, CDS, ACIO, APFC aspirants. UPSC released its official answer key on 13 May, one year after the exam. Candidates had only 7 days post-exam to file complaints. Without the key, challenging a wrong answer was impossible. Dr. Patel illustrates: if 2+2 has options 4,5,6,7 and the official key says 6, a student who marked 4 loses the right to object once the window closes. Disputed question: What are the sources of income for RBI? Official key says options 1 and 2 only (Answer A). Dr. Patel argues the correct answer should be D covering 1, 2, and 5. RBI Sources of Income explained: 1. Interest on government securities and foreign treasury bonds 2. Revaluation gains on forex reserves and gold 3. Repo rate interest charged to banks and NBFCs 4. Penalties and fines on regulated entities 5. Seigniorage: profit from printing currency (face value minus printing cost) 6. Demonetization gains: when banned notes are not exchanged, RBI liability is cancelled and becomes profit Sources cited: Indian Express and Investopedia confirming seigniorage as valid RBI income. One wrong answer in UPSC GS Paper 1 creates a 2.67 mark swing affecting your rank. ALTERNATIVE TITLES: 1. RBI Income Sources Explained: Why UPSC 2025 Official Answer May Be Wrong 2. Seigniorage and RBI Income: UPSC 2025 Prelims Economy Answer Key Controversy 3. Economy Basics: RBI Sources of Income for UPSC Prelims 2025 TAGS: RBI sources of income, UPSC 2025 prelims, UPSC economy, seigniorage, RBI income, UPSC answer key 2025, economy for UPSC, RBI act, demonetization RBI profit, revaluation of forex reserves, UPSC disputed question, RBI monetary policy, economy lecture, Mrunal economy, UPSC prelims economy, RBI grade B, banking exam economy, SSC CGL economy, free economy lecture, UPSC GS paper 1