Which is India's first public sector enterprise?

Which is India's first public sector enterprise?
Take the Rediff Biz Quiz and find out how much you know about India and its public sector companies.

1. Which is India's first public sector enterprise?
a) Air-India
b) Indian Telephone Industries (ITI)
c) Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)

2. Which public sector corporation has the highest ranking on the Forbes Global 500 list?
a) Indian Oil Corporation
b) Oil India Limited
c) Oil and Natural Gas Corporation

Wrong! Try again..

Wrong!
The correct answer is Indian Oil Corporation.
Forbes Global 500 is a ranking of world's largest public companies and the last rankings were published in July 2003. In the Global 500, companies are ranked on revenues, net income, assets and market capitalisation. Indian Oil Corporation was the highest rank Indian public company at 325 and was followed by ONGC at 352. Reliance was the only private sector Indian company on the list and it ranked at 306. The State Bank of India is also on the list.

Correct!
Forbes Global 500 is a ranking of world's largest public companies and the last rankings were published in July 2003. In the Global 500, companies are ranked on revenues, net income, assets and market capitalisation. Indian Oil Corporation was the highest rank Indian public company at 325 and was followed by ONGC at 352. Reliance was the only private sector Indian company on the list and it ranked at 306. The State Bank of India is also on the list.

3. Till 2000, which company had the distinction of being India's highest loss-making PSU?
a) Hindustan Steel
b) Steel Authority of India (SAIL)
c) Fertilizer Corporation of India

Wrong! Try again..

Wrong! The correct answer is Steel Authority of India (SAIL).
According to the Public Enterprises Survey for 1999-2000, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) had a record as the highest loss-making company with a net loss of Rs 1,620.02 crore during 1999-2000. SAIL was followed by Fertiliser Corporation of India (Rs 854.99 crore) and Eastern Coalfields (Rs 728.23 crore). However, by the end of December 2003, SAIL managed to reduce the accumulated losses to about Rs 1,200 crore and hopes to wipe it out completely by end of fiscal 2004.

Correct!
According to the Public Enterprises Survey for 1999-2000, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) had a record as the highest loss-making company with a net loss of Rs 1,620.02 crore during 1999-2000. SAIL was followed by Fertiliser Corporation of India (Rs 854.99 crore) and Eastern Coalfields (Rs 728.23 crore). However, by the end of December 2003, SAIL managed to reduce the accumulated losses to about Rs 1,200 crore and hopes to wipe it out completely by end of fiscal 2004.

4. How many PSUs comprise the Bombay Stock Exchange's PSU index?
a) 34
b) 22
c) 19

Wrong! Try again..

Wrong! The correct answer is 34.
On June 4, 2001, the BSE started a new equity index called 'BSE-PSU Index.' The PSU Index is a stock index that will track the performance of the listed PSU stocks on the Exchange. The objective of the index is to track the performance of listed equity of PSU companies and create a suitable benchmark for the central government to monitor its wealth on the bourses. The index consists of 34 major public sector undertakings listed on the Exchange and has a base value of 1000.

Correct!
On June 4, 2001, the BSE started a new equity index called 'BSE-PSU Index.' The PSU Index is a stock index that will track the performance of the listed PSU stocks on the Exchange. The objective of the index is to track the performance of listed equity of PSU companies and create a suitable benchmark for the central government to monitor its wealth on the bourses. The index consists of 34 major public sector undertakings listed on the Exchange and has a base value of 1000.

5. Apart from atomic energy and minerals relating to atomic energy production which is the only sector still reserved for PSUs in India?
a) Defence
b) Railway Transport
c) Civil Aviation

Wrong! Try again..

Wrong! The correct answer is Railway Transport.
Prior to 1991, when the process of divestment was started, 17 industries were reserved for the public sector. No private participation could happen in these areas. However, in 1991, the government whittled down this list to eight areas which covered defence, atomic energy, coal and lignite, mineral oils, certain mining and railway transport. Now only three sectors are reserved exclusively for PSUs.

Correct!
Prior to 1991, when the process of divestment was started, 17 industries were reserved for the public sector. No private participation could happen in these areas. However, in 1991, the government whittled down this list to eight areas which covered defence, atomic energy, coal and lignite, mineral oils, certain mining and railway transport. Now only three sectors are reserved exclusively for PSUs.