Relevance for Banking, SSC & RBI Grade B exams: Economy/Governance
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has initiated the 75th round of its Quarterly Order Books, Inventories and Capacity Utilisation Survey (OBICUS) for the period July–September 2026 (Q2:2026-27). Conducted since 2008, this survey gathers critical data on new orders, backlog, inventories (finished goods, work-in-progress, and raw materials), and production levels vis-à-vis installed capacity from manufacturing firms. The findings, which estimate capacity utilisation (CU), provide essential inputs for monetary policy decisions, helping policymakers assess industrial activity trends and inflationary pressures. For banking and SSC aspirants, understanding OBICUS is vital as it reflects macroeconomic health, influencing interest rates, credit policies, and economic forecasts—key areas tested in exams like IBPS, SBI, and RBI Grade B.
The survey also highlights RBI’s role in data-driven policymaking, a recurring theme in governance sections of competitive exams. Aspirants should note that OBICUS data is publicly released, and companies can voluntarily participate by downloading the questionnaire from the RBI’s website. This underscores the importance of public-private collaboration in economic data collection. For RBI Grade B candidates, familiarity with such surveys is crucial, as they often feature in descriptive papers or interviews, testing awareness of RBI’s tools for monitoring industrial performance and its impact on monetary policy. SSC aspirants, particularly in the general awareness section, may encounter questions on RBI’s functions or industrial surveys, making OBICUS a relevant topic for exam preparation.
Source: RBI
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