Module: General Practice
Q1: Which of the following best describes the primary objective of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, as stated in its preamble, and how does it fundamentally differ from its predecessor, FERA?
✅ Correct Answer: B
The Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999, marked a paradigm shift from "Control" to "Management." Its preamble explicitly states two primary objectives: (1) To facilitate external trade and payments, and (2) To promote the orderly development and maintenance of the foreign exchange market in India.
Historical Context: The predecessor, the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA), 1973, was enacted during a period of low forex reserves.
Its objective was the "conservation" of foreign exchange and the "prevention" of laxity in payments.
FERA treated foreign exchange as a scarce resource to be hoarded.
In contrast, FEMA views foreign exchange as an asset to be managed, aligning with the economic liberalization policies of 1991.
Historical Context: The predecessor, the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA), 1973, was enacted during a period of low forex reserves.
Its objective was the "conservation" of foreign exchange and the "prevention" of laxity in payments.
FERA treated foreign exchange as a scarce resource to be hoarded.
In contrast, FEMA views foreign exchange as an asset to be managed, aligning with the economic liberalization policies of 1991.