MPPSC 2021 Prelims Q23: In which year did Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL)

Q: What is the answer to MPPSC 2021 Prelims Q23?

C. Correct — C, 2013. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), a Ministry of Heavy Industries Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) and India's largest power-equipment manufacturer, was conferred 'Maharatna' status — the apex tier of the CPSE classification, above Navratna and Miniratna — in 2013, giving its board greater financial and investment autonomy.

MPPSC 2021 Prelims Paper-I · Question 23 of 100

Verified against the official question paper. Answer as per the official MPPSC answer key.

In which year did Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) get the status of 'Maharatna' enterprise?

(a)2011
(b)2012
(c)2013
(d)2014

Answer

Why

Correct — C, 2013. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), a Ministry of Heavy Industries Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) and India's largest power-equipment manufacturer, was conferred 'Maharatna' status — the apex tier of the CPSE classification, above Navratna and Miniratna — in 2013, giving its board greater financial and investment autonomy.

Why the others are wrong

(a)2011 — Not the year BHEL was elevated to Maharatna status.
(b)2012 — Not the year BHEL was elevated to Maharatna status.
(d)2014 — Not the year BHEL was elevated to Maharatna status.

Concept

The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) classifies large, profitable, strategically important Central Public Sector Enterprises into three tiers — Maharatna (highest), Navratna, and Miniratna — based on financial strength (turnover, net profit, net worth over preceding years) and market presence. Higher tiers get greater operational autonomy, such as larger investment ceilings on projects and joint ventures without seeking prior government approval.

MPPSC and UPSC often test which CPSE holds which status and when it was conferred — a mix of static PSU classification and current-affairs-style 'year of elevation' facts.

Key facts

CPSE status hierarchy: Maharatna > Navratna > Miniratna.
Maharatna status is granted by the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).
BHEL is a Ministry of Heavy Industries CPSE and India's largest power-equipment manufacturer.
BHEL received Maharatna status in 2013.

Study next

CPSE classification: Maharatna/Navratna/Miniratna criteriaList of current Maharatna companiesDepartment of Public Enterprises (DPE) and its roleDisinvestment and strategic-sale policy for PSUsPublic sector reforms since 1991 liberalisation

Common traps

Confusing the Navratna and Maharatna categories
Mixing up the year different PSUs were elevated to Maharatna status

'Which PSU holds Maharatna/Navratna status, and since when' is a recurring static-GK-meets-current-affairs format in MPPSC/UPSC prelims.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Practice

practice — not a real PYQ
The 'Maharatna' status for Central Public Sector Enterprises is granted by which body?
- (a)Department of Public Enterprises (DPE)
- (b)Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
- (c)NITI Aayog
- (d)Reserve Bank of India
Answer(a) Department of Public Enterprises (DPE).
practice — not a real PYQ
Which of the following correctly orders the CPSE status categories from highest to lowest autonomy?
- (a)Maharatna > Navratna > Miniratna
- (b)Navratna > Maharatna > Miniratna
- (c)Miniratna > Navratna > Maharatna
- (d)Maharatna > Miniratna > Navratna
Answer(a) Maharatna > Navratna > Miniratna.