CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material – Indian Development Banks

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material Chapter 5 Organizations Facilitating Business – Indian Development Banks

A development bank may be defined as “a multipurpose institution which shares entrepreneurial risk, changes its approach in tune with the industrial climate and encourages new industrial projects to bring about speedier economic growth.

The concept of development banking is based on the assumption that mere provision of finance will not bring about entrepreneurial development. Development banks provide a package of financial and non-financial assistance. Their activities include discovery of new projects, preparation of project report, provision of funds, technical assistance and managerial advice. These institutions do not compete with the conventional institutions but supplement them. Therefore, development banks are called ‘gap fillers’. They serve as motive engines of industrial development. As catalysts of economic growth they provide injections of capital, enterprise and management.

The distinctive features of a development bank are as follows:

  • It provides medium and long-term finance.
  • It is ‘project oriented’ rather than ‘security oriented’.
  • It acts as a ‘partner in progress’ by guiding, supervising and advising the entrepreneurs.
  • It provides both equity capital and debt capital.

Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI)

The IFCI was set up under the IFCI Act on July 1, 1948. On July 1, 1993 it was converted into a public limited company. This was done to enable the IFCI to reshape its business strategies with greater authority, to tap the Capital market for funds to expand its equity base and to provide better customer services. It is now named IFCI Ltd.

Objects – IFCI has been set up for “making medium and long-term credits more readily available to industrial concerns in India, particularly in circumstances where . normal banking facilities are inappropriate or recourse to capital issue methods is impracticable”. The corporation aims at assisting industrial concerns which have carefully considered schemes for manufacture or for modernisation and expansion of a plant for the purpose of increasing their productive efficiency and capacity. Now, public sector undertakings can also avail of assistance from the corporation.

IFCI provides project finance, merchant banking, suppliers’ credit, equipment leasing, finance to leasing and hire-purchase concerns, etc. and promotional services. The corporation gives priority to development of backward areas, new entrepreneurs and technocrats, indigenous technology, ancillary industries, cooperative sector, import substitution and export promotion.

The focus of IFCI is on providing financial assistance to public companies and cooperative societies engaged in manufacturing, mining, shipping, hotel business, etc.

Functions, Scope and Forms of Assistance

  • Granting loans and advances to or subscribing to debentures of industrial concerns.
  • Guaranteeing loans raised by industrial concerns from the capital market, scheduled banks or State cooperative banks.
  • Providing guarantees in respect of deferred payments for imports of capital goods manufactured in India.
  • Guaranteeing with the approval of the Central Government, loans raised from or credit arrangements made by industrial concerns with any bank or financial institution outside India.
  • Underwriting the issue of shares and debentures by industrial concerns.
  • Subscribing directly to the shares and debentures of industrial concerns.
  • Acting as an agent of the Central Government and World Bank in respect of loans sanctioned by them to industrial concerns in India.
  • Participating along with other all India term lending institutions, in the administration of the Soft Loan Scheme for modernisation and rehabilitation of sick industries.
  • Providing financial assistance on concessional terms for setting up industrial projects in backward areas notified by the Central Government.
  • Providing guidance in project planning and implementation through specialised agencies like Technical Consultancy Organisations.

The financial assistance is available for setting up of new projects as well as for the expansion, diversification, and modernisation of existing units. IFCI Ltd. also provides financial assistance to industrial concerns not tied to any project. The following schemes of assistance have been introduced for this purpose: (i) Equipment leasing, (ii) Suppliers’ credit, and (iii) Buyers’ credit. Indirect finance is provided as assistance to leasing companies. Now IFCI also provides short-term loans for working capital purposes.

Industrial Development Bank of India (Now IDBI Ltd.)

The Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) was set up as an apex institution and it started its operations with effect from July 1, 1964. It was set up as a statutory corporation under Industrial Development Bank of India Act, 1964. The needs of rapid industrialisation, long-term financial needs of heavy industry beyond the resources of the then existing institutions, absence of a central agency to coordinate the activities of other financial institutions and gaps in the financial and promotional services were the main causes behind the establishment of the IDBI. The Bank represents an attempt to combine in a single institution the requirements of an expanding economy and need for a coordinated approach to industrial financing. The setting up of the IDBI is thus an important landmark in the history of institutional financing in the country IDBI was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India. But in 1976 the ownership of IDBI was transferred to the Central Government.

In March, 1994 the IDBI Act was amended to permit the Bank to issue equity- shares in the capital market. The majority of its shares are still owned by the Government.

Objects – The objectives of the IDBI are to:

  • co-ordinate, regulate and supervise the activities of all financial institutions providing term finance to industry;
  • enlarge the usefulness of these institutions by supplementing their resources and by widening the scope of their assistance;
  • provide direct finance to industry to bridge the gap between demand and supply of long-term and medium-term finance
  • to industrial concerns in both public and private sectors;
  • locate and fill up gaps in the industrial structure of the country;
  • adopt and enforce a system of priorities so as to diversify and speed up the process of industrial growth. The Bank has been conceived of as a development agency that will ultimately be concerned with all questions or problems relating to industrial finance in the country.

Functions – The main functions of the IDBI are as follows:

  • subscribing to the shares and bonds of financial institutions and guaranteeing their under¬writing obligations;
  • refinancing term loans and export credits extended by other financial institutions;
  • granting loans and advances directly to industrial concerns;
  • guaranteeing deferred payments due from and loans raised by industrial concerns;
  • subscribing to and underwriting shares and debentures of industrial concerns;
  • accepting, discounting and rediscounting bona fide commercial bills or promissory notes of industrial concerns including bills arising out of sale of indigenous machinery on deferred payment basis;
  • financing turnkey projects by Indians outside India and providing credit to foreigners for buying capital goods from India;
  • planning, promoting and developing industries to fill gaps in the industrial structure of the country. The Bank may undertake promotional activities like marketing and investment research, techno-economic surveys, etc.;
  • providing technical and managerial assistance for promotion and expansion of industrial
    undertakings;
  • coordinating and regulating the activities of other financial institutions.

Besides providing assistance to industry directly, IDBI also provides assistance to industries through other financial institutions and banks. IDBI provides project finance for new projects and for expansion, diversification and modernisation of existing projects. IDBI also provides equipment finance, asset credit, corporate loans, working capital loans, refinance, rediscounting, and fee based services (e.g., merchant banking, mortgage, trusteeship, forex services).

Thus, the Bank performs financial, promotional and coordinating functions. As an apex institution in the field of development banking, the IDBI supplements and coordinates the activities of various National and State level financial institutions in the country.

The IDBI has been given wide powers and it enjoys full operational autonomy. The Bank can provide financial assistance directly as well as through other institutions to all types of industrial concerns irrespective of their size or form of ownership. There are no maximum or minimum limits on the amount of assistance or security. The Bank has the freedom to deal with any problem relating to industrial development in general and industrial finance in particular.

The IDBI has created a special fund known as Development Assistance Fund to assist industrial concerns which are not able to get assistance from normal sources. It makes available foreign funds to industrial concerns.

Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)

SIDBI was set up on April 2, 1990 under a special Act of Parliament, as a wholly owned subsidiary of the IDBI. SIDBI took over the outstanding portfolio of IDBI relating to the small scale sector worth over Rs. 4,000 crores. It has taken over the responsibility of administering Small Industries Development Fund and National Equity Fund which were earlier administered by IDBI. SIDBI was delinked from the IDBI through the SIDBI (Amendment) Act, 2000 with effect from March 27, 2000. Its management vests with an elected Board of Directors.

Objectives – SIDBI was envisaged’as “the principal financial institution for the promotion, financing and development of industry in the small scale sector and to coordinate the functions of other institutions engaged in the promotion, financing and developing industry in the small scale sector and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto”.

Thus, financing, promotion, development, and coordination are the basic objectives of SIDBI.

Functions – SIDBI’s main functions are:

  • Refinancing loans and advances extended by primary lending institutions to small scale industrial units.
  • Discounting and rediscounting bills arising from sale of machinery to or manufactured by industrial units in the small scale sector.
  • Extending need capital soft loan assistance under National Equity Fund, Mahila Udyam Nidhi, Mahila Vikas Nidhi and through specified agencies.
  • Granting direct assistance and refinance for financing exports of products manufactured in small scale sector.
  • Extending support to State Small Industries Development Corporations (SSIDCs) for providing scarce raw materials to and marketing the end products of industrial units in the small scale sector.
  • Providing financial support to National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) for providing leasing, hire-purchase and marketing support to industrial units in the small scale sector.

Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India

Two major institutions which provide finance to exporters are the Export-Import Bank of India, and the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation.

The Export-Import Bank of India was established on January 1,1982 under an Act of Parliament for the purpose of financing, facilitating and promoting India’s foreign trade. It is the principal financial institution for coordinating the working of institutions engaged in financing exports and imports.

Mission – The mission of Exim Bank is “to develop commercially viable relationships with externally oriented companies by offering them a comprehensive range of products and services to enhance their internationalisation efforts”.

Objectives – The main objectives of the Exim Bank are as follows:

  • To translate India’s foreign trade policies into concrete action plans.
  • To assist exporters to become internationally competitive by providing them alternate financing solutions.
  • To develop mutually beneficial relationships with international financial community. .
  • To forge close working relationships with other export financing agencies, multilateral funding agencies and investment promotion agencies.
  • To initiate and participate in debates on issues central to India’s international trade.
  • To anticipate and absorb new developments in banking, export financing and information technology.
  • To be responsive to export problems of Indian exporters and pursue policy resolutions.

Exim Bank concentrates on medium and long-term financing, leaving the short-term financing to commercial banks. The Bank has developed a global network through strategic linkages with World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other agencies

Functions:
The Exim Bank provides a wide range of financial facilities and services. Some of these are summarised below:

1. Pre-Shipment Credit: This credit is provided to buy raw materials and other inputs required to produce capital goods meant for exports. It meets temporary funding requirement of export contracts. Exim Bank offers pre-shipment credit for periods, exceeding 180 days. Exporters can also avail of pre-shipment credit in foreign currency for imports of inputs needed for manufacture of export products.

2. Supplier’s Credit: Exim Bank offers supplier’s credit in rupees or foreign currency at post-shipment stage to finance exports of eligible goods and services on deferred payment terms. Supplier’s credit’s available both for supply contracts and project exports which includes construction, turnkey or consultancy contracts undertaken overseas.

3. Finance for Exports of Consultancy and Technology Services: A special credit facility is avail¬able to exporters of consultancy and technology services on deferred payment terms. The services include transfer of technology/know-how, preparation of project feasibility reports, providing personnel for rendering technical services, maintenance and management contracts, etc. .

4. Finance for Project Export Contracts: This scheme is meant to finance rupee expenditure for execution of overseas project export contracts such as for acquisition of materials and equipment, mobilisation of personnel, payments to be made to staff, sub-contractors, and to meet project related overheads. The amount involved is usually in excess of Rs. 50 lakhs and the maximum period of loan is four years.

5. Credit to Overseas Entities: Overseas buyers can avail of Buyer’s Credit for importing eligible goods from India on deferred payment basis. Exim Bank also extends Lines of credit to overseas financial institutions, foreign governments and their agencies for enabling them to provide term loans for importing eligible goods from India.

6. Finance for Export-Oriented Units: Exim Bank offers several facilities to export-oriented units (EOUs). Some of these are:

  • Project Finance – Exim Bank offers term loans for setting up new units and for modernization expansion of existing units. The Bank also extends 100 per cent refinance to commercial banks for term loans sanctioned to an EOU.
  • Equipment Finance – Exim Bank offers a line of credit for Indian/foreign production equipment, including equipment for packaging, pollution control, etc. It also provides term loans to vendors of EOUs to enable them to acquire plant and machinery and other assets required for increasing export capability. Such finance is given for non-project related capital expenditure of EOUs.
  • Working Capital Finance – Exim Bank provides term loans both in rupees and foreign currency to help EOUs meet their working capital requirements. Short-term working capital finance is provided for imports of eligible inputs.
  • R&D Finance – Exim Bank offers term loans to EOUs for development of new technology as well as to develop and/or commercialise new product process applications.
  • Import Finance – Term loans in Indian rupees/foreign currency are available to Indian manufacturing companies for import of consumable inputs, canalised items, capital goods, plant and machinery, technology and know-how.
  • Export Facilitation – Exim Bank offers term finance and non-funded facilities to Indian companies to create infrastructure facilities for developing Indian’s foreign trade and thereby enhance their export capability. Software exporters can get term loans to set up/expand software training institutes and software technology parks. This facility is ‘ also available to Indian companies involved in development of ports and port related services.
  • Export Marketing Finance – Term loans are offered to assist the firms in export marketing and development efforts. Desk/field research, overseas travel, quality certification, product launch are the typical activities eligible for finance under this schemes. Finance is also given to support export product development plans with focus on industrialised market.
  • Underwriting – Exim Bank extends underwriting facility to help the firms raise finance from capital markets. It also issues guarantees to facilitate export contracts and import transactions.

7. Finance for Joint Ventures Abroad

  • Overseas Investment Finance – Any Indian promoter making equity investment abroad in an existing company or in a new project is eligible for finance under the scheme. Assistance is provided both in terms of loans and guarantees.
  • Asian Countries Investment Partners Programme – This programme seeks to promote joint ventures in India between Indian companies and companies from other Asian countries. Finance is provided at various stages of project cycle, viz., sector study, project identification, feasibility study, proto-type development, setting up project, and technical and managerial assistance.

Exim Bank also offers a wide range of information, advisory and support services which help exporters to evaluate international risks, exploit export opportunities and improve competitiveness.

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

NABARD was established on December 15, 1981 under the NABARD Act. It started functioning on July 1, 1982. It was set up to provide credit for the promotion of agriculture, cottage and village industries, handicrafts and other rural crafts and other economic activities in rural areas with a view to promote Integrated Rural Development Program (IRDP) and to secure prosperity in rural areas.

OBJECTIVES:

  • to serve as a financing institution for institutional credit (both long term and short term) for promoting economic activities in rural areas.
  • to provide direct lending to any institution as approved by the Central Government.

Functions:

1. CREDIT FUNCTIONS:

  • providing short term credit to State Cooperative Banks, Regional Rural Banks and other RBI approved financial institutions for the following activities:
    • Seasonal agricultural operations
    • marketing of crops
    • pisciculture activities
    • production/procurement and marketing of co-operative weavers and rural artisans, i.e. individuals and societies.
    • production and marketing activities of industrial co-operations.
  • providing medium term credit to State Cooperative Banks, State Land Development Banks, Regional Rural Banks and other RBI approved financial institutions for converting short-term agricultural purposes.
  • Providing long term credit to State Land Development Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Commercial Banks, State cooperative Banks and other approved financial institutions.
  • refinancing cottage/village and small scale industries located in rural areas.

2. DEVELOPMENT FUNCTIONS:

  • Co-coordinating the operations of rural credit institutions
  • developing expertise to deal with agricultural and rural development efforts
  • acting as an agent to the Government and RBI for business transactions in relevant areas and provide facilities for training, research and dissemination of information in rural banking and development
  • contributing to the share capital of eligible institutions (e) providing direct loans to centrally approved cases.

3. REGULATORY FUNCTIONS:

  • inspecting Regional Rural Banks and Cooperative Banks other than the Primary cooperative Banks
  • recommending for RBI approval opening of a new branch by Regional Rural Banks or Cooperative Banks
  • asking Regional Rural Banks and Cooperative Banks to file returns and documents.

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material – Indian Regulatory bodies

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material Chapter 5 Organizations Facilitating Business – Indian Regulatory bodies

Government of India has constituted several bodies to regulate and control business activities for protecting the interests of various stakeholders. Similarly, several development banks have been established to assist in the establishment and growth of business enterprises. These regulatory bodies and development banks are described in this chapter.

Indian Regulatory Bodies
Regulation and Control of business and related activities are necessary to ensure health growth and to safeguard the interests of various sections of the society. Some of the regulatory bodies in India are given below:

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

In order to protect the interests of investors the Government of India constituted the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in April, 1988. It is meant to be a supervisory body to regulate and promote the securities market in the country.

Objectives: The main objectives of SEBI are as under:

  1. to promote fair dealings by the issuers of securities and to ensure a market place where they can raise funds at a relatively low cost;
  2. to provide a degree of protection to the investors and safeguard their rights and interests so that there is a steady flow of savings into the market;
  3. to regulate and develop a code of conduct and fair practices by intermediaries like brokers, merchant bankers, etc. with a view to making them competitive and professional.

Thus, the basic objectives of SEBI are to protect the interests of investors in securities and to pro-mote the development of, and to regulate, the securities markets.

Functions: SEBI performs the following functions:

1. Protective Functions – In order to protect the common investor, SEBI undertakes the following activities:

  • It prohibits fraudulent and unfair trade practices on stock exchanges.
  • It prohibits insider trading.
  • It undertakes steps to educate investors.
  • It promotes fair practices and code of conduct in securities market.
  • It is empowered to investigate cases of insider trading, impose fines and imprisonment.
  • It has issued guidelines for preferential allotment of shares.

2. Developmental Functions – These functions are as follows:

  • Training intermediaries in stock market.
  • Developing capital markets through internet trading, permitting stock exchanges to market/ IPO and making underwriting optional.

3. Regulatory Functions:

  • Prescribing rules and regulations for merchant bankers, underwriters and registrars.
  • Registering and regulating stock brokers, sub-brokers, etc.
  • Registering and regulating the working of mutual funds.
  • Regulating takeover of companies.
  • Conducting inquiries and audits of stock exchanges.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

Every country has a Central Bank as an apex body to supervise and control the banking sector. Reserve Bank of India is India’s Central Bank. It was set up under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. It began its operations on April 1, 1935. It is managed by a Board of Governors headed by the RBI Governor.

The functions performed by the Reserve Bank of India may be classified broadly into three categories –

  1. traditional central banking functions,
  2. supervisory functions, and
  3. development functions.

The central banking functions are given below:

1. Issue of Bank Notes: Under the RBI Act, the RBI has the monopoly (sole right) to issue bank notes of all denominations. The RBI has a separate Issue Department to make issues of currency notes. It has adopted the minimum reserve system of note issue.

2. Banker to Government: The Reserve Bank acts as the banker, agent and adviser to Government of India:

  • It maintains and operates government deposits.
  • It collects and makes payments on behalf of the government.
  • It helps the government to float new loans and manages the public debt.
  • It sells for the Central Government treasury bills of 91 days duration.
  • It makes ‘Ways and Means’ advances to the Central and State Governments for periods not exceeding three months.
  • It provides development finance to the government for carrying out five year plans.
  • It undertakes foreign exchange transactions on behalf of the Central Government.
  • It acts as the agent of the Government of India in the latter’s dealings with the International institutions.
  • It advises the government on all financial matters such as loan operations, investments, agricultural and industrial finance,
  • banking, planning, economic development, etc.

3. Bankers’ Bank: The RBI keeps the cash reserves of all the scheduled banks and is, therefore, known as the ‘Reserve Bank’. The scheduled banks can borrow in times of need from RBI. The RBI acts not only as the bankers’ bank but also the lender of the last resort by providing rediscount facilities to scheduled banks. The RBI extends loans and advances to banks against approved securities.

4. Controller of Credit: A major function of the RBI is to formulate and administer the country’s monetary policy. The RBI controls the volume of credit created by banks in India. It can ask any particular bank or the entire banking system not to lend against particular type of securities or for a particular purpose. The RBI controls credit in order to ensure price stability and economic growth.

5. Custodian of Foreign Exchange Reserves: The RBI acts as the custodian of India’s reserve of international currencies. In addition, RBI has the responsibility of maintaining exchange rate of the rupee and of administering the exchange controls of the country.

6. Clearing House Facility: As a clearing house, the central bank settles the claims of commercial banks and enables them to clear their dues through book entries. It makes debit and credit entries in their accounts for convenient adjustment of their daily balances with one another.

7. Collection and Publication of Data: The central bank conducts surveys and publishes reports and bulletins. It may provide staff training facilities to the personnel of commercial banks. It maintains relations with international financial institutions such as World Bank, IME etc.

Regulatory and Supervisory Functions:

The RBI is the supreme banking authority in the country. Every bank has to get a licence from the RBI to do banking business in India. The licence can be cancelled if the stipulated conditions are violated. Each scheduled bank is required to send a return of its assets and liabilities to the RBI. In addition, the RBI can call for information from any bank. It also has the power to inspect the accounts of any commercial bank. Thus, the RBI controls the banking system through licensing, inspection and calling for information.

The RBI has been given wide powers of supervision and control over commercial and cooperative banks. It can carry out periodical inspections of the banks and to call for returns from them. The supervisory and regulatory functions of the RBI are meant for improving the standard of banking in India and for developing the banking system on sound lines.

With liberalisation and growing integration of the Indian financial sector with the international market, the supervisory and regulatory role of RBI has become critical for the maintenance of financial stability. RBI has been continuously fine-tuning its regulatory and supervisory mechanism in recent years to match international standards. Migration to new capital adequacy framework (Basel II) based on a three-pillar approach, namely, minimum capital requirements, supervisory review, and market discipline, involves implementation challenges for both RBI and banks. RBI has taken a number of initiatives to make migration to Base II smoother.

Promotional or Developmental Functions:

The RBI is expected to promote banking habit, extend banking facilities to rural and semi-urban areas, establish and promote new specialised financial agencies. The RBI has helped in the setting of the IFCI, the SFCs, the UTI, the IDBI, the Agricultural Refinance Corporation of India, etc. These institutions were established to mobilise savings and to provide finance to industry and agriculture. The RBI has developed the cooperative credit movement to encourage savings, to eliminate moneylenders from the villages and provide short-term credit to agriculture. The RBI has also taken initiative for widening financial facilities for foreign trade. It facilitates the process of industrialisation by setting up specialised institutions for industrial finance. It also undertakes steps to develop bill market in the country.

Functions of the RBI

  1. Monetary Functions: Issue of currency, banker to Government, banker’s bank, credit control, custodian of foreign exchange.
  2. Supervisory Functions: Licensing, branch expansion, liquidity of assets, working methods, inspection, amalgamation and reconstruction.
  3. Developmental Functions: Promotion and mobilisation of savings, extension of banking, elimination of money lenders.

Credit Control by RBI:
As stated earlier, RBI is the controller of credit in India. Credit control means the regulation of credit by the central bank for achieving the desired objectives. It involves expansion and contraction of credit. The control over credit is necessary for preventing too much money supply in the economy and to prevent price rise.

The objectives of credit control are as follows:

  • to stabilise the general price level in the country;
  • to keep the exchange rate stable;
  • to promote and maintain a high level of income and employment;
  • to maintain a normal and steady growth rate in business activity;
  • to eliminate undue fluctuations in production and employment.

In order to control the volume of credit in the country, the RBI employs both general and selective methods:

ca-foundation-business-commercial-knowledge-study-material-indian-regulatory-bodies

Fig. Credit Control by RBI

1. Bank Rate – The standard rate at which the RBI is prepared to discount bills of exchange or extends advances to the commercial banks is known as the bank rate. When the RBI increases the bank rate, borrowing from banks becomes costlier and the amount of borrowings from banks is reduced. The effectiveness of bank rate is, however, limited due to certain constraints in the economy. Existence of non-banking finance institutions, large profit margins on speculative dealings, priority sector advances and increase in prices of final products to offset high interest rates are examples of these constraints.

2. Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) – CRR refers to that portion of total deposits of a commercial bank which it has to keep with the RBI in the form of cash reserves. By raising the CRR, the RBI reduces the amount of loanable funds with commercial banks. As they can lend lesser amount, the volume of credit in the country gets reduced.

3. Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) – SLR means that portion of total deposits of a commercial bank which it has to keep with itself in the form of cash reserves. An increase in the SLR has the same effect on the volume of credit as increase in the CRR.

4. Open Market Operations – These refer to the purchase and sale by the RBI of a variety of assets such as gold, government securities, foreign exchange and industrial securities from the market to increase money supply and lower interest rates. This is done to stimulate banks to give out more loans, boost private spending and increase inflation. It is called quantitative easing. If the RBI wants to reduce the volume of credit, it sells these assets. Such sale reduces money supply with banks and leads to increase in rates of interest. The open market operations of the RBI are however restricted to government securities due to underdeveloped securities market, and narrow gilt edged market.

Selective Credit Controls

Under these measures, the RBI diverts the flow of credit from speculative and unproductive activities to productive and priority areas. Under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 the RBI is empowered to issue directives to banks, regarding their advances. These directives may relate to:

  • the purpose for which advances may or may not be made;
  • the margins to be maintained in respect of secured advances; ‘
  • the maximum amount of advances to any borrower;
  • the maximum amount upto which guarantees may be given by the bank on behalf of any firm, company, etc.; and
  • the rate of interest and other terms and conditions for granting advances.

The selective methods of credit control are as follows:

  1. Margin Requirements – Commercial banks have to keep a margin between the amount of loan granted and the market value of the security against which the loan is granted. For example, they may be asked to grant loans upto 80 per cent of the security or asset. When the central bank raises margin requirements, the volume of credit is reduced. In the same manner, lowering of margin re-quirements leads to expansion of credit. Margin requirements is a selective method of credit control.
  2. Credit Rationing – Sometimes, the Reserve Bank of India fixes a limit to the credit facilities available to commercial banks. The available credit is rationed among them according to the purpose of credit. This method of credit control is used in exceptional situations of monetary stringency. Moreover, credit rationing cannot be used for the expansion of credit in the economy.
  3. Moral Suasion – Under this method, the central bank requests and persuades the commercial banks not to grant credit for speculative and non-essential activities. It is an informal and non-statutory method. But commercial banks honour the authority of the central bank. The central bank may also issue directives to commercial banks to refrain from certain types of lending. For example, the RBI asked banks to refrain from lending against food grains to check hoarding.
  4. Publicity – The central bank issues reports and review statements of assets and liabilities. These publications keep commercial banks aware of conditions in the money market, public finance, trade and industry in the country. They adjust their credit activities accordingly.

Role of RBI in Economic Development

In a developing country like India, the central bank has to play a vital role. The developing coun¬tries generally do not have well organised money market and capital market. Therefore, the central bank is expected to develop the banking system and financial system of the country. In addition to the traditional functions, the RBI contributes towards the Indian economy in the following ways:

  1. Development of Banking System – The RBI takes steps to develop a sound banking system in the country. Over the years, an integrated commercial banking structure has been developed under the supervision and control of the RBI. Regulation and control by the RBI creates public confidence in the banking system.
  2. Development of Financial Institutions – The RBI has played an active role in the establishment of specialised institutions for agriculture, industry, small scale sector and foreign trade.
  3. Development of Backward Areas – The RBI has encouraged banks to set up branches in backward regions so that financial facilities could be made available to people in these areas and to priority sectors. Social banking made rapid progress in India after the nationalisation of major banks in 1969.
  4. Economic Stability – The RBI has used its monetary and credit policy to regulate inflationary pressures in the economy. The bank has controlled the volume of credit for this purpose. According to the Planning Commission, “the central bank has to take a direct and active role in creating or helping to create the machinery needed for financing development activities all over the country, and in ensuring that the finance available flows in the intended directions”.
  5. Economic Growth – The RBI ensures adequate money supply for meeting the growing needs of different sectors of the economy.
  6. Proper Interest Rate Structure – The RBI has helped in establishing a suitable interest rate structure so as to direct investment in the economy. A policy of low interest rate has been adopted for encouraging investment.
  7. Miscellaneous – The RBI provides training and research facilities. It provides special facilities to priority sectors. It also guides the efforts of planners by its economic policies.

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA)

IRDA is a statutory and apex body that supervises and regulates insurance industry in India. It was established under the IRDA Act on December 16, 2014. It is managed by a chairman, five whole time members and four part time members all appointed by the Government of India.

OBJECTIVES:

  • to promote the interests and rights of policy holders
  • to promote and ensure the growth of insurance industry
  • to ensure speedy settlement of genuine claims and to prevent frauds and malpractices, and
  • to bring transparency and orderly conduct of financial markets dealing with insurance.

FUNCTIONS:

  • to issue, register and regulate insurance companies
  • to protect the interests of policyholders
  • to provide licence to insurance intermediaries such as agents and brokers who met the qualifications and code of conduct specified by it
  • to promote and regulate the professional organizations related with insurance business so as to promote efficiency in the insurance sector
  • to regulate and supervise the rates of insurance premium and terms of insurance covers
  • to specify the conditions and manners according to which the insurance companies and other intermediaries have to make their financial reports
  • to regulate the investment of policyholders funds by insurance companies, and
  • to ensure the maintenance of solvency margin (Company’s ability to payment claims) by insurance companies.

Competition Commission of India (CCI)

Government of India constituted the CCI under the Competition Act, 2002

Duties, Powers and Functions of the Commission

Duties of Commission
Under Section 18, Competition Commission has been charged with the following duties:

  • to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition,
  • to promote and sustain competition,
  • to protect the interests of consumers, and
  • to ensure freedom of trade carried by other participants in markets in India.

Powers and Functions of Commission
With a view to perform the duties enumerated under section 18, the Commission has been charged with certain obligations and conferred with certain powers. These obligations and powers are as follows:

1. Inquiry into Certain Agreements (Section 19) – The Commission may inquire into any alleged contravention of the provisions contained in section 3(1) or 4(1) either on its own motion or on:

  • receipt of a complaint from any person, consumer or their association or trade association; or
  • a reference made to it by the Central Government or a State Government or a statutory authority [Section 19(1)].

2. Inquiry whether an Enterprise Enjoys Dominant Position – The Commission shall, while inquiring whether an enterprise enjoys a dominant position or not under Section 4, have due regard to all or any of the following factors, namely:

  • market share of the enterprise;
  • size and resources of the enterprise;
  • size and importance of the competitors;
  • economic power of the enterprise including commercial advantages over competitors;
  • vertical integration of the enterprises or sale or service network of such enterprises;
  • dependence of consumers on the enterprise;
  • monopoly or dominant position whether acquired as a result of any statute or by virtue of being a Government company or a public sector undertaking or otherwise;
  • entry barriers including barriers such as regulatory barriers, financial risk, high capital cost of entry, marketing entry barriers, technical entry barriers, economies of scale, high cost of substitutable goods or service for consumers;
  • countervailing buying power;
  • market structure and size of market;
  • social obligations and social costs;
  • relative advantage by way of contribution to the economic development by the enterprise enjoying a dominant position having or likely to have appreciable adverse effect on compe-tition;
  • any other factor which the Commission may consider relevant for the inquiry [Section 19(4)].

3. Inquiry into Combination by Commission (Section 20) – Inquiry into acquisition, control and combination. The Commission may, upon its own knowledge or information relating to acquisition referred to in Section 5(a) or acquiring of control or merger or amalgamation referred to in Section 5(6) or merger or amalgamation referred to in Section 5(c), inquire into whether such a combination has caused or is likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India.

The Commission shall not initiate any inquiry under this sub-section after the expiry of one year from the date on which such combination has taken effect [Section 20(1)].

The Commission shall, on receipt of a notice or upon receipt of a reference under Section 6(2), in¬quire whether a combination referred to in that notice or reference has caused or is likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India [Section 20(2)].

Factors having effect on combination. For the purposes of determining whether a combination would have the effect of or is likely to have an appreciable adverse effect on competition in the relevant market, the Commission shall have due regard to all or any of the following factors, namely:

  • actual and potential level of competition through imports in the market;
  • extent of barriers to entry to the market;
  • level of combination in the market;
  • degree of countervailing power in the market;
  • likelihood that the combination would result in the parties to the combination being able to significantly and sustainably increase prices or profit margins;
  • extent of effective competition likely to sustain in a market;
  • extent to which substitutes are available or are likely to be available in the market;
  • market share, in the relevant market, of the persons or enterprise in a combination, individ-ually and as a combination;
  • likelihood that the combination would result in the removal of a vigorous and effective com-petitor or competitors in market;
  • nature and extent of vertical integration in the market;
  • possibility of a failing business;
  • nature and extent of innovation;
  • relative advantage by way of contribution to the economic development, by way of combi-nation having or likely to have appreciable adverse effect on competition;
  • whether the benefits of the combination outweigh the adverse impact of the combination, if any [Section 20(4)].

4. Power to Grant Interim Relief (Section 33) – Section 33 empowers the Commission to grant interim relief by way of temporary injunctions.

Where during an inquiry before the Commission, it is proved to the satisfaction of the Commission, by affidavit or otherwise, that an act in contravention of Section 3(1), or Section 4(1) or Section 5 has been committed and continues to be committed or that such act is about to be committed, the

Commission may grant a temporary injunction restraining any party from carrying on such act until the conclusion of such inquiry or until further orders, without giving notice to the opposite party, where it deems it necessary [Section 33(1)].

5. Power to Award Compensation (Section 34) – Without prejudice to any other provisions contained in this Act, any person may make an application to the Commission for an order for the recovery of compensation from any enterprise for any loss or damage shown to have been suffered, by such person as a result of any contravention of the provisions of Chapter II (Sections 3 to 6), having been committed by such enterprise [Section 34(1)].

The Commission may, after an inquiry made into the allegations mentioned in the application made under sub-section (1), pass an order directing the enterprise to make payment to the applicant, of the amount determined by it as realisable from the enterprise as compensation for the loss or damage caused to the applicant as a result of any contravention of the provisions of Chapter II having been committed by such enterprise [Section 34(2)].

Orders by Commission after Inquiry into Agreements or Abuse of Dominant Position (Section 27)

Orders by Commission. Where after inquiry the Commission finds that any agreement or action of an enterprise in a dominant position, is in contravention of Section 3 or Section 4, it may pass all or any of the following orders, namely:

  • direct any enterprise or association of enterprises or person or association of persons, involved . in such agreement, or abuse of dominant position, to discontinue and not to re-enter such
    agreement or discontinue such abuse of dominant position;
    impose such penalty, as it may deem fit which shall be not more than 10 per cent of the average of the turnover for the three preceding financial years upon each of such person or enterprises which are parties to such agreements or abuse. However, where any agreement referred to in Section 3 (Le., any anti-competitive agreement) has been entered into by any cartel, the Commission shall impose upon each producer, seller, distributor, trader or service provider included in that cartel, a penalty equivalent to three times of the amount of profits made out of such agreement by the cartel or ten per cent of the average of the turnover of the cartel for the last preceding three financial years, whichever is higher;
  • award compensation to parties in accordance with the provisions contained in Section 34;
  • direct that the agreements shall stand modified to the extent and in the manner as may be specified in the order by the Commission;
  • direct the enterprises concerned to abide by such other orders as the Commission may pass and comply with the
  • directions, including payment of costs, if any;
    recommend to the Central Government for the division of an enterprise enjoying dominant position;
  • pass such other order as it may deem fit.

Division of Enterprise Enjoying Dominant Position (Section 28)

The Central Government, on recommendation by the Commission under Section 27(f), may, in writing, direct division of an enterprise enjoying dominant position to ensure that such enterprise does not abuse its dominant position [Section 28(1)]. This order may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:

  • the transfer or vesting of property, rights, liabilities or obligations;
  • the adjustment of contracts either by discharge or reduction of any liability or obligation or otherwise;
  • the creation, allotment, surrender or cancellation of any shares, stocks or securities;
  • the payment of compensation to any person who suffered any loss due to dominant position of the enterprise;
  • the formation or winding up of an enterprise or the amendment of the memorandum of association or articles of association or any other instruments regulating the business of any enterprise;
  • the extent to which, and the circumstances in which, provisions of the order affecting an enterprise may be altered by the enterprise and the registration thereof;
  • any other matter which may be necessary to give effect to the division of the enterprise [Section 28(2)].

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material Chapter 6 Common Business Terminologies – Test Questions

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material Chapter 6 Common Business Terminologies – Test Questions

1. A stock that provides regular dividends even during economic downturn is called
(a) Listed
(b) Crow Stock
(c) Income Stock
(d) Defensive Stock

2. Carrying forward a transaction from one settlement period to the next is known as
(a) Basket Trading
(b) Margin Trading
(c) Badla
(d) Option deal

3. Call is the opposite of
(a) Equity
(b) Bid
(c) Ask/offer
(d) Equity

4. A speculator who buys securities in anticipation of increase in prices is called
(a) Stag
(b) Bull
(c) Bear
(d) None of them

5. A bear market means
(a) A market wherein share prices are falling consistently
(b) A market wherein share prices are rising consistently
(c) A market wherein share prices are stable
(d) None of the above

6. Simultaneous purchase and sale of the same stock in two different markets is known as
(a) Basket trading
(b) Badla
(c) Arbitrage
(d) Margin Trading

7. Buying or selling all 30 scrips of sensex in pro-portion of their current weights in the sensex in one go is called
(a) Basket trading
(b) Arbitrage
(c) Badla
(d) Margin Trading

8. The relationship between the price of a share and the sensex is measurably
(a) Alfa
(b) Beta
(c) Book value
(d) Annuity

9. Combination of two or more firms into one firm is called
(a) Consolidation
(b) Yield
(c) Option
(d) None of the above

10. An option to buy a particular share at a specified price within a specified future period is known as
(a) Put option
(b) Bid
(c) Offer
(d) Case option

11. The value of a share printed on the share certificate is called
(a) Face value
(b) Market Value
(c) Future value
(d) Current value

12. Sensex is made up of how many scrips
(a) 50
(b) 30
(c) 40
(d) 20

13. Nifty consists of how many scrips
(a) 20
(b) 30
(c) 40
(d) 50

14. When a company makes first issue of shares to the general public it is called
(a) ADR
(b) GDR
(c) CD
(d) IPO

15. A textile firm enters into cement manufacturing business. It is an example of:
(a) Consolidation
(b) Diversification
(c) Liquidation
(d) Turnaround

16. The strategy used to minimize the risk and maxi-mize the return on an investment is called
(a) Hedge
(b) Index
(c) Bid
(d) Offer

17. The statistical measure of changes in prices on a stock exchange is:
(a) Dividend
(b) Index
(c) Beta
(d) Bid

18. A security whose price is derived from one or more underlying assets is a
(a) Blue Chip
(b) Derivative
(c) Hedge
(d) Index

19. Piecemeal sale of the assets of a division of the company is called
(a) Modernization
(b) Diversification

20. Total share holding of an investor is known as his/her
(a) Mutual Fund
(b) Holding Period
(c) Pastfolio
(d) Limit order

21. Dividing a share with a face value of Rs. 100 each into 10 shares with a face value of Rs. 10 each is an example of
(a) Sheet selling
(b) Liquidation
(c) Diversification
(d) Stock split

22. Paid form of non-personal promotional of ideas, goods and services by an identified sponsor is called :
(a) Adventuring
(b) Sales promotion
(c) Personal Selling
(d) None of the above

23. The process of comparing the products and services with those of best in the industry to improve quality and performance is known as
(a) Advertising
(b) After-sale-Device
(c) Benchmarking
(d) None of the above

24. Commitment of customers to a particular brand is called
(a) Brand Equity
(b) Brand recognition
(c) Brand loyalty
(d) Benchmarking

25. A combination of several firms working together to build or buy something is known as:
(a) Business Modal
(b) Business Portfolio
(c) Combination
(d) Consortium

26. The values, beliefs and traditions shared by the members of a company is called
(a) Corporate culture
(b) Consortium
(c) Cross selling
(d) None of the above

27. Giving unique identity to a product to differentiate it from rival products means
(a) Direct marketing
(b) Differentiation
(c) Diversification
(d) None of the above

28. It is the process of eliciting support for a company and its activities from its employees. Name it
(a) Internal Marketing
(b) Direct Marketing
(c) Internet Marketing
(d) None of the above

29. A company created jointly by two or more companies for mutual advantage is called
(a) Consolidation
(b) Merger
(c) Joint Venture
(d) None of the above

30. Dividing the total market into several groups on the basis of consumer characteristics is known as:
(a) Market segmentation
(b) Market Development
(c) Market Research
(d) None of the above.

31. Offering existing products or their new version to a new customer group is called
(a) Market entity
(b) Market Positioning
(c) Market Development
(d) None of the above

32. Selecting the most attractive market segment for a particular product or product line is known as
(a) Market Positioning
(b) Market Entry
(c) Target Marketing
(d) None of the above

33. It is the exploitation of small market segments, name it
(a) Direct Marketing
(b) Niche Marketing
(c) Mass Marketing
(d) None of the above

34. A product’s customer benefit that no other product can claim is known as
(a) Opportunity
(b) Publicity
(c) Unique Selling Proposition
(d) None of the above.

35. The rate at which the Reserve Bank of India lends, money to commercial banks for long period is called
(a) Repo Rate
(b) Goring Rate
(c) Bank Rate
(d) None of the above

36. The money deposit made by the buyer to the seller of real estate during negotiation stage is known as
(a) Earnest Money Deposit
(b) Fixed Deposit
(c) Current Deposit
(d) None of the above

37. The document issued by a bank on behalf of the importer promise to pay money for imported goods is called
(a) Letter of credit
(b) Debt Card
(c) Bank Draft
(d) None of the above

38. The rate of interest offered by the Reserve Bank of India on deposit of surplus funds by commercial banks is known as
(a) Bank Rate
(b) Repo Rate
(c) Reverse Repo rate
(d) None of the above

39. Jan Dhan Account is an example of
(a) Current Account
(b) Fixed Deposit Account
(c) Zero Balance Account
(d) None of the above

40. The rate of interest at which banks borrow money for short periods from the Reserve Bank of India is called.
(a) Bank Rate
(b) Repo Rate
(c) Reserve Repo Rate
(d) None of the above

41. Profits, people and planet together constitute a company’s
(a) Vision
(b) Mission
(c) Triple Bottom Line
(d) None of the above

42. Integration of national economies into a world economy is called:
(a) Globalisation
(b) Privatization
(c) Liberalization
(d) None of the above

43. Molasses in sugar industry is an example of
(a) Joint product
(b) Unique product
(c) Byproduct
(d) None of the above

44. Sale of public enterprises to private sector is called
(a) Globalisation
(b) Privatization
(c) Liberalization
(d) None of the above

45. Financial recovery of a loss making company is known as
(a) Turn around
(b) Privatization
(c) Liberalization
(d) None of the above

46. The roadmap of a company future is
(a) Mission
(b) Vision
(c) Business Module
(d) None of the above

47. The statement that defines what a company is and what it does is called
(a) Mission
(b) Vision
(c) Business Module
(d) None of the above

48. Activities involved in physical involvement of goods from the factory to market etc. is called
(a) Logistics
(b) Merger
(c) Mission
(d) None of the above

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material – Other Business Terminology

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material – Other Business Terminology

Other Business Terminology

  • Acquisition: Takeover of one firm by another.
  • Administration: The process of determining and executing the policies and programmes of an organisation.
  • Allowance: A fixed sum allowed by an employer to an employee e.g. house rent allowance.
  • Bankruptcy: A situation when a firm’s assets are insufficient to pay its liabilities.
  • Bottom line: Net profits.
  • Business environment: All forces and factors external to the firm but influence its working and performance.
  • Business facilitators: The individuals, organisations/institutions and arrangement that ease the setting up, operating and exit of business firms.
  • By products: Products recovered from material discarded in a main process e.g. molasses in sugar industry.
  • Corporate: A business entity distinct from its members e.g. a company.
  • Corporate governance: The system that ensures that a company’s operations are conducted in an ethical manner and as per the law. It consists of board of directors, independent audit and financial reporting.
  • Drawings: Cash or goods taken by the owner of the firm for personal/family use.
  • Electronic commerce: Commercial transactions conduced over the Internet.
  • Electronic filing: Fifing documents online e.g. fifing tax returns online.
  • Franchise: The license given by one company to another to use the former name and sell its product/ service in a specified territory in exchange for payment of fee.
  • Globalisation: The process of removing barriers to flow of goods, services, labour, capital and technology from one country to another leading to the emergence of a global economy.
  • Goodwill: Money Value of a company’s reputation.
  • Infrastructure: The basic facilities necessary for the operation of a society and business firms. It consists of buildings, roads, railways, posts, power supply, etc.
  • Joint sector: Business enterprises owned jointly by Government and private sector.
  • Joint products: Two or more products separated in the same processing operation which usually require further processing. For example, gasoline, lubricant, paraffin and kerosene are joint products, all produced from crude oil.
  • Liberalisation: Systematic removal of restrictions on private business operations.
  • Logistics: Movement of supplies to the production facilities (inbound logistics) and movement of products from centres of production to markets (outbound logistics).
  • Merger: Combination of two or more independent firms into a single firm.
    Mission Statement: A statement that defines the business scope (who we are and what we do) of an organisation.
  • Multinational: A company which has business operations in a country otherwise the country of its incorporation.
  • Patent: An exclusive legal right to the inventor for use of the invention.
  • Pestle: Political (P), Economic (E), Social (S), Technological (T), Legal (L) and Ecological (E) Environment.
  • Privatisation: Selling of public enterprises to public sector.
  • Private sector: All business enterprises owned and controlled by private persons.
  • Public sector: All enterprises owned and controlled by the Government.
  • Proprietorship: A business owned and controlled by an individual. Also known as sole proprietorship. Retained earnings: Undistributed profits of a company.
  • Return: Rate of earning on an investment.
  • Risk: Possibility of loss on an investment.
  • Secondary sector: Manufacturing and construction industries.
  • Subsidiary: A company owned and controlled by another company.
  • Sustainable development: Development that can be sustained over generations or development
    without compromising ecology or environment.
  • Term insurance: Insurance for a specific time period with no defrayal to the insured person and which become null on its expiry.
  • Triple bottom line: Profit, people and planet i.e. simultaneous development of economy, society and ecology.
  • Turnaround: Financial recovery of a loss making firm.
  • Vision: The roadmap of a company’s future.
  • Whole life insurance: An insurance policy the sum of which is payable after the death of the insured to his nominee.

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material – Banking Terminology

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material Chapter 6 Common Business Terminologies – Banking Terminology

Banking Terminology

  • Acceptance: A signed acknowledgement indicating the acceptance of all the terms and conditions of an agreement.
  • Accepting house: A bank or financial institution engaged in acceptance and guarantee of bills of exchange.
  • Account balance: The net amount standing on the credit/debit side of the bank account of a customer.
  • Account payee cheque: A cheque the payment of which can only be credited to the bank account of the payee.
  • Accrued interest: Interest earned but not yet paid, also known as interest receivable.
  • Administered rates: Rates of interest which can be changed through a contract between the lender and the borrower, or by the Government.
  • American depository receipt (ADR): A receipt equal to the specific number of shares issued by a company in a foreign country. ADRs are traded only in the United States of America.
  • Annuities: Periodic payments in exchange for deposit of a sum of money.
  • Automated clearing house: A nationwide electronic clearing house that administers and monitors the cheque and fund clearance between banks. Through it debit and credit balances are distributed automatically.
  • Automated teller machine (ATM): An electronic machine through which money can be withdrawn and deposited at any time and on any day.
  • Balance transfer: Transfer of funds from one account to another or repayment of a loan with the help of another loan.
  • Bank account: An account with a bank.
  • Bank draft: A cheque drawn by a bank on its own branch or on another bank. It is payable on demand and also known as demand draft.
  • Bank passbook: A book containing data of transactions between a bank and its customer.
  • Bank rate: The rate of interest at which commercial banks can draw from the Reserve Bank of India for a long time period.
  • Bank reconciliation statement: A statement prepared to reconcile the difference between balances shown in cash book and passbook.
  • Bank statement: A Statement showing transactions between a bank and its customer during a specified time period.
  • Basis point: A measure in interest rate, stock market indices and market rates. It is 1 /100 of one per cent e.g. Rs. 0.001.
  • Bearer cheque: A cheque that can be encashed by its holder on the bank counter. It is transferable by mere delivery.
  • Bill discounting: Encashing a bill of exchange at a discount before the date of its maturity.
  • Bridge finance: Finance raised to fill up the time gap between a short term loan and long term loan also known as gap finance.
  • Bounced cheque: A cheque which the bank refuses to encash due to lack of adequate balance or for any other valid reason.
  • Cap: A limit to which rate of interest can be changed.
  • Cash credit: A revolving credit arrangement under which a bank allows the customer to borrow upto the specified amount, interest is charged only on the amount actually withdrawn.
  • Cash reserve: The total amount of cash available in the bank account and can be withdrawn immediately.
  • Cashier’s cheque: A cheque drawn by a bank to make payments to the banks or any other party.
  • Cheque: A negotiable instrument that instructs the bank to pay the specified amount from the drawer’s account to the payee.
  • Certificate of deposit: A certificate of making deposit premising to pay the depositor the deposited amount along with interest.
  • Chattel mortgage: Loan against the movable assets as collateral.
  • Clearing: The process of transferring the amount of a cheque from the payer’s account to the payee’s account.
  • Clearing house: Meeting of representatives of different banks to clear and confirm balances with each other. It is managed by the country’s Central Bank.
  • Compound interest: Calculating interest on the principal amount and accumulated interest.
  • Current account: A bank account from which money can be withdrawn as many times a day as needed and overdraft can be obtained.
  • Debit card: An instrument obtained after making payment and used to buy things by swiping it. Deposit slip: A slip containing details of money deposited in a bank account.
  • Depositor: The person who deposits, money into a bank account.
  • Debt recovery: The process of recovering money from a debtor by selling of collators and other assets.
  • Debt repayment: The repayment of debt along with interest.
  • Debt settlement: The process of negotiating the amount which a lender accepts repayment below the amount of debt and accrued interest.
  • E-cash: Use of electronic networks to transfer funds and execute transactions. Also known as electronic cash, digital cash.
  • Early withdrawal penalty: The penalty charged from a customer who withdraws his/her fixed deposit the due date.
  • Earnest money deposit: The deposit made by a buyer of real estate with the seller driving negotiation stage.
  • Education loan: A loan given for the education of the borrower at a concessional rate of interest.
  • Global depository receipt: A receipt specifying the number of shares issued by a company in a foreign country. The receipt is tradable in Europe.
  • Guarantor: One who promises to repay a loan in case the borrower fails to repay.
  • Interest: The charge which a borrower pays to the lender for use of money. It is the cost of credit.
  • Internet banking: Banking transfer done by the Internet. It is also known as online banking or electronic (e)banking.
  • Letter of credit: A written promise by a bank to an exporter to pay the specified amount on behalf of the importer for the goods sold.
  • Line of credit: An arrangement under which a bank allows a borrower to borrow money from time to time without further negotiations and upto the specified limit.
  • Lock-in-period: The time period during which no change in the quoted mortgage rates will be made by the lender.
  • Market value: The value at which consumers are willing to buy and sellers are willing to sell. Decided by demand and supply.
  • Maturity: The date on which an investment/loan becomes repayable.
  • Mortgage: A legal agreement between a lender and a borrower under which real estate is used as a collactral to ensure repayment of the loan.
  • Online banking: Same as internet banking.
  • Overdraft: Withdrawal of money in excess of the balance in the borrower’s current account. Payee: The person to whom money is to be paid.
  • Personal identification number (PIN): A secret code number given to customers to perform transactions through the ATM.
  • Repo rate: The rate at which banks borrow money from the Reserve Bank of India for short periods upto two weeks by pledging government securities.
  • Reverse repo rate: The rate of interest which the Reserve Bank of India pays to banks which deposit their surplus funds for short periods.
  • Smart card: A card with a computer slip used for storage, processing and transmission of data.
  • Syndicated loan: A large amount of loan given by a group of small banks to a single corporate borrower.
  • Time deposit: A bank deposit made for a specific time period, cannot be withdrawn before the expiry of the period.
  • Value at risk (VAR): A sum the value of which is subject to loss due to changes in the rate of interest. Wholesale banking: Banks which offer services to companies, financial and other institutions.
  • Zero balance accounts: A bank account in which no minimum balance is required e.g. Jan Dhan Account.
  • Zero-down-payment mortgage: A mortgage in which the borrower makes no loan payment. The mortgage buys below the amount at the entire purchase price.

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material – Marketing Terminology

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material Chapter 6 Common Business Terminologies – Marketing Terminology

Marketing Terminology

  • Advertising: Any paid form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods and services through mass media such as newspapers, radio, TV, Internet by an identified sponsor.
  • Advertising agency: An organization consisting of experts who render advertising services for payment in terms of fee or commission or both.
  • Advertising campaign: An organization’s programme of advertising for a specific time period. Advertising copy The advertisement containing the message, photograph and other details. Advertising media The channels (e.g. print and electronic media) used to carry advertisements. Advice note A document sent by a seller informing the buyer of dispatch of goods.
  • Agent: A person authorised to act on behalf of another (principal, like buyer and seller and do not take ownership of goods.
  • Auction: An agent who sells goods through action on behalf of his principal.
  • After sale service: The services provided by the manufacturer/dealer to the buyers after selling the product/service.
  • Barrier to trade: Something that makes trade between two countries more difficult or expensive, e.g. a customs duty on imports.
  • Barriers to entry/exit: A barrier to entry/exit of new firms in the market, e.g. economies of scale, government policy.
  • Benchmarking: The process of comparing the products / services, or business processes of an enterprise against the best firm in the industry with the objective of improving quality and performance.
  • Brand: A name, symbol, design, logo or a combination thereof to identify a product and to differentiate it from competing products.
  • Brand equity: The estimated value of a brand on the basis of brand’s loyalty.
  • Brand recognition: Customers awareness of existence of a brand as an alternative for buying.
  • Brand loyalty: Commitment of customers to a brand.
  • Business-to-business (B2B): Marketing activities between two business firms carried through Internet. Business model: A company’s approach for converting its strategy into moneymaker.
  • Business portfolio: A company’s set of businesses or products.
  • Buying behaviour: The process used by buyers to decide whether or not to buy a product/service. It depends upon several internal and external factors.
  • Cash discount: A reduction in the price of products/services given to customers who buy on cash basis.
  • Competitive advantage: An advantage which a firm has over its competitors.
  • Competitive position: The position that a firm takes to face its competitors.
  • Conglomerate diversification: Starting or acquiring businesses which have no synergy with the firm’s exiting business. For example, ITC a tobacco company diversified into hotels, garments, foods and beverages, paper and paper board and agri business.
  • Consortium: A group of several firms which work together to buy something or to build something.
  • Consumer market: The market for products and services which people buy for their own/family’s use.
  • Corporate culture: The values beliefs, traditions, rituals, etc. shared by the members of an organization.
  • Cross-selling: Selling related products to buyers of a product. For example, selling handkerchief, ‘ Socks, ties to buyer of shirts/trousers.
  • Catalogue: A small booklet containing details about the products, their prices etc. of a firm.
  • Chain stores: A group of similar stores selling same products at the same prices, e.g. Bata Stores. Also known as multiple shops.
  • Channel of distribution: The route that a product takes to move from the manufacturer to consumers.
  • Clearing agent: An agent who takes care of customs formalities for imported goods.
  • Consumers’ cooperative store: A retail stored set up by consumers as a cooperative society to get 1 products of daily use at reasonable prices by eliminating middlemen.
  • Customer demand: A customer’s ability and willingness to buy a product/service.
  • Customer need: A basic requirement which a person wishes to satisfy.
  • Customer loyalty: A customer’s inclination to buy repeatedly from the same shop or store.
  • Customer satisfaction: The ability of a product/service to meet the customers expectations in terms of quality and performance in relation to the price paid.
  • Customer wants: The desire for a product/service to satisfy the underlying need. For example,
    hunger the need whereas food is the want.
  • Departmental Store: A large retail store selling a wide range of goods under one roof, goods being
    arranged in different departments.
  • Differentiation: Giving a unique identity to a product/service so that it stands out from rival
    product/services.
  • Direct marketing: Selling products/services directly to consumers, e.g. telemarketing.
  • Diversify: Increasing the range of products /services which a firm produces and sells.
  • E-commerce: Business transactions made through electronic means e.g. Internet,
  • Economies of scale: Reduction in cost per unit due to large scale operations.
  • External environment: The forces and conditions that influence a company’s strategies and competitive position.
  • Factor: An agent who keeps the goods of others for sale on commission basis.
  • Fast moving consumer goods (FMCG): Products of duly use which are low priced, frequently purchased and sell in large volumes, e.g. biscuits, soaps, tooth pastes, packed juices, etc.
  • Forecasting: The process of estimating future demand on the basis of price levels, disposable incomes and other relevant factors.
  • Forwarding agent: The agent who attends to customs formalities on behalf of an exporter. Grading: Classifying agricultural products into different grades on the basis of their quality level.
  • Hire purchase: Buying goods and making payments in installments, goods considered on hire until the payment of the final installment.
  • Indent: A purchase order sent abroad for importing goods.
  • Innovators: Young and intelligent consumers who are the first to adopt new products.
  • Internal marketing: The process of earning support for a company and its activities from its employees.
  • Invoice: A written statement containing details of goods sold. It is sent by the seller to the buyer.
  • Itinerants: Retailers having no fixed place for selling. They move from place to place to sell their goods. Also known as mobile traders.
  • Joint venture: A new enterprise jointly established by two or more firms for some specific purpose and mutual benefit.
  • Labelling: Putting labels on products to indicate its name, contents, price date of manufacture and their necessary details.
  • Marketing: The process of discovering, creating and delivering value to satisfy the needs of a target market at a profit.
  • Market development: The process of offering existing or modified products to new groups of customers.
  • Market entry: Launching a new product into an existing market or a new market.
  • Market leader: A firm having control over a specific market.
  • Marketing Mix: A firm’s mix of product, price, place and promotion. In case of services it consists of three other elements people, process and physical evidence. ‘
  • Marketing plan: The plan covering the use of marketing mix to achieve the firm’s marketing objectives.
  • Market positioning: The marketing strategy for placing a firm’s products/services against competing products/services in the minds of consumers.
  • Market research: The process of systematically collecting, recording and analysing data about problems concerning the marketing of products and services.
  • Market segmentation: Dividing the total market into different parts on the basis of consumer’s characteristics to deliver tailor made offering to each part.
  • Market share: The sales of a product/brand or firm divided by total sales of similar products/ brands of firms in the industry.
  • Market targeting: The process of comparing all market segments and choosing the most attractive segment for a product/service.
  • Mass marketing: Delivering the same message through mass media to all consumers.
  • Merger: Combination of two or more firms into a single firm to expand business operations.
  • Mission: The unique purpose of a company that differentiates it from other companies in the industry, defines it scope of operations and reflects its values and priorities.
  • Niche marketing: Concentrating efforts on relatively small market segments e.g. herbal tea for health conscious consumers.
  • Opportunities: Favourable conditions in the external environment of business.
  • Packing: Designing and manufacturing suitable packages for various types of products.
  • Packing: Putting the product into its package.
  • Personal selling: Oral communication with prospective buyers to make a sale and develop relationships with them.
  • Physical distribution: Activities involved in physical movement of goods from producers to consumers e.g. transportation, warehousing, order processing and inventory control.
  • Pre-emptive pricing: Setting low prices to discourage entry of new suppliers in the market.
    Price discrimination: Charging different prices from different customers for the same product service for reasons other than costs.
  • Price elasticity of demand: Change in demand due to change in price.
  • Price sensitivity: The effect of change in price on customers.
  • Price: The value of product/service expressed in terms of money.
  • Publicity: Promotion of an organisation and its products/services in mass media without payment. Retails Traders who sell directly to customers or ultimate users.
  • Penetration pricing: Charging a relatively low price to gain quick market acceptance of new product/service.
  • Salesmanship: The process of persuading people to buy a product/service through face-to-face interaction.
  • Sales promotion: Any activity used to boost the immediate sales of a product or service e.g. free samples, price off, etc.
  • Target marketing: Using appropriate advertisements to reach out to a group of consumers having similar characteristics.
  • Tele marketing: Using telephone to contact people and sell a product service.
  • Test marketing: Testing of a new product with a sample group of customers to judge their reactions.
  • Unique selling proposition (USP): A customer benefit that no other product/service can claim.

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material – Finance, Stock and Commodity Markets Terminology

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material Chapter 6 Common Business Terminologies – Finance, Stock and Commodity Markets Terminology

Terminology or vocabulary means a set of basic terms or concepts used in a particular field or discipline. Each and every subject (e.g. Economics, Accountancy, Law, Medicine, Management, etc.) has its own terminology. Good understanding of the correct meaning of the terms used is essential to gain conceptual clarity. A student or professional working in the concerned profession cannot be efficient without understanding the terminology used in the concerned profession. A Chartered Accountant is excepted to know and understand the terminology used not only in finance and accounts but also in related areas such as marketing banking, administration, etc. This is because a Chartered Accountant comes across these terminologies in course of audit.

Finance, Stock and Commodity Markets Terminology

A

  • Above par: Price of a security quoted higher than its face value.
  • Absorption or acquisition: Takeover of a firm by another firm.
  • Accommodation bill: A bill of exchange drawn and accepted without receiving value in exchange. It is means of lending money.
  • Account: A record of transactions relating to one head e.g. debtors.
  • Accountancy: The held of knowledge containing principles and techniques used in preparing accounts. Account current: A running account summarizing business transactions during a given time period.
  • Accounting: The process of measuring, and recording transactions in the books of account.
  • Agent: (broker): One who buys and sells securities on behalf of his clients.
  • Amortize: To charge regular portion of an expenditure over a fixed time period. For example an expenditure of Rs. 50,000 may be amortized over five years, charging Rs. 10,000 per year in the account books. Also called write off.
  • Annuity: An equal amount paid at fixed intervals (e.g. every three months) for a specified period (e.g. twenty years).
  • Appreciation: Increase in the value of an asset e.g. shares purchased for Rs. 1 lakh may be Rs. 5 lakh now. There is an appreciation of Rs. 4 lakh.
  • Arbitrage: Simultaneous purchase and sale of a security/commodity in different markets to take advantage of price differences.
  • Asset: An economic resource expected to give benefit in future. It may be tangible (e.g. a machine) or intangible (e.g. a patents). Assets are of three types:
    • Current Assets: The assets which are likely to convert into cash within a year e.g. book debts and stock of finished goods.
    • Fixed Assets: The assets which generate revenue and last more than one year e.g. building, vehicles, machinery.
    • Intangible Assets: Assets having no physical shape e.g. patents, trademarks and copy-rights.
  • Ask/Offer: The lowest price at which the owner is willing to sell his securities.
  • Audit: The careful review of financial records to verify their accuracy.
  • Auditor: The qualified Chartered Accountant authorised and appointed to conduct an audit.
  • Authorised capital: The amount of share capital with which a company is registered. It is mentioned in the company’s Memorandum of Association.

B

  • Backwardation: The charge paid big a bear speculator to a bill for postponement of settlement of a transaction.
  • Bad debts: The debts which are not recoverable and are written off as a loss.
  • Badla: Carry forward of a transaction from one settlement period to the next without any payment or delivery.
  • Balance of payments: A statement of all money flows in and out of a country.
  • Balance of trade: A statement of a country’s exports and imports during the year.
  • Balance sheet: A statement containing the assets, liabilities and capital of an organisation. It shows the financial position on a specific date.
  • Base price: A security’s price at the beginning of a trading day. It is used to determine the day’s lowest/highest price and the price range.
  • Basket trading: The facility which enables investors to buy/sell in one go all the 30 scripts of Sensex in proportion of their current weights in the Sensex.
  • Bear: A pessimist who expects prices to fall and sells quickly before the value of his holding declines. Bear market: A market situation when share price are continuously falling.
  • Beta: A measurement of the relationship between the price of a security and the price movement of the whole market.
  • Bid: The highest price a buyer is willing to pay for a share. It is the opposite of ask/offer.
  • Blue chip: Shares of a large, well established and financially sound company. It can provide high capital gains.
  • Bond: A long-term promissory note issued by a company or government. It shows the amount of the debt, rate of interest and the due date.
  • Bonus shares: A free allotment of shares out of accumulated reserves to the existing shareholders in proportion to their current holding.
  • Book closure: The period during which a company keeps its register of members closed for updating prior to payment of dividend or issue of new shares/debentures.
  • Book value: The value of an asset recorded in the books of account. It also means the difference between total assets and total liabilities.
  • Brokerage: The commission charged by brokers.
  • Break even point: The number of units that must be sold to generate revenue equal to total expenses. Sale above this point create a profit and sales below it create loss.
  • Budget: A detailed plan expressed in quantitative terms for a specific future period.
  • Bull: One who expects prices to rise and buys in anticipation.
  • Bull market: A market situation in which share prices continuously rise.
  • Business days: The days on which stock markets are open – Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
  • Business risk: The risk inherent in the operations of a firm which uses no debt.
  • Buyer: The trading member who has placed on order for the purchase of securities.

C

  • Call: The demand for payment by the company which has issued shares.
  • Call option: The right (not obligation) to buy a particular share at a specified price within the specified time period.
  • Capital budgeting: The process of planning expenditure on fixed assets.
  • Capital gain: The increase in the value of a security.
  • Capital market: The financial market for shares, debentures and long-term debt.
  • Closing price: The price of a security at the end of a trading day.
  • Commercial paper: Short term and unsecured promissory note issued by a large firm with an interest rate below the prime lending rate of commercial banks.
  • Commodity: Products used for commerce and traded on authorized commodity platforms.
  • Convertible security: A preference share, debenture, a bond that can be converted into equity shares at the option of the holder.
  • Consolidation: Business combination of two or more firms.
  • Credit period: The length of time for which credit is granted.
  • Creditor: The individual/organization who owes money on a particular date.

D

  • Debenture: An instrument acknowledging debt raised by a company/corporation.
  • Debtor: An individual/enterprise who owes money, shown as an asset in the balance sheet. Defensive stock: A stock that provides constant dividends even during economic down turn. Depreciation: An expense allowance made for wear and tear of an asset over its estimated useful life.
  • Derivatives: A security whose price is derived from one or more underlying assets such as shares, bonds, commodities, currencies, etc.
  • Diversification: Spreading the investment risk by purchasing shares of different companies operating in different sectors. Also used to refer to a company investing in several related or unrelated business.
  • Dividend: A part of the company’s earning paid to shareholders.
  • Devaluation: Reducing the value of a currency in relation to other currencies, decided by the government.
  • Disinvestment: Selling a part of the share holding of a public enterprise to private sector.

E

  • E-commerce: Doing business transactions over the internet.
  • Economic activity: Any activity undertaken to earn money.
  • Equity capital: Funds provided by holders of equity shares.
  • Equity: Equity capital, free reserves, retained earnings and preference capital.
  • Exchange rate: The rate at which one currency can be purchased for another currency. Ex-dividend: Shares on which dividend declared after their purchase is not payable.

F

  • Foreign company: A company incorporated outside India but having business operations in India.
  • Forward trading: Buying and selling without the intention of delivery and payment, aim is to earn from fluctuations in price.
  • Futures: The right to buy or sell at a future date and at the specified price.
  • Face value: The price at which a share/bond/debenture is issued. Also known as par value.
  • Financial instrument: A written document sharing an agreement or a transaction e.g. share, debenture, cheque, etc.
  • Financial intermediary: One who acts as a link between buyers and sellers of securities, e.g. share brokers, banks.

G

  • Goodwill: The estimated money value of a firm’s reputation.
  • Government bonds: A security issued by a government to raise debt.
  • Government company: A Company in which government owns 51 per cent or more of the share capital.

H

  • Hedge: A strategy used to minimise the risk and maximize the return on investment.
  • Holding period: The time period during which an individual/corporation holds/owns an asset. This period is considered while pledging the asset as collateral.

I

  • Income stock: A security that offers dividend higher than that on common stock. It has a solid record of dividend payments.
  • Index: A statistical measure of change in the security market/economy. It is usually calculated as a percentage change in the base value overtime.
  • Initial public offer (IPO): A company’s first issue of shares to general public.
  • Internet trading: Buying and selling securities over the internet. SEBI approved it in January 2000. Interim dividend: A dividend declared prior to the close of the financial year.

J

  • Joint venture: A partnership between two or more independent firms resulting in the creation of a third enterprise.
  • Journal: Datewise records of transactions, a book of original entry.

L

  • Lame duck: A speculator struggling to honour his commitment due to unexpected fluctuations in the price of a security on the stock market.
  • Lease: A legal right for the use of an asset.
  • Ledger: A book of account in which entries are posted from the Journal into various accounts. Lien: A legal claim to property until repayment of debt.
  • Limit order: An order to buy or sell a share at a specified price. It specifies the minimum price the seller is willing to accept or a maximum price the buyer is willing to pay.
  • Liquidation: Piecemeal sale of the assets of a division of the company.
  • Listed stock: The shares of a company that are eligible for trading on the stock exchange.

M

  • Margin trading: Buying securities on a stock exchange after keeping a deposit with the broker. Market capitalization: The total market value of a company’s out standing shares.
  • Minimum subscription: The minimum amount of share capital a company must receive in cash before making allotment of shares. It is equal to 90 per cent of issued capital.
  • Money market: Market for raising short-term funds.
  • Mutual funds: A pool of money managed by experts for investing in shares, debentures and other securities. .

N

  • Nominee director: A director nominated by the financial institution from which the company has raised a loan.

O

  • Odd lot: Shares less than the trading lot and held by a small investor.
  • One sided market: A market having only potential buyers or only potential sellers.
  • Out-of-the money (OTM): In case of call options, it means the share price is below the strike price. In case of put options, it means the share price is above the strike price.

P

  • Par value: The value of a share printed on the share certificate.
  • Portfolio: Various types of securities of different companies held by an investor.
  • Preliminary expenses: Expenses incurred for the formation of a company.
  • Pre-opening session: Time duration from 9.00 am to 9.15 a.m. during which order entry, modification and cancellation are done before the start of trading on stock exchange.
  • Price earning (PIE) ratio: The market price of a share divided by the earning per share. Prospectus: A document issued by a Company to sell shares/debentures to the general public.
  • Proxy: A written authority given by a member of a company to some one to attend the meeting on his/her benefit.

R

  • Right shares: Equity shares issued by a company to the existing shareholders in proportion to their current holding.

S

  • Securities: A transferable certificate of ownership of shares, debentures, etc.
  • Share: A part in the share capital of a company.
  • Stock: Fully paid shares of a company.
  • Strike price: The price at which the shareholder can buy (in case of call option) or sell (in case of put option) a security.
  • Stock split: Splitting one share into several shares to increase the availability of existing shares e.g., splitting a share with face value of 100 into 10 shares with face value of Rs. 10 each.

T

  • Thin market: A market with a few bids to buy or offer to sell, the prices in such market vary highly. Trading session: The time period during which the stock market is open for trading.

U

  • Underwriting: Guarantee to subscribe to an issue of shares in case public does not subscribe to it.

W

  • Working capital: The capital used in day-to-day business activities, also called circulating capital.

Y

  • Yield: Percentage return on investment in case of shares it is calculated by dividing the annual dividend with the current price of the share.
  • Yield-to-call: The rate of return earned on a bond when it is called before the date of maturity.

Z

  • Zero coupon bond: A bond sold at a discount below par but paid back at face value. No interest is payable on it.

CA Foundation Business Economics Study Material – Introduction to Demand

CA Foundation Business Economics Study Material Chapter 2 Theory of Demand and Supply – Introduction to Demand

Meaning of Demand

  • In ordinary speech, the term demand is many times confused with ‘desire’ or ‘want’.
  • Desire is only a wish to have any thing.
  • In economics demand means more than mere desire.
  • Demand in economics means an effective desire for a commodity ie. desire backed by the ‘ability to pay’ and ‘willingness to pay’ for it.
  • Thus, demand refers to the quantity of a good or service that consumers are willing and able to purchase at different prices during a period of time.
  • Thus, defined, the term demand shows the following features:
    1. Demand is always with reference to a PRICE.
    2. Demand is to be referred to IN A GIVEN PERIOD OF TIME.
    3. Consumer must have the necessary purchasing power to back his desire for the commodity.
    4. Consumer must also be ready to exchange his money for the commodity he desires.
  • E.g. Mr. A’s demand for sugar at Rs. 15 per kg. is 4 kgs. per week.

Determinants of Demand

For estimating market demand for its products, a firm must have knowledge about—
(a) the determinants of demand for its product, and
(b) the nature of relationship between demand and is determinants.

The various factors on which the demand for a product/commodity depends are as follows:—

Price of the commodity:

  1. Other things being equal, the demand for a commodity is inversely related with its price.
  2. It means that a rise in price of a commodity brings about fall in its demand and vice versa.
  3. This happens because of income and substitution effects.

Price of the related commodities:

  1. The demand for a commodity also depends on the prices of related commodities.
  2. Related commodities are of two types namely—
    • Substitutes or competitive goods, &
    • Complementary goods.
  3. Substitute goods are those goods which can be used with equal ease in place of one another.
  4. E.g. Essar Speed Card and Airtel Magic Card; Coke and Pepsi; ball pen and ink pen; tea and coffee; etc.
  5. Demand for a particular commodity is affected if the price of its substitute falls or rises.
  6. E.g. If the price of Airtel Magic card falls, its demand will increase and demand for Essar Speed Card would fall and vice versa.
  7. Thus, there is a POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP between price of a commodity and demand for its substitutes.
  8. Complementary good are those goods whose utility depends upon the availability of both the goods as both are to be used together.
  9. E.g. a ball pen and refill; car and petrol; a hand set and phone connection; a tonga and horse, etc.
  10. The demand for complementary goods have an INVERSE RELATIONSHIP with the price of related goods.
  11. E.g. If the price of Scooters falls, its demand will increase leading to increase in demand for petrol.

Income of the consumers

  1. Other things being equal, generally the quantity demanded of a commodity bear a DIRECT RELATIONSHIP to the income of the consumer ie. with an increase in income, the demand for a commodity rises.
  2. However, this may not always hold true. It depends upon the class to which commodity belongs ie. necessaries or comforts and luxuries or inferior goods:
    • Necessaries (E.g. Food, clothing and shelter). Initially, with an increase in the in-come, the demand for necessaries also rises upto some limit. Beyond that limit, an increase in income will leave the demand unaffected.
    • Comforts and Luxurious (E.g. Car; Air-Conditioners; etc.) Quantity demanded of these group of commodities have a DIRECT RELATIONSHIP with the income of the consumers. As the income increases, the demand for comforts and luxuries also increases.
    • Inferior goods (E.g. Coarse grain; rough cloth; skimmed milk; etc.). Inferior goods are those goods for which superior substitutes are available Quantity demanded of this group of commodities Have an INVERSE RELATIONSHIP with the income of the consumer. E.g. A consumer starts consuming full cream milk (normal good) in place of toned milk (inferior good) with an increase in income.

Therefore, it is essential that business managers must know—

  • the nature of good they produce,
  • the nature of relationship between the quantities demanded and changes in consumer’s income, and
  • the factors that could bring about changes in the incomes of the consumers.

Tastes and Preferences of the consumers

  • Tastes and preferences of consumers generally change over time due to fashion, advertisements, habits, age, family composition, etc. Demand for a commodity bears a direct relationship to those determinants.
  • Modern goods or fashionable goods have more demand than the goods which are of old design and out of fashion.
    E.g. People are discarding Bajaj Scooter for say Activa Scooter.
  • The demand of certain goods is determined by ‘bandwagon effect’ or ‘demonstration effect’. It means a buyer wants to have a good because others have it. It means that an individual consumer’s demand is conditioned by the consumption of others.
  • Taste and preferences may also undergo a change when consumer discover that consumption of a good increases his PRESTIGE. E.g. Diamonds, fancy cars, etc.
  • A good loses its prestige when it becomes a commonly used good. This is called ‘snob effect’.
  • Status seeking rich people buy highly priced goods only. This form of ‘conspicuous consumption’ or ‘ostentatius consumption’ is called ‘VEBLEN EFFECT’ (named after American economist THORSTEIN VEBLEN)
  • Tastes and preferences of people change either due to external causes or internal causes.
  • Therefore, knowledge about tastes and preferences is important in production planning, designing new products and services to suit the changing tastes and preferences of the consumers.

Other Factors. Other things being equal demand for a commodity is also determined by the following factors:—

  1. Size and composition of Population:
    • Generally, larger the size of population of a country, more will be the demand of the commodities.
    • The composition of the population also determines the demand for various commodities.
      E.g. If the number of teenagers is large, the demand for trendy clothes, shoes, movies, etc. will be high.
  2. The level of National Income and its Distribution:
    • National Income is an important determinant of market demand. Higher the national income, higher will be the demand for normal goods and services.
    • If the income in a country is unevenly distributed, the demand for consumer goods will be less.
    • If the income is evenly distributed, there is higher demand for consumer goods.
  3. Sociological factors:
    • The household’s demand for goods also depends upon sociological factors like class, family background, education, marital status, age, locality, etc.
  4. Weather conditions:
    • Changes in weather conditions also influence household’s demand.
      E.g. – Extraordinary hot summer push up the demand for ice-creams, cold drinks, coolers etc.
  5. Advertisement:
    • A clever and continuous campaign and advertisement create a new type of demand.
      E.g. Toilet products like soaps, tooth pastes, creams etc.
  6. Government Policy:
    • The government’s taxation policy also affects the demand for commodities.
    • High tax on a commodity will lead to fall in the demand of the commodity.
  7. Expectation about future prices:
    • If consumers expect rise in the price of a commodity in near future, the current demand for the commodity will increase and vice versa,
  8. Trade Conditions:
    • If the country is passing through boom conditions, demand for most goods is more.
    • But during depression condition, the level of demand falls.
  9. Consumer-credit facility and interest rates:
    • If ample credit facilities with low rates of interest is available, there will be more demand specially of consumer durable goods like scooters, LCD /LED televisions, refrigerators, home theatre, etc.

Demand Function

Mathematical/symbolic statement of functional relationship between the demand for a product (the dependent variable) its determinants (the independent variables) is called demand function

Dx = f (Px, M, P; Pc, T, A)

Where—
Dx= quantity demanded of product
Px = the price of the product
M = money income of the consumer
Ps = the price of its substitute
Pc = the price of its complementary goods
T = consumer’s tastes and preferences
A = advertising effect measured through the level of advertisement expenditure.

CA Foundation Business Economics Study Material Chapter 1 Nature and Scope of Business Economics – MCQs

CA Foundation Business Economics Study Material Chapter 1 Nature and Scope of Business Economics – MCQs

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. Economics is a science because
(a) Systematised study
(b) Scientific laws
(c) Has its own methodology
(d) All the above

2. Positive statements concern what is; normative statements concern—
(a) What was
(b) What is the normal situation
(c) What will be
(d) What ought to be

3. Which of the following statements are positive statements?
(i) India is overpopulated.
(ii) Agricultural income should be taxed.
(iii) Service-class people should be exempted from income tax
(vi) There is tremendous tax evasion in India.
(a) i and ii
(b) i and iii
(c) i and iv
(d) iii and iv

4. The central problems of an economy arises because of—
(a) Unlimited wants
(b) Scarce resources having alternative uses
(c) Limited wants and unlimited resources
(d) Both (a) and (b)

5. The central problems relating to allocation of resources are—
(a) What to produce?
(b) How to produce?
(c) For whom to produce?
(d) All the above.

6. The problem of ‘What to produce’ relates to—
(a) The distribution of produced goods and services
(b) The technique of production to produce good
(c) The distribution of income among factor owners
(d) None of these

7. Micro economics deals with—
(a) Inflation in the country
(b) The economic behaviour of an individual unit
(c) The per capita income
(d) The problems of poverty and unemployment in the country

8. The objective of macro-economics is to study about—
(a) Problems, principles and policies relating to full employment of available resources
(b) Problems, Principles and policies relating to optimum allocation of resources
(c) Growth of resources
(d) Both a and c

9. Micro economics covers the study of—
(i) Consumer’s behaviour
(ii) Producer’s equilibrium
(iii) Fiscal system of an economy
(iv) Factor pricing
(a) i and iii (b) ii and iv
(c) i, ii and iii (d) i, ii and iv

10. Macro-economics is also known as—
(i) Method of Lumping
(ii) Price Theory
(iii) General equilibrium analysis
(iv) Aggregative Economics
(a) i and ii only
(b) iii and iv only
(c) i, iii and iv only
(d) ii, iii and iv only

11. Which of the following is not correct?
(a) Micro and Macro economics are complementary to each other
(b) Every macro-economic problem requires micro-economic analysis for its proper understanding
(c) Micro-economic behaviour can be added-up to derive macro-economic behaviour.
(d) What is macro from the national angle is micro from world angle

12. A theory may contain all but one of the following—
(a) An unorganised collection of facts about the real world!
(b) A set of definitions of the terms used.
(c) A set of assumptions
(d) One or more hypotheses

13. Positive economics deals with—
(a) What is
(b) What ought to be
(c) Both ‘a’ ‘b’
(d) None of these

14. Micro economics does not cover—
(a) Consumer behaviour
(b) Factor Pricing
(c) General price level
(d) Product Pricing

15. Find the odd—
(a) Normative economics is concerned with welfare propositions.
(b) Normative economics is prescriptive in nature.
(c) Normative economics is regulatory in nature.
(d) Economic laws are hypothetical.

16. A mixed economy to solve its central problems relies on—
(a) Economic planning
(b) Price mechanism
(c) Price fixing
(d) Both ‘a’ and ‘b’

17. In a socialist economy, the basic force of economic activity is profit. This statement is—
(a) Correct
(b) Incorrect
(c) Partially correct
(d) None of these

18. The interference of the government is very limited in—
(a) Socialist economy
(b) Capitalist economy
(c) Mixed economy
(d) All the above.

19. Both private and public sectors exist side by side in—
(a) China
(b) U.S.A.
(c) India
(d) Russia

20. In a competitive economy, the uncrowned king is—
(a) Government
(b) Producer
(c) Consumer
(d) Seller

21. Wastes of competition are found in—
(a) Capitalist economy
(b) Socialist economy
(c) Mixed economy
(d) None of these

22. A dual system of pricing exists in—
(a) Capitalist economy
(b) Socialist economy
(c) Mixed economy
(d) None of these

23. One of the important features of capitalist economy is—
(a) Economic planning
(b) Price mechanism
(c) Economic equalities
(d) Social welfare

24. ‘A government deficit will reduce unemployment and cause an increase in prices.’ This statement is—
(a) Positive
(b) Normative
(c) Incomplete
(d) None of these

25. Positive economics remains strictly neutral towards ends. This means that—
(a) Positive economics study the facts as they are
(b) Positive economics is prescriptive in nature
(c) Positive economics is based on ethical, philosophical and religious beliefs
(d) Only (a) and (b)

26. “During the boom periods when aggregate demand, national income and prices are high, entrepreneurs tend to make high profits”. This statement shows—
(a) Effect of micro-economic variables on macro variables
(b) Effect of macro-economic variables on micro variables
(c) Inter-dependence of micro and macro-economics
(d) Both (b) and (c)

27. Social insurance, sickness benefits, old age pension, etc are some social benefits provided by—
(a) State in capitalist economy
(b) State in socialist economy
(c) State in mixed economy
(d) Both (b) and (c)

28. In a capitalistic economy what to produce depends on—
(a) governments is policy
(b) consumer’s preference
(c) profits of firm
(d) none of these

29. The economy in which the government allows freedom of action of all economic units is essentially—
(a) a socialist economy
(b) a mixed economy
(c) a capitalistic
(d) none of the these

30. Which of the following is not correct about capitalistic system—
(a) Too much of waste due to cut throat competition
(b) There is right of private property.
(c) Conditions are not favourable for equitable distribution of wealth.
(d) There is central planning authority.

31. Which of the following is not the feature of socialist economy ?
(a) Economic planning
(b) Social welfare
(c) Private ownership of productive resources
(d) Economic equalities

32. Micro economics is also known as—
(a) Price theory
(b) Slicing method
(c) Product theory
(d) Both (a) and (b)

33. Economics is an art as—
(a) it teaches us to do
(b) it provides practical solutions to various economic problems.
(c) it is practice of knowledge
(d) all the above

34. Study of the problem of poverty denotes that economics is—
(a) a science
(b) an art
(c) both a science and an art
(d) neither a science nor an art

35. Framing suitable policies to solve inequalities of income denotes that economics is—
(a) a science
(b) an art
(c) both a science and an art
(d) neither science nor an art

36. Study of unemployment problem and then framing suitable policies to reduce the extent of unemployment shows that economics is—
(i) Both a science and an art
(ii) Neither a science nor an art
(iii) Positive science
(iv) Normative science
(a) i and iii only
(b) ii and iv only
(c) i, iii and iv
(d) ii, iii and iv

37. _____ economics explains cause and effect relationship between economic phenomena
(a) Positive
(b) Normative
(c) Empirical
(d) Applied

38. Positive economics concerns .
(a) what should be
(b) what is
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) what ought to be

39. Normative economics is in nature
(a) modern
(b) descriptive
(c) prescriptive
(d) none of the above

Q. 40 to Q. 43 are based on the following conversation
Ram : “Rise in prices of goods have made it difficult to make two ends meet”
Shy am : “Yes, the cost of cultivation too has increased very much”.
Raghu : “Government should take steps to curb the price rise and provide relief to common man”.
Bhola : “Yes, he government should deal strictly on hoarders and black marketers”.

40. In the above conversation whose statements shows positive aspect of Economics?
(a) Ram
(b) Shyam
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Bhola

41. In the above conversation whose statements shows normative side of economics
(a) Shyam
(b) Raghu
(c) Bhola
(d) Both (b) and (c)

42. Shyam’s statement in the above conversation shows—
(a) What is
(b) What can be
(c) What ought to be
(d) What will be

43. Bhola’s statement in the above conversation shows—
(a) What is
(b) What should be the things
(c) What was
(d) None of the above

44. As compared to other economic systems, inequalities of incomes is relatively less in economic system
(a) Capitalist
(b) Socialist
(c) Mixed
(d) None of the above

45. Price-mechanism is an important feature of –
(i) Market economy
(ii) Regulated economy
(iii) Mixed economy
(iv) Capitalist economy
(a) i and ii only
(b) iii and iv only
(c) i and iii only
(d) i and iv only

46. Consumers and produces make their choices based on the market forces of demand and supply in—
(a) Socialist (Command) Economy
(b) Mixed Economy
(c) Capitalist Economy
(d) Closed Economy

47. The problem of what goods and services are produced and how much, is covered by the general term—
(a) resource allocation
(b) choice of technique of production
(c) distribution
(d) macro-economics

48. Business Economics is generally in nature.
(a) normative
(b) positive
(c) neutral
(d) descriptive

49. Capital intensive technique would be chosen in a
(a) labour surplus economy where the relative price of capital is lower
(b) capital surplus economy where the relative price of capital is lower
(c) developed economy where technology is better
(d) developing economy where technology is poor

50. Which of the following statement is incorrect?
(a) Business economics is a normative in nature
(b) Business economics is closely related with statistics
(c) Business economics only considers micro variables
(d) Business economics is also called Managerial economics

51. All of the following are within the scope of Business Economics except
(a) Capital Budgeting
(b) Risk Analysis
(c) Business Cycles
(d) Accounting Standards

52. Which of the following is considered as a disadvantage of allocating resources in a capitalist economy?
(a) Income will tend to be unevenly distributed
(b) People do not get goods of their choice
(c) Men of initiative and enterprise are not rewarded
(d) Profits will tend to be low

ANSWERS

ca-foundation-business-economics-study-material-chapter-1-nature-and-scope-of-business-economics-mcqs

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material – Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material Chapter 4 Government Policies for Business – Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT (FDI)

Meaning of FDI

Foreign Direct Investment means investment in a foreign country where the investor claims con¬trol over the investment in terms of actual power of management and effective decision-making. Foreign direct investment typically occurs in the form of setting up a subsidiary, starting a joint venture or acquiring a stake in an existing firm in a foreign country According to the Committee on Compilation of FDI in India (Oct 2002). FDI is “the process whereby residents of one country (the home country) acquire ownership of assets for the purpose of controlling the production, distribution and other activities of a firm in another country (the host country). There are three main categories of FDI-equity capital, reinvested earnings, and lending of funds by a multinational to its affiliate.

When the investor makes only investment and does not retain control over the enterprise it is known as portfolio investment. The investor is interested only in return on his capital and does not want control over the use of the invested capital. Portfolio investment is for a short period and is influenced by short-term gains. On the other hand, foreign direct investment involves long-term commitment and cannot be easily liquidated. Therefore, long-term considerations like political stability, Government policy, industrial prospects, etc. influence it. Direct investors have direct responsibility for the promotion and management of the enterprise. But portfolio investors have no direct responsibility for promotion and management of the enterprise. Portfolio investment takes place through foreign institutional investors (FIIs) like mutual funds and through American Depository Receipts (ADRs) Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) and Foreign Currency Convertible Bonds (FCCBs). ADRs, GDRs and FCCBs are securities issued by Indian companies in the foreign markets to mobilise foreign capital.

Advantages of Foreign Direct Investment

Foreign direct investment offers the following benefits:

  • FDI increases the level of investment by supplementing domestic capital. The host country gets scarce capital resources from abroad. As a result, FDI contributes towards the development of infrastructure, industry and service sector in the host country. FDI helps to enhance business activity and raise the level of economic development.
  • FDI facilitates transfer of technology, machinery and equipment to the host country. Advanced foreign technology helps to reduce costs and improve quality of products and services. Local firms get the opportunity for technology upgradation.
  • FDI can create a managerial revolution in the host country through professional man-agement and employment of sophisticated techniques of organisation and management. Local firms get access to world class management and corporate practices.
  • FDI helps to boost employment and incomes in the host country through establish¬ment of new industries and development of ancillary industries. Higher production and income in turn increase the tax revenue of the Government. Material and human resources can be utilised optimally.
  • FDI can help the host country to increase its exports and reduce imports These add to the foreign exchange resources of the country and improve its balance of payments position. In fact, the Government of India announced economic liberalisation in July, 1991 due to foreign exchange crisis.
  • FDI may help to increase competition and break domestic monopolies in the host
    country. It can overcome trade barriers like tariffs and quotas. FDI can make Indian industries globally competitive.
  • FDI offers benefits to the home country also. There is inflow of foreign currency in the form of dividend and interest. Exports of technology machinery and equipment help to enhance industrial activity and employment in the home country.
  • There is greater choice of products by consumers. Their standard of living is likely to improve due to better quality and wider choice.

Disadvantages of Foreign Direct Investment

Foreign direct investment has been criticised for the following reasons:

  • FDI tends to flow in the areas of high profits rather than in the priority sectors of the host country.
  • Considerable funds are repatriated from the host country in the form of royalty, fees, dividend, interest, etc. on FDI. Such outflows put pressure on the host country’s balance of payments. The cost of FDI is high.
  • FDI takes place mainly through multinational corporations. These corporations are large in size and have a wide resource base. They pose a threat to the domestic firms in the host country.
  • The technology brought in by the foreign investors may not be appropriate to the market size, resource base, stage of economic development and consumption needs of the host country. Excessive reliance on foreign technology may have an adverse effect on local initiative.
  • FDI poses a threat to the economic autonomy and political sovereignty of the host country. Some of the multinational corporations have destabilised governments in African countries. Excessive reliance on foreign technology may have an adverse effect on local initiative.
  • FDI can lead to adverse effects on domestic savings, and adverse terms of trade for the host country which offers special concessions to attract FDI, Some foreign investors pre-empt investment plans of domestic companies. They engage in unfair and unethical trade practices.
  • FDI may involve costs and risks for the home country. Employment opportunities may shrink and balance of payment position may suffer due to FDI.

Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment

The volume of FDI in a country depends on the following factors:

  1. Natural Resources – Availability of natural resources in the host country is a major determinant of FDI. Most foreign investors seek an adequate, reliable and economical source of minerals and other materials. FDI tends to flow in countries which are rich in resources but lack capital, technical skills and infrastructure required for the exploitation of natural resources. Though their relative importance has declined, the availability of natural resources still continues to be an important determinant of FDI.
  2. National Markets – The market size of a host country in absolute terms as well as in relation to the size and income of its population and market growth is another major determinant of FDI. Large markets can accommodate more firms and can help firms to achieve economies of large scale operations. Market access has been the main motive for investment by American companies in Europe and Asia.
  3. Availability of Cheap Labour – The availability of low cost unskilled labour has been a major cause of FDI in countries like China and India, Low cost labour together with availability of cheap raw materials enable foreign investors to minimise costs of production and thereby increase profits.
  4. Rate of Interest – Differences in the rate of interest prevailing in different countries stimulate foreign investment. Capital tends to move from a country with a low rate of interest to a country where it is higher. Foreign investment is also inspired by foreign exchange rates. Foreign capital is attracted to countries where the return on investment is higher.
  5. Socio-Economic Conditions – Size of the population, infrastructural facilities and income level of a country influence direct foreign investment.
  6. Political Situation – Political stability, legal framework, judicial system, relations with other countries and other political factors influence movements of capital from one country to another.
  7. Government Policies – Policy towards foreign investment, foreign collaborations, foreign exchange control, remittances, and incentives (monetary, fiscal and others) offered to foreign investors exercise a significant influence on FDI in a country. For example, Export Processing Zones have been developed in India to attract FDI and to boost exports.

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material – Meaning of Globalization

CA Foundation Business & Commercial Knowledge Study Material Chapter 4 Government Policies for Business – Meaning of Globalization

Meaning of Globalization

Globalization means reduction or removal of Government restrictions on the movement of goods and services, capital, technology and talent across national borders. It is the process of increasing economic interdependence between countries and their economic integration in the form of world economy. Markets become international and global firms consider the whole world as one market.

Globalization in India – Trends and Issues

The process of globalization of Indian economy began largely in 1991 due to the unprecedented balance of payments crisis. Since then the pace of globalization has gained momentum:

  • Foreign Direct Investment upto 100 per cent is now permitted in specified sectors.
  • Foreign investors can invest in Indian companies through GDRs without any lock-in period.
  • Indian companies are allowed to get themselves listed on overseas stock exchanges.
  • Guidelines for Euro issues were liberalised.
  • The Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) has replaced the Foreign Exchange Regulations Act (FERA).

Impact of Globalization of Indian Economy

Globalization has made India a huge consumer market. There has been rapid increase in GDP and India’s exports. India has emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Our foreign exchange reserves are now huge and there has been rapid increase in foreign direct investment (FDI).

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION

Positive Effects

  • Expansion of market
  • Growth of independent money market
  • Free flow of resources
  • Advancements in technology
  • Equilibrium in balance of payments
  • Development of infrastructure
  • Fligher living standards
  • International cooperation

Negative Effects

  • Cut-throat competition
  • Rise in monopoly
  • Increase in inequalities
  • Takeover of domestic firms
  • Removal of protection to domestic firms
  • Affect on national sovereignty