11. Financial Market is defined as the market in which financial assets are created or transferred. Which of the following is/are types of Financial Markets in India?
1. Only (i)
2. Only (ii)
3. Only (iii) & (iv)
4. Only (i), (ii) & (iii)
5. All (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)
Option “5” is correct. Financial markets can be categorized as follows: – 1. Money Market– · It is defined as the market for short-term money and financial assets that are near substitutes for money. · The term short-term means generally a period up to one year. It can be sub-categorized as follows: – · Unorganized Market: money lenders, chit funds etc. · Organized Money Market: Instruments include: treasury bills, commercial papers, certificate of deposit etc. · Long-Term Loans Market: Banks and Financial institutions that provide long-term loans to firms for modernization, expansion and diversification of business. It is further categorized into: Term Loans Market, Mortgages Market and Financial Guarantees Market 3. Forex Market – The Forex market deals with the multi-currency requirements, which are met by the exchange of currencies. Depending on the exchange rate that is applicable, the transfer of funds takes place in this market. 4. credit Market– credit market is a place where banks, FIs and NBFC’s purvey short, medium and long-term loans to corporate and individuals.
12. Identify the correct statement-
(i) Open Market Operations (OMOs) are market operations conducted by RBI.
(ii) It is one of the qualitative monetary policy tools.
(iii) Simultaneous purchase and sale of government securities under OMOs, popularly known as operation twist.
(iv) It refers to buying and selling of bonds issued by the Government in the open market.
1. Only (ii) & (iii)
2. Only (i), (iii) & (iv)
3. Only (ii) & (iv)
4. Only (i), (ii) & (iv)
5. All (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)
Option “2” is correct. · Open Market Operations refers to buying and selling of bonds issued by the Government in the open market. · OMO is one of the quantitative tools that RBI uses to smoothen the liquidity conditions through the year and minimize its impact on the interest rate and inflation rate levels. · Quantitative tools control the extent of money supply by changing the cash Reserve Ratio (cRR), or bank rate or open market operations. · Simultaneous purchase and sale of government securities under OMOs, popularly known as operation twist.
13. In Nov 2021, Finance Ministry issued uniform staff accountability framework for NPA accounts up to Rs 50 crore. NPA’s can be classified as-
(i) Substandard Assets
(ii) Doubtful Assets
(iii) Loss Assets
(iv) Risk Assets
1. Only (ii) & (iii)
2. Only (i), (ii) & (iii)
3. Only (ii) & (iv)
4. Only (i), (iii) & (iv)
5. All (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)
Option “2” is correct. · Department of Financial Services (DFS), under the finance ministry, has issued guidelines to be adopted by all public sector banks (PSBs) on Staff Accountability Framework for NPA Accounts up to Rs. 50 crores. · These guidelines will be applicable on loans that are turning into non-performing assets (NPAs) on or after April 1, 2022. · These shall not be applicable on fraud cases. · Banks with the approval of their Board may decide on a threshold of Rs 10 lacs or Rs 20 lacs depending on their business size for examining the aspect of staff accountability. About NPA- · A Non-Performing Asset (NPA) is a loan or advance for which the principal or interest payment remained overdue for a period of 90 days. · NPAs can be further classified as- · Substandard assets: Assets which has remained NPA for a period less than or equal to 12 months. · Doubtful assets: An asset would be classified as doubtful if it has remained in the substandard category for a period of 12 months · Loss assets: Loss asset is considered uncollectible and of such little value that its continuance as a bankable asset is not warranted, although there may be some salvage or recovery value.
14. In Dec 2021, RBI introduced Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework for Non-Banking Financial companies (NBFC’s). Which of the following statement is Incorrect regarding NBFC’s?
(i)A Non-Banking Financial company (NBFC) is a company registered under the companies Act, 1956.
(ii) NBFC can accept demand deposits.
(iii) NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system.
(iv) NBFCs can issue cheques drawn on itself.
1. Only (ii) & (iii)
2. Only (i), (ii) & (iii)
3. Only (ii) & (iv)
4. Only (i), (iii) & (iv)
5. All (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)
Option “3” is correct. About NBFC- · A Non-Banking Financial company (NBFC) is a company registered under the companies Act, 1956. · It is engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by Government or local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance business, chit business. · It does not include any institution whose principal business is that of agriculture activity, industrial activity, purchase or sale of any goods (other than securities) or providing any services and sale/purchase/construction of immovable property. Features of NBFCs · They cannot accept demand deposits. · They do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself. · Deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and credit Guarantee corporation is not available to depositors of NBFCs.
15. In Dec 2021, India1 Payments installed 10,000 white-label ATMs. Which of the following statement is/are true regarding White Label ATM’s?
(i) ATMs set up, owned and operated by non-bank entities are called white label ATMs.
(ii) They are authorized under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
(iii) Tata communications Payment solutions Limited (Indicash) is the first company authorized by RBI to open WLAs in the country.
(iv) ATMs are open 24/7 and even on holidays.
1. Only (ii) & (iii)
2. Only (i), (ii) & (iii)
3. Only (i), (ii) & (iv)
4. Only (i), (iii) & (iv)
5. All (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)
Option “4” is correct. About White Label ATM’s- · ATMs set up, owned and operated by non-bank entities are called white label ATMs. · They are authorized under the Payment and · Settlement Systems Act, 2007, by the RBI. · Cash in ATMs is provided by the sponsored bank while ATM machine does not have any branding of Bank. · Their role is confined to enabling the transactions of all banks customers by establishing technical connectivity with the existing authorized, shared ATM Network Operators or card Payment Network Operators. · The operators are entitled to receive a fee from the banks for the use of ATM resources by the bank’s customers and are not permitted to charge bank customer directly. · Tata communications Payment solutions Limited (Indicash) is the first company authorized by RBI to open WLAs in the country. · RBI directly involved because these white label companies have to separately get license/permission from RBI to run business. · TMs offer convenience to customer, because he doesn’t need to visit Bank branch every time. · ATMs are open 24/7, and even on holidays. Other Types of ATM’s- · Brown Label ATM – When banks outsourced the ATM operations to a third party. · Green Label ATM – ATM is provided for Agricultural Transaction. · Orange Label ATM – Provided for Share Transactions. · Yellow Label ATM – Set up for the purpose of E-commerce. · PINK label ATM – Such ATM are monitored by guards who ensure that only women access these ATM. The sole purpose of such ATM is to mitigate the problem of women standing in long queues of ATM.
16. Recently RBI released a consultative document on regulation of microfinance loans. Which statement is true regarding Microfinance Loans?
(i) A microfinance loan is defined as a collateral-free loan given to a household having annual household income up to ₹2,00,000.
(ii) There should be no pre-payment penalty on microfinance loans.
(iii) Only commercial Banks can apply for Microfinance Loans
(iv) Any fees to be charged to the microfinance borrower by the RE and/ or its partner/agent shall be explicitly disclosed in the factsheet.
1. Only (i)& (ii)
2. Only (ii) & (iii)
3. Only (iv)
4. Only (ii) & (iv)
5. All (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)
Option “4” is correct. Definition of Microfinance Loan · A microfinance loan is defined as a collateral-free loan given to a household having annual household income up to ₹3,00,000. · For this purpose, the household shall mean an individual family unit, i.e., husband, wife and their unmarried children. Applicability · The provisions of these directions shall apply to the following entities: · All commercial Banks (including Small Finance Banks, Local Area Banks, and Regional Rural Banks) excluding Payments Banks. · All Primary (Urban) co-operative Banks/ State co-operative Banks/ District central co-operative Banks. · All Non-Banking Financial companies (including Microfinance Institutions and Housing Finance companies). Key points · There should be no pre-payment penalty on microfinance loans. · Any fees to be charged to the microfinance borrower by the RE and/ or its partner/agent shall be explicitly disclosed in the factsheet. · RE has to disclose pricing-related information to a prospective borrower in a standardised simplified factsheet. · Penalty, if any, for delayed payment shall be applied on the overdue amount and not on the entire loan amount. · There should also be a standard form of loan agreement for microfinance loans in a language understood by the borrower. · Under the earlier guidelines, an NBFC that does not qualify as a Non-Banking Financial company – Microfinance Institution (NBFC-MFI), cannot extend microfinance loans exceeding 10 per cent of its total assets, the maximum limit on microfinance loans for such NBFCs (NBFCs other than NBFC-MFIs) now stands revised at 25 per cent of the total assets. · Each RE shall have a board-approved policy regarding the limit on the outflows on account of repayment of monthly loan obligations of a household as a percentage of the monthly household income. This shall be subject to a limit of maximum 50 per cent of the monthly household income. · Regulated Entities- RE
17. RBI announced Digital Payments Index for September 2021. Which statement is true regarding Digital Payment Index?
(i) The RBI-DPI comprises 4 broad parameters
(ii) It has been constructed with March 2018 as the base period
(iii) It is published on RBI’s website on a semi-annual basis
(iv) DPI score is set at 200.
1. Only (i)& (ii)
2. Only (ii) & (iii)
3. Only (iv)
4. Only (i), (iii) & (iv)
5. All (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)
Option “2” is correct. · RBI has introduced Digital Payments Index in January 2021 with March 2018 as the base year. · It is conducted to capture the extent of digitisation of payments across the country. · The DPI score for March 2018 is set at 100. · RBI has started publishing the Digital Payments Index (DPI) · on a semi-annual basis from March 2021 onwards with a lag of 4 months. · The DPI will be released by RBI for March and September every year in the months of July and January respectively. · The RBI-DPI comprises 5 broad parameters that enable measurement of deepening and penetration of digital payments in the country over different time periods. 5 Parameters: · Payment Enablers (weight 25%) · Payment Infrastructure – Demand-side factors (10%) · Payment Infrastructure – Supply-side factors (15%) · Payment Performance (45%) · consumer centricity (5%)
18. In January 2022, Yes Mutual Fund was renamed as White Oak Capital Mutual Fund. Which statement is true regarding Mutual Fund?
(i)SEBI is the regulatory body to control and regulate the mutual funds industry in India.
(ii) Infrastructure investment Trust (InvIt) and Real Estate Investment Trust (ReITs) are examples of mutual funds.
(iii) A mutual fund collects money from investors and invests the money, on their behalf, in securities (debt, equity or both).
(iv) A mutual fund scheme can be classified into open-ended scheme or close-ended scheme depending on its maturity period.
1. Only (i)& (ii)
2. Only (iii) & (iv)
3. Only (iv)
4. Only (i), (iii) & (iv)
5. All (i), (ii), (iii) & (iv)
Option “5” is correct. The name of YES Asset Management has been named as WhiteOak capital Asset Management. What is a Mutual Fund? · A mutual fund collects money from investors and invests the money, on their behalf, in securities (debt, equity or both). · It charges a small fee for managing the money. · Mutual fund sectors are one of the fastest growing sectors in Indian economy that have potential for sustained future growth. · Mutual funds make saving and investing simple and affordable. Anybody with an investible surplus of as little as a few hundred rupees can invest in mutual funds · The other advantages of mutual funds include professional management, diversification, variety, liquidity, convenience as well as strict government regulations and full disclosure. · SEBI is the regulatory body to control and regulate the securities market and mutual funds industry in India. · Infrastructure investment Trust (InvIt) and Real Estate Investment Trust (ReITs) are examples of mutual funds. · A mutual fund scheme can be classified into open-ended scheme or close-ended scheme depending on its maturity period.
19. In January 2022, RBI Retains which of the following banks as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs) Reserve Bank of India?
(i)State Bank of India
(ii)Axis Bank
(iii)ICICI Bank
(iv)HDFC Bank
1. Only (i)& (ii)
2. Only (i) & (iv)
3. Only (iv)
4. Only (i), (iii) & (iv)
5. Only (i)
Option “4” is correct. Reserve Bank of India has retained State Bank of India, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs). Domestic Systemically Important Banks are those banks which if fail would have a significant impact on the economy. The D-SIBs banks are classified into 5 buckets- 1. Bucket 1 2. Bucket 2 3. Bucket 3 4. Bucket 4 5. Bucket 5 · Bucket 5 is the most important followed by rest in decreasing order. · State Bank of India is in Bucket 3, while ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank are in Bucket 1. About the D-SIB: · The D-SIB framework requires the central to disclose the names of banks designated as D-SIBs starting from 2015 and place these lenders in appropriate buckets depending upon their Systemic Importance Scores (SISs). · SIBs are seen as ‘too big to fail (TBTF)’, creating expectations of government support for them in times of financial distress. · These banks also enjoy certain advantages in funding markets.
20. In January 2022, Government of India approved the issuance of the 19th tranche of electoral bonds for sale. Which of the following statement is/ are correct about electoral bonds?
(i) Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties.
(ii) A person being an individual can buy bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.
(ii) These bonds are issued in multiples of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakhs and Rs. 1 crore without any maximum limit.
(iv) All scheduled commercial banks are authorized to issue and encash these bonds.
1. Only (i)& (ii)
2. Only (i) & (iv)
3. Only (iv)
4. Only (i), (ii) & (iii)
5. Only (i)
Option “4” is correct. Government of India has approved the issuance of the 19th tranche of electoral bonds for sale in January 2022 in view of assembly elections conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Goa. About Electoral Bonds- · It is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties. · These are issued in the denomination of Rs1000, Rs 10,000, Rs1,00,000, Rs 10,00,000 and Rs1,00,00,000. · There is no upper limit for purchase of electoral bond. · An electoral bond will be valid for 15 days from the date of issue. · The sale of the first batch of electoral bonds took place in March 2018. · These bonds are only redeemable in the designated account of a registered political party.