Minimalist IAS
Prelims 2018 paper

UPSC CSE Prelims 2018 · GS Paper I · Question 16 · Money, banking & monetary policy

निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2018, General Studies Paper I, Question 16 — Money, banking & monetary policy.

निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए :

  1. 1.पूँजी पर्याप्तता अनुपात (सी.ए.आर.) वह राशि है जिसे बैंकों को अपनी निधियों के रूप में रखना होता हैं जिससे वे, यदि खाता-धारकों द्वारा देयताओं का भुगतान नहीं करने से कोई हानि होती है, तो उसका प्रतिकार कर सकें ।
  2. 2.सी.ए.आर. का निर्धारण प्रत्येक बैंक द्वारा अलग-अलग किया जाता है ।

उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं ?

Read this question in English

Consider the following statements:

1. Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) is the amount that banks have to maintain in the form of their own funds to offset any loss that banks incur if the account-holders fail to repay dues.

2. CAR is decided by each individual bank.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only · (b) 2 only · (c) Both 1 and 2 · (d) Neither 1 nor 2

उत्तर और व्याख्या · explanation in English

Answer: (a) केवल 1

A bank's own capital is the cushion that absorbs losses, for instance when borrowers default, and the capital adequacy ratio measures that capital against the bank's risk-weighted assets. The minimum ratio is not left to each bank: in India the Reserve Bank of India prescribes it, following the Basel norms.

  • ✓ 1. Capital adequacy means holding enough own funds, relative to risk-weighted assets, so that losses on loans and other assets can be absorbed without the bank becoming insolvent.
  • ✗ 2. The RBI's Basel III Master Circular (2014) requires scheduled commercial banks to keep a minimum total capital of 9% of risk-weighted assets; banks may hold more but cannot set the floor themselves.

Remember · CAR (or CRAR) = capital ÷ risk-weighted assets. RBI sets the minimum at 9% (Basel III asks for 8%); with the 2.5% conservation buffer it is 11.5%.

Sources

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·

Cite this question: UPSC CSE Prelims 2018, Q16 — minimalistias.com/pyqs/prelims/2018/q16

In the UPSC syllabus: Money, banking & monetary policy › Banks: structure & regulation See it and tick it covered →

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