Minimalist IAS
Prelims 2026 paper

UPSC CSE Prelims 2026 · Question 97 · Capital markets, insurance & financial instruments

Which of the following statements about Crowdfunding is/are correct?

Prelims 2026 · Q97

Capital markets, insurance & financial instruments Easy Provisional key

Which of the following statements about Crowdfunding is/are correct?

  1. 1.Crowdfunding is solicitation of funds (small amount) from multiple investors through a web-based platform or social networking site for a specific project.
  2. 2.Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are able to raise funds at lower cost of capital without undergoing rigorous procedures.

Select the answer using the code given below:

Answer & explanation

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Both statements follow SEBI’s consultation paper on crowdfunding. It defines crowdfunding as soliciting small amounts from many investors through a web platform, and lists among its benefits that SMEs can raise funds at lower cost of capital without rigorous procedures.

  • ✓ 1. SEBI’s paper defines crowdfunding as solicitation of small amounts of funds from multiple investors through a web-based platform or social networking site for a specific project, business venture or social cause.
  • ✓ 2. SEBI lists this as a benefit of crowdfunding for SMEs: lower cost of capital without going through rigorous procedures.

Remember · Crowdfunding: small sums from many investors via a web platform; SEBI’s 2014 consultation paper notes it as an alternative funding route for start-ups and SMEs.

Sources

  • SEBI: Consultation Paper on Crowdfunding in India (June 2014), definition ↗ “Crowdfunding is solicitation of funds (small amount) from multiple investors through a web-based platform or social networking site for a specific project, business venture or social cause. … SMEs are able to raise funds at lower cost of capital without undergoing through rigorous procedures in this mode.”

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

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