UGC NET Management Unit - X Syllabus

Name common sources of business opportunities.

Changes in technology, demographic and lifestyle changes, market gaps/unmet needs, government policy changes, problems faced by consumers, and one's own skills/hobbies.

What is opportunity screening?

Evaluating and filtering a pool of business ideas against criteria such as market potential, profitability, investment required, risk, and the entrepreneur's competence to select the most promising one.

What is the purpose of screening business ideas?

To eliminate weak or unviable ideas early and shortlist ideas with the best fit between market opportunity, resources, and the entrepreneur's capabilities before committing investment.

List key criteria used to screen business ideas.

Market demand and size, technical feasibility, financial viability/profitability, investment and capital needs, competition, legal/regulatory requirements, and risk level.

What is a business plan?

A written document that describes a proposed venture's objectives, products/services, market analysis, operational plan, organization, and financial projections, serving as a roadmap and a tool to attract funds.

List the main components of a business plan.

Executive summary, business/industry description, market analysis, marketing plan, operations plan, management/organization plan, financial plan (projections), and appendices.

What is the role of an executive summary in a business plan?

It is a concise overview (written last but placed first) summarizing the venture's concept, market, team, and financials to capture the reader's/investor's interest quickly.

What is feasibility analysis?

A systematic assessment of whether a proposed business idea is practical and viable, examining market, technical, financial, and other dimensions before investing resources.

Name the main types of feasibility studies.

Market feasibility, technical/operational feasibility, financial feasibility, managerial/organizational feasibility, and legal/environmental feasibility.

What does financial feasibility analysis examine?

The estimated costs, sources of finance, projected revenues, profitability, break-even point, cash flows, and return on investment to determine whether the venture is financially sound.

What is the break-even point and its basic formula?

The level of output where total revenue equals total cost (no profit/no loss). Break-Even Point (units) = Fixed Costs ÷ (Selling Price per unit − Variable Cost per unit).

What is the contribution margin per unit?

Selling price per unit minus variable cost per unit; it is the amount each unit contributes toward covering fixed costs and then profit.

How are Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (manufacturing & services) classified in India under the 2020 (Atmanirbhar) revised criteria?

Micro: investment up to ₹1 crore and turnover up to ₹5 crore; Small: investment up to ₹10 crore and turnover up to ₹50 crore; Medium: investment up to ₹50 crore and turnover up to ₹250 crore.

Which Act governs MSMEs in India and when was it enacted?

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006.

State three reasons why small-scale industries are important to the Indian economy.

They generate large-scale employment with low capital, promote balanced regional development, mobilize local resources/savings, and contribute significantly to manufacturing output and exports.

What is the role of government in promoting small-scale industries (SSI)?

Providing financial assistance and subsidies, reserving products, offering infrastructure (industrial estates), marketing support, technical training, tax concessions, and priority-sector lending.

Name two government institutions set up to promote SSI in India.

Small Industries Development Organisation (SIDO)/now MSME-DI and the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC); also SIDBI for finance.

What is industrial sickness in small industries?

A condition where a unit fails to generate profits, has accumulated losses eroding its net worth, and is unable to meet its financial obligations on a continuing basis.

How does the RBI / SICA define a sick industrial unit?

A unit is sick if it has been in existence for at least 5 years and has accumulated losses equal to or exceeding its entire net worth at the end of any financial year (broadly per SICA, 1985).

Name two major internal causes of sickness in small industries.

Poor management and planning, and faulty financial management (under-capitalization, poor working-capital management); also technical defects and over-trading.

Name two major external causes of sickness in small industries.

Shortage of raw materials/power and inadequate/delayed finance; also market recession, competition, and changes in government policy.

What are the warning signals (symptoms) of industrial sickness?

Continuous fall in sales/profits, declining capacity utilization, delay/default in loan repayments, accumulating losses, frequent labour problems, and irregular maintenance of accounts.

What are financial institutions?

Organizations that act as intermediaries channeling funds from savers to borrowers/investors by providing credit, capital, and other financial services to industry, trade, and individuals.

Distinguish between banking and non-banking financial institutions.

Banking financial institutions (banks) accept demand deposits and create credit/part of payment system; non-banking financial institutions (NBFCs) provide loans and investments but cannot accept demand deposits or issue cheques.

Name two all-India development financial institutions that finance industry in India.

Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI); historically also IFCI and ICICI.

What is SIDBI and its primary role?

Small Industries Development Bank of India — the principal financial institution for promotion, financing, and development of the MSME sector and coordination of institutions engaged in similar activities.

What are commercial banks?

Financial institutions that accept deposits from the public, provide loans/advances and credit, and offer payment and other banking services, operating to earn profit (e.g., SBI, PNB, HDFC Bank).

State the main functions of commercial banks.

Primary functions: accepting deposits (current, savings, fixed) and lending (loans, overdrafts, cash credit, discounting bills). Secondary functions: agency services and general utility services like remittances and lockers.

What are cooperative banks?

Banks established on cooperative (mutual help) principles, owned and operated by their members, primarily serving rural and weaker sections with credit for agriculture and small business; registered under cooperative societies law.

Describe the three-tier structure of the cooperative credit system in India.

State Cooperative Banks at the state (apex) level, Central/District Cooperative Banks at the district level, and Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) at the village/grassroots level.

State two differences between commercial banks and cooperative banks.

(1) Commercial banks are profit-oriented joint-stock companies; cooperative banks are member-owned on a service/mutual-benefit basis. (2) Commercial banks serve all sectors widely; cooperative banks focus mainly on agriculture, rural credit, and small borrowers.

What is microfinance?

The provision of small-scale financial services — micro-credit, savings, insurance, and remittances — to low-income and poor people who lack access to conventional banking, to support self-employment and income generation.

What is the Self-Help Group (SHG)-Bank Linkage model in microfinance?

A NABARD-promoted model where small groups of 10-20 poor members pool savings, lend among themselves, and are linked to banks for credit, with the group ensuring repayment through peer pressure.

What are Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and how do they typically lend?

Specialized organizations (often NBFC-MFIs) that provide small collateral-free loans to the poor, frequently using the Joint Liability Group (JLG)/group-guarantee method to ensure repayment.