I. Choose the Correct Answer
Q1. SEBI was established in the year
- (a) 1985
- (b) 1986
- (c) 1988
- (d) 1990
Q2. SEBI has its headquarters at
- (a) Delhi
- (b) Bombay/Mumbai
- (c) Chennai
- (d) Kolkata
Q3. SEBI was set up as a non-statutory body in
- (a) 1985
- (b) 1986
- (c) 1988
- (d) 1992
Q4. The process of converting physical shares into electronic form is called
- (a) Rematerialisation
- (b) Dematerialisation
- (c) Registration
- (d) None of the above
Q5. The number of members in SEBI board is
- (a) 2
- (b) 4
- (c) 3
- (d) 5
Q6. The word 'DEMAT' refers to
- (a) Materialisation
- (b) Dematerialisation
- (c) Registration
- (d) Account
Q7. The Depository Act was passed in
- (a) 1992
- (b) 1994
- (c) December 1996
- (d) 1998
Q8. The first company to dematerialise its shares was
- (a) Tata Motors
- (b) Reliance Industries
- (c) Infosys
- (d) Wipro
Q9. SEBI regulates the working of
- (a) Commercial banks
- (b) Mutual funds
- (c) Insurance companies
- (d) All of the above
Q10. The expanded form of PAN is
- (a) Permanent Account Name
- (b) Permanent Account Number
- (c) Personal Account Number
- (d) Primary Account Number
II. Choose the Correct Answer (Additional MCQs)
Q1. The SEBI Act was passed in the year
- (a) 1988
- (b) 1990
- (c) 1992
- (d) 1995
Q2. The foremost objective of SEBI is
- (a) Regulation
- (b) Security
- (c) Development
- (d) Control
Q3. SEBI was given statutory powers in
- (a) 1988
- (b) 1990
- (c) 1992
- (d) 1995
Q4. The apex body of the securities market is
- (a) RBI
- (b) BSE
- (c) SEBI
- (d) NSE
Q5. The number of members in SEBI board including the chairman is
- (a) 4
- (b) 5
- (c) 6
- (d) 8
Q6. Find the odd one out among the following ID proofs
- (a) PAN card
- (b) Voter's ID
- (c) Post Card
- (d) Passport
Q7. Which of the following is not correctly matched?
- (a) SEBI — 12 members
- (b) DEMAT — Dematerialisation
- (c) PAN — Permanent Account Number
- (d) NSDL — National Securities Depository Limited
Q8. Which of the following statements are correct?
- (i) SEBI Act was passed in 1992
- (ii) SEBI protects the interests of investors
- (iii) SEBI regulates the stock exchange
- (a) i and ii only
- (b) ii and iii only
- (c) i and iii only
- (d) All are correct (i, ii, and iii)
III. Match the Following
| Column I | Column II | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| (i) | SEBI | (1) | Dematerialisation |
| (ii) | DEMAT | (2) | Supervisory Body |
| (iii) | PAN | (3) | Permanent Account Number |
| (iv) | Insider Trading | (4) | Buying and Selling by director |
- (i) — 2: SEBI → Supervisory Body
- (ii) — 1: DEMAT → Dematerialisation
- (iii) — 3: PAN → Permanent Account Number
- (iv) — 4: Insider Trading → Buying and Selling by director
IV. Assertion and Reason
Q1. Assertion (A): One can buy or sell any amount of shares through a DEMAT account. Reason (R): DEMAT account holds shares in electronic form at the request of the investor.
- (a) Both A and R are true, R is the correct explanation of A
- (b) Both A and R are true, R is not the correct explanation of A
- (c) A is true but R is false
- (d) A is false but R is true
Q2. Assertion (A): SEBI is a supervisory body that regulates the stock exchange. Reason (R): SEBI cannot regulate the activities of stock exchanges.
- (a) Both A and R are true, R is the correct explanation of A
- (b) Both A and R are true, R is not the correct explanation of A
- (c) A is true but R is false
- (d) A is false but R is true
V. Very Short Answer Questions
Q1. When was SEBI established?
Q2. What are the two objectives of SEBI?
Q3. What is a Demat Account?
Q4. Where is the headquarters of SEBI located?
Q5. What are the ID proofs required for opening a Demat Account?
Q6. What is PAN?
VI. Short Answer Questions
Q1. What is Dematerialisation?
Q2. What are the documents required for opening a Demat Account?
Q3. What are the powers of SEBI under the Securities Contract Act?
Q4. What is Insider Trading?
Q5. What are the three key functions of SEBI?
1. Quasi-legislative: SEBI has the power to frame rules and regulations for the securities market. It can draft guidelines, regulations, and bye-laws to regulate market participants.
2. Quasi-judicial: SEBI has the authority to conduct enquiries and pass judgments on disputes and violations. It can impose penalties, issue directions, and adjudicate on matters related to securities fraud.
3. Quasi-executive: SEBI has the power to enforce its rules and regulations. It can conduct inspections, investigate complaints, and take action against violators including imposing monetary penalties.
VII. Long Answer Questions
Q1. What are the functions of SEBI?
1. Protection to Investors: SEBI protects the interests of investors by ensuring fair dealings, preventing fraudulent practices, and providing a mechanism for redressal of investor grievances.
2. Regulation of Stock Exchanges: SEBI regulates the functioning of stock exchanges to ensure transparency and fairness in trading.
3. Control over Intermediaries: SEBI exercises control over brokers, sub-brokers, merchant bankers, and other intermediaries to ensure they follow prescribed norms.
4. Registration of Mutual Funds: SEBI registers and regulates mutual funds to protect investors' interests.
5. Prevention of Fraudulent Practices: SEBI prevents fraudulent and unfair trade practices such as insider trading, price rigging, and manipulation.
6. Promotion of Fair Practices: SEBI promotes fair practices and ethical standards in the securities market.
7. Regulation of Underwriting: SEBI regulates the underwriting activities in the securities market.
8. Investor Education: SEBI undertakes investor education and awareness programmes to help investors make informed decisions.
9. Regulation of Substantial Acquisition: SEBI regulates the substantial acquisition of shares and takeovers to protect minority shareholders.
10. Registration and Regulation of Credit Rating Agencies: SEBI registers and regulates credit rating agencies.
11. Regulation of Venture Capital Funds: SEBI regulates venture capital funds and collective investment schemes.
12. Levying Fees and Penalties: SEBI has the power to levy fees and penalties on market participants for violations.
Q2. What are the powers of SEBI?
Q3. What are the benefits of Dematerialisation?
1. Eliminates Risk of Loss, Theft, and Forgery: Since shares are held in electronic form, there is no risk of physical certificates being lost, stolen, or forged.
2. Reduces Paperwork: Dematerialisation eliminates the need for physical share certificates, transfer deeds, and other paper documents, making transactions faster and more efficient.
3. Automatic Credit from Mergers: When companies merge or consolidate, shares are automatically credited to the investor's Demat account without any manual process.
4. No Stamp Duty: There is no stamp duty on transfer of dematerialised shares, reducing transaction costs.
5. Single Account for Equity and Debt: A single Demat account can hold all types of securities including equity shares, debentures, bonds, and government securities.
6. Buy and Sell Any Amount: Investors can buy or sell any number of shares, even odd lots (not in multiples of 100), through a Demat account. There is no restriction on the quantity of shares traded.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. SEBI establishment year vs. statutory year: SEBI was established in 1988 as a NON-STATUTORY body. It was given statutory powers in 1992 through the SEBI Act. Do not confuse these two dates.
2. SEBI vs. RBI: SEBI regulates the SECURITIES market (stock exchanges, mutual funds, brokers). RBI regulates the BANKING sector and monetary policy. Do not mix their roles.
3. SEBI board members: The textbook states 3 members (some questions say 6 including chairman). Follow the textbook answer for each specific question — Q5 says 3, additional MCQ Q5 says 6 including chairman.
4. Demat is not just "opening an account": Dematerialisation is the PROCESS of converting physical certificates to electronic form. The Demat account is WHERE the electronic securities are held. These are related but distinct concepts.
5. Insider trading is NOT just trading by insiders: Insider trading specifically involves trading based on PRICE-SENSITIVE, CONFIDENTIAL information. Not all trading by insiders is illegal — only when it uses information not available to the public.
6. PAN is 10-digit ALPHANUMERIC: PAN is not just a number — it contains both letters and numbers (e.g., ABCDE1234F).
Exam Checklist
- [ ] Can you state when SEBI was established (1988) and given statutory powers (1992)?
- [ ] Can you list the objectives of SEBI?
- [ ] Can you define Dematerialisation and Demat Account?
- [ ] Can you list the documents required for a Demat Account?
- [ ] Can you explain the three key functions of SEBI (Quasi-legislative, Quasi-judicial, Quasi-executive)?
- [ ] Can you list the 12 functions of SEBI?
- [ ] Can you list the 5 powers of SEBI?
- [ ] Can you explain what Insider Trading is?
- [ ] Can you list the 6 benefits of Dematerialisation?
- [ ] Can you explain SEBI's powers under the Securities Contract Act?
- [ ] Do you know what PAN stands for and its format (10-digit alphanumeric)?
