CAIIB ABM Module C UNIT 23 MCQ – Risk Management and Credit Rating.
Question 1: The business of banking faces which broad categories of risks?
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Correct Answer: B. Operational, Market, and Credit Risks.
Question 2: What is an example of an Operational Risk for a bank?
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Correct Answer: C. Losses due to frauds. Operational Risks include losses due to internal or external fraud.
Question 3: Market Risks for banks arise from what?
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Correct Answer: C. Adverse market movements of interest rates. Market Risks are caused by uncontrollable market forces.
Question 4: In fund-based credit facilities, what does credit risk primarily involve?
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Correct Answer: C. The risk of non-payment of principal and interest by the borrower. Credit risk in lending is the risk of default.
Question 5: In a non-fund-based limit, when does credit risk arise?
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Correct Answer: B. When the borrower does not reimburse the bank after invocation of a guarantee. This is a credit risk in non-fund facilities.
Question 6: Credit risks are related to the borrower’s…
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Correct Answer: A. unwillingness or inability to meet financial obligations. Credit risks arise from the borrower’s potential default.
Question 7: Which of the following is an External Factor that can affect credit risk?
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Correct Answer: B. Government policies. External factors are those outside the bank’s control.
Question 8: How do external factors primarily affect a bank’s credit portfolio?
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Correct Answer: B. By impairing the quality of the customers’ businesses. External factors affect the borrower’s ability to pay.
Question 9: Which of the following is an Internal Factor that can contribute to credit risk?
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Correct Answer: C. Faulty loan and repayment structuring. Internal factors are within the bank’s control.
Question 10: Overexposure of credit refers to…
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Correct Answer: B. lending to a particular segment or region. Overexposure increases concentration risk.
Question 11: What does ‘excessive lending to cyclical industries’ indicate?
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Correct Answer: B. Increased credit risk due to industry volatility. Cyclical industries are prone to fluctuations.
Question 12: Ignoring the purpose of a loan can lead to…
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Correct Answer: C. higher chances of default. Understanding the loan’s purpose is crucial for risk assessment.
Question 13: Deficiencies in loan policy refer to…
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Correct Answer: C. inadequate guidelines for lending. Deficiencies can increase credit risk.
Question 14: Low quality of credit appraisal means…
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Correct Answer: B. insufficient assessment of borrower’s creditworthiness. It leads to higher risk.
Question 15: Lack of an efficient recovery machinery results in…
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Correct Answer: C. increased credit losses. Inefficient recovery increases the bank’s losses.
Question 16: What is the primary objective of credit risk management?
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Correct Answer: C. To limit risk within acceptable levels and maximise risk-adjusted return. This is the core goal of credit risk management.
Question 17: At the macro level, how are risks to the overall credit portfolio mitigated?
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Correct Answer: B. By fixing internal limits for aggregate commitments to specific sectors. This ensures diversification.
Question 18: What does a periodic review of loan policies involve?
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Correct Answer: B. Reviewing exposure norms to single and group borrowers. This is a macro-level risk mitigation activity.
Question 19: Why do banks classify their credit portfolio?
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Correct Answer: C. To assess provisioning requirements. Classification helps in managing potential losses.
Question 20: What is the purpose of stress resolution policies?
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Correct Answer: B. To recover the maximum possible from a difficult situation. Stress resolution aims to manage bad loans.
Question 21: Which of the following is a micro-level step in credit risk mitigation?
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Correct Answer: C. Improving appraisal standards. This focuses on individual loan assessments.
Question 22: What is the purpose of obtaining collateral security?
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Correct Answer: C. To provide a secondary source of repayment. Collateral reduces the bank’s potential loss.
Question 23: What is an ‘escrow mechanism’?
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Correct Answer: C. An arrangement where funds are held by a third party until certain conditions are met. It provides security.
Question 24: How do credit ratings and credit scoring contribute to credit risk management?
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Correct Answer: B. By helping in appraisal, sanctioning, and monitoring of loans. They aid in assessing and managing risk.
Question 25: What is consortium banking?
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Correct Answer: B. Lending by a group of banks to a single borrower. It helps in risk dispersion.
Question 26: What are credit derivatives used for?
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Correct Answer: B. To hedge credit risks. They help in transferring risk.
Question 27: How do credit derivatives hedge credit risk?
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Correct Answer: B. By insuring against potential losses. They act like insurance for credit risk.
Question 28: What is a drawback of using credit derivatives for hedging?
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Correct Answer: B. The return from the asset may be less if the anticipated risk does not materialise. Hedging comes at a cost.
Question 29: Which of the following is an example of a simple technique for transferring credit risk?
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Correct Answer: C. Financial guarantees. These have been used in India for a long time.
Question 30: Which of the following is a recent innovative instrument in credit risk transfer?
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Correct Answer: B. Credit Default Swaps. These are newer instruments for hedging credit risk.
Question 31: What is a Credit Default Swap (CDS)?
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Correct Answer: B. A contract that provides protection against credit default. It’s a hedging instrument.
Question 32: In a Credit Default Swap, who pays the premium?
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Correct Answer: B. The risk seller (lending bank). They pay for the protection.
Question 33: What is the ‘reference entity’ in a Credit Default Swap?
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Correct Answer: C. The bond issuer on whom the protection is offered. It’s the entity whose credit is being protected.
Question 34: What happens when the risk event materialises in a Credit Default Swap?
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Correct Answer: B. The protection buyer hands over the debt instrument to the protection seller. This is how the swap is settled.
Question 35: Credit Default Swaps in India are based on the standards of which organisation?
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Correct Answer: C. ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association). They provide standardisation.
Question 36: Which of the following is a ‘credit event’ as defined by ISDA?
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Correct Answer: B. Bankruptcy. Credit events trigger the CDS payout.
Question 37: What is a Credit Linked Note (CLN)?
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Correct Answer: C. A note linked to an underlying credit that provides risk protection. It’s another hedging instrument.
Question 38: In a Credit Linked Note, who typically purchases the notes?
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Correct Answer: C. General investors. They provide the funds for the SPV.
Question 39: What does the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) do with the money received from investors in a CLN?
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Correct Answer: B. Buys high quality securities. These are used to pay back investors or cover losses.
Question 40: What happens to the securities purchased by the SPV on maturity of the underlying credit?
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Correct Answer: B. They are sold, and the money is returned to the investors. This is the typical maturity process.
Question 41: In case of default in the underlying credit, what happens to the securities held by the SPV?
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Correct Answer: B. They are used to pay the risk seller. This provides the risk protection.
Question 42: What is the RBI’s stance on banks using derivatives to hedge credit risk?
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Correct Answer: C. RBI is apprehensive when banks sell credit protection. It can lead to complex and large liabilities.
Question 43: Why is RBI cautious about the growth of credit derivatives in the Indian financial market?
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Correct Answer: B. Because they can become very complex and create large, unexpected liabilities. Complexity is a major concern.
Question 44: What does RBI advise lenders regarding credit appraisal?
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Correct Answer: B. To carry out their own independent and objective credit appraisal. This ensures due diligence.
Question 45: What kind of analysis does RBI recommend for infrastructure projects?
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Correct Answer: B. Sensitivity tests/scenario analysis. This helps in assessing potential risks like delays and cost overruns.
Question 46: What should lenders ascertain about the equity capital brought in by promoters?
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Correct Answer: B. The source and quality of equity capital. This helps in assessing the financial strength of the project.
Question 47: What is ‘multiple leveraging’?
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Correct Answer: C. Infusion of parent company’s debt as equity in a subsidiary. It can distort financial ratios.
Question 48: Why is multiple leveraging a concern for lenders?
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Correct Answer: B. It camouflages financial ratios like the Debt/Equity ratio.
Question 49: According to the Companies Act 2013, what is mandatory for every director?
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Correct Answer: B. To have a Director Identification Number (DIN). This is required by the Act.
Question 50: What is the purpose of including the Director Identification Number (DIN) in data submitted to the Reserve Bank of India/Credit Information Companies?
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Correct Answer: B. To ensure directors are correctly identified and not wrongfully denied credit. This prevents errors due to similar names.
Question 51: What should banks do in case of any doubt arising from identical names of directors?
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Correct Answer: C. Use independent sources for confirmation of the identity of directors. This ensures accuracy.
Question 52: What do RBI guidelines say about monitoring the end-use of funds?
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Correct Answer: B. Lenders can award a separate mandate to the borrower’s auditors for specific certification. This helps in monitoring fund usage.
Question 53: What is RBI’s advice to banks regarding auditors for certification of end-use of funds?
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Correct Answer: C. Banks could consider engaging their own auditors for specific certification. This provides an independent check.
Question 54: What is the role of the Board of Directors of banks in credit risk management?
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Correct Answer: C. To take steps to arrest deteriorating asset quality and improve the credit risk management system. The Board plays a crucial oversight role.
Question 55: What is the purpose of the Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (CRILC)?
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Correct Answer: B. To collect, store, and disseminate credit data to lenders. CRILC facilitates information sharing.
Question 56: What information do banks need to report to CRILC?
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Correct Answer: B. Credit information on borrowers with aggregate exposure of ₹5 crores and above. There are specific reporting thresholds.
Question 57: Are crop loans required to be reported to CRILC?
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Correct Answer: B. No, crop loans are exempted from reporting to CRILC. However, other agriculture loans may need to be reported.
Question 58: Do banks need to report their interbank exposures to CRILC?
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Correct Answer: B. No, interbank exposures are not reported to CRILC. This exemption applies to exposures to certain institutions.
Question 59: What is the reporting requirement for outstanding current account balances to RBI?
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Correct Answer: C. Outstanding current account balances of ₹1 crore and above must be reported. RBI has specific reporting rules for these balances.
Question 60: Why was the credit information system introduced?
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Correct Answer: C. To alert banks against borrowers who have defaulted with other institutions. This helps in preventing further defaults.