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CBSE Class 10 Social Science Chapter 20 Money and Credit — 20 MCQs with Answers

Chapter 20 Money and Credit forms an essential part of the CBSE Class 10 Social Science Economics syllabus. It introduces students to modern forms of money, the evolution from barter to currency, and the critical distinction between formal and informal sources of credit in India. This MCQ practice page contains 20 NCERT-grounded questions that cover every key concept — double coincidence of wants, terms of credit, collateral, self-help groups, and the debt trap faced by rural households. Work through these questions to build confidence before your board exam.

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Key takeaways

  • 20 exam-pattern MCQs covering modern forms of money, currency, formal and informal credit sources, and self-help groups from NCERT Chapter 20.
  • Each MCQ includes four options, the correct answer clearly marked, and a one-line reason explaining why it is correct.
  • Questions mix easy recall, application-based scenarios, and HOTS assertion-reason formats matching CBSE 2025 board style.
  • Covers critical concepts: barter system limitations, double coincidence of wants, terms of credit, collateral, interest rates, and debt traps.
  • Strategy section explains how to attempt MCQs efficiently in the CBSE Social Science paper to maximise marks in the shortest time.
  • Ideal for quick revision during board preparation, unit tests, or as daily practice to strengthen Economics fundamentals.
  • CBSETUTOR.ai offers 24×7 AI tutoring for Class 10 Social Science at ₹999/month with photo-upload doubt solving and unlimited practice questions.

Understanding Modern Forms of Money — MCQ Practice Set 1

Modern money has evolved from commodity money and metallic coins to currency notes and digital transactions. The Reserve Bank of India issues currency on behalf of the Central Government, and no individual can refuse payment in rupees within India. This section tests your grasp of the functions of money, the barter system's limitations, and the concept of double coincidence of wants. These are foundational topics frequently tested in CBSE Class 10 Social Science chapter 20 quiz formats. Master these easy-recall MCQs first before moving to application-level questions.
  • Q1. What is the main limitation of the barter system? (a) Lack of money (b) Double coincidence of wants (c) Absence of banks (d) High interest rates — Answer: (b) Double coincidence of wants. Barter requires both parties to want each other's goods simultaneously, which is rare.
  • Q2. Modern forms of money include: (a) Gold coins only (b) Currency notes and bank deposits (c) Grains and cattle (d) Precious stones — Answer: (b) Currency notes and bank deposits. NCERT explicitly lists paper currency and demand deposits as modern money.
  • Q3. Who authorises the issuance of currency in India? (a) State Bank of India (b) Ministry of Finance (c) Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the Central Government (d) Commercial banks — Answer: (c) Reserve Bank of India on behalf of the Central Government. RBI has the sole right to issue currency notes in India.
  • Q4. Which of the following is NOT a function of money? (a) Medium of exchange (b) Store of value (c) Standard of deferred payment (d) Creation of employment — Answer: (d) Creation of employment. Money serves as a medium of exchange, store of value, unit of account, and standard of deferred payment, but does not directly create employment.

Formal and Informal Credit Sources — MCQ Practice Set 2

Credit matters in economic activities. Formal sources include banks and cooperatives regulated by the Reserve Bank of India, offering lower interest rates and transparent terms. Informal sources — moneylenders, traders, employers — charge higher interest, often leading to debt traps for rural borrowers. The NCERT Class 10 Social Science MCQ on this topic often ask students to distinguish sources, compare interest rates, and understand collateral requirements. Grasping these distinctions is crucial for both board exams and understanding real-world financial inclusion challenges in India.
  • Q5. Which of the following is a formal source of credit? (a) Moneylender (b) Cooperative society (c) Landlord (d) Trader — Answer: (b) Cooperative society. Formal sources are regulated by RBI and include banks and cooperatives.
  • Q6. Informal credit sources typically charge: (a) Lower interest than banks (b) Same interest as banks (c) Higher interest than banks (d) No interest — Answer: (c) Higher interest than banks. Informal lenders often charge 3-5% per month, far above bank rates.
  • Q7. What is collateral in credit terms? (a) Monthly interest payment (b) Asset pledged as security for a loan (c) The principal amount (d) A guarantor's signature — Answer: (b) Asset pledged as security for a loan. Collateral (land, building, livestock) gives the lender security to recover dues if the borrower defaults.
  • Q8. Poor households in rural areas often depend on informal credit because: (a) Banks charge very high interest (b) They lack collateral and documentation required by banks (c) Informal lenders are dishonest (d) Formal credit is unavailable — Answer: (b) They lack collateral and documentation required by banks. Landless labourers and small farmers cannot meet bank requirements, forcing them to borrow from moneylenders.

Terms of Credit and Debt Trap — MCQ Practice Set 3

Terms of credit comprise the interest rate, collateral requirement, documentation, and mode of repayment. When terms are unfavourable — high interest, strict collateral, short repayment period — borrowers may fall into a debt trap, where they borrow more to repay old loans. This concept appears repeatedly in Class 10 Social Science Money and Credit important questions. Understanding how interest compounds and why timely repayment matters is essential. These MCQs test your ability to apply the concept to real scenarios, a skill tested in the CBSE board exam's case-based questions.
  • Q9. Terms of credit do NOT include: (a) Interest rate (b) Collateral (c) Mode of repayment (d) Borrower's religion — Answer: (d) Borrower's religion. Terms of credit are purely financial and legal conditions, not personal attributes.
  • Q10. A debt trap occurs when: (a) The borrower repays on time (b) The borrower cannot repay and borrows again to service old debt (c) The lender forgives the loan (d) Interest rates fall — Answer: (b) The borrower cannot repay and borrows again to service old debt. Continuous borrowing to pay interest leads to a vicious cycle.
  • Q11. If a farmer takes a loan at 24% annual interest and crop fails, he is likely to: (a) Repay easily (b) Fall into a debt trap (c) Get interest waived automatically (d) Receive government subsidy — Answer: (b) Fall into a debt trap. Crop failure means no income to repay, forcing the farmer to borrow again at high interest.
  • Q12. Which type of loan typically has lower interest and longer repayment period? (a) Moneylender loan (b) Trader credit (c) Bank loan (d) Employer advance — Answer: (c) Bank loan. Banks regulated by RBI offer lower interest and flexible repayment schedules compared to informal sources.

Self-Help Groups and Financial Inclusion — MCQ Practice Set 4

Self-Help Groups emerged in India as a response to the credit gap faced by the rural poor. Typically 15-20 women pool savings, access bank loans at reasonable rates, and support each other without collateral. SHGs have empowered millions, especially women, by providing timely credit and reducing dependence on moneylenders. The NCERT Class 10 Social Science chapter 20 quiz often includes questions on the functioning, benefits, and impact of SHGs. These MCQs test both recall and the ability to analyse why SHGs succeed where formal banks alone did not reach the poor.
  • Q13. A Self-Help Group typically consists of: (a) 5-10 men (b) 15-20 women from similar economic backgrounds (c) Bank managers (d) Government officials — Answer: (b) 15-20 women from similar economic backgrounds. SHGs are neighbourhood-based, voluntary groups pooling savings.
  • Q14. The main advantage of SHGs is: (a) They provide credit without collateral and at lower interest than moneylenders (b) They give free money (c) They charge higher interest than banks (d) They do not require repayment — Answer: (a) They provide credit without collateral and at lower interest than moneylenders. SHGs democratise credit access for the landless and marginal farmers.
  • Q15. SHGs help in: (a) Increasing dependence on moneylenders (b) Empowering women and promoting financial inclusion (c) Discouraging savings (d) Reducing bank business — Answer: (b) Empowering women and promoting financial inclusion. SHGs build financial literacy, self-reliance, and bargaining power among women.
  • Q16. Banks link with SHGs to: (a) Avoid giving loans (b) Reach rural poor who lack collateral and documentation (c) Increase interest rates (d) Reduce their deposit base — Answer: (b) Reach rural poor who lack collateral and documentation. Bank-SHG linkage extends formal credit to previously excluded households.

Higher-Order and Assertion-Reason MCQs — Practice Set 5

The CBSE board paper often includes assertion-reason type MCQs that test deeper understanding. You must decide whether both statements are true and if the reason correctly explains the assertion. These questions appear in the Class 10 Social Science Money and Credit multiple choice section and carry equal marks but require careful reading. This set also includes scenario-based and HOTS questions that ask you to apply chapter concepts to novel situations, mirroring the 2025 competency-based examination pattern introduced by CBSE.
  • Q17. Assertion (A): Formal credit is cheaper than informal credit. Reason (R): Formal sources are supervised by the Reserve Bank of India. (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation (c) A is true, R is false (d) Both are false — Answer: (a). RBI supervision ensures transparency and caps interest rates, making formal credit cheaper.
  • Q18. Assertion (A): Poor households prefer moneylenders despite high interest. Reason (R): Moneylenders provide instant loans without paperwork or collateral. (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation (c) A is true, R is false (d) Both are false — Answer: (a). The convenience and accessibility of moneylenders explain why the poor still use them.
  • Q19. A farmer borrows for seeds at planting time and repays after harvest. This shows money functions as: (a) Medium of exchange (b) Store of value (c) Standard of deferred payment (d) Unit of account — Answer: (c) Standard of deferred payment. Credit transactions involve repayment in the future, demonstrating money's role in time-bound contracts.
  • Q20. Which of the following statements is INCORRECT? (a) Demand deposits are accepted as money. (b) Cheques are a form of money themselves. (c) Currency is issued by RBI. (d) Banks mediate between savers and borrowers. — Answer: (b) Cheques are a form of money themselves. Cheques are payment instruments, not money; the money lies in the demand deposit account they draw upon.

How to Attempt MCQs in the CBSE Social Science Paper — Strategy Guide

Multiple-choice questions in the CBSE Class 10 Social Science paper typically carry 1 mark each and appear in Section A. Students often lose easy marks through careless reading or second-guessing. The key is speed with accuracy: read the question stem carefully, eliminate obviously wrong options, watch for negative phrasing like 'NOT' or 'INCORRECT', and in assertion-reason questions, check both the truth of each statement and the logical link. Do not spend more than 40 seconds per MCQ. Mark answers on the OMR sheet carefully; bubbles filled incorrectly are auto-marked wrong. Attempting all MCQs is better than leaving blanks, as there is no negative marking in CBSE board exams. Practising 15-20 MCQs daily in the final month builds speed and confidence. CBSETUTOR.ai provides unlimited auto-graded MCQ quizzes on every chapter, helping students simulate exam conditions at home.
  • Read the question stem first, then options — avoid jumping to conclusions based on a familiar keyword alone.
  • Eliminate two obviously wrong answers immediately; this raises your chances to 50% even if you guess between the remaining two.
  • In assertion-reason MCQs, verify each statement independently, then check if the reason explains the assertion logically.
  • Watch for qualifiers like 'always', 'never', 'only' — they often signal incorrect options because Economics concepts have exceptions.
  • If unsure, make an educated guess rather than leaving blank — CBSE does not penalise wrong MCQ answers.
  • After finishing, use any spare time to double-check OMR sheet bubbling, not to change answers impulsively.

Common Mistakes Students Make in Money and Credit MCQs

Students frequently confuse formal and informal credit sources, mistaking a cooperative for an informal lender or assuming all village-level credit is informal. Another error is misunderstanding collateral — thinking it is the loan amount rather than the security pledged. Assertion-reason questions trip many: they mark 'both true' without checking if the reason actually explains the assertion. Misreading 'NOT' or 'INCORRECT' in the question stem leads to choosing the opposite answer. Finally, students often overanalyse simple recall questions, second-guessing NCERT definitions and picking complex-sounding distractors. Avoid these pitfalls by sticking to NCERT language, practising timed quizzes, and reviewing every wrong answer to understand why the correct option is right. CBSETUTOR.ai tracks your mistake patterns and generates personalised MCQ sets targeting weak areas, ensuring you do not repeat errors in the board exam.
  • Confusing cooperatives (formal) with moneylenders (informal) — remember, any RBI-supervised institution is formal.
  • Misidentifying collateral as the principal or interest rather than the asset pledged as security.
  • In assertion-reason MCQs, marking (a) when the reason is true but does not explain the assertion — read the logical link carefully.
  • Overlooking 'NOT', 'EXCEPT', 'INCORRECT' in the question and choosing the affirmative option by mistake.
  • Overthinking simple definitional questions and choosing an elaborate but incorrect distractor over the straightforward NCERT term.
  • Changing correct answers in the last minutes based on panic, not logic — first instinct is often right if you have prepared well.

Linking MCQ Practice to NCERT Text and Case Studies

Every MCQ in this set is anchored in specific paragraphs, tables, or case studies from NCERT Class 10 Social Science Chapter 20. For instance, the Sonpur village case study illustrates how Swapna and Rama face different credit experiences based on their asset ownership. Questions on debt trap often reference this narrative. The table comparing formal and informal credit sources provides data that MCQs directly test. When you practise an MCQ, cross-reference the correct answer with the NCERT page — this reinforces memory and ensures your answers match the board examiner's expectations. CBSE values NCERT terminology: use 'double coincidence of wants' not 'mutual need', 'demand deposits' not 'bank money', and 'collateral' not 'security deposit'. Precision in language earns marks. CBSETUTOR.ai highlights NCERT excerpts alongside each MCQ explanation, making this cross-referencing seamless and time-efficient during revision.
  • Sonpur case study (NCERT pages): Swapna borrows from a trader at high interest, Rama accesses bank credit with land as collateral — MCQs test this contrast.
  • Table on formal vs informal credit: know the sources, interest rates, collateral requirements, and supervision status listed in NCERT.
  • Double coincidence of wants example (grain-cloth barter): MCQs ask why barter fails, drawing directly from this NCERT illustration.
  • Self-Help Group functioning (NCERT descriptive paragraph): MCQs on membership, savings pooling, and bank linkage come from this section.
  • Terms of credit definition (NCERT box): collateral, documentation, interest rate, repayment mode — memorise these four components exactly as listed.
  • Debt trap vicious cycle diagram (if in your edition): MCQs describe scenarios where borrowers cannot escape, mirroring this flowchart.

Why CBSETUTOR.ai is the Smart Way to Master Chapter 20 MCQs

Mastering Money and Credit MCQs requires more than reading NCERT once. You need repeated practice, instant feedback, and targeted revision of weak concepts. CBSETUTOR.ai offers exactly that: unlimited auto-graded MCQ quizzes for every chapter, including Chapter 20, available 24×7 on your phone. Stuck on a question? Upload a photo and the AI tutor explains the answer in seconds, referencing the exact NCERT paragraph. The platform tracks which question types you get wrong — assertion-reason, case-based, or definition recall — and generates custom practice sets to fill those gaps. At just ₹999 per month, the same price for every class from 6 to 12, CBSETUTOR.ai replaces expensive coaching with personalised, on-demand learning. Start with the 3-day free trial: attempt 50 MCQs on Money and Credit, see your score instantly, and get a detailed performance report highlighting concepts you need to revise. Thousands of CBSE students across India now use CBSETUTOR.ai as their go-to revision partner, especially in the final month before boards when time is scarce and every mark counts.
  • Unlimited MCQ quizzes on Chapter 20 and all Social Science chapters, updated for the latest CBSE pattern.
  • Instant AI explanations for every answer, with direct NCERT page references so you learn the why, not just the what.
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Frequently asked questions

How many MCQs appear from Chapter 20 Money and Credit in the CBSE Class 10 board exam?+
Typically, 2-3 MCQs out of the 20-question MCQ section in the Social Science paper come from the Economics chapters, including Money and Credit. Each carries 1 mark, so mastering these concepts ensures you do not lose easy marks.
Are assertion-reason MCQs difficult in Money and Credit?+
Assertion-reason MCQs test whether you understand the logical link between two statements. If you have read NCERT carefully and practised 10-15 such questions, they become straightforward. Focus on why the reason explains the assertion, not just whether both are individually true.
Which topics in Chapter 20 are most frequently tested in MCQs?+
Double coincidence of wants, formal vs informal credit sources, collateral, terms of credit, self-help groups, and debt trap scenarios appear in almost every CBSE paper. Ensure you can define and apply these terms confidently.
Is NCERT enough for scoring full marks in Money and Credit MCQs?+
Yes. CBSE sets MCQs directly from NCERT text, case studies, and tables. Read Chapter 20 twice, underline key terms, memorise definitions verbatim, and practise 20-30 MCQs from past papers or CBSETUTOR.ai to score 100% in this section.
How should I revise Money and Credit MCQs in the last week before boards?+
Solve one 20-MCQ mock test daily, review wrong answers immediately, and list tricky questions in a notebook. On the final day, read that notebook and the NCERT summary once. Avoid learning new material; reinforce what you already know.
Do MCQs carry negative marking in CBSE Class 10 Social Science?+
No. CBSE does not deduct marks for wrong MCQ answers in the board exam. Always attempt every question, even if you have to guess between two options after eliminating the obviously incorrect ones.
Can I use CBSETUTOR.ai for free to practise Chapter 20 MCQs?+
CBSETUTOR.ai offers a 3-day free trial with no credit card required. During the trial, you can attempt unlimited MCQs on Money and Credit, get instant AI feedback, and upload photos of doubts. After the trial, the subscription is ₹999/month for all subjects and classes.
What if I get confused between cooperative banks and moneylenders in MCQs?+
Remember: cooperatives are formal (RBI-supervised, lower interest, require some documentation), while moneylenders are informal (unregulated, high interest, no collateral paperwork). Make a two-column table in your notebook listing features of each; review it before the exam.
Are case-based MCQs on Money and Credit difficult?+
Case-based MCQs present a short scenario and ask 3-4 sub-questions. They test application, not rote memory. If you understand why Swapna fell into a debt trap and Rama did not (NCERT case study), you will handle any similar scenario CBSE throws at you.
How much time should I spend on the 20 MCQs in the Social Science board paper?+
Aim for 15-18 minutes for all 20 MCQs, averaging less than one minute per question. This leaves ample time for the 3-mark and 5-mark questions, where you can score more. Practising timed MCQ sets builds this speed naturally.

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