Demand Deposits include ____. (Choose the correct alternative to fill up the blank) (a) Currency and coins hel

Question 39 of 67

Q. Demand Deposits include ________. (Choose the correct alternative to fill up the blank)

(a) Currency and coins held with the public

(b) Other deposits with the Government

(d) Current Account Deposits and Fixed Deposits

Delhi CbseCBSE Class XII Board 2023MCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★

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Concept understanding — Money Supply Measures

Money Supply Measures: From Pocket Money to the Whole Economy

Think about the money you actually use. You have some cash in your wallet, maybe a few coins for the bus. You might have a ₹500 note tucked away. But you also have money in your bank account — the kind you can swipe on a card or transfer through UPI. That's money too, even though you never see it as paper.

Now imagine the entire country. Every person, every shop, every company, every government office — all the money they hold in cash and in their bank accounts. That total is what economists call the money supply. It's not just the currency printed by the RBI. It's the total stock of money available in the economy at a given point in time.

Why does this matter?

The money supply affects everything: how much prices rise (inflation), how easily you can get a loan, how much the government can spend, and even the value of the rupee. The RBI controls the money supply to keep the economy stable. But to control it, you first need to measure it — and that's where the confusion begins.

The problem: Not all money is the same

A ₹100 note in your pocket is clearly money. But what about the ₹10,000 sitting in your savings account? You can't hand that to a shopkeeper as a physical note, but you can withdraw it anytime or pay via UPI. So it's almost as good as cash.

What about a fixed deposit of ₹1 lakh? You can't use it to buy lunch today — you'd have to break the deposit, which takes time and may cost you interest. So it's less "money-like" than cash, but it's still a form of stored purchasing power.

The RBI solves this by defining four measures of money supply, each broader than the last. They are called M1, M2, M3, and M4. Think of them as concentric circles: M1 is the narrowest (most liquid), M4 is the broadest (includes less liquid forms).

The four measures (as per NCERT Class 12)

M1 = CU + DD

Where:

CU = Currency held by the public (notes + coins, excluding cash held by banks)
DD = Net demand deposits of banks (the money in your current and savings accounts that you can withdraw on demand)
Net time deposits = Fixed deposits, recurring deposits, etc. — money you cannot withdraw immediately without penalty

What each measure captures

M1 is the money you can spend right now — cash in hand plus money in your bank account that you can withdraw or transfer instantly. This is called narrow money. It's the most liquid.

M2 adds post office savings deposits. In India, post offices also accept savings deposits, and these are quite liquid (you can withdraw them on demand). But they're not part of the commercial banking system, so they're added separately.

M3 is the most commonly used measure for policy. It adds all time deposits (fixed deposits, etc.) to M1. This is called broad money. Why include fixed deposits? Because they can be converted into cash quickly (though with some loss of interest). They represent purchasing power that is just a step away from being spendable.

M4 adds post office deposits (excluding National Savings Certificates, which are less liquid) to M3. This is the broadest measure.

Which one do economists actually use?

In India, the RBI primarily tracks M3 for monetary policy. You'll see it in news headlines: "Money supply (M3) grew by 10% this year." M1 is also tracked for short-term liquidity analysis.

Note

The RBI publishes these numbers every week. As of recent data (you don't need to memorise exact figures), M3 is roughly ₹200+ lakh crore — a number so large it's hard to imagine. But the growth rate is what matters for policy. …

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Demand deposits are funds in bank accounts that can be withdrawn on demand, primarily including current and savings account deposits, but not fixed deposits.

Concept: Understanding Demand Deposits

In the study of money and banking, 'demand deposits' are a crucial component of the money supply, particularly in its narrowest measure, $M1$ . Demand deposits refer to funds held in bank accounts that can be withdrawn by the account holder on demand, without any prior notice to the bank. This characteristic makes them highly liquid and readily usable as a medium of exchange, much like physical currency. They facilitate transactions and payments in the economy through instruments such as cheques, debit cards, and online transfers.

Components of Demand Deposits

In economics, demand deposits primarily include:

Current Account Deposits: These accounts are typically maintained by businesses and allow for frequent and unlimited transactions, including withdrawals and cheque facilities. Funds in these accounts are always accessible on demand.
Savings Account Deposits: These accounts are generally held by individuals. While they earn interest, they also allow for withdrawals on demand, often through cheques or ATM cards. The portion of savings deposits that can be withdrawn on demand is considered a demand deposit.

Watch out

It is crucial to distinguish demand deposits from time deposits (also known as term deposits). Time deposits, such as Fixed Deposits (FDs) and Recurring Deposits (RDs), are funds deposited for a fixed period and can only be withdrawn after the maturity period or by incurring a penalty. They are not payable on demand and thus are not considered demand deposits. They are part of broader money supply measures ( $M3$ and $M4$ ), but not $M1$ .

Analyzing the Options

Let's evaluate each alternative provided in the context of what constitutes demand deposits:

(a) Currency and coins held with the public: This refers to physical cash ( $C$ ) in the hands of the public. While it is a component of $M1$ money supply, it is distinct from 'deposits' held in banks. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
(b) Other deposits with the Government: This option is vaguely worded. In the context of money supply, 'Other Deposits with RBI' ( $OD$ ) are a component of $M1$ , referring to deposits held by financial institutions, international bodies, and the government with the Reserve Bank of India. However, "Other deposits with the Government" is not a standard definition for demand deposits held by the public with commercial banks. Therefore, this option is incorrect.
(c) Savings Account Deposits and Fixed Deposits: Savings Account Deposits (specifically their demand liability portion) are indeed demand deposits. However, Fixed Deposits are time deposits, not demand deposits, as they have a fixed maturity period and cannot be withdrawn on demand without penalty. Therefore, this option is partially correct but also partially incorrect. …

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