Q.Which of the following is a social objective of business, as distinct from an economic objective?
(A) Earning the maximum possible profit
(B) Optimum utilisation of men, money, material and machines
(C) Supplying quality goods and services at fair prices, avoiding practices like hoarding and adulteration
(D) Regular innovation in products and processes

Fair pricing and avoiding hoarding/adulteration are about the business's duty to society, which is what makes them social rather than economic objectives.

Section 3 of this chapter lists supplying quality goods and services at fair/reasonable prices, and adopting fair trade practices (avoiding hoarding, black-marketing, and adulteration), as core social objectives — they concern how a business treats the society and consumers it serves, not its own internal commercial performance.

Option-by-option analysis:

• (A) Incorrect — maximum profit-seeking is an economic objective (Section 2), concerned with the business's own survival and growth.
• (B) Incorrect — optimum utilisation of resources is explicitly listed as an economic objective in Section 2. …