CBSE Class 11 Business Studies Chapter-10 Important Questions - Free PDF Download
FAQs on Important Questions for CBSE Class 11 Business Studies Chapter 10 - Internal Trade
1. What are the two broad categories of internal trade as per the CBSE Class 11 syllabus for 2025-26?
Internal trade, which involves the buying and selling of goods and services within a country's borders, is broadly categorised into two main types:
- Wholesale Trade: This involves purchasing goods in large quantities directly from manufacturers and selling them to retailers or other businesses.
- Retail Trade: This involves purchasing goods from wholesalers and selling them in smaller quantities directly to the final consumers.
2. For a 3-mark question, distinguish between a wholesaler and a retailer.
The key differences between a wholesaler and a retailer in internal trade are:
- Link in Distribution Chain: A wholesaler acts as a link between the manufacturer and the retailer. In contrast, a retailer is the link between the wholesaler and the final consumer.
- Scale of Operations: Wholesalers buy and sell goods in large quantities and typically deal in a limited range of products. Retailers buy and sell goods in small quantities and usually offer a wide variety of products.
- Capital Requirement: A wholesaler requires a significantly larger capital investment due to the need for bulk purchasing and large storage facilities. A retailer can start a business with a relatively smaller capital investment.
3. Explain any five important services that a wholesaler provides to manufacturers.
Wholesalers offer several crucial services to manufacturers, which are frequently asked in exams. Five key services are:
- Facilitating Large-Scale Production: Wholesalers buy goods in bulk, allowing manufacturers to produce on a large scale without worrying about selling to numerous small retailers.
- Bearing Risk: They take ownership of the goods, bearing risks like price fluctuations, spoilage, theft, and changes in demand.
- Financial Assistance: Wholesalers often make cash payments for goods and sometimes provide advance payments, which improves the manufacturer's cash flow.
- Expert Advice: By being in closer contact with retailers and the market, they provide valuable feedback to manufacturers on customer preferences, competition, and market trends.
- Storage: Wholesalers provide storage facilities (godowns/warehouses) for the goods, relieving manufacturers of the burden of storing finished products.
4. Differentiate between a departmental store and a multiple shop (chain store) for a 5-mark question.
A departmental store and a multiple shop are two major types of large-scale fixed retailers, but they differ significantly. The key differences are:
- Location: Departmental stores are typically located in a central, prime location in a city to attract a large number of customers. Multiple shops are located in various localities across a city or country to be close to customers.
- Product Range: A departmental store offers a wide variety of products under one roof (e.g., clothing, electronics, groceries). A multiple shop deals in a limited and standardised range of products, often from a single brand or manufacturer.
- Pricing: Prices in a departmental store can be flexible and vary across departments. In multiple shops, there is a uniform, fixed price for products across all branches.
- Customer Service: Departmental stores aim to provide maximum services to customers, such as restaurants, home delivery, and credit facilities. Multiple shops offer very limited services and usually operate on a cash-and-carry basis.
- Ownership and Management: A departmental store is often a single large entity. Multiple shops are a network of branches owned and controlled by a central head office.
5. What are the key features of supermarkets that make them popular in urban areas?
Supermarkets are large-scale retail stores with distinct features that appeal to urban customers. Key features frequently tested in exams include:
- Self-Service: Customers select products themselves and take them to the checkout counter, reducing the need for sales staff and lowering operational costs.
- Wide Variety under One Roof: They primarily sell food, groceries, and daily-use items but also stock other non-food convenience goods, offering a one-stop-shop experience.
- Cash Sales: All sales are made on a cash basis, which eliminates the problem of bad debts for the retailer.
- Low Prices: Due to bulk purchasing and lower operating costs (economies of scale), supermarkets can often offer goods at lower prices than other retailers.
6. Identify and explain the itinerant retailers known as 'Cheap Jacks'.
The itinerant retailers described are Cheap Jacks. They are petty retailers who operate from temporary, independent shops in a business locality. A key characteristic is that they do not have a permanent place of business and frequently shift their location based on the potential of the area. They typically sell consumer goods and may also offer repair services for items like watches or shoes.
7. Why are mail-order houses not as popular in India compared to other forms of retail? State any three reasons.
Mail-order houses, which sell goods through post, have limited popularity in India for several important reasons:
- Lack of Personal Contact: The absence of direct interaction between the buyer and seller can lead to mistrust. Customers cannot inspect the goods before buying, raising concerns about quality and authenticity.
- High Promotion Costs: These businesses must spend heavily on advertising, circulars, and catalogues to reach potential customers, which increases their operating expenses.
- Delivery and Payment Issues: Dependence on postal services can lead to delays in delivery. Furthermore, many consumers are hesitant to make advance payments, and the lack of credit facilities discourages potential buyers.
8. What is the role of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in promoting internal trade?
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry plays a vital promotional role in internal trade by:
- Facilitating Transport: It assists in improving infrastructure like highways and helps streamline the interstate movement of goods.
- Harmonising Tax Structure: It interacts with the government to rationalise tax structures like GST, ensuring they do not hinder trade.
- Resolving Conflicts: It acts as an arbitrator to resolve disputes between traders and promotes fair trade practices.
- Liaison with Government: It serves as a collective voice for the business community, presenting their issues and suggestions to government bodies.
9. What are vending machines? What type of goods are most suitable for this form of retail trade?
Vending machines are automated machines that dispense goods after a customer inserts a coin, card, or token. This form of retailing is suitable for specific types of products:
- Pre-packaged and branded items with a high turnover rate.
- Low-priced products that are bought on impulse.
- Goods of uniform size and weight.
- Examples commonly asked in CBSE exams include soft drinks, snacks, chocolates, milk, and platform tickets.
10. How do retailers provide essential services to both manufacturers and consumers?
Retailers are a crucial link in the distribution channel. Their services are:
To Manufacturers/Wholesalers:
- Help in Distribution: They make goods available to consumers scattered over a wide geographical area.
- Market Information: They provide valuable feedback on customer tastes and preferences.
- Promotion: They participate in promotional activities and use personal selling to boost sales.
- Regular Availability: They ensure a steady supply of various goods, so consumers can buy them as needed.
- Convenience: They are located near residential areas and offer convenience in buying.
- Wide Selection: They stock goods from different manufacturers, offering consumers a choice.
11. What is the fundamental strategic difference between a supermarket and a departmental store that makes them suitable for different product categories?
The fundamental strategic difference lies in their core business model and target customer. A supermarket operates on a low-cost, high-volume model. Its strategy is to attract customers with low prices and convenience for everyday necessities like groceries and FMCG goods, using a self-service format to minimise costs. In contrast, a departmental store operates on a high-service, high-margin model. Its strategy is to provide a premium shopping experience, extensive customer service, and a wide variety of high-end, non-standardised goods like fashion, electronics, and home furnishings, justifying higher prices.
12. How should a student approach a case-study based question from the 'Internal Trade' chapter to score full marks in the exam?
To excel in case-study questions for this chapter, a student should follow these steps:
- Read Carefully: Read the case study thoroughly to identify the type of trader (e.g., wholesaler, specialty store, hawker) or business practice being described.
- Identify Keywords: Look for keywords and phrases like "sells on pavements," "uniform appearance of shops," "buys in bulk," or "sells at a fixed price," which directly point to concepts from the chapter.
- Quote from the Case: When asked to identify a feature or type of business, always support your answer by quoting the relevant line from the case study. This is a critical requirement for full marks.
- Structure the Answer: Answer the specific questions asked (e.g., identify, explain features, state limitations) in separate, clearly marked points. Do not write a single long paragraph.
13. A common mistake is to confuse 'street traders' with 'market traders'. What is the critical difference a student must mention for a high-scoring answer?
The critical difference lies in the regularity and location of their operations. A student must specify that:
- Market Traders (or market vendors) open their shops at different places on fixed days or dates, such as a weekly market day (e.g., the Tuesday Market). Their location changes, but on a predictable schedule.
- Street Traders (or pavement vendors) are commonly found in places with a large floating population, like near railway stations or bus stops, and typically sell their goods at the same location on a daily basis. Their location is fixed, unlike market traders.
14. How has the rise of e-commerce in India impacted traditional fixed-shop retailers like specialty stores and general stores?
The rise of e-commerce has significantly impacted traditional fixed-shop retailers in several ways. On one hand, it has created intense competition by offering wider variety, competitive pricing, and the convenience of home delivery, which can reduce footfall in physical stores. On the other hand, it has also pushed traditional retailers to innovate. Many general and specialty stores have adopted a hybrid model, using platforms like WhatsApp for orders, offering local home delivery, and creating an online presence to retain their customer base while focusing on personalised service that e-commerce giants cannot easily replicate.

















