CMAT 2025 Slot 1 Question Paper

The assertion (A) notes that managing technological innovation is circumstantially required with increased vagueness, uncertainty, and risk inherent, but companies are still giving importance to it. The reason (R) attempts to explain it by saying that companies have no choice but to manage technological innovation, as it is the primary way of competition for many companies today. Since the reason (R) offers a valid explanation to the assertion (A) by emphasising the importance of managing innovation to companies, the correct answer is option A.

The assertion (A) notes that bootstrapping, the process of building a business from scratch without attracting investment or with minimal external capital, has become one of the most adopted forms of entrepreneurship in India. It hints at the fact that many Indian entrepreneurs prefer to start their businesses with their own monetary input without taking external capital. The reason (R) attempts to explain (A) by saying that the first and easiest option for an entrepreneur to start a business is by bootstrapping it. Since (R) might be a reason why bootstrapping is the most adopted form of entrepreneurship, it can be said to be a correct explanation. The correct answer, therefore, is option A.

The assertion (A) proposes that India must meet the rising aspirations of its youth as it grows increasingly dependent on skill-based (or knowledge-based) employment. This is explained further in reason (R), which notes that a large swath of India's population falls within the working age group, while being conventionally educated, with only a few being highly trained. The reason (R) explains why India must  focus on the advancement of skills that are relevant to the emerging economic environment. The correct answer, therefore, is option A. Both (A) and (R) are correct, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

The Start-Up India Scheme seeks to empower all of 

(A) Innovators from rural and semi-urban areas.
(B) Women entrepreneurs.
(C) Scheduled Caste (SC) entrepreneurs.
(D) Scheduled Tribes (ST) entrepreneurs.

But marker (A) reads "Innovators for rural and semi-urban areas."

.....

An intrapreneur is an employee who acts like an entrepreneur while working within an established company, using the organisation's resources to develop new products, services, or processes. Statement I is correct. Statement II does not align with this definition, and is incorrect. The correct answer is option C.

A patent is a legal document granting the inventor exclusive rights to an invention, such as a new process or product, for a set period. A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive legal right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time. A trademark is a form of intellectual property that consists of a word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination that identifies a product or service from a particular source and distinguishes it from others. A trade secret is information that a business keeps confidential to maintain a competitive advantage. 

The term that matches the context is 'trademark'. The correct answer is option C.

Financial institutions are not merely transactional entities but key architects of economic progress. Their roles also span mobilising savings, facilitating capital formation, managing risk, and promoting financial inclusion. Markers (A), (B), and (C) directly follow. The correct answer, therefore, is option B.

An intrapreneur is an employee tasked with developing innovative ideas or projects within a company. In contrast, an entrepreneur is an individual who creates and/or invests in one or more businesses, bearing most of the risks and enjoying most of the gains. A venture capitalist is an investor who provides capital to early-stage, high-growth potential companies in exchange for equity (ownership). VCs often offer business expertise and guidance in addition to funding, typically investing in privately held companies that are not yet ready to go public. A distributor acts as an intermediary in the supply chain, purchasing products in bulk from manufacturers and selling them to retailers or end consumers.

The most suitable pairing based on the summary provided above is in option C, which is the correct answer.

A revenue model focuses on evaluating channels and revenue systems to analyse gains further. Market segmentation involves an analysis of consumer groups to create product categories and segments better. SWOT analysis (Strength - Weakness - Opportunity - Threat) is a critical evaluation method to assess a business strategy or current startup standing. A business incubator hosts the incubation of startups, which essentially refers to nurturing startups that are in their early stages.

Based on this summary, the most suitable pairing is provided in option D.

Seed stage funding is the initial capital a startup receives to get from the idea stage to a viable business model, typically used for product development, market research, and initial operations. For various reasons, including investor interests and startup maturity, it is usual for startups to have lower valuations during the seed funding stage. Statement I is correct. Additionally, the earliest funding stages for a startup often involve internal resources or personal networks before a company can attract a Venture Capital firm. Statement II is incorrect. The correct answer is option C.