📘 Q.7 IAS Prelims 2022 — Economics (Public Finance | Capital vs Revenue Expenditure)
🧷 Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk
📌 The Question:
With reference to the expenditure made by an organisation or a company, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Acquiring new technology is capital expenditure.
- Debt financing is considered capital expenditure, while equity financing is considered revenue expenditure.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
✅ Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
🧠 Classroom Explanation
- Statement 1 is correct
- Capital Expenditure (CapEx) refers to spending that creates future economic benefits or adds to productive capacity.
- Acquisition of new technology, software, machinery, or equipment improves long-term efficiency and output.
- Hence, acquiring new technology is capital expenditure.
- Statement 2 is not correct
- Debt financing and equity financing are modes of raising funds, not expenditures.
- Both debt and equity are treated as capital receipts, because:
- Debt creates a liability
- Equity creates ownership claims
- Whether funds are raised via debt or equity, their use determines expenditure, not their source.
- Therefore, it is incorrect to classify:
- debt financing as capital expenditure, and
- equity financing as revenue expenditure.
👉 Hence, only Statement 1 is correct.
🔍 Curiosity Raiser
Is it the source of money that defines expenditure,
or the use of money?
🧘 IAS Monk Whisper
Money raised is silent.
Money spent reveals intent.
