What Is Investment? What Are The Objectives Of Investment?

WHAT IS INVESTMENT?
Investment is nothing but parking your income/cash somewhere (an instrument, or asset class). If you have cash piled up in a locker it is not an investment, it is merely currency or cash amount. Your bank savings account also doesn't come under instruments as it gives only 3-4% return and meant for primarily parking your cash rather than investment. (However recently some banks have started giving 5-6% interest on savings bank account as well however their minimum criterion is to keep a minimum balance of 1 lack and above.)


INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES:
Investment is done for following objectives,
1.    Beating rate of inflation
2.    Gaining return on money in access of over and above rate of inflation
3.    Gaining capital gains

4.    Specific Goals (fulfillment of financial planning goals etc.)