IBPS PO / SBI PO General Awareness and Banking Knowledge Syllabus

General Awareness and Banking Knowledge syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for General Awareness and Banking Knowledge in IBPS PO / SBI PO, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Banking and Financial Awareness

   5 topics

   • Banking Structure in India
     • Scheduled and non-scheduled banks
     • Public, private, foreign and cooperative banks
     • Small finance banks and payments banks
   • Reserve Bank of India
     • Functions and organisational structure
     • Monetary policy tools (repo, reverse repo, CRR, SLR)
   • Banking Products and Services
     • Types of accounts and deposits
     • Loans, NPAs and priority sector lending
   • Negotiable Instruments and Payment Systems
     • Cheques, bills and promissory notes
     • NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, UPI and digital payments
   • Financial Inclusion and Government Schemes
     • Jan Dhan, Mudra and social security schemes
     • DBT and microfinance initiatives
2. 2

   Financial and Economic Institutions

   4 topics

   • Regulatory Bodies
     • SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA
     • NABARD, SIDBI and EXIM Bank
   • International Financial Organisations
     • IMF, World Bank and WTO
     • ADB, BRICS bank and AIIB
   • Money and Capital Markets
     • Money market instruments
     • Stock exchanges and indices
   • Banking Abbreviations and Terminology
     • Common banking acronyms
     • Financial terms and definitions
3. 3

   Current Affairs

   4 topics

   • National and International News
     • Government policies and schemes
     • Summits, agreements and treaties
   • Economy and Budget
     • Union Budget highlights
     • Economic Survey and GDP data
   • Awards, Honours and Appointments
     • National and international awards
     • Key appointments and resignations
   • Sports, Books and Obituaries
     • Major tournaments and winners
     • Books, authors and obituaries
4. 4

   Static General Knowledge

   4 topics

   • Indian Polity and Constitution
     • Fundamental rights and duties
     • Parliament and constitutional bodies
   • Geography and Capitals
     • Indian states, capitals and rivers
     • World capitals and currencies
   • History and Culture
     • Important national days
     • Dances, festivals and heritage sites
   • Science and Miscellaneous GK
     • Basic general science
     • Headquarters of organisations

General Awareness and Banking Knowledge flashcards for IBPS PO / SBI PO

23 of 50 cards from the General Awareness and Banking Knowledge deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the apex (central) bank of India and when was it established?

   The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), established on 1 April 1935 under the RBI Act, 1934. It was nationalised on 1 January 1949.

2. Into which broad categories is India's scheduled commercial banking structure classified?

   Public Sector Banks, Private Sector Banks, Foreign Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), and Small Finance Banks / Payments Banks.

3. What does it mean for a bank to be a 'scheduled bank' in India?

   It is included in the Second Schedule of the RBI Act, 1934, with paid-up capital and reserves of at least Rs 5 lakh, satisfying RBI that its affairs do not harm depositors.

4. What are the four main functions of the RBI?

   Note issuance (sole authority except Re 1 note/coins), banker to the government, banker's bank and lender of last resort, and controller of credit/monetary policy.

5. What is the Repo Rate?

   The rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks against government securities. Raising it makes borrowing costlier and curbs inflation.

6. What is the Reverse Repo Rate?

   The rate at which the RBI borrows money from commercial banks, absorbing excess liquidity from the banking system.

7. Define CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio).

   The percentage of a bank's Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL) that it must keep as cash reserves with the RBI; no interest is paid on it.

8. Define SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio).

   The minimum percentage of NDTL a bank must maintain in liquid assets like cash, gold, or approved government securities before lending.

9. What is the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF)?

   An emergency window through which scheduled banks borrow overnight funds from the RBI against their SLR securities, usually at a rate above the repo rate.

10. Which body decides India's policy interest rates and what is its composition?

    The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), a 6-member body (3 RBI members including the Governor, 3 government-nominated members) that targets CPI inflation of 4% (+/- 2%).

11. What is a CASA deposit?

    Current Account and Savings Account deposits. A high CASA ratio means cheaper funds for a bank since these attract low or no interest.

12. Differentiate a Demand Deposit from a Time Deposit.

    A demand deposit (current/savings) can be withdrawn anytime on demand; a time deposit (fixed/recurring) is locked for a fixed maturity period and earns higher interest.

13. What is a NRE vs NRO account?

    NRE (Non-Resident External) holds foreign earnings, is repatriable and tax-free in India; NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) holds income earned in India, is taxable and has limited repatriation.

14. Under the Negotiable Instruments Act 1881, name the three main negotiable instruments.

    Promissory Note, Bill of Exchange, and Cheque.

15. What is a 'crossed cheque'?

    A cheque with two parallel transverse lines on the top-left; it cannot be encashed over the counter and must be deposited into a bank account, ensuring safer payment.

16. What is the difference between RTGS and NEFT?

    RTGS settles transactions individually in real time (minimum Rs 2 lakh, no upper limit); NEFT settles in half-hourly batches with no minimum/maximum limit.

17. What does UPI stand for and which body operates it?

    Unified Payments Interface, operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). It enables instant inter-bank transfers via a Virtual Payment Address (VPA).

18. What is the validity period of a cheque in India?

    Three months from the date of issue (reduced from six months by RBI in April 2012).

19. What is the aim of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY)?

    Launched in 2014 to ensure financial inclusion via zero-balance bank accounts, with RuPay debit card, accident insurance, and overdraft facility.

20. Compare PMJJBY and PMSBY.

    PMJJBY (Jeevan Jyoti Bima) is a life insurance scheme giving Rs 2 lakh cover for ages 18-50; PMSBY (Suraksha Bima) is an accident insurance scheme giving Rs 2 lakh cover for ages 18-70.

21. What is the Atal Pension Yojana (APY)?

    A government-backed pension scheme for unorganised sector workers (18-40 years) guaranteeing a fixed monthly pension of Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 after age 60.

22. Which regulator oversees the Indian securities/stock market?

    The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), established in 1988 and given statutory powers by the SEBI Act, 1992. Headquarters: Mumbai.

23. Which body regulates the insurance sector in India?

    The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), headquartered in Hyderabad, established under the IRDA Act, 1999.

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