IBPS PO / SBI PO General Awareness and Banking Knowledge Syllabus

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.

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.

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.

Which authority regulates pension funds in India?

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), which administers the National Pension System (NPS).

Where is the IMF headquartered and what is its primary purpose?

The International Monetary Fund is headquartered in Washington D.C. It promotes global monetary cooperation, exchange-rate stability, and provides financial assistance to member countries facing balance-of-payments problems.

What does the World Bank Group's IBRD and IDA do?

IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) lends to middle-income countries; IDA (International Development Association) provides interest-free credits and grants to the poorest countries.

Where are the headquarters of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the New Development Bank (NDB)?

ADB is headquartered in Manila, Philippines; the New Development Bank (BRICS bank) is headquartered in Shanghai, China.

What is the difference between the Money Market and the Capital Market?

The money market deals in short-term instruments (under 1 year) like T-bills, commercial paper, and call money; the capital market deals in long-term instruments like shares, bonds, and debentures.

Name common money market instruments in India.

Treasury Bills (T-bills), Commercial Paper (CP), Certificates of Deposit (CD), Call Money, and Repurchase Agreements (Repos).

What is the difference between the primary market and the secondary market?

The primary market is where new securities are issued for the first time (e.g., IPOs); the secondary market is where existing securities are traded among investors (e.g., stock exchanges).

What does the abbreviation KYC stand for and why is it required?

Know Your Customer. It is the mandatory process of verifying a customer's identity and address to prevent money laundering, fraud, and terrorist financing.

Expand the abbreviations NPA, MCLR, and IFSC.

NPA = Non-Performing Asset; MCLR = Marginal Cost of Funds based Lending Rate; IFSC = Indian Financial System Code (11-character code identifying a bank branch).

What is a Non-Performing Asset (NPA)?

A loan or advance on which interest or principal is overdue for more than 90 days. NPAs are classified as substandard, doubtful, or loss assets.

What is the maximum deposit insurance cover provided by DICGC per depositor per bank?

Rs 5 lakh per depositor per bank (raised from Rs 1 lakh in 2020), covering both principal and interest under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation.

What is India's current GDP-based ranking and which sector contributes most to GDP?

India is the world's 5th largest economy by nominal GDP. The services sector contributes the largest share (around 50-55%) to India's GDP.

When is the Union Budget of India presented and under which constitutional article?

Presented on 1 February each year as the Annual Financial Statement under Article 112 of the Constitution.

Differentiate Fiscal Deficit and Revenue Deficit.

Fiscal deficit is the excess of total expenditure over total revenue (excluding borrowings); revenue deficit is the excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts.

What is the difference between Direct Tax and Indirect Tax? Give examples.

Direct tax is paid directly to the government by the person on whom it is levied (e.g., income tax, corporate tax); indirect tax is collected by intermediaries and passed to consumers (e.g., GST, customs duty).

What is the highest civilian award of India and the highest gallantry award?

The highest civilian award is the Bharat Ratna; the highest peacetime/wartime gallantry award is the Param Vir Chakra.

Which awards are given in the field of literature and cinema in India?

The Jnanpith Award is India's highest literary honour; the Dadasaheb Phalke Award is the highest honour in Indian cinema.

What is the term of office of the President of India and how is the President elected?

The President holds office for 5 years and is elected indirectly by an electoral college (elected members of both Houses of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies) via proportional representation.

Which part of the Indian Constitution contains the Fundamental Rights and how many are there currently?

Part III of the Constitution contains six Fundamental Rights: Right to Equality, Right to Freedom, Right against Exploitation, Right to Freedom of Religion, Cultural and Educational Rights, and Right to Constitutional Remedies.

What are the Directive Principles of State Policy and in which part are they listed?

Guidelines for the State to frame laws aimed at social and economic welfare; they are non-justiciable and listed in Part IV (Articles 36-51) of the Constitution.

How many states and union territories does India currently have?

India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories.

Which Indian river is the longest, and which mountain range forms India's northern boundary?

The Ganga is the longest river in India; the Himalayas form the northern mountain boundary, with Kanchenjunga being the highest peak within India.

Match capitals: Australia, Canada, and Switzerland.

Australia - Canberra; Canada - Ottawa; Switzerland - Bern.

In which year did India gain independence and who was its first Prime Minister?

India became independent on 15 August 1947; Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Prime Minister.

Which dynasty built the Taj Mahal and who commissioned it?

The Mughal dynasty; it was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, and is located in Agra.

What is the SI unit of electric current and who is credited with the law relating voltage, current, and resistance?

The SI unit of electric current is the Ampere; Ohm's Law (V = IR) is credited to Georg Simon Ohm.

Which gas do plants absorb during photosynthesis and which gas do they release?

Plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and release oxygen (O2) during photosynthesis, using sunlight and chlorophyll to produce glucose.