IBPS RRB General Awareness Syllabus

General Awareness 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 in IBPS RRB, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Banking and Financial Awareness

   6 topics

   • RBI: Functions, Structure and Monetary Policy
     • Repo, reverse repo, CRR, SLR
     • Policy rates and instruments
   • Types of Banks and RRB Framework
     • Regional Rural Banks Act and sponsorship
     • NABARD and rural credit
   • Banking Terms and Negotiable Instruments
   • Financial Inclusion and Priority Sector Lending
   • Money Market and Capital Market Instruments
   • Banking Regulators: SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA
2. 2

   Current Affairs

   7 topics

   • National and International News
   • Banking and Economic Current Affairs
   • Awards, Honours and Appointments
   • Sports News and Tournaments
   • Summits, Conferences and MoUs
   • Government Schemes and Budget Highlights
   • Books, Authors and Obituaries
3. 3

   Static General Knowledge

   6 topics

   • Indian History and National Movement
   • Indian Polity and Constitution
   • Geography of India and World
   • Important Days, Dates and Themes
   • Currencies, Capitals and Headquarters
   • National Parks, Dams and Tourist Sites
4. 4

   Indian Economy

   4 topics

   • Economic Indicators: GDP, Inflation, Indices
   • Union Budget and Fiscal Policy
   • National Income and Census Data
   • Five Year Plans and NITI Aayog

General Awareness flashcards for IBPS RRB

19 of 51 cards from the General Awareness deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Who acts as the lender of last resort in India, and what does this function mean?

   The Reserve Bank of India (RBI). It means the RBI lends to commercial banks facing a liquidity crisis when no one else will, to prevent bank failures and maintain financial stability.

2. When was the RBI established, and was it nationalised at the same time?

   The RBI was established on 1 April 1935 under the RBI Act, 1934. It was nationalised later, on 1 January 1949.

3. What is the difference between the Repo Rate and the Reverse Repo Rate?

   Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends short-term funds to commercial banks against securities; reverse repo rate is the rate at which the RBI borrows from banks (absorbs liquidity).

4. In RBI's monetary policy, what is CRR and how does it differ from SLR?

   CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) is the percentage of a bank's net demand and time liabilities (NDTL) kept as cash with the RBI, earning no interest. SLR (Statutory Liquidity Ratio) is the percentage of NDTL kept in liquid assets like cash, gold, or approved securities, held by the bank itself.

5. Which body decides the policy repo rate in India, and what is its composition?

   The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), a 6-member body with 3 members from the RBI (including the Governor as chairperson) and 3 external members appointed by the Government. The Governor has a casting vote in case of a tie.

6. What is the medium-term inflation target set for the RBI under the flexible inflation targeting framework?

   4% CPI inflation, with a tolerance band of +/- 2% (i.e., between 2% and 6%).

7. What is the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate?

   The rate at which banks can borrow overnight funds from the RBI against their SLR securities (up to a permitted limit) in an emergency; it is typically set 0.25% above the repo rate.

8. What is a Regional Rural Bank (RRB) and under which Act were RRBs established?

   RRBs are scheduled commercial banks set up to provide credit to rural and agricultural areas; they were established under the Regional Rural Banks Act, 1976 (first RRB: Prathama Bank, 2 October 1975).

9. How is the shareholding of a Regional Rural Bank divided among its three sponsors?

   Central Government 50%, the Sponsor Bank 35%, and the State Government 15%.

10. Differentiate between Scheduled and Non-Scheduled banks in India.

    Scheduled banks are listed in the Second Schedule of the RBI Act, 1934 (must have paid-up capital of at least Rs 5 lakh and meet RBI conditions) and can borrow from the RBI; non-scheduled banks are not listed and cannot avail RBI facilities as readily.

11. What is the difference between a Small Finance Bank and a Payments Bank?

    Small Finance Banks can accept deposits AND lend (focused on small borrowers, micro-enterprises); Payments Banks can accept deposits (up to Rs 2 lakh per customer) and offer payment services but CANNOT lend or issue credit cards.

12. What is a negotiable instrument, and which Act governs it in India?

    A negotiable instrument is a written, transferable document promising payment of a specific sum, such as a promissory note, bill of exchange, or cheque. It is governed by the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881.

13. What does the banking term NPA stand for, and when is a loan classified as an NPA?

    Non-Performing Asset. A loan becomes an NPA when interest or principal remains overdue for more than 90 days.

14. What is the difference between a 'bearer cheque' and an 'order cheque'?

    A bearer cheque is payable to whoever presents (bears) it; an order cheque is payable only to the named payee or their order (after endorsement).

15. What does CASA ratio mean in banking?

    CASA stands for Current Account Savings Account ratio; it is the proportion of a bank's total deposits held in low-cost current and savings accounts. A higher CASA ratio means cheaper funds for the bank.

16. What is Priority Sector Lending (PSL), and what is the overall target for domestic commercial banks?

    PSL directs banks to lend to sectors like agriculture, MSMEs, education, housing, and weaker sections. The overall target is 40% of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) for domestic commercial banks.

17. Under Priority Sector Lending norms, what is the sub-target for agriculture for domestic banks?

    18% of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC), within which a portion is earmarked for small and marginal farmers.

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

    Launched in 2014, PMJDY is a financial inclusion mission to provide universal access to banking, offering zero-balance savings accounts, RuPay debit cards, overdraft facility, and accident insurance cover.

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

    The money market deals in short-term funds (up to 1 year) with instruments like Treasury Bills, commercial paper, and call money; the capital market deals in long-term funds (over 1 year) with instruments like shares, bonds, and debentures.

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