IBPS RRB General Awareness Syllabus

What is the difference between Commercial Paper and a Certificate of Deposit?

Commercial Paper (CP) is an unsecured short-term promissory note issued by corporations to raise funds; a Certificate of Deposit (CD) is a negotiable money market instrument issued by banks and financial institutions against deposits.

Which regulator oversees the securities and stock markets in India, and when was it given statutory status?

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI); it was given statutory powers through the SEBI Act, 1992 (established 1988).

What does IRDAI regulate, and where is it headquartered?

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India regulates the insurance industry in India; it is headquartered in Hyderabad.

What does PFRDA regulate?

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority regulates and promotes the pension sector in India, including the National Pension System (NPS) and Atal Pension Yojana (APY).

What is the difference between fiscal policy and monetary policy?

Fiscal policy is managed by the Government and uses taxation and public spending to influence the economy; monetary policy is managed by the central bank (RBI) and uses interest rates and money supply controls.

What is the fiscal deficit, and how is it calculated?

The fiscal deficit is the excess of the government's total expenditure over its total revenue (excluding borrowings). Fiscal deficit = Total expenditure - Total revenue (excluding borrowings); it indicates total government borrowing needs.

What is the difference between fiscal deficit and revenue deficit?

Fiscal deficit is total expenditure minus total receipts excluding borrowings; revenue deficit is the excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts (it shows the government cannot meet even its current expenses from revenue).

What is GDP, and what is the difference between Nominal and Real GDP?

GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a year. Nominal GDP is measured at current prices; Real GDP is measured at constant (base-year) prices, removing the effect of inflation.

What is the difference between GDP and GNP?

GDP measures output produced within a country's borders; GNP (Gross National Product) measures output produced by a country's residents/nationals regardless of location. GNP = GDP + net factor income from abroad.

What is the difference between demand-pull and cost-push inflation?

Demand-pull inflation occurs when aggregate demand exceeds supply (too much money chasing too few goods); cost-push inflation occurs when production costs (wages, raw materials) rise, pushing up prices.

What is the difference between WPI and CPI?

WPI (Wholesale Price Index) measures price changes at the wholesale/producer level; CPI (Consumer Price Index) measures price changes at the retail/consumer level. The RBI uses CPI as the headline inflation measure for monetary policy.

Which body conducts the Population Census in India, and under which ministry does it function?

The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The last completed census was in 2011.

When was NITI Aayog established, and what did it replace?

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established on 1 January 2015; it replaced the Planning Commission. It is a policy think tank chaired by the Prime Minister.

How many Five Year Plans did India have, and when did the planning era effectively end?

India had 12 Five Year Plans (1951-2017). The Twelfth Plan (2012-2017) was the last; after that NITI Aayog replaced the system with three-year action agendas and longer-term strategy documents.

Which Five Year Plan was based on the Mahalanobis model, and what was its focus?

The Second Five Year Plan (1956-1961), based on the P.C. Mahalanobis model, focused on rapid industrialisation, especially heavy and basic industries.

In the Indian Constitution, what is the difference between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy?

Fundamental Rights (Part III) are justiciable (enforceable in court) and protect individual liberties; Directive Principles (Part IV) are non-justiciable guidelines for the State to establish social and economic justice.

Which Article of the Indian Constitution is known as the 'Right to Constitutional Remedies', and why is it significant?

Article 32; Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called it the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution because it allows citizens to approach the Supreme Court directly to enforce their Fundamental Rights through writs.

How many Fundamental Duties are there in the Indian Constitution, and through which amendment were they added?

There are 11 Fundamental Duties, listed in Article 51A; they were added by the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976 (originally 10; the 11th was added by the 86th Amendment, 2002).

Who was the first Governor-General of independent India and the last Governor-General of India?

Lord Mountbatten was the first Governor-General of independent India (1947-48); C. Rajagopalachari was the last (and only Indian) Governor-General (1948-1950).

In which year and under whose leadership was the Quit India Movement launched?

The Quit India Movement was launched in August 1942 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, who gave the slogan 'Do or Die'.

What was the Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha), and when did it take place?

A 1930 non-violent protest led by Mahatma Gandhi against the British salt tax; he marched about 240 miles from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi (Gujarat) to make salt, beginning the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Which is the longest river in India, and which is the longest river in the world?

The Ganga is the longest river in India (about 2,525 km); the Nile is the longest river in the world (about 6,650 km).

Which line divides India from Pakistan, and which line divides India from China?

The Radcliffe Line divides India and Pakistan; the McMahon Line divides India and China (in the eastern sector).

Which is the largest national park in India, and in which state is Jim Corbett National Park (India's first) located?

Hemis National Park (Ladakh) is the largest national park in India; Jim Corbett National Park, India's first national park (established 1936), is located in Uttarakhand.

Which is the largest dam in India by structure (the highest gravity dam), and on which river is it built?

The Tehri Dam in Uttarakhand is India's highest dam, built on the Bhagirathi River. (The Sardar Sarovar on the Narmada is another major one.)

What are the capital and currency of Japan, and of South Korea?

Japan: capital Tokyo, currency Yen. South Korea: capital Seoul, currency (South Korean) Won.

Where are the headquarters of the IMF and the World Bank located?

Both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA.

On what date is World Environment Day observed, and what does it commemorate?

World Environment Day is observed on 5 June; it commemorates the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference) and promotes environmental awareness.

What is the difference between the Booker Prize and the Jnanpith Award?

The Booker Prize is an international award for the best English-language novel; the Jnanpith Award is India's highest literary honour, given for outstanding contribution to literature in any Indian (Eighth Schedule) language.

What is the difference between an MoU and a treaty in international relations?

An MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) is a non-binding agreement expressing intent to cooperate; a treaty is a formal, legally binding agreement between states under international law.

Which financial institution provides refinance to Regional Rural Banks and other rural lenders in India?

NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development), the apex development bank for agriculture and rural development, established in 1982.