CAIIB Risk Management Important Topics, Module-wise Weightage

The CAIIB (Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers) is a prestigious professional banking exam conducted by the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF). Among its elective papers, Risk Management is a critical choice for bankers focused on credit, market, operational, and treasury risks, along with regulatory compliance and financial risk mitigation strategies.

In this blog, we provide the most important topics for the Risk Management elective paper, module-wise breakdown, estimated weightage, and preparation insights based on past trends and IIBF examination patterns.

CAIIB Risk Management Important Topics

The module-wise breakdown of important topics is as follows:

ModuleImportant Topics
Module A – Risk & Risk Management Framework1. Overview of Risk & Types of Risks (Credit, Market, Operational, Liquidity, etc.)
2. Why Banks are Special – Unique Risk Profile of Banks
3. Risk Management Framework at Banks
4. Asset-Liability Management (ALM)
5. Interest Rate Risk on Banking Book
6. Liquidity Risk Management
7. Organizational Structure & Governance in Risk Management (Board, ALCO, Committees)
Module B – Credit Risk Management8. Credit Risk Framework & Policies
9. Obligor & Borrower Risk Analysis
10. Credit Rating Systems & RBI Guidelines
11. Portfolio Risk Management
12. Credit Risk Measurement Models
13. Credit Derivatives and Risk Mitigation Tools
Module C – Market Risk14. Introduction to Market Risk
15. Fixed Income Securities & Interest Rate Risk
16. Measurement Tools: Value at Risk (VaR), Duration
17. Trading vs Banking Book Risks
18. Hedging Strategies using Derivatives
Module D – Operational Risk19. Operational Risk & Management Framework
20. Internal & External Loss Data Collection
21. Risk & Control Self-Assessment (RCSA)
22. Key Risk Indicators (KRIs)
23. Technology Risk, Corporate Governance, Climate Risk & Sustainable Finance
Module E – Basel & RBI Guidelines24. Need for Banking Regulations & Post-Crisis Reforms
25. Basel Framework: Basel I, II & III
26. Pillars of Basel – Minimum Capital, Supervisory Review, Market Discipline
27. Regulatory Capital & Capital Allocation (Tier 1, 2, 3)
28. Stress Testing & PCA Framework
29. Risk-Based Supervision & Internal Audit
Module F – Derivatives & Risk Management30. Usage of Derivatives in Risk Mitigation
31. Forward Contracts, Futures, Options, Swaps
32. Hedging Market, Credit, and Treasury Risks

Also Check: Which Elective Paper to Choose for CAIIB

CAIIB Risk Management Module-wise Weightage

Based on past exams and expert insights, the estimated weightage of modules is:

ModuleEstimated Weightage (%)
Module A15–20
Module B25–30
Module C15–20
Module D15–20
Module E15–20
Module F5–10

CAIIB Risk Management Exam Structure

The Risk Management elective is conducted online by IIBF and consists of multiple-choice questions, scenario-based questions, and some numerical-based questions.

FeatureDetails
Total Questions100 objective-type MCQs
Total Marks100
Case-Based QuestionsIncludes scenarios from banking operations & risk mitigation
Numerical QuestionsLimited, mainly from credit, market, and ALM calculations
Exam ModeOnline (Computer-Based Test)
Negative MarkingNo negative marking
Exam LanguageEnglish / Hindi

Preparation Strategy for Risk Management Elective

Risk Management requires both conceptual clarity and practical understanding of banking risks, regulatory frameworks, and risk mitigation tools.

  1. Focus on High-Weightage Modules: Prioritize Credit Risk (Module B) and Market Risk (Module C) for maximum scoring.
  2. Understand Regulatory Guidelines: Prepare thoroughly for Basel & RBI norms, stress testing, capital allocation, and supervisory review processes.
  3. Operational Risk & Governance: Emphasize RCSA, KRIs, internal/external loss data, corporate governance, and sustainable finance frameworks.
  4. Derivatives for Risk Mitigation: Learn applications of forwards, futures, options, and swaps in hedging credit, market, and treasury risks.
  5. Integrate BFM Knowledge: If you have studied Banking & Financial Management (BFM), link treasury and ALM modules with Risk Management concepts for a dual benefit.
  6. Practice Case Studies & MCQs: Apply theory to practical banking scenarios. Focus on past exam trends and question framing from Macmillan book references.
  7. Revise Regularly: Consolidate key risk frameworks, measurement tools, and regulatory guidelines.

FAQs

Q1. Which modules carry the highest weightage?

A: Module B (Credit Risk) and Module C (Market Risk).

Q2. Are derivatives important for the exam?

A: Yes, forwards, futures, options, and swaps are crucial for risk mitigation scenarios.

Q3. How to approach case study questions effectively?

A: Understand the risk type, bank’s framework, Basel norms, and practical mitigation strategies.

Q4. Are numerical questions significant?

A: Limited; mainly on ALM, credit exposure, and market risk calculations.

Q5. Should I revise BFM modules for Risk Management?

A: Yes, integrating treasury and ALM modules from BFM helps reinforce your Risk Management preparation.