The General Awareness (GA) section is one of the most important and scoring sections of the RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam. It tests candidates’ knowledge of current affairs, banking and financial awareness, the Indian economy, government schemes, and important national and international events. This section carries 80 questions for 80 marks, with a time limit of 25 minutes. Since it covers a wide range of topics, candidates need regular reading, proper revision, and consistent practice to score well.
Why is General Awareness important for RBI Grade B exam?
The General Awareness section carries substantial weight in both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the RBI Grade B exam. It tests candidate’s knowledge of current events, banking awareness, economic and social issues, and more.
A strong grasp of GA not only helps in clearing the cut off but also boosts overall scores. We have drafted a table below that will help you understand the importance of GA in all three phases of the RBI Grade B Exam.
What is the syllabus of General Awareness for RBI Grade B?
Before moving on to the tips, tricks or strategy, it is important to know the syllabus of General Awareness for RBI Grade B Exam. Check out the table below to know the complete syllabus:
| General Awareness for RBI Grade B | Complete Syllabus |
| Current Affairs | Indian Financial Systems |
| Indian Banking Systems | Monetary Plans |
| National Institutions | Banking Terms |
| Appointments/ Committees/ Constituencies | Museums |
| Sports & Awards | Meetings & Summits |
| Film & Festivals | Power Plants/ Nuclear Plants |
| Miscellaneous (Ports/ Industrial Parks, Missile Launches, etc) | Obituary |
| Union Budget | Economic Survey |
What are the key areas in RBI Grade B General Awareness?
RBI Grade B General Awareness section tests candidates’ knowledge of current affairs, banking and financial updates, economic concepts, and static GK. It mainly covers recent news, important developments, and key facts about the Indian economy and institutions like the Reserve Bank of India.
| Area | What to study |
| Current Affairs | National & international news, sports, awards, books, authors, important events |
| Banking Awareness | Banking system updates, RBI structure and functions, monetary policy, financial reforms |
| Economic & Social Issues | Indian economy basics, government schemes, social development programs, budget highlights |
| Static GK | Important days, places, organisations, reports, and general facts |
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What are the important tips to follow for RBI Grade B General Awareness?
It is important to know the strategy to prepare this section. This is the section where in less time, maximum questions can be attempted. If prepared well, this section can become the highest scoring section as well. Also, RBI Grade B General Awareness section can help aspirants get ahead of many competitors by a huge margin.
1. Develop a daily reading habit
Reading newspapers and following reliable news sources daily helps candidates stay updated with important national and international events. It also improves their understanding of banking, finance, and economic developments.
- Newspapers: Read The Hindu, The Indian Express, or The Economic Times to understand important news.
- RBI updates: Visit the official RBI website to check circulars, notifications, monetary policy updates, and important announcements.
- Government updates: Follow PIB for government schemes, policy decisions, and important initiatives.
- Economic news: Focus on banking, financial markets, inflation, GDP, and other economic developments.
2. Make short and organised notes
Preparing short notes is one of the best ways to remember important current affairs. Since the GA syllabus is extensive, organised notes make revision easier before the examination.
- Note down important facts, dates, figures, and announcements.
- Maintain separate notes for banking, finance, economy, and government schemes.
- Highlight important reports, indices, appointments, and awards.
- Add important RBI notifications and circulars to your banking awareness notes.
- Avoid writing lengthy explanations; focus on important exam-related information.
3. Focus on banking and financial awareness
Banking and financial awareness are important parts of the RBI Grade B General Awareness section. Candidates should understand the working of the Indian banking system and stay updated with recent developments in the financial sector.
- Functions and responsibilities of the Reserve Bank of India.
- Monetary policy and its important tools.
- Repo rate, reverse repo rate, CRR, and SLR.
- Banking regulations and financial reforms.
- Digital payment systems such as UPI, NEFT, and RTGS.
- Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs).
- Financial inclusion and priority sector lending.
- Recent RBI circulars and notifications.
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4. Stay updated with monthly current affairs
Along with daily news reading, candidates should follow monthly current affairs compilations. These help cover important events from an entire month in an organised manner and reduce the chances of missing important information.
- Read monthly current affairs PDFs regularly.
- Focus on banking, finance, economy, and government schemes.
- Revise important national and international events.
- Pay special attention to RBI announcements and financial developments.
- Prepare short summaries of important reports and government initiatives.
5. Practice daily quizzes and mock tests
Regular practice is necessary to improve speed, accuracy, and question-solving ability. Since candidates get only 25 minutes to attempt 80 GA questions, they should practise answering questions within a limited time.
- Attempt daily current affairs quizzes.
- Solve RBI Grade B previous year question papers.
- Practise banking and financial awareness questions.
- Attempt sectional mock tests regularly.
- Analyse incorrect answers and revise the related topics.
- Track your accuracy and identify weak areas.
Candidates can also practise through the RBI Grade B Mock Test to understand the exam pattern and improve their preparation.
6. Revise regularly
Revision is important because General Awareness involves remembering a large amount of information. Reading current affairs only once may not be enough to retain important facts until the examination.
- Revise daily current affairs at the end of each day.
- Keep one day every week for revising important topics.
- Revisit monthly current affairs compilations.
- Prepare short revision sheets for RBI updates, schemes, reports, and indices.
- Practise quizzes based on previously covered topics.
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What questions were asked in the RBI Grade B General Awareness exam 2026?
The RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam 2026 was conducted on 13 June. The General Awareness section included questions from Banking and Financial Awareness, Current Affairs, Static GK, Government Schemes, Economy, and International Affairs. Based on memory-based questions shared by candidates, several questions focused on RBI initiatives, financial institutions, digital payments, important appointments, awards, and national and international developments.
| Topics | Questions and important areas covered |
|---|---|
| RBI and Banking Awareness | RBI PRAVAAH Portal, Utkarsh initiatives and pillars, Urban Cooperative Banks, Scheduled Commercial Bank credit, Mission Saksham, RTGS minimum transaction limit, IMPS regulatory authority |
| Financial Awareness | Foreign exchange reserves, BSE Index, GIFT City investments, equity market entities, SHG Credit Line on UPI |
| Government Schemes and Initiatives | Janani scheme, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Government e-Marketplace (GeM) Portal |
| National and International Affairs | Chabahar Port, Brexit, India–Oman CEPA, OPEC membership, Pacific Ocean countries, UN Security Council membership |
| Reports and Indices | World Press Freedom Index, IUCN endangered species, census-related questions |
| Awards and Appointments | Padma Bhushan Awards 2026, Bharat Ratna, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s award from Norway, appointment of the Indian Navy Chief |
| Sports and Events | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Rahul Dravid and European T20 Premier League, chess tournaments, RCB franchise |
| Books and Authors | M.S. Swaminathan: The Man Who Fed India, Booker Prize winner, author Zhang Li |
| Static GK and History | First Mughal Emperor, Regur (Black) Soil, second-largest wall fort in India, International Day of Yoga |
| Science and Environment | Sea turtle satellite tagging, first underwater museum in India, renewable energy funding |
| Economy and Infrastructure | Currency used for recording national income and expenditure, Indian Railways infrastructure, river and dam matching |
Also Check: GA Questions Asked in RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam
What types of questions are asked in RBI Grade B General Awareness?
The RBI Grade B General Awareness section includes questions from banking, finance, economics, government policies, national and international current affairs, and static GK. Previous exam memory-based questions show that candidates should prepare both recent developments and important concepts related to the Indian financial system. The following questions from previous exam cycles can help candidates understand the question pattern and practise different topics.
- What is the minimum threshold for Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to report fraud cases to the CBI’s Banking Security and Fraud Cell (BSFC)?
- Which of the following is not among the top five nations that have shown an increase in foreign exchange reserves?
- Under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, what is the maximum fine for a service provider?
- Which sport did India not participate in during the Paris Olympics?
- According to the MPC meeting of August 2024, what was the change in the policy repo rate from May 2022 to February 2023?
- How many Information Commissioners are there under the Chief Information Commissioner?
- What is the significance of India joining the JP Morgan Global Bond Index?
- Which group was responsible for the recent drone attack on Israel?
- How many fixed barriers and water jumps are included in the 3000-metre steeplechase event?
- What is the minimum bulk deposit limit for Local Area Banks as per RBI guidelines?
- What is the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement also known as?
- Through which format do State and Union Territory governments borrow from the RBI?
- Which number series was introduced by the Department of Telecommunications to identify regular and spam calls?
- Which are the top three countries in patent rankings?
- Which FMCG brand was not recognised globally according to the Kantar report?
- Up to what amount did the Union Budget 2024–25 propose removing penalties under the Black Money Act for unreported foreign assets?
- Which parameter contributed the most to the increase in the RBI Financial Inclusion Index in March 2024?
- What is the term used when Artificial Intelligence generates incorrect or misleading information?
- Which bank partnered with Receivables Exchange of India Limited (RXIL) to offer pre-shipment financing?
- What is the maximum amount available under the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS) of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana?
- What is another name for 3D manufacturing?
- What is the out-of-pocket allowance provided to core group athletes under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme?
- Which scale is used to measure the pungency of chilli?
- What is the minimum net worth requirement for an SRO-FT?
- Which company signed an agreement to improve India’s cyber resilience?
- According to the International Energy Agency, which country is the largest consumer of coal?
- Which IT company signed an MoU with the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to organise the Global Chess League?
- Which five countries’ central banks accumulated the most gold during FY 2023–24?
- What is the shape of the Paris 2024 Olympics mascot, The Phryges?
- According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, which region ranked second after Western Europe?
- Who is India’s G20 Sherpa?
- Which were the top three countries in the 2024 International Mathematical Olympiad?
- Which of the following is a component of the Human Development Index?
- What is the term used for aurora in the Southern Hemisphere?
- Which of the following is not a tool of monetary policy?
- Which brand ranked as India’s second-most valuable brand according to Brand Finance?
- According to the RBI Report on Currency and Finance, which parameter showed an increase?
- What is the maximum investment limit under the Fully Accessible Route (FAR)?
- Which region has the largest reserves of lithium?
- What is the maximum deposit period permitted for housing finance companies as per RBI guidelines?
- Under which Schedule of the Indian Constitution does the Anti-Defection Law fall?
- Which countries are part of the UNFCCC Troika?
- What is the maximum investment limit for retail investors in primary issuances of Government Securities (G-Secs)?
- Which statements are incorrect about the Environmental Performance Index (EPI)?
- Which startups are likely to become unicorns in the future, as per the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2024?
- What are startups that are expected to become unicorns in the future called?
- Which government initiative was launched to reduce Non-Performing Assets (NPAs)?
- Which organisation was named the top achiever under the National Monetisation Pipeline?
- Which committee was incorrectly matched with its year of establishment?
- When did Japan carry out the Pearl Harbor attack that led to the United States entering World War II?
- Which banks come under the New Development Bank?
- Under the RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, what asset size requires non-deposit-taking NBFCs to appoint an Internal Ombudsman?
- India’s foreign exchange reserves were sufficient to cover how many months of imports?
- Which biscuit brand was identified as the most popular?
- What is the lot size of Priority Sector Lending Certificates (PSLCs)?
- Which NITI Aayog report aims to promote Competitive Federalism?
- What is the minimum threshold for Housing Finance Companies (HFCs) to accept deposits, and what is the maximum deposit period?
- According to the Union Budget 2024–25, what amount of employer EPFO contributions will the government reimburse for new hires?
- How many cultural, natural, and mixed UNESCO World Heritage Sites does India have?
- Which Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) showed the highest improvement in India?
- After how many years of inactivity are unclaimed bank deposit accounts transferred to the Depositor Education and Awareness (DEA) Fund?
- Which brand became the official kit sponsor of the Athletics Federation of India?
- What is the maximum amount retail investors can invest in G-Secs through the primary issuance route?
- Which dimension contributed the most to the improvement in the RBI Financial Inclusion Index?
- What was India’s overall SDG score in the SDG India Index 2023–24?
- What are the eligibility criteria for converting Small Finance Banks into Universal Banks under RBI guidelines?
- What is the minimum threshold for bulk deposit classification for Local Area Banks?
- To what amount did SEBI increase the threshold for Basic Services Demat Accounts (BSDA)?
- According to the World Population Prospects released in July 2024, when is the global population projected to peak?
- Which of the following is not a feature of Floating Rate Savings Bonds?
- Which startups were mentioned in the ASK Private Wealth Hurun India Future Unicorn Index 2024?
- Which country is not a part of the Colombo Security Conclave?
- Which factors affect the Southwest Monsoon?
- In which year did Abhinav Bindra win an Olympic gold medal?
- Which organisation was established in response to the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami?
Which books are best for RBI Grade B General Awareness (GA) preparation?
Books play an important role in building a strong base for RBI Grade B General Awareness. They help candidates understand static GK, banking concepts, and important yearly updates in a clear and organised way.
Along with current affairs, these books improve concept clarity and support quick revision for the exam, especially for topics related to the Reserve Bank of India and the Indian economy.
| Book Name | Use |
| Lucent General Knowledge | Builds strong base for Static GK and basic facts |
| Manorama Yearbook | Provides yearly updates on events, economy, and general knowledge |
| Banking Awareness (basic books like Arihant/other publishers) | Helps in understanding banking concepts and RBI-related topics |
Note:
- Focus on Lucent GK for basic static knowledge
- Use Manorama Yearbook for yearly current affairs and updates
- Refer to Banking Awareness books for RBI, banking terms, and concepts
- Do not depend only on books; combine them with daily current affairs reading
FAQs
The syllabus includes current affairs, economics, banking and finance, government schemes, books and authors, static GK, etc.
Regularly read newspapers like The Hindu, magazines, and online platforms, and practice with previous year papers and mock tests to improve your knowledge and speed.
Recommended books include Manorama Yearbook, Lucent’s General Knowledge, and Banking Awareness by Arihant Publications.
Scoring well in General Awareness is important as it significantly impacts your overall score, enhancing your chances of selection.
The difficulty level is generally moderate to difficult.
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