Types of General Awareness Questions Asked in RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam

The General Awareness (GA) section is one of the most scoring parts of the RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam. Unlike reasoning or quant, you don’t need to solve puzzles or apply long calculations here. You either know the answer or you don’t. That’s why this section saves you a lot of time in the exam. But at the same time, GA can also be tricky because of the variety of topics it covers. If you prepare it the right way, GA can become your strength and boost your overall score. And since Phase 1 is only qualifying in nature, clearing the cut-off depends heavily on how well you perform in GA.

Weightage of GA in RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam

The General Awareness section carries the highest weightage in Phase 1. Based on past exam analysis, you can expect around 80 questions from GA out of a total of 200 questions in the exam. Each question carries 1 mark. This means GA alone covers 40% of the Phase 1 exam. Most of these questions are straightforward, but a few test your in-depth knowledge of banking, finance, and economics. Many toppers say that their Phase 1 selection was possible because they scored well in GA.

Now, let us see the major types of questions that usually appear in this section.

Current Affairs

Most GA questions in Phase 1 are based on current affairs. You can expect questions from the last 6 months before the exam. The focus is on banking news, government schemes, reports, and important international events.

Examples:

• Which bank recently launched the ‘Nari Shakti Savings Account’?
• What is India’s projected GDP growth for FY26 according to IMF?

Mini Task: Open today’s newspaper and note down 5 important headlines related to banking, economy, or government policies. Revise them at the end of the day.

Banking and Financial Awareness

This is the most important part of GA for the RBI Grade B exam. Since the job profile is related to banking and finance, you will get direct questions from this area.

Examples:

• What does the term CRR stand for?
• Which institution regulates housing finance companies in India?
• What is the current repo rate announced by RBI?

Tip: Keep a separate notebook for banking terms, RBI circulars, and monetary policy updates. Revise them once a week.

Government Schemes and Policies

Questions from government schemes appear almost every year. You must know about newly launched schemes as well as updates in existing ones. Focus on objectives, launch dates, ministries involved, and beneficiaries.

Examples:

• The PM Vishwakarma Yojana is related to which sector?
• Which ministry implements the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission?

Mini Task: Pick one scheme today. Write down its aim, year of launch, and target group. Revise it tomorrow without looking at notes.

Reports, Indices, and Rankings

You may face 3–5 questions from reports and rankings released by national or international bodies. The tricky part is remembering who publishes which report.

Examples:

• Which organization publishes the World Economic Outlook?
• What is India’s rank in the Global Innovation Index 2024?

Trick to Make it Easy

Make one-liners like “Ease of Doing Business – World Bank” or “World Happiness Report – United Nations.” These small memory hacks help you recall faster in the exam.

Static General Knowledge with Current Relation or Connection

Static GK is also asked but often with relation to current events. For example, national parks, dams, currencies, and capitals.

Examples:

• The Kuno National Park, often in news, is located in which state?
• The currency of Kenya is?

Practical Tip: Revise static GK alongside current affairs. If you read about an international summit in a country, note its capital and currency.

International Organizations and Summits

Global organizations and India’s role in them form another key part. You should know the headquarters, member countries, and recent summits.

Examples:

• Where is the headquarters of BIMSTEC?
• India recently hosted which G20 summit city?

Mini Task: Prepare a list of 15 international organizations with their headquarters and founding year.

Economic Indicators and Budget Highlights

Since this is RBI’s own exam, you can’t ignore economic indicators. Be ready for questions on GDP, inflation, fiscal deficit, and key budget announcements.

Examples:

• What is the target fiscal deficit set for 2025–26?
• Wholesale Price Index (WPI) is released by which ministry?

Trick: While reading the Union Budget, focus only on numbers, targets, and allocations. These are the ones that turn into questions.

How to Prepare for GA Effectively

1. Daily News Reading – Pick one reliable source and stick to it. Don’t overload yourself with 3–4 newspapers.
2. Monthly Current Affairs PDFs – Revise monthly compilations to cover missed news.
3. Mock Tests – Practice GA questions under time limits. This builds speed and accuracy.
4. Revision – Revise daily and weekly. GA is all about retention, and regular revision is the key.

Final Takeaway

The GA section in RBI Grade B Phase 1 can decide your success or failure. Around 80 questions come from this section alone, and most of them can be solved in less than 20 seconds if you know the answer. That’s why every single mark matters here. Cover current affairs for at least 6 months, revise banking and financial awareness thoroughly, and solve mock tests regularly.

If you keep practising daily, GA will stop looking vast and start feeling like the easiest part of the exam. And once you master this section, you will always walk into the exam hall with extra confidence.

Disclaimer: The types of General Awareness questions listed in this article are discussed for understanding only. They are illustrative in nature and may not exactly match the questions asked in the RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam. Aspirants should always refer to official RBI notifications for authentic updates