For bank and government exams
GK notes
Short, exam-ready notes on the organisations, schemes, concepts and people in the news: key facts, how it works and the traps examiners set. Linked from every current-affairs item.
Banking & RBI
- Account Aggregators (NBFC-AA)RBI-regulated NBFCs that move a customer's financial data between institutions only with consent; exams ask about the 2016 Master Direction, FIPs/FIUs and the October 2026 interoperability decision.
- Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bondsPerpetual, loss-absorbing bonds that banks issue to meet Basel III Tier 1 capital needs; exams ask about their triggers, write-downs and the Yes Bank case.
- Banking Regulation Act, 1949: key sectionsThe main law under which the RBI licenses, controls and rescues banks; exams ask which section covers shareholding, CEO approval, SLR, mergers and moratoriums.
- BIS and the Basel Committee (BCBS)The Basel-based bank for central banks and the committee it hosts that writes the Basel I, II and III capital rules banks in India follow.
- Currency swap arrangements of the RBIHow the RBI uses currency swaps (SAARC framework, the Japan line, FCNR(B) and oil-company dollar windows) to support the rupee and neighbours, a regular source of banking-awareness questions.
- Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB)The government body that recommends heads and directors for public sector banks, financial institutions and public sector insurers; exams ask what it replaced, who chairs it and what it selects.
- Government securities: G-secs, T-bills and SDLsThe bonds and bills through which the Centre and States borrow, managed by the RBI; exams ask about their types, auctions and the price-yield link.
- IDBI BankA former development finance institution, now LIC-owned and classed as a private sector bank, whose 60.72% strategic sale to Fairfax is a key disinvestment topic.
- NRI deposits: NRE, NRO and FCNR(B)How the three main NRI deposit accounts differ on currency, tenure, repatriation, tax and exchange risk, and why the RBI uses FCNR(B) swap windows to pull in dollars.
- Payment systems in India: RTGS, NEFT, UPI and NPCIWho runs which payment system in India, the law behind them and their limits; a staple of bank exam GK.
- PFRDA and the National Pension SystemThe pension regulator PFRDA and the schemes it oversees (NPS, Atal Pension Yojana, UPS), a staple of financial-awareness sections.
- RBI Act, 1934: key sectionsThe law that created the Reserve Bank of India, and the sections exams keep quoting: 7, 17, 22, 42 (CRR), 45-IA (NBFCs), 45ZA–45ZB (inflation target and MPC) and the Second Schedule.
- State Bank of India (SBI)India's largest bank, created in 1955 from the Imperial Bank of India; exams ask about its history, the 2017 associate merger, its chairman and its D-SIB status.
Economy & Finance
- Anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty and safeguardsThe three WTO-permitted trade remedies India uses against unfair or sudden import surges; exams ask who recommends them, under which section and for how long.
- Balance of Payments: current and capital accountHow India records its transactions with the rest of the world, from the trade deficit and invisibles to FDI, FPI and reserve changes, and how the CAD is read.
- Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR)The Commerce Ministry body that investigates dumping, subsidies and import surges and recommends duties; exams ask who recommends and who imposes.
- Disinvestment and DIPAMHow the Centre sells its stakes in public sector enterprises, the role of DIPAM, and landmark deals such as Air India and IDBI Bank.
- Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)India's statutory retirement-savings body for organised-sector workers: its law, the CBT, the EPF, EPS and EDLI schemes, and the interest rate that exams ask about every year.
- Global Capability Centres (GCCs) in IndiaOffshore units that multinationals own and run in India for technology, R&D and business functions; exams ask about their number, leading cities and policy support.
- Goods and Services Tax (GST)India's single destination-based indirect tax on goods and services since 1 July 2017; exams ask about its constitutional basis, the GST Council, slabs and the GST Appellate Tribunal.
- HELP, OALP and the Samudra Manthan missionIndia's 2016 oil and gas licensing regime (revenue sharing, uniform licence, open acreage) and the deepwater push that now builds on it.
- Index of Eight Core IndustriesDPIIT's monthly index of key infrastructure industries, now nine industries on base 2022-23; exams ask its components, weights, compiler and link to the IIP.
- India's livestock and poultry productionIndia's output of milk, eggs and meat, the leading states, and the official sources behind the numbers (Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics and the Livestock Census).
- MoSPI and the National Statistics OfficeWho compiles India's headline data: the NSO under MoSPI (CPI, GDP, IIP, PLFS) versus DPIIT's Office of the Economic Adviser (WPI, core industries), with the new base years exams now ask about.
- MSME classification and the MSMED Act, 2006How India defines micro, small and medium enterprises by investment and turnover, and the main MSME schemes and funds; exams ask about the April 2025 limits and Udyam registration.
- NHPC LimitedIndia's largest hydropower company, a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Power; exams ask about its HQ, status, projects and the Siang dam.
- Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)India's official survey of jobs and unemployment, run by the NSO: how LFPR, WPR and the unemployment rate are defined, and what the monthly, quarterly and annual releases measure.
- Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI)A monthly survey-based gauge of business activity where 50 separates growth from contraction; exams ask the threshold, compiler and how it differs from the IIP.
- Special Drawing Rights (SDR) and the IMF reserve trancheWhat SDRs and the reserve tranche position are, how the SDR basket is weighted, and where both sit in India's weekly forex reserves data.
Markets & Regulators
- Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)Privately pooled investment funds regulated by SEBI under the AIF Regulations, 2012: the three categories, investor limits, and how government fund-of-funds such as SIDBI's startup fund and the new SME Growth Fund invest through them.
- Depositories: NSDL and CDSLIndia's two securities depositories, which hold shares and bonds in electronic (demat) form; exams ask about the Depositories Act, 1996, their promoters, depository participants and the CAS.
- FEMA, 1999The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 governs all forex dealings in India; exams ask how it differs from FERA, the current vs capital account rule, and the roles of the RBI and ED.
- FPI vs FDIHow foreign portfolio investment differs from foreign direct investment in India, the 10% dividing line, and who regulates each — a staple of bank and RBI exam questions.
- Initial public offerings (IPOs) in IndiaHow a company first sells shares to the public under SEBI's ICDR rules; exams ask about fresh issue vs OFS, book building, anchor investors, T+3 and record IPOs.
- SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India)India's securities market regulator: its history, board, powers and main regulations, asked about in almost every banking and financial awareness paper.
- Short selling and securities lending and borrowing (SLB)How short selling works in India, why naked shorts are banned, how the SLB mechanism lets sellers borrow shares, and the disclosure rules SEBI is now reviewing.
- Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGB)Government securities priced in grams of gold that pay 2.5% interest; exams ask about tenure, early exit, pricing, tax and the fact that no new tranches have been issued since 2024.
Polity & Governance
- Classical languages of IndiaThe 11 Indian languages the Centre has declared 'classical' for their antiquity and literary heritage; exams ask the list, the order and year of recognition, and the criteria.
- Companies Act, 2013: key provisionsThe main law on forming, running and closing companies in India — exams ask about CSR (Section 135), one person companies, annual filings and the NCLT.
- Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the CCPAThe law that set up the CCPA and the three-tier consumer commissions; exams ask about CCPA powers, penalties for misleading ads and pecuniary limits.
- Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023India's first comprehensive data-protection law: data principals and fiduciaries, consent, the Data Protection Board, penalties up to ₹250 crore, and the 2025 Rules that phase it in by May 2027.
- Directive Principles of State PolicyPart IV of the Constitution (Articles 36–51): the non-justiciable guidelines behind many welfare schemes, and a frequent source of article-matching questions.
- Election Commission of IndiaThe constitutional body under Article 324 that runs elections to Parliament, state legislatures and the offices of President and Vice-President; exams ask about its members, appointment law and removal.
- Enforcement Directorate (ED) and PMLAIndia's financial investigation agency that enforces the PMLA, FEMA and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act; exams ask about its parent department, its laws and how it differs from the CBI and NIA.
- FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)India's food safety regulator under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 — exams ask about its Act, ministry, labelling rules, Eat Right India and how it differs from the CCPA.
- Governor of a StateThe constitutional head of a State, appointed by the President; exams ask the Articles (153–162, 200, 213), oath, term and discretionary powers.
- GST CouncilThe constitutional body under Article 279A that recommends GST rates and rules, with its unusual Centre–State voting formula, a favourite polity and economy question.
- Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019The 2019 law that split the State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories after Article 370 was made inoperative: how each UT is governed, seat numbers, the 2023 Supreme Court verdict and current office-holders.
- NDPS Act, 1985 and the Narcotics Control BureauIndia's main drug-control law and the agencies under it (NCB, Central Bureau of Narcotics); exams ask about the NCB's ministry, licit opium states and the Golden Triangle and Crescent.
Schemes & Policies
- NSAP / Pradhan Mantri Samajik Sahayata YojanaIndia's main social pension scheme for poor elderly people, widows and persons with disabilities, renamed in 2026; exams ask its components, ministry, constitutional basis and assistance amounts.
- PM Gati Shakti and the National Logistics PolicyIndia's GIS-based master plan for integrated infrastructure and the 2022 logistics policy that goes with it; exams ask launch dates, institutions, targets and the new ITLA.
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemesThe government's sales-linked incentives to boost manufacturing in 14 sectors — exams ask about the sectors, the ₹1.97 lakh crore outlay and the mobile-phone results.
- UDAN regional connectivity schemeUde Desh ka Aam Nagrik, the Centre's scheme to make flights to small towns affordable, which turned ten in October 2026 and was relaunched as Modified UDAN.
- ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta KaryakramThe Centre's 2022–27 adult literacy scheme for people aged 15 and above, its five components and outlay, and the list of states and UTs declared fully literate under it.
International Relations
- Bhutan and India–Bhutan hydropowerIndia's Himalayan neighbour whose economy rests on hydropower sold to India; exams ask about its capital, currency peg, king, the 1949/2007 treaty and the main hydro projects.
- BRICSThe grouping of major emerging economies that began as BRIC and now has ten members; exams ask about its origin, members, the New Development Bank and summit hosts, including India's 2026 chairship.
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)The UN specialised agency for food, farming and hunger — exams ask about its founding date, Rome HQ, World Food Day, the SOFI report and Codex.
- Global Hunger IndexAn annual ranking of countries on hunger using four indicators; exams ask the publishers, indicators, weights and India's rank.
- India's free trade agreementsIndia's trade pacts with the UAE, Australia, EFTA, UK, Oman and New Zealand, and the EU deal in the pipeline; exams ask about their names (CEPA, ECTA, TEPA, CETA) and the dates they came into force.
- Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)The global organisation of national parliaments, founded in 1889 and based in Geneva; exams ask about its founders, HQ, president and India's links.
- International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Economic OutlookThe Bretton Woods institution that watches the world economy and lends to countries in balance-of-payments trouble, and whose World Economic Outlook forecasts for India are regular exam material.
- UNESCOThe UN agency for education, science, culture and communication, based in Paris; exams ask about its founding, its head, its World Heritage list and the international days it leads.
- WWF Living Planet Report and Living Planet IndexWWF's two-yearly report on the state of global wildlife, built on the Living Planet Index with ZSL; exams ask the publisher, frequency and headline decline.
Defence & Security
- Border Roads Organisation (BRO)The Ministry of Defence road-building agency behind India's high-altitude roads and tunnels such as Atal, Sela and Shinku La, often asked about in defence and infrastructure questions.
- Chief of Defence Staff and theatre commandsThe CDS post created in 2019 to bring the Army, Navy and Air Force together, and the long-running plan for integrated theatre commands; exams ask about holders, the DMA and the debate over theatres.
- Defence shipyards of IndiaIndia's warship builders (MDL, GRSE, GSL, HSL and Cochin Shipyard) with their locations, ministries, status and flagship programmes such as the NGOPV, Fleet Support Ships and Project 17A.
- DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation)India's main defence R&D agency under the Ministry of Defence; exams ask about its founding, key labs such as NSTL and DRDL, the systems it built (Agni, Akash, Varunastra) and its head.
- India's military exercises with other countriesA country-wise list of India's main bilateral and multilateral army, navy and air force exercises; exams routinely ask 'exercise X is held between India and which country?'
- Indian Air ForceIndia's air arm, raised on 8 October 1932; exams ask about Air Force Day, its motto, commands, chiefs and display teams.
- Indian Coast GuardThe maritime armed force under the Ministry of Defence that guards India's waters and leads search and rescue; exams ask the Act, ministry, motto, regions and Coast Guard Day.
- Indian Navy: commands and major basesThe Navy's three commands, their headquarters, key bases such as INS Kadamba at Karwar, and the current Chief of the Naval Staff.
- Indigenous military aircraft: Tejas, Prachand and othersIndia's home-grown military aircraft and helicopters (Tejas LCA, LCH Prachand, ALH Dhruv, HTT-40) and the agencies behind them, HAL and ADA, with orders and milestones exams ask about.
Science & Technology
- CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team)India's national nodal agency for responding to cyber security incidents, under MeitY and Section 70B of the IT Act; exams ask about its legal basis, the six-hour reporting rule and how it differs from NCIIPC.
- Missions to Mars and its moonsThe key Mars missions, from India's Mangalyaan to Japan's MMX bound for Phobos; exams ask about agencies, launch dates, firsts and the two Martian moons.
- Optical fibre communicationHow glass fibres carry light by total internal reflection, who pioneered them and how India uses them in BharatNet; a common general science and current affairs topic.
Geography & Environment
- Brahmaputra river systemThe Yarlung Tsangpo–Siang–Brahmaputra, its tributaries, islands and bridges, and the India–China dam race on it (Medog and the Siang Upper project).
- LadakhIndia's high-altitude Union Territory since 2019: districts (now eight), hill councils, rivers, passes and lakes, its LG, the organic-UT declaration and the Sixth Schedule demand.
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites in IndiaIndia's 45 sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with the first inscriptions and the latest additions (Santiniketan, Hoysala temples, Moidams, Maratha forts, Sarnath); a staple of GK sections.
Sports
- Asian GamesAsia's largest multi-sport event, held every four years under the Olympic Council of Asia; exams ask about hosts, India's medal hauls and future venues.
- Badminton: BWF and the major tournamentsThe world governing body for badminton, its World Tour tiers and team cups, and India's main medallists; exams often ask about BWF events and P. V. Sindhu's results.
- Field hockey: India and the major tournamentsIndia's record in Olympic, World Cup, Asian Games, Asia Cup and Asian Champions Trophy hockey, and the bodies that run the sport; a regular sports GK topic.
- Formula OneThe top tier of single-seater motor racing: its governing body, records, India's Grand Prix history and the 2026 season storylines that feed sports GK questions.
- ICC Women's Cricket World CupThe 50-over women's world championship since 1973: winners, Australia's record, India's lost finals of 2005 and 2017, and India's first title in 2025 under Harmanpreet Kaur.
- Los Angeles 2028 OlympicsThe 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where cricket, squash, flag football, lacrosse and baseball/softball join the programme; exams ask about dates, new sports and later hosts.
- Tennis: Grand Slams, ATP and WTA toursHow professional tennis is organised: the four Grand Slams and their surfaces, the ATP and WTA tour tiers, team events and India's Grand Slam champions.
Awards, Persons & Days
- Important days in OctoberA date-wise list of national and international days in October, with the bodies behind them, origins and 2026 themes where announced, a staple of the static GK section.
- Légion d'honneur (Legion of Honour)France's highest order of merit, founded by Napoleon in 1802; exams ask about its grades, founder and the Indians who have received it.
- Nobel PrizeThe six Nobel prizes, who awards each, where they are presented, Indian laureates and the 2026 winners; asked every year in bank and SSC GK.