I.
Current Affairs (October 2024 - March 2025)
National Events:
1. Question: Who is the current Chief Justice of India as of November 2024 ? Answer: Sanjiv
Khanna.
2. Question: What is the name of the bill tabled in the Lok Sabha in December 2024 aiming for
simultaneous elections ? Answer: "One Nation, One Election" bill.
3. Question: Which political alliance secured a victory in the Jharkhand assembly elections ?
Answer: INDIA bloc.
4. Question: Which state ended the 24-year rule of the Biju Janata Dal in the 2024 assembly
elections ? Answer: Odisha (BJP won).
5. Question: What was the projected GDP growth for India in the fiscal year 2024-25 according
to government data ? Answer: 6.5%.
6. Question: What was the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate in India in February 2025 ?
Answer: 3.6%.
7. Question: Which sectors received expanded support under the Production Linked Incentive
(PLI) schemes ? Answer: Electronics, auto, specialty steel, and textiles.
8. Question: With which country did India deepen bilateral ties and set a deadline for finalizing
a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) ? Answer: New Zealand.
9. Question: What was the focus of the Union Budget 2025-26 presented in February 2025 ?
Answer: Spurring agricultural growth, building rural prosperity, boosting manufacturing, and
promoting innovation.
10. Question: On which date is Martyr's Day observed in India ? Answer: March 23rd.
11. Question: Where was the Global Symposium & Awards on Resource Efficiency & Circular
Economy held in March 2025 ? Answer: New Delhi.
12. Question: What was the Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) in urban areas among
persons aged 15 years and above during October – December 2024 ? Answer: 50.4%.
13. Question: Which institute collaborated with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation (MoSPI) to launch the 'Hack the Future' hackathon ? Answer: IIT
Gandhinagar.
14. Question: Who inaugurated the 'Waste Recycling and Climate Change 2025' conclave ?
Answer: Bhupender Yadav.
15. Question: Where is India's first “Open Air Art Wall Museum” located ? Answer: Mausam
Bhawan, Delhi.
16. Question: Who has become the new Chief Election Commissioner of India in February 2025 ?
Answer: Gyanesh Kumar.
17. Question: What is the name of the Indian space mission that aims to study Venus ? Answer:
Shukrayaan-1.
18. Question: Which state achieved a high ranking in the Shyama Prasad Mukherji Rurban
Mission (SPMRM) as of January 2025 ? Answer: Telangana (ranked fourth).
19. Question: What is the aim of the Samarth Incubation Program launched by the Centre for
Development of Telematics (C-DoT) ? Answer: To support startups in India's
telecommunications and IT sectors.
20. Question: What is the name of the government's initiative to promote low-value BHIM-UPI
transactions for the financial year 2024-25 ? Answer: Incentive Scheme for Low-Value BHIM-
UPI Transactions.
International Events:
1. Question: What is the projected global GDP growth rate for 2025 according to the OECD's
interim report in March 2025 ? Answer: 3.1%.
2. Question: Which economic alliance includes the New Development Bank ? Answer: BRICS
economic alliance.
3. Question: According to the UNCTAD's March 2025 report, which category of countries often
faces higher import duties ? Answer: Developing countries.
4. Question: Which countries are involved in the ongoing major geopolitical conflicts
mentioned in March 2025 ? Answer: Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas.
5. Question: What is the theme for Zero Discrimination Day observed on March 1st ? Answer:
Not explicitly mentioned in the snippets for 2025, but generally focuses on equality and non-
discrimination.
6. Question: What is the focus of World Wildlife Day observed on March 3rd ? Answer:
Celebrating wildlife and raising awareness about the need to protect it.
7. Question: On which date is International Women's Day observed ? Answer: March 8th.
8. Question: What is the theme for World Water Day observed on March 22nd ? Answer: Not
explicitly mentioned in the snippets for 2025, but generally focuses on the importance of
freshwater.
9. Question: What is celebrated on World Meteorological Day on March 23rd ? Answer: The
creation of the World Meteorological Organization.
10. Question: Which major defense overhaul is the United Kingdom (UK) undertaking to
strengthen European security ? Answer: Creating a new defense unit to oversee £20 billion
in military spending.
11. Question: What was the annualized revenue mark reached by the AI startup Anthropic in
December 2024 ? Answer: $1 billion.
12. Question: Which payment network provider reported over $1 trillion in total volumes in
2024 ? Answer: Zelle.
13. Question: Which country will hold the Miss World 2025 pageant ? Answer: India
(Hyderabad).
14. Question: Which country assumed the Presidency of the FATF until June 2026 ? Answer:
Mexico (Elisa de Anda Madrazo).
15. Question: Which countries were identified as jurisdictions under increased monitoring by
the FATF in February 2025 ? Answer: Lao PDR and Nepal were added.
II. Financial Awareness (October 2024 - March 2025)
Banking and Financial News:
1. Question: What was the repo rate reduced to by the RBI in February 2025 ? Answer: 6.25%.
2. Question: What is the expected credit growth for Indian banks in FY 2025 according to HSBC
Global Research ? Answer: 12.5%.
3. Question: What was the Gross Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) level of Scheduled Commercial
Banks (SCBs) by the end of September 2024 ? Answer: 2.6%.
4. Question: According to the RBI's Financial Stability Report, to what level could NPA ratios
potentially rise by March 2026 under stress scenarios ? Answer: 3%.
5. Question: What is the new internet domain name that banks will use as mandated by the
RBI ? Answer: '.[Link]'.
6. Question: What is the new internet domain name that non-banking financial companies
(NBFCs) will use as mandated by the RBI ? Answer: '.[Link]'.
7. Question: On which date did NSDL Payments Bank Limited commence operations as a
payments bank ? Answer: October 29, 2018.
8. Question: What was the on-year jump in UPI transactions in January ? Answer: 52%.
9. Question: What was the total amount of Foreign Exchange Reserves of India as of March 21,
2025 ? Answer: $654.27 Billion (as of March 21, 2025).
10. Question: Which public sector bank was mentioned as having a potential penalty imposed by
the RBI ? Answer: Bank of Baroda (BOB).
11. Question: What is the increased MUDRA loan limit under the Tarun category as notified in
October 2024 ? Answer: ₹20 lakh.
12. Question: Which financial institution extended the Mudra Financial Institution ? Answer: Not
explicitly mentioned in the provided snippets.
13. Question: What was the percentage growth in aggregate deposits of SCBs at the end of
November ? Answer: 11.1%.
14. Question: What was the growth in industrial credit as of the end of November ? Answer:
4.4%.
15. Question: What was the growth in agriculture credit as of November 29, 2024 ? Answer:
5.1%.
16. Question: What was the growth in credit to MSMEs compared to large enterprises ? Answer:
MSMEs grew faster.
17. Question: What was the consolidated net profit of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) in FY24 ?
Answer: ₹7,571 crore.
18. Question: What was the consolidated CRAR of RRBs by March 31, 2024 ? Answer: 14.2%.
19. Question: What was the credit to deposit ratio of RRBs in March 2024 ? Answer: 71.2%.
20. Question: What was the system liquidity status in October-November 2024 ? Answer: In
surplus.
21. Question: What was the Financial Inclusion Index of the RBI at the end of March 2024 ?
Answer: 64.2.
22. Question: What was the percentage increase in India's share in global IPO listings in 2024 ?
Answer: 30%.
23. Question: What was the total resource mobilization from primary markets (equity and debt)
from April to December 2024 ? Answer: ₹11.1 lakh crore.
24. Question: What was the worst sell-off in Indian equities in 29 years witnessed in February ?
Answer: Wiping $1.3 trillion in market capitalization.
25. Question: What was the government's proposal regarding Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
limits for the insurance sector ? Answer: To remove the FDI limits, allowing 100% foreign
ownership under the automatic route.
RBI Policies and Announcements:
1. Question: What was the first repo rate cut by the RBI in nearly five years ? Answer: 25 basis
points.
2. Question: What is the RBI's projection for GDP growth in FY 2026 ? Answer: Around 6.7%.
3. Question: What is the RBI's expectation for inflation in FY 2026 ? Answer: 4.2%.
4. Question: What was the status of India's forex reserves as of January 31 ? Answer: $630.6
billion.
5. Question: What was the import cover provided by the forex reserves as of January 31 ?
Answer: Over 10 months.
6. Question: What did the RBI mandate for all agency banks handling government transactions
on March 31, 2025 ? Answer: To remain open for over-the-counter transactions up to normal
working hours.
7. Question: What was the RBI's directive regarding the opening of branches dealing with
government receipts and payments on March 31, 2025 ? Answer: To remain open up to
normal working hours.
8. Question: What was the reporting window for Central and State Government transactions to
RBI on April 1, 2025 ? Answer: Till 12:00 hours noon.
9. Question: What was the policy repo rate kept unchanged at by the MPC during April 2024-
December 2024 ? Answer: 6.5%.
10. Question: What is the issuance calendar for marketable dated securities for the period
October 2024 – March 2025 ? Answer: Available in RBI notification
[Link].S1003/42-01-029/2024-25 dated March 17, 2025.
Government Schemes Related to Finance:
1. Question: What is the aim of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) ? Answer: To
provide access to banking, insurance, and pension services.
2. Question: What is the accident insurance cover under the free RuPay debit card provided
with PMJDY accounts ? Answer: ₹2 lakh.
3. Question: What is the overdraft facility limit under PMJDY ? Answer: Up to ₹10,000.
4. Question: What is the annual premium for Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana ?
Answer: ₹20 per year.
5. Question: What is the benefit payable on death under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana
? Answer: ₹2 lakh.
6. Question: What is the increased loan limit under the 'Tarun' category of MUDRA loans ?
Answer: ₹20 lakh.
7. Question: What is the aim of the Stand Up India scheme ? Answer: To encourage
entrepreneurship among women and Scheduled Castes/Tribes by facilitating loans.
8. Question: What does the Atal Pension Yojana provide to subscribers after attaining the age
of 60 years ? Answer: A guaranteed pension.
9. Question: What is the objective of the PM SVANidhi scheme ? Answer: To provide loans to
street vendors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to help them restart their businesses.
10. Question: What is the NPS-Vatsalya scheme launched in September 2024 about ? Answer: It
allows parents and guardians to contribute to the National Pension System (NPS) accounts of
minors.
11. Question: What is the minimum contribution per annum under the NPS-Vatsalya scheme ?
Answer: ₹1000.
12. Question: What are the names of the new schemes proposed in the Union Budget 2025
related to the agricultural sector ? Answer: Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and
Rural Prosperity and Resilience Programme.
13. Question: What is the new target for additional houses under the PM Awas Yojana ? Answer:
3 crore additional houses in rural and urban areas.
14. Question: What is the enhanced loan limit under the Mudra Yojana's 'Tarun' category as per
Budget 2025 ? Answer: ₹20 lakh.
15. Question: What is the aim of the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana proposed in
Budget 2025 ? Answer: To enhance agricultural productivity, adopt crop diversification and
sustainable agriculture practices, augment post-harvest storage, improve irrigation facilities,
and facilitate credit availability.
16. Question: What is the focus of the Rural Prosperity and Resilience Programme proposed in
Budget 2025 ? Answer: Young farmers, rural women, marginal and small farmers, rural
youth, and landless families, catalyzing enterprise development, financial independence and
employment for rural women, and nurturing and modernizing agriculture.
17. Question: What is the enhanced credit guarantee fund for MSMEs as per Budget 2025 ?
Answer: From ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore.
18. Question: What is the enhanced credit guarantee fund for Startups as per Budget 2025 ?
Answer: From ₹10 crore to ₹20 crore.
19. Question: What is the aim of the Incentive Scheme for Low-Value BHIM-UPI Transactions for
FY 2024-25 ? Answer: To enhance digital payments, particularly for small merchants.
20. Question: What is the revised total budget for the Revised Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) ?
Answer: ₹3400 crore.
III. Static General Knowledge
Banking Awareness:
1. Question: When was the Bank of Hindustan established ? Answer: 1770.
2. Question: Which bank is considered the largest and oldest bank still in existence, initially
known as the Bank of Calcutta ? Answer: State Bank of India (SBI).
3. Question: In which year were 14 major commercial banks nationalized in India for the first
time ? Answer: 1969.
4. Question: In which year was the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) established ? Answer: 1935.
5. Question: When was the RBI nationalized ? Answer: 1949.
6. Question: What is the full form of CRR ? Answer: Cash Reserve Ratio.
7. Question: What is the full form of SLR ? Answer: Statutory Liquidity Ratio.
8. Question: What is the full form of Repo Rate ? Answer: Repurchase Agreement Rate.
9. Question: What is the full form of Reverse Repo Rate ? Answer: Reverse Repurchase
Agreement Rate.
10. Question: What is the full form of NPA ? Answer: Non-Performing Asset.
11. Question: What is the full form of MUDRA ? Answer: Micro Units Development & Refinance
Agency Ltd.
12. Question: What is the full form of PMJDY ? Answer: Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana.
13. Question: What is the full form of PMJJBY ? Answer: Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima
Yojana.
14. Question: What is the full form of PMSBY ? Answer: Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana.
15. Question: What is the full form of UPI ? Answer: Unified Payments Interface.
16. Question: What is the full form of SEBI ? Answer: Securities and Exchange Board of India.
17. Question: What is the full form of IRDAI ? Answer: Insurance Regulatory and Development
Authority of India.
18. Question: What is the full form of NABARD ? Answer: National Bank for Agriculture and
Rural Development.
19. Question: What is the full form of BHIM ? Answer: Bharat Interface for Money.
20. Question: What is the full form of RTGS ? Answer: Real-Time Gross Settlement.
21. Question: What is the full form of NEFT ? Answer: National Electronic Funds Transfer.
22. Question: What is the full form of IMPS ? Answer: Immediate Payment Service.
23. Question: What is the full form of KYC ? Answer: Know Your Customer.
24. Question: What is the full form of ATM ? Answer: Automated Teller Machine.
25. Question: What is the full form of FDI ? Answer: Foreign Direct Investment.
Geography of India:
1. Question: Where is India located in terms of hemisphere ? Answer: Northern Hemisphere.
2. Question: Which important line of latitude almost divides India into two equal parts ?
Answer: Tropic of Cancer (23º 30'N).
3. Question: What is India's rank in the world in terms of land area ? Answer: Seventh.
4. Question: Name the major mountain range located in the north of India ? Answer:
Himalayas.
5. Question: Which rivers form the Northern Plains of India ? Answer: Indus, Ganga, and
Brahmaputra.
6. Question: What type of landform is the Peninsular Plateau of India ? Answer: Tableland
made of old crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks.
7. Question: Where is the Indian Desert located ? Answer: On the western side of the Aravali
Hills.
8. Question: Name the water bodies that border the coastal plains of India ? Answer: Arabian
Sea (West) and Bay of Bengal (East).
9. Question: Name the group of islands located in the Arabian Sea ? Answer: Lakshadweep
Islands.
10. Question: Name the group of islands located in the Bay of Bengal ? Answer: Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.
Indian Culture and Heritage:
1. Question: Which ancient civilization laid the foundation for many cultural practices in India ?
Answer: Indus Valley Civilization.
2. Question: Which empire is often called the Golden Age of India due to advancements in
science, art, and literature ? Answer: Gupta Empire.
3. Question: Who is known as the Father of Tamil literature ? Answer: Agastaya.
4. Question: In which state is the famous “Ganga Sagar Mela” held annually ? Answer: West
Bengal.
5. Question: Who was the first recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award ? Answer: Devika
Rani.
6. Question: Which deity are the “Nayanars” from ancient times primarily associated with ?
Answer: Shiva.
7. Question: Brihadeshwar temple built by the Cholas in Thanjore is dedicated to which god ?
Answer: Shiva.
8. Question: What is the main aim behind South Indian dance forms ? Answer: To glorify the
goddesses and gods in temples.
9. Question: Name some of the classical dance forms of India ? Answer: Bharatnatyam, Kathak,
Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Odissi, and Manipuri.
10. Question: Which festival is known as the festival of colors ? Answer: Holi.
International Financial Organizations:
1. Question: What are the main objectives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) ? Answer:
Foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade,
promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty.
2. Question: What are some of the recent areas of focus for the IMF ? Answer: Impact of AI,
climate change, digital money and fintech, sovereign debt, and global growth projections.
3. Question: What is the primary role of the World Bank ? Answer: Provide financial and
technical assistance to developing countries for development projects.
4. Question: Name some of the recent projects undertaken by the World Bank ? Answer: Youth
employment in Angola, pandemic preparedness in South Asia, human capital development in
Morocco, and girls' empowerment in Sao Tome and Principe.
5. Question: What is the main function of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) ?
Answer: Serve as a bank for central banks, promoting global monetary and financial stability
through international cooperation.
6. Question: What are some of the recent analyses conducted by the BIS ? Answer: Analyzing
the AI supply chain, examining market pressures on investment funds, and exploring digital
finance narratives.
7. Question: What is the purpose of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) ? Answer: Set
international standards to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation
financing.
8. Question: What are the two lists maintained by the FATF to identify jurisdictions with
deficiencies in their AML/CFT regimes ? Answer: Grey list (jurisdictions under increased
monitoring) and Black list (high-risk jurisdictions subject to a call for action).
9. Question: Which organization serves as a bank for central banks ? Answer: Bank for
International Settlements (BIS).
10. Question: Where is the headquarters of the World Bank located ? Answer: Washington, D.C.,
USA.
11. Question: Where is the headquarters of the IMF located ? Answer: Washington, D.C., USA.
12. Question: Where is the headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) located ?
Answer: Geneva, Switzerland.
13. Question: Where is the headquarters of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS)
located ? Answer: Basel, Switzerland.
14. Question: What is the New Development Bank also known as ? Answer: BRICS Bank.
Question: Which countries are the BRICS states that operate the New Development Bank ? Answer:
Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
