SBI Clerk & IBPS Clerk Mains 2026: Check These Repeated GA Topics from PO Mains Exams

With the SBI Clerk and IBPS Clerk Mains examinations approaching, candidates should not limit their General Awareness preparation to monthly current affairs PDFs and recent news. Previous years’ and recently conducted SBI PO and IBPS PO Mains examinations can also provide useful insights into the topics that may be relevant for Clerk Mains 2026.

PO Mains GA Question Analysis for SBI Clerk & IBPS Clerk Mains 2026

The General Awareness section plays an important role in the IBPS Clerk Mains and SBI Clerk Mains examinations. Based on the analysis of two sets of memory-based questions, several topics have emerged as important areas for preparation. The questions indicate a noticeable focus on Banking Awareness, RBI-related developments, Digital Banking, Government Schemes, Financial Awareness, and National and International Current Affairs.

1. Overlapping Topics in Both Question Sets

Some topics appeared in both sets of questions, indicating their relevance for banking examinations. Candidates should give additional attention to these areas while revising.

2. Most Important Areas for Banking Awareness

Banking Awareness is one of the most relevant sections for IBPS and SBI Clerk Mains. The two question sets contain several questions related to RBI policies, banking operations, financial regulations, and digital banking initiatives.

Candidates should cover the following topics:

• RBI and Monetary Policy: Standing Deposit Facility (SDF), liquidity absorption, liquidity injection tools, and RBI monetary policy instruments.
• Digital Currency: Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), e-Rupee, its features, and banks offering CBDC services.
• Banking Platforms: NDS-OM, Unified Lending Interface (ULI), and their ownership and functions.
• Banking Regulations: Priority Sector Lending (PSL), Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR), Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), and Basel III norms.
• Banking Operations: RTGS, UTR number, Currency Chest, ATM withdrawal limits, and Non-Performing Assets (NPA).
• Financial Protection: RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme and Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEAF).
• Other Important Concepts: C-KYC, FEMA Act, 1999, and banking-related digital initiatives.

3. Digital Banking and Financial Technology

Questions were asked about UPI, BHIM, CBDC, DigiLocker, Blockchain, FASTag Annual Pass, and digital fraud.

Important topics to prepare include:

• UPI and its international expansion.
• BHIM UPI features and supported languages.
• CBDC and its participating banks.
• DigiLocker and its functions.
• Unified Lending Interface (ULI).
• UL-PIN and the 14-digit BHU-Aadhaar code.
• Blockchain technology and its applications.
• FASTag Annual Pass – validity, charges, and eligibility.
• Digital Arrest and cyber fraud.
• RTGS and other digital payment systems.

4. Government Schemes and Important Initiatives

Questions were based on financial inclusion, renewable energy, environmental protection, and infrastructure development.

The following initiatives deserve attention:

5. National and International Current Affairs

Questions related to international organisations, agreements, reports, summits, and important locations were also included in the analysed sets. Candidates should revise the following areas:

International Organisations and Reports

• Headquarters of UN Women.
• World Bank and its Global Economic Prospects report.
• UNESCO and World Heritage Sites.
• India’s Executive Director at the World Bank.
• Sustainable Development rankings and related reports.

International Agreements and Summits

• India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
• Paris Agreement and climate targets.
• BRICS Summit and its host country.

International financial and economic developments.

• Important Places and Headquarters
• Headquarters of BNP Paribas.
• Country associated with Mitsui Bank.
• UN Women headquarters.
• Important airports, dams, and infrastructure projects.

6. Economy and Financial Awareness

Economic and financial developments are another important area for Clerk Mains. The questions included GST, TDS, windfall tax, carbon credits, currency, and financial transactions.

The important topics are:

• GST rates and products attracting different tax slabs.
• TDS applicability on different payments and transactions.
• Windfall tax and recent changes in its applicability.
• Carbon credits and their certification.
• Indian currency and legal tender.
• LIC’s proposed stake acquisition in ICICI Bank.
• RTGS transactions and UTR numbers.
• ATM cash withdrawal limits.
• DEAF Fund and its transfer mechanism.

7. Important Awards, Appointments, Sports and Static GK

Apart from banking and economic awareness, candidates should not overlook miscellaneous current affairs. Several questions in the two sets covered awards, sports, appointments, books, and important national and international events.

Important areas include:

• National Film Awards and major film festivals.
• Nobel Prize categories and recent winners.
• Important national and international awards.
• Recent appointments in banking and government organisations.
• Navratna and Maharatna companies.
• Major sports tournaments and medal tallies.
• Archery World Cup winners.
• Asian U20 Athletics Championships.
• Commonwealth Games and related events.
• Important books and authors.
• Important days and their dates.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India.

8. Top 25 Topics to Prioritise Before IBPS/SBI Clerk Mains 2026

For candidates with limited preparation time, the following shortlist can help organise revision according to the importance of the topics identified in the analysis.

How to Prepare General Awareness for IBPS/SBI Clerk Mains?

Based on the question analysis, candidates should follow a balanced revision strategy covering current affairs, static banking awareness, and financial concepts.

• Prioritise Banking Awareness: Revise RBI-related developments, banking regulations, payment systems, and financial institutions.
• Cover Recent Current Affairs: Focus on the last six months of current affairs, with additional attention to important banking and economic updates.
• Revise Government Schemes: Learn their objectives, launch years, ministries, implementing agencies, and beneficiaries.
• Prepare Static GK Alongside Current Affairs: Cover headquarters, important days, international organisations, national parks, and UNESCO sites.
• Practise Memory-Based Questions: Solve previous exam questions and statement-based quizzes to understand how topics are tested.
• Revise Important Numbers: Pay special attention to interest rates, financial limits, percentages, dates, rankings, and the number of participating countries or institutions.