Mains Syllabus of Punjab National Bank (PNB) SO Exam 2024
I. General Awareness
1. Current Affairs:
- National: Major events, policies, schemes, and initiatives of the Indian government, including economic, social, and political developments.
- International: Global events, major international organizations, and their impact on India.
- Banking and Finance: Recent developments in the Indian banking and financial sector, including regulatory changes, new products and services, and key trends.
- Economy: Indian economy, including GDP growth, inflation, fiscal and monetary policies, and key economic indicators.
- Science and Technology: Major scientific discoveries, technological advancements, and their impact on society.
- Sports: Major sporting events, achievements of Indian athletes, and significant developments in the sports world.
- Culture and Heritage: Important cultural events, festivals, and heritage sites in India.
2. Banking:
- History and Evolution of Banking: Origin and development of banking in India, major milestones, and key players.
- Types of Banks: Commercial banks, cooperative banks, regional rural banks, and specialized banks.
- Banking Regulation and Supervision: Role of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in regulating and supervising the banking sector.
- Banking Products and Services: Different types of bank accounts, loans, deposits, and other financial services offered by banks.
- Digital Banking: Mobile banking, internet banking, and other digital banking initiatives.
- Financial Inclusion: Initiatives to promote financial inclusion and reach out to underserved populations.
3. Indian Economy:
- Economic Growth and Development: Key drivers of economic growth, challenges to economic development, and government policies aimed at promoting growth.
- Inflation and Monetary Policy: Causes and consequences of inflation, role of the RBI in controlling inflation, and monetary policy tools.
- Fiscal Policy: Government’s fiscal policies, including taxation, expenditure, and debt management.
- External Sector: India’s trade, foreign investment, and foreign exchange reserves.
- Financial Markets: Stock markets, bond markets, and other financial markets in India.
4. Financial Institutions:
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI): Functions, powers, and role of the RBI in the Indian economy.
- Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI): Role of SEBI in regulating the securities market.
- Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI): Role of IRDAI in regulating the insurance sector.
- Other Financial Institutions: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank), and other important financial institutions.
5. General Knowledge:
- History: Important historical events, personalities, and movements in India.
- Geography: Major geographical features, rivers, mountains, and important cities in India.
- Polity: Indian Constitution, fundamental rights, and important institutions of the Indian government.
- Current Events: Recent national and international events.
II. Reasoning Ability
1. Verbal Reasoning:
- Analogies: Identifying relationships between words or concepts.
- Classification: Grouping words or concepts based on common characteristics.
- Series: Identifying patterns in sequences of numbers, letters, or words.
- Coding-Decoding: Deciphering codes and messages.
- Logical Deduction: Drawing logical conclusions from given information.
- Critical Reasoning: Analyzing arguments and identifying fallacies.
2. Non-Verbal Reasoning:
- Spatial Reasoning: Understanding and manipulating spatial relationships.
- Visual Reasoning: Identifying patterns and relationships in visual information.
- Data Interpretation: Analyzing and interpreting data presented in tables, charts, and graphs.
- Logical Puzzles: Solving logical puzzles and problems.
3. Quantitative Aptitude:
- Number Systems: Number theory, divisibility rules, and number properties.
- Arithmetic: Percentages, ratios, proportions, averages, and time and work problems.
- Algebra: Linear equations, quadratic equations, and inequalities.
- Geometry: Basic geometric concepts, triangles, circles, and quadrilaterals.
- Data Interpretation: Analyzing and interpreting data presented in tables, charts, and graphs.
4. Computer Aptitude:
- Basic Computer Concepts: Hardware, software, operating systems, and computer networks.
- Internet and Web Browsing: Understanding the internet, web browsers, and search engines.
- MS Office Suite: Basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Cyber Security: Awareness of common cyber threats and security measures.
III. Professional Knowledge
1. Banking Operations:
- Customer Service: Principles of customer service, handling customer queries and complaints.
- Account Opening and Maintenance: Procedures for opening and maintaining different types of bank accounts.
- Deposits and Loans: Different types of deposits and loans offered by banks, their features, and eligibility criteria.
- Payment Systems: NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, and other payment systems.
- Branch Operations: Daily operations of a bank branch, including cash management, reconciliation, and regulatory compliance.
- Risk Management: Different types of banking risks, risk mitigation strategies, and regulatory requirements.
- KYC and AML: Know Your Customer (KYC) norms and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations.
2. Financial Markets:
- Money Market: Instruments and operations in the money market.
- Capital Market: Instruments and operations in the capital market, including equity and debt markets.
- Foreign Exchange Market: Foreign exchange rates, forex trading, and risk management in forex transactions.
- Derivatives Market: Different types of derivatives, their uses, and risk management.
3. Financial Accounting:
- Basic Accounting Concepts: Accounting principles, financial statements, and accounting ratios.
- Bank Accounting: Specific accounting practices followed by banks, including loan accounting, deposit accounting, and income recognition.
- Financial Analysis: Analyzing financial statements to assess the financial health of a bank.
4. Credit and Risk Management:
- Credit Appraisal: Evaluating creditworthiness of borrowers and assessing loan applications.
- Credit Risk Management: Identifying, measuring, and managing credit risk.
- Loan Documentation and Recovery: Loan documentation, loan disbursement, and recovery procedures.
- Non-Performing Assets (NPAs): Causes of NPAs, management of NPAs, and regulatory requirements.
5. Legal and Regulatory Framework:
- Banking Regulation Act, 1949: Key provisions of the Banking Regulation Act.
- Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934: Key provisions of the RBI Act.
- Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007: Key provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act.
- Other Relevant Laws: Laws related to consumer protection, money laundering, and cybercrime.
6. Technology in Banking:
- Core Banking Solutions (CBS): Understanding CBS systems and their role in banking operations.
- Digital Banking: Mobile banking, internet banking, and other digital banking channels.
- FinTech: Emerging technologies in the financial sector, including blockchain, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics.
IV. English Language
1. Reading Comprehension:
- Understanding and Analyzing Text: Reading and comprehending passages from various sources, including newspapers, magazines, and books.
- Identifying Main Ideas and Supporting Details: Identifying the main idea of a passage and the supporting details that provide evidence for the main idea.
- Drawing Inferences and Making Predictions: Drawing logical conclusions from the information presented in the passage and making predictions about future events.
2. Vocabulary:
- Understanding Word Meanings: Understanding the meanings of words in context.
- Synonyms and Antonyms: Identifying synonyms and antonyms for given words.
- Idioms and Phrases: Understanding the meanings of common idioms and phrases.
3. Grammar and Usage:
- Parts of Speech: Understanding the different parts of speech and their functions in a sentence.
- Sentence Structure: Understanding the basic elements of a sentence, including subject, verb, and object.
- Tenses: Using correct tenses to express time relationships.
- Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensuring that the subject and verb of a sentence agree in number.
- Pronoun Usage: Using pronouns correctly to refer to nouns.
- Articles: Using articles (a, an, the) correctly.
- Prepositions: Using prepositions correctly to show relationships between words.
4. Writing Skills:
- Paragraph Writing: Writing clear and concise paragraphs with a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence.
- Essay Writing: Writing essays on various topics, including argumentative, persuasive, and narrative essays.
- Letter Writing: Writing formal and informal letters, including business letters, personal letters, and emails.
5. Comprehension and Interpretation:
- Understanding and Interpreting Texts: Reading and interpreting different types of texts, including articles, reports, and stories.
- Identifying Author’s Purpose and Tone: Identifying the author’s purpose in writing a text and the tone of the writing.
- Analyzing Arguments and Identifying Bias: Analyzing arguments presented in texts and identifying any biases or fallacies.
V. General Awareness – Tables
Table 1: Key Economic Indicators of India
| Indicator | 2022-23 (Estimated) | 2023-24 (Projected) |
|---|---|---|
| GDP Growth Rate | 7.0% | 6.5% |
| Inflation (CPI) | 6.0% | 5.0% |
| Fiscal Deficit | 6.4% | 6.0% |
| Current Account Deficit | 2.5% | 2.0% |
| Foreign Exchange Reserves | USD 550 Billion | USD 600 Billion |
Table 2: Major Banking Reforms in India
| Year | Reform | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Liberalization of Banking Sector | Increased competition, introduction of new products and services |
| 2004 | Introduction of Basel II Norms | Enhanced risk management practices in banks |
| 2015 | Introduction of Ind AS | Improved transparency and comparability of financial statements |
| 2017 | Implementation of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code | Streamlined process for resolving corporate distress |
| 2019 | Introduction of Payment and Settlement Systems Act | Enhanced regulatory framework for payment systems |
VI. Professional Knowledge – Tables
Table 1: Key Credit Risk Management Tools
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Credit Scoring | Assessing creditworthiness of borrowers based on a numerical score |
| Credit Risk Modeling | Using statistical models to predict credit risk |
| Stress Testing | Simulating adverse economic scenarios to assess the impact on credit risk |
| Loan Loss Provisioning | Setting aside funds to cover potential loan losses |
| Collateral Management | Ensuring adequate collateral is available to secure loans |
Table 2: Major Types of Bank Accounts
| Account Type | Features |
|---|---|
| Savings Account | For individuals, low minimum balance requirement, limited transactions |
| Current Account | For businesses, no minimum balance requirement, unlimited transactions |
| Fixed Deposit Account | For individuals and businesses, fixed interest rate, maturity period |
| Recurring Deposit Account | For individuals, regular monthly deposits, fixed interest rate |
| Demat Account | For holding and trading securities in electronic form |
Note: This syllabus is indicative and may vary slightly from the actual syllabus released by PNB. It is recommended to refer to the official notification for the most up-to-date information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Short Answers
General Awareness:
Q: What are the key economic indicators to watch out for in India?
A: GDP growth rate, inflation, fiscal deficit, current account deficit, and foreign exchange reserves.
Q: What are the major challenges facing the Indian banking sector?
A: Non-performing assets (NPAs), competition from fintech companies, and regulatory changes.
Q: What are some recent developments in digital banking in India?
A: Mobile banking apps, UPI payments, and online account opening.
Q: What are the key functions of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?
A: Regulating and supervising the banking sector, managing monetary policy, and maintaining financial stability.
Reasoning Ability:
Q: What are some common types of logical reasoning questions?
A: Analogies, classifications, series, coding-decoding, and logical deduction.
Q: How can I improve my data interpretation skills?
A: Practice analyzing data presented in tables, charts, and graphs.
Q: What are some tips for solving quantitative aptitude problems?
A: Understand the concepts, practice regularly, and use shortcuts and formulas.
Professional Knowledge:
Q: What are the key principles of customer service in banking?
A: Courtesy, empathy, responsiveness, and problem-solving.
Q: What are the different types of loans offered by banks?
A: Home loans, personal loans, auto loans, business loans, and education loans.
Q: What are the key aspects of credit risk management?
A: Credit appraisal, credit scoring, stress testing, and loan loss provisioning.
Q: What are some important legal and regulatory frameworks for the banking sector?
A: Banking Regulation Act, 1949, Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, and Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
English Language:
Q: How can I improve my reading comprehension skills?
A: Practice reading different types of texts, identify main ideas and supporting details, and draw inferences.
Q: What are some common grammar errors to avoid?
A: Subject-verb agreement, pronoun usage, and tense consistency.
Q: How can I write a good essay?
A: Plan your essay, develop a clear thesis statement, provide supporting evidence, and conclude effectively.
Note: These are just a few examples of frequently asked questions. The actual questions asked in the PNB SO exam may vary. It is important to prepare thoroughly by studying the entire syllabus and practicing mock tests.