Institute of Banking Personnel Selection : IBPS PO MT General Awareness Solved Paper

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Examination

Probationary Officers and Management Trainees

Common Written Examination General Awareness Solved Paper

1. Which of the following countries recently conferred its Highest State Honour on Late Mrs. Indira Gandhi for her contribution in its ‘Liberation war’?

• South Sudan 
• Bangladesh
• Bhutan
• Slovakia 
• Croatia

2. Which of the following statements is true?

• Banks cannot accept demand and time deposits from public.
• Banks can accept only demand deposits from public.
• Banks can accept only time deposits from public.
• Banks can accept both demand and time deposits from public.
• Banks can accept demand and time deposits only from Government.

3. Interest payable on savings bank accounts is–

• not regulated by RBI. 
• regulated by Sate Governments. 
• regulated by Central Government.
• regulated by RBI. 
• regulated by Finance minister.

4. Which of the following is the correct statement ?

• State Bank of India is the sole authority to issue and manage currency in India.
• A nationalised bank is the sole authority to issue and manage currency in India.
• A cooperative bank is the sole authority to issue and manage currency in India.
• RBI is the sole authority to issue and manage currency in India.
• None of these

5. The Home Minister of India was recently on a visit to Bangladesh where both the countries signed a Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP). What are the major points of this agreement?

• The plan will help in resolving long pending border dispute between both the nations.
• The head count of the people living in enclaves on the border will be completed within next six month’s time.
• India assured that no BSF jawan will open fire on the people crossing the borders unless there is an attack on them.
• one of Above
• All Above Three
• (E)1st and 3rd

6. The Government of India recently decided to raise the price of oil products like diesel, petrol and cooking gas. However, some taxes on these products were reduced or scrapped all together. What were these taxes which were reduced or scrapped ?
(1) Customs Duty 
(2) VAT 
(3) Excise Duty

• Only (1) 
• Both (1) and (2) 
• Both (1) and (3)
• Both (2) and (3)
• All of These

7. The President of India was recently on a visit to South Korea and Mongolia. During her visit some agreements were signed by both the countries. Which of the following was a common area on which India signed agreements with South Korea and Mongolia both?

• Peaceful use of nuclear energy.
• Export of edible oil to South Korea and Mongolia.
• Providing technical help to become self sufficient in production of food grains.
• Willingness of both the countries to support India’s bid to have permanent seat in UN Security Council.
• To hold Olympic Games in 2022 in New Delhi jointly with South Korea and Mongolia.

8. Iran recently threatened that it will stop supply of oil to India if the payment issue is NOT sorted out quickly. What is the problem in payment to Iran ?
(1) The oil supplied by Iran is of substandard quality. Hence India suspended the supply and stopped the payment.
(2) Indian banks have stopped transfer of money to Iran as UN has imposed sanctions on Iran.
(3) India is bound to purchase oil only from OPEC members. Iran has abandoned the membership of OPEC, which has created a problem in payments.

• Only (1) 
• Only (2) 
• Only (3)
• All (1), (2) and (3) 
• None of these

9. Accounts are allowed to be operated by cheques in respect of–

• Both Savings bank accounts and fixed deposit accounts 
• Savings bank accounts and current accounts
• Both Savings bank accounts and loan accounts. 
• Both Savings bank accounts and cash accounts only.
• Both Current accounts and fixed deposit accounts

10. Yingluck Shinawatra has won recently held elections to become the first woman Prime Minister of–

• Myanmar 
• South Korea 
• North Korea
• Thailand 
• China

11. Which of the following is correct statement ?

• Normally no interest is paid on current deposit accounts.
• Interest is paid on current accounts at the same rate as term deposit accounts.
• The rate of interest on current account and savings account are the same.
• No interest is paid on any deposit by the bank.
• Savings deposits are the same as current deposits.

12. The Lokayukta of which of the following States had submitted a report on illegal mining of iron ore in the State?

• Andhra Pradesh 
• Tamil Nadu 
• Karnataka
• Odisha 
• None of these

13. The usual deposit accounts of banks are–

• Current accounts, electricity accounts and insurance premium accounts
• Current accounts, Post office savings bank accounts and term deposit accounts
• Loan accounts, savings bank accounts and term deposit accounts
• Current accounts, savings bank accounts and term deposit accounts
• Current bill accounts and term deposit accounts

14. Fixed deposits and recurring deposits are–

• repayable after an agreed period. 
• repayable on demand.
• not repayable. 
• repayable after death of depositors.
• repayable on demand or after an agreed period as per bank’s choice.

15. Almost all the major economies of the world had reacted sharply on the issue of USA’s ceiling limit on its debt. Why was the issue so important for other nations, which otherwise was an internal matter for USA ? (This was during last month of July 2011; till Senate’s decision)–
(1) The Senate’s decision on the issue might have caused US dollar to weaken further or get strengthened in international markets.
(2) Weakening of the dollar might have pushed up Euro and other major currencies up and some European countries which were already in trouble would have faced a new crisis.
(3) Debt limit was directly related to liquidity position of banks in USA.

• Only (1) 
• Only (2)
• Only (1) and (2) both 
• Only (2) and (3) both
• All (1), (2) and (3)

16. Which of the following is not a Millennium Goal set by the UNO?

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 
• Reduce child mortality
• Ensure environmental sustainability 
• Combat terrorism and bring people in main stream of society
• Achieve universal primary education

17. Financial inclusion means provision of–

• financial services namely, payments, remittances, savings, loans and insurance at affordable cost to persons not yet given the same.
• ration at affordable cost to persons not yet given the same.
• house at affordable cost to persons not yet given the same.
• food at affordable cost to persons not yet given the same.
• education at affordable cost to persons not yet given the same.

18. Which of the following Statements containing results of India’s recent Census is not correct?

• Kerala has about 94% literacy, the highest in India
• The Sex Ratio in India is 940
• Male literacy is lower than female literacy in the seven most developed states
• Uttar Pradesh is the most populous State in India
• The population of India has increased by 181 million during the decade 2001-2011

19. Which of the following is known as cross selling by Banks ?
(1) Sale of a debit card to a credit card holder
(2) Sale of Insurance policy to a depositor
(3) Issuance of Cash against Cheque presented by a third party

• Only (1) 
• Only (2) 
• Only (3)
• Both (1) and (3) 
• All (1), (2) and (3)

20. Angela Merkel was recently in India to receive Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for the year 2009. What has been her contribution ill the international politics which made her the. ‘Best Choice’ for the award?
(1) She played a major role in restarting negotiations between Russia and USA on ‘STAR’.
(2) She initiated ‘Health Care Reforms’ in Germany and solved problems related to ‘future energy development.’
(3) She played a crucial role in negotiation of the ‘Treaty of Lisbon’ and Berlin declaration.

• Only (2) and (3) 
• Only (1) and (2) 
• Only (3)
• Only (1) and (3) 
• None of these

21. Japan won the women’s Football World Cup 2011 by defeating–

• England 
• Germany 
• Argentina
• USA 
• China

22. Which of the following states became the first state in the country to launch RBI’s e-payment system for commercial tax payers?

• Andhra Pradesh 
• Kerala 
• Gujarat
• Maharashtra 
• Karnataka

23. When a bank returns a cheque unpaid, it is called–

• payment of the cheque 
• drawing of the cheque 
• cancelling of the cheque
• dishonour of the cheque 
• taking of the cheque

24. Mortgage is a–

• security on movable property for a loan given by a bank.
• security on immovable property for a loan given by a bank.
• concession on immovable property for a loan given by a bank.
• facility on immovable property for a loan given by a bank.
• security on immovable property for a deposit received by a bank.

25. The world’s highest ‘Rail Bridge’ is being constructed in the State of Jammu and Kashmir will be on which of the following rivers ?

• Jhelum 
• Chenab 
• Indus
• Ravi 
• None of these

26. Which of the following films was not directed by Mani Kaul, who died recently ?

• 3 Idiots 
• Ghashiram Kotwal 
• Uski Roti
• Duvidha 
• Ashad Ka Ek Din

27. The President of which of the following countries is accused of violation of ‘‘War Powers Act” of his country when he decided to attack Libya with other NATO countries in June 2011 ?

• USA 
• France 
• Germany
• Spain 
• Italy

28. Which of the following schemes is launched by the Government of India to provide an identity to its all resident citizens and also in identifying people who are poorest, often the last to stand up to ask for their share in government schemes or lack identity ?

• Public Provident Fund scheme 
• Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension scheme
• Social Security Scheme for Gramin Oak Sevaks 
• M. G. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act
• Aadhar Card scheme

29. Which of the following types of accounts are known as “Demal Accounts” ?

• Accounts which are Zero Balance Accounts
• Accounts which are opened to facilitate repayment of a loan taken from the bank. No other business can be conducted from there
• Accounts in which shares of various companies are traded in electronic form
• Accounts which are operated through internet banking facility
• None of these

30. Who amongst the following won the Wimbledon Men’s Finals 2011 which was also his first Wimbledon title?

• Rafael Nadal 
• Novak Djokovic 
• Robert Bruce
• Lleyton Hewitt 
• None of these

31. Who is the chairman of the committee constituted by RBI to study issues and concerns in the Micro Finance Institutions (MFI) Sector ?

• Y. H. Malegam 
• Dr. K. C. Chakraborty 
• C. Rangarajan
• M. Damodaran 
• Ms. Usha Thorat

32. Upper limit prescribed for RTGS transaction is–

• Rs. 1 lac 
• Rs. 2 lacs 
• Rs. 5 lacs
• Rs. 50 lacs 
• No upper limit is prescribed

33. Distribution of insurance products and insurance policies by banks as corporate agents is known as–

• General insurance 
• Non-life insurance 
• Bancassurance
• Insurance banking 
• Deposit insurance

34. In order to attract more foreign exchange, the Government of India decided to allow foreign investment in LLP firms. What is full form of “LLP” as used in this reference?

• Local Labour Promotion 
• Low Labour Projects 
• Limited Loan Partnership
• Longer Liability Partnership 
• Limited Liability Partnership

35. NEFT means–

• National Electronic Funds Transfer system 
• Negotiated Efficient Fund Transfer System
• National Efficient Fund Transfer Solution 
• Non Efficient Fund Transfer System
• Negotiated Electronic Foreign Transfer system

36. Who among the following has been appointed as a director on board of Bank of America–the first non-American on the board of one of the largest financial institutions in the world?

• Azim H. Premji 
• Ratan Tara 
• Mukesh Ambani
• C. V. Kamath 
• Chanda Kochhar

37. When the rate of inflation increases–

• purchasing power of money increases 
• purchasing power of money decreases
• value of money increases 
• purchasing power of money remains unaffected
• amount of money in circulation decreases

38. POSCO is in the process of establishing its plants in India. What does the letter ‘P’ denote in the name POSCO?

• Popular 
• Pallin 
• Pohang
• Paradeep 
• Petersburg

39. Who amongst the following has become the Chief Minister of a State in India third time consecutively ?

• Tarun Gogoi 
• Nitish Kumar 
• J. Jayalalithaa
• Mamta Banerjee 
• None of these

40. Who amongst the following is the winner of Man Booker International Prize - 2011 ?

• Andrea Levy 
• Nicola Barker 
• Tom McCarthy
• Linda Grant 
• Philip Roth

41. Interest on savings bank account is now calculated by banks on–

• minimum balance during the month 
• minimum balance from 7th to last day of the month
• minimum balance from 10th to last day of the month 
• maximum balance during the month
• daily product basis

42. The third International Conference of the Trade Unions was organized in June 2011 in–

• Vienna 
• Moscow 
• London
• Paris 
• Berlin

43. A centralized database with online connectivity to branches, Internet as well as ATM-network which has been adopted by almost all major banks of our country is known as–

• investment banking 
• core banking 
• mobile banking
• national banking 
• specialized banking

44. The Government of India recently decided to lift four years old ban on export of wheat. What was the reason for the same ?
(1) India had a bumper crop of wheat in the last two years. Hence it has excess stock of wheat.
(2) As per the Food Security Act India is bound to provide 10 million tonnes of wheat to World Food Grain stock every year. India defaulted last year. This year it does not want to be one.
(3) As advised by the Supreme Court of India, the money received from export should be used to pay subsidy to the farmers.

• Only (2) 
• Only (1) 
• Only (3)
• Both (1) and (2) 
• All (1), (2) and (3)

45. Which of the following is not considered a money market instrument ?

• Treasury Bills 
• Repurchase Agreement 
• Commercial Paper
• Certificate of Deposit 
• Shares and Bonds

46. With a view to facilitate payment of balance in the deposit account to the person named by the depositor without any hassles in the event of death of the account holder, the following facility was introduced for bank accounts in our country–

• Will 
• Registration 
• Nomination
• Indemnity 
• Guarantee

47. The Government of which of the following states has agreed to give captive mines of iron ores to all the companies who are willing to establish plants there?

• West Bengal 
• Odisha 
• Jharkhand
• Bihar 
• Karnataka

48. ‘Gorkhaland Council’ which was recently in news is a body set up for administration of which of the following Districts?

• Siliguri 
• Bagdogra 
• Malda
• Darjeeling 
• Gangtok

49. Banks in our country normally publicist that additional interest rate is allowed on retail domestic term deposits of–

• Minors 
• Married women 
• Senior citizens
• Government employees 
• Rural residents

50. Largest shareholder (in percentage shareholding) of a nationalized bank is–

• RBI 
• NABARD 
• LICI
• Government of India 
• IBA