Punjab & Sind Bank SO Recruitment 2025 — Syllabus & Exam Pattern Overview

Exam Pattern for Punjab & Sind Bank SO (2025)

Based on the notification and related sources:

• Each question carries 1 mark. 

• Negative marking typically applies (deduction for wrong answers) — though the notification did not clarify exact penalty. 

• The exam is likely bilingual (English + Hindi) in non-professional sections.

• The Professional Knowledge section will test domain/discipline-specific content for the post (Credit, Agriculture, etc.).

• After the written exam, the selection process may include interview / personal assessment or shortlisting, as per the notification. 

Because SO roles are specialist in nature, the weightage of Professional Knowledge will be substantial, so candidates must give significant focus there.

Syllabus / Subject-Wise Topics

Here’s a breakdown of what you should prepare under each section, based on notification hints, related SO postings (like Relationship Manager), and banking SO exam trends.

1. English Language

This section tests candidates’ proficiency in English (grammar, comprehension, vocabulary). Key topics typically include:

• Reading Comprehension

• Cloze Test

• Fill in the Blanks

• Error Spotting / Error Detection

• Sentence Improvement / Rearrangement

• Para Jumbles

• Synonyms & Antonyms

• Idioms & Phrases

• Grammar Rules (Tenses, Modal, Subject-Verb Agreement, Prepositions, Conjunctions)

• Vocabulary (Word Usage, One-word Substitutions)

Ensure good speed and accuracy, as English is usually a qualifying or scoring section.

2. General Awareness / Current Affairs

This tests general knowledge, current events, banking awareness, and economic topics. Important areas include:

• Recent National / International Current Affairs (last 6 to 12 months)

• Government Schemes & Initiatives

• Indian Economy: Budget, Economic Survey, GDP, Inflation, Fiscal Deficit

• Banking & Financial Sector Developments: RBI policies, Monetary Policy, Basel Norms

• Banking terms, institutions (SEBI, NABARD, SIDBI), financial inclusion schemes

• Important Committees, Reports, Indices, Banking Statistics

• International Organizations (IMF, World Bank, WTO)

• Mergers / Acquisitions in banking/finance

• Banking Technology trends (FinTech, digital banking, UPI, blockchain)

Given SO’s role, domain awareness (credit, agriculture) may be added to this section.

3. Professional Knowledge (Specialist / Domain)

This section is the core differentiator for SO roles. Syllabus depends on the post (Credit Manager, Agriculture Manager, etc.). Below are sample topics by specialization:

A. Credit & Risk / Bank Credit Manager

• Principles of Lending, Credit Appraisal, Credit Risk Assessment

• Ratio Analysis, Financial Statement Analysis

• Project Financing, Term Loans, Working Capital

• Asset Classification, NPAs, Restructuring & Recovery

• Security / Collateral, Guarantees, Guarantees

• Banking Regulations, Exposure Norms, Basel III / Basel IV

• Exposure Norms, Indices, Interest Rates & Yield Curves

• Regulatory Framework (RBI guidelines, IRAC norms)

• Credit rating agencies, Credit derivatives

B. Agriculture Manager / Agri SO

• Agriculture Economics, Farm Inputs, Crop Production

• Irrigation methods, Soil Science, Agronomy practices

• Government schemes for agriculture (Krishi, Rural Development)

• Agricultural Finance, Crop Insurance (PMFBY etc.)

• Allied sectors: Dairy, Fisheries, Horticulture

• Commodity Markets, Agri Marketing

• Agricultural technology, micro irrigation, precision farming

Depending on the post, certain professional topics (accounting, taxation, corporate finance, management) may also be included.

Tips for SO Exam Preparation

1. Understand Notification / Official Syllabus
   As SO roles are specialist, always refer to the official notification / admission form for exact syllabus & weightages.

2. Strong Domain Foundation
   Professional Knowledge carries high weight, so be thorough with textbooks, reports, RBI guidelines, agricultural or credit frameworks.

3. Practice Mock Tests / Past Papers
   Solve SO / specialist officer mocks to understand question pattern, difficulty level, time management.

4. General Awareness Strategy
   Focus heavily on banking / economy current affairs along with static GK.

5. English Clarity & Speed
   Frequent reading (economics articles, banking magazines) helps both vocab and comprehension.

6. Time Allocation
   Allocate more time to Professional Knowledge, but ensure you’re not losing marks in English & GA.

7. Revision & Short Notes
   Prepare concise notes of formulas, ratios, schemes, agri terms etc., and revise them regularly.