SMART GUESSING- AN ART

!DOCTYPE html> Banking Exam Revision Note – Complete Quick Reference

🏆 Your Bank Promotion Exam – Complete Revision Guide

Master Policy, Anchor Numbers & Smart Exam Strategies

Comprehensive Quick Reference for Bank Officers

🧠 The Science of Smart Guessing: How to Crack Banking MCQs

Reality Check: In any competitive banking exam, there will always be 10-15 questions where you’re unsure. Leaving them blank is safe, but educated guessing is profitable.

This is not about luck. It’s about Psychometrics—the science of how test questions are designed. Research shows that examiners follow predictable patterns when creating wrong answers (distractors).

🎯 Principle 1: The “Specific Qualification” Rule (The Longest Option)

The Science: In banking and law, general statements are often false because regulations have exceptions. To make a statement indisputably “True,” examiners often have to add qualifying phrases, conditions, or specific clauses. This makes the correct answer longer and more detailed.

Real Example:

Q: Which of the following is true regarding the Whistle Blower Policy timeline?

  • A. All records must be destroyed immediately after inquiry. ❌
  • B. Records are kept for 3 years. ❌
  • C. The Competent Authority must conduct a discreet inquiry within 15 days of receiving the complaint. ✅
  • D. Anonymous complaints are processed within 10 days. ❌

Why C is correct: Option C is specific. It doesn’t just say “inquiry”; it says “discreet inquiry”. It specifies a timeline “within 15 days”. This level of detail is usually lifted directly from the policy circular.

⚖️ Principle 2: The “Extreme Outlier” Elimination

The Science: When an examiner creates numerical options, they typically choose the correct answer and then create distractors around it. Rarely is the correct answer the absolute highest or lowest number.

Real Example: What is the ceiling for direct purchase of automobiles through GeM Portal?

  • A. ₹5.00 Lakh (Too Low) ❌
  • B. ₹30.00 Lakh ✅
  • C. ₹1.00 Crore (Too High) ❌
  • D. ₹50,000 (Impractical) ❌

Smart Elimination: Remove extremes (D & C), choose the middle-range practical number (B).

🧩 Principle 3: The “Heterogeneity” Effect (Odd One Out)

The Science: If three options fall into one category and the fourth falls into a totally different category, the “Odd One Out” is often the answer.

Pattern: Three service/security options + One loan product = The loan product is usually correct.

🔄 Principle 4: The “Distractor Symmetry” Trap (The 50/50 Split)

The Science: When limits differ for two categories (e.g., CA Firms vs Retired Officers), examiners place both related limits among options to confuse you.

Example: Cooling period for Concurrent Audit?

  • A. 2 Years (For Retired Officers tenure) ❌
  • B. 1 Year (For CA Firms) ❌
  • C. 6 Months ✅ (For Retired Officers cooling period)
  • D. 3 Years ❌

Strategy: Notice the symmetry: B & C are related limits. The answer is one of these two. EROs are trusted staff = shorter cooling. Answer: 6 Months.

💎 Principle 5: The “Anchor Number” Strategy

The Science: Certain numbers repeat across different policies. If you are completely blank, guessing an Anchor Number has higher probability than a random number.

Remember These Numbers:

  • ₹5 Crore: Legal Audit, Stock Audit, LEI, Valuations
  • ₹1 Crore: Credit Audit, CIRs, Document Vetting, Renewal
  • ₹10 Lakh: MUDRA Tarun, CGTMSE, Small NPAs
  • ₹25 Lakh: Wilful Defaulter, Quick Mortality Investigation
  • 15 / 30 / 90 / 180 Days: Classic timeline anchors

🚀 Principle 6: The “All of the Above” Probability

The Science: Creating three distinct, factually correct, and plausible options is mentally exhausting for an examiner. If they have done it, they usually want you to acknowledge all of them.

CRITICAL RULE: If you know for a FACT that two options are correct, and “All of the Above” is an option → Select “All of the Above” immediately.

Example: Which are eligible for Priority Sector Lending (PSL)?

  • A. Loans to Small & Marginal Farmers ✓
  • B. Loans to Startups up to ₹50 Crore ✓
  • C. Installation of Solar Power Plants ✓
  • D. All of the Above ✅

💡 Exam Hall Protocol: 3 Phases

Phase 1: Knowledge First

Answer all questions you know directly. Accuracy here builds your base score (70-75%).

Phase 2: Elimination

Remove obviously extreme numbers, vague statements, and over-absolute phrasing (15-20%).

Phase 3: Smart Selection

Between numbers → Prefer Anchor Number. Between sentences → Prefer longer, specific one (5-10%).

🎓 Expected Outcome: 70 marks (knowledge) + 15-20 marks (smart guess) = 85-90 marks total. These principles work best when paired with comprehensive study material.

⚠️ Common Exam Traps to Avoid

  • ❌ Confusing KCC NPA (90 days) with crop loans (2 seasons)
  • ❌ Mixing PM KUSUM (25-year PPA) with other renewable schemes
  • ❌ Forgetting PNB Suraksha restriction at ₹1 Crore limit
  • ❌ RLLR changes “NEXT WORKING DAY”, not immediately
  • ❌ FFD interest charged ONLY if FD runs > 7 days
  • ❌ QMC cooling period NOT applicable (exception!)
  • ❌ SHG MCP mandatory from 3RD dose, not 2nd
  • ❌ SARFAESI Section 13(2) Notice within T+17 days

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⚡ Loaning Powers & Delegation

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🏆 KEY FACTS – HIGH-YIELD ANCHOR NUMBERS

These numbers appear most frequently in banking exam questions. Memorizing these is the highest ROI activity.

💡 The “Big Three” Anchor Numbers

These three numbers appear most frequently across all policy questions:

1. The ₹5.00 Crore Anchor

Policy/Trigger Threshold
Legal Audit of Title Deeds ₹5 Cr & above
Stock Audit (FB+NFB Working Capital) ₹5 Cr & above
LEI (Legal Entity Identifier) ₹5 Cr & above
Two Valuations Required (IP value) Above ₹5 Cr

2. The ₹1.00 Crore Anchor

Policy/Trigger Threshold
Credit Audit (Standard Accounts) Above ₹1 Cr
Two Commercial CIRs Required Above ₹1 Cr
Easy/Digital Renewal Applicable Up to ₹1 Cr
Vetting of Documents by Advocate ₹1 Cr & above

3. The ₹10.00 Lakh Anchor

Policy/Trigger Threshold
MUDRA Tarun Maximum ₹10 Lakh
CGTMSE Mandatory (No Collateral) for MSE Up to ₹10 Lakh
Staff Accountability Category-I (Small NPAs) Up to ₹10 Lakh

Other Critical Thresholds

Anchor Number Policy/Trigger
₹25 Lakh Wilful Defaulter Reporting & Quick Mortality Investigation
₹50 Crore CEIB Report, Forensic Audit for RFA, Dynamic Risk Review
₹250 Crore ASM (Specialized Monitoring Agencies) Mandatory
₹10,000 Quick Transfer Daily Limit (No Beneficiary)

⏱️ CRITICAL TIMELINES – The “Timeline Anchors”

Timeline Policy/Trigger
15 Days Whistle Blower inquiry, CERSAI charge removal, Grievance resolution
30 Days Staff Accountability cooling period, SARFAESI notice
90 Days NPA Classification (overdue > 90 days), CGTMSE reporting
180 Days Review/Renewal: NPA if not done within 180 days
7 Years Record maintenance (PMLA), Whistle Blower cutoff

📊 NPA PROVISIONING STAIRCASE

Asset Classification Provisioning %
Substandard (Secured) 15%
Doubtful DB-1 (12-24 months, Secured) 25%
Doubtful DB-2 (24-48 months, Secured) 40%
Doubtful (Unsecured Portion) 100%
Loss Assets 100%

💡 Recovery Appropriation Order

Remember: Expenses → Interest → Principal

🏦 SMART BANKING CURRENT ACCOUNT (SBCA) – Quick Reference

Variant MAB Sweep Threshold FFD Multiple
Gold ₹1 Lakh ₹1,00,000 ₹10,000
Diamond ₹5 Lakhs ₹2,00,000 ₹10,000
Platinum ₹10 Lakhs ₹7,50,000 ₹10,000

Key SBCA Rules

  • Sweep on LIFO basis
  • 4 times/month (Every Tuesday)
  • No interest if FD < 7 days

Platinum Special

  • Use CA balance up to ₹10L first
  • Then break FDs in ₹1L multiples
  • No loan/OD against FFD

🏭 MSME & AGRICULTURE QUICK FACTS

Kisan Credit Card (KCC)

  • Validity: 5 years (subject to annual review)
  • In-built enhancement: 10% per annum
  • NPA norm: Overdue > 90 days from due date

PM Vishwakarma Scheme

Tranche Max Amount Tenure
1st ₹1 Lakh 18 months
2nd ₹2 Lakh 30 months

PM Vishwakarma Highlights

ROI: 13% p.a. (5% paid by borrower, 8% subsidy by Ministry)

Security: NIL (Govt. guarantee covered, Government pays fee)

Credit Decision TAT: 14 working days

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🎯 EXPOSURE CEILINGS BY CONSTITUTION

Constitution Type Max Exposure
Proprietorship / AOP ₹50 Crore
Partnership / LLP ₹100 Crore
Society / Trust / HUF ₹200 Crore

📈 INTERNAL RISK RATING (IRR) & CREDIT SCORING

Score Ranges & Sanctioning Authority

Score Range Zone Sanctioning Authority
> 50 Green Zone Respective Branch Authority
> 40 to 50 Yellow Zone Next Higher Authority (with justification)
≤ 40 Red Zone Cannot be Sanctioned

⚖️ RECOVERY & SARFAESI TIMELINES

Stage Timeline
D Date 30 days post-NPA
Section 13(2) Notice T+17 days from D Date
Reply to Objection 13(3A) Max 15 days
Sale Notice to Auction Min 30 days gap

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Banking Exam Revision Note – Complete Reference Guide

Comprehensive policy reference for banking professionals preparing for promotions

6 Psychometric Principles + Complete Reference Data + Test Links

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