The journey to become a banker is not a piece of the cake, you have to be well prepared for all the aspects of the exam pattern of these banking exams. The syllabus of all the banking exams varies depending on the Grade of the posts. But one thing that you will find common in all these exams is the requirement of having appropriate knowledge related to the national and global finance industry. A person can rely on practising for the rest of the sections of the exam i.e., Numerical Aptitude, Reasoning, English language and Professional knowledge. But for General Awareness and Current Affairs, there is no practice that can help you ace these sections.
General Awareness and Current Affairs is a vast section to study for Banking exams. We cannot limit it in a book or any magazine. We have to be aware of the knowledge from the 360 degree resources. One of the major resources that helps in studying current affairs the most is the newspaper. Newspapers are the major resources that not only help in studying General Awareness or current affairs but also help in enhancing the vocabulary game of every student. Newspapers possess a variety of news and not all of them is important for you from the examination’s point of view. There is a specific process of reading the newspaper which will work efficiently for you and also save you time.
The banking sector is the most preferred sector among aspirants preparing for competitive exams. The banking sector comes with a variety of benefits that every job seeker wishes for. There are many banking exams that fall under the Government sector, like IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, SBI PO, SBI Clerk, RBI Grade B, RBI Assistant, RBI DEPR and many more. All these opportunities give a promising career in the banking sector.
This blog is dedicated to the art of reading the newspaper for the sake of the Banking exam. So, if you are someone willing to become a banker in a prestigious nationalized bank, then we recommend you read this blog till the end.
Importance of Reading Newspaper for Banking Exams
Newspaper reading is important for savings tests because these tests focus more on general knowledge and current affairs. The General Awareness sections of the banking exam test your knowledge of recent events, financial updates and important news, and help you answer questions accurately and confidently To stay informed on a daily basis information that is an integral part of the overall score.
Newspapers provide detailed coverage of current events, the economy, government policies, and international affairs. This information is important for exams like IBPS, SBI and RBI, where essay questions are common. Reading the newspapers regularly increases your understanding of the world, keeps you up to date on changes in banking and finance, and helps you stay ahead of other candidates.
Moreover, newspapers improve your reading comprehension and are also tested on the English portion of the exam. Reading editorials and opinion pieces gives you a good vocabulary and critical thinking, which is useful for the descriptive parts of the exam.
How to Read a Newspaper for Banking Exams: A Step by Step Process
Start with the Headlines
The first thing to check in a newspaper is the headline. Headlines give you a quick overview of the most important news. If the headline seems relevant to your exam, mark it for further reading. This helps you focus on the most significant information without getting lost in less important details.
Key Sections to Focus On
When skimming through the newspaper, pay attention to these specific areas:
Banking Industry Policies: Look for any new policies or recent changes in the banking sector.
Parliamentary Bills: Note important bills, especially those related to the budget or financial sector.
Appointments: Keep track of new appointments of senior management in major banks.
Government Schemes: Be aware of new or updated government schemes.
Sports News: Focus on major events, winners, and awards.
Global Summits and Conferences: Summits and conferences can impact economic policies.
Economic Issues: Note any significant economic issues or crises globally.
Take Notes While Reading
Always have a pen and notepad ready. As you read, jot down the relevant information. This practice helps in retaining important facts and makes revision easier.
What to Note Down
Here’s a detailed list of what to note down from each section:
| Section | Things to Focus On |
| Business & Economy | Latest budget details Macroeconomic trends like inflation and GDP Recent mergers and acquisitions New business heads and board directors Important stock market news |
| Politics | New laws and bills, especially those impacting the economy Newly launched government schemes Changes in the executive, legislature, and judiciary |
| International News | Treaties and global meetings International crises and their causes Facts about India’s foreign relations and economic ties |
| Sports News | Winners of major tournaments Awards and recognitions in sports Updates on Indian sports or sportsmen honored internationally |
| Miscellaneous | Important days and celebrations Notable attendees and themes of significant events |
Select a Good Source
Choosing the right paper is important. Recommended papers include The Hindu, Indian Express and Economic Times. These papers cover all relevant topics and have detailed editorial pages that help with vocabulary, reading comprehension, and learning idioms and vocabulary.
Highlight and Mark Relevant Articles
Take a physical copy of the newspaper and a pen. As you read, highlight articles that fall into the following categories:
National News
International News
Sports News
Science and Technology News
Economic News
Analyze and Take Detailed Notes
For every highlighted article, write down the following in your notebook:
Title/Headline: The main title of the article.
What: A summary of what happened.
Where: The location and scope of the event’s impact.
When: The date and time of the event.
Why/How: Reasons behind the event and how it came to be.
Important Figures: Key statistics and figures mentioned in the article.
Focus on Your Notes for Revision
Focus on your notes when revising for the exam. This approach ensures that you only review the most important information, making your study sessions more effective and efficient. Apart from taking notes on your own, you can also rely on our Beepedia section for your daily, weekly and monthly dose of current affairs. Here you can download current affairs for free at your convenience. You will crisp notes in pdf format of what happened and the important aspects of it. You can have access to these notes in every kind of device, be it a mobile phone, tablet, laptop or computer. So, you can have a quick glance at the current affairs notes, anywhere and at any time.
Things Not to Do While Reading the Newspaper for Banking Exams
Newspapers possess a vast variety of information, but it is important to keep in mind that you have to consume only that information that is relevant and necessary from the examination perspective. Thus, along with what needs to be done, it is also required to know what should not be done while reading the newspaper for the banking exam. So here is a list of things that you should avoid while reading the newspaper.
Avoid Overloading with Information
Don’t try to read every single article. Focus only on relevant sections.
Avoid getting lost in entertainment, gossip, or local news that won’t be useful for your exam.
Skipping Important Sections
Don’t ignore sections like economics, politics, and international news. These are crucial for banking exams.
Neglecting Note-Taking
Don’t read without taking notes. This leads to forgetting important details.
Avoid unorganized notes. Make sure your notes are clear and categorized.
Ignoring Important Figures and Dates
Don’t overlook statistics and dates. These are often asked in exams.
Ignoring Editorials
Don’t skip editorials. They enhance vocabulary and comprehension skills.
By avoiding these pitfalls, you can make your newspaper reading more effective and focused on exam preparation.
Other Resources than Newspaper to Prepare for General Awareness for Banking Exams
As told earlier newspapers are not the only source to rely on when it comes to preparing for the general Awareness Section of the Banking Exam. At ixamBee, you can find a variety of online courses that is meticulously designed to make you prepare for a specific exam. Apart from that previous year papers and mock tests are yet another source that can help you analyze the topics that are essential to cover in general awareness for banking exams. You can also check your preparation level by attempting daily general awareness quizzes. This will also help you have a concrete root of whatever you have studied. So to ace in the general awareness section, you have to be consistent with consuming finance information from now and then, you can not limit yourself to any specific resources. Every resource is necessary and has its own role.
Conclusion
Banking exam preparation is a tough journey but with dedication and the right strategy you can succeed. The general aspect is important, and the news is a valuable source of current events and economic information. Regular reading of newspapers helps in building a strong foundation of general knowledge, which is essential for scoring well in bank exams.
Focus on context, take detailed notes, and avoid distractions. Remember that every piece of information can get you one step closer to your dream career in the banking industry. Stay motivated, stay informed and work hard. Your efforts today will pave the way for a promising career in the banking industry. Good luck!