Acts and amendments is the topic that separates 30-mark GA scorers from 22-mark ones in SBI PO Mains. The questions are specific — year of enactment, what an act replaced, which ministry administers it — and aspirants who haven't structured their preparation simply guess. In our analysis of 500+ PrepGrind students who appeared for SBI PO, those who scored 30+ in GA had explicitly revised important acts at least twice before Mains.
This article covers the important amendments and acts for SBI PO GA — organised by category so you can study systematically rather than randomly.
What the Exam Actually Tests
The exam doesn't test legal interpretation. It tests whether you know an act's year, purpose, and the institution or ministry it created or empowers. Four facts per act — that's your entire target.
Quick Answer (30-Second Read)
Key Numbers
Preparation Formula
The 3 Buckets to Cover
Bucket 1
Banking & Financial Sector Acts
Highest-priority given the exam's banking orientation.
RBI Act, Banking Regulation Act, SARFAESI, IBC, PMLA, FEMA
Bucket 2
Constitutional Amendments
Amendment numbers with landmark changes — narrow, high-return investment.
42nd, 44th, 61st, 73rd, 74th, 86th, 101st, 103rd
Bucket 3
Social & Welfare Legislation
Acts linked to financial inclusion or government schemes.
MGNREGA, RTI, Consumer Protection Act, DPDP Act 2023
Banking and Financial Sector Acts
These are the highest-priority acts for SBI PO given the exam's banking orientation. Every aspirant must know these cold.
Core Banking Legislation
| Act | Year | Key Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Reserve Bank of India Act | 1934 | Establishes RBI; governs monetary policy functions |
| Banking Regulation Act | 1949 | Regulates banking companies; gives RBI supervisory powers |
| SARFAESI Act | 2002 | Allows banks to recover NPAs without court intervention |
| FEMA | 1999 | Governs foreign exchange transactions; replaced FERA |
| Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) | 2016 | Provides time-bound resolution of insolvency cases |
| Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) | 2002 | Criminalises money laundering; administered by ED |
| Negotiable Instruments Act | 1881 | Governs cheques, bills of exchange, promissory notes |
Source: Ministry of Finance, finmin.nic.in
SARFAESI — The Most Consistently Tested Act
Know that SARFAESI stands for Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest. Its purpose (NPA recovery without courts) and administering body (banks under RBI supervision) are the two most-asked facts.
Constitutional Amendments: The Must-Know List
Amendment numbers with their landmark changes are a narrow, high-return investment. Three direct marks are available here for aspirants who memorise this list.
Rohan from Pune, who scored 38/40 in SBI PO Mains 2024 GA, attributed three direct marks to memorising constitutional amendment numbers with their landmark changes — a narrow, high-return investment.
High-Frequency Constitutional Amendments
Exam Focus: The 101st Amendment (GST) and the 42nd Amendment ("Mini Constitution") are the two most frequently tested in SBI PO attempts. Always know both the amendment number and the year.
Social and Welfare Legislation
SBI PO occasionally tests welfare acts — particularly those linked to financial inclusion or government schemes. Recent acts get disproportionately more questions.
Key Acts with Banking / Economy Linkage
Established Welfare Acts
MGNREGA (2005)
Guarantees 100 days of rural employment; administered by Ministry of Rural Development
RTI Act (2005)
Right to Information; Central Information Commission oversees appeals
PMJDY Framework (2014)
Not a standalone act but a scheme under Banking Regulation framework; opened 500+ million zero-balance accounts
Recent High-Priority Acts
Consumer Protection Act (2019)
Replaced 1986 Act; introduced e-commerce regulation and Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)
DPDP Act (2023)
HIGH PRIORITYIndia's first comprehensive data privacy law; administered by Data Protection Board under MeitY — prime exam material for 2024–25 attempts
Don't Miss: DPDP Act 2023
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 is prime exam material for 2024–25 attempts — it's recent, significant, and directly relevant to banking and digital transactions. Know: year (2023), purpose (data privacy), administering body (Data Protection Board under MeitY).
People Also Search For
What are the most important amendments in the Indian Constitution?
Some important amendments include the 42nd Amendment related to fundamental duties and changes in the Preamble, the 44th Amendment restoring certain fundamental rights, the 73rd and 74th Amendments strengthening local governance, and the 101st Amendment introducing GST. Candidates should focus on key objectives and impacts of each amendment. Regular revision helps in general awareness preparation.
What is the 101st, 102nd, and 103rd Constitutional Amendment?
The 101st Amendment introduced the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to create a unified tax system in India. The 102nd Amendment granted constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes. The 103rd Amendment provided 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in education and jobs. Understanding these changes is important for competitive exams.
What are the major changes brought by the 42nd Amendment?
The 42nd Amendment, also known as the "Mini Constitution," added Fundamental Duties, strengthened Directive Principles, and included words like "Socialist," "Secular," and "Integrity" in the Preamble. It also increased the power of Parliament and curtailed certain judicial review aspects. Candidates should study its historical significance and impact. Regular revision improves retention.
Why are constitutional amendments important for competitive exams?
Questions related to important amendments are frequently asked in general awareness and current affairs sections. Understanding their objectives and outcomes helps candidates answer factual questions quickly. This knowledge also supports better performance in interviews and discussions. Consistent study strengthens preparation.
How to prepare constitutional amendments topic effectively?
Candidates should make short notes of major amendments with year, objective, and key features. Practising MCQs and revising summary charts improves memory retention. Reading current affairs and polity basics helps in better understanding. Regular revision ensures confidence before exams.
Conclusion: Your Next Step
The important amendments and acts for SBI PO GA fall into three clear buckets: banking and financial sector laws, landmark constitutional amendments, and recent welfare and digital legislation. For each act, four facts are enough — name, year, purpose, and administering body.
Focus extra attention on acts passed in the last three years, as these appear with higher frequency in recent exam attempts. Build a compact reference table organised by category, revise it using active recall, and update it with any legislation passed between now and your exam date.
Four facts per act. Three buckets. Two revisions minimum. That's the formula that moves you from a 22 to a 30+ in GA.