Every year, thousands of SBI PO aspirants either over-prepare the budget (reading the entire 300-page speech) or skip it entirely. Both approaches cost marks. The GA section of SBI PO Mains carries 40 marks, and budget-related questions appear consistently across every attempt.
This article gives you the exam-filtered Union Budget highlights for SBI PO — only the facts, figures, and concepts that have historically appeared or are likely to be tested.
The Union Budget 2024–25 was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1 February 2024 — her seventh consecutive budget, setting a record. That fact alone has appeared in GA questions.
- Union Budget 2024–25 total expenditure: ₹47.65 lakh crore (Source: indiabudget.gov.in)
- Fiscal deficit target: 4.9% of GDP for FY2024–25; revised path to 4.5% by FY2025–26
- Largest allocation: Defence — ₹6,21,541 crore
- Capital expenditure outlay: ₹11.11 lakh crore (3.4% of GDP)
- New income tax slabs introduced under the New Tax Regime — standard deduction raised to ₹75,000
Source: Union Budget 2024–25, indiabudget.gov.in
📊 Key Fiscal Numbers You Cannot Afford to Forget
SBI PO GA rewards students who remember specific numbers. Vague answers like "defence got the highest allocation" won't eliminate wrong options — only exact figures will.
Must-memorise fiscal figures from Budget 2024–25:
- Total receipts (excluding borrowings): ₹32.07 lakh crore
- Total expenditure: ₹47.65 lakh crore
- Revenue deficit: 1.8% of GDP
- Fiscal deficit: 4.9% of GDP
- Capital expenditure: ₹11.11 lakh crore
The distinction between revenue expenditure (salaries, subsidies, interest payments — no asset creation) and capital expenditure (infrastructure, roads, railways — asset creation) is a concept SBI PO tests both directly and in application-based questions.
🏛️ Top Ministry Allocations and Flagship Schemes
Ministry-Wise Allocations (SBI PO High-Frequency)
| Ministry | Allocation (₹ Crore) |
|---|---|
| Defence | 6,21,541 |
| Road Transport & Highways | 2,78,000 |
| Railways | 2,55,393 |
| Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare | 1,51,851 |
| Home Affairs | 1,50,983 |
| Rural Development | 2,65,808 |
| Education | 1,20,627 |
| Health & Family Welfare | 89,287 |
Source: Union Budget 2024–25, indiabudget.gov.in
Key Scheme Allocations to Remember
Ananya from Hyderabad, who cleared SBI PO Mains 2024, built her entire budget revision around scheme names + amounts — an approach that paid off when three consecutive GA questions tested exactly this.
- PM Awas Yojana (Urban + Rural): ₹54,500 crore
- MGNREGS: ₹86,000 crore
- PM Kisan Samman Nidhi: ₹20,000 crore
- Jal Jeevan Mission: ₹70,163 crore
- PM Gram Sadak Yojana: ₹19,000 crore
🆕 New Announcements That SBI PO Is Likely to Test
Budget 2024–25 introduced several new initiatives that are prime exam material because they're recent, named, and specific:
- Purvodaya Scheme — holistic development of eastern India (Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh)
- PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana — rooftop solar for 1 crore households, 300 units free electricity per month
- NPS Vatsalya — pension scheme allowing parents to open NPS accounts for minors
- Internship Scheme — 1 crore youth to be placed in top 500 companies over 5 years
- New Tax Regime standard deduction — raised from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000
💡 Questions on new scheme names, their beneficiaries, and the ministry responsible are standard SBI PO GA fare. Don't just know the scheme — know which ministry administers it.
🔍 People Also Search For
What are the key highlights of the latest Union Budget?
Key highlights generally include changes in taxation policies, sector-wise budget allocation, infrastructure spending, social welfare schemes, and economic growth initiatives. Candidates should focus on fiscal deficit targets, capital expenditure plans, and major reforms. Understanding these points helps in banking and financial awareness sections. Regular revision of budget summaries improves retention.
What are the key topics in the SBI PO exam?
Important topics include reasoning puzzles, data interpretation, arithmetic concepts, English comprehension, banking awareness, and current affairs. Candidates should also prepare descriptive writing, interview questions, and group exercise topics. Strong time management and mock test practice are essential. Consistent revision helps in handling high competition.
Which sectors are likely to benefit from the Union Budget 2026?
Sectors that often benefit include infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education, manufacturing, and digital technology. Budget allocations and policy reforms aim to support economic growth and employment generation. Candidates should study sector-wise announcements and government schemes. Staying updated with financial news helps in answering awareness questions confidently.
What is the difference between capital expenditure and revenue expenditure in the budget?
Revenue expenditure covers day-to-day government spending — salaries, subsidies, interest payments, pensions — that doesn't create assets. Capital expenditure covers spending that creates long-term assets — roads, railways, bridges, defence equipment. Budget 2024–25 allocated ₹11.11 lakh crore as capex (3.4% of GDP). SBI PO frequently tests this distinction and asks which category specific items fall under.
Which new schemes were launched in Union Budget 2024–25 important for SBI PO?
Key new schemes from Budget 2024–25 for SBI PO: Purvodaya (eastern state development), PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (rooftop solar, 1 crore homes), NPS Vatsalya (minor pension accounts), and a National Internship Scheme (1 crore youth placements). For each scheme, remember the name, target beneficiary, scale, and administering ministry — these four points cover most exam question patterns.
🎯 Conclusion: Your Next Step
The Union Budget highlights for SBI PO exam aren't about understanding fiscal policy — they're about retaining 30–35 targeted facts across allocations, fiscal figures, and new schemes. Master the numbers in the table above, memorise the new scheme names with their key details, and you've covered the full scope of what the exam can realistically test.
Pair this with a monthly current affairs revision to catch any budget implementation updates that surface closer to your exam date.
Ready to ace your SBI PO GA section? Explore PrepGrind's SBI PO Budget Capsule and GA module — a compact, exam-filtered resource updated after every Union Budget, built by banking exam toppers.