Home › Syllabus › Clerical → Officer

Clerical to JMGS-I promotion exam (Merit / NCS and Trainee Officer): syllabus, pattern and weightage

Clerical staff can be promoted to Junior Management Grade Scale I through the Merit and Normal-cum-Seniority channel (140 objective questions, 100 marks, 150 minutes) or the Trainee Officer channel (120 objective questions plus an essay, 100 marks, 150 minutes). Many candidates are eligible for both.

Exam date: 03 January 2027Promotion Year 2027-28Official structure

Two channels, two patterns

Merit / Normal-cum-Seniority · 3 January 2027

140 objective questions · 100 marks · 150 minutes · no essay

Trainee Officer · 10 January 2027

Section I: 120 questions · 80 marks · 120 minutes
Section II: essay (250 words, 1 of 3) · 20 marks · 30 minutes
Qualifying 65% overall (60% SC/ST)

Merit / NCS channel: sections by weightage

Section	Questions	Marks	Share
General banking, KYC, legal issues, systems and procedures	50	25	25%
Objective questions on practical problems in general banking	10	20	20%
CBS and computer awareness, computer security	20	15	15%
Products and services, associates and subsidiaries, other banks, alternate channels and IT products, financial inclusion	30	15	15%
General awareness	10	10	10%
Organisational structure and policy guidelines of the bank	10	10	10%
Latest financial results, performance indicators, productivity and profitability	10	5	5%

Trainee Officer channel: sections by weightage

Section	Questions	Marks	Share
General banking, handling of customer grievances and preventive vigilance (passages)	20	20	20%
Products and services, retail finance, associates and subsidiaries, other banks, financial inclusion	20	20	20%
CBS and other IT products, IT security	20	15	15%
General awareness about banking environment, KYC, legal issues	20	10	10%
Alternate channel products	20	10	10%
Latest financial results, performance indicators, productivity, organisational structure and history	20	5	5%

Plus Section II, essay: 20 marks (20% of the paper).

Merit / NCS: topics and how to prepare

General banking, KYC, legal issues, systems and procedures50 Q · 25 marks

Account opening, KYC and periodic updation
Cheques, clearing, NI Act basics
Deposits, nomination, deceased claims, lockers
Legal basics: minors, partnership, companies, garnishee
Branch procedures and customer service rules

How to prepare: Half the paper by questions. Your daily branch work is your best revision; learn the rule behind each step.

CBS and computer awareness, computer security20 Q · 15 marks

Core banking terms and processes
Computer basics, networks, internet
Passwords, phishing, malware, safe practices
Digital channels and their security

How to prepare: Know common terms and the do's and don'ts of cyber safety.

Products and services, associates and subsidiaries, other banks, alternate channels and IT products, financial inclusion30 Q · 15 marks

Deposit and loan products
Subsidiaries: life and general insurance, mutual fund, cards, capital markets
ATMs, mobile and internet banking, UPI, BC channel
Jan Dhan and social security schemes

How to prepare: Prepare a product table: who can use it, limits, key features.

Latest financial results, performance indicators, productivity and profitability10 Q · 5 marks

Latest quarterly and annual results
Deposits, advances, profit, NPA ratios, CASA
Productivity measures

How to prepare: Learn the latest published figures just before the exam.

Objective questions on practical problems in general banking10 Q · 20 marks

Interest and TDS calculations
Drawing power and margin
Cheque, note and locker rules
Compensation for failed transactions

How to prepare: Worth 20 marks for 10 questions. Practise worked problems every day.

General awareness10 Q · 10 marks

Banking and economy news
Government schemes, RBI policy
Important appointments and events

How to prepare: Revise the last six months of banking news.

Organisational structure and policy guidelines of the bank10 Q · 10 marks

Verticals, circles, regional offices and CPCs
Key published policies: customer rights, compensation, KYC
History and milestones

How to prepare: Read the bank's published policies and its annual report overview.

Trainee Officer: topics and how to prepare

General awareness about banking environment, KYC, legal issues20 Q · 10 marks

Banking structure and regulators
KYC and AML basics
Legal basics for bankers

How to prepare: Revise RBI basics and KYC rules.

General banking, handling of customer grievances and preventive vigilance (passages)20 Q · 20 marks

10-15 line passages on branch situations, 5 questions each
Customer complaints and the Ombudsman
Dual control, job rotation, frauds, counterfeit notes

How to prepare: Read the whole passage. Pick the option that follows the rule and protects both customer and bank.

Products and services, retail finance, associates and subsidiaries, other banks, financial inclusion20 Q · 20 marks

Retail loans and deposits; USPs of products
Subsidiaries and their services
Financial inclusion schemes

How to prepare: Focus on what makes each product useful to a customer.

CBS and other IT products, IT security20 Q · 15 marks

Core banking and IT products
Cyber security and safe practices

How to prepare: Learn terms and security habits.

Alternate channel products20 Q · 10 marks

ATM, ADWM, internet and mobile banking, UPI
Business correspondents, POS, QR

How to prepare: Limits and features of each channel.

Latest financial results, performance indicators, productivity, organisational structure and history20 Q · 5 marks

Latest results and ratios
Organisation and history

How to prepare: Low marks per question; revise quickly near the exam.

Section II · Essay1 of 3 · 20 marks

Banking topics such as digital banking, financial inclusion, customer service, cyber fraud, KYC, MSME credit
About 250 words: introduction, 3-4 body paragraphs, conclusion

How to prepare: Write one essay a week against a 30-minute clock and compare it with a model essay.

A simple study plan

Every day (30-45 minutes)

One section of practice questions, plus your mistakes from earlier days.

Every week

One full mock in exam conditions; study the weakest two sections the following week.

Last month

Revise figures, limits and recent changes; take two mocks a week.

Structure as per the official guidelines for Promotion Year 2027-28. Always check the latest official notification.

Frequently asked

What is the pattern of the Merit / Normal-cum-Seniority channel exam?

140 objective questions for 100 marks in 150 minutes. Marks per question differ by section; practical problems carry 2 marks each.

What is the pattern of the Trainee Officer channel exam?

Section I: 120 objective questions for 80 marks in 120 minutes. Section II: one essay of about 250 words from three topics, 20 marks in 30 minutes.

What are the qualifying marks for the Trainee Officer exam?

Overall 65% (60% for SC/ST); Section I 65% (60% for SC/ST); Section II 50% (45% for SC/ST).

Can I prepare for both channels together?

Yes. Most topics overlap; the Trainee Officer exam adds case passages and the essay, while the Merit exam adds practical problems.

Prepare with Unnati

Practise every section, sit full mocks in the official pattern and get writing help, in English and Hindi, offline. Free question set included.

Get it on Google Play