RBI Grade B 2026: Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Salary
The RBI Grade B (DR) — General examination is conducted by the Reserve Bank of India Services Board to recruit managerial officers into India's central bank. Selected candidates join as Officers in Grade 'B' (General) and are entrusted with core central banking functions across monetary management, financial regulation, and economic supervision. The selection is conducted through a multi-tier assessment comprising Phase-I, Phase-II, and an Interview.
Overview
| Conducting Body | Reserve Bank of India Services Board (RBISB) |
|---|---|
| Post Name | Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) — General |
| Panel Year / Cycle | Panel Year 2026 (Advt. No. RBISB/DA/01/2026-27) |
| Starting Basic Pay | ₹78,450 per month (2026 notification) |
| Initial Gross Emoluments | Approximately ₹1,54,936 per month, excluding HRA (2026 notification) |
| Phase-I Total Marks & Duration | 200 marks, 120 minutes |
| Phase-II Total Marks | 300 marks across 3 papers |
| Interview Marks | 75 marks |
| Total Marks for Final Merit | 375 marks (Phase-II + Interview) |
| Official Portals | rbi.org.in and opportunities.rbi.org.in |
Eligibility
- Nationality: Must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal, a subject of Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962 to settle permanently, or a person of Indian origin migrated from select countries with a Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Government of India (2026).
- Graduation route: Minimum 60% aggregate marks across all semesters/years in a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline or equivalent technical/professional qualification. The minimum required percentage is 50% for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates (2026).
- Post-Graduation alternative: Minimum 55% aggregate marks across all semesters/years in a Post-Graduate Degree in any discipline or equivalent technical/professional qualification. Pass marks are required for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates (2026).
Age limit
- Prescribed age is between 21 and 30 years as of the cutoff date (April 1, 2026).
- Up to 5 years relaxation for SC/ST candidates (maximum age: 35 years).
- Up to 3 years relaxation for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates (maximum age: 33 years).
- Up to 10 years relaxation for General/EWS PwBD, 13 years for OBC PwBD, and 15 years for SC/ST PwBD candidates.
- Up to 2 additional years for candidates holding an M.Phil. (upper limit 32 years) and up to 4 additional years for Ph.D. holders (upper limit 34 years) in relevant subjects.
- Up to 5 years relaxation for candidates with qualifying defense service (Ex-Servicemen).
Selection process
- Phase-I: Online Objective Examination (200 marks) serving as a qualifying screening test.
- Phase-II: Online/Written Descriptive & Objective Examination comprising three papers (300 marks).
- Phase-III: Interview (75 marks), which candidates can take in Hindi or English.
- Final Merit Formulation: Formed exclusively from marks scored in Phase-II (300 marks) and the Interview (75 marks), out of a total of 375 marks.
RBI Grade B exam pattern
Phase-I (Online Objective Examination)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | Individual sectional timing allocated wi |
| Reasoning | 60 | 60 | Individual sectional timing allocated wi |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | Individual sectional timing allocated wi |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | Individual sectional timing allocated wi |
Total 200 questions carrying 200 marks with a total time of 120 minutes. Negative marking penalty of 1/4th (0.25 marks) is deducted for every incorrect objective response. Phase-I marks are qualifying and not added to the final merit.
Phase-II (Online Descriptive & Objective Examination)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I: Economic and Social Issues (ESI) | 50% Objective + 4 Descriptive (from 6 ch | 100 (50 Objective + 50 Descriptive) | 120 minutes (30 min Objective + 90 min D |
| Paper-II: English (Writing Skills) | 3 Descriptive questions | 100 | 90 minutes |
| Paper-III: Finance and Management (FM) | 50% Objective + 4 Descriptive (from 6 ch | 100 (50 Objective + 50 Descriptive) | 120 minutes (30 min Objective + 90 min D |
Total Phase-II marks are 300. Descriptive answers for Paper-I, Paper-II, and Paper-III must be typed using a keyboard. For Paper-I and Paper-III descriptive sections, candidates answer 4 questions out of 6 (two 15-mark and two 10-mark questions).
Phase-III (Interview)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | Evaluated on personality, leadership, an | 75 | Not specified |
Candidates have the choice to answer in Hindi or English. Marks obtained are added to Phase-II scores for the final merit list (total 375 marks).
RBI Grade B syllabus
Phase-I: General Awareness
Current events · Banking and financial awareness · Monetary policy · Government schemes · Union Budget · Static GK
Phase-I: Reasoning
Puzzles · Linear and circular seating arrangements · Input-output · Syllogisms · Inequalities · Logical and critical reasoning
Phase-I: English Language
Reading comprehension · Error detection · Cloze test · Para jumbles · Sentence improvement · Vocabulary
Phase-I: Quantitative Aptitude
Data interpretation (DI) · Arithmetic word problems · Number series · Quadratic equations · Approximations
Phase-II Paper-I: Economic and Social Issues (ESI)
Growth and development: measurement of growth, national income, poverty alleviation, employment generation in India · Sustainable development and environmental issues · Indian economy: money and inflation, monetary and fiscal policies · Globalization: export-import, balance of payments, IMF, World Bank, WTO · Social structure in India: multiculturalism, demographic trends, social justice
Phase-II Paper-II: English (Writing Skills)
Essay writing on contemporary socioeconomic and financial topics · Precis writing · Reading comprehension
Phase-II Paper-III: Finance and Management (FM)
Financial system and structure · Functions of Reserve Bank of India · Banking system in India · Financial markets: money, forex, bond, and equity markets · Primary and secondary markets · Risk management in banking · FinTech and alternate financing sources · Financial inclusion · Management processes and fundamentals of organizational behavior · Leadership theories · Motivation and morale · Communication channels · Corporate governance and business ethics
Salary
- Starting Basic Pay: ₹78,450/- per month (2026).
- Pay Scale: ₹78,450 - 4,050 (9) - 114,900 - EB - 4,050 (2) - 123,000 - 4,650 (4) - 141,600 (16 years) (2026).
- Initial Gross Emoluments: Approximately ₹1,54,936/- per month excluding House Rent Allowance (2026).
- House Rent Allowance: 15% of basic pay provided if official Bank accommodation is not allotted (2026).
- Probation Period: 2 years initial probation, extendable up to a maximum of 4 years at the Bank's discretion (2026).
Application fee
- General / OBC / EWS: ₹850/- + 18% GST (Application fee + Intimation charges) (2026)
- SC / ST / PwBD: ₹100/- + 18% GST (Intimation charges only) (2026)
- RBI Staff: Nil (Fee exempt) (2026)
Exam calendar
- Notification & Applications: Usually announced between April and July
- Phase-I Examination: Conducted typically between June and September
- Phase-II Examination: Conducted typically between July and October
- Interviews: Conducted typically between September and December following Phase-II results
Preparation tips
- Prioritize General Awareness for Phase-I, as it accounts for 80 out of 200 marks and covers banking awareness, monetary policy, and the Union Budget.
- Practice typing long-form answers on a keyboard under timed conditions, since descriptive sections for ESI, English, and FM must be typed directly on a computer.
- Target 15-mark and 10-mark structures when practicing Phase-II descriptive questions for Papers I and III, as you will need to select and answer four out of six questions.
- Prepare concise summaries for both Management and Finance sections, focusing on organizational theories, corporate governance, financial markets, and FinTech.
- Monitor negative marking in Phase-I objective sections, keeping in mind that 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect attempt across all subjects.
- Consistently practice precis writing and reading comprehension alongside essay formulation to cover the full requirements of Phase-II English Writing Skills.
FAQs
What is the attempt limit for the RBI Grade B exam?
According to the 2026 notification, candidates belonging to the General and EWS categories are permitted a maximum of 6 attempts in the Phase-I Examination. Appearing in the Phase-I exam counts as an attempt. No attempt limit applies to SC, ST, OBC, or PwBD candidates if the post is reserved for them.
Are Phase-I marks included in the final merit list?
No. The Phase-I examination is qualifying in nature. According to the 2026 notification, the final merit list is computed exclusively from the aggregate marks obtained in Phase-II (300 marks) and the Interview (75 marks), totaling 375 marks.
What are the minimum educational marks required to apply?
Candidates must have at least 60% aggregate marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD) in a Bachelor's Degree, or at least 55% marks (pass marks for SC/ST/PwBD) in a Post-Graduate Degree across all semesters/years (2026).
Can I give the RBI Grade B Interview in Hindi?
Yes. Candidates have the option to be interviewed in either Hindi or English during the Phase-III Interview stage (2026).
How is the descriptive part of Phase-II conducted?
For Paper-I (ESI), Paper-II (English), and Paper-III (FM), the descriptive answers must be typed via a keyboard on the computer (2026).
What is the duration of probation for an RBI Grade B Officer?
Appointees undergo an initial probation period of 2 years, which can be extended up to a maximum of 4 years at the Bank's discretion (2026).
Sources
- rbi.org.in (rbi.org.in) Official
- anujjindal.in (anujjindal.in)
- freejobalert.com (www.freejobalert.com)
- adda247.com (www.adda247.com)
- scribd.com (www.scribd.com)
Always confirm details in the latest official notification before applying. Spotted an error? Write to prepzen.app@gmail.com.
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