RBI Grade B
Reserve Bank of India
Complete guide to passing the RBI Grade B exam on your first attempt.
~$10 (INR 850)
~1%
Annual exam
India
Reserve Bank of India
₹12-20 LPA
Are you ready for RBI Grade B?
Loading quiz...
Complete Overview
RBI Grade B is the direct recruitment examination the Reserve Bank of India Services Board runs to appoint Officers in Grade B on probation, the entry-level officer rank at India's central bank. Applicants pay INR 850 plus 18 per cent GST if they are General, OBC or EWS candidates, while SC, ST and PwBD candidates pay intimation charges of INR 100 plus 18 per cent GST, and serving RBI staff candidates pay nothing.
The 2026 panel year advertisement, RBISB/DA/01/2026-27, notified 60 posts in total: 40 in the General cadre, 10 in the Department of Economic and Policy Research cadre and 10 in the Department of Statistics and Information Management cadre. Applications closed on 20 May 2026 at 6:00 PM and are accepted only online through rbi.org.in. Candidates must be at least 21 and under 30 as on 1 April 2026, and General cadre applicants need graduation in any discipline with 60 per cent marks, or post-graduation with 55 per cent, with relaxed thresholds for SC, ST and PwBD candidates where posts are reserved.
Selection for the General cadre runs across three stages. Phase I is a single 200 mark online objective paper of 120 minutes covering General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning, with separate time allotted to each test. Candidates must clear a minimum in every test and an aggregate cut-off the Board fixes against vacancies. Where Phase I runs in multiple sessions, RBI equates corrected scores across sessions using the equipercentile method.
Phase II is three papers totalling 300 marks, conducted in shifts on a single day with one Admit Card covering all shifts. Paper I on Economic and Social Issues and Paper III on General Finance and Management each run 120 minutes and are split half objective and half descriptive: 30 objective questions for 50 marks, then 6 descriptive questions of which 4 must be answered, two carrying 15 marks and two carrying 10 marks. Paper II on English Writing Skills is 90 minutes, 3 descriptive questions, 100 marks, all typed on a keyboard.
Candidates who clear the Phase II aggregate cut-off are called for a 75 mark Interview, preceded by a Personality Assessment that carries no marks and does not feed into selection. The final merit list adds Phase II and Interview marks, so 375 marks decide the outcome and Phase I is purely a screening filter. Interviews may be taken in Hindi or English.
Starting basic pay is INR 78,450 per month in the scale rising to INR 141,600 over 16 years, and RBI states initial monthly gross emoluments without house rent allowance are approximately INR 1,54,936. Appointment is on probation for two years, extendable at the Bank's discretion up to four.
Why Get RBI Grade B Certified?
RBI states initial monthly gross emoluments for a Grade B officer, excluding house rent allowance, are approximately INR 1,54,936, on a starting basic pay of INR 78,450 per month.
The pay scale runs from INR 78,450 to INR 141,600 across 16 years, with an efficiency bar built into the progression, so the pay ladder is defined in the advertisement rather than left open.
Only 60 posts were notified for panel year 2026 across all three cadres, which makes the qualification a narrow one and gives it weight in the financial sector labour market.
The General cadre requires no prior work experience, and the advertisement explicitly encourages candidates with no prior experience to apply.
Perquisites listed in the advertisement include Bank accommodation subject to availability, free dispensary facility, medical reimbursement, interest free festival advance, leave fare concession once in two years, and loans for housing, vehicle, education and personal computers at concessional interest.
RBI arranges free online pre-examination training for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates for both Phase I and Phase II of the General cadre selection.
Candidates with very high academic or professional qualifications may be granted up to four advance increments, at the Bank's sole discretion, but the request has to be made in the Bio-data Form and raised at the Interview stage.
Exam Format & Structure
Duration
Phase I: 120 minutes for a single objective paper, with separate time allotted to each of the four tests. Phase II: three papers totalling 330 minutes of testing time, being 120 minutes for Paper I, 90 minutes for Paper II and 120 minutes for Paper III, conducted in shifts on one day. Interview: duration not published by the Reserve Bank of India Services Board.
Questions
Phase I: a single paper for 200 marks across General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning. The Reserve Bank of India Services Board does not publish the per-test question count in the advertisement and directs candidates to the Information Handout issued with the Admit Card. Phase II: Paper I and Paper III each have 30 objective questions for 50 marks plus 6 descriptive questions of which 4 must be attempted for 50 marks. Paper II has 3 descriptive questions for 100 marks.
Passing Score
The Reserve Bank of India Services Board does not publish fixed cut-off marks. In Phase I candidates must secure minimum marks separately in each of the four tests and an aggregate minimum, both prescribed by the Board. The aggregate cut-off for shortlisting to Phase II is decided in relation to the number of vacancies, as is the Phase II aggregate cut-off for the Interview call. The final merit list adds Phase II marks out of 300 and Interview marks out of 75, plus grace marks as applicable under extant rules.
Question Types
- Objective multiple choice questions in Phase I across all four tests
- Objective questions in Paper I and Paper III, with some carrying 2 marks and some carrying 1 mark
- Descriptive questions in Paper I and Paper III, two of 15 marks and two of 10 marks, chosen from six
- Descriptive essay and writing tasks in Paper II on English Writing Skills
- Personality Assessment before the Interview, carrying no marks
- Interview of 75 marks, which the candidate may take in Hindi or English
Delivery Method
Online examination at Board-designated centres in India for both phases. Descriptive answers in Paper I, Paper II and Paper III are typed on a keyboard. Candidates typing Hindi answers may use either the Inscript or the Remington GAIL keyboard layout. Phase II is held in shifts with a single Admit Card covering all shifts, and candidates must appear for every paper in every shift.
Exam Domains & Topics
A single 200 mark objective paper in 120 minutes with separate time for each of the four tests. Candidates must clear a minimum in each test and an aggregate minimum. Marks here decide who reaches Phase II and nothing else, because the final merit list is built from Phase II and Interview marks alone.
Key Topics to Master:
- Current affairs in banking, economy and government policy
- Static general awareness on institutions and financial regulation
- Reading comprehension, error spotting and cloze passages
- Data interpretation from tables, charts and caselets
- Arithmetic covering percentage, ratio, interest and time-based problems
- Seating arrangement, floor and scheduling puzzles
- Syllogism, inequality and data sufficiency
- Coding-decoding and logical sequences
One hundred marks in 120 minutes, half objective in 30 minutes and half descriptive in 90 minutes. RBI publishes a detailed syllabus covering growth and development, the Indian economy since 1991, globalisation and Indian social structure, and names its own reference material including Uma Kapila, Misra and Puri, and Debraj Ray.
Key Topics to Master:
- Measurement of growth, national income and per capita income
- Poverty alleviation, employment generation and sustainable development
- Economic history of India and industrial and labour policy changes since 1991
- Priorities and recommendations of the Economic Survey and Union Budget
- Indian money and financial markets and their linkages with the economy
- Role of Indian banks and the Reserve Bank in the development process
- Balance of payments, export-import policy, IMF, World Bank and WTO
- Social structure: multiculturalism, demographic trends, urbanisation and migration
- Gender issues and social justice
One hundred marks for 3 descriptive questions in 90 minutes, typed on a keyboard. RBI states the paper is framed to assess writing skills including expression and understanding of the topic, and publishes no syllabus or reading list for it. It carries the same 100 marks as Paper I and Paper III, so it is a third of the Phase II total.
Key Topics to Master:
- Essay writing on economic, financial and social policy topics
- Precis writing and compression to a stated word limit
- Comprehension-based writing tasks
- Argument structure and evidence in a short essay
- Formal register and economy of expression
- Typing speed and accuracy for extended prose
- Proofreading within the 90 minute limit
One hundred marks in 120 minutes, split 30 minutes objective and 90 minutes descriptive, with the same 30-question objective and four-of-six descriptive structure as Paper I. The published syllabus runs across the financial system, financial markets, general finance topics and management, with named theory down to the level of individual models.
Key Topics to Master:
- Structure and functions of financial institutions, and the functions of the Reserve Bank of India
- Indian banking system, SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB and NaBFID
- Primary and secondary markets in forex, money, bond and equity
- Financial risk management, basics of derivatives and financial inclusion
- Corporate governance in the banking sector and public-private partnership
- Basics of accounting: balance sheet, profit and loss, cash flow and ratio analysis
- Inflation: WPI and CPI components, trends, consequences and control
- Organisational behaviour: Maslow, Alderfer, McClelland, Herzberg, Adams and Vroom
- Leadership theories, Transactional Analysis, Johari Window and Kurt Lewin's change model
Seventy-five marks, the final component of the merit list. Candidates are shortlisted on the Phase II aggregate cut-off the Board fixes against vacancies, and Interview call letters go to the registered email address. A Personality Assessment is conducted before the Interview but carries no marks and does not form part of the selection criteria.
Key Topics to Master:
- Current RBI monetary policy stance and recent decisions
- Your academic specialisation and its link to central banking
- Home state and district economy
- Contents of the Economic Survey and Union Budget
- Ethical and situational judgement questions
- Requests for advance increments, which must be raised at this stage
- Choice of Hindi or English for the interview itself
Recommended Study Plan
- 1Download advertisement RBISB/DA/01/2026-27 from rbi.org.in and read the Phase I and Phase II tables, the eligibility clauses and the six-attempt limit
- 2Copy the Appendix-II syllabi for Economic and Social Issues and General Finance and Management into a working document, since these are the actual blueprint
- 3Sit an untimed Phase I mock to find your baseline in General Awareness, English, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning
- 4Start a running file of RBI press releases and Monetary Policy Statements from rbi.org.in
- 1Work through measurement of growth, national income, poverty alleviation and employment generation using Misra and Puri Indian Economy
- 2Read Debraj Ray on growth and development for the theory RBI names in its own reference list
- 3Write two 10 mark descriptive answers per day at the length the paper actually allows
- 4Add every fresh statistic from the latest Economic Survey to a single figures sheet
- 1Cover industrial and labour policy changes, monetary and fiscal policy since the 1991 reforms
- 2Read the Union Budget documents and note the fiscal deficit path, capital expenditure and major scheme allocations
- 3Study public finance from K.K. Andley and Sundaram, which RBI lists as reference material
- 4Practise one 15 mark descriptive answer daily on a policy question, typed rather than handwritten
- 1Cover balance of payments, export-import policy, IMF, World Bank, WTO and regional economic cooperation
- 2Read the IMF World Economic Outlook summary and the World Development Report overview, both named in RBI's reference list
- 3Study multiculturalism, demographic trends, urbanisation, migration, gender issues and social justice from C.N. Shankar Rao Sociology
- 4Take a 30 question objective sectional on Economic and Social Issues in 30 minutes
- 1Cover the structure and functions of financial institutions and the functions of the Reserve Bank of India
- 2Study SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB and NaBFID, including mandate, ownership and recent activity
- 3Work through primary and secondary markets in forex, money, bond and equity, with instruments and recent developments
- 4Read the RBI Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India for the current data on the banking system
- 1Cover financial risk management, derivatives basics, financial inclusion and public-private partnership
- 2Work balance sheet, profit and loss, cash flow statements and ratio analysis including debt to equity, debtor days, inventory turnover, return on assets and return on equity
- 3Study inflation in the exact syllabus form: WPI and CPI components, trends, estimates, consequences and control
- 4Read Prasanna Chandra Financial Management on the corporate finance sections RBI names
- 1Learn the named theories exactly: Maslow, Alderfer ERG, McClelland, Herzberg two-factor, Adams equity and Vroom expectancy
- 2Cover leadership theories, emotional intelligence dimensions, Transactional Analysis, the Johari Window and Kurt Lewin's change model
- 3Study business ethics from Velasquez Business Ethics Concepts and Cases and corporate governance mechanisms
- 4Write four descriptive management answers, since this is the fastest scoring half of Paper III
- 1Write one full essay on an economic or social policy topic every day, typed, and hold it to 90 minutes for all three tasks
- 2Practise precis writing to a fixed word count, cutting rather than paraphrasing
- 3Build a bank of eight to ten policy topics with facts you can deploy in any essay
- 4Have at least three pieces marked for structure, grammar and whether the argument actually answers the question
- 1Return to Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning, which get squeezed out while working on the descriptive papers
- 2Take three full Phase I mocks of 120 minutes with per-test timing enforced
- 3Check that you clear a plausible minimum in each of the four tests separately, rather than only the aggregate
- 4Refresh current affairs from the last six months of RBI and PIB releases
- 1Sit Paper I, Paper II and Paper III in one day in shift order, matching the real Phase II schedule
- 2Type every descriptive answer, and if you intend to write in Hindi, practise on the Inscript or Remington GAIL layout you will actually use
- 3Confirm you can complete 4 of 6 descriptive questions in the 90 minutes given for the descriptive half
- 4Rework every objective question you missed in Paper I and Paper III into your notes the same day
- 1Prepare answers on your degree subject, home district economy, and why the central bank rather than a commercial bank
- 2Revise the current monetary policy stance, repo rate decisions and the RBI Annual Report highlights
- 3Sit three mock interviews, and decide in advance whether you will answer in Hindi or English
- 4Fill in any request for advance increments in the Bio-data Form, because the Board considers such requests only at the Interview stage
- 1Revise your figures sheet, the management theory names and the ratio formulas, adding no new material
- 2Reread the RBI syllabus line by line and mark anything you cannot write 200 words on
- 3Assemble the Admit Card and photo identity proof in original with the required photocopies, two or three for Phase II shifts
- 4Verify that the name on your Admit Card matches the name on your identity proof exactly
Ready to pass RBI Grade B?
Get 500+ practice questions, video walkthroughs, and a pass guarantee.
Best Study Resources
RBI Opportunities and Current Vacancies portal
Official notification portalThe only place RBI publishes the advertisement, the syllabi appendices, corrigenda, shortlisted roll numbers and results. Applications are accepted online here and nowhere else.
Free
RBI Annual Report and Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India
Primary sourceRBI names both reports in its own suggested reference material for Economic and Social Issues and for General Finance and Management. They supply the current data that descriptive answers need.
Free
Economic Survey of India and the Union Budget documents
Primary sourceThe Paper I syllabus explicitly lists priorities and recommendations of the Economic Survey and Union Budget. Read the survey volume summaries and the budget at a glance rather than second-hand notes.
Free
Indian Economy by Misra and Puri
TextbookNamed by RBI in the suggested reference material for both Paper I and Paper III. Covers economic history, policy since 1991, agriculture, industry and services.
Around INR 700-1,000
Growth and Development by Debraj Ray
TextbookListed by RBI for Paper I. Supplies the development economics theory behind the growth measurement and poverty sections of the syllabus.
Around INR 700-1,200
Financial Management by Prasanna Chandra
TextbookNamed by RBI for the finance half of Paper III. Useful for financial statements, ratio analysis, risk management and derivatives basics.
Around INR 800-1,200
Organisational Behaviour by Stephen P. Robbins, Judge and Vohra
TextbookNamed by RBI for the management half of Paper III. It covers the motivation and leadership theories the syllabus lists by name, which is what descriptive answers are marked against.
Around INR 700-1,000
Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases by Manuel G. Velasquez
TextbookNamed by RBI for the ethics at the workplace and corporate governance section, including utilitarianism, rights and duties, justice and fairness, and virtue ethics.
Around INR 600-900
Economic and Political Weekly and RBI Bulletin
PeriodicalRBI lists RBI Bulletins and EPW among suggested magazines and periodicals for Paper I. They supply the arguments and framing that lift a descriptive answer above a factual list.
RBI Bulletin free; EPW subscription varies
RBI free pre-examination training for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates
Official free trainingArranged online by the Bank for Phase I and, for those who clear Phase I, for Phase II of the General cadre selection. Instructions are in Appendix IV of the advertisement. Undergoing training confers no right to be called for the examination or for recruitment.
Free
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Treating Paper II on English Writing Skills as a low-effort paper because it has no syllabus list.
Paper II carries 100 marks, the same as Paper I and Paper III, which makes it a third of the Phase II total. Write one full timed essay a day. The absence of a syllabus means the marks come from expression and structure, both of which improve only with drafted practice.
Preparing descriptive answers by hand and discovering typing speed only on exam day.
Every descriptive answer in Paper I, Paper II and Paper III is typed on a keyboard. Candidates who intend to answer in Hindi must also practise on either the Inscript or the Remington GAIL layout, because those are the only two layouts RBI provides.
Chasing a high Phase I score and treating it as progress towards selection.
Phase I marks do not enter the final merit list. The merit list is built by adding Phase II marks out of 300 and Interview marks out of 75. Once you can reliably clear the per-test minimums, move your hours to Economic and Social Issues, General Finance and Management, and writing practice.
Studying Paper I from a generic Indian economy course rather than RBI's published syllabus.
The syllabus is specific down to headings such as poverty alleviation and employment generation, social justice, and gender issues. RBI even names the books it expects. Work from the Appendix-II text in the advertisement and tick off each heading rather than following a coaching sequence.
Skipping the management half of Paper III because the finance half feels more relevant to a central bank.
The management section is worth roughly half of Paper III and is the most learnable content in the whole syllabus, because RBI lists the theories by name: Maslow, Alderfer, McClelland, Herzberg, Adams, Vroom, Lewin, Johari Window and Transactional Analysis. Memorising named models converts directly into descriptive marks.
Attempting more than four descriptive questions in Paper I or Paper III to hedge against a weak answer.
Only the first four answers are evaluated. Extra answers cost time and earn nothing. Pick your four early, note that two carry 15 marks and two carry 10, and budget the 90 descriptive minutes accordingly.
Assuming a strong aggregate in Phase I covers a weak individual test.
Candidates must secure minimum marks separately for each test as well as in aggregate. A candidate with a very high General Awareness score and a Quantitative Aptitude score below the test minimum is eliminated at Phase I regardless of the total.
Waiting until after selection to raise the question of higher starting emoluments.
RBI considers requests for advance increments based on higher qualification or special experience only at the Interview stage, and the information has to be furnished in the appropriate column of the Bio-data Form. The Board will not entertain any request received after the Interview.
Carrying a single photocopy of the photo ID to Phase II.
Phase II runs in two or three shifts and a photocopy must be surrendered at each shift, so carry two or three copies. One copy is enough for Phase I. Ration cards and learner's driving licences are not accepted as identity proof at all.
Exam Day Tips
- 1
Carry the Admit Card together with a photo identity proof in original and a photocopy of the same document. Accepted proofs are PAN card, passport, driving licence, voter's card, bank passbook with photograph, photo identity proof issued by a Gazetted Officer or a People's Representative on official letterhead, a valid recent college or university identity card, e-Aadhaar or Aadhaar with photograph, employee ID, or a Bar Council identity card with photograph.
- 2
Do not bring a ration card or a learner's driving licence as your identity proof. RBI states neither is valid.
- 3
Bring two or three photocopies of the photo ID for Phase II, because the examination runs in two or three shifts and a copy is collected at each shift. One photocopy is sufficient for Phase I.
- 4
Check that the name on the Admit Card matches the name on the identity proof exactly. Where a name has changed, carry the original Gazette Notification, marriage certificate or affidavit together with a photocopy. A mismatch means you will not be allowed to sit the examination.
- 5
Arrive before the Gate Closure Time printed on the Admit Card. Candidates reporting after that time are not permitted to take the examination, in Phase I or Phase II.
- 6
Phase II uses one Admit Card for all shifts and you must appear for every paper in every shift. Missing one shift is not a partial attempt.
- 7
If you plan to type descriptive answers in Hindi, know in advance whether you are using the Inscript or the Remington GAIL keyboard layout, since those are the two options RBI provides on screen.
- 8
Candidates eligible for a scribe receive 20 minutes of compensatory time per hour of the examination, whether or not they use the scribe, and must arrange the scribe at their own cost. The scribe's qualification should be one step below the candidate's.
- 9
Expect the Board to run a response-similarity analysis after the examination. It reserves the right to cancel candidature where responses appear to have been shared.
- 10
Leave calculators outside. RBI bars physical calculators from all phases of the examination and from the examination premises. A non-programmable electronic calculator appears on screen only in Paper II for DSIM candidates.
Career Paths & Salary Ranges
Officer in Grade B (Direct Recruit), General cadre
The entry role for direct recruits. Initial appointment is on probation for two years, extendable at the Bank's discretion up to a maximum of four. Officers are liable to be posted and transferred anywhere in India.
Starting basic pay INR 78,450 per month; RBI states initial monthly gross emoluments without HRA are approximately INR 1,54,936
Officer in Grade B, Department of Economic and Policy Research cadre
Recruited through a separate examination track with two Economics papers. RBI describes the job requirement as undertaking economic analysis and research, contributing to policy formulation, and compiling data on selected sectors.
Same Grade B pay scale of INR 78,450 to INR 141,600 over 16 years
Officer in Grade B, Department of Statistics and Information Management cadre
The statistics track, recruited on a separate paper structure and requiring a master's degree in statistics, mathematical statistics, econometrics or a related field with the marks threshold set in the advertisement.
Same Grade B pay scale of INR 78,450 to INR 141,600 over 16 years
Regulation, supervision and monetary policy roles within RBI
Grade B officers rotate across departments including banking regulation, supervision, currency management, financial markets operations and payment systems, according to the roles RBI publishes on its opportunities pages.
Grade B pay scale plus Special Allowance, Grade Allowance, Dearness Allowance and other allowances in force
Promotion to higher officer grades within the Reserve Bank
The internal ladder from Grade B upward through the Bank's officer grades. The advertisement does not publish a fixed promotion timetable, only that reasonable prospects exist.
Higher graded scales on promotion; RBI states there are reasonable prospects for promotion to higher grades
Prerequisites & Requirements
- Age at least 21 and under 30 as on the notified date. For panel year 2026 this meant birth on or after 2 April 1996 and on or before 1 April 2005.
- Upper age relaxation of up to 5 years for SC and ST candidates and up to 3 years for OBC candidates where posts are reserved for them, and up to 5 years for ex-employees of banking institutions whose services were terminated for reasons of economy or bank liquidation.
- General cadre educational qualification: graduation in any discipline or an equivalent technical or professional qualification with a minimum of 60 per cent marks, or post-graduation with a minimum of 55 per cent, in aggregate across all semesters or years. SC, ST and PwBD applicants need 50 per cent at graduation level and pass marks at post-graduate level where posts are reserved for them.
- DEPR cadre: a master's degree in Economics or a related discipline as specified in the advertisement, with the minimum 55 per cent threshold and the relaxations set out there.
- DSIM cadre: a master's degree in Statistics, Mathematical Statistics, Mathematical Economics, Econometrics, Statistics and Informatics or a related field, or a Bachelor's Degree in Statistics with 60 per cent in aggregate, per the qualification table in the advertisement.
- Attempt limit: General and EWS candidates who have already appeared six times in the Phase I examination for these posts are not eligible to apply. No such restriction applies to SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates where posts are reserved for them.
- No prior work experience is required for the General cadre, and the advertisement encourages candidates with no prior experience to apply.
- Payment of the application fee or intimation charges in the prescribed manner. Applications without the prescribed fee are summarily rejected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the RBI Grade B exam cost?
General, OBC and EWS candidates pay an application fee including intimation charges of INR 850 plus 18 per cent GST. SC, ST and PwBD candidates pay intimation charges only, at INR 100 plus 18 per cent GST. Eligible RBI staff candidates pay nothing. Bank and transaction charges are borne by the candidate, and the fee is never refunded or held in reserve for another examination.
How many attempts do I get at RBI Grade B?
General category and EWS candidates who have already appeared six times in the Phase I examination for these posts cannot apply again. SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates face no such restriction where posts are reserved for them. Note that the count is based on appearing in Phase I, not on reaching Phase II.
What happens if I fail one test in Phase I but score well in the others?
You are eliminated. Candidates must secure minimum marks separately for each of the four tests, General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning, as well as an aggregate minimum. Only candidates who clear every per-test minimum are ranked on aggregate for shortlisting to Phase II.
Do Phase I marks count towards the final RBI Grade B merit list?
No. The final merit list is prepared by adding marks secured in the Phase II examination and the Interview, plus grace marks as applicable under extant rules. Phase I decides only who is shortlisted for Phase II. Phase II is worth 300 marks and the Interview 75, so 375 marks decide selection.
Is there negative marking in RBI Grade B?
The Reserve Bank of India Services Board does not state a negative marking rule in advertisement RBISB/DA/01/2026-27. Detailed examination instructions are issued in the Information Handout that candidates download along with the Admit Card, and that handout is the document to check before the paper.
How does the descriptive section of Paper I and Paper III work?
Six descriptive questions are set and candidates must attempt four: two carrying 15 marks each with varying difficulty, and two carrying 10 marks each, for 50 marks in 90 minutes. If a candidate answers more than four, only the first four are evaluated. The objective half is 30 questions for 50 marks in 30 minutes, with some questions carrying 2 marks and some 1 mark.
What identity documents are accepted at the RBI Grade B examination?
PAN card, passport, driving licence, voter's card, bank passbook with photograph, photo identity proof issued by a Gazetted Officer or a People's Representative on official letterhead, a valid recent identity card issued by a recognised college or university, e-Aadhaar or Aadhaar card with photograph, employee ID, or a Bar Council identity card with photograph. Ration cards and learner's driving licences are not accepted. You must produce the original and surrender a photocopy at each shift.
Is RBI Grade B conducted online or on paper?
Both phases of the General cadre examination are conducted online at Board-designated centres in India, with descriptive answers typed on a keyboard. There is no home-proctored option. The DEPR and DSIM cadres have a different structure in which some papers are written rather than online, as set out in Appendix-III of the advertisement.
What accommodations are available for candidates with disabilities?
Candidates with benchmark disabilities who have a physical limitation in typing or writing, including limitations of speed, are allowed compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour of the examination, whether or not they use a scribe. The candidate arranges the scribe at their own cost and the scribe's qualification should be one step below the candidate's. Candidates with less than 40 per cent disability who have difficulty writing may also be granted a scribe or compensatory time on production of a certificate from a competent medical authority at a government healthcare institution, in the proforma at Appendix-X.
How are scores adjusted if Phase I is held in multiple sessions?
Corrected scores obtained by candidates in different sessions are normalised using the equipercentile method. Where the examination is held in more than one session, scores across sessions are equated following IBPS standard practice to adjust for differences in the difficulty level of the test batteries used across sessions.
Does RBI give candidates a marksheet?
No. The Board does not furnish marksheets. For the Grade B General cadre, marks obtained in Phase I are made available online after candidates are shortlisted for Phase II, and marks obtained in Phase II and the Interview are made available afterwards. For the DEPR and DSIM cadres, marks in Phase I, Phase II and the Interview are made available.
What is the Personality Assessment and does it affect selection?
Candidates undergo a Personality Assessment conducted by the Bank before appearing for the Interview. No marks are allotted for it and it does not form part of the final selection criteria. The Interview itself carries 75 marks and may be taken in Hindi or English at the candidate's choice.
How long does the RBI Grade B process take from application to result?
The 2026 cycle ran with applications closing on 20 May 2026, Phase I on 13 June 2026 for the General cadre, and Phase II on 25 July 2026, with the Interview following after the Phase II shortlist. The Board publishes shortlisted roll numbers on rbi.org.in and sends Interview call letters to registered email addresses. The Board reserves the right to modify examination dates entirely at its discretion.
How does RBI Grade B compare with SBI PO?
RBI Grade B recruits officers to the central bank and tests Economic and Social Issues, General Finance and Management, and English Writing Skills through long descriptive papers, while SBI PO recruits commercial bank Probationary Officers and weights speed-based objective testing far more heavily. RBI Grade B notified 60 posts in 2026 against 1500 Probationary Officer vacancies in SBI's 2026-27 advertisement, and RBI Grade B starts at a higher basic pay of INR 78,450 per month against SBI's INR 48,480.
Is RBI Grade B a permanent qualification once passed?
It is a recruitment examination rather than a certification, so there is nothing to renew or maintain. Passing results in an appointment as an Officer in Grade B on probation for two years, extendable by the Bank up to a maximum of four. There are no continuing education credits attached.
Does RBI provide free coaching for any category of candidate?
Yes. The Bank arranges free online pre-examination training for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates applying for Officers in Grade B General cadre, covering Phase I and, for those who clear Phase I, Phase II. Detailed instructions appear in Appendix IV of the advertisement and on rbi.org.in. Undergoing the training gives no right to be called for the examination or for recruitment.
Can I choose different examination centres for Phase I and Phase II?
Yes. The advertisement allows candidates to select centres for Phase I and Phase II separately according to their choice, and the centres chosen for the two phases can be different. Centre lists for each phase are published in the advertisement itself.
What benefits come with a Grade B appointment beyond salary?
The advertisement lists Bank accommodation subject to availability, reimbursement of vehicle maintenance for official use, Knowledge Updation Allowance, telephone charges, an allowance for furnishing a residence, free dispensary facility, reimbursement of medical expenses for outpatient and hospital treatment, an interest free festival advance, leave fare concession once in two years for self, spouse and eligible dependents, and concessional loans for housing, vehicle, education, consumer articles and a personal computer. Officers joining after 1 January 2012 are covered by the Defined Contribution New Pension Scheme in addition to gratuity.
Pass RBI Grade B, Guaranteed
94% pass rate on first attempt
One-time • Lifetime access