RBI Grade B is the recruitment of Officers in Grade B of the Reserve Bank of India. It is conducted by the RBI Services Board (RBISB), based in Mumbai. It is one of the most respected exams in the banking and finance sector, because officers join the central bank itself.
Grade B officers work in areas such as monetary policy, banking regulation and supervision, currency management, foreign exchange and financial inclusion. The exam has three streams. The largest is DR (General). The other two are DR (DEPR) for economics and DR (DSIM) for statistics. This page covers the General stream.
- Stages: an objective Phase I, a Phase II of three papers, and an interview.
- Phase I only short-lists candidates; the final merit is based on Phase II and the interview.
- Phase II tests Economic and Social Issues, English writing and Finance and Management.
- The marks, cut-offs, age band and attempt limit are fixed in each RBI notification - confirm them there.
What a Grade B officer does
A Grade B officer is a junior management officer of the Reserve Bank. After training, officers are posted to central office departments in Mumbai or to regional offices across the country.
Typical work areas include:
- Regulation and supervision of banks and non-banking finance companies
- Monetary policy support and research on the economy
- Currency management - issue of notes and coins and the handling of soiled notes
- Foreign exchange management and external sector work
- Financial inclusion, consumer protection and payment systems
Officers move between departments over their career. Promotion to higher grades follows RBI's internal rules.
Exam structure at a glance
The General stream has been held in three stages.
| Stage | Nature | Role in selection |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I | One objective paper, online | Short-listing for Phase II |
| Phase II | Three papers, objective and descriptive, online | Counted in the final merit |
| Interview | Personal interview | Counted in the final merit |
Each paper has its own sectional cut-off, and there is an aggregate cut-off as well. A candidate who misses one section's cut-off is out, even with a high total.
The exact marks, time and cut-off rules are given in each notification. RBI has changed details before, so plan from the latest one.
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Cover the full General Studies syllabus in a fixed, structured schedule.
Phase I - the objective paper
Phase I is one objective paper of 200 marks in 120 minutes. In recent cycles it has had four sections:
| Section | Weight (recent cycles) |
|---|---|
| General Awareness | The largest section, about 80 marks |
| Reasoning | About 60 marks |
| English Language | About 30 marks |
| Quantitative Aptitude | About 30 marks |
General Awareness in this exam leans on banking, economy, RBI policies, government schemes and current affairs of the past several months.
Negative marking of one-fourth mark per wrong answer has applied. Each section has a cut-off. Phase I marks are not added to the final merit.
Phase II - the three papers
Phase II is the stage that decides most of the rank. It has had three papers of 100 marks each:
- Paper I - Economic and Social Issues (ESI): growth and development, Indian economy, globalisation, social structure, social justice, and government policy. It is part objective and part descriptive.
- Paper II - English (Writing Skills): descriptive. It tests essay writing, precis and reading comprehension. Answers are typed on the computer.
- Paper III - Finance and Management: financial system, financial markets, RBI's role, risk management, basics of accounting and corporate governance, plus management topics such as leadership, motivation, communication and ethics. It is part objective and part descriptive.
Descriptive answers are typed online. Practise typing structured answers within the word limits.
The syllabus, the split between objective and descriptive parts, and the time per paper are listed in the notification.
The interview and final merit
Candidates who clear the Phase II cut-offs are called for an interview. In recent cycles it has carried 75 marks.
The board asks about the candidate's background, the economy, banking, current issues and RBI's work. Many questions grow out of the candidate's own details in the application form.
The final merit list is made from the marks of Phase II and the interview together. Phase I marks are not counted.
The interview marks and any extra test used in a cycle are stated in the notification.
Who can apply
For the General stream, the academic requirement has been a bachelor's degree with at least 60% marks, or a master's degree with at least 55% marks. The percentage is relaxed for SC, ST and PwBD candidates.
The age limit has been 21 to 30 years, with a higher upper limit for candidates holding an M.Phil or PhD, and relaxations for reserved categories under government rules.
RBI also limits the number of attempts for general category candidates. Appearing in Phase I counts as an attempt.
The percentage rule, age band, attempt limit and relaxations are set in each notification. Check them before applying.
RBI Grade B vs NABARD Grade A
Many candidates prepare for both, because the syllabus overlaps.
| Point | RBI Grade B | NABARD Grade A |
|---|---|---|
| Organisation | Central bank of India | Apex bank for agriculture and rural development |
| Main stages | Phase I, Phase II, interview | Prelims, mains, interview |
| Special subject | Finance and Management | Agriculture and rural development |
| Common ground | Economic and social issues, English writing, banking awareness | |
For the NABARD exam in detail, see the NABARD Grade A guide.
How to prepare for RBI Grade B
Prepare for Phase I and Phase II together. Phase II needs months of reading.
Economy and ESI. Build your base with the Indian economy, the Economic Survey and the Union Budget. Add social issues such as poverty, education, health and inclusion.
Finance and Management. Study the financial system, RBI's monetary policy, banking regulation and basic management theory. RBI's own reports and press releases are key sources.
English writing. Write one essay and one precis every week. Type them, since the exam is online.
Phase I speed. Practise reasoning and quant at the bank PO level. Reasoning carries high weight.
Current affairs. Follow banking and economy news daily for at least six months before the exam.
For other officer-level banking exams, see the SBI PO, IBPS PO and RBI Assistant guides.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Preparing only for Phase I. Phase II decides the rank, and it needs long preparation.
- Ignoring sectional cut-offs. One weak section can end the attempt.
- Not typing answers. Descriptive answers are typed online; slow typing costs marks.
- Old current affairs. The exam asks about recent RBI and government moves.
- Wasting attempts. Attempts are limited; appear only when you are ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is RBI Grade B?
It is the recruitment of Officers in Grade B of the Reserve Bank of India, conducted by the RBI Services Board. It has General, DEPR and DSIM streams.
What is the exam pattern of RBI Grade B?
An objective Phase I for short-listing, a Phase II with papers on Economic and Social Issues, English writing and Finance and Management, and an interview. The final merit is based on Phase II and the interview.
What is the eligibility for RBI Grade B?
For the General stream, a bachelor's degree with at least 60% or a master's degree with at least 55% marks, with relaxation for SC, ST and PwBD candidates. The age band has been 21 to 30 years. Confirm in the current notification.
Is there negative marking in RBI Grade B?
Yes. One-fourth mark has been deducted for each wrong answer in the objective papers. Confirm this in the current notification.
Are Phase I marks counted in the final merit of RBI Grade B?
No. Phase I only short-lists candidates for Phase II. The final merit is based on Phase II and interview marks.
Is there a limit on attempts in RBI Grade B?
Yes. RBI limits the number of attempts for general category candidates, and appearing in Phase I counts as an attempt. The exact rule is in each notification.