RBI EXAMS

The Reserve Bank of India conducts examinations for recruitment to various posts in the RBI. The RBI was established in 1935 and nationalized in 1949. It is the apex bank in the country responsible for maintaining the Consolidated Fund of India and formulating banking policies.

A job in the apex bank is considered highly prestigious, and hence the competition is high and equivalent to other Government exams.

RBI Grade B Exam

The RBI Grade B exam is conducted every year to recruit officers into the Reserve Bank.

The official RBI Grade B Exam Notification 2022 will be released in February 2022 on the official Reserve Bank of India website.

Successful candidates are inducted into the bank as officers in the following departments:

  • Direct Recruitment(DR) General Cadre
  • Department of Economic Policy and Research(DEPR)
  • Department of Statistics and Information Management(DISM)

RBI Grade B Eligibility

The RBI has the following essential criteria for candidates desirous of applying for Grade B Posts:

  • Age Limits: Between 21 to 30 years for Graduates.
  • Educational Qualifications: Candidates have to attain at least an undergraduate degree to be able to appear for the RBI Grade B exam. Educational requirements and RBI cut off for marks in the highest educational qualification vary according to the department applied for, by the applicant.
  • Nationality: Only Indian Nationals and subjects of Nepal and Bhutan are eligible to appear in the RBI exam. Refugees and migrants from certain countries are also allowed if they can produce a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.
  • Number of Attempts: Unreserved category candidates can appear in the exam up to 6 times.

RBI admit cards are issued only to candidates who fulfil all the above criteria and can produce documentary proof when requested.

RBI Grade B Exam Pattern

The RBI Grade B exam consists of two written exams and an interview as described in the following table:

Examination Subjects
Phase I Examination General Awareness
English Language
Quantitative Aptitude
Reasoning Ability
Phase II Examination Economic and Social Issues
English Language
Finance and Management/Economics/Statistics
Phase III Interview General Awareness and Interpersonal Skills

Currently, the RBI Grade B recruitment 2021 is ongoing and candidates must start their preparation accordingly to ace the Officer cadre examination.

RBI Grade B Syllabus

The syllabus of the RBI exam is roughly equivalent to the level of a graduate in Economics. The exam covers the following major topics:

  • English Writing Skills
  • Economic and Social Issues
  • Finance
  • Management
  • General Awareness
  • Current Affairs
  • Micro and Macro Economics
  • Indian Economy and Related Topics

A candidate must have complete knowledge of the RBI Grade B syllabus to prepare and perform well in the examination.

RBI Grade C Exam

The RBI Grade C exam is conducted periodically to recruit specialists for running day to day operations at the bank. The eligibility criteria, syllabus and educational qualifications vary based on the specialization required by the bank. There is no fixed time of the year when the RBI Grade C notification is released. The exam pattern is based on the shortlisting of applications based on the following criteria:

  • Experience in the area of specialization applied for
  • Education Achievement
  • Record of Service
  • Special Achievement and Awards if any

The shortlisted candidates are called for an interview. Based on the scores secured in the interview, candidates are awarded contracts by the RBI to work for them.

RBI Assistant Exam

The RBI Assistant exam is conducted to recruit candidates into the clerical and assistant cadre handling day to day operations of the bank. The RBI Assistant 2020 recruitment is complete and the 2021-22 notification is yet to be released, and candidates willing to appear for the RBI exams can fill in the application form. The following are a few details about the exam:

RBI Assistant Eligibility

RBI Assistant eligibility is a set of requirements that are stated by the conducting body for a candidate to apply for the exam. The RBI asks candidates to fulfil the following criteria for applying for RBI Assistant post:

  • Age Limits: Between 21 to 28
  • Educational Qualifications: Candidates have to attain at least an undergraduate degree to be able to appear for the exam.
  • Nationality: Only Indian Nationals and subjects of Nepal and Bhutan are eligible to appear in the RBI exam. Refugees and migrants from a few countries are also allowed if they can produce a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.

RBI Assistant admit card is issued only for those candidates who satisfy the above eligibility criteria.

RBI Assistant Exam Pattern And Syllabus

The RBI Assistant Exam consists of two stages, the Phase I and Phase II exams. The following is the basic pattern and syllabus of the exams:

RBI Assistant Phase I:

Paper Syllabus
RBI Assistant Preliminary Exam English Language
Numerical Ability
Reasoning Ability

RBI Assistant Phase II:

Paper Syllabus
RBI Assistant Main Exam English Language
Quantitative Aptitude
Reasoning Ability
Computer Knowledge
General Awareness

RBI Grade B Syllabus & Exam Pattern [Updated]

RBI Grade B Syllabus is similar to the syllabus of various other bank exams. The Grade B Officer written exam is conducted in two phases and the syllabus for both is set by the Reserve Bank of India. 

The RBI Grade B syllabus for Phase-I comprises four sections: Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness and English language. Phase-II exam includes three sections: economic and social sciences, English and Finance and Management. 

The Reserve Bank of India is the central bank for the country and aspirants for all bank exams look forward to recruitment in RBI. The RBI Grade B Officer syllabus is vast and the number of candidates applying each year for the exam is also high, so candidates must make a note that they prepare themselves well enough to qualify the exam in the very first attempt.

This article will cover RBI Grade B Syllabus for both the phases along with the exam pattern. Candidates willing to apply for the exam can know the exam dates, number of vacancies, salary and other important information regarding the RBI Grade B Notification.

Table of Contents:

  1. RBI Grade B Exam Pattern
  2. RBI Grade B Syllabus (Phase 1)
  3. RBI Grade B Syllabus (Phase 2)
  4. RBI Grade B Officer Exam Preparation
  5. RBI Grade B Exam Booklist

With the increase in the number of aspirants each year, the standard of the exam and its difficulty level have also increased. Thus, thorough preparation is required to crack the Officer cadre exam. 

RBI Grade B Exam Pattern

The RBI Grade B exam consists of the following stages:

  1. Phase – I Examination
  2. Phase – II Examination
  3. Interview

There will be slight variations in the individual topics asked in each stage of the examinations. To know more about other Government Exams conducted every year, 

The RBI Grade B exam pattern consists of two phases that are followed by an interview stage. The nature of the answers to be given by the candidate is also quite different, as Phase-I only contains objective questions. In contrast, Phase-II requires test takers to write explanatory answers as well. Let’s have a look at the exam pattern for both of these stages.

RBI also conducts the exam for recruitment as Assistants in The Reserve Bank of India. However, the RBI Grade B Officer Exam is more sought after and tougher to qualify.

Given below is the detailed RBI Grade B exam pattern for the (DR)-General Officer 2021:

RBI Grade B Exam Pattern – Scheme of Selection for GR B (DR) – GENERAL
Phase of the Exam Sections No. of Questions Marks Duration
Phase I General Awareness 80 80 A composite time of 120 minutes is provided to the candidate.
Quantitative Aptitude 30 30
English Language 30 30
Reasoning 60 60
Phase II

Paper I: Economic and Social Issues

50% Objective & 50% Descriptive

30 Objective Questions & 6 Descriptive Questions of which 4 have to be answered 100 120 minutes
Paper II: English (Writing Skills) 3 100 90 minutes

Paper III: Finance and Management

50% Objective & 50% Descriptive

30 Objective Questions & 6 Descriptive Questions of which 4 have to be answered 100 120 minutes
Interview 75

Aspirants can check the exam pattern and scheme of selection for the Officers in GR B (DR)-DSIM/DEPR 2021 given below:

RBI Grade B Exam Pattern – Scheme of Selection for Officers in GR B (DR)-DEPR
Phase of the Exam Name of the Paper Maximum Marks Duration
Phase I Paper I: Objective Type on Economics 100 120 minutes
Phase II Paper II: Descriptive Paper on Economics 100 180 minutes
Paper III: English (Descriptive) 100 90 minutes
Interview 75
RBI Grade B Exam Pattern – Scheme of Selection for Officers in GR B (DR)-DSIM
Phase of the Exam Name of the Paper Maximum Marks Duration
Phase I Paper I: Objective Type on Statistics 100 120 minutes
Phase II Paper II: Descriptive Paper on Statistics 100 180 minutes
Paper III: English (Descriptive) 100 90 minutes
Interview 75

RBI Grade B Syllabus (Phase 1)

The RBI Grade B exam comprises four sections:

  1. General Awareness
  2. Quantitative Aptitude
  3. Reasoning Ability
  4. English Language

The section-wise RBI Grade B syllabus for the Phase I examination is given below in detail. Aspirants can refer to the RBI Grade B Officer syllabus given below and start the preparation for the RBI Grade B exam.

RBI Grade B Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude:

Ratio & Proportion Mensuration
Percentage Average
Speed, Time and Distance Time and Work
Permutation and Combination Mixture and Alligation
Data Interpretation Probability
Stocks and Shares Simplification and Approximation
Quadratic Equations Inequalities
Number Series Upstream and Downstream
Profit and Loss Simple and Compound Interest

Check the maths tricks and shortcuts to solve the Quantitative Aptitude section faster and more efficiently.

RBI Grade B Syllabus for Reasoning Ability:

RBI Grade B Syllabus for English Language:

Reading Comprehension Cloze Test
Fill in the Blanks Sentence Rearrangement
Jumbled Words/Sentences Error Spotting
Sentence Framing Match the columns
Vocabulary Grammar
Tenses Rules Idioms & Phrases

RBI Grade B Syllabus for General Awareness:

Current Affairs Indian Financial System
Indian Banking System Banking Awareness
Banking History Monetary Plans
Economic News National and International Institutions
Bank Terms & Abbreviations Government Schemes
Banking Agreements Sports News
Awards Books and Authors
Static GK – General Knowledge about Dams, Sanctuaries, National Parks, Stadiums, Airports, Country, Capital & Currency, etc.

RBI Grade B Syllabus (Phase 2)

The RBI Grade B Syllabus will test the candidates in the following areas: 

  1. Economic and Social Sciences
  2. English
  3. Finance & Management

Preparation for the RBI grade B exam 2021 with the best study material based on the latest syllabus and exam pattern will only help candidates excel in the upcoming examination.

The questions asked in this phase will be both Objective and Subjective. The detailed breakdown of the topics are given in the table below:

RBI Grade B Syllabus for Economic and Social Sciences:

Growth and Development Economic Reforms in India
Social Structure in India Corporate Governance
Development in the Financial Sector Export-Import Policy
Illiteracy Balance of Payments
Rise in Inequality Rigid Labour Law
Human Resource Development Inflation
Regionalism and Language Conflicts Poor Education Standards
Globalisations Social Structure in India
Employment Generation in India Sustainable Development
Monetary and Fiscal Policy Social Sectors in India
Benefits of International Trade Direct and Indirect Taxes
Insurance and Capital Marketing Government debt

RBI Grade B Syllabus for Finance and Management:

Union Budget Regulation of Banks
Risk Management in Banking Sector Technology in Finance
Corporate Governance Human Resource Development
Motivation and Incentives Regulators of banks and financial institutions
Development in the Financial Sector Financial sector Regulations
Monetary Policy Union Budget
Inflation The Managing Process
Career Planning Role of Incentives
Role of Information Technology Communication Channels
Leadership Nature and Scope of Management

RBI Grade B Syllabus for English Language:

The RBI Grade B Officer syllabus for English language is a descriptive test. The Officer cadre exam is conducted at regular intervals, and candidates can find previous year question papers regarding the type of question asked in the Grade B exam for English descriptive test.

RBI Grade B Officer Exam Preparation

Candidates appearing for the RBI Grade B exam  must start the preparation and can refer to the below-mentioned tips to start the preparation:

  1. Candidates must revise the exam syllabus and prepare themselves for the RBI Grade B exam 2019 -20 by regularly solving practise papers, mock tests and previous year question papers. 
  2. RBI Grade B exam is a time-based exam so candidates must work hard on solving questions with a faster speed. This will be very helpful for the actual exam. 
  3. Candidates must also keep in mind that the final selection is made based on merit, so scoring good marks in the written exam is extremely important.
  4. Candidates must choose the best study material and stay updated with all the events happening across the world. This would help candidates score good marks in the General Awareness sections, which can be the most scoring section in the exam.

Preparing for an exam requires the most appropriate study material needed to prepare for the exam. Candidates must be cautious while selecting the books for RBI Grade B exam and make sure that the entire RBI Grade B Officer syllabus is covered in detail in those books.

Given below is the list of books that candidates can refer to while preparing for the RBI Grade B Officer exam:

RBI Grade B Exam Booklist

Subjects Name of Book and Author/Publications
Quantitative Aptitude
  • Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma
  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams by R.S.Agarwal
  • How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma
Reasoning Ability
  • Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning by R.S.Agarwal
  • Analytical Reasoning by M.K.Pandey
  • How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning by Arun Sharma
General Awareness
  • Lucent’s General Knowledge
  • Banking Awareness by Arihant Publications
English Language
  • Objective English by S.P.Bakshi
  • High School Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin
  • Word Power Made Simple by Normal Lewis
Finance and Management
  • Indian Financial System by M.Y.Khan
  • Public Finance by K.K.Andley and Sundaram
  • Banking and Finance: Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutes by Arun Arora
  • Financial Management by Prasanna Chandra
Economic and Social Sciences
  • Economic and Social Issues in India by Dhrub Kumar
  • Indian Economy by Uma Kapila
  • Growth and Development by Devraj Dey

Frequently Asked Questions on RBI Grade B Syllabus and Exam Pattern

Q 1. When is the RBI Grade B exam 2021 scheduled to be conducted?
Ans. The RBI Grade B recruitment notification was released on January 25, 2021. The Phase I exam is scheduled for March 6, 2021, and the Phase II examination is scheduled for March 31, and April 1, 2021.
Q 2. Can a job in RBI be considered as a government job?
Ans. No, a job in the Reserve Bank of India does not come under the state or central government. Banks come under the public sector and Officers in RBI are not appointed on any gazetted status.
Q 3. Is the RBI Grade B syllabus different from the SBI PO syllabus?
Ans. Yes, the syllabus for RBI Grade B Officer exam is different from the syllabus of SBI PO exam. The syllabus for RBI Grade B prelims and SBI PO mains is the same. The preliminary exam of SBI PO comprises quantitative aptitude, reasoning ability and English language. However, an extra section of general awareness is added in the RBI Grade B exam.

Q 4. What is the eligibility criteria for RBI Grade B officer exam?

Ans. Following eligibility criteria must be fulfilled to appear in the RBI Grade B Officer exam 2021:

  • Candidate must be a citizen of India
  • Candidate must have attained the age of 21 years and must not be more than 30 years of age.
  • Candidate appearing for the exam must have a graduate degree in any discipline for the generalist cadre and for the specialist category, the candidate must have the desired degree from their specific specializations

This eligibility criterion differs for candidates belongs to different categories like SC/ST/OBC, etc. aspirants can check the RBI Grade B eligibility criteria at official website.