RBI Assistant 2025 · Syllabus & exam pattern
RBI Assistant Syllabus 2025 and Exam Pattern: Subject-wise Topics
RBI Assistant selection: Preliminary Examination (online, objective) (60 minutes); Main Examination (online, objective) (135 minutes); Language Proficiency Test (LPT) (—), as per the official notice published Application window 16 February – 8 March 2026 (no issue date printed on the notice page).
Subjects, number of questions, marks, duration and negative marking for every stage, as printed in the official notice.
RBI Assistant exam pattern 2025
Stages of selection
- 1Online Preliminary Examination (qualifying; about 10 times the vacancies shortlisted for the Main exam)
- 2Online Main Examination (merit; about 2 times the vacancies called for the LPT)
- 3Language Proficiency Test in the official/local language of the state (no exemption)
- 4Medical fitness and document verification
Preliminary Examination (online, objective)
60 minutes (20 minutes per test)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
1/4 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. You must qualify in each test separately. Qualifying in the preliminary exam is needed to sit the main exam.
Main Examination (online, objective)
135 minutes (separately timed tests)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Test of Reasoning (30 minutes) | 40 | 40 |
| Test of English Language (30 minutes) | 40 | 40 |
| Test of Numerical Ability (30 minutes) | 40 | 40 |
| Test of General Awareness (25 minutes) | 40 | 40 |
| Test of Computer Knowledge (20 minutes) | 40 | 40 |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
1/4 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. You must qualify in each test separately. Final selection is in order of merit in the online exam, subject to the LPT.
Language Proficiency Test (LPT)
—
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Official/local language of the state of the office applied for | — | — |
Compulsory for every shortlisted candidate. Candidates not proficient in the language are disqualified. The languages are listed in Appendix-I of the notice.
Source: Recruitment for the Post of Assistant – Panel Year 2025 in Reserve Bank of India (published Application window 16 February – 8 March 2026 (no issue date printed on the notice page)). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
RBI Assistant selection: prelims, mains and LPT
The preliminary exam is a 60-minute online objective test of 100 questions and 100 marks. You must qualify in each test separately to sit the main exam. About 10 times the vacancies are shortlisted for the main exam, subject to availability.
The main exam is a 135-minute online objective test of 200 questions and 200 marks in five separately timed tests. You must qualify in each test separately. About 2 times the vacancies are called for the LPT, in order of main exam merit.
Both online exams have negative marking: 1/4 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. If an exam is held in more than one session, scores are equated following IBPS' standard practice and normalised using the equipercentile method.
Final selection is on the basis of performance in the online examination, in order of merit, subject to qualifying in the LPT, medical fitness and verification of documents. The Bank decides the minimum standards for the online exams and the LPT; the notice does not print qualifying marks.
The online tests, except the Test of English Language, are available in English, Hindi and certain other languages listed in Appendix-II of the notice.
Exam dates printed in the notice
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Preliminary Examination | 11 April 2026 (tentative) |
| Online Main Examination | 7 June 2026 (tentative) |
The Bank reserves the right to change the dates. RBI later posted important notices dated 10 and 20 April 2026 for this recruitment; check them on rbi.org.in.
RBI Assistant syllabus: tests, questions, marks and time
The notice prints the tests of each exam with their questions, marks and time, but no topic-wise syllabus. It says other detailed information about the examination will be given in an Information Handout. The test names below are exactly as printed.
- Language Proficiency Test: held in the official/local language(s) of the state concerned, as listed in Appendix-I of the notice. It is compulsory for all shortlisted candidates, and a candidate not proficient in the language is disqualified.
- The notice does not print questions, marks or duration for the LPT.
Preliminary Examination (multiple choice)
| Test (objective) | Questions | Maximum marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
1/4 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. Qualify in each test separately.
Main Examination (multiple choice)
| Test (objective) | Questions | Maximum marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test of Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| Test of English Language | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| Test of Numerical Ability | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| Test of General Awareness | 40 | 40 | 25 minutes |
| Test of Computer Knowledge | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 135 minutes |
1/4 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. Qualify in each test separately.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RBI Assistant exam pattern?
Preliminary Examination (online, objective): English Language, Numerical Ability, Reasoning Ability, Total (60 minutes (20 minutes per test)). 1/4 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. You must qualify in each test separately. Qualifying in the preliminary exam is needed to sit the main exam. Main Examination (online, objective): Test of Reasoning (30 minutes), Test of English Language (30 minutes), Test of Numerical Ability (30 minutes), Test of General Awareness (25 minutes), Test of Computer Knowledge (20 minutes), Total (135 minutes (separately timed tests)). 1/4 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. You must qualify in each test separately. Final selection is in order of merit in the online exam, subject to the LPT. Language Proficiency Test (LPT): Official/local language of the state of the office applied for (—). Compulsory for every shortlisted candidate. Candidates not proficient in the language are disqualified. The languages are listed in Appendix-I of the notice.
What is the RBI Assistant exam pattern?
Prelims: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes (English 30, Numerical Ability 35, Reasoning 35). Mains: 200 questions, 200 marks, 135 minutes (Reasoning, English, Numerical Ability, General Awareness and Computer Knowledge, 40 each). Then a Language Proficiency Test.
Is there negative marking in RBI Assistant?
Yes. 1/4 mark is deducted for each wrong answer in both the preliminary and main exams.