RBI Grade B 2026 · Syllabus & exam pattern
RBI Grade B Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern: Subject-wise Topics
RBI Grade B selection: General cadre – Phase-I (online, objective, 13 June 2026) (120 minutes in all, with separate time for each test); General cadre – Phase-II (online, 25 July 2026) (120 + 90 + 120 minutes); DEPR cadre (120 minutes per paper); DSIM cadre (120 / 180 / 90 minutes), as per the official notice published 29 April 2026.
Subjects, number of questions, marks, duration and negative marking for every stage, as printed in the official notice.
RBI Grade B exam pattern 2026
Stages of selection
- 1Phase-I examination (online)
- 2Phase-II examination (online / written), for candidates shortlisted from Phase-I
- 3Interview, for candidates shortlisted from Phase-II; certificates are verified at this stage
General cadre – Phase-I (online, objective, 13 June 2026)
120 minutes in all, with separate time for each test
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | — | — |
| English Language | — | — |
| Quantitative Aptitude | — | — |
| Reasoning | — | — |
| Total (one paper) | — | 200 |
Section-wise questions and marks are not printed in the notice; they come in the Information Handout with the admit card. Minimum marks apply to each test and to the total. Phase-I marks only shortlist for Phase-II.
General cadre – Phase-II (online, 25 July 2026)
120 + 90 + 120 minutes
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I: Economic and Social Issues (30 objective, 50 marks; 4 of 6 descriptive, 50 marks) | 30 + 6 | 100 |
| Paper-II: English (Writing Skills), descriptive, typed | 3 | 100 |
| Paper-III: General Finance and Management (30 objective, 50 marks; 4 of 6 descriptive, 50 marks) | 30 + 6 | 100 |
| Interview | — | 75 |
| Phase-II + interview (sum of printed marks) | — | 375 |
Descriptive answers are typed; Hindi answers may use the Inscript or Remington (GAIL) layout. All papers except English are bilingual. Final merit = Phase-II + interview (+ grace marks where applicable).
DEPR cadre
120 minutes per paper
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Phase-I Paper-I: Economics, objective (online, 14 June 2026) | — | 100 |
| Phase-I Paper-II: English, descriptive (typed) | — | 100 |
| Phase-II Paper-I: Economics, descriptive (written on paper, 26 July 2026) | — | 100 |
| Phase-II Paper-II: Economics, descriptive (written on paper) | — | 100 |
| Interview | — | 75 |
Final selection is on Phase-I, Phase-II and interview marks together. Phase-II papers may be answered in Hindi or English; Phase-I Paper-II only in English.
DSIM cadre
120 / 180 / 90 minutes
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Paper-I: Statistics, objective (online, 14 June 2026) | — | 100 |
| Paper-II: Statistics, descriptive (written on paper, 26 July 2026), 180 min | — | 100 |
| Paper-III: English, descriptive (typed), 90 min | — | 100 |
| Interview | — | 75 |
Paper-I shortlists for Papers II and III. A non-programmable on-screen calculator is given for Paper-II only.
Source: Advt. No. RBISB/DA/01/2026-27 – Direct Recruitment for the Posts of Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) (General/DEPR/DSIM) Cadres – Panel Year 2026 (published 29 April 2026). Confirm in the official notice before applying.
RBI Grade B selection: phases, papers and dates
Each cadre has a Phase-I examination, a Phase-II examination and an interview of 75 marks. General cadre: Phase-I is one online objective paper of 200 marks in 120 minutes (General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, each separately timed); Phase-II has three papers of 100 marks each: Economic and Social Issues, English (Writing Skills) and General Finance and Management. Final merit is Phase-II plus interview.
DEPR: Phase-I Economics (objective, 100) and English (descriptive, 100); Phase-II two descriptive Economics papers of 100 each, written on paper. DSIM: Statistics objective (100), Statistics descriptive (100, 180 minutes) and English descriptive (100, 90 minutes). For DEPR and DSIM, final selection counts all papers and the interview.
The Board fixes minimum qualifying standards for the examinations and the interview, keeping the number of vacancies in mind. For the General cadre, Phase-I marks are published after the Phase-II shortlist; Phase-II and interview marks after the final result. For DEPR and DSIM, all marks are published only after the final result.
- You choose four preferred centres each for Phase-I and Phase-II. The Board may allot a different centre, and requests to change it are not accepted.
- Free online pre-examination training for Phase-I and Phase-II is given to SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates who apply for the General cadre (details in Appendix IV). Phase-II training is only for those who clear Phase-I.
Papers and exam dates printed in the notice
| Cadre | Phase-I | Phase-II |
|---|---|---|
| General | Online examination – 13 June 2026 | Papers I, II and III, online – 25 July 2026 (appear in all papers in all shifts) |
| DEPR | Papers I and II, online – 14 June 2026 | Papers I and II, written – 26 July 2026 |
| DSIM | Paper-I, online – 14 June 2026 | Papers II and III, online / written – 26 July 2026 |
The Board may change these dates. A non-programmable on-screen calculator is given for DSIM Paper-II only.
RBI Grade B syllabus (General cadre, Phase-II)
Appendix II prints the Phase-II syllabus for the General cadre. The Phase-I paper's four tests are named but not detailed. The DEPR and DSIM syllabi are long subject lists in Appendix III (Economics; Statistics with mathematics, econometrics and data science); read them there.
- Paper-I, Economic and Social Issues: growth and development (national income, poverty alleviation, employment, sustainable development); Indian economy (economic history, industrial and labour policy, monetary and fiscal policy since 1991, Economic Survey and Union Budget, money and financial markets, role of banks and RBI, public finance, agriculture, industry and services); globalisation (balance of payments, export-import policy, IMF, World Bank, WTO, regional cooperation); social structure (multiculturalism, demographic trends, urbanisation and migration, gender issues, social justice).
- Paper-II, English (Writing Skills): tests expression and understanding of the topic.
- Paper-III, General Finance and Management – financial system: financial institutions, functions of RBI, banking structure and institutions such as SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB and NaBFID, global developments, IT in banking, non-banking system, digital payments.
- Financial markets: primary and secondary markets (forex, money, bond, equity), functions, instruments and recent developments.
- General topics: financial risk management, basics of derivatives, international banking, financial inclusion, alternate sources of finance and PPP, corporate governance in banking, the Union Budget, basics of accounting and financial statements with ratio analysis, inflation (WPI, CPI, monetary and fiscal policy).
- Management: fundamentals of management and organisational behaviour (personality, perception, motivation theories, leadership, emotional intelligence, transactional analysis, Johari window, conflict, organisational change and development, nudge theory); ethics at the workplace and corporate governance; communication.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RBI Grade B exam pattern?
General cadre – Phase-I (online, objective, 13 June 2026): General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, Total (one paper) (120 minutes in all, with separate time for each test). Section-wise questions and marks are not printed in the notice; they come in the Information Handout with the admit card. Minimum marks apply to each test and to the total. Phase-I marks only shortlist for Phase-II. General cadre – Phase-II (online, 25 July 2026): Paper-I: Economic and Social Issues (30 objective, 50 marks; 4 of 6 descriptive, 50 marks), Paper-II: English (Writing Skills), descriptive, typed, Paper-III: General Finance and Management (30 objective, 50 marks; 4 of 6 descriptive, 50 marks), Interview, Phase-II + interview (sum of printed marks) (120 + 90 + 120 minutes). Descriptive answers are typed; Hindi answers may use the Inscript or Remington (GAIL) layout. All papers except English are bilingual. Final merit = Phase-II + interview (+ grace marks where applicable). DEPR cadre: Phase-I Paper-I: Economics, objective (online, 14 June 2026), Phase-I Paper-II: English, descriptive (typed), Phase-II Paper-I: Economics, descriptive (written on paper, 26 July 2026), Phase-II Paper-II: Economics, descriptive (written on paper), Interview (120 minutes per paper). Final selection is on Phase-I, Phase-II and interview marks together. Phase-II papers may be answered in Hindi or English; Phase-I Paper-II only in English. DSIM cadre: Paper-I: Statistics, objective (online, 14 June 2026), Paper-II: Statistics, descriptive (written on paper, 26 July 2026), 180 min, Paper-III: English, descriptive (typed), 90 min, Interview (120 / 180 / 90 minutes). Paper-I shortlists for Papers II and III. A non-programmable on-screen calculator is given for Paper-II only.
What are the stages of RBI Grade B selection?
Phase-I examination, Phase-II examination and an interview of 75 marks. For the General cadre, Phase-I is one online paper of 200 marks in 120 minutes (General Awareness, English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning) and Phase-II has three papers of 100 marks: Economic and Social Issues, English (Writing Skills) and General Finance and Management.