Overview of RBI Grade B Syllabus
The RBI Grade B Officer examination is conducted by the Reserve Bank of India for the recruitment of Grade B (DR) – General posts. Aspirants are evaluated on their banking, economic, financial, and analytical abilities across multiple stages, including Phase 1 (objective screening), Phase 2 (both objective and descriptive), and a final Interview. It's essential to note that only Phase 1 marks are qualifying; the final merit list is determined by combining scores from Phase 2 and the Interview.
RBI Grade B Syllabus Overview 2026
| Exam Name | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | RBI Grade B Officer Exam (DR – General) |
| Conducting Body | Reserve Bank of India (RBI) |
| Stages | Phase 1, Phase 2, Interview |
| Mode | Online |
| Question Type | Objective (Phase 1) + Objective & Descriptive (Phase 2) |
Exam Pattern for RBI Grade B 2026
The examination consists of two phases, with Phase 1 serving as an objective screening test.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration (Sectional) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Reasoning | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Note: The examination consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs). There is a negative marking of ¼ mark (0.25) for every incorrect answer. Candidates must clear both sectional and overall cut-offs to qualify for the next phase.
Phase 2 Exam Pattern for RBI Grade B
Phase 2 includes a total of three papers, which together are worth 300 marks.
| Paper | Type | Questions / Tasks | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Economic & Social Issues (ESI) | 50% Objective + 50% Descriptive | Objective: 30 Questions (50 marks) Descriptive: Attempt 4 out of 6 (50 marks) | 100 | 120 minutes (30 min objective + 90 min descriptive) |
| Paper 2: English (Writing Skills) | Descriptive | 3 questions (Precis, Essay, Reading Comprehension) | 100 | 90 minutes |
| Paper 3: Finance & Management (FM) | 50% Objective + 50% Descriptive | Objective: 30 Questions (50 marks) Descriptive: Attempt 4 out of 6 (50 marks) | 100 | 120 minutes (30 min objective + 90 min descriptive) |
| Total | - | - | 300 | - |
Subject-wise Syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1 2026
General Awareness
- Current Affairs (national & international, last 6–12 months)
- Banking & Financial Awareness
- RBI functions, monetary policy, reports
- Indian Financial System, Banking Terms
- Economic News, Static GK related to finance
Quantitative Aptitude
- Simplification / Approximation
- Profit & Loss, Mixtures & Alligations
- Simple & Compound Interest, Surds & Indices
- Work & Time, Time & Distance
- Mensuration (Cylinder, Cone, Sphere)
- Data Interpretation (tables, graphs, charts)
- Ratio & Proportion, Percentage
- Number Systems, Sequence & Series
- Permutation, Combination & Probability
Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
- Syllogism
- Coding-Decoding
- Input-Output
- Logical Reasoning
- Alphanumeric Series
- Ranking / Direction / Alphabet Test
- Data Sufficiency
- Coded Inequalities
- Blood Relations
- Tabulation
English Language
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles
- Fill in the Blanks
- Error Spotting / Sentence Correction
- Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms)
- Phrase Replacement / Multiple Meaning
- Paragraph Completion
Subject-wise Syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 2 2026
Economic & Social Issues (ESI)
- Growth & Development: National Income, Per Capita Income, Strategies for Poverty Alleviation, Generation of Employment, Sustainable Development, Environmental Concerns
- Indian Economy: Economic Background, Policies on Industry & Labor, Monetary & Fiscal Policies after 1991, Economic Survey & Budget, Financial Systems & Markets, RBI & Banking Roles, Public Finance, Agriculture, Service Industry
- Globalization: Payments Balance, Policy on Exports and Imports, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Trade Organization, Global Institutions
- Social Fabric in India: Multicultural Aspects, Population Statistics, Urban Development & Migration, Gender Concerns, Justice in Society, Social Movements, Development of Humanity, Health & Educational Issues
English (Descriptive – Writing Skills)
- Essay Writing
- Precis Writing
- Reading Comprehension (with questions)
- Evaluates clarity of expression, comprehension, and topic understanding
Finance & Management (FM)
- Finance:
- Financial System: Supervisors, Roles of RBI & Monetary Policy, Banking Framework, Financial Entities (NABARD, SIDBI, etc.), Effects of Global Financial Crisis
- Financial Markets: Primary & Secondary (Forex, Money, Bonds, Equity), Instruments, Recent Changes
- Risk Management, Financial Instruments, Access to Finance, Corporate Governance, National Budget, Inflation (WPI, CPI),
- Management:
- Fundamentals & Organizational Behavior: Evolution of Management, Functions, Personality Traits (Big Five), Theories of Motivation (Maslow, Herzberg, etc.), Theories of Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Management of Conflict, Organizational Change (Lewin’s Model)
- Ethics & Corporate Governance: Ethical Principles, Moral Dilemmas in Business, Code of Conduct, Corporate Governance Practices, Barriers to Communication
RBI Grade B Interview Process
The interview phase carries 75 marks (or as specified) and evaluates a candidate's personality along with their banking knowledge, awareness of current affairs, communication skills, leadership attributes, and suitability for the RBI role. The final merit list is formulated by combining the scores from Phase 2 (300 marks) and the interview.
Preparation Guidelines for RBI Grade B
- Focus on current affairs from reliable sources (e.g., The Hindu, PIB, RBI reports, Economic Survey).
- Enhance your descriptive writing skills – practice essays and precis on economic and finance-related topics.
- Regularly revise financial concepts, RBI policies, and management theories.
- Engage with previous year question papers and mock tests for improved speed and accuracy in Phase 1.
- Refer to standard literature: Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh and other Finance & Management resources.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the syllabus for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of RBI Grade B?
Phase 1 includes General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, and English Language. Phase 2 includes Economic & Social Issues, Descriptive English, and Finance & Management.
What subjects are included in the RBI Grade B exam?
The exam includes General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English, Economic & Social Issues, and Finance & Management.
What are ESI and FM subjects?
ESI stands for Economic & Social Issues, which covers topics such as growth, the Indian economy, globalization, and social structure. FM represents Finance & Management, focusing on the examination of the financial system, markets, risk factors, management theories, and ethics.
How many papers are there in Phase 2?
Phase 2 consists of three papers: Economic & Social Issues, English (Descriptive), and Finance & Management.
Is descriptive English included in the RBI Grade B exam?
Yes, Paper 2 centers entirely on descriptive formats, featuring Essay writing, Precis, and Reading Comprehension.