Introduction – RBI Exam
The Reserve Bank of India, chiefly known as RBI, is India's central bank and regulatory body responsible for regulation of the Indian banking system. It is under the ownership of Ministry of Finance, Government of India. It is responsible for the control, issue and maintaining supply of the Indian rupee.
- The Reserve Bank of India was established on April 1, 1935 in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
- The Central Office of the Reserve Bank was initially established in Kolkata but was permanently moved to Mumbai in 1937. The Central Office is where the Governor sits and where policies are formulated.
- Though originally privately owned, since nationalisation in 1949, the Reserve Bank is fully owned by the Government of India.
- The Reserve Bank of India conducts examinations for recruitment to various posts in the RBI.
- A job in RBI bank is considered highly prestigious, and hence the competition is high and equivalent to other Government exams. There are 2 ways to get recruited into RBI when we talk about getting in through an examination after your Graduation. These exams are:
- RBI Assistant equivalent to Assistant Manager (Grade A)
- RBI Grade B equivalent to Manager (Grade B)
Note:
– At regional offices in
Grade C, you would probably head a department, though most likely you would be the second in command to a department head.
– At
Grade D level you are a senior officer, no more originating notes, you can approve or reject proposals. In some offices, you would head several departments.
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.
Eligibility – RBI Assistant
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 fulfill 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.
The RBI Assistant Exam consists of two stages, the Phase 1 and Phase 2 exams. The following is the basic pattern and syllabus of the exams:
Syllabus (Phase 1 – RBI Assistant)
| Paper |
Syllabus |
| RBI Assistant Preliminary Exam |
English Language |
| Numerical Ability |
| Reasoning Ability |
Syllabus (Phase 2 – RBI Assistant)
| Paper |
Syllabus |
| RBI Assistant Main Exam |
English Language |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
| Reasoning Ability |
| Computer Knowledge |
| General Awareness |
The RBI Assistant notification 2023 is expected to release by March 2023 tentatively. Aspirants looking forward to applying for the post can refer to the tentative calendar given below:
| Event |
Tentative Date |
| Online Application |
March 2023 |
| RBI Exam Date |
Prelims |
To be Notified |
| Mains |
To be Notified |
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RBI Grade B Exam
The RBI Grade B exam is conducted every year to recruit officers into the Reserve Bank. 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)
Notification and Exam Date
The RBI Grade B notification 2023 has been released on the official website of Reserve Bank of India. The following are the important exam dates for the Grade B Officer exam:
| Event |
RBI Grade B Exam Date |
| RBI Exam Notification |
March 2023 (Tentative) |
| Phase 1 Examination |
To be Notified |
| Phase 2 Examination |
To be Notified |
| Phase 3 Interview |
To be Notified |
| Declaration of RBI Result |
To Be Notified Later |
Exam Highlights – RBI Grade B
| Conducting Authority |
Reserve Bank of India |
| Total Number of Recruitment Stages |
Prelims, Mains and Interview |
| Number of Subjects in Phase 1 |
4 (English Language, General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability) |
| Negative Marking |
0.25 |
| Total Number of Questions in Phase 1 |
200 |
| Time Duration for Phase 1 Exam |
120 minutes |
| Number of Subjects in Phase 2 |
3 (Economic and Social Issues, English Language, Finance and Management/ Economics/ Statistics) |
| Total Marks for Phase 2 |
300 |
| Time Duration for Phase 2 Exam |
90 minutes for each section |
| Total Marks and Time Duration for Phase 3 (Interview) |
50 marks and there is no time limit |
The candidates need to be aware of the subjects, marks carried by them, and the total number of questions asked in each section. The negative marking is also there in the exam so it is advised to the candidates to take up the questions mindfully and answer them accurately to avoid losing marks. The candidates receive 1 mark for the correct answer and 0.25 is reduced and they do not receive any marks for the questions left unanswered.
Eligibility – RBI Grade B
The RBI has the following essential criteria for candidates those who want to apply 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.
Exam Pattern – RBI Grade B
The RBI Grade B exam consists of two written exams and an interview as described in the following table:
| Examination |
Subjects |
| Phase 1 Examination |
English Language |
| General Awareness |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
| Reasoning Ability |
| Phase 2 Examination |
Economic and Social Issues |
| English Language |
| Finance and Management/ Economics/ Statistics |
| Phase 3 Interview |
General Awareness and Interpersonal Skills |
Candidates must start their preparation accordingly to ace the officer cadre examination.
Paper Pattern (Phase 1 – RBI Grade B)
| Subjects |
Marks |
Total Number of Questions |
| Reasoning |
60 |
60 |
| General Awareness |
80 |
80 |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
30 |
30 |
| English Language |
30 |
30 |
Paper Pattern (Phase 2 – RBI Grade B)
The RBI Grade B syllabus for Phase 2 includes three main papers concerning economic and social issues. This paper comprises a blend of objective and descriptive questions.
| Subject of the Paper |
Name of the Paper |
Type |
Time Limit |
Total Marks |
| Paper 1 |
Economic and Social Issues |
50% Objective + 50% Subjective |
For Objective – 30 Minutes
For Subjective – 90 Minutes
Total Time – 120 Minutes |
Objective Questions – 50 Marks
Subjective Questions – 50 Marks |
| Paper 2 |
English [Writing Skills] |
Subjective |
90 Minutes |
100 Marks |
| Paper 3 |
Finance and Management |
50% Subjective + 50 % Objective |
Objective – 30 Minutes
Subjective – 90 Minutes |
Objective Questions – 50 Marks
Subjective Questions – 50 Marks |
Syllabus (Phase 1 – RBI Grade B)
The exam is conducted through online mode. According to the RBI Grade B exam pattern, there is a negative marking of 0.25. The candidates must be completely aware of the RBI Grade B syllabus and exam pattern of all the stages to be able to prepare an effective strategy for the most sought-after exam.
Syllabus for English Language (Phase 1 – RBI Grade B)
English section is considered tough by some of the candidates. If prepared effectively it is not a hard nut to crack. The foundations of the English section are vocabulary and grammar. The candidates will have to attain proficiency in these segments to perform exceptionally well. The aspirants can also practice the previous year’s papers to gain complete insights into the English syllabus.
- Reading Comprehension
- Fill in the Blanks
- Para Jumbles
- Cloze Test
- Reading Comprehension
- Error Spotting/ Multiple Meaning
Syllabus for General Awareness (Phase 1 – RBI Grade B)
The RBI Grade B General Awareness syllabus is not specific or restricted. There is no boundary for General Awareness. However, there are some essential topics from which the questions are expected in the exam. The aspirants must be brushing up on these topics and keep themselves updated on all the current happenings.
- Indian Financial Sytems
- Current Affairs
- Indian Banking Systems
- Monetary Plans
- National Institutions
- Banking Terms
Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude (Phase 1 – RBI Grade B)
The phase-1 of the RBI Grade B syllabus poses immense competition and is also of high essentiality as this is the first step of the recruitment process. The candidates need to be well aware of the core concepts and fundamentals of the syllabus to be able to perform well in the exam. All the topics of the syllabus are of huge importance. The candidates can score well in the Quantitative Aptitude section, if the concepts are clear, and similarly on the other hand the aspirants tend to lose marks in case they are not conversant with the details of the topics. The aspirants are recommended to keep practising to attain good marks in this section which will make it easier for them to crack the exam.
Syllabus for Reasoning (Phase 1 – RBI Grade B)
The reasoning section of the RBI Grade B syllabus assesses the candidates based on their logical reasoning capabilities. This section can be aced by the candidates by practicing numerous questions and previous year papers. The candidates can check for shortcuts and other techniques for solving the questions in the stipulated time frame to proceed further in the recruitment process. The detailed topics have been highlighted here:
| Syllabus for Reasoning |
| Alphanumeric Series |
Analogy |
| Blood Relation |
Coding-Decoding |
| Data Sufficiency |
Direction Test |
| Inequalities |
Input-Output |
| Puzzles |
Ranking |
| Seating Arrangement |
Syllogism |
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Syllabus (Phase 2 – RBI Grade B)
The RBI Grade B syllabus comprises of three major sections that are economic and social issues, english language and finance and management. It is recommended to the candidates to be completely aware of the segments and make notes of all the topics.
Syllabus for Economic and Social Issues (Phase 2 – RBI Grade B)
| Syllabus for Economic and Social Issues |
| Measurement of Growth |
Growth and Development |
| Poverty Alleviation and Generation of Employment in India |
National Income and Per Capita Income |
| Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development |
Industrial and Labour Policy |
| Monetary and Fiscal Policy |
Economic Reforms in India |
| Role of Economic Planning |
Privatization |
| Globalization |
Role of Economic Planning |
| Opening up of the Indian Economy |
Balance of Payments |
| International Economic Institutions |
Export-Import Policy |
| IMF and World Bank |
International Economic Institutions |
| Regional Economic Cooperation |
WTO |
| Social Structure in India |
Multiculturism |
| Demographic Trends |
Regional Economic Cooperation |
| Social Justice |
Gender Issues |
| Social Movements |
Urbanization and Migration |
| Indian Political System |
Social Sectors in India |
| Human Development |
Indian Political System |
Syllabus for English (Phase 2 – RBI Grade B)
The RBI Grade B syllabus for the English language assesses the candidates on their writing skills. The candidates need to enhance their writing abilities, expression, and comprehension of the English language. Grammar and vocabulary are considered to be the fundamentals of the English language. The essential sections of the English language are sentence rearrangement, questions on grammatical errors, etc.
Syllabus for Finance and Management (Phase 2 – RBI Grade B)
The finance and management syllabus is pivotal and crucial for the exam. Check here the important topics of the finance and management syllabus for the RBI Grade B exam.
- Management
- Appraisal theories
- Communication
- Motivation theories
- Methods of Corporate Governance
- Factors influencing Corporate Governance
- Role of Information Technology
Syllabus for Interview (Phase 3 – RBI Grade B)
The candidates who will be able to pass the recruitment stages of the prelims and mains by attaining minimum qualifying marks will be proceeding to the interview round. There is no specific RBI Grade B syllabus for the interview. The candidates can be asked questions pertaining to their educational background, work profile, and questions related to RBI policies, etc. The personality of the candidates will be assessed by the candidates in this round. The questions can be pertaining to finances and other current affairs topics as well.
Syllabus and Exam Pattern (DEPR Post – RBI Grade B)
The exam paper for DEPR comprises the economics and English language. The economics section comprises questions about the level of Master’s Degree of any of the Central Universities. The English language syllabus comprises essays, precise writing, comprehension and business or office correspondence.
Syllabus and Exam Pattern (DSIM Post – RBI Grade B)
| Subject |
Topics |
Total Marks |
Total Time |
| Paper 1 |
Probability, Estimation, Analysis of Variation, Multivariate Analysis, Stochastic Processes |
100 Marks |
120 Minutes |
| Paper 2 |
Probability and Sampling, Linear Model, Estimation, Non-parametric test, Numerical Analysis, Basic Computer Test |
100 Marks |
180 Minutes |
| Paper 3 |
Precise Writing, Office or Business Correspondence, Comprehension |
100 Marks |
90 Minutes |
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 specialisation 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 specialisation 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.
Preparation Tips
The candidates need to pick the right strategy and preparation methodology for cracking the exam and efficiently covering the RBI Grade B syllabus. The following tips have been curated by the experts to assist the candidates in enhancing their level of performance for the upcoming exam.
- Go through the prescribed syllabus and exam pattern and highlight the important sections.
- Practice the previous year’s question papers and mock tests to decode the difficulty level of the exam.
- Lay forth an efficient strategy for the exam to be able to cover all the segments of the RBI Grade B syllabus within the stipulated time frame.
- Revision holds enormous importance, do not miss out to revise the topics regularly.
Books for Preparation
It is highly essential for candidates to refer to the best books to cover the RBI Grade B syllabus. To ace any exam it is of utmost importance to have a clear understanding of the related topics. The list of recommended books for covering the RBI Grade B syllabus been listed below:
- Quantum CAT by Sarvesh K.Verma
- Magical Book on Quicker Maths by M.Tyra
- Objective English – S.P Bakshi
- Manorama Yearbook, Kurukshetra Magazine, and Monthly G.K Digests can be referred for covering the General Awareness section.
- Analytical Reasoning – M.K Pandey
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1: Is RBI Assistant exam conducted every year?
Ans.1: No, the exam is not conducted annually, the last RBI Assistant exam was conducted in 2017 and the RBI Assistant exam 2020 is in process. Know the dates and important information related to the exam on RBI Notification.
Q.2: Is RBI Grade B exam conducted every year?
Ans.2: Yes, RBI Grade B exam is conducted every year. Check RBI Grade B notification for regular updates.
Q.3: Is there any specified syllabus for RBI Grade B interview stage?
Ans.3: No, there is no specified syllabus for the RBI Grade B interview stage. The candidates who are selected for the interview are asked questions pertaining to their educational background, and work experience. The interview questions can also be around the financial aspects and banking methodologies.
Q.4: Is the RBI Grade B syllabus tough?
Ans.4: The difficulty level of the RBI Grade B syllabus is subjective and highly depends on the preparation of the candidates. This exam poses immense competition, and the candidates must prepare well to ace the exam. If prepared well the candidates can crack the exam, and achieve the desired job profile. The phase 1 is of easy level, and phase 2 is of moderate to difficult level.
Q.5: Can I cover the RBI Grade B syllabus in 6 months?
Ans.5: The time required to cover the RBI Grade B syllabus is again highly subjective. It is dependent on the calibre, intellect, and aptitude of the candidates. However, if prepared meticulously and comprehensively the aspirants can crack the RBI Grade B syllabus in 6 months.
Q.6: What is the difference between the RBI Grade B syllabus and the IBPS PO syllabus?
Ans.6: The RBI Grade B syllabus has higher levels of similarities with the other banking exams. The syllabus of phase 2 syllabus is different. The IBPS PO syllabus does not comprise the finance and management, economic, and social issues topics.
Q.7: Is RBI Grade B tougher than CAT?
Ans.7: The RBI Grade B syllabus and CAT syllabus share higher levels of similarities. In accordance with the feedback obtained from the candidates, the CAT syllabus tends to be slightly more difficult than the RBI Grade B syllabus.