RBI Grade B Syllabus 2026: Check Phase 1 & Phase 2 Exam Pattern and Subjects get freejobalert

RBI Grade B Syllabus
RBI Grade B Syllabus includes Phase 1 and Phase 2 stages covering subjects like General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English Language, Economic & Social Issues (ESI), Finance & Management (FM), and Descriptive English.
The RBI Grade B Officer exam is a highly competitive recruitment process conducted by the Reserve Bank of India for Grade B (DR) – General posts. It assesses banking, economic, financial, and analytical skills through Phase 1 (objective screening), Phase 2 (objective + descriptive), and an Interview. Phase 1 marks are qualifying only; final merit is based on Phase 2 + Interview.
RBI Grade B Syllabus 2026 – Overview
| 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) |
RBI Grade B Exam Pattern 2026
RBI Grade B Exam Pattern 2026
Phase 1 is 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: Objective MCQs. Negative marking of ¼ mark (0.25) for each wrong answer. Sectional timing applies. Candidates must clear sectional + overall cut-off to qualify for Phase 2.
Apply Online: Visit the official RBI recruitment portal when the notification is released.
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Exam Pattern
Phase 2 consists of three papers (total 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 | – |
RBI Grade B Phase 1 Syllabus 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 Development Tools
- 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
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Syllabus 2026
Economic & Social Issues (ESI)
- Growth & Development: National Income, Per Capita Income, Poverty Alleviation, Employment Generation, Sustainable Development, Environmental Issues
- Indian Economy: Economic History, Industrial & Labour Policy, Monetary & Fiscal Policy post-1991, Economic Survey & Budget, Money & Financial Markets, Role of RBI & Banks, Public Finance, Agriculture, Services Sector
- Globalization: Balance of Payments, Export-Import Policy, IMF, World Bank, WTO, International Institutions
- Social Structure in India: Multiculturalism, Demographics, Urbanisation & Migration, Gender Issues, Social Justice, Social Movements, Human Development, Health & Education
English (Descriptive – Writing Skills)
- Essay Writing
- Precis Writing
- Reading Comprehension (with questions)
- Assesses expression, clarity, understanding of topic
Finance & Management (FM)
Finance:
- Financial System: Regulators, RBI functions & Monetary Policy, Banking Structure, Financial Institutions (NABARD, SIDBI, etc.), Global Financial Crisis impact
- Financial Markets: Primary & Secondary (Forex, Money, Bond, Equity), Instruments, Recent Developments
- Risk Management, Derivatives, Financial Inclusion, Corporate Governance, Union Budget, Inflation (WPI, CPI), FinTech
Management:
- Fundamentals & Organizational Behaviour: Management Evolution, Functions, Personality (Big Five), Motivation Theories (Maslow, Herzberg, etc.), Leadership Theories, Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Management, Organizational Change (Lewin’s Model)
- Ethics & Corporate Governance: Ethical Theories, Moral Issues in Business, Code of Ethics, Corporate Governance Mechanisms, Communication Barriers
RBI Grade B Interview Process
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- Marks: 75 (or as specified)
- Personality Test assessing banking knowledge, current affairs, communication skills, leadership, and suitability for RBI role Development Tools
- Final merit: Phase 2 (300 marks) + Interview marks
RBI Grade B Preparation Tips
- Prioritize current affairs (The Hindu, PIB, RBI reports, Economic Survey)
- Master descriptive writing – practice essays, precis on economic/finance topics
- Revise financial concepts, RBI policies, and management theories regularly
- Solve previous year papers & mocks for Phase 1 speed & accuracy
- Read standard books: Indian Economy (Ramesh Singh), Finance & Management references
RBI Grade B Syllabus 2026 – FAQ’s
Q1. What is the RBI Grade B syllabus for Phase 1 and Phase 2?
Phase 1: General Awareness, Quant, Reasoning, English. Phase 2: ESI, Descriptive English, Finance & Management.
Q2. What subjects are included in RBI Grade B exam?
General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English, Economic & Social Issues, Finance & Management.
Q3. What are ESI and FM subjects?
ESI: Economic & Social Issues (growth, Indian economy, globalization, social structure). FM: Finance & Management (financial system, markets, risk, management theories, ethics).
Q4. How many papers are there in Phase 2?
Three papers: ESI, English (Descriptive), Finance & Management.
Q5. Is descriptive English included in RBI Grade B?
Yes, Paper 2 is fully descriptive (Essay, Precis, RC).