RBI Grade B is the Reserve Bank of India's direct recruitment of Officers in Grade 'B' (DR). It is run by the Reserve Bank of India Services Board (RBISB). This guide covers the General cadre, the largest of its three streams; DEPR (economics) and DSIM (statistics) follow a separate scheme. Selection has three stages: an objective Phase I, a Phase II made up of three papers that are partly descriptive, and an interview. Everything below is from the 2026 cycle (Panel Year 2026, Advt. No. RBISB/DA/01/2026-27), the most recent notification. That cycle had 40 vacancies in the General cadre and 60 in total. It suits graduates who want a central-bank career and are willing to study economics, finance and management well beyond the usual aptitude syllabus.
At a glance
| Conducted by | Reserve Bank of India Services Board (RBISB) |
| Mode | Phase I online objective test; Phase II online, partly objective and partly descriptive (answers typed); interview |
| Stages | Phase I (screening), Phase II (three papers), interview |
| Phase I | One paper of 200 marks in 120 minutes: General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning |
| Phase II | Paper I Economic and Social Issues (100), Paper II English Writing Skills (100), Paper III General Finance and Management (100) |
| Interview | 75 marks; final merit is Phase II plus interview |
| Vacancies (2026) | 40 in the General cadre; 60 in total including DEPR (10) and DSIM (10) |
| Age limit | 21 to 30 years as on 1 April 2026, with category relaxations |
| Eligibility | Graduation with 60% (50% for SC/ST/PwBD) or post-graduation with 55% (pass marks for SC/ST/PwBD) |
| Attempts | General and EWS candidates who have already taken Phase I six times may not apply |
| Fee (2026) | INR 850 plus 18% GST (GEN/OBC/EWS); INR 100 plus 18% GST (SC/ST/PwBD) |
| 2026 dates | Phase I on 13 June 2026; Phase II on 25 July 2026 |
| Starting pay | Basic pay INR 78,450 a month; initial gross about INR 1,54,936 a month without HRA |
| Official website | opportunities.rbi.org.in |
Exam pattern
The official RBI Grade B 2026 notification sets out the stages and Phase II structure below. The notification does not give the Phase I section-wise question counts or timings; RBI leaves these to the information handout issued with the admit card. The Phase I split shown here is as reported by Careers360 and Edutap.
Phase I (online, objective, 200 marks, 120 minutes)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time (as reported) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 minutes |
| Reasoning | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Phase II (online, 300 marks)
| Paper | Format | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: Economic and Social Issues | 30 objective questions (50 marks) plus descriptive (50 marks) | 100 | 30 + 90 minutes |
| Paper II: English (Writing Skills) | Descriptive, typed; 3 questions | 100 | 90 minutes |
| Paper III: General Finance and Management | 30 objective questions (50 marks) plus descriptive (50 marks) | 100 | 30 + 90 minutes |
| Total | 300 |
Notes on the pattern:
- Sectional timing and cut-offs in Phase I. The notification says each test has its own time allotment, and you must clear a minimum mark in every section as well as in aggregate. Shortlisting for Phase II is then on aggregate marks, with the cut-off set according to the number of vacancies.
- Normalisation. If Phase I runs in more than one session, scores are equated with the equipercentile method.
- Negative marking. The notification does not state the penalty. Edutap reports that 0.25 marks is deducted for each wrong answer in Phase I. It also reports that in Phase II, 0.25 is deducted for a wrong 1-mark objective question and 0.50 for a wrong 2-mark one, with no penalty on descriptive answers. Confirm this in the information handout.
- Descriptive answers in Papers I and III. Six questions are set and you answer four: two of 15 marks and two of 10 marks. If you answer more than four, only the first four are marked. Objective questions in these papers carry 1 or 2 marks each.
- Typed answers. Descriptive answers are typed on the keyboard. Candidates answering in Hindi may use the Inscript or Remington (GAIL) layout.
- Language. All papers in both phases are bilingual (Hindi and English), except the English tests.
- Phase I does not count for the final merit list. The final merit list adds Phase II and interview marks, plus any applicable grace marks.
- Recent changes. The 2026 notification does not flag any change to the General-stream scheme. The clearest difference from 2025 is the intake: 60 posts in 2026, compared with the 120 that Careers360 reported for the 2025 notification.
What each section tests
Phase I: General Awareness
This is the largest section, with 80 questions. It covers current affairs, banking and financial awareness, and economic and government developments. RBI does not publish a topic list for it, so preparation means reading the news over the previous several months.
Phase I: Reasoning
Sixty questions. Expect the usual bank-exam mix: puzzles and seating arrangements, along with shorter items such as syllogisms, inequalities, coding-decoding, blood relations and input-output. This is the longest section, so pace across many short questions matters.
Phase I: English Language
Thirty questions on reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and sentence-level usage. This is the only Phase I test that is set in English only.
Phase I: Quantitative Aptitude
Thirty questions on arithmetic (percentages, ratios, profit and loss, interest, time and work, speed), number series, simplification and approximation, quadratic comparisons and data interpretation sets. The questions are short and the section is timed separately.
Phase II: Economic and Social Issues
The official syllabus covers growth and development, the Indian economy since 1991 (industrial, labour, monetary and fiscal policy, the Economic Survey and Union Budget, public finance, agriculture and services), globalisation (balance of payments, IMF, World Bank, WTO) and social issues (demographic trends, urbanisation, gender, social justice).
Phase II: English (Writing Skills)
A typed descriptive paper of three questions. According to the notification, it assesses writing skills, including expression and understanding of the topic. Edutap describes the three tasks as précis, reading comprehension and an essay.
Phase II: General Finance and Management
The syllabus covers the financial system (the RBI, banks, SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB, NaBFID, NBFCs, digital payments), financial markets, risk management, derivatives, financial inclusion, the Union Budget, basic accounting and ratio analysis, and inflation. On the management side, it covers management theory, organisational behaviour, motivation and leadership, workplace ethics, corporate governance and communication.
Interview
The interview is worth 75 marks and may be taken in Hindi or English. It is preceded by a personality assessment that carries no marks.
How it compares with SBI PO
| RBI Grade B 2026 (General) | SBI PO 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Screening test | Phase I: 200 questions, 120 minutes | Prelims: 100 questions, 1 hour |
| Screening sections | General Awareness (80), Reasoning (60), English (30), Quant (30) | English (40), Quant (30), Reasoning (30); 20 minutes each |
| General awareness at screening | Yes, the largest section | No |
| Screening cut-offs | Sectional and aggregate | Aggregate only; no sectional cut-off |
| Main stage | Three 100-mark papers on economy, English writing, finance and management; partly descriptive | 170 objective questions for 200 marks in 3 hours, plus a 30-mark descriptive test in 30 minutes |
| Final stage | Interview (75 marks), preceded by an unmarked personality assessment | Phase III: group exercise and interview |
| Negative marking | Reported as a quarter mark (Phase I) | One quarter of the question's marks, in both prelims and mains (official) |
In general terms:
- Same aptitude core, different weight. Both test reasoning, quant and English at the screening stage. In RBI Phase I, General Awareness alone is 80 of the 200 marks, whereas the SBI PO prelims has no general awareness section.
- RBI's second stage is subject knowledge. SBI PO Mains is still mainly an aptitude test, including data analysis and reasoning. RBI Phase II has no quant or reasoning paper; it tests economics, finance and management, largely through written answers.
- Speed matters at screening in both. The SBI PO prelims gives you 20 minutes for 30 quant questions. On the reported timings, RBI gives 25 minutes for 30 quant questions and 45 minutes for 60 reasoning questions.
How Pareto Academy helps
| RBI Grade B section | Covered by Pareto? | What to use |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I: Quantitative Aptitude (arithmetic) | Partly | Quant questions, formula sheet, improve your Quant score; the topics overlap, but our questions are longer and harder than RBI's short, speed-based items, and number series and approximation are not covered |
| Phase I: Data interpretation | Yes | DILR questions; CAT sets take longer per set, so practise against the clock |
| Phase I: Reasoning (puzzles and arrangements) | Partly | DILR questions and puzzle strategies |
| Phase I: Reasoning (short types) | Not yet | Syllogisms, inequalities, coding-decoding, blood relations and similar types are not covered |
| Phase I: English Language | Partly | VARC questions, reading comprehension strategy and daily reading; grammar and error-spotting drills are not covered |
| Phase I: General Awareness | Limited | Our Knowledge series on the RBI (central banking, started) covers RBI and central banking; current affairs are not covered |
| Phase II: Economic and Social Issues | Limited | Our Knowledge series on the RBI (central banking, started) for monetary policy background; otherwise the official syllabus and the reference material RBI suggests |
| Phase II: English (Writing Skills) | Limited | Daily reading helps with understanding dense passages for précis and comprehension; essay and précis writing practice is not covered |
| Phase II: General Finance and Management | Not yet | Use the official syllabus and the reference material RBI suggests |
| Interview | Not yet | |
| RBI-pattern mocks | Not yet | Our mocks follow the CAT pattern, not RBI Phase I or II; analysing a mock still applies |
Pareto Academy is built around CAT. For RBI Grade B, it helps most with the quant, data interpretation, puzzle and reading parts of Phase I, which are about a third of that phase. The skills transfer, but the exams reward different things. RBI Phase I rewards fast, accurate answers to many short questions, whereas CAT questions are fewer, longer and multi-step. For General Awareness and all of Phase II, use the official syllabus, RBI's own publications and other resources.
Selection process and posts
- Phase I. An objective online test with sectional and aggregate cut-offs. In 2026 it was held on 13 June. Careers360 reported that the Phase I result was released on 25 June 2026.
- Phase II. Three papers; in 2026 they were held on 25 July, and you must sit every paper in every shift. Shortlisting for interview is on aggregate Phase II marks. Careers360 reported on 23 August 2026 that 127 General-stream candidates had been shortlisted for interview.
- Interview. Worth 75 marks, preceded by an unmarked personality assessment. Eligibility is checked in full only at this stage.
- Final merit. Phase II marks plus interview marks.
Selected General-stream candidates join the General cadre as Officers in Grade 'B'. Appointment starts with two years' probation, which the Bank may extend up to four years. The 2026 notification gives a starting basic pay of INR 78,450 a month, in the scale INR 78,450–1,41,600. It puts initial gross pay at about INR 1,54,936 a month without HRA; HRA is 15% of pay if Bank accommodation is not provided. Officers are covered by the National Pension System (NPS) and can be posted anywhere in India.
Preparation tips
- Start General Awareness early. At 80 of the 200 Phase I marks, it is too big to cram. Read the news and banking and economic developments daily for several months before the exam.
- Prepare Phase II alongside Phase I. RBI Phase II has followed Phase I by about six weeks (13 June to 25 July in 2026). That is not enough time to learn economics, finance and management from scratch.
- Do not neglect any Phase I section. There is a sectional cut-off in every Phase I test, so a strong reasoning score cannot make up for a weak English or quant score.
- Practise short-format reasoning separately. The puzzles overlap with CAT DILR, but syllogisms, inequalities and coding-decoding need their own drills.
- Train for speed in quant. Thirty questions in a fixed section time leaves about a minute or less per question. Drill arithmetic and DI sets to a time limit.
- Practise typing your answers. Phase II descriptive answers are typed. Write timed answers on a keyboard, keeping to the structure of two 15-mark and two 10-mark answers.
- Use RBI's own reading list. The notification names its sources: the Economic Survey, the RBI Annual Report, the Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India, and the Union Budget.
Frequently asked questions
How many vacancies were there in RBI Grade B 2026?
Sixty in total: 40 in the General cadre, 10 in DEPR and 10 in DSIM.
What is the age limit for RBI Grade B?
You must be at least 21 and under 30 on 1 April 2026: born no earlier than 2 April 1996 and no later than 1 April 2005. SC/ST candidates get up to five years' relaxation and OBC candidates up to three, and there are further relaxations for some groups. Candidates with an M.Phil. or Ph.D. have an upper limit of 32 or 34 respectively.
How many times can I take RBI Grade B?
General and EWS candidates who have already taken Phase I six times are not eligible. There is no such limit for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates if posts are reserved for them.
Do Phase I marks count in the final result?
No. Phase I is a screening stage with sectional and aggregate cut-offs. The final merit list is based on Phase II and the interview.
Is RBI Grade B harder than SBI PO?
They test different things. Both screen on reasoning, quant and English, but RBI Phase I adds an 80-question General Awareness section. RBI Phase II is a largely descriptive test of economics, finance and management, rather than another aptitude paper.
Sources
- RBI Grade B 2026 notification, Advt. No. RBISB/DA/01/2026-27 (RBI Opportunities): vacancies, dates, age limit, eligibility, attempts, fees, scheme of selection, Phase II structure and syllabus, interview marks, pay and service conditions. We read the official PDF through a copy hosted by Testbook, because the RBI site blocked automated access (accessed 24 October 2026)
- RBI Grade B Officer 2026, Careers360: Phase I section-wise questions and marks, and the 2026 result dates (accessed 24 October 2026)
- RBI Grade B notification 2026, Careers360: 2026 vacancies and dates, with the 2025 notification reported at 120 vacancies (accessed 24 October 2026)
- RBI Grade B 2026 Phase 2 result, Careers360 (23 August 2026): 127 General-stream candidates shortlisted for interview (accessed 24 October 2026)
- RBI Grade B exam pattern, Edutap: Phase I sectional timings, the negative marking in Phase I and Phase II, and the Phase II English task types (a coaching provider's account, not official) (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SBI PO 2026 Preliminary Examination information handout (CRPD/PO/2026-27/09): SBI PO prelims sections, timing, negative marking and the absence of a sectional cut-off (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SBI PO 2026 Main Examination information handout: SBI PO mains structure, the descriptive test and Phase III shortlisting (accessed 24 October 2026)
Researched from official sources on 24 October 2026. Exam patterns change from year to year: always confirm the latest details on the official website before you apply.