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Updated 2026 Phase 1: 13–14 Jun · Phase 2: 25–26 Jul 2026

RBI Grade B Syllabus 2026 — Exam Pattern, Phase 1, Phase 2 & Interview

RBI Grade B is among India's toughest banking exams. The General (DR) stream tests aptitude in Phase 1 and economics, finance, management and descriptive English in Phase 2. Separate syllabi apply for DEPR (Economics) and DSIM (Statistics) posts. Phase 1 result is out — check roll number shortlist.

RBI Grade B 2026 — Highlights

Conducting BodyReserve Bank of India (RBI Services Board)
PostsGrade B (General), DEPR, DSIM
SelectionPhase 1 → Phase 2 → Psychometric Test → Interview
Phase 1 Marks200 (objective, qualifying)
Phase 2 Marks300 (objective + descriptive)
Interview75 marks
Negative Marking−0.25 per wrong MCQ (no penalty on descriptive)
ModeOnline CBT (descriptive answers typed on keyboard)
LanguageHindi & English (except English Language test)

Selection Process by Post

  • General (DR): Phase 1 → Phase 2 (ESI + English + FM) → Psychometric Test → Interview
  • DEPR: Online/Written Economics papers → Psychometric Test → Interview
  • DSIM: Statistics papers (objective + descriptive) → Psychometric Test → Interview

Final merit list = Phase 2 aggregate + Interview marks. Phase 1 is qualifying only.

RBI Grade B Phase 1 Syllabus (General)

200 MCQs · 200 marks · 120 minutes · sectional timing · must clear sectional and overall cut-off.

Section Questions Marks Duration
General Awareness 80 80 25 min
Reasoning Ability 60 60 45 min
English Language 30 30 25 min
Quantitative Aptitude 30 30 25 min
Total 200 200 120 min

General Awareness — Topics

  • • Current Affairs
  • • Indian Financial System
  • • Indian Banking System
  • • Monetary Policy & RBI
  • • National Institutions
  • • Banking Terms & Abbreviations

Reasoning Ability — Topics

  • • Logical Reasoning
  • • Alphanumeric Series
  • • Ranking / Direction / Alphabet Test
  • • Data Sufficiency
  • • Coded Inequalities
  • • Seating Arrangement
  • • Puzzles
  • • Tabulation
  • • Syllogism
  • • Blood Relations
  • • Input Output
  • • Coding Decoding

English Language — Topics

  • • Reading Comprehension
  • • Cloze Test
  • • Para Jumbles
  • • Fill in the Blanks
  • • Error Spotting
  • • Multiple Meaning
  • • Paragraph Completion

Quantitative Aptitude — Topics

  • • Simplification
  • • Profit & Loss
  • • Mixtures & Alligations
  • • SI / CI / Surds & Indices
  • • Work & Time
  • • Time & Distance
  • • Mensuration
  • • Data Interpretation
  • • Ratio & Proportion
  • • Number Systems
  • • Sequence & Series
  • • Permutation, Combination & Probability

RBI Grade B Phase 2 Syllabus (General — Mains)

Only Phase 1 qualifiers appear. Papers I & III: 30 MCQs (50 marks) + 6 descriptive, attempt 4 (15 marks each). Paper II is fully descriptive.

Paper Subject Format Marks Duration
Paper I Economic & Social Issues (ESI) 30 MCQ + 4/6 descriptive 100 120 min
Paper II English (Writing Skills) Essay, Precis, RC 100 90 min
Paper III Finance & Management (FM) 30 MCQ + 4/6 descriptive 100 120 min

Paper I — Economic & Social Issues (ESI)

Basic Economic Concepts

  • National Income Accounting
  • Schools of Economic Thought
  • Economic Growth and Development
  • Human Development
  • Sustainable Development

Indian Economic Development

  • Nature of Indian Economy
  • India 1947–1991: Macro, Agriculture, Industry, Services, External Sector
  • Economic Reforms
  • Indian Economy Post-1991 — all sectors

Public Finance & Macroeconomic Policies

  • Public Expenditure and Receipts
  • Public Debt
  • Fiscal Policy
  • Federal Finance
  • Inflation
  • Indian Taxation System
  • Five-Year Plans

Social & Development Issues

  • Poverty
  • Unemployment
  • Demographic Issues
  • Health, Education, Gender
  • Positive Discrimination
  • Urbanisation and Migration

Banking, Institutions & Development

  • Key International Economic Institutions
  • Role of Banks and RBI in Development
  • Rural Credit and Microfinance

Paper II — English (Descriptive)

  • Essay: economic/financial issues, governance, technology, environment, ethics
  • Precis: condense passage to ~170–180 words without personal opinion
  • Reading Comprehension: passage with ~5 short descriptive answers

Paper III — Finance & Management (FM)

Banking & Financial System

  • Regulators of Banks and FIs
  • RBI — functions and monetary policy
  • Banking structure in India
  • SIDBI, EXIM, NABARD, NHB
  • Global Financial Crisis 2007–08 and Indian response

Global Finance & Developments

  • FinTech
  • Global Financial Markets
  • International Banking
  • Digital Payments

Public Finance & Government Policies

  • Inflation
  • FDI, FPI, Disinvestment
  • GST and Public Expenditure
  • FRBM Act and Finance Commission
  • PPP and Social Cost–Benefit

Accounting & Financial Analysis

  • Basics of Accounting
  • Company Final Accounts
  • Cash Flow Statements
  • Ratio Analysis

Management & Organisational Behaviour

  • Evolution of management thought
  • Motivation theories (Maslow, Herzberg, Vroom)
  • Leadership theories
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Transactional Analysis, Johari Window
  • Conflict and Organisational Change
  • Organisational Development

Ethics & Corporate Governance

  • Workplace ethics
  • Corporate governance mechanisms
  • Code of ethics and conduct
  • Communication process and barriers

RBI Grade B DEPR Syllabus 2026

Economics papers at Master's degree standard. Phase I: Economics (objective) + English (descriptive). Phase II: Economics (descriptive) + English.

Phase Paper Type Marks Duration
Phase IEconomicsObjective100120 min
Phase IEnglishDescriptive (keyboard)100120 min
Phase IIEconomicsDescriptive100180 min
Phase IIEnglishDescriptive10090 min

Topics: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, International Economics, Growth & Development, Public Finance, Environmental Economics, Quantitative Methods, Indian economy developments.

RBI Grade B DSIM Syllabus 2026

Statistics at Master's level. Phase I: Statistics (objective). Phase II: Statistics (descriptive) + English (descriptive).

Phase Paper Marks Duration
Phase IStatistics (Objective)100120 min
Phase IIStatistics (Descriptive)100180 min
Phase IIEnglish (Descriptive)10090 min

Topics: Probability, Sampling, Linear Models, Statistical Inference, Stochastic Processes, Multivariate Analysis, Econometrics, Optimisation, Data Science & ML basics.

Interview & Psychometric Test

  • Psychometric Test before interview — no marks but mandatory
  • Interview: 75 marks — finance, economics, personality, communication
  • Available in Hindi or English
  • Shortlisting based on Phase 2 aggregate; final merit = Phase 2 + Interview

Preparation Tips

  • Finish Phase 1 syllabus 2 months before exam; focus GA on RBI circulars & last 6–8 months current affairs
  • Practice descriptive writing weekly — essay, precis and RC answers on keyboard
  • Prioritise ESI and FM for Phase 2; read Economic Survey, Union Budget, RBI Annual Report
  • Attempt full-length mocks; analyse previous year memory-based papers
  • Build interview communication from Day 1 — explain economic concepts clearly

Related pages

Frequently asked questions

What are the phases in RBI Grade B 2026?
Phase 1 (Prelims — objective, qualifying), Phase 2 (Mains — objective + descriptive), Psychometric Test, and Interview (75 marks). Final merit = Phase 2 + Interview.
What subjects are in RBI Grade B Phase 1?
General Awareness (80), Reasoning (60), English (30), and Quantitative Aptitude (30) — 200 MCQs in 2 hours with sectional timing.
What is RBI Grade B Phase 2 syllabus?
Paper I: Economic & Social Issues (ESI), Paper II: English Writing (Essay, Precis, RC), Paper III: Finance & Management (FM). Papers I & III have 30 MCQs + 4 of 6 descriptive questions each.
Is RBI Grade B syllabus same for General, DEPR and DSIM?
No. General stream has Phase 1 aptitude + Phase 2 ESI/FM/English. DEPR is Economics-focused (Master's level). DSIM is Statistics-focused.
Is there negative marking in RBI Grade B?
Yes — 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer in objective sections of Phase 1 and Phase 2. No negative marking on descriptive papers.
When is RBI Grade B Phase 1 and Phase 2 2026?
Phase 1: 13 & 14 June 2026. Phase 2: 25 & 26 July 2026 (as per latest notification).
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