Everything About Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Entrance Exams
- RBI conducts various examinations to select individuals for multiple positions.
- The main exams are RBI Grade B General, RBI Grade B DEPR, RBI Assistant, etc.
Working for the Reserve Bank of India is a dream for many, and through various exams, RBI offers a chance to work in different positions. RBI is India’s central bank and the backbone of the Indian economy. RBI Grade B (DR) General, DEPR, DSIM, RBI Grade C, and RBI Assistant Exam are conducted to select individuals for various roles.
Together, these examinations work as a selection mechanism to select individuals who work diligently to shape the growth of the Indian economy. The Reserve Bank of India was established in 1935 and was nationalised in 1949; the apex bank of India is responsible for maintaining the Consolidated Funds of India and formulating banking policies.
The Reserve Bank of India Grade B Examination
The RBI Grade B examination is one of the most essential and prominent examinations conducted by the Reserve Bank of India. It is conducted every year to recruit officers for the prestigious bank. The notifications are released from time to time on the official website.
Successful candidates are selected and inducted into banks as RBI Officers in the following departments.
- Direct Recruitment (DR) General Cadre
- Department of Economic Policy and Research (DEPR)
- Department of Statistics and Information Management (DSIM)
Apart from specific criteria, the eligibility and exam pattern remain similar, as explained below.
RBI Grade B Eligibility
The Reserve Bank of India has drafted the following essential criteria for candidates who have a desire to apply for the Grade B posts.
- Age Limits
- In the year of appearing for the examination, the candidate must be between 21 and 30 years old.
- The age relaxation is provided for the candidates from reserved categories per the government guidelines.
- Educational Qualifications
- To be eligible to appear for the RBI Grade B examination, the candidate must possess an undergraduate degree from a recognised university.
- However, the educational requirements and RBI cutoff for marks in the highest educational qualification differs as per the departments applied by the applicants.
- Nationality
- Only Indian Nationals and the subjects of Nepal and Bhutan are eligible to appear for the RBI exams. Moreover, refugees and migrants from certain select countries are also eligible if they can produce a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.
- Number of Attempts
- Candidates from unreserved categories are eligible to appear for the exam up to 6 times. However, the number of attempts varies per the reserved categories’ guidelines.
It should be noted that the RBI admit cards are issued only to the candidates who fulfil all the eligibility criteria mentioned above. They must also be able to produce documentary proof when requested.
The RBI Grade B Examination Pattern
Similar to the pattern of nearly every other government exam, the examination pattern for RBI Grade B consists of two written exams and an interview, as described below.
Examination | Subjects |
Phase I Preliminary Examination | General Awareness |
English Language | |
Quantitative Aptitude | |
Reasoning Ability | |
Phase II Mains Examination | Economic & Social Issues |
English Language | |
Finance & Management/ Economics/Statistics | |
Phase III Interview | General Awareness & Interpersonal Skills |
The phases of the examination and subjects are meticulously crafted to test specific skills for aspiring individuals. The aspiring candidates are scrutinised extensively as they will work on crucial positions that could directly or indirectly affect the Indian economy.
RBI Grade B Phase I
Further dividing the exam pattern for Phase I and II, along with the number of questions, maximum marks, and duration for each section, is as discussed below.
RBI Grade B Phase I – Objective Type | |||
Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Total Duration |
English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 Minutes |
Numerical Ability | 30 | 30 | 25 Minutes |
Reasoning Ability | 60 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 Minutes |
Total | 200 | 200 | 120 Minutes |
It should be noted that the total number of questions for the Phase I examination is 200. The marking scheme is +1 for correct answers, and -0.25 marks will be deducted for incorrect answers. The maximum mark that can be obtained is 200, and the time allotted for the examination is 120 minutes.
RBI Grade B Phase II
As per the RBI Grade B examination pattern, the Phase II mains examination is divided into three subjects. However, two subjects are objective and subjective, while one is entirely subjective.
Economics & Social Issues (ESI) and Finance & Management (FM) are objective and subjective papers. At the same time, the English subject is descriptive and covers essays, precis and reading comprehension. The mark distribution, & duration for these subjects are explained below.
RBI Grade B Phase II – Descriptive + Subjective Exam | |||
Paper | No. of Question | Time Duration | Marks |
Paper I: Economics & Social Issues | Objective – 30 Questions | 30 Minutes | 50 |
Descriptive – 6 Questions | 90 Minutes | 50 | |
Paper II: English | Descriptive – 3 Questions | 90 Minutes | 100 |
Paper III: Finance & Management | Objective – 30 Questions | 30 Minutes | 50 |
Descriptive – 6 | 90 Minutes | 50 | |
Total | 330 Minutes | 300 |
It should be noted that out of 133 questions, 130 are objective, while 3 are subjective types. The marking scheme is +1 & +2 for correct answers and 25% negative marking for wrong answers. Out of 6 descriptive questions, candidates could attempt any 4. The total marks are 300, and the total duration is 330 minutes.
RBI Grade B Phase III: Interview
The interview or personality test is the third and last phase for the RBI Grade B. Candidates who score above the minimum cutoff marks in both these examinations are selected to appear before a panel of experts for the interview. The selected candidates who cleared Phase II must download the call letter sent on their email ID to appear for the interview.
It should be noted that the RBI Grade B Interview is 75 marks and carries a weightage of 20% in the final selection. Candidates can also choose between Hindi and English as their interview language before the interview round. A panel of 5 experts will interview you, asking various questions testing your knowledge and personality per the RBI requirements.
RBI Grade B Syllabus
The syllabus for the RBI examination is equivalent to the level of a graduate in Economics. The exam covers meticulously selected topics as listed below.
- English Writing Skills
- Economic & Social Issues
- Finance
- Management
- General Awareness
- Current Affairs
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Indian Economy & related topics
Candidates are advised to go through the official website for the detailed syllabus. Also, to start preparation as early as possible. Every year, lakhs of candidates appear for the examination, and the RBI releases the number of vacancies on its website. Candidates must keep updated with the latest information about the exam and current affairs.
RBI Grade C Examination Reserve Bank of India
The RBI Grade C Examination is conducted periodically by the Reserve Bank of India to recruit specialists for running the bank’s day-to-day operations. The eligibility criteria, syllabus and educational qualifications of the candidates differ according to the Specialisation required by the bank. The details are on the official website, and the candidates are shortlisted on the following criteria.
- Experience in the area of Specialisation applied for
- Educational Achievements
- Record of Service
- Exceptional Achievement and Award, if any.
The shortlisted candidates are called for the final interview based on the scores secured in the previous interview. Moreover, the RBI awarded the candidates contracts to work for them in various positions. Being contractual work, the perks differ from those of traditionally selected candidates.
RBI Assistant Examination
Another examination facilitated by the Reserve Bank of India is the RBI Assistant examination, which is conducted to recruit candidates into the clerical and assistant cadre. These individuals are tasked to handle the day-to-day operations of the bank. The notifications for the exam are released from time to time on the official website, and applicants are advised to keep an eye out for these notifications.
RBI Assistant Eligibility Reserve Bank of India
The candidate must fulfil the following criteria to appear for the RBI Assistant examination.
- Age Limit
- When appearing for the examination, the candidate must be 21-28 years old.
- Educational Qualifications
- Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university by the Government of India.
- Nationality
- Only Indian citizens and subjects of Bhutan and Nepal are eligible to appear for the RBI examination. Also, refugees and migrants from a few select countries are eligible only if they can produce a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.
The admit card for the RBI Assistant examination is only provided to the candidates who satisfy the eligibility criteria mentioned above.
RBI Assistant Exam Pattern & Syllabus Reserve Bank of India
The RBI Assistant Examination is conducted in Phase I & II, as explained below.
RBI Assistant Examination Pattern and Syllabus | |
RBI Assistant Exam Phase I: Preliminary Examination | English Language |
Numerical Ability | |
Reasoning Ability | |
RBI Assistant Exam Phase II: Mains | English Language |
Quantitative Aptitude | |
Reasoning Ability | |
Computer Knowledge | |
General Awareness |
Every year, the Reserve Bank of India conducts various examinations to select individuals for multiple positions. Clearing these examinations is a dream for lakhs of candidates, and Ecoholics provides comprehensive guidance for RBI Grade B General and RBI Grade B DEPR.
Our team consists of expert teachers with over 10+ years of experience in the field. We shall provide detailed guidance and a test series, and you’ll get a hard copy of the study material delivered to your doorstep. So what are you waiting for? Book your free consultation today.