RBI Grade B Syllabus: The RBI Grade B exam is widely regarded as one of the most challenging banking examinations in India and offers some of the best benefits and career prospects. If you are planning to prepare for the RBI Grade B 2026 exam, it is essential to understand the detailed syllabus and exam pattern, outlined below.
The RBI Grade B (DR–General) syllabus is divided into two phases. Phase 1 (Preliminary Exam) covers four subjects: English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness (including current affairs and banking-related topics). Phase 2 (Main Exam) comprises three papers: (i) Economics & Social Issues (ESI), (ii) Descriptive English (Writing Skills), and (iii) Finance & Management (FM).
RBI Garde B Notification 2026 – Check Here
RBI Grade B Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026
With the release of the RBI Grade B notification and tentative exam dates, candidates should begin their preparation without delay. It is essential to understand the syllabus, exam pattern, mode of examination, types of questions, and duration of the test. Review the key details provided below.
RBI Grade B Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
| Bank | Reserve Bank of India (RBI) |
| Exam Name | RBI Grade B 2026 |
| Type of Exam |
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| Exam Dates |
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| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Total Marks |
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| Total Questions |
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| Negative Marking |
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| Selection Process |
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RBI Grade B: Syllabus
Phase 01
- 👉 English
- 👉 Quantitative Aptitude
- 👉 Reasoning
- 👉 General Awareness
Phase 02
- 👉 Economic and Social Issues (ESI)
- 👉 English Descriptive (Writing Skills)
- 👉 Finance and Management
RBI Grade B Syllabus Phase 1 (Prelims)
SubjectNo. of QuestionsMax. MarksDuration
| 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 |
The Phase 1 Syllabus for RBI Grade B 2026 includes 4 sections: General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability.
Each of these sections holds equal importance in clearing your examination. Let’s break down each section individually. Here are the key topics covered in each:
RBI Grade B Phase 1 General Awareness Syllabus
| RBI Grade B General Awareness Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| 1. Current Affairs |
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| 2. Banking Awareness | Indian Banking System, Structure of Indian banking system, Types of banks and financial institutions, Money and banking concepts, Financial Concepts, Basic banking terminology, Financial awareness, Banking abbreviations, Digital payment systems |
| 3. Banking and RBI Specific Topics | RBI Specific Knowledge, RBI terms and definitions, Functions and role of RBI, Acts and laws related to banking and RBI, Monetary policy basics |
| 4. Static General Awareness | Static Banking Awareness, Structure of Indian banking system, Basic banking terminology, Money and banking concepts, Reports and Institutional Awareness, Ranks, reports, and indexes, Committees and councils |
RBI Grade B Phase 1 Reasoning Syllabus
| RBI Grade B Reasoning Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| 1. Logical Reasoning | Syllogism, Inequalities (Direct & Coded), Statement & Conclusion, Statement & Assumption, Statement & Argument, Cause & Effect, Course of Action |
| 2. Analytical & Puzzle-Based Reasoning | Puzzles (Floor, Box, Scheduling, Comparison), Seating Arrangement (Linear, Circular, Square, Mixed), Machine Input–Output, Data Sufficiency |
| 3. Basic Reasoning Concepts | Coding–Decoding (Letter, Number, Symbol, New Pattern), Alphabet/Alphanumeric Series, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Order and Ranking |
RBI Grade B Phase 1 English Syllabus
| RBI Grade B English Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| 1. Question Types | Reading Comprehension, Gap Fillers, Double Fillers, Error Spotting, Sentence Rearrangement, Idiom/Phrases Usage and Replacement, Word Reshuffle/Swapping, Para Jumbles, Sentence Connectors, Odd One Out, Sentence Completion, Sentence Correction, Word Replacement, Cloze Test |
| 2. Grammar Topics | Subject Verb Agreement, Parts of Speech (Nouns, Pronouns, Adjectives, Verbs, Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions), Tenses, Articles, Conditional Sentences, Modals, Active and Passive Voice |
RBI Grade B Officer Syllabus Phase 2 (Mains)
The Phase 2 syllabus for RBI Grade B 2026 consists of three papers: Economic and Social Issues (ESI), English (Descriptive), and Finance and Management (FM).
All three papers carry equal significance, as candidates must clear both sectional cut-offs and the overall cut-off. The detailed and updated syllabus for RBI Grade B 2026 is provided below:
| Sections/Subjects | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Paper 1: Economics and Social Issues |
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| Paper 2: English (Writing Skills) |
(Precis, RCs, & Essay) |
| Paper 3: Finance and Management |
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RBI Grade B Paper-1: Economic and Social Issues (ESI) detail Syllabus
| RBI Grade B ESI Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| 1. Basic Economic Concepts | National Income Accounting, Schools of Economic Thought, Economic Growth and Development, Human Development, Sustainable Development |
| 2. Indian Economic Development (Historical Perspective) |
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| 3. Public Finance and Macroeconomic Policies | Public Expenditure and Receipts, Public Debt, Fiscal Policy, Federal Finance, Inflation, Indian Taxation System, Planning Period in India (Five-Year Plans) |
| 4. Social and Development Issues | Poverty, Unemployment, Population Growth and Demographic Issues, Health, Education, Gender, Positive Discrimination, Multiculturalism, Urbanisation and Migration |
| 5. Banking, Institutions and Development | Key International Economic Institutions, Role of Banks and RBI in the Development Process, Rural Credit and Microfinance |
RBI Grade B Paper 2: English Descriptive (Writing Skills) Syllabus
| RBI Grade B English Descriptive Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| 1. Essay Writing | Economic and financial issues, Social or contemporary developments, Governance and public policy, Technology and society, Environmental concerns, Ethical or abstract themes |
| 2. Precis Writing | A long passage is given and candidates are required to condense it into a precis of about 170–180 words. The precis must reflect the essence of the original passage without adding personal opinions. |
| 3. Reading Comprehension (Descriptive Answers) | A passage is provided, followed by approximately five questions that require short, well-structured descriptive answers. |
RBI Grade B Paper 3: Finance Syllabus
| RBI Grade B Finance Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| 1. Banking and Financial System | Regulatory Bodies in Financial Sector, Indian Banking System, Non-Banking Systems, Indian Financial System, Financial Markets, Risk Management in Banking Sector, Corporate Governance in Banking Sector, Financial Inclusion |
| 2. Global Finance and Financial Developments | FinTech, Global Financial Markets and International Banking, Impact of Global Financial Crisis, Recent Developments in Digital Payments |
| 3. Public Finance and Government Policies | Inflation, FDI, FPI and Disinvestment, GST, Indian Taxation System and Public Expenditure, FRBM Act and Finance Commission, Alternate Sources of Finance, PPP and Social Cost–Benefit |
| 4. Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis | Basics of Accounting, Preparation of Company Final Accounts, Cash Flow Statements, Ratio Analysis |
RBI Grade B Paper 3: Management Syllabus
| RBI Grade B Management Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| 1. Principles of Management | Introduction to Management, Evolution of Management Thought, Management Functions and Managerial Roles, Organisation and Organisation Structure |
| 2. Organizational Behaviors | Introduction to Organisational Behaviour, Personality, Perception, Motivation, Stress and Learning, Analysis of Interpersonal Relationship |
| 3. Leadership and Managerial Skills | Leadership, Authority and Power, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Decision Making and MBO, Organizational Conflict |
| 4. Organizational Development and Ethics | Organisational Change and Group, Organisational Development, Nudge Theory, Ethics, Corporate Governance |
RBI Grade B DEPR Syllabus 2026
The syllabus for the DEPR stream is designed in line with the responsibilities of RBI’s DEPR cadre officers, who primarily handle economic policy formulation and analysis within the Reserve Bank of India.
| Phase | Papers | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 (Objective) | Paper-1 Economics | 100 | 120 minutes |
| Paper-2 English – Descriptive (To be typed with help of keyboard) | 100 | 120 minutes | |
| Phase 2 (Descriptive) | Paper-2 Economics | 100 | 180 minutes |
| Paper-3 English | 100 | 90 minutes | |
| Total | 400 | ||
The RBI Grade B (DEPR) syllabus includes the following components:
- The Economics papers are set at a level comparable to a Master’s degree in Economics from any recognized Central University in India.
- The English paper is intended to evaluate candidates’ writing abilities, including clarity of expression and understanding of topics.
You should also refer to the following recommended study materials:
RBI Publications:
- Annual Reports
- Monetary Policy Reports
- Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India
- Financial Stability Report
Government Publications:
- Economic Survey of India (for the last two years)
RBI Grade B Officer DSIM Syllabus:
The syllabus for the DSIM stream is designed in line with the responsibilities of DSIM cadre officers at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). These officers are primarily involved in collecting, compiling, and analyzing statistical data related to banking, corporate sectors, and the external sector, along with several other functions.
| Phase | Paper | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 (Objective) | Paper-1 Statistics | 100 | 120 minutes |
| Phase 2 (Descriptive) | Paper 2 Statistics (Descriptive) | 100 | 180 minutes |
| Paper 3 English (Descriptive) | 100 | 90 minutes | |
| Total | 300 | ||
Paper 1 is conducted in an online format and consists of multiple-choice questions.
Papers 2 and 3 are descriptive in nature, where candidates are required to type their answers using a keyboard.
The RBI Grade B (DSIM) syllabus is outlined below:
- Paper 1: This paper includes objective questions on topics such as Probability (including definitions), large and small sample theory, analysis of variance, estimation methods, standard distributions, hypothesis testing, multivariate analysis, and stochastic processes.
- Paper 2: This is a descriptive paper covering multiple areas:
- (i) Statistical Inference, including estimation, hypothesis testing, and non-parametric tests;
- (ii) Linear Models and Economic Statistics;
- (iii) Probability and Sampling;
- (iv) Stochastic Processes;
- (v) Multivariate Analysis; and
- (vi) Numerical Analysis and Basic Computer Techniques.
- Candidates are given sufficient choices and can attempt the required number of questions from any three or more of these six sections.
- Paper 3: This paper evaluates English writing skills, focusing on clarity of expression and the ability to understand and present ideas effectively.
This concludes the overview of the RBI Grade B DSIM syllabus.
RBI Grade B Interview Syllabus
The RBI Grade B interview does not follow a fixed syllabus. Instead, candidates are evaluated on their personality, critical thinking ability, logical reasoning, and awareness of current affairs. Although there is no predefined list of topics, certain areas are commonly explored during the interview.
Below are some of the key areas frequently covered:
- Personal Background and Profile
Candidates are often asked about their personal details, educational qualifications, work experience, hobbies, and interests. The panel may assess how your academic and professional experiences have shaped your decision-making and problem-solving abilities. You may also be asked to explain how your hobbies and personal interests contribute to your overall development. - Understanding of RBI Functions and Operations
A strong understanding of the Reserve Bank of India’s role is essential. This includes its responsibility in currency regulation, implementation of monetary policy, and functioning as the “lender of last resort.” Candidates should also be familiar with RBI’s initiatives aimed at economic growth and development. Questions may involve interpreting reports such as the Financial Stability Report and the Annual Report, along with analyzing data related to RBI’s balance sheet and non-performing assets (NPAs). - Indian and Global Economic Trends
You should be well-versed in key economic concepts and current trends, such as GDP growth, inflation, and fiscal deficit. Topics like financial inclusion, sustainable development, and green finance are also important. Additionally, candidates may be asked about the impact of global events or conflicts on India’s economy and banking sector. - Government Schemes and Policies
Awareness of major government initiatives is crucial. Programs like Stand Up India, MUDRA, Kisan Credit Card, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), and Atal Pension Yojana (APY) are often discussed, particularly in terms of their influence on banking and financial inclusion. - Current Affairs
Candidates should stay updated on recent developments, including the Union Budget, Economic Survey, and RBI notifications related to areas such as export-import policies and credit facilities. - Situation-Based Questions
The panel may present hypothetical scenarios to evaluate your problem-solving approach. For example, you might be asked how to handle a financial crisis while maintaining economic stability, or how to sustain economic growth during a pandemic-like situation. - Decision-Making Ability
Questions may also focus on practical decision-making, such as addressing customer disengagement, ensuring financial inclusion while maintaining regulatory compliance, and balancing risk with growth. - Evaluation Criteria
During the interview, panelists assess candidates on several parameters, including analytical thinking, clarity of expression, mental alertness, depth of knowledge, leadership qualities, communication skills, behavior, and attitude. Your understanding of Indian economic policies, current affairs, and global economic developments is also closely evaluated.
Overall, while there is no fixed syllabus for the RBI Grade B interview, candidates should prepare comprehensively across these areas to perform confidently.
How to Cover RBI Grade B Syllabus for Success?
You can effectively cover the RBI Grade B syllabus by following a well-structured and disciplined preparation strategy. Begin by strengthening your fundamentals through static topics, and it is advisable to prepare for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 simultaneously.
Below is a subject-wise strategy to help you cover the RBI Grade B syllabus efficiently:
General Awareness (GA)
Focus on current affairs from at least the past six months. Stay updated by referring to RBI circulars and reports. Regular revision of banking and financial awareness is essential to retain key information.
Quantitative Aptitude
Practice a variety of aptitude topics such as percentages, ratios, time and work, and speed and distance. Gradually work on improving both speed and accuracy, especially for complex problems. Taking regular mock tests will help identify weak areas and track progress.
Reasoning Ability
Strengthen your logical thinking by practicing puzzles, seating arrangements, syllogisms, and other reasoning topics. Solve questions within a fixed time frame to enhance both speed and precision.
English Language
Develop your vocabulary and comprehension skills by reading editorials, financial newspapers, and informative articles. Regularly practice error detection, sentence correction, and reading comprehension exercises.
Economic & Social Issues (ESI)
Build a strong understanding of the fundamentals of the Indian economy. Study key documents such as the Economic Survey, Union Budget highlights, and RBI reports to improve analytical skills. Pay special attention to topics related to social justice and sustainable development.
Finance & Management (FM)
Prepare concise notes on important topics like financial institutions, financial markets, and risk management. Stay updated with current developments by following PIB releases and RBI notifications. Practice descriptive questions using previous year papers.
English (Descriptive)
Enhance your writing skills by practicing essays on economic and financial topics. Work on comprehension and précis writing by solving previous year questions and understanding the exam pattern.
CareerMafiya.Com wishes all RBI Grade B aspirants the very best! Stay calm, trust your preparation, and give your exam with full confidence. Believe in yourself, manage your time wisely, and go all out—you’ve got this! 🚀