RBI Grade B 2026

The RBI Grade B examination is one of the most prestigious and competitive entry-level exams in the Indian banking sector. Success in this exam leads to a career as a Manager (Grade B) in the Reserve Bank of India, offering high social status, significant responsibilities, and an excellent pay scale.

The 2026 notification is expected to be released between July and September 2026.

1. Selection Process Overview

The recruitment for the General stream follows a three-stage process:

  • Phase I: Online Objective Test (Qualifying in nature).

  • Phase II: Online Objective & Descriptive Test (Counts for merit).

  • Phase III: Psychometric Test & Interview (Counts for merit).

2. Phase I: Preliminary Examination

Phase I is a screening round. You must clear both sectional and overall cut-offs to proceed.

  • Negative Marking: 0.25 marks for every wrong answer.

  • Level: High difficulty, particularly in GA and Reasoning.

3. Phase II: Main Examination

This phase determines your selection for the interview. It consists of three papers, usually conducted on the same day in two shifts.

  • ESI & FM Pattern: 30 objective questions (50 marks) and 4 out of 6 descriptive questions (50 marks).

  • English: Requires typing an Essay, Précis, and Reading Comprehension on the keyboard.

  • Negative Marking: Applicable only to the objective portions.

4. Phase III: Interview

Candidates are shortlisted based on their aggregate marks in Phase II (out of 300).

  • Interview Marks: 75.

  • Psychometric Test: Conducted before the interview; it has no marks but serves as a personality profile for the panel.

  • Final Merit: Calculated based on Phase II + Interview (375 Marks).

5. Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the General stream, you typically need to meet the following:

  • Age: 21 to 30 years (Relaxation for OBC/SC/ST/PwBD).

  • Education: Minimum 60% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD) in Bachelor’s degree, 12th, and 10th standard.

  • Number of Attempts: General category candidates have a limit of 6 attempts for Phase I. No limit for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD.

6. Key Syllabus Topics

  • ESI: Growth & Development, Poverty Alleviation, Sustainable Development, Monetary & Fiscal Policy, and Social Structure in India.

  • Finance: Financial System, Markets, Risk Management, Fintech, and Regulatory Bodies.

  • Management: Leadership, Motivation, Communication, Organizational Behavior, Corporate Governance, and Ethics.

  • General Awareness (Phase I): Heavy focus on Banking/Economy news, Union Budget, Economic Survey, and Government Schemes.

Comparison with other Regulatory Exams

Since you are also looking at SEBI Grade A and IRDAI Grade A, note that:

  • RBI vs. SEBI: RBI focuses more on Macroeconomics and Social Issues, while SEBI is more technical (Commerce, Accountancy, and Companies Act).

  • Phase I Overlap: The QRE (Quant, Reasoning, English) and GA sections are highly similar, making it efficient to prepare for multiple regulatory exams simultaneously.