RBI Grade B is conducted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and covers Phase I, Phase II (Economic and Social Issues, Finance and Management, and English) and an interview. This page summarises the RBI Grade B exam pattern, marking scheme and syllabus as a study snapshot for previous year question practice. Confirm eligibility, dates and marking in the latest official notification on rbi.org.in.
Official brochure wins
Pattern and syllabus notes below are a study snapshot for PYQ practice. Always cross-check the latest notification and information bulletin on rbi.org.in before you finalise eligibility, fees, or marking assumptions.
Pattern snapshot
Three-phase process. Phase II is where many bank-PO-only aspirants underprepare.
| Section | Duration | Questions (typical) | Marking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I (objective) | As notified | As notified | Negatives typically apply |
| Phase II ESI | As notified | Obj + descriptive mix (as notified) | Confirm advertisement |
| Phase II FM | As notified | Obj + descriptive mix (as notified) | Confirm advertisement |
| Phase II English | As notified | Descriptive | As notified |
Stream (General/DEPR/DSIM) pathways differ - this hub emphasises the common General Grade B PYQ approach.
Marking scheme (study snapshot)
| Question type | Correct | Wrong | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I MCQ | As notified | Negative typical | Sectional/overall rules vary |
| Phase II | As notified | As notified | Read paper instructions |
| Interview | Board marks | N/A | After Phase II shortlist |
Numbers above are typical of recent cycles. Confirm exact marks, negatives, and sectional rules in the current brochure.
Detailed syllabus bullets (for mapping PYQ misses)
Phase I aptitude + GA
- General awareness (economy heavy)
- English
- Quantitative aptitude
- Reasoning
Economic & Social Issues (ESI)
- Growth and development
- Poverty, inclusion, demographics
- Inflation, monetary/fiscal basics
- Sustainable development and social issues as listed
Finance & Management (FM)
- Financial system and institutions
- Markets, instruments, and risk basics
- Management principles and HR themes as listed
- RBI/financial regulation awareness
English (Phase II)
- Essay writing
- Précis
- Reading comprehension / other formats as notified
Eligibility snapshot
- Graduation/postgraduation criteria as per RBI Grade B advertisement (stream-wise)
- Age limits as notified
- Number of attempts and other conditions per official PDF
Eligibility can change by year (age, attempts, degree, category rules). Treat this as orientation only.
Who runs it and how often
- Exam: Reserve Bank of India Grade B Officer (RBI Grade B)
- Conducted by: Reserve Bank of India
- Typical frequency: As notified
- Category: Banking
- Official site: rbi.org.in
Link PYQs to syllabus
- Take one recent full paper under realistic timing.
- Map every miss to a syllabus bullet above.
- Study that bullet from your primary resource (notes/textbook).
- Re-solve only those PYQs before the next full paper.
- Update your error log with the syllabus tag so weak areas compound correctly.
Brochure caution
Do not rely on undated coaching PDFs for duration, number of questions, or negative marking. Screenshot or bookmark the current information bulletin. If a PYQ set disagrees with the latest pattern, still use it for skill practice, but do not treat its structure as the live exam.