RBI Grade B 2024: Complete Phase 1 Syllabus, Types of Questions and Most Important Topics

A thorough understanding of the RBI Grade B Phase 1 syllabus is the first step of your exam preparation. Knowledge of the syllabus helps you focus on the key subjects and their topics that are crucial to qualify the RBI Grade B Phase 1 examination.

In this article, we’ll explain the detailed RBI Grade B Phase 1 syllabus for each subject along with the link where you can download the syllabus in PDF. Alongside the syllabus, you’ll also find the important topics, types of questions, and their difficulty level that are asked from each subject of Phase 1.

Please note that this is a comprehensive content piece where we have provided detailed explanations, ensuring students have all the information they need to know about Phase 1. So, sincere students must read this article at length. 

RBI Grade B Phase 1 Syllabus

The official notification does not mention the detailed syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1. So, how will you prepare for the exam? To make it easy for you, we have analysed the previous years’ questions (PYQs) to help you define the scope of the Phase 1 syllabus. We have also listed the important topics for each section, allowing you to tailor your preparation strategy accordingly.

Reasoning Syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam

Here is the detailed reasoning syllabus for the RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam:

• Alphabetical, Alphanumeric Series
• Coding & Decoding
• Syllogism
• Direction Sense
• Inequality
• Ranking & Order
• Blood Relation
• Seating Arrangement
• Puzzles
• Machine Input Output
• Statement – Assumption
• Statement – Course of Action
• Cause and Effect
• Statement Argument
• Statement Conclusion
• Data Sufficiency

Click here to Download the RBI Grade B Phase 1 Reasoning Syllabus in PDF. 

PYQ Analysis of RBI Grade B Phase 1 Reasoning 

We have analysed the year-wise trend of the number of questions asked from each topic of reasoning from 2017 to 2023 to help you identify the difficulty level and most important topics.

Reasoning PYQ Analysis Phase 1
		Number of Questions
SNo.	Topics	2023	2022	2021	2019	2018	2017
1	Seating Arrangement	14	10	13	11	10	6
2	Puzzle	15	20	10	15	10	16
3	Analytical Reasoning	9	12	12	10	10	10
4	Syllogism	4	3	2	5	5	5
5	Alphanumeric Symbolic Series	2	0	0	2	3	0
6	Inequality	2	2	3	3	5	6
7	Input Output	5	5	5	5	0	5
8	Data Sufficiency	4	5	3	0	5	3
9	Coding Decoding	3	0	3	4	0	0
10	Blood Relation	2	3	5	0	9	5
11	Direction Sense	0	0	1	4	3	4
12	Ranking & Order	0	0	3	1	0	0

We have carefully analysed the number of questions asked from each topic of reasoning in the past years to identify the important topics.

Important Reasoning Topics for RBI Grade B Phase 1

Based on our analysis, here are the most important reasoning topics:

• Alphabetical, Alphanumeric Series
• Coding & Decoding
• Machine Input Output
• Syllogism
• Direction Sense
• Inequality
• Ranking & Order
• Blood Relation
• Seating Arrangement
• Puzzles

After understanding the important topics, let’s take a look at their difficulty level.

RBI Grade B Phase 1 Reasoning Difficulty Level

The table below contains the year-wise distribution of easy, moderate, and difficult questions out of the total number of reasoning questions from 2017 to 2023. Understanding the difficulty level of questions helps you tailor your approach, prioritise topics, and fine-tune your preparation strategy. 

Reasoning Difficulty Level Phase 1
		2023	2022	2021	2019	2018	2017
	Total Questions	60	60	60	60	60	60
Difficulty Level	Easy	6	5	5	20	14	8
	Moderate	27	15	10	30	25	21
	Difficult	27	40	45	10	21	31

After getting familiar with the difficulty level, let’s understand the type of reasoning questions asked in the RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam.

Types of Reasoning Questions

Understanding the types of questions helps you identify the level and formats of questions asked in the RBI Grade B Phase 1. It ensures that you are thoroughly prepared for all question types encountered in the exam. Below, we have explained the type of questions asked from each important topic of reasoning in the RBI Grade B Phase 1:

1. Alphabetical, Alphanumeric Series

To solve alphabetical series, you must have a basic knowledge of English alphabets such as. 

• Place value of each alphabet (A=1, B=2……., Z=26)
• Opposite value of each alphabet (A=Z, B=Y, C=X, and so on.  

You must keep in mind that alphanumeric series questions incorporate both letters and numbers within the series. Here are some examples.

Directions: Study the following information to answer the given questions.

@ F 5 2 M $ 7 K T R 3 C + 8 B ! 9 D Q * G 6 W N

STEP 1 – Those numbers which are immediately preceded by a symbol and immediately followed by an alphabet are written at the right end in descending order.

STEP 2 – After completing step 1, the alphabet which is immediately followed by a symbol is written between the 7th and 6th element from the right end in alphabetical order from left to right. 

Question 1: Which of the following elements is 11th to the right of the element which is 4th from the right end in step 1?

[1] *

[2] Q

[3] G

[4] B

[5] 9

Question 2: How many alphabets are immediately followed or preceded by a symbol in step 2?

[1] Four

[2] Two

[3] Five

[4] None

[5] Three

2. Coding & Decoding

Similar to alphabetical and alphanumeric series, a fundamental understanding of place values and the concept of opposite letters in the alphabet is essential. Here is an example.

Question 1: How is ‘dwarf’ definitely coded in the same code language? 

I. In a certain code language, ‘the dwarf planet’ is coded as ‘cq sd ap’ and ‘the solar energy’ is coded as ‘kb og sd’. 

II. In a certain code language, ‘only dwarf planet’ is coded as ‘cq ap st’, ‘the coldest planet’ is coded as ‘sd cq yt’. 

A. The data even in both statements I and II together are not sufficient to answer the question. 

B. The data in statement I alone are sufficient to answer the question while the data in statement II alone are not sufficient to answer the question. 

C. The data either in statement I alone or in statement II alone are sufficient to answer the question. 

D. The data in both statement I and II together are necessary to answer the question. 

E. The data in statement II alone are sufficient to answer the question while the data in statement I are not sufficient to answer the question. 

3. Syllogism

Syllogism involves drawing conclusions based on the given statements that are asserted to be true. To effectively solve syllogism problems, it’s essential to grasp basic keywords like “All,” “Some,” “Some Not,” and “No.” Additionally, understanding advanced keywords such as “Only A Few,” “Only,” “All Not,” “Can Never Be,” etc. is crucial. Here are some syllogism examples.

Directions: In each of the questions below are given some statements followed by five conclusions. You have to take the given statements to be true even if they seem to be at variance with commonly known facts. Read all the conclusions and then decide which of the given conclusions logically does not follow from the given statements, disregarding commonly known facts.

Question 1: Only a few bananas are oranges. No banana is mango. No grapes are oranges.

Conclusions:

[1] Some grapes can be mangoes

[2] All bananas can be oranges

[3] Some mangoes are not bananas

[4] Some grapes are bananas is a possibility

[5] Some oranges can be mangoes

Question 2: Some actors are dancers. Only a few dancers are singers. No singer is politician

Conclusions:

[1] Some politicians being actors is a possibility

[2] Some dancers are not singers

[3] Some dancers are not politicians is not a possibility

[4] Some actors are singers

[5] Some actors are singers is a possibility

Reverse Syllogism

Syllogism involves the concept of reverse reasoning. In this case, you are presented with a conclusion, and your task is to identify the statements that can be inferred based on the information provided in the questions. Here is an example.

Directions: In the following question, two conclusions have been given followed by five sets of possible statements. You have to take the given conclusions to be true even if they seem to be at variance with the commonly known facts and then decide for the given conclusions logically follow from which of the given set of statements disregarding commonly known facts.

Question 1: Conclusions:

1. Some gold are not silver.

2. Some gold are fabric.

Statements:

[1] All silver are fabric. No fabric is gold. Some gold are metal.

[2] Some silver are fabric. Some fabrics are gold. All gold are metal.

[3] No silver is fabric. All fabric are gold. Some gold are metal.

[4] All silver are fabric. Some fabric are metal. Some gold are metal.

[5] All fabric are silver. All silver are gold. All gold are metal.

Question 2: Conclusions:

1. Some hospitals are buildings is a possibility.

2. Some hostels are not houses.

Statements:

[1] All buildings are schools. All schools are hostels. No school is house. No hospital is hostel.

[2] Some buildings are schools. All Schools are hostels. No hospital is house. Some schools are

houses.

[3] All buildings are schools. All schools are hostels. No school is house. All hospitals are hostels.

[4] Some buildings are schools. No school is hostel. No hostel is hospital. Some hospitals are houses.

[5] None of these.

4. Inequality

Solving inequality requires a basic understanding of symbols (<,>,=, >=, <=,) and their corresponding relationships. Additionally, it’s crucial to comprehend the concept of possibilities, including “either/or” and “neither/nor.” You must know that statement-based inequality questions have been asked in the previous RBI Grade B exam. Here are some examples.

Directions: In these questions, a relationship between different elements is shown in the

statements. These statements are followed by two conclusions. Give answer

M&N means M is neither greater than nor equal to N

M%N means M is neither smaller than nor greater than N

M*N means M is not greater N

M$N means M is greater than N

M@N means M is either greater than or equal to N

Question 1: Which of the following will make S>P definitely true?

I: P$E@I*S%M

II: I%L@P%K*G*S

III: B*P%Y&N*S

A. If only Conclusion I follows

B. If only conclusion II follows

C. If both Conclusion I and II follow

D. If only conclusion III follows

E. If both the conclusion I and III follows

Reverse Inequality

Similar to the reverse syllogism, a conclusion is given and you need to identify the correct statement. Here is an example.

Question 1: 

Direction: In which of the following expressions V > Z, K < Y is definitely true?

[1] X => W > K => Z < Y <= U < V

[2] W <= T < V > G => I => Y > Z < K

[3] T => C < V => A = Q => Z > Y > D > K

[4] D => E = G > V = F > K > Z < K < Q <= Y

[5] A => I => H = L < Z > K > V < J < Y

Question 2: 

Direction: In which of the following expressions is the expression M => R definitely true

[1] X < R => T => P < N > B => M > U

[2] N > M > L = C => A = D > S = R

[3] L <= B > M > X => U <= A = O < R

[4] T > M = F => G = U => O <= R = S

[5] A > R <= B = L = P <= S = M < G

5. Direction Sense

It requires a basic knowledge of directions (East, West, North, and South) and sub-direction (Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest). Please note that the direction questions are usually asked in the form of puzzles and statement-based questions. Here is an example.

Question 1: The question given below consists of two statements I and II given below it. You have to decide whether the data provided in the statements are sufficient to answer the question. Read all the statements and give the answer.

Seven points, T, U, V, W, X, Y and Z are drawn on a rectangular piece of paper. What is the direction of point W with respect to point U?

Statement I: Y is 3cm to the west of T. V is 6cm to the east of Y. U is 3cm to the south of T. W is 9cm to the east of Z. X is 6cm to the west of W. V is 5cm to the south of X.

Statement II: Z is 6cm to the north of U. X is 3cm east of Z. V is 5cm south of X. Y is 6cm west of V. T is the midpoint of Y and V. W, which is in the east of X, is 13cm to the northeast of Y.

[1] Data in statement I alone is sufficient to answer the question, while data in statement II alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

[2] Data in statement II alone is sufficient to answer the question, while data in statement I alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

[3] Data either in statement I alone or in statement II alone is sufficient to answer the question.

[4] Data given in both the statement I and II together are not sufficient to answer the question.

[5] Data in statements I and II together are necessary to answer the question.

6. Blood Relation

It is important to have a basic knowledge of blood relations so that you can easily make the family tree. It is important to note that the blood relation questions are usually asked in the form of puzzles. Here is an example.

Direction: Answer the following questions based on the information given below.

Eight people Alex, Ben, Charlie, Daniel, Peter, Quinin, Rachel, and Sophia are seated around a circular table facing the centre. Some information about their relationships and positions is given:

• Sophia’s husband is sitting two seats to the right of Ben.
• Quinn is seated two seats to the left of Daniel’s daughter.
• Quinn is Rachel’s sister.
• Sophis’s husband is not sitting next to Quinn.
• There is one person between Quinn and Alex.
• Similarly, there is one person between Peter and Sophia’s mother.
• Alex is the father of Rachel. Charlie is not sitting next to Quinn.
• Sophia’s mother is seated immediately to the right of Daniel, who is Sophia’s brother.
• There is one person between Sophia and Rachel.
• Peter is not sitting next to Rachel, who is the mother of Charlie.

Question 1: Who is sitting second to the right of Ben?

[1] Rachel

[2] Alex

[3] Quinn

[4] Peter

[5] Sophia

Question 2: How many people are seated between Quinn and Alex?

[1] Three

[2] Four

[3] Two

[4] One

[5] None

7. Ranking & Order

It involves arranging a group of items or individuals in a specific sequence (horizontally or vertically) or order based on given conditions or criteria. Here is an example.

Direction: The question below consists of a question and two statements numbered I and II. You have to decide whether the data provided in the statements are sufficient to answer the question. Read both the statements and give answer. 

Question 1: Among M, N, O, P, Q and R, each having a different height, who is the second tallest? 

I. M is taller than only O. N is taller than P shorter than R. Q is shorter than N.  

II. Q is taller than only three persons. P is taller than M but shorter than R. N is shorter than R taller than P. 

A. Data in statement I alone are sufficient to answer the question, while the data in Statement II alone are not sufficient to answer the question. 

B. Data in statement II alone are sufficient to answer the question, while the data in statement I alone are not sufficient to answer the question. 

C. Data in statements I alone or in Statement II alone are sufficient to answer the question. 

D. Data in both the Statements I and II are not sufficient to answer the question. 

E. Data in both the Statements I and II together are necessary to answer the question. 

8. Machine Input-Output 

These types of questions are primarily logic-based, with many of the underlying patterns directly linked to the English alphabetical series and numerical sequences. 

You must know that in the English alphabetical series, logic is often based on elements like place value, opposite letters, the sum of letter positions, and the number of letters in a word. When it comes to numerical sequences, the logic may revolve around even numbers, odd numbers, prime numbers, natural numbers, composite numbers, and more. Here is an example.

Direction: Study the following information carefully and answer the given questions.

A word arrangement machine given an input line of words rearranges them following a particular rule in each step. The following is an illustration of input and rearrangement.

Input: random optimistic thrifty afraid predictable extravagant pompous humble brave pessimistic

Step1: afraid random optimistic thrifty predictable extravagant pompous humble pessimistic brave.

Step2: extravagant afraid random optimistic predictable pompous humble pessimistic brave thrifty.

Step3: humble extravagant afraid random optimistic predictable pessimistic brave thrifty pompous.

Step4: optimistic humble extravagant afraid random predictable brave thrifty pompous pessimistic.

Step5: predictable optimistic humble extravagant afraid brave thrifty pompous pessimistic random.

Step5 is the last step of the above input.

Input: jeopradize entrust safeguard withdraw anxiety lengthen secular abridge spiritual ease.

Question 1: What will be the fourth step of the above input?

[1] jeopradize entrust abridge anxiety secular spiritual lengthen ease withdraw safeguard.

[2] jeopradize entrust anxiety abridge secular spiritual lengthen brave withdraw safeguard.

[3] jeopradize entrust anxiety abridge secular lengthen spiritual ease withdraw safeguard.

[4] jeopradize entrust anxiety abridge secular spiritual lengthen ease withdraw safeguard.

[5] jeopradize entrust anxiety afraid secular spiritual lengthen withdraw ease safeguard.

Question 2: In step 5th of the rearrangement, if ‘anxiety’ is related to ‘entrust’ and ‘abridge ‘ in a certain way. Which of the following would ‘withdraw’ be related to, following the same pattern?

[1] Lengthen and ease

[2] Ease and entrust

[3] Ease and safeguard

[4] Lengthen and safeguard

[5] None of these

9. Seating Arrangement

Seating arrangement questions are based on organising and analysing information about individuals or objects placed in a specific order or arrangement. You must know that there are different types of seating arrangements asked in the exam:

• Row (linear and parallel)
• Unknown no. of people
• Seating in a shape (circle, square, triangle, rectangle, hexagon, etc.) facing inside, facing outside, and both
• Combinations (circle + blood relations, row + blood relations, etc)

Here is an example.

Directions: Answer the questions based on the information given below:

There are 3 horizontally parallel rows, row 1, row 2 and row 3. Row 1 is to the north of row 2 and row 2 is to the north of row 3. Five persons are sitting in each row and L is one of the persons among them. In row 1, the first three persons sitting from left to right are facing north and the rest are facing south. In row 3, the first three persons sitting from left to right are facing north and the rest are facing south. In row 2, the first two persons sitting from left to right are facing north and the rest are facing south. The last two persons from the left end of row 1 face the first two persons from the left end of row 2. The last three persons from the left end of row 2 face the first three persons from the left end of row 3. 

F, who is sitting 2nd to the right of Q, is sitting opposite to A. Three persons are sitting between A and M. F is facing south. G is sitting 2nd to the right of C and both of them are facing the north. E is sitting on the left of G. One person is sitting between E and N. B is sitting to the immediate left of D, who is sitting opposite to O, who is not sitting adjacent to A. S and P are sitting opposite to each other. Neither S nor P is sitting in row 1. R is not sitting adjacent to M.

Question 1: Find the odd one out.

[1] C

[2] O

[3] N

[4] F

[5] Q

Question 2: How many persons are sitting on the left of S?

[1] 3

[2] 1

[3] 4

[4] 2

[5] None of these

10. Puzzles

Solving puzzles requires critical thinking, deduction, and consistent practice. It is important to know that these puzzles come in various formats, such as Hierarchy, Flat + Floor, Month + Date, Birthdate, Month-Based, and many more. Here is an example.

Directions: Answer the questions based on the information given below.

P, Q, and R are three adjacent buildings. P is to the west of Q. Q is to the west of R. Each building has a different number of floors with the lowest floor numbered 1, the floor above it numbered 2 and so on. The height of floors in each building is the same i.e. the same numbered floors are at equal height from the ground. Only a few of the floors of these buildings are taken and the rest are vacant. None of the buildings had more than 10 floors.

• D’s floor number was twice that of J’s floor number.
• J lived in building Q. Q had prime numbered floors and J lived on the floor that was 3rd from the top
• Not more than 3 flats were taken in building P
• F was exactly to the east of B
• B lived exactly above C but not in the same building
• C and F did not live in the same building
• A’s floor number was thrice as that of C’s floor number.
• A was exactly to the west of H
• H was not in building R
• C and G did not live in the same building
• G lived immediately below E
• B and E lived on consecutive floors of the same building
• I was exactly to the east of C
• I and E did not live in the same building
• B and G did not have the same floor number
• The number of floors in I’s building was 3 less than that in building Q

1. Only one person lives on each floor

2. Exactly to the east or west does not mean immediate east or west but on the same floor.

3. Immediately above or below implies that the person is not in the same building.

Question 1: How many floors were there in building P?

[1] 6

[2] 8

[3] 5

[4] 10

[5] 9

Question 2: What was the floor number of F?

[1] 4

[2] 2

[3] 3

[4] 5

[5] 6

Click here to Download the RBI Grade B Phase 1 Reasoning PYQs in PDF. 

Now that you have understood the types of reasoning questions asked in the RBI Grade B Phase 1, let’s learn the important books to prepare for the exam. 

Important Books for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Reasoning

Here are the important books that can help you cover the syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Reasoning.

RBI Grade B Reasoning Ability Books for Phase 1
Books	Author	Publisher	Buy Here
A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning	R.S. Agarwal	S Chand	Buy Online
Analytical Reasoning	M.K. Pandey	Bsc Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd	Buy Online

Important Note: Candidates must solve previous years’ question papers, mock tests, and exercise questions to evaluate themselves.

After getting familiar with the important books, let’s understand the RBI Grade B Phase 1 Reasoning preparation strategy. 

How to Prepare for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Reasoning

Follow these below-mentioned strategies to prepare for RBI Grade B Phase 1 reasoning:

1. Learn the Basics

Start with the basics of reasoning. Understand concepts like alphabetical & alphanumeric series, coding-decoding, direction sense, syllogism, and blood relations. Ensure you have a strong foundation in these important topics.

2. Practice Regularly

Reasoning is a skill that improves with practice. Solve various questions regularly by covering various question types and difficulty levels.

3. Focus on Important Topics

Focusing on important topics allows you to secure maximum marks because these areas carry higher weightage in the exam. 

4. Work on Time Management

Time management is crucial in the RBI Phase 1 exam, so practise solving reasoning questions within a set time frame.  

5. Solve Previous Years’ Question Papers

Solving previous years’ question papers and taking mock tests are the most effective parts of a strategy for RBI Phase 1 reasoning preparation.

6. Review and Analyse

The most important step is to review the answers of your mock tests and analyse your mistakes. Always learn from your mistakes to avoid them in the actual exam.

7. Seek Guidance

Consider joining reputable coaching institutes or online courses for expert guidance.

Now that you have understood how to prepare for the RBI Phase 1 Reasoning, let’s understand the Quant syllabus.

Quant Syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam

Here is the detailed quantitative aptitude syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1:

• Percentage
• Profit & Loss, Discount
• Ratio & Proportion
• Simplification
• Simple & Compound Interest
• Time & Work
• Pipes & Cistern
• Number Series & Number System
• Time, Speed, & Distance 
• Trains & Boats
• Mixture
• Average
• Ages
• Partnership
• Area, Volume
• Probability
• Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency
• Quadratic Equation
• Quantity Comparison

Click here to Download the RBI Grade B Phase 1 Quant Syllabus in PDF.

PYQ Analysis of RBI Grade B Phase 1 Quant

We have analysed the year-wise trend of the number of questions asked from each quant topic from 2017 to 2023 to help you identify the difficulty level and most important topics.

Quant PYQ Analysis Phase 1
		Number of Questions
SNo.	Topics	2023	2022	2021	2019	2018	2017
1	Data Interpretation	15	14	7	10	10	15
2	2D, 3D, & Probability	1	1	0	1	1	2
3	Quantity Comparison	3	2	6	0	5	5
4	Ages, Partnership	1	0	2	1	1	1
5	Time & Distance	0	0	0	2	1	3
6	Time & Work, Pipes	0	0	0	1	1	1
7	Alligation Mixture	0	0	0	0	1	1
8	Simple & Compound Interest	1	2	1	0	1	2
9	Wrong, Number Series	3	3	1	4	5	0
10	Profit & Loss	0	0	0	3	3	0
11	Ratio & Proportion	0	0	1	1	1	0
12	Data Sufficiency	0	0	3	4	0	0
13	Percentage	0	0	1	3	0	0
14	Statement Based Questions	2	2	5	0	0	0
15	Miscellaneous	1	0	3	0	0	0
16	Quadratic Equation	2	4	0	0	0	0
17	Boats & Stream	1	1	0	0	0	0

We have carefully analysed the number of questions asked from each quant topic in the past years to identify the important questions.

Important Quant Topics

Based on our analysis, here are the most important quantitative topics:

• Number Series
• Quadratic Equation
• Percentage
• Ratio
• Data Interpretation
• Profit & Loss
• Simple and Compound Interest 
• Time, Speed, & Distance
• Time and Work

After understanding the important topics, let’s take a look at their difficulty level.

RBI Grade B Phase 1 Quant Difficulty Level 

The table below contains the year-wise distribution of easy, moderate, and difficult questions out of the total number of quant questions from 2017 to 2023. Understanding the difficulty level of questions helps you tailor your approach, prioritise topics, and fine-tune your preparation strategy. 

Quant Difficulty Level Phase 1
		2023	2022	2021	2019	2018	2017
	Total Questions	30	30	30	30	30	30
Difficulty Level	Easy	1	2	03	21	17	4
	Moderate	2	13	04	09	13	14
	Difficult	21	15	23	0	0	12

After getting familiar with the difficulty level, let’s understand the type of quant questions asked in the RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam.

Types of Quant Questions

Understanding the types of questions helps you identify the level and formats of questions asked in the RBI Grade B Phase 1. It ensures that you are thoroughly prepared for all question types encountered in the exam. Below, we have explained the type of questions asked from each important topic of quant in the RBI Grade B Phase 1:

1. Number Series

It involves a sequence of numbers where each number follows a specific pattern or rule. The challenge is to identify this pattern and use it to predict the next/missing number/numbers in the series. It is important to know the common patterns; addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, squaring, square roots, etc. However, the rule can also involve more complex mathematical functions such as a combination of two or more patterns. Here are some examples.

Question 1: The series given below contains a missing number ‘P’. Find the value of ‘P’ and determine which among the given three statement(s) is/are true.

74, 290, 241, 753, 672, ‘P’, 1551

I: The nearest perfect square number to ‘P’ is 1600

II: ‘P’ is divisible by 11

III: (P + 28) is a multiple of 50.

[1] Only I

[2] Only II

[3] Only I and II

[4] Only II and III

[5] Only III

Question 2: Given below are two numbers in series I and II where the missing numbers in series I and II are ‘P’ and ‘Q’, respectively. Find the value of ‘P’ and ‘Q’ and find which among the given options gives the correct value of (P – Q).

I: 5000, 4000, 3000, 2100, P, 819

II: 4, 6, 15, 56, Q, 1644

[1] 1120

[2] 1090

[3] 980

[4] 1240

[5] 1050

2. Quadratic Equation

Solving quadratic equations requires basic knowledge of algebra and mathematics. Here are some examples.

Question 1: Given below are 3 equations I, II and III where ‘a’ and ‘b’ are the roots of equation I where (a < b) and ‘c’ and ‘d’ are roots of equation II where (c < d). On this basis, solve for equation III and find the relationship between ‘z’ and ‘k’ given that k = 11

I. 3x(x – 12) + 72 = x²- 11x – 5

II. 5y(y – 3) – 64 = y(3y – 2) – 19

III. (z + 2a – d)² = 169

[1] z > k

[2] z < k

[3] z = k or the relationship cannot be established

[4] z ≥ k

[5] z ≤ k

Question 2: Given below are three equations i.e. ‘I’, ‘II’ and ‘III’. If roots of the equation ‘I’ are ‘p’ and ‘q’, respectively such that p > q while the roots of the equation ‘II’ are ‘m’ and ‘n’ respectively such that m > n, then find the value of ‘K’.

I. 2x²- 6(x + 4) = 3x + 11

II. 2y²- 12(y – 4) = 7y + 6

III. (15m/2) – 8q = 9p – 4n + K²

[1] 11

[2] 4

[3] 7

[4] 9

[5] 14

3. Percentage & Ratio

Percentages and ratios are closely related, and they can be easily converted into each other. For example, 25% can be expressed as 1/4 in the form of a ratio. The RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam doesn’t include straightforward questions on percentages and ratios; rather, it features statement-based questions. Here is an example.

Question 1: Maya’s monthly salary is 60% more than that of Swevi. Both Swevi and Maya, out of their respective monthly salary, pay an equal sum towards EMI. Out of the remaining monthly salary, Maya and Swevi, spend a certain amount towards house rent. The amount that Swevi pays towards EMI is 20% of her monthly salary. The amount that Maya pays towards house rent is ‘x’ times that she pays towards EMI.

I: Find the total savings of Maya if her expenditure on EMI and house rent is just half of her total salary. Also, the EMI expense of Swevi is Rs 30000. It is to be assumed that Maya and Swevi had only two expenses from their salaries i.e. EMI and house rent.

II: The difference between house rents paid by Maya and Swevi is Rs 10000. House rent paid by Maya is Rs 6000 more than the EMI paid by her. If the house rent paid by Swevi is 33.33% of the EMI paid by Maya, then, the salary of Maya is?

A. Rs. 30000, Rs. 36000

B. Rs. 45000, Rs. 60000

C. Rs. 120000, Rs. 48000

D. Rs. 75000, Rs. 48000

E. Rs. 135000, Rs. 60000

4. Profit & Loss

Similar to the percentage and ratio, statement-based questions are asked in the RBI Grade B exam. Here is an example.

Question 1: Navya buys two articles A and B at the same cost price of Rs. P. Then, she marks up both articles by 75% above their cost price. Then, she sold article A at a Rs. 268 discount and article B at a 20% discount. Then, which of the following statement(s) is/are definitely correct:

I: The profit earned by selling article B is greater than that by article A.

II: The discount per cent given on article A is more than that in B

III: She earned equal profits by selling both articles.

A. Only I

B. Only II

C. Both I and II

D. Only III

E. None of the above

5. Simple and Compound Interest 

Solving problems related to Simple and Compound Interest requires a good understanding of the underlying principles of interest calculation. Similar to the profit and loss, statement-based questions are asked in the previous RBI Grade B exams. Here is an example.

Question 1: Arun invested a certain sum of money at a rate of interest ___% for ___ years. If the ratio of the amount to interest is 216:91. Then find the rate of interest and time for which Arun invested the money.

I: 10%, 2 years

II: 20%, 3 years

III: 25%, 3 years

A. Only I

B. Only II

C. Both I and II

D. Both II and III

E. All I, II and III

6. Time, Speed, & Distance

This topic requires a solid understanding of the key concepts of Time, Speed, and Distance. You also need to understand the relationships among these variables and how to apply the relevant formulas. No direct questions were asked in the RBI Grade B exam; instead, the exam featured statement-based questions. Here is an example.

Directions: In the question, two Quantities I and II are given. You have to solve both the Quantity to establish the correct relation between Quantity-I and Quantity-II and choose the correct option.

Question 1: The speed of boat ‘B’ in still water is 8 km/h more than that of boat ‘A’. The ratio of the downstream speed of boat ‘A’ to the upstream speed of boat ‘B’ is 9:8. The ratio of the upstream speed of boat ‘A’ to the downstream speed of boat ‘B’ is 6:11. (Both boats are travelling in the same stream)

Quantity-I: Find the sum of the distance travelled by boat ‘A’ downstream in 125 minutes and the distance travelled by boat ‘B’ in upstream in 75 minutes.

Quantity-II: The speed of Boat ‘C’ in still water is 50 km/h. 

Find the sum of distance travelled by boats ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ together while travelling upstream for 1 hour. Boat ‘C’ is also travelling in the same stream.

[1] Quantity-I > Quantity-II

[2] Quantity-I < Quantity-II

[3] Quantity-I ≤ Quantity-II

[4] Quantity-I = Quantity-II or No relation

[5] Quantity-I ≥ Quantity-II

7. Time and Work

To tackle Time and Work problems effectively, you must have a strong grasp of fundamental concepts. This includes the understanding of the concept of work done per unit of time, which represents the rate at which an individual or a group can accomplish a task. You must know that statement-based questions are asked in the exam. Here is an example.

Question 1: A and B can together finish a piece of work in 20 days. If B starts working and after 15 days is replaced by A, A can finish the remaining work in 24 days.  

I. Number of days taken by B alone to finish the same piece of work.  

II. Number of days taken by A alone to finish the same piece of work. 

[1] If quantity I ≥ quantity II  

[2] If quantity I > quantity II  

[3] If quantity I < quantity II 

[4] If quantity I = quantity II or the relationship cannot be established from the information that is given 

[5] If quantity I ≤ quantity II 

8. Data Interpretation (DI)

Solving DI requires knowledge of arithmetic concepts such as percentages, ratios, averages, etc. you must understand the three types of DIs that are asked in the RBI Grade B exam.

1. Basic DI

In Basic DI, information is given in the form of Table, Bar, Pie, Line, and Mix graphs. These types of DIs are based on your calculations. RBI usually ask questions by combining two of these graphs. Here is an example.

Directions: Answer the questions based on the information given below.

Five different schools of a district participated in multiple tournaments during a year. Each school won some gold, silver and bronze medals. The pie chart given below shows the percentage distribution of the number of gold medals won by each school out of the total gold medals won by all schools together.

The table chart given below shows the difference between the number of gold and silver medals, won by each school and the percentage of the number of bronze medals won by each school as a percentage of the number of silver medals won by that school.

School	Difference between number of gold and number of silver medals won	Percentage of number of bronze medals won by each school as percentage of number of silver medals won
A	116	84%
B	189	78%
C	104	(3.5x+1)%
D	120	75%
E	144	4x%

Note: The total number of medals won by school ‘E’ was 86 more than that by school ‘D’. 

Question 1: Find the sum of the number of bronze medals won by schools ‘A’ and ‘C’ together.

[1] 816

[2] 664

[3] 704

[4] 752

[5] None of these

Question 2: Find the ratio between the number of bronze medals won by school ‘E’ and the sum of the number of gold medals won by schools ‘B’ and ‘C’ together, respectively.

[1] 3: 5

[2] 4: 7

[3] 2: 5

[4] 5: 7

[5] None of these

2. Arithmetic DI

The arithmetic DI involves statement-based questions from arithmetic topics such as:

• Percentage
• Ratio
• Profit & Loss
• Simple and Compound Interest 
• Time, Speed, & Distance
• Time and Work

Here is an example.

Directions: The following is the data regarding the revenue and expenditure of 4 companies in 2018 and 2017. All figures are in Rs crore.

Profit = Revenue – Expenditure

Percentage profit = (Profit/Expenditure)*100%

	2017		2018
	Revenue	Expenditure	Revenue	Expenditure
Mckinsey	5800	5300	6000	500
BCG	6000	5400	5600	4800
Bain	5000	4800	5400	4800
ATK	4800	4000	5000	4000

Question 1: Which company in which year has seen the maximum percentage profit?

[1] ATK in 2017

[2] BCG in 2017

[3] Bain in 2018

[4] ATK in 2018

[5] Mckinsey in 2018

Question 2: Which company has seen the maximum percentage increase in profit from 2017 to 2018?

[1] Mckinsey

[2] BCG

[3] Bain

[4] ATK

[5] 2 companies have the same percentage increase

3. Caselet DI

In a Caselet DI, raw data is given in the form of a paragraph. In order to solve that, you first need to convert the given information into easily digestible form (table or pie graph). Here is an example. 

Directions: Answer the questions based on the information given below. 

A survey was conducted among a certain number of players who played games in at least one of the levels i.e. National and International. Players who played only at the national level played in at least one of the three trophies i.e. Ranji, Duleep and Irani while the players who played only at the International level played in at least one of the two leagues i.e. CPL and BBL. Out of the total number of players, 10% had played at both levels and the number of players who played only at the national level is 250 more than the number of players who played only at international level. 24% of players who played only at the national level had played only Ranji which was 200 less than players who played only in CPL. The number of players who played in all three trophies i.e. Ranji, Duleep and Irani is 144 and is 52% less than the number of players who played only Ranji. The ratio of the number of players who played only in BBL to the number of players who played in both Ranji and Irani but not in Duleep is 25:(p + 3). The number of people who played only at the national level but did not play for the Irani trophy is 630. (2p – 0.8)% of the number of players who played only at the national level had played only in the Irani trophy. The number of players who played only at the international level and played only in CPL was (p + 10) % of total number of players. (2p + 1.6)% of players who played at the national level had played in both the Ranji and Duleep trophies. The number of players who played both Ranji and Duleep but not Irani trophy was 125% more than the number of players who played both Irani and Duleep but not Ranji.

Question 1: The number of players who played exactly in one trophy is:

[1] 650

[2] 620

[3] 690

[4] 720

[5] 740

Question 2: The number of players who played only in BBL is how much per cent of total number of players who played at the international level?

[1] 40%

[2] 30%

[3] 24%

[4] 50%

[5] 45%

Click here to Download the RBI Grade B Phase 1 Quant PYQs in PDF.

Now that you have understood the types of quant questions asked in the RBI Grade B Phase 1, let’s learn the important books to prepare for the exam. 

Important Books for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Quant

Here are the quant books that can help you cover the syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Quant.

RBI Grade B Quantitative Aptitude Books for Phase 1
Books	Author	Publisher	Buy Here
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT	Arun Sharma	McGraw Hill Edge	Buy Online
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations	R.S. Agarwal	Oswal Publishers	Buy Online

Important Note: Aspirants must understand the concepts and master shortcut tricks for solving questions.

After getting familiar with the important books, let’s understand the RBI Grade B Phase 1 Quant preparation strategy.

How to Prepare for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Quant

Follow the below-mentioned strategy to prepare for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Quant:

1. Understand the RBI Grade B Quant Syllabus

Start by thoroughly understanding the RBI Grade B Quant syllabus and familiarise yourself with the exam pattern.

2. Collect Study Materials

Gather quality study materials, including books, practice papers, video lectures, and other resources covering the RBI Grade B Maths syllabus.

3. Evaluate Yourself

Attempt at least two sections of Quant questions from the previous years’ question papers. Analyse your performance to understand where you stand.

4. Start with the Basics

After assessing your current level of understanding, it’s advisable to start with the basics of Quant, especially if you find this subject challenging. Ensure you understand fundamental concepts to build a strong foundation for more complex topics. 

Important note: You can skip this step if you have a stronghold of the subject. 

5. Learn Tricks and Shortcuts

Learn time-saving techniques, shortcuts, and tricks for solving mathematical problems. These can help you save time as there is limited time in the RBI Grade B Phase 1.

6. Practice Regularly

Maths requires practice. Regularly practise from your study materials and focus on solving various problem types to develop a broad skill set.

7. Focus on Important Topics

Similar to the Reasoning section, you need to save time by focusing on the most important quant topics.

8. Attempt Mock Tests

Take multiple mock tests to simulate the actual exam environment. Time box yourself while taking these tests to improve your time management skills.

9. Review and Analyse

The prime purpose of practice is to review your answers and identify your mistakes. Understanding your errors will help you avoid them in the actual exam.

10.Seek Guidance

Consider joining reputable coaching institutes or online courses for expert guidance.

Now that you have understood how to prepare for the RBI Phase 1 Quant, let’s understand the English syllabus.

English Syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam

Here is the detailed English syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase I:

• Grammar
• Error Spotting
• Sentence Improvement
• Comprehension Ability
• Comprehension passage
• Cloze Test
• Rearrangement
• Para Jumbles
• Double Fillers
• Vocabulary – Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word Substitution, and Phrasal Verbs

Click here to Download the RBI Grade B Phase 1 English Syllabus in PDF. 

PYQ Analysis of RBI Grade B Phase 1 English 

We have analysed the year-wise trend of the number of questions asked from each topic of English from 2017 to 2023 to help you identify the difficulty level and most important topics.

English Analysis Phase 1
		Number of Questions
SNo.	Topics	2023	2022	2021	2019	2018	2017
1	Reading Comprehension	7	6	13	11	10	10
2	Sentence Correction	5	2	4	0	0	4
3	Sentence Completion	0	4	0	0	0	2
4	Fill in the Blanks	0	3	0	5	0	3
5	Statement Correction	0	2	0	0	0	3
6	Idiom/Phrases Usage	0	0	2	0	5	3
7	Word Replacement	4	2	0	5	0	5
8	Starters	0	0	0	0	5	0
9	Double Fillers	0	3	0	0	5	0
10	Sentence Rearrangement	5	4	0	0	5	0
11	Cloze Test	0	0	5	5	0	0
12	Sentence Connectors	0	0	3	0	0	0
13	Error Detection	5	4	3	4	0	0
14	Word Reshuffle	4	0	0	0	0	0

We have carefully analysed the number of questions asked from each topic of English in the past years to identify the important questions.

Important English Topics

Based on our analysis, here are the most important English topics:

• Grammar
  • Subject-Verb Agreement
  • Tenses
  • Conditional Sentences
  • Preposition
  • Complex Preposition
  • Conjunction
  • Advance Verbs
• Reading Comprehension
• Cloze Test
• Double Fillers
• Sentence Improvement

After understanding the important topics, let’s take a look at their difficulty level.

RBI Grade B Phase 1 English Difficulty Level

The table below contains the year-wise distribution of easy, moderate, and difficult questions out of the total number of English questions from 2017 to 2023. Understanding the difficulty level of questions helps you tailor your approach, prioritise topics, and fine-tune your preparation strategy. 

English Difficulty Level
SNo.	Year	Difficulty Level
1	2023	Easy to Moderate
2	2022	Moderate to Difficult
3	2021	Moderate to Difficult
4	2019	Easy to Moderate
5	2018	Moderate to Difficult
6	2017	Moderate to Difficult

After getting familiar with the difficulty level, let’s understand the type of English questions asked in the RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam.

Types of English Questions

Understanding the types of questions helps you identify the level and formats of questions asked in the RBI Grade B Phase 1. It ensures that you are thoroughly prepared for all question types encountered in the exam. Below, we have explained the type of questions asked from each topic of English in the RBI Grade B Phase 1:

1. Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension requires the ability to understand, interpret, and draw conclusions from written passages. Here is an example.

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions based on the available information.

The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has rightfully identified 21st-century skills as fundamental to developing creators. Critical thinking and problem-solving, communication and collaboration creativity and innovation, flexibility and adaptability, initiative and self-direction, social and cross-cultural interactions, and productivity and accountability all strengthen the individuals’ abilities at the workplace.

Relying on traditional literacy and numeracy alone will not suffice and tends to marginalize differently-abled learners. Educators could consider a design-based approach where students concentrate on a subject for two-three weeks to examine how it can be applied in the real world. But does our current classroom and content-heavy syllabus enable deep work? Also, how do we retrain teachers who have been trained in traditional systems? They know terms like ‘constructivism’ but do not know how it should be used in a classroom that is focused on exams rather than learning. And how ready are our future educators?

In a semester-long study that used Wikipedia as a pedagogical tool for teacher training, 65 preservice (B.Ed) teachers were asked to improve the pages on Wikipedia related to educational concepts. Excluding a few, the content created by most participants was either sent back to them or deleted by neutral editors of Wikipedia. The content, it was found, was plagiarised, did not provide citations, lacked basic writing and grammar skills, etc. After three iterative cycles that were emotionally intense, the teachers were able to contribute content to over 75 Wikipedia articles in English and over 50 articles in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Assamese and Punjabi. All the content was related to educational technology. The critical feedback from various Wikipedia editors was crucial because it was unbiased. This feedback forced the learners to re-evaluate their skills. This shows that constant engagement, an emotional connection, and immersive learning are important parts of education. EdTech apps can deliver content that caters to multiple learning styles, learning curves and pace of learning. The pandemic has shown that traditional teacher and brick-and-mortar schools may become obsolete if radical pedagogical changes do not follow.

Question 1: Which of the following measures has been suggested in the given passage for improvement of the education system?

A. Educators will have to find ways to minimize their engagement strategies while integrating technology into their approach.

B. Both (a) and (c)

C. Educators can use a method in which students focus on a topic for a few weeks to see how it might be used in actuality.

D. An individual must be motivated enough to remain immersed in a specific activity to be creative and happy.

E. All are correct.

Question 2: Which of the following were not among the shortcomings in the content provided by the teachers for the first time?

A. Copying was found in the content.

B. They just stated the obvious facts.

C. There were no references in the material.

D. Basic grammar and writing abilities were lacking in the text.

E. None is incorrect.

Question 3: The author is in line with-

A. Children have lost all personal contact with their social group due to the pandemic.

B. The field of education is not evolving over time, with contemporary methods not able to find a place in the classroom in a traditional setup.

C. Over-reliance on technology comes at a cost.

D. Education requires continual involvement, emotional connection, and deep learning.

E. None of these.

Question 4: Which of the following ironies has been mentioned in the given passage?

A. The disruptive nature of digital tools has thrown up interesting challenges to the traditional education system.

B. Teachers are familiar with concepts like “constructivism,” but are unsure how to use it in the classroom.

C. Parents are forced to rely upon technology to provide their children with constant gratification to keep them engaged.

D. Both (a) and (b)

E. None of these.

Question 5: Which of the following is not among the qualities that can support an individual to develop his abilities at the workplace?

A. Teamwork and interaction

B. Interactions on a social and cross-cultural level

C. Versatility and flexibility

D. Problem-solving and critical thinking

E. None is incorrect.

Question 6: Which of the following words is the synonym of “intense”, as highlighted in the given passage?

A. Catalytic

B. Impactful

C. Vehement

D. Holistic

E. None of these

Question 7: Which of the following words is the antonym of “obsolete”, as highlighted in the given passage?

A. Contemporary

B. Archaic

C. Bygone

D. Superannuated 

E. None of these.

2. Word Reshuffle/Word Replacement

Word reshuffle/replacement questions require language proficiency and the ability to understand contextual word usage. Here is an example.

Directions: In each of the questions given below four words are highlighted which may or may not be in their proper place. You are required to interchange these words in order to form meaningfully correct sentences.

Question 1: The motto (a) of the US state of New Hampshire is “Live Free or Die”. Appropriately enough, NH is currently the only US state offering legal certification (b) for flying cars. But while such a vehicle sounds like a technology (c) of science fiction, it could soon become a perfectly normal figment (d).

A. a-c

B. c-d

C. b-d

D. a-b

E. No interchange required

3. Sentence Improvement/Phrase Replacement

They require a strong understanding of sentence structure and vocabulary, and the ability to choose the most suitable option to enhance or rephrase a given sentence effectively. Here is an example.

Directions: Which of the following phrases (A), (B), (C) and (D) can replace the phrase in bold so as to make the statement correct grammatically and contextually? If the statement does not need any correction then mark option E as your answer.

Question 1: England cruised for a second successive victory at the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, defeating Bangladesh by eight wickets.

A. cruises on a second successive victory

B. cruised to a second successive victory

C. cruise to a second successive victory

D. crushed to a second successive victory

E. no replacement is required

4. Para Jumbles/Rearrangements 

Para Jumbles/Rearrangements require a strong understanding of sentence structure, context, and logical organization. Here is an example.

Directions: Rearrange the following sentences in the proper sequence to form a meaningful paragraph and then answer the questions given below.

1. But, Mr. Austin’s trip preceded an unannounced stop in Kabul where the U.S. is undertaking a major review of its troop’s pull-out schedule and peace plan.
2. The timing of U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s visit to New Delhi over the weekend was significant for many reasons.
3. As a result, all three areas: bilateral ties, the Indo-Pacific and Afghanistan came up for discussion during talks.
4. Also, the visit, just after the first-ever Quad leaders’ summit, confirms the U.S.’s focus on greater maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
5. Finally, Mr Austin was careful not to make any direct reference to Beijing or about the LAC dispute, which New Delhi considers a bilateral issue.
6. As the first senior-ranking official of the Biden administration to meet with the Modi government, his visit this early in the new President’s tenure indicates the place India holds.

Question 1: Which of the following statements does not form a part of a coherent paragraph, after rearranging the given statements?

A. B

B. F

C. C

D. D

E. None is coherent

5. Error Detection

Error Detection questions in the RBI Grade B exam require a solid understanding of grammar and sentence structure. Here is an example.

Directions: In each of the following questions, a sentence has been divided into five parts out of which one part is erroneous. You are required to choose the option which is grammatically or contextually incorrect.

Question 1: Union Home Minister Amit Shah conducted an (a)/ aerial survey of rain-ravaged areas (b)/ of Uttarakhand to assessing the (c)/ damage which the state government (d)/ has pegged at Rs 7,000 crore.(e)

A. a

B. b

C. c

D. d

E. e

6. Correct Usage of Phrases

Correct usage of phrases in the RBI Grade B exam relies on your familiarity with idiomatic expressions, your comprehension of context, and your ability to integrate these expressions smoothly into sentences. Here is an example.

Directions: Given below is a highlighted word followed by 4 sentences. You need to understand whether the sentences are using the word correctly or not. Mark the incorrect sentence with the incorrect word usage as your answer.

Question 1: Adamant

A. The doctors at Apollo hospital had been absolutely adamant that Meena’s grandmother was not going to get better.

B. Raani is so adamant in her political beliefs that no one can change her mind!

C. Kunal is a very sweet, amiable and adamant boy.

D. Unemployed youths of this country are adamant about finding a suitable job.

A. Only B

B. Only A

C. Only D

D. Only C

E. All are correct

Click here to Download the RBI Grade B Phase 1 English PYQs in PDF. 

Now that you have understood the types of English questions asked in the RBI Grade B Phase 1, let’s learn the important books to prepare for the exam. 

Important Books for RBI Grade B Phase 1 English 

Here are the important books that can help you cover the syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1 English.

RBI Grade B English Language Books for Phase 1
Books	Author	Publisher	Buy Here
Objective General English	S.P. Bakshi	Arihant Publications	Buy Online
Word Power Made Simple	Norman Lewis	Penguin India	Buy Online

Important Note: Candidates must read the newspaper regularly to improve their vocabulary and stay updated on current affairs.

After getting familiar with the important books, let’s understand the RBI Grade B Phase 1 English preparation strategy.

How to Prepare for RBI Grade B Phase 1 English 

Follow these below-mentioned strategies to prepare for RBI Grade B Phase 1 English:

1. Improve Your Vocabulary 

Phase 1 English includes questions on synonyms, antonyms, phrasal verbs, idioms, and more. A good vocabulary empowers you to tackle these questions with confidence.

2. Boost Comprehension Skills

Enhance your comprehension skills by regularly practising at least 3 to 4 Reading Comprehension (RC) passages. Strive to understand the context and meaning of the passages thoroughly.

3. Grammar Proficiency

Among the 30 questions in the Phase 1 English section, approximately 10 questions are dedicated to grammatical aspects like error detection and sentence improvement. Prioritize improving your grammatical accuracy to excel in these sections.

4. Solve Previous Years’ Questions

Solving RBI Grade B Phase 1 English PYQs provides you with insights into the types of questions you can expect in the exam with their difficulty level.

5. Practice Mock Tests 

Regularly practice mock tests to identify your strong and weak areas. Work on your weak areas, aiming to enhance your overall skills. Also, set time limits during practice to replicate exam conditions.

6. Seek Guidance

Consider seeking guidance from mentors or educators to address specific challenges and receive expert insights.

Now that you have understood how to prepare for the RBI Phase 1 English, let’s understand the General Awareness syllabus.

General Awareness (GA) Syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam

GA is divided into 2 parts, static and current affairs, and their weightage in the exam is 10-15 marks and 65-70 marks, respectively. The following topics are most frequently asked from the general awareness section:

Current GA Syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam

• National News: MoUs, summits and major events related to India.
• International: Summits and conferences held abroad.
• Financial & Economics News
• Financial Awareness: RBI and SEBI Notification and Regulations
• Defence: Military exercises, drills and major updates related to the defence sector of India
• Days in News: Major events or days, along with its date and theme
• Persons in News: Obituaries, appointments, retirements
• Sports: Major tournaments and its winners
• Science, Technology and Space
• Awards and honours
• Environment
• Banking, Economy related news
• Reports and Government Schemes
• Books and Authors

Static GA Syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam

• Chief Ministers and Cabinet Ministers
• National Parks and Sanctuaries
• Airport Locations, Stadiums
• Organisations’ Headquarters
• Banks’ Headquarters and Taglines
• Power Plants in India
• Indian Dance Forms
• Countries Capitals and their Currencies
• Important Days

Click here to Download the RBI Grade B Phase 1 General Awareness Syllabus in PDF. 

PYQ Analysis of RBI Grade B Phase 1 General Awareness

We have analysed the year-wise trend of the number of questions asked from each general awareness topic from 2017 to 2023 to help you identify the difficulty level and most important topics.

GA General Analysis Phase 1 

Here is the general analysis of Phase 1:

GA General Analysis Phase 1
		2023	2022	2021	2019	2018	2017
	Total Questions	80	80	80	80	80	80
Type	Current Affairs	74	66	68	68	49	55
	Static	6	14	12	12	31	25

GA Current Affairs Analysis Phase 1 

Here is the GA current affairs analysis of phase 1:

GA Current Affairs Analysis
		2023	2022	2021	2019	2018	2017
	Total Questions	74	66	68	68	49	55
Type of Questions	Phase 1 Specific GA*	25	30	31	46	30	26
	Schemes	8	10	9	1	1	3
	ESI Current Affairs	19	11	13	13	12	13
	Finance/RBI Notifications	14	12	10	8	6	14
	Reports	8	3	5	0	0	0

Phase 1 Specific GA*: It includes first in news, government initiatives, MOUs and agreements, partnerships and alliances, summit and conferences, etc. 

GA Static Analysis Phase 1 

Here is the GA static analysis of phase 1:

GA Static Analysis
		2023	2022	2021	2019	2018	2017
	Total Questions	6	14	12	12	31	25
Type of Questions	Finance Static	4	5	0	0	0	0
	ESI Static	2	3	0	0	0	0
	International Organization​	0	4	0	0	0	0
	Places in News​	0	2	0	0	0	0
	National Parks​	0	0	1	1	0	0
	Regional Festivals​	0	0	1	1	0	0
	Location of lakes/waterfalls​	0	0	1	0	0	0
	Location of headquarters​	0	0	1	5	0	0
	Banking Awareness​	0	0	7	0	4	3
	Miscellaneous​	0	0	1	3	5	5
	Countries/Capitals/Currencies	0	0	0	1	0	0
	Location of Airports	0	0	0	1	0	0
	Sports​	0	0	0	0	5	4
	Defence and Science & Tech.​	0	0	0	0	3	2
	Personalities in News​	0	0	0	0	5	5
	Events – International	0	0	0	0	2	3
	Events – National​	0	0	0	0	6	4

We have carefully analysed the number of questions asked from each general awareness topic in the past years to identify the important topics.

Important General Awareness Topics

General awareness questions can be asked from any of the above-mentioned topics. Therefore, it’s essential to regularly follow reputable newspapers, news websites, official government portals, and magazines to stay informed about these current affairs topics. 

After understanding the important topics, let’s take a look at their difficulty level.

RBI Grade B Phase 1 GA Difficulty Level  

The table below contains the year-wise distribution of easy, moderate, and difficult questions out of the total number of GA questions from 2017 to 2023. Understanding the difficulty level of questions helps you tailor your approach, prioritise topics, and fine-tune your preparation strategy. 

GA Difficulty Level
		2023	2022	2021	2019	2018	2017
	Total Questions	80	80	80	80	80	80
Difficulty Level	Easy	15	28	30	34	25	30
	Moderate	40	35	31	40	45	42
	Difficult	25	17	19	6	10	8

After getting familiar with the difficulty level, let’s understand the type of General Awareness questions asked in the RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam.

Types of General Awareness Questions

Below, we have explained the type of questions asked from each topic of General Awareness in the RBI Grade B Phase 1:

General Awareness questions are categorised into three major categories. 

• Banking and Finance Current Awareness
• Economic and Social Issues
• General Awareness

1. Banking and Finance Current Affaris

Here are the sub-categories of Banking and Finance Current Affairs with some examples:

1. RBI Notification/Press Release/ Reports

The Union government, in consultation with the RBI, fixes the inflation target for the central bank every five years. The Upper Tolerance level of Inflation is ____________ and in case of breach of the upper tolerance for ___________ quarters the report has to be submitted

by RBI.

A. 4.0%, three consecutive quarters

B. 5.0%, two consecutive quarters

C. 6.0%, two consecutive quarters

D. 6.0%, three consecutive quarters

E. 5.0%, three consecutive quarters

2. Banking Reforms or Committees

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the constitution and empowerment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for the facilitation of the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector” by the convergence of various schemes of ministries. Which ministry does not belong to that group?

A. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

B. Ministry of Cooperation

C. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

D. Ministry of Food Processing Industries

E. None of the above

3. Bank Mergers or Partnerships

In which state has the merger of all the cooperative banks been approved by the RBI to form a single bank?

A. Karnataka

B. Kerala

C. Andhra Pradesh

D. Telangana

E. Madhya Pradesh

4. Banking Committees

Which of the following is not among the baseline assumptions of the monetary policy committee of April 2022?

1. Normal monsoon in 2022

2. Average crude oil price (Indian basket) of US$ 95 per barrel

3. Inflation at 5.7% in 2022-23

A. Only 1

B. Only 2

C. Only 3

D. 1 and 3

E. 2 and 3 

5. General Finance Current Affairs to Syllabus

Which of the following is the initiative supported by NITI Aayog, aimed to finance 50,000 electric vehicles for MSMEs?

A. ELECTRO

B. EVOLVE

C. EVPURE

D. EVWORLD

E. EVNITI

2. Economic and Social Issues

Here are the sub-categories of Economic and Social Issues with some examples:

1. Government Schemes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched three flagship schemes for urban revamp, including smart cities and housing for all on 25th June 2015, ensuring better quality of life for 40% of the country’s population that either live in urban areas or dependent on them for livelihood. Which one of the following are the 3-schemes launched?

1. Smart Cities Mission

2. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)

3. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U)

A. Only 1

B. Both 2 & 3

C. Only 3

D. Both 1 & 2

E. All 1, 2 and 3

2. Reports

As per the Annual Report of RBI, Commercial banks remained the largest holders of government securities[including T-Bills and state government securities (SGSs)] accounting for __________ as at end-March 2023.

A. 27.5%

B. 37.5%

C. 25.5%

D. 31.5%

E. 28.5%

3. Current Affairs Related to Syllabus

As per the survey of professional forecasters (SPF) by RBI, the real gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for 2023-24 has been retained at _____, while it is expected to grow by ____ in 2024-25.

A. 5.7 per cent, 6.1 per cent

B. 5.9 per cent, 6.3 per cent

C. 6.0 per cent, 6.4 per cent

D. 6.1 per cent, 6.4 per cent

E. 6.2 per cent, 6.3 per cent

3. General Awareness

Here are the sub-categories of General Awareness with some examples:

1. First in News

Name the country that conferred its highest civilian honour to President Droupadi Murmu- The Grand Order of the Chain of Yellow Star, the first Indian to receive this award.

A. Sudan

B. South Africa

C. Uganda

D. Suriname

E. Serbia

2. Government initiatives

As per data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released under “Twenty Point Programme”, of the 14 parameters tracked quarterly, the Indian Government achieved a more than ____ target completion (“very good”) in six parameters.

A. 80%

B. 90%

C. 75%

D. 60%

E. 40%

3. MOUs and Agreements, Partnerships and Alliances

Recently (June 2023), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi has signed a MoU with _______ Kisan to combine strengths and create synergy between the two organizations for guiding the farmers on scientific cultivation of different crops for optimum yield and income.

A. Snapdeal

B. Meesho

C. Amazon

D. Flipkart

E. CRED

4. Summit and Conferences

Group of Twenty (G20) is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union. India holds the Presidency of the G20 from December 1, 2022 to November 30, 2023. Which of the following is not one of the guest countries invited in G20 summit under India’s presidency?

A. Bangladesh

B. Phillipines

C. Mauritius

D. Netherlands

E. Nigeria

5. Science and Technology

NASA’s MAVEN mission has released some new, mind-blowing images captivating array of ultraviolet views of the red planet. What does “V” stands for in MAVEN Mission?

A. Velocity

B. Vacuum

C. Volatile

D. Valence

E. Vector

6. Defence Exercises

The integrated exercise by the Indian army named ‘Chang Thang’ was conducted in which of the following places?

A. Ladakh

B. Jammu & Kashmir

C. Arunachal Pradesh

D. Assam

E. Manipur

7. Environment

Which among the following countries will host World Environment Day 2022 in June 2022?

A. Switzerland

B. Sweden

C. Finland

D. Norway

E. Italy

8. Sports

Recently, 40 years have been completed for the historic win of India in the 1983 Cricket World Cup final. India scored 183 runs batting first, what was the score of West Indies?

A. 128

B. 133

C. 110

D. 125

E. 140

9. Awards and Milestones

Which airport has bagged the ‘Covid champion’ award at Wings India 2022, which is Asia’s largest event on civil aviation jointly organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and FICCI?

A. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL)

B. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport

C. Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport

D. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport

E. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL)

10. Days in News

Which of the following institutes celebrate their foundation day on 1st July?

A. Indian Space Research Organisation

B. Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

C. Defence Research and Development Organisation

D. Border Roads Organisation

E. NITI Aayog

11. Books and Authors

The City of Guadalajara has been named World Book Capital for the year 2022. It belongs to which country?

A. Taiwan

B. Mexico

C. Brazil

D. Morocco

E. Indonesia 

12. Places in News

The Government of India through Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd. (ISPRL) under Phase–1 has set Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) at three locations namely Vishakhapatnam, Mangalore and ________.

A. Varanasi

B. Padur

C. Raipur

D. Kolkata

E. Ranchi

13. Fair and Festivals

To promote the ancient Heritage of Pinjore, two festivals are held every year. One is the Pinjore Heritage Festival’; which is the second one?

A. Mango festival

B. Lemon festival

C. Orange festival

D. Dates festival

E. Not Attempted

14. Appointments

 Who has been recently appointed as the chair of B20 India which represents the entire G20 business community?

A. Ajay Bhalla

B. Gautam Adani

C. N. Chandrasekaran

D. Ratan Tata

E. Ravneet Kaur

15. Person in News

Who among the following has recently been appointed as (May 2022) Google Policy Head in India?

A. Avinash Saha

B. Rajeev Kumar

C. Archana Gulati

D. Sundar Arora

E. Girish Mathur 

16. Miscellaneous

What is the objective of the “Antardrishti Dashboard” which was launched recently by the RBI?

A. It will provide the required insight to assess and monitor the progress of the grievance redressal

mechanism.

B. It will provide the required insight to assess and monitor the progress of financial inclusion.

C. It will provide the required insight to assess and monitor the progress of reducing NPAs.

D. It will provide the required insight to assess and monitor the progress of strengthening

the financial system.

E. It will provide the required insight to assess and monitor the progress of digital banking.

Click here to Download the RBI Grade B Phase 1 General Awareness PYQs in PDF. 

Now that you have understood the types of General Awareness questions asked in the RBI Grade B Phase 1, let’s learn the important books to prepare for the exam. 

Important Books for RBI Grade B Phase 1 General Awareness

Here are the important books that can help you cover the syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 1 General Awareness.

RBI Grade B General Awareness Books for Phase 1
Books	Author	Publisher	Buy Here
Banking Awareness for SBI and IBPS Bank Clerk/PO/RBI Exams/RRB	–	Disha Publication	Buy Online
Banking Awareness	–	Arihant Publication	Buy Online

Other RBI Grade B GA Preparation Material 

• Static GK: The Hindu ePaper
• Reports: The Hindu ePaper
• Schemes: Press Information Bureau Government of India
• Finance Current Affairs: Livemint
• ESI Current Affairs: The Hindu ePaper
• RBI Notifications: RBI Website

Please Note: These recommended sources contain conceptual-based information; however, RBI Grade B questions are usually based on factual information. Candidates must add the above-mentioned supplements to their preparation to cover this gap. 

After getting familiar with the important books, let’s understand the RBI Grade B Phase 1 General Awareness preparation strategy.

How to Prepare for RBI Grade B Phase 1 General Awareness

Follow these below-mentioned strategies to prepare for RBI Grade B Phase 1 General Awareness:

1. Identify Important Topics

First, you need to identify the important topics that you must prepare for the examination.

2. Find the Right Sources

Gather the right sources such as books, video lectures, websites, etc. covering the RBI Grade B Phase 1 GA syllabus.

3. Right Time to Start

You should start your GA preparation around 5 to 6 months before the exam. The reason is that almost 80% of your GA questions are based on what’s been happening in the past 5 months.

4. Revision

To retain the information and keep it fresh in your memory, regular revision is essential.

Conclusion

In this article, we have covered the detailed RBI Grade B Phase 1 syllabus for each subject. Our coverage includes insightful trend analysis, important topics, recommended sources for preparation, types of questions, and strategies to effectively prepare for each subject. Gaining a deep understanding of the syllabus allows you to create a tailored preparation strategy to crack the RBI Grade B Phase 1.

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