Not just a course, but a complete ecosystem to crack the RBI Grade B exam!

Important Notes:

• No cumulative age relaxation will be available to any applicant, as provided above.
• The upper age limit for candidates possessing M.Phil. and PhD qualifications will be 32 and 34 years, respectively.

RBI Grade B Eligibility: Educational Qualification

In addition to adhering to the age limit, meeting the RBI Grade B educational qualification is equally essential. Please consider the below-mentioned points before finding out the educational eligibility.

• A candidate can apply for only one discipline. It means the candidate applying for general discipline cannot apply for specialised discipline and vice versa.
• In case of multiple applications within disciplines, only the latest submitted application will be considered valid, and the fee against all other applications will be forfeited.
• PWBD candidates applying against Unreserved (UR) posts will not be eligible for percentage relaxation in Educational Qualification. However, they may be eligible for age and fee relaxation.
• You must have the required educational qualification by the cut-off date for age. Candidates with results declared after the notification date are ineligible to apply.

Now, let’s understand the Academic Aggregate Score.

Academic Aggregate Score: CGPA or Percentage

Some universities or institutions use Aggregate Grade Points (e.g., CGPA/OGPA/CPI) instead of awarding specific class or percentage marks. In this case, if the university/institute has established criteria for converting Aggregate Grade Points into class and/or percentage marks, those criteria will be accepted and followed.

However, if the university/institute does not provide specific criteria for the conversion of Aggregate Grade Points into class and/or percentage marks, the following procedure will be implemented:

Important Note: Your aggregate grade point or percentage of marks will be calculated over the entire course. If your aggregate grade point (CGPA/OGPA/CPI, etc.) is out of a number other than 10, it will be converted to a scale of 10 and then calculated as shown above.

RBI Grade B Phase 2 Pattern

Phase 2 is the second stage of the selection process. It evaluates candidates in three important subjects, each covering various aspects relevant to the role of an RBI Grade B officer. Here is the RBI Grade B Phase 2 pattern:

Candidates who qualify in Phase 2 are then shortlisted for a psychometric test and interview. The interview process evaluates the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and suitability for the RBI Grade B officer role. 

RBI Grade B Phase 3 (Interview) Pattern

The RBI Grade B interview is the final stage of the selection process for candidates who have successfully cleared the Phase 1 and 2 examinations. Here is the RBI Grade B Phase 3 pattern:

• Candidates need to undergo a psychometric test before appearing for the interview. 
• No marks are allotted for the psychometric test.
• After the psychometric test, there is an interview for 75 marks.
• Candidates may opt for the interview either in Hindi or English.

The final selection is based on the aggregate marks obtained in Phase 2 (Paper I, II, III) and the interview.

English Language

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

General Awareness (GA)

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

RBI Grade B Phase 2 Syllabus

The RBI Grade B Phase 2 comprises three papers: Economic and Social Issues, English (Writing Skills), and Finance and Management.

Paper-I: Economic and Social Issues (ESI)

• Growth and Development – Measurement of growth: National Income and per capita income – Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India – Sustainable Development and Environmental issues.
• Indian Economy – Economic History of India – Changes in Industrial and Labour Policy, Monetary and Fiscal Policy since reforms of 1991 – Priorities and recommendations of Economic Survey and Union Budget – Indian Money and Financial Markets: Linkages with the economy – Role of Indian banks and Reserve Bank in the development process – Public Finance – Political Economy – Industrial Developments in India- Indian Agriculture – Services sector in India.
• Globalization – Opening up of the Indian Economy – Balance of Payments, Export-Import Policy – International Economic Institutions – IMF and World Bank – WTO – Regional Economic Co-operation; International Economic Issues
• Social Structure in India – Multiculturalism – Demographic Trends – Urbanisation and Migration – Gender Issues 

Paper-II: English (Writing Skills)

There is no defined syllabus for descriptive English, but as per the paper scheme, 3 questions are asked. These 3 questions are asked under the following topics-

1. Essay: An essay is asked to be drafted out of 4-5 options (about 400 words).
2. Precis Writing: Precis writing is to be done in about 140 words.
3. Reading Comprehension: 5 questions based on reading comprehension are asked.

Paper-III: Finance and Management

a) Financial System

1. Structure and Functions of Financial Institutions
2. Functions of the Reserve Bank of India
3. Banking System in India – Structure and Developments, Financial Institutions – SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB, NaBFID etc.
4. Recent Developments in the Global Financial System and its Impact on Indian Financial System
5. Role of Information Technology in Banking and Finance
6. Non-Banking System
7. Developments in Digital Payments

b) Financial Markets

1. Primary and Secondary Markets (Forex, Money, Bond, Equity, etc.), functions, instruments, and recent developments

c) General Topics

1. Financial Risk Management
2. Basics of Derivatives
3. Global financial markets and International Banking – broad trends and latest developments
4. Financial Inclusion
5. Alternate source of finance, private and social cost-benefit, Public-Private Partnership
6. Corporate Governance in the Banking Sector
7. The Union Budget – Concepts, approach and broad trends
8. Basics of Accounting and Financial Statements – Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss, Cash Flow Statements, Ratio Analysis (such as Debt to Equity, Debtor Days, Creditor Days, Inventory Turnover, Return on Assets, Return on Equity, etc.)
9. Inflation: Definition, trends, estimates, consequences and remedies (control): WPI- CPI – components and trends; striking a balance between inflation and growth through monetary and fiscal policies.

d) Management

• Fundamentals of Management & Organizational Behaviour: Introduction to management; Evolution of management thought: Scientific, Administrative, Human Relations and Systems approach to management; Management functions and Managerial roles; Nudge theory.

• Meaning & concept of organizational behaviour; Personality: meaning, factors affecting personality, Big Five model of personality; concept of reinforcement; Perception: concept, perceptual errors. Motivation: Concept, importance, Content theories (Maslow’s need theory, Alderfers’ ERG theory, McCllelands’ theory of needs, Herzberg’s two factor theory) & Process theories (Adams equity theory, Vrooms expectancy theory). 

• Leadership: Concept, Theories (Trait, Behavioural, Contingency, Charismatic, Transactional and Transformational Leadership; Emotional Intelligence: Concept, Importance, Dimensions. Analysis of Interpersonal Relationship: Transactional Analysis, Johari Window; Conflict: Concept, Sources, Types, Management of Conflict; Organizational Change: Concept, Kurt Lewin Theory of Change; Organizational Development (OD): Organisational Change, Strategies for Change, Theories of Planned Change (Lewin’s change model, Action research model, Positive model).

• Ethics at the Workplace and Corporate Governance: Meaning of ethics, why ethical problems occur in business. Theories of ethics: Utilitarianism: weighing social cost and benefits, Rights and duties, Justice and fairness, ethics of care, integrating utility, rights, justice and caring, an alternative to moral principles: virtue ethics, teleological theories, egoism theory, relativism theory, Moral issues in business: Ethics in Compliance, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, etc. Ethical Principles in Business: introduction, Organization Structure and Ethics, Role of Board of Directors, Best Practices in Ethics Programme, Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, etc.

• Corporate Governance: Factors Affecting Corporate Governance; Mechanisms of Corporate Governance.
• Communication: Steps in the Communication Process; Communication Channels; Oral versus Written Communication; Verbal versus non-verbal Communication; upward, downward and lateral communication; Barriers to Communication, Role of Information Technology.

RBI Grade B 2020-21 Cut-Off

Below, we have provided the overall cut-off of RBI Grade B 2020-21, including the final, Phase 2, Phase 1, and sectional cut-off.

RBI Grade B 2020-21 Final Cut-Off

From 2020-21, the weightage of interview increased from 50 marks to 75 marks. Here is the list of final cut-off marks analysis of the RBI Grade B 2020-21 exam.

RBI Grade B 2020-21 Phase 2 Cut-Off

Here are the Phase 2 cut-off marks of the RBI Grade B 2020-21 exam.

RBI Grade B 2020-21 Phase 1 Cut-Off

Here are the Phase 1 cut-off marks of the RBI Grade B 2020-21 exam.

RBI Grade B 2020-21 Phase 1 Sectional Cut-Off

Here are the Phase 1 sectional cut-off marks of the RBI Grade B 2020-21 exam.

2. Reasoning

• While preparing for reasoning, keep in mind that it is qualifying in nature. 
• Dedicate at least 1.5 hours daily to reasoning. 
• Your priority should be Syllogism, Ranking, Coding-Decoding, Alpha-Numeric Series, Blood Relations, Input-Output, Directions, and Inequality. 
• Second priority should be given to Puzzles and Seating Arrangements. 
• Do limited chapters, but do them well.

3. Management Answer Writing

• Start with writing small answers, taking 20 minutes a day. 
• Write 2-3 answers per chapter.

Week 6 to 16

1. Finance

• Dedicate at least 2+ hours daily to finance. 
• First, cover important topics from your syllabus thoroughly, then focus on numericals, as there were no numericals in the 2023 exam.
• Secondly, as per the official syllabus, the topics mainly revolve around general finance rather than core finance. Prioritize grasping the concepts and understanding them deeply.

2. Quant

• Dedicate at least 1.5 hours daily for quant. 
• Similar to reasoning, quant is also qualifying in nature. 
• Priority shall be given to Time and Work, Series, Quadratic Equations, Ratios/Proportions, Time and Distance, Boat and Stream, Percentages, and Averages.
• Do not leave the other topics and give them a thorough read. 
• Do limited chapters, but do them well. 

3. Finance Answer Writing

• Questions in finance are descriptive current affairs-based.
• Read editorials in LiveMint.
• Read reports such as RBI Annual Report, Report in Trend and Progress of Banking in India, Report on Currency and Finance, etc.

4. Revise Management

• Invest 15 to 25 minutes daily on the revision for management. 

 Week 17 to 21

1. ESI

• Dedicate at least 2.5 hours daily for ESI. 
• 75% of questions were asked from current affairs and 25% from static. So, focus on the current section but also cover the static part. 
• Cover important topics for ESI objective. 

2. ESI Answer Writing

• Mixed questions were asked from both static and current. 
• Static questions were quite straightforward. You can quickly answer those questions if you have a stronghold of static ESI. 
• Current questions were quite challenging, so it is highly recommended to read editorials from Hindu.
• Read reports such as the World Development Report and Report on Currency and Finance, as questions were asked from these reports. 
• Read material sourced from RBI and BIS websites.

3. Descriptive English (DE)

• Don’t assume you can still write an essay or precis just because you have done it in the 10th or 12th class. Now, the competition is high, and you need to learn the basics, rules, and structures of writing an essay, precis, and comprehension. 
• Read plenty of Editorials from both financial and non-financial newspapers. 
• Write (type) in notepad whatever you can read after 3 days in your own words, either as an essay or precis.
• Check your grammatical mistakes using Grammarly.com.

4. Revise Finance

• Invest 15 to 25 minutes daily on the revision for finance. 

Week 22 to 27

1. Current Affairs

• Common mistakes to avoid in current affairs
  • Reading newspapers for covering current affairs (read-only editorial section)
  • Avoiding revisions (make sure you revise daily)
  • Not mapping current affairs to the syllabus of Phase 2
• 4 Pillars of Current Affairs

You must cover the below-mentioned 4 pillars of the past 3-5 months for Phase 1 and the past 6-8 months for Phase 2:

• RBI Notification
• Government Schemes  
• Reports and Indices  
• ESI, Finance, and GA Current Affairs 

2. English

• Learning English is a time-consuming process. If you have enough time, you can go for grammar and rules. However, the best way to learn English is through reverse engineering. So, focus on mock tests to identify the types of questions and learn how to approach them.

3. Revise QRE

• Invest 15 to 25 minutes daily on the revision for QRE. 

4. Start Answer Writing

• In Phase 2, 200 out of 300 marks are answer writing, and you need to develop that skill, so practice answer writing daily.

Week 28 to 35

1. New Current Affairs

• Cover new current affairs.

2. Phase 1 Mock Test

• Start doing mock tests for phase 1 and cover as many mock tests as possible.

3. Revise QRE and CA

• Invest 15 to 25 minutes daily on the revision for QRE and CA of Phase 1.

4. Phase 2 Mock Test

• Start doing mock tests for phase 2 and cover 2-3 mock tests just to build a base for phase 2.

General Tips:

• Adjust the above timetable to suit your specific needs.
• Take short breaks (5-10 minutes) between sessions.
• Review your performance, identify your weak areas, and dedicate more time to them.