Table of Contents
The RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025 and exam pattern for Phase I and Phase II have been designed to assess candidates’ analytical, financial, and general knowledge skills. The Phase I exam focuses on General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, and Reasoning Ability, while Phase II evaluates candidates on Economic and Social Issues (ESI), Finance and Management (FM), and English Descriptive Writing. A clear understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern is essential for structured preparation to secure a position in this highly competitive exam.
RBI Grade B Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025
To fully understand the RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025, it is important to know how the exam is set up. Here’s a quick summary of the syllabus. Aspirants can check the table below to see what’s included in the Syllabus, below is the overview of the RBI Grade B Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025.
| RBI Grade B Syllabus | |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | Reserve Bank of India |
| Exam Name | RBI Grade B 2025 |
| Category | Syllabus |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Selection Process | Phase 1 (Objective), Phase 2 (Descriptive), Phase 3 (Interview) |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks (in objective type) |
| Language of Paper | English and Hindi |
| Official Website | rbi.org.in |
RBI Grade B Selection Process 2025
The information on the RBI Grade B Selection Process is as important as the RBI Grade B Syllabus and Exam Pattern. Only after the candidates have clarity on selection can they truly understand the Syllabus and exam pattern. Here is the detailed selection process for the RBI Grade B Exam.
| RBI Grade B Selection Process 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam Stages | General (DR) | DEPR | DSIM |
| Phase-I | Phase – I – Online Examination | Phase – I – Paper I & II Online Examination | Phase – I – Paper I Online Examination |
| Phase-II | Phase – II – Paper I, II & III Online Examination | Phase – II – Paper I & II Written Examination | Phase – II – Paper II & III Online/Written Examination |
| Interview | Yes | Yes | Yes |
RBI Grade B Exam Pattern 2025
Candidates need to focus on key subjects like Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, English Language, and General Awareness for the RBI Grade B exam. Additionally, the exam pattern differs for various posts such as General (DR), DSIM and DEPR. Explore the comprehensive RBI Grade B Syllabus and Exam Pattern for General (DR), DEPR, and DSIM in the article provided.
RBI Grade B Exam Pattern for General (DR)
Here the candidates can check the detailed RBI Grade B Exam Pattern for all the stages of the examination. As mentioned above the RBI Grade B Exam has three stages for General (DR). Here is the detailed RBI Grade B Exam Pattern.
RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam Pattern
Here is the detailed exam pattern for Phase I of the RBI Grade B Exam 2025.
- The RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam consists of a total of 200 questions, with each question carrying one mark.
- The maximum mark possible in the exam is 200 Marks.
- Candidates are given a total of 120 minutes or 2 hours to complete the exam.
- There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer marked by the candidate.
- The exam also has a sectional cut-off for each section of the exam, and candidates will have to clear both sectional cut-offs as well as the overall cut-off to qualify for the next stage.
| RBI Grade B Exam Pattern For Phase 1 |
|||
| Name Of The Section | No. Of Questions | Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 Minutes |
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 60 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 Minutes |
Note- The marks scored by candidates in the RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam will not be considered in the final merit list. The merit list will be based on the marks scored by candidates in the Phase 2 exam and the interview round.
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Exam Pattern
The exam pattern of the RBI Grade B exam is both objective and descriptive. Candidates can check the RBI Grade B Phase 2 exam pattern from the table provided below. RBI Grade B exam pattern for phase 2 consists of Economic and Social Issues, English, and General Finance & Management.
| RBI Grade B Exam Pattern For Phase 2 | ||||
| Name Of Paper | Type Of Paper | Time | No. Of Qs | Marks |
| Paper-I: Economic and Social Issues |
50% Objective | 30 Minutes | 30 Objective Questions | 50 |
| 50% Descriptive | 90 Minutes | 4 Descriptive Questions | 50 | |
| Paper-II: English (Writing Skills) |
Descriptive | 90 Minutes | 3 | 100 |
| Paper-III: General Finance & Management |
50% Objective | 120 Minutes | 30 Objective Questions | 50 |
| 50% Descriptive | 4 Descriptive Questions | 50 | ||
RBI Grade B Exam Pattern for DEPR
- The process for selecting candidates for RBI Grade B (DR)- DEPR involves an Online/Written Examination and an Interview.
- In Phase I, Paper I is Objective Type (on Economics), while Paper II is Descriptive Type (on English). In Phase II, Paper I & Paper II are Descriptive Types (on Economics).
- Candidates must score the minimum aggregate marks in Paper I, II of Phase I, to be shortlisted for Paper II Exam.
- The final selection will be based on the candidate’s performance in Phase I, II, and the Interview round. The Interview round will carry 75 marks.
| RBI Grade B Exam Pattern For DEPR | |||
| Phase | Name Of Paper | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| Phase I | Paper – I Objective Type (on Economics)
Paper – II English – Descriptive |
120 Minutes | 100 |
| 120 Minutes | 100 | ||
| Phase II | Paper – I Descriptive Type (on Economics) (Question paper displayed on computer, answers to be written on paper)
Paper – II Descriptive Type (on Economics) (Question paper displayed on the computer, answers to be written on paper) |
120 Minutes | 100 |
| 120 Minutes | 100 | ||
| Total | 400 | ||
RBI Grade B Exam Pattern For DSIM
- The process for selecting candidates for RBI Grade B (DR)- DSIM involves an Online/Written Examination and an Interview.
- The Examination consists of three papers. Paper I is Objective Type (on Statistics), while Paper II and III are descriptive types.
- Candidates must score the minimum aggregate marks in Paper I as prescribed, to be shortlisted for Paper II/III based on their Paper I scores.
- The final selection will be based on the candidate’s performance in Paper I, II & III, and the Interview round. The Interview round will be carried for 75 marks.
| RBI Grade B Exam Pattern for DSIM | |||
| Paper | Duration | Marks | |
| Phase I | Paper-I Statistics (Objective Type) | 120 minutes | 100 |
| Phase II | Paper-II Statistics (Descriptive Type)
(Question paper displayed on a computer, answers to be written on paper) |
180 minutes | 100 |
| Paper-III English (Descriptive) (To be typed with the help of a keyboard) |
90 minutes | 100 | |
| Total | 300 | ||
RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025
The RBI Grade B syllabus covers topics from various subjects such as General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning. It also covers Economic and Social Issues, Finance and Management and includes descriptive papers for Phase II of the exam. Candidates should start preparing early to understand each section thoroughly. The RBI Grade B Exam comprises three categories: General (DR), DSIM and DEPR. The General (DR) exam includes sections on Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language and General Awareness. Below, you will find a detailed RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025 and Exam Pattern to help you prepare effectively.
RBI Grade B Syllabus for DR (General)
RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025 for Phase 1 has four subjects. You can access here the section-wise syllabus for RBI Grade B.
- English Language
- General Awareness
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Reasoning Ability
RBI Grade B Phase I Syllabus For General (DR)
RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025 for Phase I General (DR) comprises a total of four sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness. Here is the detailed topic-wise distribution for the phase 1 exam.
| RBI Grade B Syllabus For Phase I General (DR) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | Reasoning Ability | Quantitative Aptitude | General Awareness |
| Reading Comprehension | Puzzles | Data Interpretation | Indian Banking Systems |
| Cloze Test | Seating Arrangements | Inequalities (Quadratic Equations) | Indian Financial Systems |
| Fillers | Direction Sense | Number Series | Govt. Schemes and Policies |
| Error Detection | Blood Relation | Approximation or Simplification | Current Affairs |
| Vocabulary based questions | Syllogism | Data Sufficiency | Static Awareness |
| Sentence Improvement | Order and Ranking | Miscellaneous Arithmetic Problems | Monetary Plans |
| Jumbled Paragraph | Coding-Decoding | Quantity Comparison (Q1 & Q2) | National Institutions |
| Phrase Replacement/ Phrase Correction | Machine Input-Output | Banking Terms | |
| Match The Column | Inequalities | ||
| Word Swap | Alpha-Numeric-Symbol Series | ||
| Word Rearrangement | Data Sufficiency | ||
| Idioms | Logical Reasoning (Passage Inference, Statement, Assumption, Conclusion, Argument) |
||
| Paragraph /Sentences Restatement | |||
| Paragraph Based Questions | |||
| Paragraph Fillers | |||
RBI Grade B Phase II Syllabus For General (DR)
In the Phase 2 exam of the RBI Grade B officer, there are 3 Papers viz.
- Paper I (Economic and Social Issues)
- Paper II (English Writing Skills)
- Paper III (General Finance and Management)
We have shared the detailed updated RBI Grade B Syllabus for Phase 2.
RBI Grade B Syllabus For Phase II Paper 1 General (DR): Economic and Social Issues
The detailed topic-wise syllabus for RBI Grade B Phase 2 Paper I for Economic and Social Issues is provided below:
|
Syllabus For Economic and Social Issues |
|
| Category | Key Topics |
| Growth & Development | National Income & Per Capita Income |
| Poverty Alleviation & Employment | |
| Sustainable Development & Environment | |
| Economic Landscape | Economic History |
| Industrial & Labor Policy Changes | |
| Monetary & Fiscal Policy (Post-1991 Reforms) | |
| Economic Survey & Union Budget Priorities | |
| Financial System | Money & Financial Markets |
| Role of Banks & Reserve Bank of India | |
| Public Finance | |
| Political Economy’s Influence | |
| Economic Sectors | Industrial Developments |
| Importance of Agriculture | |
| Services Sector Growth | |
| Globalization | Opening Up of Indian Economy |
| Balance of Payments Explained | |
| Export-Import Policy | |
| International Economic Institutions (IMF, World Bank, WTO) | |
| Regional Economic Cooperation & International Issues | |
| Social Structure | India’s Multiculturalism |
| Demographic Trends & Analysis | |
| Urbanization & Migration Impact | |
| Gender Issues & Social Justice | |
RBI Grade B Syllabus For Phase II Paper 2 General(DR): English Writing Skills
The RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025 for Phase 2 Paper II will be descriptive. The paper on English shall be framed in a manner to assess the writing skills including expression and understanding of the topic
RBI Grade B Syllabus For Phase II Paper 3 General(DR): General Finance and Management
The RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025 for Phase 2 and Paper III includes General Finance and Management. We have shared the detailed topic-wise syllabus for the convenience of the aspirants:
|
Syllabus For Finance and Management |
|
| Category | Topics |
| Financial System | Structure and Functions Of Financial Institutions |
| Functions Of the Reserve Bank of India | |
| Banking System in India – Structure and Developments, Financial Institutions – SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB, NaBFID etc. | |
| Recent Developments in the Global Financial System and its Impact on the Indian Financial System | |
| Role Of Information Technology in Banking and Finance | |
| Non-Banking System | |
| Developments in Digital Payments | |
| Financial Markets | Primary and Secondary Markets (Forex, Money, Bond, Equity, etc.), function, instruments, recent developments. |
| General Topics | Financial Risk Management |
| Basics of Derivatives | |
| Global financial markets and International Banking-broad trends and latest developments | |
| Financial Inclusion | |
| Alternate source of finance, private and social cost-benefit, Public-Private Partnership | |
| Corporate Governance in the Banking Sector | |
| The Union Budget – Concepts, approach and broad trends | |
| Basics of Accounting and Financial Statements- Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss, Cash Flow Statements, Ratio Analysis | |
| 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. | |
| Management | Fundamentals of Management & Organizational Behaviour |
| Introduction to management; Evolution of management thought | |
| Management functions and Managerial roles | |
| Meaning & concept of organizational behaviour; Personality: meaning, factors affecting personality, Big Five model of personality | |
| Perception: concept, perceptual errors. Motivation: Concept, importance, Content theories and process theories | |
| Leadership: Concept, Theories | |
| Emotional Intelligence: Concept, Importance, Dimensions | |
| Analysis of Interpersonal Relationship | |
| Conflict: Concepts, Sources, Types, Management of conflict | |
| Organizational Development (OD) | |
| Ethics At The Workplace and Corporate Governance | |
| Meaning of ethics, why ethical problems occur in business | |
| Theories of ethics | |
| Ethical principles in Business | |
| Corporate Governance | |
| Communication | |
RBI Grade B Syllabus for DEPR
The syllabus for RBI Grade B (DR) DEPR is as per the specialization. The syllabus pertains to core economics and is generally similar to the syllabus for a Master’s Degree in economics.
| RBI Grade B Syllabus for DEPR | |
|---|---|
| Category | Topics |
| Financial System | Structure and Functions Of Financial Institutions |
| Functions Of the Reserve Bank of India | |
| Banking System in India – Structure and Developments, Financial Institutions – SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB, NaBFID etc. | |
| Recent Developments in the Global Financial System and its Impact on the Indian Financial System | |
| Role Of Information Technology in Banking and Finance | |
| Non-Banking System | |
| Developments in Digital Payments | |
| Financial Markets | Primary and Secondary Markets (Forex, Money, Bond, Equity, etc.), function, instruments, recent developments. |
| General Topics | Financial Risk Management |
| Basics of Derivatives | |
| Global financial markets and International Banking-broad trends and latest developments | |
| Financial Inclusion | |
| Alternate source of finance, private and social cost-benefit, Public-Private Partnership | |
| Corporate Governance in the Banking Sector | |
| The Union Budget – Concepts, approach and broad trends | |
| Basics of Accounting and Financial Statements- Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss, Cash Flow Statements, Ratio Analysis | |
| 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. | |
| Management | Fundamentals of Management & Organizational Behaviour |
| Introduction to management; Evolution of management thought | |
| Management functions and Managerial roles | |
| Meaning & concept of organizational behaviour; Personality: meaning, factors affecting personality, Big Five model of personality | |
| Perception: concept, perceptual errors. Motivation: Concept, importance, Content theories and process theories | |
| Leadership: Concept, Theories | |
| Emotional Intelligence: Concept, Importance, Dimensions | |
| Analysis of Interpersonal Relationship | |
| Conflict: Concepts, Sources, Types, Management of conflict | |
| Organizational Development (OD) | |
| Ethics At The Workplace and Corporate Governance | |
| Meaning of ethics, why ethical problems occur in business | |
| Theories of ethics | |
| Ethical principles in Business | |
| Corporate Governance | |
| Communication | |
RBI Grade B Syllabus for DEPR
The syllabus for RBI Grade B (DR) DEPR is as per the specialization. The syllabus pertains to core economics and is generally similar to the syllabus for a Master’s Degree in economics.
Phase 1: Paper 1 Objective Type (on Economics)
|
Economics |
|
| Module | Topics |
| Microeconomics | Theories of consumer’s demand; Production; Market Structures and Pricing; Distribution; and Welfare Economics |
| Macroeconomics | Theories of Employment, Output and Inflation; Monetary Economics; ISLM Model; Schools of Economic Thought |
| International Economics | Theories of International Trade; Balance of Payments; Exchange Rate Models |
| Theories of Economic Growth | Classical neo-classical approaches to economic growth and major theories of economic development |
| Public Finance | Theories of taxation and public expenditure and Public Debt Management |
| Environmental Economics | Green GDP, Environmental Valuation, Environmental policy instruments |
| Quantitative Methods in Economics | Mathematical and Statistical Methods for Economics, Ordinary Least Square Regression |
| Current Developments in the Indian Economy | Growth, inflation, poverty, unemployment, financial sector developments, external sector developments, fiscal developments, agriculture, industry, infrastructure, and services |
Phase 1: Paper 2 Descriptive Type (in English)
The English paper will evaluate the candidate’s writing abilities, including their expression and comprehension of the given topic.
Phase 2: Paper 1 Descriptive Type (on Economics)
Microeconomic Module
|
Microeconomic Module |
|
| Topic | Description |
| Consumer Theory | Cardinal and Marginal Utility Analysis, Consumer Surplus, Indifference Curve Analysis, Price, Income and Substitution Effects, Game Theory |
| Production Theory | Forms of Production function; Laws of Returns to Scale; Partial Equilibrium Vs General Equilibrium Analysis |
| Market Theory | Pricing under different market structures |
| Distribution Theories | Ricardo, Marx, Kalecki, and Kaldor |
| Welfare Economics | Pareto Optimality, Schools of Welfare Thought including Arrow, Coase, and Sen |
Macroeconomic Module
|
Macroeconomic Module |
|
| Topic | Description |
| National Income Accounting | Various methods for measurement of National Income |
| Theory of Employment and Output | Classical and Neo-classical approaches, Keynesian theory of Employment and output, Post-Keynesian developments, Business Cycles |
| Inflation | Types of Inflation, Philip’s curve, Taylor’s Rule, Lucas Critique |
| Money and Banking | Quantity theory of Money, Neutrality of money, IS-LM Model and AD-AS Models, Money Multiplier, Monetary Policy |
| Theories of Economic Growth | Theories of growth, Classical and neoclassical approaches, Theories of Economic Development |
| International trade and Balance of payments | Theories of international trade, Determination of exchange rates, Impossible Trinity |
| Public Finance | Theories of taxation, Theories of public expenditure, Theories of public debt management |
Phase 2: Paper 2 Descriptive Type (on Economics)
Module on Quantitative Methods in Economics
|
Module on Quantitative Methods in Economics |
|
|
Topic |
Description |
|
Mathematical Methods in Economics |
Differentiation and Integration, Optimisation, Sets, Matrices, Linear algebra and Linear programming |
| Statistical Methods in Economics | Measures of central tendency and dispersions, Probability, Time series, and Index numbers. |
| Econometrics and Advanced Applications | Regression analysis, Panel data econometrics, Time Series econometrics, Basics of Bayesian Econometrics, Basic application of Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning |
The module on Indian Economy – Policy and Trends
|
The module on Indian Economy – Policy and Trends |
|
|
Topic |
Description |
| Fiscal policy in India | Evolution, scope and limitations, current trends |
| Monetary Policy in India | Evolution, Functions of the Reserve Bank of India, MonetaryFiscal coordination, Inflation targeting, Operating framework of Monetary Policy, Current trends |
| Banking and financial sector development in India | Banks and other constituents of Indian financial markets and related developments, Current trends |
| Inflation in India | Trends and drivers |
| External sector developments in India | Exchange rate management, external debt, Balance of payments, Current trends |
RBI Grade B Syllabus For DSIM
RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025 for DSIM comprises three papers: Paper 1, Paper 2, and Paper 3. Candidates aspiring for the RBI Grade B 2025 DSIM Posts must be familiar with the topics to be covered in each of the papers.
Paper 1
|
Paper 1 |
|
| Module | Topics |
| Probability and Sampling | Definition of Probability, Standard distribution, Large and small sample theory, Analysis of Variance, Estimation, Testing of Hypotheses, Multivariate analysis, and Stochastic Processes |
Paper 2
Questions would cover (i) Probability and Sampling, (ii) Linear Models and Economic Statistics, (iii) Statistical Inference: Estimation, Testing of hypothesis and Non-parametric Test, (iv) Stochastic Processes, (v) Multivariate analysis, (vi) Econometrics and time series, (vii) Statistical computing; and (viii) Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Techniques.
Candidates will have ample options to answer the mandatory number of questions from a minimum of three out of the eight groups mentioned above. Here is the detailed syllabus for RBI Grade B Syllabus for DSIM.
|
Paper 2 |
|
| Module | Topics |
| Probability and Sampling | Theory of Probability and Probability Distributions, Sampling Theory |
| Linear Models and Economic Statistics | Simple linear regression, Multiple regression, Measurement of economic inequality |
| Statistical Inference | Estimation, Testing of Hypothesis and Non-Parametric Test |
| Stochastic Processes | Poisson Processes, Markov Chains, Brownian Motion |
| Multivariate Analysis | Multivariate normal distribution, Canonical correlation analysis, Principal components analysis, Factor analysis and cluster analysis |
| Econometrics and Time Series | General linear model, Autocorrelation, Simultaneous linear equations model, Box-Jenkins models, ARCH/GARCH models |
| Statistical computing | Simulation techniques, Resampling methods, Robust linear regression, Neural Networks, Association Rules, Markov Chain Monte Carlo |
| Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Techniques | Supervised and unsupervised pattern classification, Regression and Classification algorithms, Neural Networks, Natural Language Processing |
Paper 3: English
The English paper will be designed to evaluate the candidate’s writing abilities, including their expression and comprehension of the given topic.
How do I complete the RBI Grade B syllabus?
Completing the RBI Grade B syllabus requires a structured approach. First, carefully review the syllabus to understand all the topics you need to cover. Use recommended textbooks and study materials to thoroughly grasp each topic. It’s essential to focus on understanding concepts rather than just memorizing information.
To effectively prepare, solve previous years’ question papers to familiarize yourself with the exam format and types of questions asked. Create a monthly study plan that outlines what you need to cover each month, ensuring you allocate enough time to each subject.
Break down the syllabus into weekly goals so you can cover it systematically. Set daily study targets to keep yourself on track and ensure consistent progress. By staying disciplined and following your study plan diligently, you can effectively complete the RBI Grade B syllabus within your desired timeframe. Regular revision and practice are also key to reinforcing your understanding and preparing well for the exam.
RBI Grade B Interview Round
The RBI Grade B Interview Round is the final step in the selection process. It takes place after candidates pass the Phase 1 and Phase 2 exams. Only those who meet the required scores will be called for the interview, which is of 75 marks. Candidates can choose to speak in Hindi or English. A panel of five senior officers will ask related to the questions about the candidate’s background, education and current events. If a candidate passes the interview and group discussion, they will also need to take a medical test to check their fitness.
RBI Grade B Marking Scheme
In the RBI Grade B exam, for every incorrect answer in the multiple-choice questions, 1/4 of the marks for that question will be taken off as a penalty. This means you’ll lose a quarter of the points for each wrong answer.
RBI Grade B Exam Preparation Tips
To prepare for the RBI Grade B exam, first make a study plan that covers important topics. Focus more on areas where you need improvement. Use one or two trusted study materials recommended by RBI to keep things simple. Take mock tests regularly to get familiar with the exam format and build confidence. Practice with sample papers to work on your speed and time management. Stay positive, and don’t let setbacks discourage you. Take breaks and get enough sleep to stay sharp and focused.
| Related Posts | |
| RBI Grade B Salary | RBI Grade B Selection Process |
| RBI Grade B Cut Off | RBI Grade B Eligibility |
| RBI Grade B Preparation Strategy | Is RBI Grade B Exam Difficult? |
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