RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025 and Exam Pattern for Phase I + Phase II

The RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025 and exam pattern provide a clear roadmap for candidates aiming to secure a position with the Reserve Bank of India. The recruitment process is conducted in three stages i.e. Phase I, Phase II, and the Interview, each designed to assess a range of skills and knowledge areas. Understanding the detailed syllabus and structure of both Phase I and Phase II is essential for effective preparation. This column covers the subjects, marking schemes, and section-wise topics to help aspirants plan their strategy for the upcoming exam.

RBI Grade B Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025

Cracking the RBI Grade B 2025 exam requires a strategic approach, as it is conducted in three stages: Phase I, Phase II and Interview. Phase I tests candidates’ general awareness, quantitative aptitude, English language and reasoning ability through an objective format. In Phase II, the exam is more intense with a mix of objective and descriptive questions on economic and social issues, English writing skills and finance and management. Aspiring candidates for DEPR and DSIM roles must also master economics, statistics, and quantitative methods.

RBI Grade B Exam Pattern 2025

To succeed in the RBI Grade B exam, candidates should concentrate on key subjects like Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, English Language, and General Awareness. The exam pattern differs based on the post, whether it is General (DR), DSIM, or DEPR. For a complete understanding of the syllabus and exam pattern for each role, candidates should check the detailed guide provided in the article.

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 2025

The Phase 1 exam of the RBI Grade B 2025 follows a set pattern with 200 multiple-choice questions, each worth one mark. The total exam marks are 200, and candidates have 120 minutes (2 hours) to complete it. A penalty of 0.25 marks is deducted for each wrong answer. The exam also has sectional cut-offs, so candidates must clear both individual section cut-offs and the overall cut-off to move to the next stage.

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 DEPR

The RBI Grade B (DR) – DEPR selection process includes an Online/Written Examination followed by an Interview. Candidates must clear each phase to move forward in the recruitment process. Below are the key details of the exam pattern:

Phase I

• Paper I: Objective Type (Economics)
• Paper II: Descriptive Type (English)
• Candidates must achieve the minimum aggregate marks in both papers to qualify for Phase II.

Phase II

• Paper I: Descriptive Type (Economics)
• Paper II: Descriptive Type (Economics)

Interview Round

• The Interview carries 75 marks and plays a crucial role in the final selection.
• The final merit list is prepared based on candidates’ performance in Phase I, Phase II, and the Interview.

RBI Grade B Exam Pattern For DSIM

The selection process for RBI Grade B (DR) – DSIM comprises an Online/Written Examination followed by an Interview. Candidates must qualify each stage to progress further in the recruitment process. Below are the detailed exam pattern highlights:

Examination Structure

• Paper I: Objective Type (Statistics)
• Paper II: Descriptive Type (Statistics)
• Paper III: Descriptive Type

Important Details

• Candidates must secure the minimum aggregate marks in Paper I to be eligible for shortlisting in Paper II and Paper III.
• The Interview round carries 75 marks and is a key component of the final selection process.
• The final merit list is prepared based on candidates’ performance in Paper I, Paper II, Paper III, and the Interview.

RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025

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.

1. English Language
2. General Awareness
3. Quantitative Aptitude
4. Reasoning Ability

RBI Grade B Phase I Syllabus For General (DR)

The RBI Grade B 2025 Phase I General (DR) exam consists of four sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness. Below is a complete breakdown of the topics covered in each section for the Phase 1 examination.

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:

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:

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

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)

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

Macroeconomic Module

Phase 2: Paper 2 Descriptive Type (on Economics)

Module on Quantitative Methods in Economics

The module on Indian Economy – Policy and 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 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 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?

To complete the RBI Grade B syllabus efficiently start by knowing the exam structure. The exam consists of Phase I and Phase II. Phase I includes General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning. Phase II covers Economic and Social Issues, Finance and Management, and descriptive papers.

Break down the syllabus into topics. For General Awareness, focus on banking, finance, and current affairs. For Economic and Social Issues, study growth, development, and government policies. Finance and Management require concepts of financial markets, corporate governance, and HR management.

Use standard study material like RBI’s annual reports, economic surveys, and government schemes which are essential for in-depth preparation.

Regular revision is important for remembering key topics. Make short notes for formulas, concepts, and financial terms. Keep revisiting important economic indicators and finance-related topics.

Solving previous year papers helps in understanding question patterns and identifying frequently asked topics. This makes it easier to focus on the most relevant parts of the syllabus.

For descriptive papers, practice writing essays, precis, and comprehension. Focus on economic and financial topics to develop well-structured answers.

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.