RBI Grade B Officer Recruitment 2026: Complete Guide

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Grade B Officer exam is one of the most prestigious banking examinations in India. This exam is conducted annually by the RBI to recruit officers for various departments, including General, DEPR (Department of Economic and Policy Research), and DSIM (Department of Statistics and Information Management).

RBI Grade B officers are appointed directly as managers (Scale I) in the central bank, a significant advantage over other banking exams, where you start at lower positions. The job offers excellent career growth, a prestigious work profile, an attractive salary, and an opportunity to contribute to India’s monetary policy and banking regulation. This position is highly sought after by graduates aspiring for a career in banking and finance.

RBI Grade B 2026 Exam Summary

The RBI Grade B 2026 examination is a three-phase selection process designed to identify the best candidates for officer positions. The exam tests candidates on various parameters, including general awareness, English language, quantitative aptitude, reasoning, economic and social issues, and finance & management.

The examination is computer-based for both preliminary and mains stages, followed by a personal interview for shortlisted candidates. The entire process is highly competitive, with typically thousands of candidates competing for limited vacancies. The exam is known for its moderate to difficult level, requiring thorough preparation and consistent effort over several months.

RBI Grade B 2026 Notification

The official notification for RBI Grade B 2026 is expected to be released in March or April 2026 on the RBI website. The notification will contain complete details about vacancies, eligibility criteria, important dates, exam pattern, syllabus, and application process.

Candidates are advised to regularly check the official website and the ‘Opportunities@RBI’ section for the latest updates. The notification PDF will be a comprehensive document of approximately 15-20 pages containing all essential information. Once released, candidates typically get around 20-25 days to submit their online applications. Make sure to download and read the official notification carefully before applying.

RBI Grade B 2026 – Important Dates

While official dates will be announced in the notification, based on previous years’ trends, here’s an expected timeline:

These are tentative dates based on previous patterns. Always refer to the official notification for confirmed dates.

RBI Grade B Vacancy 2026

While the exact number of vacancies for 2026 will be announced in the official notification, historically, RBI has released vacancies ranging from 150 to 300+ posts across different categories. The vacancies are distributed among:

• General Category: The largest share of vacancies is open to graduates from any discipline
• DEPR (Department of Economic and Policy Research): For candidates with an Economics/Econometrics background
• DSIM (Department of Statistics and Information Management): For candidates with a Statistics background

The vacancy distribution also considers reservation policies for SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD categories as per government norms. In recent years, RBI has been increasing the number of vacancies, but competition remains intense. The actual number of vacancies can vary based on the RBI’s organizational requirements.

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RBI Grade B 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification:

For General Category:

• Minimum 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwBD) in a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline from a recognized university
• Postgraduate degree or an MBA is an added advantage, but not mandatory

For DEPR:

• Master’s Degree in Economics/Econometrics with minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD)
• OR PhD in Economics/Econometrics

For DSIM:

• At least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD) in a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics/Applied Statistics/Mathematical Statistics
• OR Master’s degree in Statistics/Mathematical Statistics/Applied Statistics

Age Limit:

• General & DEPR: 21 to 30 years (as on the cutoff date mentioned in the notification)
• DSIM: 21 to 32 years

Age relaxation is provided as per government rules: 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (NCL), 10 years for PwBD candidates, and other relaxations for ex-servicemen and specific categories.

Nationality:

Candidates must be Indian citizens, subjects of Nepal/Bhutan, or Tibetan refugees who came to India before 1962, or persons of Indian origin from specific countries.

RBI Grade B 2026 Selection Process

The selection process consists of three distinct phases:

Phase I – Preliminary Examination:

This is a qualifying exam designed to shortlist candidates for the mains examination. It tests your basic aptitude in General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning. You must score the minimum qualifying marks in each section and overall to clear this stage. The marks obtained in prelims are not counted for the final merit listing.

Phase II – Main Examination:

This is the most crucial phase, as the marks obtained here are considered for the final merit ranking. It consists of multiple papers testing your knowledge in depth across various subjects, including Economic and Social Issues, English Writing, Finance & Management (for General candidates), and specialized subjects for DEPR and DSIM categories.

Phase III – Interview:

Candidates who clear the mains with high scores are called for a personal interview. The interview carries significant weightage and tests your personality, communication skills, subject knowledge, awareness about current affairs, and overall suitability for the position. The final merit list is prepared based on the combined marks of the Mains and Interview.

RBI Grade B 2026 Exam Pattern

Overall Structure:

• Phase I: Online objective test (qualifying nature)
• Phase II: Online objective + descriptive tests
• Phase III: Personal Interview

The exam is conducted in the English language only (except for the Hindi language paper in Mains for the General category). Negative marking is applicable in objective-type questions.

RBI Grade B 2026 Prelims Exam Pattern

The preliminary exam is conducted online with the following structure:

Important Points:

• Each section has a sectional timing of 20 minutes
• 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer (negative marking)
• Minimum qualifying marks in each section and overall must be secured
• You cannot switch between sections during the sectional timing
• The exam is of a moderate to difficult level

RBI Grade B 2026 Mains Exam Pattern

The main exam pattern differs slightly for different categories:

For General Category:

Paper I – Objective Test (3 hours)

Paper II – Descriptive Test (90 minutes)

• English Writing Skills (Letter Writing & Essay): 100 marks
• Descriptive questions test your expression, understanding of issues, and writing ability

Paper III – Hindi/English Language Test (30 minutes)

• This is qualifying in nature (not counted for merit)
• Tests basic language proficiency

For DEPR:

Similar structure, but Finance & Management is replaced with specialized Economics questions

For DSIM:

Finance & Management is replaced with Statistics-related questions

Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for wrong answers in objective tests

The total marks considered for merit are from Paper I and Paper II only (310 marks total).

RBI Grade B Officer Interview Process

The interview is the final stage of selection and carries 50 marks. The interview panel typically consists of RBI officials, including senior officers and subject matter experts.

What to Expect:

Interview Duration: Usually 15-30 minutes per candidate

Areas Covered:

• Academic background and subjects studied
• Current affairs and banking/economic developments
• RBI’s functions, monetary policy, and recent regulations
• Your hobbies and interests are mentioned in the application
• Situational and behavioural questions
• Opinion on contemporary economic issues
• General knowledge and awareness

Assessment Criteria: The panel evaluates your communication skills, confidence level, clarity of thought, knowledge depth, alertness, decision-making ability, and overall personality. They want to see if you’re suitable for a responsible officer position in India’s central bank.

Preparation Tips: Stay updated with economic news, understand RBI’s recent policy decisions, read the Economic Survey and Union Budget, practice mock interviews, and maintain confidence with humility. Dress formally and be punctual.

The final merit list is prepared by combining the marks of Mains (310) + Interview (50) = 360 marks total.

RBI Grade B 2026 Syllabus

Prelims Syllabus:

General Awareness:

• Current affairs (last 6 months) – Banking, Economics, International
• Banking and Financial Awareness
• Static GK – Awards, Books, Sports, Organizations
• Indian Financial System and RBI functions

English Language:

• Reading Comprehension
• Grammar (Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement)
• Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, Fill in the blanks)
• Sentence Rearrangement and Para Jumbles

Quantitative Aptitude:

• Number System and Simplification
• Data Interpretation (Tables, Graphs, Charts)
• Arithmetic (Percentage, Ratio, Average, Time & Work, Profit & Loss)
• Algebra and Mensuration

Reasoning:

• Logical Reasoning (Puzzles, Seating Arrangement)
• Syllogisms and Coding-Decoding
• Blood Relations and Direction Sense
• Data Sufficiency and Inequalities

Mains Syllabus:

Economic and Social Issues:

• Indian Economy (Planning, Development, Economic Reforms)
• Fiscal and Monetary Policy
• Banking System and Financial Markets
• Social Issues (Poverty, Unemployment, Education, Health)
• Government Schemes and Initiatives
• International Economics and Organizations

Finance and Management:

• Financial Management principles
• Accounting and Auditing
• Corporate Governance
• Marketing and HR basics
• Business Economics
• Financial Markets and Instruments

English Descriptive:

• Essay Writing (economic/social/banking topics)
• Letter Writing (formal/official)
• Précis Writing
• Report Writing

The syllabus is vast and requires structured preparation over 4-6 months minimum.

RBI Grade B 2026 Salary Structure

RBI Grade B officers enjoy one of the best salary packages in the banking sector:

Basic Pay and Allowances:

Starting Basic Pay: ₹35,150 per month (7th Pay Commission – Scale I)

Grade Pay: ₹5,150

Allowances:

• Dearness Allowance (DA): Around 50% of Basic Pay
• House Rent Allowance (HRA): 7-9% of Basic, depending on city classification
• City Compensatory Allowance: Varies by city
• Transport Allowance
• Medical Allowance
• Other special allowances

Gross Salary: Approximately ₹80,000 to ₹95,000 per month (including all allowances)

In-hand Salary: Around ₹65,000 to ₹75,000 per month (after deductions)

Annual CTC: Approximately ₹10-12 lakhs

Additional Benefits:

• Pension benefits under the New Pension Scheme (NPS)
• Provident Fund contribution
• Gratuity
• Medical facilities for self and family
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC)
• Festival advance and other advances
• Furnished accommodation (HRA if accommodation not taken)
• Residential phone and official vehicle facilities
• Performance-linked incentives

The salary increases regularly with DA revisions, increments, and promotions. After 3-4 years, with promotion to Grade A, the salary increases substantially.

RBI Grade B 2026 Application Form

The application process is completely online. Here’s what you need to know:

Before Filling the Form:

Required Documents (in scanned format):

• Recent passport-size photograph (JPEG, less than 50 KB)
• Signature (JPEG, less than 20 KB)
• Valid Email ID (active throughout the recruitment process)
• Valid mobile number
• Educational certificates (for reference)

Information Required:

• Personal details (Name, Father’s name, DOB, Gender)
• Contact details (Address, Email, Mobile)
• Educational qualifications with marks percentage
• Category and subcategory information
• Choice of exam centre
• Work experience details (if any)

Filling the Form:

The application form has multiple sections covering personal details, educational qualifications, communication details, upload of documents, and payment of fees. Fill each section carefully and verify before submitting. You cannot make changes after the final submission except in specific correction windows that RBI may provide.

Important: Keep a printout of the submitted application and payment receipt for future reference.

RBI Grade B 2026 Application Fees

The application fee structure is as follows:

For General and OBC (NCL) Candidates:

• Application Fee: ₹850/-

For SC/ST/PwBD/Women Candidates:

• Application Fee: ₹50/-

Payment Methods:

• Online payment through Debit Card/Credit Card/Net Banking
• The payment gateway is integrated with the application portal
• Keep the transaction ID safe for future reference
• Fee once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances

Bank Charges: Additional charges, if any, will be borne by the candidate

Make sure to complete the payment process within the stipulated deadline. Incomplete applications or applications without fee payment will be summarily rejected.

Steps to Apply for RBI Grade B Recruitment 2026

Follow these steps carefully to complete your application:

Step 1: Visit the Official Website, Go to www.rbi.org.in and navigate to the ‘Opportunities@RBI’ section or click on the direct link provided in the notification.

Step 2: Registration, Click on “Apply Online” and register using your valid email ID and mobile number. You’ll receive a provisional registration number and password.

Step 3: Login, Use the registration number and password to login to the application portal.

Step 4: Fill Application Form Complete all sections of the application form including personal details, educational qualifications, work experience, and exam center preference. Double-check all information.

Step 5: Upload Documents Upload scanned photograph and signature as per specified dimensions and size. Ensure clarity and proper format.

Step 6: Payment of Fee Proceed to payment section and pay the application fee through online mode. Note down the transaction details.

Step 7: Submit Application Review the complete application form thoroughly. Once satisfied, click on final submit. You cannot make changes after final submission.

Step 8: Print Application Take a printout of the submitted application form and fee payment receipt. Keep them safely for future reference and interview.

Important Tips:

• Apply well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues
• Use a good internet connection
• Keep all required documents ready beforehand
• Don’t wait for the last date to apply

RBI Grade B 2026 Exam Preparation

Time Management:

Preparation Duration: Ideally, 4-6 months of dedicated preparation

Daily Study Hours: 6-8 hours for serious aspirants

Subject-wise Time Allocation:

• Economic & Social Issues: 30%
• Finance & Management: 25%
• English: 15%
• Quantitative Aptitude: 15%
• Reasoning: 10%
• Current Affairs: 5% daily

Study Strategy:

For Prelims:

• Build strong fundamentals in all four sections
• Practice sectional tests regularly
• Focus on speed and accuracy
• Solve previous year papers
• Take at least 20-25 full-length mock tests

For Mains:

• Deep study of Economic and Social Issues (most important)
• For Finance & Management, understand concepts thoroughly
• Improve descriptive writing skills
• Read newspapers daily (The Hindu, Indian Express)
• Follow economic magazines (Economic & Political Weekly)

For Interview:

• Stay updated with current affairs till the interview day
• Study RBI’s Annual Report thoroughly
• Read Monetary Policy reports
• Practice mock interviews
• Prepare your resume-based questions

Recommended Resources:

Books:

• Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
• Monetary Policy by RBI (official publications)
• Finance & Management standard textbooks
• Previous year question papers
• General Studies books for current affairs

Online Resources:

• RBI official website for reports and bulletins
• Economic Survey and Budget documents
• Online test series from reputed institutes
• YouTube channels for conceptual clarity

Important Tips:

1. Consistency is Key: Study daily without long breaks
2. Make Notes: Create short notes for revision
3. Current Affairs: Read newspapers and maintain monthly current affairs notes
4. Mock Tests: Analyze every mock test thoroughly, identify weak areas
5. Revision: Revise completed topics every week
6. Health: Maintain good health, sleep well, exercise
7. Stay Positive: Keep yourself motivated throughout the journey

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Starting preparation too late
• Ignoring descriptive paper preparation
• Not taking mock tests seriously
• Skipping current affairs
• Not analyzing mistakes
• Studying without planning
• Neglecting interview preparation

RBI Grade B 2026 Exam Centres

RBI conducts the examination at various centres across India to ensure accessibility for candidates from all regions.

Major Exam Cities:

North India: Delhi, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Dehradun, Shimla

South India: Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi

East India: Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Patna, Ranchi

West India: Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Nagpur, Bhopal

Central India: Indore, Raipur

The exact list of exam centres will be mentioned in the official notification. Typically, RBI offers 15-20 exam centre options across the country.

Centre Selection:

• You can choose your preferred exam centre while filling out the application form
• Choose centres wisely based on your convenience and travel options
• RBI reserves the right to allot any centre based on availability
• The allocated centre cannot be changed under normal circumstances
• The same centre is usually maintained for both Prelims and Mains

Exam Centre Allotment:

Your exam centre will be mentioned in your admit card, which is released 2-3 weeks before the exam. In case of any issues with the allocated centre, you may contact RBI’s helpdesk within the stipulated time mentioned in the notification.

The RBI Grade B exam is indeed challenging, but with dedicated preparation, strategic planning, and consistent effort, it’s definitely achievable. This position offers not just an excellent career but also an opportunity to serve the nation through India’s central banking institution.

Remember:

• Start your preparation early
• Stay consistent and disciplined
• Focus on understanding concepts, not just memorizing
• Practice regularly and analyze your performance
• Stay updated with current economic developments
• Take care of your physical and mental health

FAQs

1. What is the RBI Grade B exam?

RBI Grade B is a national-level exam conducted by the Reserve Bank of India to recruit officers directly as managers in the central bank. It’s one of the most prestigious banking exams in India.

2. What is the age limit for RBI Grade B?

For General and DEPR: 21-30 years. For DSIM: 21-32 years. Age relaxation available for reserved categories as per government norms.

3. What is the minimum educational qualification required?

General: Bachelor’s degree with 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwBD) DEPR: Master’s in Economics/Econometrics with 55% marks DSIM: Bachelor’s/Master’s in Statistics with 55% marks.

4. How many phases are there in the selection process?

Three phases:

• Phase I: Preliminary Exam (qualifying)
• Phase II: Mains Exam (merit-based)
• Phase III: Personal Interview

5. Is there negative marking?

Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in objective-type questions (both Prelims and Mains).

6. What is the starting salary of an RBI Grade B officer?

Approximately ₹65,000-75,000 per month (in-hand) with an annual CTC of around ₹10-12 lakhs, including all allowances.

7. What is the application fee?

General/OBC: ₹850 SC/ST/PwBD/Women: ₹50.

8. How many vacancies are released every year?

Typically, 150-300 vacancies across all categories. Exact numbers are announced in the notification.

19. Can I apply for multiple categories?

No, you can apply for only one category (General/DEPR/DSIM) based on your eligibility.

10. Are Prelims marks counted in the final merit?

No, Prelims are only qualifying. Final merit is based on Mains (310 marks) + Interview (50 marks) = 360 marks total.

11. Is the exam conducted in Hindi or English?

The exam is conducted in English only (except for the Hindi language paper in Mains, which is qualifying).

12. How much time should I dedicate to preparation?

Ideally, 4-6 months of dedicated preparation with 6-8 hours of daily study.

13. Can I change my exam centre after applying?

No, exam centres cannot be changed once allotted. Choose carefully while applying.

14. What happens after clearing the Prelims?

You become eligible to appear for the Mains exam, which is usually conducted 4-6 weeks after Prelims.

15. Is work experience required?

No, work experience is not mandatory. Fresh graduates can apply.

16. What is the probation period?

Selected candidates serve a probation period of 2 years.

17. Can I apply if I’m in my final year of graduation?

Check the official notification. Generally, you must have completed your degree before applying, but specific provisions may be mentioned.

18. How to download the RBI Grade B admit card?

Admit cards are released on the official RBI website 2-3 weeks before the exam. Download using your registration number and password.

19. What is the validity of the RBI Grade B selection?

Selection is valid for the current recruitment cycle only. There’s no waiting list or validity for future years.

20. Can I use a calculator in the exam?

No, calculators are not allowed. The system has an online calculator for calculation purposes.

21. What happens after final selection?

Selected candidates undergo training at the RBI Academy and are then posted at various RBI offices across India as Grade B officers.