RBI Grade B is not a single-paper exam. For the General stream, the recruitment process moves through Phase 1, Phase 2, and Interview. Phase 1 is an objective screening stage with four subjects. Phase 2 is more specialized and tests Economic and Social Issues, English Writing Skills, and Finance and Management. The final selection is based on Phase 2 and Interview performance, not on Phase 1 marks.
For 2026, candidates should be careful about one thing: RBI had not issued a separate detailed 2026 Grade B General notification at the time this article was prepared. That means the latest officially available scheme for Officers in Grade B (DR)-General remains the most reliable basis for understanding the exam pattern and syllabus. Where the official appendix gives exact papers, marks, and topics, those are treated as confirmed. Where it only gives subject names, the article clearly identifies the practical topic areas candidates usually prepare.
This article is written mainly for the RBI Grade B General stream, because DEPR and DSIM have different papers and a different syllabus structure. If you are applying for DEPR or DSIM, do not assume the General stream syllabus applies in full.
Which RBI Grade B syllabus does this article cover?
This article primarily covers the syllabus and exam pattern for Officers in Grade B (DR) - General. That is the stream most candidates mean when they search for RBI Grade B syllabus.
RBI also recruits for DEPR and DSIM cadres, but those streams have different papers, different subject focus, and different selection structure. So if you are applying for DEPR or DSIM, use this article only for basic orientation and then verify the specialist syllabus separately.
For 2026, the safest approach is to rely on the latest official Grade B General scheme already published by RBI and treat any stream-specific change as pending until RBI issues a fresh notice.
RBI Grade B selection process for the General stream
The General stream selection process has three stages.
- Phase 1 Online Examination
- Phase 2 Online Examination
- Interview
Phase 1 is the screening stage. Candidates must clear both sectional and aggregate cut-offs to move to Phase 2. After that, candidates are shortlisted for Interview based on Phase 2 marks. For the General stream, the final merit list is prepared by combining Phase 2 marks and Interview marks.
| Stage | Nature | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Objective | Shortlisting for Phase 2 |
| Phase 2 | Objective plus descriptive | Core written assessment |
| Interview | Personality and suitability assessment | Final selection stage |
RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam pattern 2026
The official RBI scheme confirms that Phase 1 is a single online objective paper for 200 marks with a total duration of 120 minutes. It includes four tests: General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning. RBI also states that separate time is allotted for each test.
The section-wise breakup below follows the pattern used in recent RBI Grade B information handouts for the same scheme.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 minutes |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Candidates have to secure minimum marks separately in each test as well as in aggregate. Only those who clear the prescribed cut-offs are shortlisted for Phase 2.
Phase 1 syllabus: what RBI officially states and what candidates should prepare
RBI's official recruitment appendix names the four Phase 1 subjects, but it does not publish a detailed chapter-wise topic list inside the main General-stream syllabus appendix. So for Phase 1, the confirmed official part is the subject list, while the detailed topic areas below reflect the standard preparation scope followed by candidates.
- General Awareness: banking and financial awareness, RBI and monetary policy, current affairs, economy, government schemes, reports and indices, national and international developments, and static background relevant to finance and institutions
- English Language: reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, sentence correction, error spotting, para-jumbles, fill in the blanks, and usage-based questions
- Quantitative Aptitude: percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, time and work, time and distance, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, data interpretation, number series, simplification, and quadratic equations
- Reasoning Ability: seating arrangement, puzzles, syllogism, inequalities, coding-decoding, direction sense, blood relations, ranking, alphanumeric series, statement-based reasoning, and input-output
In practice, General Awareness carries the highest weight in Phase 1, so most serious candidates give it a large share of preparation time.
RBI Grade B Phase 2 exam pattern 2026
Phase 2 for the General stream consists of three papers carrying 300 marks in total. RBI's official scheme gives a clear paper-wise structure.
| Paper | Type | Duration | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Economic and Social Issues | 50 percent objective plus 50 percent descriptive | 30 minutes objective plus 90 minutes descriptive | 30 objective questions plus 6 descriptive questions with 4 to be attempted | 100 |
| Paper 2: English Writing Skills | Descriptive, typed on keyboard | 90 minutes | 3 questions | 100 |
| Paper 3: General Finance and Management | 50 percent objective plus 50 percent descriptive | 30 minutes objective plus 90 minutes descriptive | 30 objective questions plus 6 descriptive questions with 4 to be attempted | 100 |
| Total | Mixed format | Separate paper timings | - | 300 |
For Paper 1 and Paper 3, the objective portion has 30 questions for 50 marks. In the descriptive part, 6 questions are asked and candidates must attempt 4. The non-English papers are bilingual in Hindi and English.
Economic and Social Issues syllabus for Phase 2
The ESI paper is one of the two most content-heavy papers in Phase 2. RBI's official syllabus for this paper includes the following broad areas.
- Growth and Development: measurement of growth, national income, per capita income, poverty alleviation, employment generation, sustainable development, and environmental issues
- Indian Economy: economic history of India, industrial and labour policy changes, monetary and fiscal policy since 1991 reforms, Economic Survey, Union Budget, money and financial markets, role of banks and RBI, public finance, political economy, agriculture, industry, and services
- Globalization: opening up of the Indian economy, balance of payments, export-import policy, IMF, World Bank, WTO, regional economic cooperation, and international economic issues
- Social Structure in India: multiculturalism, demographic trends, urbanisation, migration, gender issues, and social justice
This paper requires both conceptual understanding and the ability to write structured answers on current economic and social developments.
English Writing Skills syllabus for Phase 2
RBI's official description for the English paper is brief but important. It states that the paper is framed to assess writing skills, including expression and understanding of the topic.
That means the paper is not a grammar drill like many Phase 1 English sections. It is a descriptive writing paper that tests how clearly, logically, and correctly you can communicate in written English under exam conditions.
Candidates should prepare for structured writing tasks, focus on clarity of argument, paragraphing, coherence, and precise use of language. The exact question mix may vary, but the core skill being tested is formal written expression.
Finance and Management syllabus for Phase 2
The General Finance and Management paper is divided into Finance topics and Management topics. RBI's official syllabus is quite detailed here.
| Area | Main topics |
|---|---|
| Financial System | Structure and functions of financial institutions, functions of RBI, Indian banking system, SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB, NaBFID, global financial system developments, role of information technology, non-banking system, and digital payments |
| Financial Markets | Primary and secondary markets, forex, money market, bond market, equity market, instruments, functions, and recent developments |
| General Finance Topics | Financial risk management, derivatives basics, global financial markets, international banking trends, financial inclusion, alternate sources of finance, PPP, corporate governance in banking, Union Budget concepts, accounting basics, financial statements, ratio analysis, inflation, WPI, CPI, and policy balance between growth and inflation |
| Management | Fundamentals of management, organisational behaviour, personality, perception, motivation, leadership theories, emotional intelligence, interpersonal relations, conflict management, organisational change, ethics at the workplace, corporate governance, and communication |
This paper usually rewards candidates who can connect theory with practical banking, finance, regulation, and management issues.
Interview, qualifying rules and final merit
RBI shortlists candidates for Interview on the basis of the aggregate marks obtained in Phase 2. The Interview carries 75 marks.
Before the Interview, candidates are also required to undergo a personality assessment conducted by the Bank. RBI states that no marks are allotted for this assessment and it does not form part of the final selection criteria.
For the General stream, the final merit list is prepared by adding marks obtained in Phase 2 and Interview. This is an important point because many candidates assume Phase 1 contributes to final ranking. It does not. Phase 1 is used only for shortlisting to the next stage.
General stream vs DEPR and DSIM, and what is confirmed for 2026
If you are applying for the General stream, the pattern explained in this article is the relevant one. DEPR and DSIM are specialist streams and follow different paper structures. DEPR focuses on Economics at a higher specialist level, while DSIM focuses on Statistics and related analytical areas.
For 2026, candidates should separate confirmed and unconfirmed information carefully. The confirmed part is the latest officially available scheme for Grade B General recruitment. What remains unconfirmed until RBI publishes a fresh notice is whether any paper structure, sectional timing, or stream-specific operational detail will change for the next cycle.
So the sensible preparation approach for 2026 is this: prepare fully on the latest official General-stream syllabus and exam pattern, but check RBI's opportunities portal again when the new notification is released.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the subjects in RBI Grade B Phase 1?
Phase 1 for the General stream includes General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning.
What are the papers in RBI Grade B Phase 2?
Phase 2 for the General stream has three papers: Economic and Social Issues, English Writing Skills, and General Finance and Management.
Does Phase 1 count in the final RBI Grade B merit list?
No. For the General stream, Phase 1 is used for shortlisting only. Final merit is prepared from Phase 2 marks and Interview marks.
Is the RBI Grade B 2026 syllabus officially released?
A separate detailed 2026 notification was not identified at the time of writing, so candidates should use the latest officially available Grade B General scheme as the working reference until RBI releases a fresh notice.
How many marks does the RBI Grade B interview carry?
The interview carries 75 marks for the General stream.
Is the same RBI Grade B syllabus used for DEPR and DSIM?
No. DEPR and DSIM have different paper structures and specialist syllabi, so candidates should not rely only on the General-stream pattern.
Which Phase 2 paper has the most detailed syllabus in the official RBI appendix?
Economic and Social Issues and General Finance and Management both have detailed topic lists in the official appendix, while English Writing Skills is described more broadly as a test of writing skills, expression, and understanding.