The syllabus for the RBI Grade B exam differs from that of other bank exams. The RBI has previously released separate exam patterns and syllabi for all posts, including General, DEPR, and DSIM, in the official notification. The sections cover a wide range of topics from which questions are derived. It is advised that the interested candidates familiarise themselves with the syllabus for the specific post they are applying for in the RBI Grade B Officers exam. Additionally, understanding the weightage of each topic is important.
In this article, we will examine the RBI Grade B syllabus for the Preliminary and Main exams.
RBI Grade B: Syllabus Overview
Candidates must be aware of important details before preparing for the RBI Grade B Exam. This includes the mode of the exam, the type of questions, and the time duration.
RBI Grade B Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Summary
| Bank | Reserve Bank of India (RBI) |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | RBI Grade B 2025 |
| Vacancies | 120 |
| Type of Exam | General- Prelims, Mains and Interview DEPR/DSIM: Online/ Written Examination and Interview |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Selection Process | General- Prelims, Mains and InterviewDEPR/DSIM: Online/ Written Examination and Interview |
| Official website | www.rbi.org.in |
RBI Grade B Selection Process
The RBI Grade B selection process involves several stages. Each stage is designed to test different aspects of a candidate’s knowledge and skills. Each post has its own selection process, which is as follows:
- For RBI Grade B DR (General): Prelims, Mains and Interview
- For RBI Grade B- DEPR: Online/ Written Examination and Interview
- For RBI Grade B- DSIM: Online/ Written Examination and Interview
RBI Grade B Exam Syllabus for DR (General)
To appear for the RBI Grade B Exam, all candidates need to know the syllabus. They also need to understand the exam structure. Below are the syllabi and exam structures for both Prelims and Mains examinations
1. RBI Grade B Prelims Syllabus 2025 for DR (General)
The preliminary examination of the RBI Grade B exam comprises:
- Reasoning Ability
- Quantitative Aptitude
- English Language
- General Awareness.
Below is the RBI Grade B Prelims syllabus:
| Section Asked | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Reasoning | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
A. RBI Grade B Reasoning Syllabus
- Logical Reasoning
- Alphanumeric Series
- Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test
- Data Sufficiency
- Coded Inequalities
- Seating Arrangement
- Puzzle
- Tabulation
- Syllogism
- Blood Relations
- Input Output
- Coding Decoding
B. RBI Grade B Reasoning Syllabus
- Simplification
- Profit & Loss
- Mixtures & Alligations
- Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices
- Work & Time
- Time & Distance
- Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere
- Data Interpretation
- Ratio & Proportion, Percentage
- Number Systems
- Sequence & Series
- Permutation, Combination &Probability
C. RBI Grade B English Syllabus
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Para jumbles
- Miscellaneous
- Fill in the blanks
- Multiple Meaning /Error Spotting
- Paragraph Completion
D. RBI Grade B General Awareness Syllabus
- Current Affairs
- Indian Financial Systems
- Indian Banking Systems
- Monetary Plans
- National Institutions
- Banking Terms
2. RBI Grade B Mains Syllabus for DR (General)
Below is the RBI Grade B Mains syllabus for DR (General):
| Sections / Subjects | Paper Type | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: Economics and Social Issues | 50% Objective Type, 50% Descriptive (to be typed with the help of the keyboard) | 30 minutes 90 minutes Total: 120 minutes | 30 minutes 90 minutesTotal: 120 minutes |
| Paper II: English (Writing Skills) | Descriptive (3 questions) | 100 | 90 minutes |
| Paper III: Finance and Management | 50% Objective Type 50% Descriptive | 5050 Total: 100 | 30 minutes 90 minutes Total: 120 minutes |
The Mains Examination of the RBI Grade B exam comprises three sections:
- Economic & Social Issues
- Finance
- Management.
Below is the complete RBI Grade B Mains syllabus:
RBI Grade B Mains Syllabus for DR (General)
| Subject | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Paper 1: Economic & Social Issues | 1. Growth and Development ● Measurement of growth- National Income and per capita income ● Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India ● Sustainable Development ● Environmental issues 2. Indian Economy ● Economic History of India ● Changes in Industrial and Labour Policy ● Monetary and Fiscal Policy since the reforms of 1991 ● Priorities and recommendations of the Economic Survey and the 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 3. Globalisation ● Opening up of the Indian Economy ● Balance of Payments ● Export-Import Policy ● International Economic Institutions ● IMF and World Bank ● WTO ● Regional Economic Cooperation ● International Economic Issues 4. Social Structure in India ● Multiculturalism ● Demographic Trends ● Urbanisation and Migration ● Gender Issues ● Social Justice: Positive Discrimination in favour of the underprivileged ● Social Movements ● Indian Political System ● Human Development ● Social Sectors in India ● Health and Education |
| Paper 2: English | ● To analyse the writing skills of the candidates, including the expression and understanding of the topic |
| Paper 3: (a) Finance | 1. Financial System ● Regulators of Banks and Financial Institutions ● Reserve Bank of India- functions and conduct of monetary policy ● Banking System in India – Structure and Concerns, Financial Institutions – SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB, etc., Changing Landscape of the Banking Sector. ● Impact of the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-08 and the Indian response 2. Financial Markets ● Primary and Secondary Markets (Forex, Money, Bond, Equity, etc.), functions, instruments, and recent developments. 3. General Topics ● Risk Management in the Banking Sector ● 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 Role of e-Governance in Addressing Issues of Corruption and Inefficiency in the Government Sector. ● The Union Budget – Concepts, approach and broad trends ● 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. ● FinTech |
| Paper 3: (b) Management | 1. Fundamentals of Management & Organisational Behaviour ● Introduction to management ● Evolution of management thought ● Scientific, Administrative, Human Relations ● Systems approach to management ● Management functions and Managerial roles ● Nudge theory ● Meaning & concept of organisational behaviour ● Personality: meaning, factors affecting personality, Big ● Five models of personality ● Concept of reinforcement ● Perception: concept, perceptual errors ● Motivation: Concept, importance ● Content theories (Maslow’s need theory, Alderfer’s ERG theory, McClelland’s theory of needs, Herzberg’s two-factor theory) ● Process theories (Adams’ equity theory, Vroom’s 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 ● Organisational Change: Concept, Kurt Lewin’s Theory of Change ● Organisational Development (OD): Organisational Change, Strategies for Change, Theories of Planned Change (Lewin’s change model, Action research model, Positive model). 2. Ethics at the Workplace and Corporate Governance ● Meaning of ethics, why ethical problems occur in the 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, Organisation 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 Syllabus for DEPR
Below is the RBI Grade B exam pattern overview for DEPR:
| Phase | Paper | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I (Objective) | Paper-I Economics | 100 | 120 minutes |
| Paper – II English: Descriptive (To be typed with the help of the keyboard) | 100 | 120 minutes | |
| Phase II (Descriptive) | Paper-II Economics | 100 | 180 minutes |
| Paper-III English | 100 | 90 minutes | |
| Total | 400 | ||
The syllabus for the RBI Grade B (DR) DEPR is designed in accordance with the job profile. This role primarily involves undertaking economic analysis and research. It also includes contributing to policy formulation. Additionally, the job requires compiling data related to select sectors.
Below is the RBI Grade B exam syllabus for DEPR:
| RBI Grade B Syllabus for DEPR | |
|---|---|
| Paper I: Economics Related | based on the Master’s Degree examination in Economics |
| Paper-II: Economics Related | based on the Master’s Degree examination in Economics |
| Paper III: English | The English paper will be framed to assess the candidates’ writing skills, expression, and understanding of the topic. |
RBI Grade B Syllabus for DSIM
Below is the RBI Grade B exam pattern overview for DSIM:
| Phase | Paper | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I (Objective) | Paper-I Statistics | 100 | 120 minutes |
| Phase II (Descriptive) | Paper-II Statistics (Descriptive) | 100 | 180 minutes |
| Paper-III English (Descriptive) | 100 | 90 minutes | |
| Total | 300 | ||
Below is the RBI Grade B Syllabus for DR-DSIM for Papers 1, 2, and 3, as per the RBI guidelines:
| RBI Grade B Syllabus for DSIM | |
| Paper I: Statistics(Objective) | 1. Probability ● Definition of Probability ● Standard distribution ● Large and small sample theory ● Analysis of Variance ● Estimation ● Testing of Hypotheses ● Multivariate analysis ● Stochastic Processes |
| Paper-II: Statistics(Descriptive) | ● Probability and Sampling ● Linear Models and Economic Statistics ● Statistical Inference: Estimation, Testing of Hypotheses and Non-parametric Test ● Stochastic Processes ● Multivariate analysis ● Numerical Analysis and Basic Computer Techniques |
| Paper III: English(Descriptive) | ● The English paper will be framed to assess the candidates’ writing skills, expression, and understanding of the topic. |
RBI Grade B: Interview
The Interview will be worth 75 marks for each post: General, DEPR, and DSIM. Candidates will be shortlisted for the interview based on the total marks obtained in the Mains Exam. Candidates can choose to interview in either Hindi or English. The final selection will be determined through a merit list. This list will be prepared by adding the marks secured by candidates in the Phase-II examination and the interview.
Besides the preliminary exam and the main exam, there is also an interview process. This process is conducted for candidates who qualify for the first two phases of the RBI Grade B Officer Exam.
The final merit list is created based on the marks obtained by a candidate. This includes their performance in both the main exam and the interview process.
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the RBI Grade B syllabus is important for candidates preparing for this competitive exam. The selection process includes Prelims, Mains, and an interview. These stages assess various essential skills. With dedication and focus, aspirants can improve their chances of success in the RBI Grade B exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
The candidates have to qualify for three stages of the RBI Grade B Selection Process.
No, the RBI Grade B Syllabus is not the same for General & DEPR & DSIM.
The RBI Grade B Exam will be held in online mode.
RBI Grade B Exam is held once a year.
Yes, you can apply. There are no criteria for the % secured in Graduation.
