Bank & RBI Exams — Syllabus

Timeline

Estimates are based on recent cycles: the 2025 cycle (notice Jul 2025) ran Phase I 18 Oct 2025, Phase II 6 Dec 2025, Phase II result 19 Jan 2026, interviews 10 Feb – 18 Mar 2026 and final result 24 Mar 2026, so interviews usually start 3–4 weeks after the Phase II result.

Selection process

1. Phase I · PreliminaryOnline objective, 200 marks · screening only, marks not counted in the final merit
2. Phase II · Mains3 papers, 300 marks (General) · counts for merit
3. Interview75 marks · final merit = Phase II + interview

Exam pattern · General stream

Phase I · Preliminary (objective)

Negative marking: 1/4 of the marks for each wrong answer · Sectional cut-off: yes, plus an overall cut-off (2024 General overall: 67.25) · Language: English and Hindi (English section in English only)

Phase II · Mains (3 papers)

Negative marking: 1/4 on objective parts only · Cut-off: minimum in each paper and in aggregate (2024 General Phase II: 173.5; final 226.75 of 375) · Language: Papers I and III in English or Hindi; Paper II English only · Interview: 75 marks

DEPR and DSIM streams (compact)

DEPR eligibility: Master's in Economics / Econometrics / Quantitative Economics / Mathematical Economics / Finance (55%, SC/ST/PwBD 50%) · DSIM eligibility: Master's in Statistics / Mathematical Statistics / Mathematical Economics / Econometrics / Statistics & Informatics / Applied Statistics / Data Science / AI-ML (55%), or a 4-year bachelor's in these areas with 60% · Both streams: interview 75 marks, same age rules as General · Negative marking: 1/4 on objective papers. DEPR/DSIM paper timings are as quoted by prep sites from the 2026 notice; check the official notification.

Detailed syllabus

How to prepare

• Phase I is only a filter, but the overall and sectional cut-offs are tight: aim to clear GA and Reasoning with a buffer, since they carry 140 of 200 marks.
• Reasoning gets 45 minutes for 60 questions; drill puzzles and seating daily using the Reasoning Aptitude notes on this site.
• Use the Calculation Practice page for speed in DI and simplification; Quant has only 25 minutes for 30 questions.
• For GA, follow RBI press releases, the Monetary Policy Statement, the Annual Report and the Financial Stability Report; keep a 6-month current-affairs log.
• Start Phase II (ESI and F&M) in parallel with Phase I: the gap between Phase I and Phase II was only 6 weeks in 2026.
• For the descriptive parts, practise typing structured answers of 200–300 words to time; use the Verbal Ability notes to tighten grammar before Paper II essay and précis practice.
• Read the Economic Survey and Union Budget summaries for ESI, and RBI reports and circulars for Finance.
• For the interview, prepare your graduation subject, home state economy and current RBI policy debates.

Timeline

RBI does not recruit Grade A on a fixed yearly calendar. Before 2025, the last notice was in March 2022. The 2025 and 2026 notices came about 7 months apart, so the 2027 window above is a broad estimate.

Selection process

1. Rajbhasha · Paper I + Paper IIOnline objective (150) + descriptive (50) = 200 marks
2. Protocol & Security · Online testObjective, 200 marks
3. Interview35 marks for both posts · merit = written + interview (235)

Exam pattern

Assistant Manager (Rajbhasha) · Paper I (objective)

Assistant Manager (Rajbhasha) · Paper II (descriptive)

Assistant Manager (Protocol & Security) · Online test

Negative marking: 1/4 of the marks for each wrong answer on objective tests · Cut-off: minimum marks set by RBI for interview shortlisting · Language: English and Hindi (English section in English only) · Section splits are as quoted by Adda247 from recent notices; one site gives Protocol & Security as 50 marks per section, so check the official notice.

Legal Officer in Grade B (same notice)

Detailed syllabus

How to prepare

• Notices are irregular and the window is short (3 weeks to apply, about 5 weeks to the exam), so prepare the common sections before a notice appears.
• Reasoning and English follow bank PO level; use the Reasoning Aptitude and Verbal Ability notes on this site.
• For Rajbhasha, memorise the Official Language Act, Rules and constitutional articles, and practise 2–3 translation passages daily with banking terminology.
• For Protocol & Security, Professional Knowledge carries 75 of 200 marks; revise security SOPs, fire safety and IT security basics from your service experience.
• GA is weighted towards banking: read RBI press releases and the monetary policy statements.
• For the interview (35 marks), be ready to explain how your professional experience fits RBI's work.

Timeline

RBI Assistant has no fixed yearly slot: the previous notice was Sep 2023 (prelims Nov 2023, mains Dec 2023), then Feb 2026. The 2027 estimate is based only on that irregular gap. LPT and final-result windows are estimates based on the time taken from mains results in earlier cycles.

Selection process

1. PrelimsOnline objective, 100 marks · qualifying only
2. MainsOnline objective, 200 marks · counts for merit (state-wise, category-wise)
3. Language Proficiency TestOfficial language of the state · qualifying only, no interview

Exam pattern

Prelims

Negative marking: 1/4 of the marks for each wrong answer · Sectional cut-off: yes, plus overall; shortlisting is state-wise · Language: English and Hindi (English section in English only)

Mains

Negative marking: 1/4 of the marks for each wrong answer · Sectional cut-off: yes · Final merit: mains marks only, subject to passing the LPT

Detailed syllabus

How to prepare

• Prelims gives 20 minutes per section: build speed with the Calculation Practice page and the Aptitude Tables notes.
• Use the Quant and Reasoning Aptitude notes for arithmetic and puzzle drills; mains puzzles are harder than prelims.
• The Verbal Ability notes cover grammar and vocabulary for both English sections.
• GA and Computer Knowledge are 80 of 200 mains marks and are scoring: keep a 6-month current-affairs file with an RBI focus and revise computer basics weekly.
• Merit is state-wise; check your chosen office's vacancies and past cut-offs, and be fluent in its local language for the LPT.
• Start mains preparation along with prelims: the gap was under 2 months in 2026.

Timeline

Selection process

1. Phase I · Prelims100 marks online objective · qualifying only; about 10× vacancies (category-wise) shortlisted on aggregate, no sectional cut-off
2. Phase II · Mains200 objective + 30 descriptive = 230 marks · sectional and aggregate cut-offs · about 3× vacancies shortlisted · counts for merit
3. Phase III · Psychometric TestPersonality profiling; no marks, findings go to the interview panel
4. Phase III · Group Exercise + Interview20 + 30 = 50 marks · counts for merit
5. Final meritMains (230) scaled to 75 + GE & Interview (50) scaled to 25 = 100. Prelims marks are not added

Exam pattern

Phase I · Prelims (1 hour)

Negative marking: 1/4 of the question's marks per wrong answer · Sectional cut-off: none in Prelims (aggregate merit only) · Sectional timing: yes · Language: English and Hindi (English section in English)

Phase II · Mains, objective (3 hours) — 2026 pattern

Phase II · Mains, descriptive (typed on computer, right after the objective test)

Negative marking: 1/4 per wrong answer in objective tests · Sectional cut-off: yes, in each of Tests I–IV and the descriptive paper, plus a minimum aggregate · Changes in 2026 vs the Dec 2024 advt: objective tests unchanged; descriptive cut from 50 to 30 marks and now set as 3 tasks with a choice in each (Mains total 230, was 250); attempt limits raised by 2 (UR/EWS 4 to 6, OBC/PwBD 7 to 9)

Phase III

Detailed syllabus

How to prepare

• Mains is the whole game: prelims marks are dropped and Mains carries 75% of final merit. Plan to reach Mains level by the prelims date, not after it.
• Build speed with the Calculation Practice page (squares, cubes, fractions to percentages, multiplication tricks) and the Aptitude notes (Quant) for arithmetic and DI.
• Do one high-level puzzle set every day; for Mains, add input-output and logical reasoning from the Aptitude notes (Reasoning).
• GA is now 60 questions: keep a 6-month banking and economy digest, revise RBI policy numbers every month, and read SBI press releases.
• English is 40 questions for only 20 marks in Mains, so give it the least time. Use the Verbal Ability notes for RC, error spotting and para jumbles.
• Descriptive: practise one email, one situation analysis and one précis every week, typed and timed to 30 minutes in total. Missing the sectional cut-off here eliminates you.
• Take full-length mocks in the new 170-question format with sectional timers; analyse each mock for section-wise accuracy.
• Phase III: prepare a banking-focused self-introduction, current banking topics for the group exercise, and keep your CIBIL clean (defaults bar appointment).

Timeline

Selection process

1. Phase I · Prelims100 marks online objective · qualifying only; about 10× vacancies shortlisted per state and category · no sectional cut-off
2. Phase II · Mains200 marks online objective · minimum aggregate (5% lower for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/XS) · sole basis of the state-wise merit list
3. Phase III · Local Language Proficiency Test50 marks · qualifying only; waived if the language was studied in Class 10 or 12
4. BonusSBI trained apprentices (engaged on or after 01.01.2022) get 5 of 200 marks (2.5%) added to their Mains score

Exam pattern

Phase I · Prelims (1 hour)

Negative marking: 1/4 per wrong answer · Sectional cut-off: none (sectional marks not maintained) · Language: English, Hindi and the state's regional language(s) listed in the advt (English section in English)

Phase II · Mains (2 hours 40 minutes)

Negative marking: 1/4 per wrong answer · Sectional cut-off: none, only a minimum aggregate decided by the Bank · Merit: Mains aggregate only; Prelims not added

Phase III · Local Language Proficiency Test (qualifying)

Minimum qualifying marks in each test are set by the Bank (5% relaxation for reserved categories). Failing it means no appointment.

Detailed syllabus

How to prepare

• Prelims is a speed test (20 minutes per section). Drill daily with the Calculation Practice page until simplification and series take under 30 seconds each.
• Use the Aptitude notes (Quant) for arithmetic and DI; clerk-level DI is short, so accuracy matters more than advanced tricks.
• Reasoning: practise 3–4 easy-to-moderate puzzles a day and master syllogism and inequality from the Aptitude notes (Reasoning); these are near-sure marks.
• English: the Verbal Ability notes cover RC, error spotting, fillers and para jumbles; read one editorial a day for vocabulary.
• Mains GA/Financial Awareness is 50 marks with no sectional cut-off, so it can decide your rank. Revise monthly current-affairs capsules and banking terms.
• Merit is state-wise: check your state's vacancy and past cut-offs before applying, and confirm you can clear its local language test or have the Class 10/12 marksheet.
• Take at least 15–20 full mocks with sectional timers before Mains; track attempts vs accuracy because of the 1/4 negative marking.

Timeline

Selection process

1. AM (System) · Online written testGeneral Aptitude (qualifying) + Professional Knowledge (100 marks, counts for merit) · no negative marking
2. AM (System) · Interview25 marks · qualifying marks set by the Bank
3. AM final meritWritten test 70% + interview 30%, after normalisation
4. DM (Systems) · Shortlisting + tiered interviewNo written test · interview 100 marks · merit on interview marks only

Exam pattern

Assistant Manager (System) · online written test (2024–25 advt)

Negative marking: none · Cut-off: minimum qualifying marks in the aptitude papers (can be waived) and a cut-off in Professional Knowledge to be called for interview · Language: English

Professional Knowledge paper (indicative split)

Detailed syllabus

How to prepare

• Professional Knowledge is the whole merit list (100 marks, no negative marking), so attempt every question and cover all four areas; Software Development and Infra Support make up two-thirds of the paper.
• Use this site's DSA, Java, Databases, Backend and System Design notes for the Software Development part: complexity tables, SQL, ACID, REST, design patterns and SOLID come up directly.
• OS and networking are classic GATE-style theory: revise scheduling, paging, deadlock, OSI/TCP-IP, subnetting and CIDR with short numerical practice.
• Aptitude is only qualifying but still has a cut-off: a few weeks with the Aptitude notes (Quant, Reasoning) and Verbal Ability notes at bank-PO-prelims level is enough.
• For the interview (30% weight), be ready to explain your final-year project, basic banking technology (core banking, UPI, cybersecurity in banks) and why SBI.
• Deputy Manager posts have no written test: shortlisting depends on relevant experience and certifications (cloud, CCNA/CCNP, CISSP/CISA, Oracle etc.), so build those.
• No fixed calendar exists for IT drives. Check SBI Careers current openings every few weeks; the application window is only about 3 weeks.

Timeline

Selection process

1. Phase I · PrelimsOnline objective test, 100 marks, 1 hour · qualifying only, with a cut-off for each section and a shortlist for Mains
2. Phase II · MainsObjective (200 marks) plus descriptive English (25 marks) · you must clear each test and the total cut-off · counts for merit
3. Personality testSelf-report test · non-qualifying, but you must take it to be allowed into the interview
4. Interview100 marks, run by the participating banks · minimum 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) · final merit is Mains and interview weighted 80:20
5. Provisional allotmentBank is allotted by merit and your bank preferences, against the vacancies the banks actually report

Exam pattern

Phase I · Prelims

Negative marking: 0.25 of the question's marks for each wrong answer; no penalty for a blank · Sectional cut-off: yes, each of the three sections must be cleared (set by IBPS) · Timing: each section separately timed · Language: English section in English; others in English and Hindi

Phase II · Mains (objective)

Negative marking: 0.25 of the question's marks for each wrong answer · Cut-off: minimum score in each test and a minimum total · Scores: normalised by the equi-percentile method if there are several sessions · Language: English section in English; others in English and Hindi · Total duration: 3 h 10 min including the descriptive paper

Phase II · Mains (descriptive)

Topics: broadly economic and social issues, new trends in banking and technology, current events and ethics · Evaluation: may be scored by an automated writing-proficiency mechanism (as per the 2026 notification)

Interview

Detailed syllabus

How to prepare

• Start with Prelims speed: all three sections are separately timed at 20 minutes, so drill simplification, series and quadratics daily on the Calculation Practice page and the Tables & Speed Tricks notes.
• Build arithmetic and DI from the Quantitative Aptitude notes; Mains DI (60 marks) decides most selections, so move to caselets and missing-data DI once the basics are solid.
• Do one puzzle or seating-arrangement set a day using the Logical Reasoning notes; Mains reasoning is 45 minutes for 60 marks and is mostly long puzzles.
• For English, use the Verbal Ability notes, read one editorial a day for RCs and vocabulary, and practise error spotting and cloze tests under time.
• General/Financial Awareness carries 60 marks with little calculation: keep a 6-month current affairs and RBI circular notebook and revise it weekly.
• Type one essay and one letter a week in 30 minutes; the descriptive paper is typed and may be machine-scored, so write clearly and stick to the word limit.
• Take full sectional mocks from July, and full Mains mocks once Prelims is over (the gap between Prelims and Mains is about six weeks).

Timeline

Selection process

1. Phase I · PrelimsOnline objective test, 100 marks, 1 hour · qualifying only, with a cut-off for each section
2. Phase II · MainsOnline objective test, 200 marks · merit is decided by Mains marks only (converted to a score out of 100)
3. Local Language Proficiency TestQualifying · waived if your Class 10 (or higher) marksheet shows you studied that language
4. Provisional allotmentState-wise merit plus your bank preferences · no interview

Exam pattern

Phase I · Prelims

Negative marking: 0.25 of the question's marks for each wrong answer; no penalty for a blank · Sectional cut-off: yes, each of the three sections must be cleared · Timing: each section separately timed · Language: English section in English; others in English, Hindi and the state's regional language(s) as listed in the notification

Phase II · Mains

Negative marking: 0.25 of the question's marks for each wrong answer · Cut-off: minimum score in each test and a minimum total, set state by state · Timing: each section separately timed · Language: English section in English; others in English, Hindi and the regional language(s) · Descriptive paper: none

Detailed syllabus

How to prepare

• Clerk is a speed exam: Prelims gives 20 minutes for 35 questions in quant and reasoning, so do a timed set of simplification, series and quadratics every day on the Calculation Practice page and the Tables & Speed Tricks notes.
• Use the Quantitative Aptitude notes for arithmetic and basic DI; Mains quant (50 marks, 35 minutes) is mostly arithmetic word problems and moderate DI.
• Reasoning carries the most Mains marks (60): practise easy-to-moderate puzzles from the Logical Reasoning notes until you can finish a set in 5–6 minutes.
• Work through the Verbal Ability notes for grammar and vocabulary; error spotting, fillers and cloze tests are the fastest scoring areas.
• General/Financial Awareness (50 marks in 20 minutes) is the best-scoring Mains section: revise current affairs and banking terms daily from Prelims onwards.
• Because vacancies and cut-offs are state-wise, check your state's vacancy count in Annexure I before choosing, and make sure you have the Class 10 local-language proof or are ready for the LLPT.
• If you are also taking IBPS PO, the Clerk Prelims (Oct) and Mains (Dec) come after PO Mains, so one plan covers both; add clerk-level speed mocks after PO Mains.

Timeline

Selection process

1. Phase I · PrelimsOnline objective, 125 marks · qualify in each of the four tests · qualifying only
2. Phase II · MainsOnline objective 200 marks + descriptive English 25 marks · only Professional Knowledge counts for merit; other tests are qualifying
3. Interview100 marks · minimum 40% (35% SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) · final merit = Mains 80 : Interview 20

Exam pattern

New for CRP SPL-XVI: Professional Knowledge now appears in Prelims too, and Mains adds English, Reasoning and Quant (qualifying) plus a descriptive English paper. Earlier cycles had a Mains of only Professional Knowledge (60 Q / 60 marks / 45 min).

Phase I · Prelims

Negative marking: 1/4 of the marks for that question · Sectional cut-off: must clear minimum in all four tests (set by IBPS) · Language: English test in English; others English and Hindi

Phase II · Mains

Negative marking: 1/4 per wrong answer (objective tests) · Sectional cut-off: minimum in every test; merit list on Professional Knowledge score only · Language: English and descriptive in English; others English and Hindi · Scores normalised (equi-percentile) if multiple sessions

Detailed syllabus

IBPS does not publish a topic list for Professional Knowledge; the IT list below is the standard syllabus published by prep providers and matches past papers.

How to prepare

• Professional Knowledge now decides both the Prelims cut (50 of 125 marks) and the entire Mains merit — spend at least half your study time on it.
• Go by weight: DBMS/SQL, networking, operating systems and data structures carry most of the questions. Use this site's Databases, DSA, System Design and Backend notes for revision.
• Build short notes of definitions, port numbers, OSI layer mappings, normal forms and scheduling formulas; many questions are one-line factual.
• For Reasoning and Quant, use the Aptitude notes (Quant, Reasoning, Tables) and the Calculation Practice page daily. At 20 minutes for 25 questions, speed matters.
• For English and the descriptive paper, use the Verbal Ability notes. Practise one essay and one letter a week, timed at 15 minutes each.
• Take sectional mocks with the new 4-section Prelims (80 min). Older SO mocks will not match this pattern.
• Prepare for the interview: your final-year project, basic banking-tech topics (CBS, UPI, cyber-fraud controls, RBI IT guidelines) and why you want to work in a public sector bank.

Timeline

Selection process

1. Phase I · PrelimsScale I and Office Assistant · 80 marks · must qualify in both tests · qualifying only
2. Phase II · Mains200 marks · minimum score in every test · Office Assistant merit is Mains only (no interview)
3. Interview (officers only)100 marks · minimum 40% (35% SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) · Scale I final merit = Mains 80 : Interview 20 · up to 3× vacancies called per state
4. Scale II / IIIA single online exam (no prelims), then an interview · weighted 80:20

Exam pattern

Phase I · Prelims (Officer Scale I and Office Assistant)

Negative marking: 1/4 of the marks for that question · Sectional cut-off: must qualify in both tests · Language: English, Hindi and the state's language (per the notification's state list). There is no English section in Prelims.

Phase II · Mains (Officer Scale I and Office Assistant)

Negative marking: 1/4 per wrong answer · Sectional cut-off: minimum in each test, plus a high enough total · Language: English test in English only, Hindi test in Hindi only; other tests in English/Hindi/state language · Computer Knowledge is 40 questions for 20 marks (half a mark each)

Single exam · Officer Scale II (General Banking) and Scale III

Scale II Specialist (IT, CA, Law, Treasury, Marketing, Agriculture): 240 Q / 200 marks / 150 min. Adds Professional Knowledge (40 Q, 40 marks, 30 min); Reasoning is 40 marks, Quant/DI 40, Financial Awareness 40, English/Hindi 20 and Computer 20. Negative marking 1/4.

Detailed syllabus

How to prepare

• Prelims has only Reasoning and Quant in 45 minutes, so speed is everything. Drill the Calculation Practice page and the Aptitude notes (Quant, Tables) every day.
• Use the Aptitude Reasoning notes for puzzles and seating. Aim to solve 3–4 puzzle sets a day, since puzzles make up most of the 40 Reasoning questions.
• In Mains, General Awareness is 40 marks in 15 minutes. Revise current affairs monthly and learn the RRB/NABARD and rural-banking topics that appear only in this exam.
• Computer Knowledge has 40 questions worth only 20 marks. Answer it fast and accurately, and don't over-invest time in it.
• Choose English or Hindi for Mains based on your stronger language. If you pick English, use the Verbal Ability notes for RC, cloze and error spotting.
• Apply for the state whose language you know: allotment is state-wise, and cut-offs vary a lot between states.
• Scale I aspirants should also prepare for the interview (rural banking, priority sector, your state's economy) — it counts for 20% of final merit.

Timeline

Selection process

1. Phase I · ScreeningTwo online objective papers of 100 marks each · qualifying only (30% in Paper 1, 40% in Paper 2, 40% aggregate)
2. Phase II · Main examPaper 1 English descriptive (1/3 weight) + Paper 2 stream paper (2/3 weight) · 30% / 40% per paper and 50% weighted aggregate · counts for merit
3. Phase III · InterviewAbout 3 candidates per vacancy called · final merit = 85% Phase II + 15% interview

Exam pattern

Phase I · Paper 1 (all streams)

Negative marking: 1/4 of the question's marks · Cut-off: 30% on the paper, no sectional cut-off · Language: Hindi and English, except the English test

Phase I · Paper 2 (stream paper)

Negative marking: 1/4 · Cut-off: 40% on Paper 2 and 40% aggregate · Phase I marks are used only for shortlisting and do not count in the final merit

Phase II · Paper 1 · English descriptive (all streams)

Typed on the keyboard, English only · Cut-off: 30% · Weight: 1/3 of the Phase II score

Phase II · Paper 2 (stream paper)

Negative marking: 1/4 on MCQs only · Cut-off: 40% on Paper 2 and 50% overall (Paper 1 × 1/3 + Paper 2 × 2/3) · Language: bilingual except the English paper

Interview

Detailed syllabus

How to prepare

• Phase I Paper 1 has 80 questions in 60 minutes with a low 30% cut-off, so the real filter is Paper 2 and the 40% aggregate: spend most of your time on the stream paper.
• General stream: the Paper 2 syllabus is the same in both phases, so study it once in depth. Start with Accountancy, Costing and Companies Act (these are numerical and static), then Finance and Economics, and keep monthly notes on SEBI and RBI circulars.
• IT stream: Phase II gives 180 minutes for 100 code-reading MCQs. Practise predicting output and spotting bugs in Java/C++/Python by hand. The DSA, Java, Databases and Backend notes on this site cover most of the syllabus, and you can pick up networking and shell basics alongside them.
• For Paper 1, use the Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability notes and the Calculation Practice page. Twenty questions per section in 60 minutes rewards accuracy more than speed.
• Practise typing: the English paper (essay, précis, comprehension) is typed in 60 minutes. Write one full set a week and time it.
• Phase II is about 6 weeks after Phase I, so finish the Phase II descriptive and stream preparation before Phase I and use the gap only for mocks and revision.
• For the interview (15% of final marks), prepare SEBI's structure and functions, recent market reforms (T+1 settlement, F&O curbs, SME IPOs, investor protection) and the subjects you studied, and link them to the stream you applied for.

Timeline

Selection process

1. Phase I · Prelims200 objective questions in 120 min · screening only; Mains shortlist (up to 25 per vacancy) is ranked on the 100-mark merit section
2. Phase II · MainsEnglish descriptive (100) + ESI & ARD objective and descriptive (100) · 200 marks, counts for merit
3. Phase III · Psychometric testOnline MCQ, 90 min · must be taken to be called for interview; no marks added
4. Phase IV · Interview50 marks · up to 3 per vacancy called · final merit = Mains (200) + Interview (50) = 250

Exam pattern

Phase I · Prelims (RDBS / Legal)

Negative marking: 1/4 of the question's marks · Sectional cut-off: yes, on every test; the 2025 UR cut-offs were low on the qualifying tests (1–6 marks) · Merit: Mains shortlist is based only on GA + ESI + ARD (100); 2025 cut-off for General discipline, UR: 54.50/100 · Language: Hindi and English, except the English test

Phase II · Mains (RDBS General)

Negative marking: 1/4 on objective questions · Cut-offs: on each paper and on the total; 2025 General UR: Paper I 60/100, Paper II objective 21.75/50, descriptive 29.25/50, total 135.25/200 · Final: 2025 General UR select-list cut-off 173.25/250 (Mains + Interview)

Other streams (brief)

Detailed syllabus

How to prepare

• ESI and ARD make up 80 of the 100 Prelims merit marks and the whole of Mains Paper II, so study them once for both stages, in depth, with descriptive answers in mind.
• For ARD, build short notes around the official syllabus headings (agronomy, soil and water, allied sectors, climate change, rural development schemes) and add current data from the Economic Survey, the Union Budget and NABARD's annual report.
• For ESI, cover poverty, inflation, employment, social justice and the IMF/World Bank/WTO, using the Economic Survey chapters and government scheme pages for current figures.
• The qualifying sections need only modest scores (2025 UR cut-offs were 1–6 marks), so revise with the Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability notes and the Calculation Practice page without over-investing. Try to finish the qualifying sections in about 45 minutes so that most of the 120 minutes goes to the 100 merit-section questions.
• Type one set of 15-mark and 10-mark ESI/ARD answers every week (introduction, data, schemes, way forward) and one full English paper (essay, précis, letter) in 90 minutes.
• Mains comes about 5 weeks after Prelims, so start descriptive practice before Prelims.
• For the interview, prepare NABARD's role (refinance, RIDF, supervision of RRBs and cooperatives, FPOs, SHG-bank linkage), your home state's agriculture profile and your graduation subject.