RBI Grade B Syllabus 2026 (Prelims + Mains), Download PDF

RBI Grade B is the toughest banking exam in India with the highest perks. If you are planning to prepare for the RBI Grade B 2026 exam, you need to be aware of the detailed syllabus and exam structure, which is given below.

The RBI Grade B syllabus for DR (General) includes 4 subjects: English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness (Current Affairs + Banking focused) in the Phase 1 (Prelims) exam. The Phase 2 (Mains) exam consists of 3 papers: (i) Economics & Social Issues (ESI), (ii) Descriptive English (Writing), and (iii)Finance & Management (FM). 

RBI Grade B Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026

As the RBI Grade B Notification has been released with tentative exam dates, so candidates must begin to prepare for the exam. Candidates must be aware of the RBI Grade B  syllabus topics, pattern, mode of exam, type of questions, and the time duration. Check all important points below.

RBI Grade B 2026 Notification Out for 60 Vacancies- Click to Check

RBI Grade B Selection Process

There are three types of posts in the RBI Grade B exam. The RBI Grade B Exam selection process involves several stages, each 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 Psychometric Test, Interview
• For RBI Grade B- DEPR- Online/ Written Examination and Psychometric Test, Interview
• For RBI Grade B- DSIM- Online/ Written Examination and Psychometric Test, Interview

The detailed syllabus for all 3 posts is given below.

RBI Grade B Syllabus 2026 for DR (General)

To appear for the RBI Grade B Exam, all the candidates need to know the RBI Grade B syllabus and exam structure, which is discussed below for Prelims & Mains in detail. 

RBI Grade B Prelims Syllabus for DR (General)

The preliminary examination of the RBI Grade B exam 2026 will comprise Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language and General Awareness. Here is the detailed RBI Grade B Prelims syllabus:

RBI Grade B Reasoning Syllabus

1. Logical Reasoning
2. Alphanumeric Series
3. Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test
4. Data Sufficiency
5. Coded Inequalities
6. Seating Arrangement
7. Puzzle
8. Tabulation
9. Syllogism
10. Blood Relations
11. Input Output
12. Coding Decoding

RBI Grade B Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

1. Simplification
2. Profit & Loss
3. Mixtures & Alligations
4. Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices
5. Work & Time
6. Time & Distance
7. Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere
8. Data Interpretation
9. Ratio & Proportion, Percentage
10. Number Systems
11. Sequence & Series
12. Permutation, Combination &Probability

RBI Grade B English Syllabus

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Cloze Test
3. Para jumbles
4. Miscellaneous
5. Fill in the blanks
6. Multiple Meaning /Error Spotting
7. Paragraph Completion

RBI Grade B General Awareness Syllabus

1. Current Affairs
2. Indian Financial Systems
3. Indian Banking Systems
4. Monetary Plans
5. National Institutions
6. Banking Terms

RBI Grade B Mains Syllabus 2026 for DR (General)

Note- Wrong answers carry a negative marking of –0.25 for 1-mark questions and –0.50 for 2-mark questions. 

The Mains Examination of the RBI Grade B exam 2026 will constitute 3 sections: Economic & Social Issues, English, Finance and Management. The complete syllabus is discussed below:

Paper 1- RBI Grade B Economic & Social Issues (ESI) Syllabus

1.  Basic Economic Concepts

1. National Income Accounting
2. Schools of Economic Thought
3. Economic Growth and Development
4. Human Development
5. Sustainable Development

2.  Indian Economic Development (Historical Perspective)

1. Nature of Indian Economy, India’s Economy on the Eve of Independence
2. India 1947–1991: Macro Economy, India 1947–1991: Agriculture,
3. India 1947–1991: Industry, India 1947–1991: Services, India 1947–1991: External Sector,
4. Economic Reforms
5. Indian Economy Post-1991 – Macro Economy, Indian Economy Post-1991 – Agriculture,
6. Indian Economy Post-1991 – Industry, Indian Economy Post-1991 – Services, Indian Economy Post-1991 – External Sector

3. Public Finance and Macroeconomic Policies

1. Public Expenditure and Receipts
2. Public Debt
3. Fiscal Policy
4. Federal Finance,
5. Inflation
6. Indian Taxation System
7. Planning Period in India (Five-Year Plans)

4. Social and Development Issues

1. Poverty
2. Unemployment
3. Population Growth and Demographic Issues
4. Health, Education, Gender
5. Positive Discrimination
6. Multiculturalism,
7. Urbanisation and Migration

5. Banking, Institutions and Development

1. Key International Economic Institutions,
2. Role of Banks and RBI in the Development Process,
3. Rural Credit and Microfinance

Paper 2- English Syllabus

1.  Essay Writing

1. Economic and financial issues
2. Social or contemporary developments,
3. Governance and public policy
4. Technology and society
5. Environmental concerns
6. Ethical or abstract themes

2. Precis Writing

1. A long passage is given and candidates are required to condense it into a precis of about 170–180 words.
2. The precis must reflect the essence of the original passage without adding personal opinions.

3. Reading Comprehension (Descriptive Answers)

A passage is provided, followed by approximately five questions that require short, well-structured descriptive answers.

Paper 3- Finance and Management Syllabus

1. Banking & Financial System

1. Regulators of Banks and Financial Institutions
2. Reserve Bank of India- functions and conduct of monetary policy
3. Banking System in India – Structure and concerns, Financial Institutions – SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB, etc, Changing landscape of banking sector.
4. Impact of the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-08 and the Indian response

2.  Global Finance and Financial Developments

1. FinTech, Global Financial Markets and International Banking
2. Impact of Global Financial Crisis
3. Recent Developments in Digital Payments

3. Public Finance and Government Policies

1. Inflation
2. FDI, FPI and Disinvestment
3. GST, Indian Taxation System and Public Expenditure
4. FRBM Act and Finance Commission
5. Alternate Sources of Finance
6. PPP and Social Cost–Benefit

4.  Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis

1. Basics of Accounting
2. Preparation of Company Final Accounts
3. Cash Flow Statements
4. Ratio Analysis

5. Fundamentals of Management & Organisational Behaviour

1. Introduction to management
2. Evolution of management thought
3. Scientific, Administrative, Human Relations
4. Systems approach to management
5. Management functions and Managerial roles
6. Nudge theory
7. Meaning & concept of organisational behaviour
8. Personality: meaning, factors affecting personality, Big five model of personality
9. Concept of reinforcement
10. Perception: concept, perceptual errors
11. Motivation: Concept, importance
12. Content theories (Maslow’s need theory, Alderfer’s ERG theory, McCllelands’ theory of needs, Herzberg’s two-factor theory)
13. Process theories (Adams equity theory, Vroom's expectancy theory).
14. Leadership: Concept, Theories (Trait, Behavioural, Contingency, Charismatic, Transactional and Transformational Leadership
15. Emotional Intelligence: Concept, Importance, Dimensions.
16. Analysis of Interpersonal Relationship: Transactional Analysis, Johari Window
17. Conflict: Concept, Sources, Types, Management of Conflict
18. Organisational Change: Concept, Kurt Lewin's Theory of Change
19. Organisational Development (OD): Organisational Change, Strategies for Change, Theories of Planned Change (Lewin’s change model, Action research model, Positive model).

6. Leadership and Managerial Skills

1. Leadership, Authority and Power
2. Communication
3. Emotional Intelligence
4. Decision Making and MBO
5. Organisational Conflict

7. Organisational Development and Ethics

1. Organisational Change and Group
2. Organisational Development
3. Nudge Theory
4. Ethics
5. Corporate Governance

RBI Grade B Exam Pattern 2026- Click to Check

RBI Grade B DEPR Syllabus 2026

The syllabus for RBI Grade B (DR) DEPR is designed as per the job profile, which includes primarily undertaking economic analysis and research and contributing to policy formulation, apart from a compilation of data relating to select sectors. 

RBI Grade B DSIM Syllabus 2026

RBI Grade B Syllabus for DR- DSIM has been discussed below for Papers 1, 2, and 3 as mentioned by RBI. 

Paper I: Statistics Syllabus

Probability

1. Definition of Probability
2. Standard distribution
3. Large and small sample theory
4. Analysis of Variance
5. Estimation
6. Testing of Hypotheses
7. Multivariate analysis
8. Stochastic Processes

Paper-2: Statistics 

1. Probability and Sampling
2. Linear Models and Economic Statistics
3. Statistical Inference: Estimation, Testing of hypothesis and Non-parametric Test
4. Stochastic Processes
5. Multivariate analysis
6. Numerical Analysis and Basic Computer Techniques

Paper 3: English 

The English paper will be framed to assess the candidates’ writing skills, expression, and understanding of the topic

RBI Grade B Syllabus PDF Download

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mentioned the detailed exam pattern and syllabus in the previous notification PDF. Candidates can download the official syllabus PDF from the link below and start their preparation without any further delay.

RBI Grade B Syllabus PDF (Official)- Click to Download

RBI Grade B Interview Round

This is the final round of the selection process. In the interview round, they test your knowledge of finance and economics, along with your personality assessment, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Candidates need to appear for the Psychometric Test before the interview. It carries no marks but is part of the official selection process.

The Interview will be of 75 marks for each post (General, DEPR & DSIM). Candidates will be shortlisted for the interview based on an aggregate of marks obtained in the Mains Exam. Candidates may opt for an interview either in Hindi or English. The final Selection will be through a merit list, which will be prepared by adding marks secured by candidates in the Phase-II examination and interview.

Besides the preliminary exam and the main exam, an interview process is also conducted for candidates who qualify for the first two phases of the RBI Grade B Officer Exam.

The final merit list is made on the basis of marks obtained by a candidate in his/ her main exam and interview process.