Dreaming of a prestigious career as a Grade B officer at the Reserve Bank of India? The RBI Grade B exam stands between you and that dream job. But passing it isn’t easy; it’s known for its rigorous selection process. That’s why understanding its exam pattern is the most important first step to getting your dream job.

 

Many aspirants find the multi-stage exam overwhelming. But if you break it down, it becomes much easier to handle.

 

In this article, we’ll walk you through the complete RBI Grade B 2025 exam pattern, covering all 3 phases, to help you prepare smartly and confidently.

RBI Grade B Selection Process

The RBI Grade B recruitment process includes 3 phases:

 

1. Phase 1: Prelims (Objective)
2. Phase 2: Mains (Objective + Descriptive)
3. Phase 3: Interview (The final stage)

 

Let’s explore each phase in detail.

RBI Grade B Phase 1 2025 Exam Pattern

RBI Grade B Phase 1 is the first step of the exam. It is an online examination, which is qualifying in nature. Here’s the breakdown of the RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam pattern:

• Mode: Online
• Type: Objective (MCQs)
• Total Questions: 200
• Total Marks: 200
• Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)
• Negative Marking: Yes, 0.25 marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
• Sectional Timing:
• Language: Bilingual (English and Hindi), except for the English Language section.

Here’s the subject-wise distribution:

 

RBI Grade B 2025 Phase 1 Pattern
Subject	Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
General Awareness	80	80	25 minutes
Reasoning Ability	60	60	45 minutes
English	30	30	25 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	30	30	25 minutes
Total	200	200	120 minutes

 

Important Note: General Awareness carries the highest weight, but you should not neglect Reasoning, English, and Quant, as you need to clear the sectional as well as overall cut off.

RBI Grade B Phase 2 2025 Exam Pattern

Candidates who clear Phase 1 are called for the RBI Grade B Phase 2 exam. Unlike Phase 1, Phase 2 marks contribute significantly to your final score. Phase 2 consists of 3 papers:

 

• Papers: 3
  • Paper 1: Economic & Social Issues (ESI)
  • Paper 2: Descriptive English
  • Paper 3: Finance & Management (FM)
• Mode: Online
• Type: Objective and Descriptive
  • ESI (Objective + Descriptive)
  • English Writing (Descriptive)
  • FM (Objective + Descriptive)
• Total Marks: 300 (100 marks for each paper)
• Language: Bilingual (English and Hindi). Except for the English test.

 

Here’s the paper-wise breakdown for the General (DR) post:

Paper 1: Economic and Social Issues (ESI)

• Type: 50% Objective, 50% Descriptive
• Marks: 100
  • Objective: 50 Marks
  • Descriptive: 50 Marks
• Questions: 30 + 4
  • Objective: 30 questions (10 questions of 1 marks and 20 questions of 2 marks)
  • Descriptive: 4 questions to be attempted out of 6 (2 questions of 15 marks each and 2 questions of 10 marks each)
• Total Duration: 120 minutes
  • Objective: 30 Minutes
  • Descriptive: 90 Minutes

Paper 2: Descriptive English (Writing Skills)

• Type: Descriptive
• Marks: 100
• Questions: 3 questions (Essay, Precis Writing, and Reading Comprehension)
• Total Duration: 90 minutes

Paper 3: Finance & Management (FM)

• Type: 50% Objective, 50% Descriptive
• Marks: 100
  • Objective: 50 Marks
  • Descriptive: 50 Marks
• Questions: 30 + 4
  • Objective: 30 questions (10 questions of 1 marks and 20 questions of 2 marks)
  • Descriptive: 4 questions to be attempted out of 6 (2 questions of 15 marks each and 2 questions of 10 marks each)
• Total Duration: 120 minutes
  • Objective: 30 Minutes
  • Descriptive: 90 Minutes

Important Note:

For the RBI Grade B Phase 2 Paper 1 & 3, if you attempt more than 4 descriptive questions, only the first 4 will be evaluated.

RBI Grade B Interview 2025 Exam Pattern

An interview is the final stage of the RBI Grade B selection process. This phase assesses your communication skills, personality, general awareness, and suitability for the role of manager in RBI.

• Mode: Offline
• Marks: 75
• Language: You can choose from Hindi or English for the interview.
• Psychometric Test: Before the interview, you need to complete a psychometric test, which carries no marks.

Final Selection

The final merit list for the RBI Grade B Officer position is created based on the aggregate marks obtained in Phase 2 (Papers 1,2, and 3) and the Interview (total 300 + 75 = 375 marks).

What Next?

• Know the Syllabus in Detail: Understanding the RBI Grade B exam pattern is just one part. Make sure to deeply understand the detailed syllabus for each Phase.
• Stay Updated with Current Affairs: Current affairs, especially related to the finance economy, banking, and government policies, are crucial for both Phases.
• Improve Your Typing Skills: For the descriptive questions in Phase 2, you need to type fast and accurately. Practicing a lot will help you achieve this.
• Analyze Previous Year Papers: Analyzing PYQs helps you understand the topic-wise question distribution, difficulty level, and high-weightage topics to prioritize in your preparation.
• Regular Practice: You must practice regularly, which also includes time-bound mock tests. Moreover, don’t forget to practice writing answers for descriptive questions.
• Prepare for the Interview: Work on your communication skills, be confident in your answers, and have knowledge of RBI functions and the current economic landscape.

Remember, the RBI Grade B exam is a marathon, not a sprint. By clearly understanding its pattern and combining it with smart, focused preparation, you’ll be on your way to achieving your dream of joining RBI.