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RBI Grade B Exam Pattern: The RBI Grade B Phase 2 Mains exam will be held on 6th and 7th December 2025, and shortlisted candidates must clearly understand the updated exam pattern. Phase II includes three papers: Economic and Social Issues, English (Writing Skills), and General Finance and Management.
Papers I and III have both objective and descriptive questions, with descriptive answers typed using a keyboard and an option to type in Hindi through Inscript or Remington (GAIL) layouts. Paper II is fully descriptive and tests English writing skills. In Papers I and III, the objective section carries 30 questions for 50 marks, while the descriptive section includes 6 questions, of which 4 must be attempted. The total marks for Phase II are 300, and all papers except English are bilingual. The Board may also make changes to the exam schedule if needed.
In this blog, we have provided the details of the RBI Grade B Phase 1 and Phase 2 exam pattern, along with the marking scheme and the selection process.
What is the RBI Grade B exam pattern?
The RBI Grade B exam pattern consists of three phases. Phase 1 is the preliminary exam and includes Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, and English. It has 200 questions for 200 marks, lasts 120 minutes, and has sectional timing. A penalty of 1/4th mark is applied for each wrong answer.
Phase 2 is the mains exam with three papers. Paper I and Paper III have both objective and descriptive questions, while Paper II is fully descriptive. Marks from Phase 2 are considered for the final merit list.
Phase 3 is the interview, which carries 75 marks. The final selection is based on the marks obtained in Phase 2 and the interview.
| Phase | Exam Details | Key Points |
|---|
Phase 1 (Preliminary) | Subjects: Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, English 200 questions / 200 marks
Duration: 120 minutes | Sectional timing
Negative marking: 1/4 per wrong answer |
Phase 2 (Mains) | Paper 1 & 3: Objective + Descriptive
Paper 2: Descriptive | Marks of all papers considered for final result |
Phase 3 (Interview) | 75 marks | Final selection based on Phase 2 marks + interview score |
RBI Grade B Selection Process
As per the RBI Grade B 2025 Notification, the selection process is being conducted to select the skilled professionals for General, DEPR, and DSIM roles. It starts with Phase-I, an online objective test on subjects like economics, statistics, reasoning, aptitude, and English.
Qualified candidates move to Phase-II, which includes descriptive and objective papers to test analytical, writing, and role-specific skills. Shortlisted candidates are then called for a personal interview to assess personality, communication, and problem-solving abilities. The final selection is based on Phase-II marks and interview performance.
| Stage | Cadre | Details |
|---|
| Phase-I (Online Objective Test) | General | Single paper covering General Awareness, English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning. |
| DEPR | Objective Economics paper + Descriptive English. |
| DSIM | Objective Statistics paper. |
| Shortlisting | Based on minimum marks and aggregate scores for Phase-II. |
| Phase-II (Online/Written – Objective & Descriptive) | General | Three papers: • Economic & Social Issues (ESI) – 50% objective + 50% descriptive • General Finance & Management (GFM) – 50% objective + 50% descriptive • English (Writing Skills) – descriptive only |
| DEPR | Two descriptive Economics papers. |
| DSIM | Descriptive Statistics + Descriptive English. |
| Shortlisting for Interview | Based on aggregate Phase-II marks. |
| Interview / Personality Assessment | All Cadres | 75 marks; can be taken in Hindi or English. Personality Assessment is mandatory but does not carry marks. |
| Final Selection | All Cadres | Merit list prepared using Phase-II marks + Interview marks + applicable grace marks. |
What is the RBI Grade B phase 1 exam pattern for (DR) General?
The RBI Grade B Phase 1 exam is a qualifying stage consisting of four sections Reasoning, General Awareness, English Language, and Quantitative Aptitude. This online, objective-type test includes 200 questions for 200 marks and is available in both Hindi and English (except the English section). The exam lasts 2 hours with sectional timing, carries a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer, and serves only as a qualifying stage. Candidates must clear both sectional and overall cut-offs to move to Phase 2. The table below provides a clear section-wise breakdown to help candidates prepare effectively and manage their exam time efficiently.
| Sections | Total Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|
| Reasoning | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 minutes |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Important Points:
- Online mode (computer-based)
- Objective-type MCQs
- Qualifying stage; marks not counted in final merit
- Bilingual exam (except English section)
- 200 questions for 200 marks
- 0.25 negative marking
- Total duration: 2 hours with sectional timing
- Sectional + overall cut-offs apply
What is the RBI Grade B phase 2 exam pattern for (DR) General?
The Phase 2 exam of the RBI Grade B recruitment is a key stage that checks a candidate's analytical ability, writing skills, and subject knowledge. It is held online and includes both objective questions answered on-screen and descriptive questions typed using a keyboard. The exam is bilingual in Hindi and English, except for the English descriptive paper, and carries a total of 300 marks.
Phase 2 has three papers Economic and Social Issues, English (Writing Skills), and General Finance and Management. Papers I and III follow a mix of objective and descriptive questions, and candidates can also type descriptive answers in Hindi using Inscript or Remington (GAIL) layouts.
Paper II is fully descriptive and tests English writing skills. In Papers I and III, the objective part includes 30 questions for 50 marks, while the descriptive part has 6 questions, out of which 4 must be attempted. Negative marking applies for objective questions, and the cut-off is decided based on the number of candidates shortlisted. All papers except English are bilingual, and the Board may change the exam schedule if required.
| Papers | Type of Test | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|
| Paper 1 – Economic and Social Issues | 50% Objective Test (30 objective questions)
50% Descriptive Test (6 descriptive questions out of which 4 need to be answered)
Hindi typing allowed (Inscript/Remington) | 50 marks
50 marks | 30 mins
90 mins |
| Paper 2 – English (Writing Skills) | Descriptive Test (3 questions) to be typed using keyboard | 100 marks | 90 mins |
| Paper 3 – Finance and Management | 50% Objective Test (30 objective questions)
50% Descriptive Test (6 descriptive questions out of which 4 need to be answered)
Hindi typing allowed (Inscript/Remington) | 50 marks
50 marks | 120 minutes |
Important Points:
- The exam is conducted online with both objective and descriptive questions.
- Descriptive answers must be typed using a keyboard.
- The exam is bilingual except for the English descriptive paper.
- Phase 2 carries a total of 300 marks.
- Cut-offs are set based on the number of candidates shortlisted.
- Wrong answers carry negative marking (0.25 for 1-mark questions, 0.50 for 2-mark questions).
- No penalty is applied for unanswered questions.
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What is the marking scheme for RBI Grade B exam?
The RBI Grade B selection process consists of three stages Phase 1, Phase 2, and the Interview each carrying different marks and importance. Phase 1 is a qualifying exam with 200 marks and includes a negative marking of 0.25 for each wrong answer. Phase 2 carries 300 marks, and negative marking applies only to objective questions. Marks from Phase 2 are counted toward the final merit. The final stage is the Interview, which carries 75 marks and is also included in the final selection. Together, Phase 2 and the Interview determine the final result.
| Exam Stage | Total Marks | Negative Marking | Final Weightage |
|---|
| Phase 1 | 200 | -0.25 per wrong answer | Qualifying Only |
| Phase 2 | 300 | -0.25 per wrong answer only for objective questions | Considered for final selection |
| Interview | 75 | - | Considered for final selection |
Download RBI Grade B 2024 AIR 1 Handwritten Notes
RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025
The RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025 outlines the topics candidates need to study for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the examination. A clear understanding of the syllabus, along with the RBI Grade B Officer Exam Pattern, is crucial for effective preparation and smart time management. Knowing how the syllabus aligns with the exam pattern helps aspirants structure their study plan better and focus on high-weightage areas. Candidates are advised to go through the complete syllabus and pattern carefully to boost their chances of success in the upcoming exam cycle. Click here to know the complete RBI Grade B Syllabus 2025 in detail.
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How is the RBI Grade B interview conducted?
The RBI Grade B interview is conducted for 75 marks and is the final stage of the selection process. Candidates are shortlisted for the interview based on their total marks in Phase II (Paper I + II + III). RBI decides the cut-off marks for shortlisting, depending on the number of vacancies. The list of shortlisted candidates is published on the official website, and interview call letters are sent to their registered email IDs. Candidates can choose to give the interview in Hindi or English. The final merit list is prepared by combining the marks of Phase II and the interview.
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RBI Grade B Exam Pattern - Key Takeaways
Here is a table summarizing the RBI Grade B Exam Pattern:
| Key Area | Important Highlights |
|---|
| Exam Stages | Three stages: Phase 1 (Prelims), Phase 2 (Mains), and Interview. |
| Phase 1 Pattern | 200 questions, 200 marks, 120 minutes with sectional timing; includes Reasoning, GA, English, QA. Qualifying in nature. |
| Negative Marking | Phase 1: 0.25 per wrong answer. Phase 2: Negative marking only for objective questions. |
| Phase 2 Structure | Three papers: ESI, English (Writing Skills), Finance & Management; total 300 marks. |
| Question Types in Phase 2 | Papers I & III: Objective + Descriptive; Paper II: Fully descriptive (English). |
| Typing Rules | Descriptive answers typed using keyboard; Hindi typing allowed in Papers I & III (Inscript/Remington). |
| Bilingual Availability | All papers are bilingual (Hindi/English) except the English descriptive paper. |
| Final Selection | Based on Phase 2 (300 marks) + Interview (75 marks). Phase 1 is not counted. |
| Interview Details | 75 marks; can be taken in Hindi or English; shortlisted based on Phase 2 marks. |
| Important Note | RBI may change the exam schedule if required. |
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