The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducts the prestigious RBI Grade B Officer exam annually to recruit qualified graduates for Grade B (General/DEPR/DSIM) positions. The official notification for RBI Grade B Recruitment 2026 has been released, confirming 60 vacancies. With the online application window now closed, approximately 62,000 candidates are set to compete for these coveted roles.
About RBI Grade B Exam
The RBI Grade B exam is highly esteemed, offering a unique opportunity to build a career within India’s central banking institution. As a nationwide competitive government exam, it assesses candidates through a rigorous three-phase selection process: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and a final Interview. The role provides a lucrative salary package and a prestigious professional trajectory, making it one of the most competitive banking exams in India.
RBI Grade B Recruitment 2026- Summary
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has officially launched the recruitment drive for the 2026 session. This year, the board is filling 60 vacancies across the General, DEPR, and DSIM cadres.
| RBI Grade B 2026: Key Highlights | |
| Organisation | Reserve Bank of India (RBI) |
| Exam Name | RBI Grade B 2026 |
| Posts | Grade B (General/DEPR/DSIM) Officers |
| Vacancies | 60 |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Prelims Exam Dates | 13th and 14th June 2026 |
| Qualification | General: Graduation (60% marks) or Postgraduation (55%) DEPR/DSIM: Master’s in Economics/Statistics or related fields |
| Age Limit | 21 to 30 years |
| Selection Process |
|
| RBI Grade B Salary | Rs. 1,54,936/- (Gross Salary) |
| Job Location | Across India |
| Official website | https://www.rbi.org.in/ |
RBI Grade B Exam Date 2026 Out
The exam schedule for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 has been confirmed in the official notification. The RBI Grade B Prelims exam is officially scheduled for 13th and 14th June 2026.
| Posts | Exam Dates |
| Phase-I Grade 'B'- General | 13th June 2026 |
| Phase-I Grade 'B'- DEPR (Paper-I and II) / DSIM (Paper-I) | 14th June 2026 |
| Phase-II Grade 'B' - General | 25th July 2026 |
| Phase-II Grade 'B' DEPR (Paper-I and II) /DSIM (Paper-II and III) | 26th July 2026 |
RBI Grade B Admit Card 2026 Out- Click to Download
Important Dates for RBI Grade B Exam
Crucial timelines for the RBI Grade B 2026 exam were announced on 29th April 2026. The online application portal was active from 29th April through 20th May 2026 (6 PM).
| Events | Dates |
| Notification Release Date | 29th April 2026 |
| Apply Online Starts | 29th April 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 20th May 2026 (6 pm) |
| Application Fees Last Date | 20th May 2026 |
| Application Form Edit Window | 5th June 2026 (11:59 pm) |
| RBI Grade B Admit Card 2026 | 5th June 2026 |
| RBI Grade B Phase-I Exam | 13th & 14th June 2026 |
| RBI Grade B Phase-II Exam | 25th & 26th July 2026 |
RBI Grade B Vacancy 2026
The vacancy breakdown was published alongside the official notification. For the 2026 cycle, 60 total vacancies have been announced across various specialized posts, including:
- Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) - (General)
- Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) - DEPR (Department of Economic & Policy Research)
- Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) - DSIM (Department of Statistics & Information Management)
| Posts | Vacancies | UR | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
| Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) - (General) | 40 | 16 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 4 |
| Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) - DEPR | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) - DSIM | 10 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | -- |
| Total | 60 | 24 | 6 | 14 | 11 | 5 |
Preparing for RBI Grade B 2026? Share Your Details
RBI Grade B Vacancy Trend for the past 5 years
| Year | Vacancies |
| 2026 | 60 |
| 2025 | 120 |
| 2024 | 94 |
| 2023 | 291 |
| 2022 | 294 |
| 2021 | 322 |
- Is the RBI Grade B conducted every year?
Yes, the Reserve Bank of India typically holds this recruitment drive on an annual basis.- How many attempts are allowed in RBI Grade B?
General category candidates have 6 attempts. There is no limit for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD categories, provided they meet the age eligibility criteria.
Note- Following the latest update, the gross monthly salary for an RBI Grade B Officer has been revised to Rs. 1,54,936/-, up from the previous Rs. 1,50,000/-.
RBI Grade B 2026 Notification PDF
The official notification titled “Recruitment of Officers in Grade 'B' (Direct Recruit- DR) (On Probation-OP)- General/DEPR/DSIM Cadres - PY 2026” is available at www.rbi.org.in. Candidates can access the comprehensive PDF through the direct link provided below.
RBI Grade B Official Notification 2026 PDF (Detailed)- Click to Download
RBI Grade B Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the RBI Grade B 2026 exam, candidates must adhere to the formal RBI Grade B Eligibility Criteria regarding age and academic qualifications.
Educational Qualification (as on 01/04/2026)
The specific educational requirements for each post under the 2026 recruitment cycle are outlined below.
| RBI Grade B Educational Qualification | |
| Posts | Minimum Educational Qualifications |
| Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) - (General) | • Graduation in any discipline, or an equivalent technical/professional qualification, with a minimum of 60% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD). Alternatively, a Post-Graduation degree with at least 55% aggregate marks (pass marks for SC/ST/PwBD) across all semesters/years is required. Note: • Any full-time three-year degree course from a recognized institute (completed after Class 12th) or professional/technical qualifications deemed equivalent by the Government are acceptable for admission. • Candidates who have completed the Final Examination for Membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India are also eligible to apply. OR • Any full-time post-graduate course of at least two years' duration from a recognized University or Institute, or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Government, fulfills the educational requirement. |
| Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) - DEPR | • Essential: a. A Master's Degree in Economics, Econometrics, Quantitative Economics, Mathematical Economics, Finance, or an Integrated Economics course with at least 55% marks from a recognized university. OR b. PGDM or MBA in Finance with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks from a recognized Indian or foreign institution. OR c. A Master’s Degree in sub-categories of Economics (e.g., Agricultural, Business, Developmental, Applied Economics) with at least 55% aggregate marks. d. Candidates with research or teaching experience in Economics at a recognized university may receive an age relaxation of up to three years (excluding the probationary period). |
| Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) - DSIM | Essential: a. Master's Degree in Statistics, Mathematical Statistics, Mathematical Economics, Econometrics, or specialized degrees from IIT-Kharagpur/IIT-Bombay with at least 55% marks. OR b. Master's Degree in Mathematics with 55% marks and a one-year post-graduate diploma in Statistics from a reputable institute. OR c. M.Stat. degree from the Indian Statistical Institute with at least 55% aggregate marks. OR d. Post Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics (PGDBA) jointly offered by ISI Kolkata, IIT Kharagpur, and IIM Calcutta with at least 55% marks. |
Age Limit (as on 01/04/2026)
Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years of age as of the notification cutoff. Applicants must have been born between 2nd April 1996 and 1st April 2005. The upper age limit is relaxed to 32 years for M.Phil. holders and 34 years for Ph.D. holders.
Age Relaxation
Reserved category candidates are entitled to age relaxation as per established government guidelines and board regulations.
| RBI Grade B Age Limit Relaxation | |
| Category | Age relaxation |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| Physically Handicapped | 10 years |
| PH + OBC | 13 years |
| PH + SC/ST | 15 years |
- Which degree is best for RBI Grade B?
A graduation degree in any discipline is standard, though a Master's degree in Economics, Finance, or Econometrics is highly desirable.- Are final-year students eligible to apply for RBI Grade B Recruitment?
No, candidates currently in their final year of graduation are ineligible. The final graduation results must be declared on or before the official notification date.
Application Fees
The application fee is Rs. 850/- for General and OBC candidates, while SC/ST/PwD candidates are required to pay a reduced fee of Rs. 100/-.
| Category | Application Fee |
| General/OBC | Rs. 850/- + 18% GST |
| SC/ST/PWD | Rs. 100/- + 18% GST |
| Staff@RBI | Nil |
RBI Grade B Handwritten Declaration Format- Click to Check
RBI Grade B Online Coaching- Click to Join
Steps to Apply for RBI Grade B Recruitment 2026
Candidates must submit their applications via the official RBI website (www.rbi.org.in), ensuring all academic documents, proof of experience, and photographs are uploaded as required.
- Visit the official page of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) at https://www.rbi.org.in/.
- Scroll down and click on “Opportunities@RBI”, then a new page with url https://opportunities.rbi.org.in opens.
- Now click on “Current Vacancies” >> “Vacancies”.
- Search for “Direct Recruitment for the post of Officers in Grade ‘B’ (Direct Recruit-DR) (General/DEPR/DSIM) Streams- Panel Year 2026”.
- Now click on “Online Application” and start with the registration process by filling out the application.
- Afterwards, attach the required documents and pay the requisite application fee.
- Download and keep the application form safe for future reference.
Selection Process
The selection process consists of three distinct phases: Phase I (Prelims), Phase II (Mains), and a final Interview. The Prelims paper is objective-type, while the Mains examination features both objective and descriptive components.
- Phase-I exam- Preliminary
- Phase-II exam- Mains
- Interview process
Exam Pattern
Success in all three phases—Phase I, Phase II, and the Interview—is mandatory to secure an appointment as an RBI Grade B Officer. Below is the comprehensive exam pattern breakdown:
RBI Grade B Prelims Exam Pattern
The Prelims paper is worth 200 marks with a total duration of 120 minutes. Please note that sectional time limits are enforced for each subject within the exam.
| RBI Grade B 2026 Prelims Exam Pattern | |
| Subject Names | General Awareness |
| Quantitative Aptitude | |
| English Language | |
| Reasoning | |
| No. of Questions | 200 |
| Total Marks | 200 |
| Time Duration | 2 Hours |
Note:
While the total duration is 120 minutes, each test within the Prelims has a specific allotted time. Further details, including an information handout, will be made available to candidates along with their exam call letters.
RBI Grade B Mains Exam Pattern
The Phase II exam consists of three papers: Paper I is an objective-type test on Statistics, while Papers II and III are descriptive assessments.
| S No | Sections / Subjects | Paper Type | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration (minutes) |
| 1. | Paper I: Economics and Social Issues | 50% Objective Type | 30 | 100 | 30 minutes |
| 50% Descriptive | 06 (to be attempted-4) | 90 minutes | |||
| 2. | Paper II: English (Writing Skills) | Descriptive | 03 | 100 | 90 minutes |
| 3. | Paper III: Finance and Management | 50% Objective Type | 30 | 100 | 30 minutes |
| 50% Descriptive | 06 (to be attempted-4) | 90 minutes |
RBI Grade B Officer Interview Process
Shortlisting for the interview phase is based on the aggregate performance across Papers I, II, and III of the Phase II examination. The interview carries 50 marks.
- Is RBI grade B phase 1 Qualifying?
Yes, candidates have to secure minimum marks separately for each test as well as in aggregate. - Is the RBI Grade B Interview tough to crack?
RBI Grade B Interview is considered challenging, and candidates must have a strong command of subject knowledge.
RBI Grade B 2026 Syllabus
The RBI Grade B Syllabus for Prelims is generally consistent with major banking examinations, focusing on key quantitative and logical sections.
- Reasoning
- Quantitative Aptitude
- General Awareness and
- English Language
| RBI Grade B Exam Syllabus | |||
| English | Quantitative Aptitude | Reasoning | General Awareness |
| Grammar | Mensuration | Puzzles | Banking & Financial Awareness |
| Vocabulary | Time and Work | Seating Arrangement | Monetary Policies |
| Error Spotting | Average, Ratio, Percentages | Directions and Distance | Economic Terms |
| Comprehension | Speed, Distance and Time | Data Sufficiency | Current Affairs |
| Passage Making | Mixture and Allegations | Blood Relations | Financial & Economics News |
| Jumble Words | Permutation and Combination | Syllogism | Static GK |
| Fill in the Blanks | Data Interpretation | Coding-Decoding | Government Schemes, Agreements & Deals |
| Sentence Framing | Probability | Inequality | Banking terms, rates, processes |
Click to check RBI Grade B Syllabus 2026 (Prelims + Mains)
RBI Grade B Previous Year Question Papers- Download PDFs
RBI Grade B Salary Structure
The pay scale for an RBI Grade B Officer is Rs. 78450-4050(9)-114900-EB 4050(2)-123000-4650(4)- 141600 (16 years). Additional benefits including Dearness Allowance, HRA, and conveyance allowances are also provided.
Click Here to View RBI Grade B Salary, Allowances & Promotions
- Which pays more, SBI or RBI?
The RBI Grade B salary is significantly higher than the SBI PO salary. SBI PO's gross salary is around Rs. 94,000–Rs. 98,000 monthly, while a Grade B officer's is approximately Rs. 1,54,936/- per month.
Exam Preparation Tips
To maximize your score in the 2026 exam, focus on the latest exam patterns and syllabus updates. Utilizing mock tests and professional guidance will significantly improve your chances. Follow structured preparation strategies to ensure you are exam-ready.
- Take regular mock tests to understand the exam pattern and improve time management.
- Practice previous year's question papers to understand the difficulty level and pattern of the questions asked.
- Regularly revise the topics you have studied to ensure your efficiency when solving the questions from those topics.
- Stay updated with the latest news, especially in the economy, finance, and banking.
- For the English Descriptive Paper, practice essay writing, précis writing, and comprehension regularly.
RBI Grade B Exam Centre List 2026- Click to Check
RBI Grade B 2026 Cut Off
Cut-off marks are released phase-wise, beginning with Phase I. Comparing your performance against previous years' cut-offs is an effective way to gauge your selection prospects.
| RBI Grade-B Cut-Off 2025 for Phase-I Exam | |||||
| Section | General/UR | EWS | OBC | SC | ST |
| General Awareness | 24 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 16 |
| English Language | 9 | 6 | 7.50 | 6 | 6 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 9 | 6 | 7.50 | 6 | 6 |
| Reasoning | 18 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 12 |
| Total Score Aggregate | 77.50 | 64.75 | 69 | 65 | 64.75 |
RBI Grade B Cut Off Previous Year- Click Here
FAQs
The RBI Grade B Prelims exam is scheduled for 13th and 14th June 2026.
The application fee is Rs. 850/- for General/OBC candidates and Rs. 100/- for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Yes, there is a negative marking scheme in place, with 0.25 marks deducted for every incorrect answer in both the Prelims and Main examinations.
The starting basic monthly pay for Grade B Officers is Rs. 78,450/-.
No, final-year candidates cannot apply for the 2026 exam as they do not meet the educational and/or experience requirements at the time of the notification.
An RBI Grade B officer has the potential to climb the career ladder to reach the positions of Deputy Governor or Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
Both the UPSC Civil Services (IAS) and RBI Grade B exams are challenging; however, the UPSC IAS exam is widely considered more difficult due to its vast syllabus.
Yes, the RBI Grade B exam is considered highly difficult, particularly due to the specialized nature of the Economics and Finance papers in Phase II.
Also Read:
- RBI Grade B Admit Card 2026 Released: Download Prelims Call Letter @ rbi.org.in
- RBI Grade B Cut Off 2026: Check Previous Year Cut Off Marks & Trends
- RBI Grade B 2026 Preparation Strategy: A Comprehensive Guide to Success
- RBI Grade B Previous Year Question Papers PDF: Download Last 6 Years' Papers
- RBI Grade B Result 2026: Phase I Merit List & Official PDF Download
- RBI Grade B Salary 2026: Revised Pay Scale, In-Hand Salary & Perks
- RBI Grade B Syllabus 2026: Exam Pattern for Prelims, Mains & Interview
- RBI Grade B Handwritten Declaration Format 2026: Official Guidelines & Requirements
- RBI Grade B Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Qualification & Attempt Limits
- RBI Grade B Exam Centre List 2026: Official Prelims & Mains Exam Locations