The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) successfully administered the NABARD Development Assistant Prelims Examination 2026 on February 21st, 2026. This recruitment drive aims to fill 162 Development Assistant vacancies across various offices nationwide. Aspirants who appeared for the test are eager to evaluate their performance through a comprehensive review of the exam structure, difficulty levels, and topic-wise weightage.
To help candidates gauge their performance and anticipate their outcomes, you can also check the NABARD Development Assistant Result 2026: Access Now! and evaluate qualifying benchmarks via the NABARD Development Assistant Expected Cut Off 2026: View Here links.
NABARD Development Assistant Exam Structure & Sections
The objective preliminary test features three core sections, structured systematically to test candidates under strict time constraints. The total duration of the examination is 60 minutes for 100 questions.
- English Language – 40 questions for 40 marks (20 minutes)
- Quantitative Aptitude – 30 questions for 30 marks (20 minutes)
- Reasoning Ability – 30 questions for 30 marks (20 minutes)
Shift Timings and Reporting Details
The examination was conducted across two shifts on February 21, 2026. The shift schedule is detailed below:
- Shift 1 – 9 am to 10 am (reporting time 8 am)
- Shift 2- 11:30 am to 12:30 pm (reporting time 10:30 am)
Overall Difficulty Level and Good Attempts
Feedback gathered from test-takers indicates that the overall difficulty level across both shifts was Easy to Moderate. Quantitative Aptitude posed a slightly higher challenge, categorized as Moderate.
| Sections | Shift 1 Difficulty Level | Shift 2 Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Moderate | Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
Candidates can review the estimated good attempts for Shift 1 below:
| Sections | No. of Questions | Shift 1 Good Attempts | Shift 2 Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 40 | 30-32 | - |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 22-24 | - |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 21-23 | - |
| Overall | 100 | 73-79 | - |
Section-Wise Topic Breakdown
Reasoning Ability
The Reasoning Ability section included standard puzzle formats along with core verbal and non-verbal reasoning topics:
- Box-based puzzles (7 boxes)
- Linear Seating (8 persons)
- Inequality (non-comma-based)
- Direction & Distance (2-3 linear)
- Pair Formation (Backwards & Forward)
- Number (Descending)
- Word Based
- Coding
- Alphabetical Series
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Inequality (non-comma-based) | 04 |
| Direction & Distance (2-3 linear) | 03 |
| Pair Formation (Backwards & Forward) | 01 |
| Number (Descending) | 01 |
| Word Based | 01 |
| Coding | 05 |
| Alphabetical Series | 05 |
Quantitative Aptitude
Quantitative Aptitude evaluated computational skills with simplification and arithmetic concepts dominating the paper.
- Missing Number
- Simplification/Approximation
- Data Interpretation (Table)
- Arithmetic
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Missing Number | 04-05 |
| Simplification/Approximation | 12 |
| Data Interpretation (Table) | 05 |
| Arithmetic | 10 |
English Language
The English section tested reading comprehension, grammar, and vocabulary usage.
- Reading Comprehension (Fishing)
- Spotting Errors
- Para Jumble (Story-based)
- Cloze Test
- Phrase Rearrangement
- Double Fillers
- Word Swap
- Sentence Arrangement
| Topics | No. of Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (Fishing) | 08-09 |
| Spotting Errors | 05 |
| Para Jumble (Story-based) | 05 |
| Cloze Test | 05-06 |
| Phrase Rearrangement | 05 |
| Double Fillers | 05 |
| Word Swap | 05 |
| Sentence Arrangement | 05 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Recommended Reads
- NABARD Development Assistant Salary 2026: Structure, Pay Scale & Perks
- NABARD Development Assistant Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026: Complete Guide
- NABARD Development Assistant Cut Off 2026: Expected & Previous Years Data
- NABARD Development Assistant Prelims Result 2026: Check Shortlisted Candidates List
- NABARD Development Assistant Recruitment 2026: Notification, 162 Vacancies, Exam Date
- NABARD Grade A Score Card 2026 Released: Check Prelims & Mains Marks
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