The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) conducts the annual RBI Grade B Officer recruitment to select top-tier candidates for Grade B (General/DEPR/DSIM) positions. The official notification PDF for the 2026 recruitment drive has been released, confirming 60 vacancies for the Grade 'B' cadre. The application window is now closed, with approximately 62,000 candidates registered for this year's selection cycle.
About RBI Grade B Exam
The RBI Grade B exam is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious government banking exams in India. As the central banking institution, the RBI offers a highly competitive professional environment and an attractive salary package for successful candidates. The selection process involves a rigorous three-phase examination structure: Preliminary, Mains, and a final personal interview.
RBI Grade B Recruitment 2026- Summary
With the official notification now live, the Reserve Bank of India has initiated the 2026 recruitment cycle to fill 60 specialized vacancies across the General, DEPR, and DSIM cadres. Candidates are advised to keep track of all official updates regarding the selection timeline.
| 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 |
| Mains Exam Dates | 25th & 26th July 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 dates for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 have been officially announced. The RBI Grade B Prelims examination is scheduled to be held on 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 Prelims Result 2026 Out- Click to Check
Important Dates for RBI Grade B Exam
The detailed schedule for the RBI Grade B 2026 exam was published on 29th April 2026. The online application process remained active from 29th April through 20th May 2026 (closing at 6:00 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 Prelims Result 2026 | 25th June 2026 |
| RBI Grade B Mains Admit Card 2026 | July 2026 |
| RBI Grade B Phase-II Exam | 25th & 26th July 2026 |
RBI Grade B Vacancy 2026
The official notification specifies the breakdown of the 60 total vacancies. This year's recruitment encompasses 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 |
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 generally conducts this recruitment drive on an annual basis.- How many attempts are allowed in RBI Grade B?
General category candidates have 6 attempts. For SC/ST/OBC/PwBD categories, there is no limit on attempts, provided the candidate fulfills the age criteria.
Note- Per the latest RBI Grade B official guidelines, the gross salary has been revised to Rs. 1,54,936/-, an increase 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 for download at www.rbi.org.in. You can access the full PDF via the link below.
RBI Grade B Official Notification 2026 PDF (Detailed)- Click to Download
RBI Grade B Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must strictly adhere to the RBI Grade B Eligibility Criteria to qualify for the 2026 examination.
Educational Qualification (as on 01/04/2026)
The specific educational qualifications for each post under the 2026 recruitment drive are detailed below.
| RBI Grade B Educational Qualification | |
| Posts | Minimum Educational Qualifications |
| Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) - (General) | • Minimum 60% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD) in a Bachelor's degree, or a minimum of 55% marks (pass marks for SC/ST/PwBD) in a Master's degree/equivalent professional/technical qualification in aggregate across all years. Note: • Any three-year, full-time professional/technical graduation course recognized by the government is eligible. Equivalent qualifications approved by the government are also accepted for examination entry. • Candidates who have successfully cleared the Final Examination of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India are also eligible to apply. OR • Any two-year, full-time postgraduate course or government-recognized equivalent qualification is eligible for admission to the exam. |
| Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) - DEPR | • Essential: a. A Master's Degree in Economics, Econometrics, Quantitative Economics, Mathematical Economics, Integrated Economics, or Finance, with at least 55% aggregate marks from a recognized University/Institute. OR b. A PGDM or MBA in Finance, with a minimum of 55% aggregate marks from a recognized institution. OR c. A Master's Degree in any sub-discipline of Economics (e.g., Agricultural, Business, Developmental, Applied), with a minimum of 55% marks in aggregate from a recognized University/Institute. d. Candidates with research or teaching experience at a recognized institution may qualify for age relaxation up to a maximum of three years (probationary periods are excluded from this experience calculation). |
| Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) - DSIM | Essential: a. A Master's Degree in Statistics, Mathematical Statistics, Mathematical Economics, Econometrics, or specialized Statistics/Informatics degrees from IIT-Kharagpur or IIT-Bombay, with at least 55% aggregate marks. OR b. A Master's Degree in Mathematics (min. 55% marks) combined with a one-year postgraduate diploma in Statistics or a related subject from a reputable institute. OR c. An M.Stat. degree from the Indian Statistical Institute, with at least 55% aggregate marks. OR d. A Postgraduate Diploma in Business Analytics (PGDBA), jointly offered by ISI Kolkata, IIT Kharagpur, and IIM Calcutta, with at least 55% aggregate marks. |
Age Limit (as on 01/04/2026)
To be eligible for the 2026 exam, candidates must be between 21 and 30 years old. Specifically, candidates must have been born between April 2, 1996, and April 1, 2005. M.Phil. and PhD holders are eligible for higher upper-age limits of 32 and 34 years, respectively.
Age Relaxation
Candidates belonging to reserved categories are eligible for age relaxations as per government 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 or a master's degree in Economics, Finance, or Econometrics is ideal.- Are final-year students eligible to apply for RBI Grade B Recruitment?
No. Candidates must have their final semester results officially declared on or before the notification date.
Application Fees
The application fee is Rs. 850/- for General and OBC category candidates. For SC/ST/PWD category candidates, the fee is reduced to 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
Steps to Apply for RBI Grade B Recruitment 2026
Applications must be submitted online at www.rbi.org.in. Candidates should prepare all required educational documentation, experience proofs, and photograph/signature files prior to beginning the application process.
- 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 is a three-phase system consisting of Phase I (preliminary), Phase II (mains), and a final interview. While the Prelims are objective, the Mains examination incorporates both objective and descriptive components.
- Phase-I exam- Preliminary
- Phase-II exam- Mains
- Interview process
Exam Pattern
Candidates are required to clear all three phases to secure a Grade B officer position. Here is a detailed breakdown of the examination pattern structure.
RBI Grade B Prelims Exam Pattern
The Prelims consist of a single 200-mark paper. Candidates are provided with 120 minutes to complete the test, with specific time allotments for individual sections.
| 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:
A 120-minute time limit applies to the Prelims, with section-specific timings. An information handout detailing the exam structure will be provided to candidates alongside their official hall tickets.
RBI Grade B Mains Exam Pattern
The Mains exam consists of three papers. Paper I is objective (focused on Statistics), while Papers II and III are descriptive in nature.
| 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 final interview phase is based on the aggregate performance in Papers I, II, and III of the Mains exam. The interview is worth 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 aligns with standard bank exam formats, covering key sections essential for banking competitive exams.
- 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 official pay scale is Rs. 78,450-4050(9)-114,900-EB-4050(2)-123,000-4650(4)-141,600 (over 16 years). Additionally, officers receive allowances including DA, HRA, family, telephone, and conveyance.
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
Achieving a high score in the 2026 exam requires a comprehensive review of the current pattern and syllabus. Candidates are encouraged to utilize mock tests and professional coaching to optimize their preparation strategy.
- 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-offs are released separately for Phase I and Phase II once examination phases conclude. Candidates can gauge their performance by comparing their scores against these official benchmarks.
| 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 2026 Prelims are 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 of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer in both the Preliminary and Main examinations.
The starting basic pay scale for the Grade B post is Rs. 78,450/-.
No, candidates in their final year of graduation are not eligible to apply as the recruitment requires candidates to have their results declared.
An RBI Grade B officer can rise through the ranks to the position of Deputy Governor or Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
While both UPSC CSE (IAS Exam) and RBI exams are challenging, the UPSC civil services examination is generally considered more extensive in scope and difficulty.
Yes, RBI Grade B is often perceived as exceptionally difficult due to the specialized nature of its Phase 2 Economic and Finance syllabus.
Also Read:
- RBI Grade B General Awareness Questions (13 June 2026) - Prelims Memory-Based
- RBI Grade B Exam Analysis 2026 (13 June): Difficulty Level, Good Attempts & Questions
- RBI Grade B Exam Pattern 2026: Prelims & Mains Syllabus and Marking Scheme
- RBI Grade B Application 2026: Last Day to Apply Online, Register Now
- RBI Grade B Mains Admit Card 2026: Phase 2 Call Letter Download Link
- RBI Grade B Cut Off 2026: Expected Prelims & Mains Qualifying Marks
- RBI Grade B 2026 Preparation Strategy: A Comprehensive Guide to Success
- RBI Grade B Previous Year Question Papers PDF (Download Last 6 Years)
- RBI Grade B Result 2026 Declared: Download Prelims Merit List PDF at rbi.org.in
- RBI Grade B Salary 2026: Pay Scale, In-Hand Salary & Perks