The RBI Grade B Officer 2026 selection process consists of Phase I Prelims (200 marks), Phase II Mains (300 marks), and an Interview (75 marks). Phase I is qualifying in nature, whereas Phase II and Interview marks combined (375 total) determine the final merit list.
Phase I (Prelims) Exam Pattern - General
Phase I is an online objective examination divided into four timed sections. Candidates must clear both sectional and overall qualifying cut-offs to advance to Phase II.
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 minutes (sectional timing) |
| Reasoning Ability | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes (sectional timing) |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes (sectional timing) |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes (sectional timing) |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
This phase evaluates broad analytical skills, speed, and general awareness regarding economic developments. Marks obtained in Phase I are purely qualifying and are not counted towards the final merit list.
Negative marking: 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in Phase I. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
Phase II (Mains) Exam Pattern - General
Shortlisted candidates appear for Phase II Mains online, which includes a combination of objective and descriptive papers over three separate sessions.
| Paper | Type | Questions / Section Details | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: Economic & Social Issues (ESI) | Objective & Descriptive | 30 Objective questions (50 marks) 6 Descriptive (attempt 4: 2 of 15 marks, 2 of 10 marks) |
100 | 120 minutes (30 min objective, 90 min descriptive) |
| Paper II: English (Writing Skills) | Descriptive | Descriptive only (Essay, Precis, Reading Comprehension) | 100 | 90 minutes |
| Paper III: Finance & Management (FM) | Objective & Descriptive | 30 Objective questions (50 marks) 6 Descriptive (attempt 4: 2 of 15 marks, 2 of 10 marks) |
100 | 120 minutes (30 min objective, 90 min descriptive) |
| Total | Mixed | 3 Papers | 300 | 330 minutes total |
Phase II tests deep domain knowledge, core comprehension of financial systems, macroeconomics, and descriptive typing skills. All 300 marks from Phase II are considered for final merit calculation, with no sectional cut-offs, only an overall cut-off.
Descriptive answers for Paper I and Paper III must be typed using the keyboard on the online test system. Paper II tests typing efficiency alongside analytical writing.
Interview Stage
Candidates shortlisted based on aggregate Phase II performance are called for the Interview round. Before the interview, candidates undergo a personality assessment which carries no marks.
| Stage | Mode | Maximum Marks | Language Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | Offline / In-person | 75 marks (considered for final merit) | Hindi or English |
The interview assesses leadership qualities, domain clarity, communication abilities, and overall suitability for regulatory banking positions.
Marking & Normalization
Phase I features a negative marking system of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. Since Phase I may be conducted across multiple shifts or days, score normalization is applied to adjust for minor variations in difficulty level across sessions.
The final merit list is prepared strictly out of 375 aggregate marks (300 marks from Phase II Mains + 75 marks from the Interview). Phase I Prelims scores do not influence the final selection rank.
Pattern FAQs
Q1: Are Phase I Prelims marks included in the final RBI Grade B selection merit list?
No. Phase I is purely qualifying in nature. Final selection relies solely on aggregate performance in Phase II (300 marks) and the Interview (75 marks).
Q2: What is the negative marking penalty in RBI Grade B Phase I?
There is a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect objective answer in Phase I. No penalty is levied for unattempted questions.
Q3: How are the descriptive answers submitted in Phase II Mains?
For Phase II papers (ESI, English Writing Skills, and FM), descriptive answers must be directly typed into the computer using a keyboard during the examination.
Q4: Is there sectional timing in Phase I Prelims?
Yes. Each section in Phase I has strict sectional timings: General Awareness (25 mins), Reasoning (45 mins), English (25 mins), and Quantitative Aptitude (25 mins).