Hello Dear Aspirants,
RBI Grade B Syllabus 2023: The syllabus for RBI Grade B Exam is similar to that of any other bank exam. There are four major sections that a candidate needs to prepare to ace the preliminary exam. These are Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language and General Awareness. The sections have a wide range of topics on which questions are based.
It is recommended that candidates must have a look at the syllabus & new exam pattern for the respective post they are going to appear in the RBI Grade B Officers exam 2023 and know about the weightage of each topic. In this article, we have discussed a detailed RBI Grade B Syllabus & Pattern for each post.
RBI Grade B Syllabus 2023
RBI has released a separate RBI Grade B exam pattern and RBI Grade B syllabus for all posts- General, DEPR & DSIM in the previous year notification. Candidates must look into the change in syllabus and exam pattern and prepare accordingly for RBI Grade B 2023 examination.
| Exam Conducting Body | Reserve Bank of India |
| Exam Name | RBI Grade B 2023 |
| Category | Syllabus |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Selection Process | Phase 1 (Objective) Phase 2 (Descriptive) Phase 3 (Interview) |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks (in objective type) |
| Language of Paper | English and Hindi |
| Official website | rbi.org.in |
RBI Grade B Exam Pattern 2023 for DR (General)
To appear for the RBI Grade B Exam, it is important for all the candidates to know the RBI Grade B Exam Pattern which has been discussed below for Prelims & Mains in detail.
RBI Grade B Prelims Exam Pattern
1. Prelims exam of RBI Grade B Officer 2023 is an online mode of examination having 4 sections in total.
2. The total marks allotted for all the sections is 200 and the total time allotted for the completion of the Preliminary exam is 120 minutes.
3. A separate time will be allotted for each test and further details will be provided with an information handout which is to be released with admit card.
4. Candidates have to secure minimum marks separately for each test as well as in aggregate.
5. There will be a negative marking of ¼th mark for each incorrect answer.
| S No. | Section Asked | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1. | General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 minutes |
| 2. | Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| 3. | English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| 4. | Reasoning | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| – | Total | 200 | 200 | 120 Minutes |
Note- The above RBI Grade B Prelims Pattern is as per the last year’s Information Handout.
RBI Grade B Phase 1 Syllabus for DR (General)
The preliminary examination of RBI Grade B exam 2023 will comprise of Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language and General Awareness. Here is the detailed RBI Grade B Prelims syllabus:
| Reasoning | Quantitative Ability | English Language | General Awareness |
| Logical Reasoning | Simplification | Reading Comprehension | Current Affairs |
| Alphanumeric Series | Profit & Loss | Cloze Test | Indian Financial Systems |
| Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test | Mixtures & Allegations | Para jumbles | Indian Banking Systems |
| Data Sufficiency | Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices | Miscellaneous | Monetary Plans |
| Coded Inequalities | Work & Time | Fill in the blanks | National Institutions |
| Seating Arrangement | Time & Distance | Multiple Meaning /Error Spotting | Banking Terms |
| Puzzle | Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere | Paragraph Completion | |
| Tabulation | Data Interpretation | ||
| Syllogism | Ratio & Proportion, Percentage | ||
| Blood Relations | Number Systems | ||
| Input Output | Sequence & Series | ||
| Coding Decoding | Permutation, Combination &Probability |
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Exam Pattern for DR (General)
1. RBI Grade B Mains exam has total mark of 300.
2. The mains (Phase-II) examination for RBI Grade B Officers in Gr B (DR)- General consists of 3 papers (Paper-I +Paper-II +Paper-III).
3. Candidates are required to appear for all shifts.
4. Separate Admission Letters will be issued for each shift.
5. The Phase-II online Examination will be conducted only for the candidates who are shortlisted on the basis of results of Phase-I and based on the cut-off decided by the Board.
7. The Phase-II examination will be in shifts. Candidates are required to appear for all shifts.
| SNo. | Sections / Subjects | Paper Type | Maximum Marks | Duration (minutes) |
| 1. | Paper I: Economics and Social Issues | 50% Objective Type, 50% Descriptive (to be typed with the help of the keyboard) | 50 50Total-100 | 30 90Total-120 |
| 2. | Paper II: English (Writing Skills) | Descriptive (3 questions) | 100 | 90 minutes |
| 3. | Paper III: Finance and Management | 50% Objective Type 50% Descriptive | 50 50Total-100 | 30 90Total-120 |
For both Paper I and III, there will be 30 questions and 50 marks for Objective questions (some questions carrying 2 marks each and some carrying 1 mark each). In the case of Descriptive questions, 6 questions will be asked, of which candidates will be required to attempt 4 questions (2 of 15 marks each (with difficulty level) and 2 of 10 marks each). In case, the candidate answers more than 4 questions in descriptive, the first 4 shall be evaluated.
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Syllabus for DR (General)
The Mains Examination of RBI Grade B exam 2023 will constitute 3 sections: Economic & Social Issues, Finance and Management. The complete syllabus is discussed below:
| Subject | Syllabus |
| Paper 1- Economic & Social Issues | (1) Growth and Development 1. Measurement of growth- National Income and per capita income 2. Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India 3. Sustainable Development 4. Environmental issues (2) Indian Economy 1. Economic History of India 2. Changes in Industrial and Labour Policy 3. Monetary and Fiscal Policy since reforms of 1991 4. Priorities and recommendations of Economic Survey and Union Budget 5. Indian Money and Financial Markets: Linkages with the economy 6. Role of Indian banks and Reserve Bank in the development process 7. Public Finance 8. Political Economy 9. Industrial Developments in India 10. Indian Agriculture 11. Services sector in India (3) Globalization 1. Opening up of the Indian Economy 2. Balance of Payments 3. Export-Import Policy 4. International Economic Institutions 5. IMF and World Bank 6. WTO 7. Regional Economic Cooperation 8. International Economic Issues (4) Social Structure in India 1. Multiculturalism 2. Demographic Trends 3. Urbanisation and Migration 4. Gender Issues 5. Social Justice: Positive Discrimination in favour of the underprivileged 6. Social Movements 7. Indian Political System 8. Human Development 9. Social Sectors in India 10. Health and Education |
| Paper 2- English | To analyse the writing skills of the candidates including expression and understanding of the topic |
| Paper 3 (a) Finance | (1) Financial System 1. Regulators of Banks and Financial Institutions 2. Reserve Bank of India- functions and conduct of monetary policy 3. Banking System in India – Structure and concerns, Financial Institutions – SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB, etc, Changing landscape of banking sector. 4. Impact of the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-08 and the Indian response (2) Financial Markets 1. Primary and Secondary Markets (Forex, Money, Bond, Equity, etc.), functions, instruments, recent developments. (3) General Topics 1. Risk Management in Banking Sector 2. Basics of Derivatives 3. Global financial markets and International Banking – broad trends and latest developments. 4. Financial Inclusion 5. Alternate source of finance, private and social cost-benefit, Public-Private Partnership 6. Corporate Governance in Banking Sector, role of e-governance in addressing issues of corruption and inefficiency in the government sector. 7. The Union Budget – Concepts, approach and broad trends 8. Inflation: Definition, trends, estimates, consequences, and remedies (control): WPI, CPI – components and trends; striking a balance between inflation and growth through monetary and fiscal policies. 9. FinTech |
| Paper 3 (b)- Management | (1) Fundamentals of Management & Organizational Behaviour 1. Introduction to management 2. Evolution of management thought 3. Scientific, Administrative, Human Relations 4. Systems approach to management 5. Management functions and Managerial roles 6. Nudge theory 7. Meaning & concept of organizational behaviour 8. Personality: meaning, factors affecting personality, Big five model of personality 9. Concept of reinforcement 10. Perception: concept, perceptual errors 11. Motivation: Concept, importance 12. Content theories (Maslow’s need theory, Alderfers’ ERG theory, McCllelands’ theory of needs, Herzberg’s two-factor theory) 13. Process theories (Adams equity theory, Vrooms expectancy theory). 14. Leadership: Concept, Theories (Trait, Behavioural, Contingency, Charismatic, Transactional and Transformational Leadership 15. Emotional Intelligence: Concept, Importance, Dimensions. 16. Analysis of Interpersonal Relationship: Transactional Analysis, Johari Window 17. Conflict: Concept, Sources, Types, Management of Conflict 18. Organizational Change: Concept, Kurt Lewin Theory of Change 19. Organizational Development (OD): Organisational Change, Strategies for Change, Theories of Planned Change (Lewin’s change model, Action research model, Positive model). 2. Ethics at the Workplace and Corporate Governance 1. Meaning of ethics, why ethical problems occur in the business 2. Theories of ethics: Utilitarianism: weighing social cost and benefits, rights and duties, Justice and fairness, ethics of care, integrating utility, rights, justice and caring 3. An alternative to moral principles: virtue ethics, teleological theories, egoism theory, relativism theory 4. Moral issues in business: Ethics in Compliance, Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, etc 5. Ethical Principles in Business: introduction, Organization Structure and Ethics, Role of Board of Directors, Best Practices in Ethics Programme, Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, etc.Corporate Governance: Factors affecting 6. Corporate Governance; Mechanisms of Corporate Governance 7. Communication: Steps in the Communication Process; Communication Channels; Oral versus Written Communication; Verbal versus non-verbal Communication; upward, downward and lateral communication 8. Barriers to Communication 9. Role of Information Technology |
RBI Grade B Exam Pattern 2023 for DEPR
1. The selection of the candidates for RBI Grade B (DR)- DEPR will be done through Online/ Written Examination and Interview.
2. There are 3 papers for the Examination. Paper I Objective Type (on Economics) and Paper II & III will be descriptive type.
3. Candidates scoring minimum aggregate marks in Paper I, as prescribed, will be shortlisted for Paper-II/ Paper III of the examination based on the marks obtained in Paper-I.
4. Final selection will be on the basis of performance in Paper I, II & III and interview. The interview round shall be of 75 marks.
| Phase | Paper | Duration | Marks |
| Phase I (Objective) | Paper-I Economics | 120 minutes | 100 |
| Phase II (Descriptive) | Paper-II Economics | 180 minutes | 100 |
| Paper-III English | 90 minutes | 100 | |
| Total | – | – | 300 |
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Syllabus for DEPR
The syllabus for RBI Grade B (DR) DEPR is designed as per the job profile which includes primarily undertaking economic analysis and research and contributing to policy formulation, apart from a compilation of data relating to select sectors.
| Paper I: Economics Related | based on Master’s Degree examination in Economics |
| Paper-II: Economics Related | based on Master’s Degree examination in Economics |
| Paper III: English | The English paper will be framed to assess the candidates’ writing skills, expression, and understanding of the topic |
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Exam Pattern for DSIM
1. The selection of the candidates for RBI Grade B (DR)- DSIM will be done through Online/ Written Examination and Interview.
2. There are 3 papers for the Examination. Paper I Objective Type (on Statistics) and Paper II & III will be descriptive type.
3. Candidates scoring minimum aggregate marks in Paper I, as prescribed, will be shortlisted for Paper-II/ Paper III of the examination based on the marks obtained in Paper-I.
4. Final selection will be on the basis of performance in Paper I, II & III and interview. The interview round shall be of 75 marks.
| Phase | Paper | Duration | Marks |
| Phase I (Objective) | Paper-I Statistics | 120 minutes | 100 |
| Phase II (Descriptive) | Paper-II Statistics | 180 minutes | 100 |
| Paper-III English | 90 minutes | 100 | |
| Total | – | – | 300 |
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Syllabus for DSIM
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Syllabus for DR- DSIM has been discussed below for Paper 1, 2, and 3 as mentioned by RBI.
| Paper I: Statistics (Objective) | Probability 1. Definition of Probability 2. Standard distribution 3. Large and small sample theory 4. Analysis of Variance 5. Estimation 6. Testing of Hypotheses 7. Multivariate analysis 8. Stochastic Processes |
| Paper-II: Statistics (Descriptive) | 1. Probability and Sampling 2. Linear Models and Economic Statistics 3. Statistical Inference: Estimation, Testing of hypothesis and Non-parametric Test 4. Stochastic Processes 5. Multivariate analysis 6. Numerical Analysis and Basic Computer Techniques |
| Paper III: English (Descriptive) | The English paper will be framed to assess the candidates’ writing skills, expression, and understanding of the topic |
RBI Grade B Interview
The Interview will be of 75 marks for each post. Candidates will be shortlisted for the interview, based on an aggregate of marks obtained in Phase-II (Paper-I +Paper-II +Paper-III). The minimum aggregate cut off marks for being shortlisted for an Interview will be decided by the Board in relation to the number of vacancies. Roll No. of the candidates shortlisted for interview will be published on the RBI website at the appropriate time and interview call letters will be sent on registered email ID. Candidates may opt for an interview either in Hindi or English. Final Selection will be through merit list which will be prepared by adding marks secured by candidates in Phase-II examination and interview.
Besides the preliminary exam and the mains exam, an interview process is also conducted for candidates who qualify for the first two phases of the RBI Grade B Officer Exam.
The final merit list is made on the basis of marks obtained by a candidate in his/ her main exam and interview process.
RBI Grade B Syllabus 2023: FAQs
Q. Is there a negative marking in RBI Grade B?
Ans: Yes, there is a negative marking in objective-type questions of 1/4 of the marks assigned to that question.
Q 1. How many stages are there in RBI Grade B?
Ans: There are only three stages in the RBI Grade B examination process namely- Phase I, Phase II, and Interview
Q. What is the mode of RBI Grade B Exam?
Ans: Online Mode
Q. How many sections are there in RBI Grade B Phase I?
Ans. There are four sections in the RBI Grade B Phase I exam for General (DR) posts and for DSIM and DEPR posts there is only one section
