NABARD Development Assistant Exam Analysis 2026: Prelims Shift 1 Difficulty & Good Attempts
Our NABARD Development Assistant Exam Analysis 2026 provides an expert review of the 21st February Prelims, featuring difficulty levels, projected good attempts, subject-specific insights, and shift timings. Assess your performance today to kickstart your Mains preparation.
The NABARD Development Assistant Exam Analysis 2026 is now available for the Prelims exam successfully held during the 1st shift on 21st February 2026 across various centers nationwide. Candidates can now evaluate their performance by reviewing overall difficulty trends, section-wise breakdown, and expected good attempts. This article offers a comprehensive breakdown to help you gauge your standing.
NABARD Development Assistant Exam Analysis 2026 Shift 1
This analysis reflects expert insights and direct student feedback. The NABARD DA Prelims consists of three key sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Numerical Ability. Across all exam centers, the difficulty level was largely easy to moderate, though some sections contained time-intensive problems where maintaining speed and precision was essential for success.
NABARD DA Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | NABARD Development Assistant Prelims 2026 |
| Conducting Body | National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development |
| NABARD Development Assistant Exam Date 2026 | 21 February 2026 |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Sections | Reasoning Ability, Numerical Ability, English Language |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 60 Minutes |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks per wrong answer |
NABARD DA Shift 1 Exam Difficulty Level and Good Attempts
Find the detailed breakdown of difficulty levels and expected good attempts below:
| Section | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | Easy to Moderate | 21-23 |
| Numerical Ability | Moderate | 22-24 |
| English Language | Easy to Moderate | 30-32 |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate | 73-79 |
NABARD Development Assistant Exam Analysis Shift 1 (Subject-Wise)
Candidates noted that effective time management was vital. Given the high competitive cut-offs of previous years, aspirants need to maximize their attempts within the strict 20-minute sectional limits. View the detailed subject-wise analysis of the NABARD Development Assistant exam below:
NABARD DA Prelims Reasoning Ability Analysis
The Reasoning section remained straightforward with no unexpected changes in pattern. Review the specific questions asked by referencing the table provided below.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
| Box-Based Puzzle (7 Boxes) | 4-5 Qs |
| Linear Seating (8 persons) | 5 Qs |
| Inequality (Easy) (Straight -non comma) | 4 Qs |
| Direction – Distance Based (2-3 liner) | 3 Qs |
| Pair Formation (Backwards/Forward) | 1 Q |
| Number in descending order (Position remains unchanged) | 1 Q |
| Meaningful Word (Schoolmaster) | 1 Q |
| Coding (Chinese coding) | 5 Qs |
| Alphanumeric series | 5 Qs |
NABARD DA Prelims Numerical Ability Analysis
Key questions featured in the arithmetic sections included:
- Partnership
- Profit and Loss
- Boat & streams
- Speed, Time & Distance
- Mensuration
- Simple Interest and Compound Interest
- Time and Work
Access the full breakdown of Simplification, Data Interpretation, and Arithmetic questions here:
| Topics | Number of Questions |
| Simplification (Easy) | 12 Qs |
| DI (Table) (TV and Mobile) | 5 Qs |
| Arithmetic | 10 Qs |
| Missing Number series | 4-5 Qs |
NABARD DA Prelim English Language Analysis 2026
Explore the English language section questions here. This section contains 40 questions and is considered the most scoring area. Our mentors suggest that a good attempt for this section is approximately 33 questions.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
| Reading Comprehension (Narrative) | 8-9 Qs |
| Parajumble (Story based) | 5 Qs |
| Word Swap | 5 Qs |
| Error Detection | 5 Qs |
| Cloze Test | 5-6 Qs |
| Phrase Replacement | 5 Qs |
| Double Filler | 5 Qs |
| Sentence Rearrangement | 5 Qs |
| Starter | 1 Q |
Attempt NABARD Development Assistant Mains Mock Test 2026 Now!
NABARD Development Assistant Shift Timings
To accommodate the high volume of applicants, the exam was conducted across multiple shifts. See the shift timing details below:
| Shift | Reporting Time | Exam Start Time | Exam End Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| 2 | 10:30 AM | 11:30 AM | 12:30 PM |
What’s Next after NABARD DA Prelims Exam 2026?
Successful candidates in the NABARD DA Prelims will qualify for the Mains examination, currently scheduled for 12th April 2026. Final recruitment is determined by Mains performance, followed by the mandatory Language Proficiency Test.
Watch NABARD DA Prelims Exam Analysis 2026 Here
FAQs
The exam took place on 21st February 2026.
The exam has a total duration of 60 minutes, with a strictly enforced 20-minute sectional timing for each subject.
Yes, a negative marking scheme is applicable, with 0.25 marks deducted for every incorrect response.
The Prelims paper consists of three sections: Reasoning Ability, Numerical Ability, and English Language.