The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has officially released the Mains exam schedule for the RBI Grade B 2026 recruitment across General, DEPR, and DSIM posts. Access the complete exam timeline, selection process, pattern, and official notifications here.
RBI Grade B Exam 2026
The RBI Grade B examination is a premier regulatory career path in India, highly sought after for its competitive salary, rapid career advancement, and the prestige of serving the nation’s central bank. Conducted annually on a national scale, this recruitment invites eligible candidates from every State and Union Territory. Explore the essential recruitment highlights below.
| Particular | Details |
| Organisation |
Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
|
| Post |
Officers in Grade ‘B’ DR – General / DEPR / DSIM
|
| Total vacancies |
60 (General: 40, DEPR: 10, DSIM: 10)
|
| Exam level | National |
| Job location |
RBI offices across India
|
| Application Mode | online |
| Application dates |
29 April – 20 May 2026 (6 PM)
|
| Selection process |
Phase I (Prelims) → Phase II (Mains) → Interview
|
| Age limit |
21–30 years (as on 1 April 2026)
|
| Qualification (General) |
Graduation min. 60% or Post-graduation min. 55% (any discipline)
|
| Qualification (DEPR) |
Master’s in Economics or Finance, min. 55%
|
| Qualification (DSIM) |
Master’s in Statistics / Data Science / AI / ML or equivalent, min. 55%
|
| Number of attempts |
General: 6 · SC/ST/PwBD: No limit
|
| Probation period | 2 years |
| Exam frequency | Once a year |
| Official website |
www.rbi.org.in/www.opportunities.rbi.org.in
|
RBI Grade B Exam Date 2026 Out
According to the latest notification, the Phase 2 examination for General, DEPR, and DSIM streams is scheduled for July 25th and 26th, 2026. Successful candidates in the Phase 2 round will advance to the final selection stage: the personal Interview.
RBI Grade B 2026 Important Dates
With the full exam calendar now published by the RBI, candidates should carefully mark these critical dates to ensure they remain fully prepared for each stage of the recruitment process.
| Event | Date |
| RBI Grade B Notification 2026 | 29 April 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 29 April 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 20 May 2026 |
| RBI Grade B Admit Card 2026 | Released |
| Phase I exam (General) | 13 June 2026 |
| Phase I exam (DEPR/DSIM) | 14 June 2026 |
| Mains Admit Card | 15 July 2026 |
| Phase II exam (General) | 25 July 2026 |
| Phase II exam (DEPR/DSIM) | 26 July 2026 |
Post-wise Vacancy Details
| Post | GEN/UR | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | Total | PwBD A | PwBD C | PwBD D |
| Officers in Grade ‘B’ (DR) – General Cadre | 16 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 40 | – | 1 | 1 |
| Officers in Grade ‘B’ (DR) – DEPR Cadre | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 10 | – | – | – |
| Officers in Grade ‘B’ (DR) – DSIM Cadre | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | – | 10 | 1 | – | – |
| Total | 24 | 6 | 14 | 11 | 5 | 60 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Last 4 Years Vacancy Trend
The vacancy trend for the RBI Grade B recruitment has reflected a steady decline over the past five years. Following a peak in 2022, the 2026 recruitment cycle marks the lowest intake, highlighting a continuous tightening of available positions.
- 2026: 60
- 2025: 120
- 2024: 94
- 2023: 291
- 2022: 294
With fewer vacancies, aspirants should anticipate increased competition and potentially higher cut-off marks. We strongly advise all eligible candidates to submit their applications promptly and initiate their preparation strategy immediately.
RBI Grade B Notification 2026 PDF
The RBI Grade B Notification 2026 remains a top-tier career opportunity, featuring a lucrative starting gross salary of approximately Rs. 1.54 lakh per month. The selection process comprises Prelims, Mains, and a final Interview. Please refer to the official notification for comprehensive guidelines.
RBI Grade B 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Prospective RBI Grade B Officers must strictly meet the eligibility criteria. Candidates must be Indian citizens aged between 21 and 30 years and possess the educational qualifications specified in the official notification.
Age Limit (As on 1/4/2026)
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General /EWS | 21-30 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 21-33 years (+3 years) |
| SC / ST | 21-35 years (+5 years) |
| PwBD (General/EWS) | 21-40 years (+10 years) |
| PwBD (OBC) | 21-43 years (+13 years) |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 21-45 years (+15 years) |
Qualification
| Stream |
Required Qualification
|
| General |
Graduation with 60% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD). Post-graduation with 55% marks (pass marks for reserved categories). CA/CS/ICWA also eligible.
|
| DEPR |
Master’s Degree in Economics/Finance (Quantitative/Financial/Mathematical Economics, etc.) with 55% marks
OR
MBA/PGDM (Finance) with 55% marks OR Master’s in Economics (any specialization) with 55% marks Candidates with teaching/research experience may get up to 3 years age relaxation. |
| DSIM | Master’s in Statistics / Mathematical Statistics / Econometrics / Mathematical Economics with 55% marks OR Master’s in Mathematics + 1-year PG Diploma in Statistics OR M.Stat from Indian Statistical Institute with 55% marks OR PGDBA (ISI Kolkata, IIT Kharagpur, IIM Calcutta) with 55% marks. |
Number of Attempts
| Category |
Attempts Allowed
|
| General/EWS |
Maximum 6 attempts
|
| SC/ST/OBC/PwBD |
No limit (subject to upper age limit)
|
Nationality
Applicants must satisfy the following requirements:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962, or
- A person of Indian origin who migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.
RBI Grade B Selection Process
The multi-stage selection process is structured as follows:
| Stage | Mode of Exam | Nature | Purpose |
| Phase I (Prelims) | Objective | Qualifying |
Shortlisting candidates for Phase II
|
| Phase II (Mains) | Objective + Descriptive | Merit-making |
Marks counted for final selection
|
| Interview | Interview (75 marks) + Psychometric Test + Document Verification | Interview: Merit-making Psychometric Test: Qualifying |
Final selection based on Phase II + Interview
|
RBI Grade B Shift Timings 2026
Candidates are required to arrive at their designated examination centers well ahead of the reporting time indicated on their admit cards.
| Shift | Reporting Time | Exam Time |
| Morning Shift | 8:00 AM |
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
|
| Afternoon Shift | 11:30 AM |
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
|
RBI Grade B 2026 Exam Pattern
This section provides a thorough breakdown of the Exam Pattern, ensuring candidates have a clear understanding of the question format, sectional weightage, and time allocation.
Prelims Exam Pattern
- There will be a specific sectional duration, which will be mentioned in the admission letter.
- There will be four main sections.
|
Sections
|
No. of Questions
|
Marks
|
Duration
|
|
Reasoning Ability
|
60
|
60
|
45 Minutes
|
|
English
|
30
|
30
|
25 Minutes
|
|
Quantitative Aptitude
|
30
|
30
|
25 Minutes
|
|
General Knowledge
|
80
|
80
|
25 Minutes
|
|
Total
|
200
|
200
|
120 Minutes
|
Only candidates who successfully qualify in the Prelims will be eligible to appear for the Phase 2 (Mains) examination.
Mains Exam Pattern
- There are three separate papers in the main exam.
- For RBI Grade B Officers in Gr B (DR)- General, candidates have to appear for papers I, II, and III.
- Papers I & III are 50% Objective & 50 % descriptive, while Paper II is Descriptive only.
- Each paper will be worth 100 marks.
- The English paper is a descriptive test.
|
Paper
|
Format
|
Duration
|
Marks
|
|
Paper-I (Economic & Social Issues)
|
Objective
|
30 Minutes
|
50
|
|
Descriptive
|
90 Minutes
|
50
|
|
|
Paper-II English (Writing Skills) 3 Questions
|
Descriptive
|
90 Minutes
|
100
|
|
Paper III (Finance and Management)
|
Objective
|
30 Minutes
|
50
|
|
Descriptive
|
90 Minutes
|
50
|
Q. Does the RBI release an official answer key for Phase 1 and Phase 2?
Ans. No, the Reserve Bank of India does not release an official answer key for either stage of the RBI Grade B exam. Results are published as a PDF merit list approximately 20-25 days after the examination concludes.
How Many Attempts Are Allowed in RBI Grade B?
|
Category
|
Number of Attempts
|
|
General
|
6 Attempts
|
|
SC/ST/PwD
|
No Limits
|
Interview
Candidates are shortlisted for the final interview round based on their aggregate performance across Papers I, II, and III of the Phase 2 exam. The interview carries a weightage of 75 marks.
Shortlisting for the interview is determined by the cumulative scores achieved in Phase 2 (Paper 1 + Paper 2 + Paper 3).
A mandatory Psychometric test is conducted prior to the interview (qualifying in nature). The final merit list is prepared by combining Mains and Interview scores in an 80:20 ratio.
Candidates may opt to conduct their interview in either English or Hindi.
RBI Grade B 2026 Salary
The base salary for a Grade B Officer commences at Rs 78,450, with a monthly gross salary of Rs 1,54,936 (excluding HRA in specific locations).
The Grade B pay scale is structured as Rs. 78,450 – 4,050(9) – 1,14,900 – EB – 4,050(2) – 1,23,000 – 4,650(4) – 1,41,600 (16 years), featuring consistent annual increments.
Additional benefits include HRA, Dearness Allowance, comprehensive medical coverage, education allowances, concessional loans, and pension plans. Total CTC can exceed Rs. 34+ lakhs in major metropolitan areas.
2 Year Probation Period After Selection
The role of a Grade B Officer is intellectually stimulating and carries significant responsibility. Selected candidates undergo a two-year probation period to evaluate their professional performance and aptitude.
RBI Grade B 2026 Exam Centres
View the complete list of RBI Grade B Exam Centres 2026 below. The RBI conducts both Prelims and Mains at these officially designated locations.
| State/UT |
NCR (Exam) Centre for Prelims
|
| Andaman & Nicobar (UT) | Port Blair |
| Andhra Pradesh |
Guntur/Vijayawada, Kakinada, Tirupathi, Kurnool, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Eluru, Ongole, Srikakulam
|
| Arunachal Pradesh | Naharlagun |
| Assam |
Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur
|
| Bihar |
Arrah, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Gaya, Purnea
|
| Chandigarh (UT) |
Mohali (SAS Nagar)
|
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur, Bhilai |
| Delhi | Delhi/NCR |
| Goa | Panaji |
| Gujarat |
Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, Anand/Vadodara, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat/Bardoli
|
| Haryana |
Ambala, Kurukshetra, Faridabad, Gurugram
|
| Himachal Pradesh |
Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Kangra
|
| Jammu & Kashmir (UT) |
Jammu, Srinagar, Samba
|
| Jharkhand |
Bokaro Steel City, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi
|
| Karnataka |
Bengaluru, Kalaburagi (Gulbarga), Hubballi (Hubli)/Dharwad, Mangaluru (Mangalore), Mysuru (Mysore), Shivamogga (Shimoga), Udupi, Davanagere
|
| Kerala |
Kannur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam
|
| Ladakh (UT) | Leh, Kargil |
| Madhya Pradesh |
Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar, Ujjain, Satna
|
| Maharashtra |
Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Mumbai/Navi Mumbai/Thane/MMR, Nagpur, Nashik, Pune, Satara, Sangli, Akola, Jalna, Chandrapur, Solapur, Dhule, Nanded, Latur, Beed, Parbhani, Ahilyanagar
|
| Manipur |
Imphal, Kakching, Churachandpur
|
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| Mizoram | Aizawl |
| Nagaland | Kohima, Dimapur |
| Odisha |
Balasore, Berhampur (Ganjam), Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Baripada
|
| Puducherry (UT) | Puducherry |
| Punjab |
Amritsar, Bathinda, Patiala, Moga, Phagwara
|
| Rajasthan |
Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Sikar
|
| Sikkim | Gangtok |
| Tamil Nadu |
Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Salem, Namakkal, Thiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Thanjavur, Vellore, Nagercoil/Kanyakumari, Viluppuram, Cuddalore, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirupur
|
| Telangana |
Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Mehbubnagar, Nizamabad, Khammam
|
| Tripura | Agartala |
| Uttar Pradesh |
Agra, Prayagraj, Aligarh, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Varanasi, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Noida & Greater Noida
|
| Uttarakhand |
Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee
|
| West Bengal |
Asansol, Kolkata, Kalyani, Siliguri, Burdwan, Durgapur, Hooghly, Howrah
|
|
Uttarakhand
|
Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee City
|
|
West Bengal
|
Asansol, Kolkata, Greater Kolkata, Kalyani, Siliguri
|
Please note that the number of examination centers for the Mains and Interview stages is significantly more limited than for the Prelims.
|
RBI Grade B Mains Exam Centre
|
|
|
Ahmedabad – Gandhinagar
|
Jammu
|
|
Bengaluru
|
Kanpur
|
|
Bhopal
|
Kochi
|
|
Bhubaneswar
|
Lucknow
|
|
Kolkata
|
Mumbai – Navi Mumbai
|
|
Chandigarh – Mohali
|
Nagpur
|
|
Chennai
|
New Delhi – NCR
|
|
Guwahati
|
Patna
|
|
Hyderabad
|
Pune
|
|
Jaipur
|
Thiruvananthapuram
|
|
Raipur
|
|
FAQs
The total vacancy count for RBI Grade B 2026 is 60, split between General (40), DEPR (10), and DSIM (10) streams.
The RBI Grade B Phase 2 exam is confirmed for July 25th and 26th, 2026.
Yes, a negative marking scheme applies, with a deduction of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
No, there have been no modifications to the RBI Grade B syllabus or exam pattern for the 2026 session.
The current gross monthly salary for the position is Rs. 1,54,936.