The Reserve Bank of India has officially released the Mains Exam schedule for the RBI Grade B 2026 recruitment across General, DEPR, and DSIM streams. Access the latest exam dates, selection criteria, test patterns, and official notifications here.
RBI Grade B Recruitment 2027
The RBI Grade B examination is highly regarded as one of India's most prestigious regulatory competitive exams. It offers an elite compensation package, rapid career advancement, and the unique opportunity to contribute to India’s central banking operations. Conducted at a national level, the recruitment process follows three critical stages: Phase 1 (Preliminary Exam), Phase 2 (Main Exam), and the Personal Interview. Candidates across all Indian States and Union Territories are eligible to apply; check 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 2026 Exam Schedule Released
According to the official notification, the Phase 2 examination for General, DEPR, and DSIM streams is scheduled for 25th and 26th July 2026. Successful candidates who clear this stage will proceed to the final round: the Personal Interview.
Key Dates for RBI Grade B 2026
The RBI has published the complete examination calendar. Aspirants are advised to mark these crucial dates to ensure timely compliance with every stage of the selection 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 |
| 15 July 2026 | |
| Phase II exam (General) | 25 July 2026 |
| Phase II exam (DEPR/DSIM) | 26 July 2026 |
Breakdown of Post-wise Vacancies
| 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 |
RBI Grade B Vacancy Trends (Last 4 Years)
The vacancy trends for RBI Grade B recruitment indicate a gradual decline over the past five years. While 2022 saw the highest number of openings, 2026 reached the lowest point, reflecting a consistent reduction in available roles.
- 2026: 60
- 2025: 120
- 2024: 94
- 2023: 291
- 2022: 294
As vacancies decrease, competition intensifies, likely driving up cut-off marks. Prospective candidates meeting the eligibility requirements should submit their applications promptly and commence their preparation strategy immediately.
Download RBI Grade B 2026 Notification PDF
The RBI Grade B 2026 notification presents a significant career milestone for banking aspirants, featuring a starting gross salary of approximately Rs. 1.54 lakh per month. The selection process encompasses Prelims, Mains, and Interviews; ensure you review the official notification for comprehensive guidelines.
RBI Grade B 2026 Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the RBI Grade B Officer position, applicants must strictly adhere to the defined eligibility guidelines. Candidates must be Indian citizens, aged between 21 and 30 years, and hold the requisite educational qualifications as specified in the official notification.
Age Limits (As of 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) |
Educational Qualifications
| 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. |
Permissible Number of Attempts
| Category |
Attempts Allowed
|
| General/EWS |
Maximum 6 attempts
|
| SC/ST/OBC/PwBD |
No limit (subject to upper age limit)
|
Nationality Requirements
Applicants must meet one of the following citizenship criteria:
- 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 Methodology
The selection process follows these specific stages:
| 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 2026 Exam Shift Timings
Candidates are required to report to their assigned examination centers well in advance of the timing specified 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 Structure
This section details the official Exam Pattern, providing clarity on structure, total question count, sectional distribution, and allotted time for each segment.
Preliminary Examination 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
|
Qualifying for the Preliminary exam is mandatory to advance to the Mains (Phase 2) examination.
Mains Examination 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 issue an official answer key for Phase 1 and 2?
Ans. No, historically, the RBI does not publish official answer keys for either the Prelims or Mains examinations. Exam results are typically released in PDF format within 20-25 days after the completion of the tests.
Understanding RBI Grade B Attempt Limits
|
Category
|
Number of Attempts
|
|
General
|
6 Attempts
|
|
SC/ST/PwD
|
No Limits
|
Personal Interview Process
Candidates will be shortlisted for the interview round based on their aggregate performance across Papers I, II, and III of the Phase II examination. The interview segment is worth a total of 75 marks.
Final selection for the interview is based on the cumulative scores from Phase 2 (Paper 1 + Paper 2 + Paper 3).
A qualifying psychometric test precedes the interview. The final merit list is compiled using an 80:20 weightage ratio for the Mains exam and the Interview, respectively.
Candidates may conduct their interviews in either English or Hindi.
RBI Grade B 2026 Compensation Package
The base salary for a Grade B Officer is Rs. 78,450, with a monthly gross salary of approximately Rs. 1,54,936 (excluding HRA in specific locations).
The overall Grade B managerial pay scale is defined 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), complemented by regular annual increments.
Employees receive comprehensive benefits, including HRA (or leased accommodation), Dearness Allowance, medical coverage, education allowances, low-interest loans, pension, and gratuity. The total annual CTC can exceed Rs. 34+ lakhs in metropolitan areas.
Two-Year Probationary Period
The Grade B Officer role is both highly rewarding and professionally challenging. Following selection, officers complete a two-year probation period, during which their performance and operational suitability are formally reviewed.
RBI Grade B 2026 Examination Centers
Comprehensive information regarding exam centers is provided below. The RBI manages Prelims and Mains examinations across the designated centers listed in the official table.
| 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
|
Note that the number of available exam centers for the Mains and Interview stages is more limited than for the Preliminary exam.
|
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
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the total vacancy count for RBI Grade B 2026?
The total RBI Grade B 2026 vacancy is 60 posts: 40 for General, 10 for DEPR, and 10 for DSIM streams.
What are the exam dates for RBI Grade B Phase 2 2026?
The Phase 2 exam is scheduled to take place on 25th and 26th July 2026.
Is there negative marking in the RBI Grade B exam?
Yes, there is a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
Have there been updates to the RBI Grade B syllabus or pattern?
No, the RBI Grade B syllabus and exam structure remain unchanged.
What is the current revised salary for RBI Grade B Officers?
The revised gross monthly salary for the position is Rs. 1,54,936.