RBI SO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026 for Grade A and B Exam

The Reserve Bank of India has released the official notification for the recruitment of Specialist Officers (SO) for various posts in Grade A and Grade B, aiming to fill 21 vacancies. Understanding the RBI SO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026 is the most important first step, especially when vacancies are low and the competition is high. This article explains the complete RBI SO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026, including the subject-wise topic list, preparation tips, and more.

RBI SO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026

Understanding the post-wise syllabus will allow candidates to concentrate on important areas and enhance their chances of success. As per the RBI SO Recruitment 2026 official notification, the selection process comprises an online written examination(Objective and Descriptive) followed by an interview round. Negative marking of 1/4th is deducted for each incorrect answer for the objective exam. The final merit list will be based on marks scored in the online exam and the interview combined.

RBI SO Exam Pattern 2026

The RBI SO 2026 Exam Pattern is structured to assess candidates on their professional expertise and aptitude relevant to the specific post they are applying for. Having a clear understanding of the exam pattern is crucial for smart and focused preparation, as it provides insights into the marking scheme, the type of questions, and the time distribution. Below is the detailed post-wise exam pattern for your reference.

Legal Officer in Grade ‘B’ – Exam Pattern

The RBI Legal Officer in Grade ‘B’ Exam includes two papers and an interview. Paper I covers General Knowledge of Law (30 marks objective + 120 marks descriptive), and Paper II is a descriptive English paper worth 100 marks. Both papers are 3 hours each. The interview carries 40 marks, bringing the total to 290 marks. A detailed breakdown of the exam format is provided below.

Manager (Technical-Civil) in Grade ‘B’ – Exam Pattern

For the RBI Specialist Officer recruitment, the selection process comprises two written exams—Paper I and Paper II, conducted on the same day, through a combination of online and offline modes. This will be followed by a personal interview for shortlisted candidates. The complete exam structure is outlined below:

Manager (Technical Electrical) in Grade ‘B’

The recruitment process for RBI Specialist Officer positions involves a combination of online and offline exams, with Paper-I and Paper-II scheduled on the same day. Candidates who qualify in these stages will then be called for an interview. The complete exam pattern is explained below:

Assistant Manager (Rajbhasha) in Grade ‘A’

The RBI Assistant Manager (Rajbhasha) Grade ‘A’ Exam includes two papers and an interview. Paper I is objective-type with sections on Reasoning, English, General Awareness, and Professional Knowledge, totaling 150 marks. Paper II is a descriptive test on Official Language worth 50 marks. The written exam carries 200 marks, followed by an interview for 35 marks, making the total 235 marks.

Assistant Manager (Protocol & Security) in Grade ‘A’

The RBI Assistant Manager (Protocol & Security) Grade ‘A’ Exam consists of an online test followed by an interview. The online test includes four sections: Reasoning, English Language, General Awareness with emphasis on the banking industry, and Professional Knowledge. The total marks for the online test are 200, and the exam is followed by an interview worth 35 marks, making the final score out of 235 marks.

RBI SO Syllabus 2026 (Subject-Wise)

Based on the official RBI SO Recruitment 2026 notification, here is the detailed topic-wise syllabus for various Specialist Officer (SO) posts:

A. Legal Officer Grade B Law Syllabus

• Constitution of India
• Banking Regulation Act
• RBI Act, 1934
• FEMA, 1999
• Negotiable Instruments Act
• SARFAESI Act
• IBC and Company Law
• Consumer Protection Act
• Arbitration and Conciliation
• Labour and Industrial Laws
• Contract Act, Torts
• Banking and Financial Laws
• Drafting of pleadings and legal documents
• Legal case analysis

B. Civil Engineering (Manager Grade B)

• Engineering Mathematics
• Strength of Materials
• Structural Analysis
• RCC and Steel Structures
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Engineering Mechanics
• Building Materials
• Construction Planning & Management
• Estimation and Costing
• Environmental Engineering
• Transportation Engineering
• Tendering and Project Management

C. Electrical Engineering (Manager Grade B)

• Electrical Machines
• Power Systems
• Power Electronics
• Control Systems
• Measurement and Instrumentation
• Electrical Circuits
• Switchgear and Protection
• High Voltage Engineering
• Utilization of Electrical Energy
• HVAC, UPS, DG Systems
• Electrical Safety and Maintenance

D. Rajbhasha Officer (Grade A)

• Hindi Grammar
• English Grammar
• Translation Techniques
• Official Language Policy
• Banking Terminology
• Economics & Commerce in Hindi
• Government Hindi Rules
• Official Correspondence
• Vocabulary and Comprehension

E. Protocol & Security Officer (Grade A)

• Internal Security Management
• Disaster Management
• Fire Safety
• VIP Protocol
• Surveillance Systems
• Banking Security
• Risk Management
• Defence Services Knowledge
• Emergency Response
• Administrative Procedures

Preparation Strategy for RBI SO 2026

Since RBI SO is a specialist exam, candidates must give priority to professional subjects first, and then move to the general aptitude section. For technical posts, revising graduation-level concepts and practicing descriptive answers is very important. Based on the RBI SO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026, follow a consistent strategy and keep these preparation tips in mind:

• Start with your professional subject first (Law, Civil, Electrical, Rajbhasha, or Security) since it carries the highest weightage in both objective and descriptive papers.
• For Legal Officer, focus on core laws like RBI Act, Banking Regulation Act, FEMA, IBC, Contract Act, and Company Law. Practice legal drafting and case-based questions regularly.
• For Civil and Electrical Engineering, revise graduation-level concepts from standard textbooks and practice numerical problems as well as theory-based answers for the descriptive paper.
• Practice previous year RBI SO and other regulatory body questions to understand how RBI frames conceptual and practical questions.
• For Rajbhasha Officer, work daily on Hindi–English translation, vocabulary, official language rules, and grammar accuracy.
• For Protocol & Security Officer, focus on security management, fire safety, disaster response, and basic banking awareness along with reasoning and English.
• Attempt full-length mock tests to improve speed, accuracy, and time management, especially for multi-section objective papers.