Table of Contents
For candidates preparing for the NABARD Grade A Exam 2026, familiarising themselves with the syllabus and exam pattern is an important first step. The recruitment process comprises Prelims, Mains, and Interview, each with distinct sections and focus areas. Understanding the subjects to study and the exam format allows aspirants to plan their preparation efficiently and maximise their chances of success. This article provides a complete overview of the NABARD Grade A Syllabus 2026 and exam pattern to help candidates prepare strategically.
NABARD Grade A Syllabus 2026
The NABARD Grade A 2026 Exam is conducted in multiple stages, each featuring specific subjects and question formats. The Prelims consists solely of objective-type questions, whereas the Mains includes both objective and descriptive sections. A negative marking of 0.25 is applicable in both stages, making it essential for candidates to thoroughly review the syllabus and exam pattern before devising a structured preparation plan.
NABARD Grade A Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
| Particular | Details |
| Exam Conducting Body | National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) |
| Posts Name | Grade A |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains, Interview |
| Types of Questions | Prelims- Objective Mains- Objective & Descriptive |
| Duration | Prelims- 120 minutes Mains- 90 minutes for each paper |
| Negative Marking | Prelims- 0.25 Marks |
| Official website | www.nabard.org |
NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern 2026
The exam structure of both Prelims and Mains stages are discussed here. The Grade A Prelims or Phase 1 is completely MCQ-based, whereas Mains (Phase 2) is both objective (MCQ) and Descriptive.
NABARD Grade A Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
- Qualifying sections: Covers computer knowledge, reasoning, quantitative aptitude, English language proficiency, and decision-making.
- General Awareness, Economic & Social Issues, and Agriculture & Rural Development, with a particular focus on Rural India, are portions that are seen as important.
- Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)
| NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern: Phase 1 | |||||
| S.No. | Name of the Test | Questions | Marks | Version | Total Time |
| 1 | Test of Reasoning | 20 | 20 | Bilingual – Hindi and English, except for tests in the English language | Composite time of 120 Minutes for all the tests together |
| 2 | English Language | 30 | 30 | ||
| 3 | Computer Knowledge | 20 | 20 | ||
| 4 | Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 | ||
| 5 | Decision Making | 10 | 10 | ||
| 6 | General Awareness | 20 | 20 | ||
| 7 | Eco & Soc. Issues (with a focus on Rural India) | 40 | 40 | ||
| 8 | Agriculture & Rural Development with Emphasis on Rural India | 40 | 40 | ||
| Total | 200 | 200 | |||
NABARD Grade A Mains Exam Pattern 2026
The Grade A Exam Pattern for the Mains Exam is given below. Check the post-wise Mains Pattern along with the marking scheme here.
| Paper | Grade A | Type of Paper | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration | Remarks |
| Paper I | General English | Online Descriptive | 3 | 100 | 90 Minutes | Descriptive Answers are to be typed using a keyboard |
| Paper II | Stream Specific Paper | Objective | 30 | 50 | 30 minutes | |
| Descriptive Type | 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] | 50 | 90 Minutes | Descriptive: Answers are to be typed using a keyboard either in English or Hindi (Remington and Inscript keyboards) |
NABARD Grade A Prelims Syllabus 2026 [Phase 1]
To qualify for the desired post, candidates must have a thorough understanding of all relevant subjects. The NABARD Grade A Prelims Syllabus includes Quantitative Aptitude, Computer Knowledge, Reasoning Ability, and General Awareness.
| Subjects | Syllabus |
| Reasoning Ability Syllabus |
|
| Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus |
|
| English Language Syllabus |
|
| General Awareness Syllabus | The questions in this test will be from Current Affairs, Banking and Economy, and Insurance.
In Current Affairs, questions can be asked about recent appointments, awards, and honours, sports, new schemes, national and international news, and the latest developments in science and technology. |
| Computer Knowledge Syllabus | This section covers topics from various topics like Networking, Input-output devices, DBMS, MS Office, Internet, the History of computers & generations, and Shortcuts. |
NABARD Grade A Mains Syllabus 2026 [Phase 2]
The Mains Exam includes both objective and descriptive papers. To perform well, candidates should adopt a strategic study plan and manage their time efficiently. Since the syllabus differs for each stream, aspirants are advised to refer to the official stream-wise syllabus provided below.
Economic and Social Issues Syllabus
| Section | Topics |
| Nature of the Indian Economy |
|
| Inflation | Trends in Inflation & their Impact on National Economy and Individual Income. |
| Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India |
|
| Population Trends |
|
| Agriculture |
|
| Industry |
|
| Rural banking and financial institutions in India | Reforms in the Banking/ Financial sector. |
| Globalisation of the Economy |
|
| Social Structure in India |
|
| Education |
|
| Social Justice |
|
| Positive Discrimination in favour of the underprivileged |
|
Agriculture & Rural Development Syllabus
| Section | Topics |
| Agriculture |
|
| Soil and Water Conservation |
|
| Water Resource |
|
| Farm and Agri Engineering |
|
| Plantation & Horticulture |
|
| Animal Husbandry |
|
| Fisheries |
|
| Forestry |
|
| Agriculture Extensions |
|
| Ecology and Climate Change |
|
| Present Scenario of Indian Agriculture and Allied Activities |
|
| Rural Development |
|
Information Technology Syllabus
| Section | Topics |
| Information Technology |
|
Legal Services Syllabus
| Section | Topics |
| Legal Services | The paper will be based on proficiency in interpreting various Laws,
|
NABARD Grade A Syllabus PDF
The subject-wise NABARD Grade A Syllabus PDF can be downloaded using the links provided in the table below. Simply click on the link for the desired subject, and the PDF will open on your screen. Candidates are advised to take a screenshot or print the PDFs and keep them alongside their study plan for effective exam preparation.
| NABARD Grade A Syllabus PDF | |
| General | Download PDF |
| General Agriculture | Download PDF |
| Agriculture Engineering | Download PDF |
| Animal Husbandry | Download PDF |
| Finance | Download PDF |
| Forestry | Download PDF |
| Horticulture-Plantation | Download PDF |
| Land Development- Soil Science | Download PDF |
| Water Resources | Download PDF |
| Information Technology | Download PDF |
NABARD Grade A Books 2026
| Subject | Books |
|---|---|
| Test of Reasoning |
|
| English Language |
|
| Computer Knowledge |
|
| Quantitative Aptitude |
|
| Decision Making |
|
| General Awareness |
|
| Economic & Social Issues (with a focus on Rural India) |
|
| Agriculture & Rural Development (with Emphasis on Rural India) |
|
NABARD Grade A Selection Process 2026
The selection process for the NABARD Grade A Post consists of 3 stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. After qualifying the examination stages (Prelims and Mains), candidates will be called for the interview round, which carries 50 marks. During this round, questions related to various subjects, current affairs, and situational scenarios are asked to assess the candidate’s knowledge, awareness, and presence of mind.


RRB Group D Syllabus 2026 (Latest CBT Sy...
IB ACIO Syllabus 2026, Tier-wise Exam Pa...
SBI CBO Syllabus 2026, Exam Pattern and ...





