Table of Contents
The RBI Grade B Exam 2027 is one of the most competitive banking exams, attracting lakhs of candidates every year. With increasing competition, focused and regular preparation is essential. This article covers the detailed RBI Grade B Syllabus 2027 for Phase 1 and Phase 2 for General, DEPR, and DSIM posts, along with the exam pattern, marking scheme, and subject-wise topics to help candidates plan their preparation effectively.
RBI Grade B Syllabus 2027
The RBI has released the latest Grade B syllabus and exam pattern for the General, DEPR, and DSIM streams. Candidates should understand the updated pattern before starting their preparation.
Phase 1 covers General Awareness, Reasoning, English Language, and Quantitative Aptitude. Phase 2 includes Economic & Social Issues (ESI), Finance & Management (FM), English Descriptive, and stream-specific subjects for DEPR and DSIM.
The selection process includes Phase 1, Phase 2, and an Interview. Phase 1 is qualifying, while Phase 2 and Interview marks are used to prepare the final merit list.
RBI Grade B Syllabus and Exam Pattern – Highlights
The RBI Grade B Exam requires a strong command over aptitude, current affairs, economics, finance, and descriptive writing. Candidates can refer to the table below for more details:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Authority | Reserve Bank of India (RBI) |
| Post Name | Officer Grade B (DR) General |
| Selection Process | Phase 1, Phase 2, Interview |
| Phase 1 Marks | 200 |
| Phase 2 Marks | 300 |
| Interview Marks | 75 |
| Final Merit | Phase 2 + Interview |
| Mode of Examination | Online |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks |
| Official Website | www.rbi.org.in |
RBI Grade B Exam Pattern 2027 (General Stream)
The Prelims exam consists only of objective-type questions (MCQs), while the Mains exam includes both objective and descriptive questions. Both phases are conducted online, with candidates required to enter their answers on a computer. It is important to note that each correct answer carries +1 mark, and each incorrect answer incurs a penalty of -0.25 marks.
RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam Pattern for General (Prelims)
- Exam Mode – Online computer-based test (CBT)
- Total Questions – 200 MCQs, 1 mark each
- Total duration – 2 hours with sectional timing
- Must clear sectional as well as overall cut-off
- Negative marking: 0.25 mark for each wrong answer
| Prelims Exam Pattern (General) | |||
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Subject
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Questions
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Marks
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Duration
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General Awareness
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80
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80
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25 Mins
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Reasoning
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60
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60
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45 Mins
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English
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30
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30
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25 Mins
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Quantitative Aptitude
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30
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30
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25 Mins
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Total
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200
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200
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2 Hours
|
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Exam Pattern for General (Mains)
- Phase 2 (Mains) for General stream includes: Economics & Social Issues, English Writing, and Finance, Management & Ethics
- Only candidates who clear Phase 1 can appear for Phase 2
- Papers I & III have two sections of equal marks: Objective (MCQ) and Descriptive
- Descriptive answers must be typed on the keyboard
- Objective section: 30 questions for 50 marks
- Descriptive section: 6 questions, attempt 4 questions (15 marks each)
- Descriptive questions are generally simple and direct
| Mains Exam Pattern (General) | ||||
| Paper | Sections / Subjects | No. of Questions | Maxi Marks | Duration |
| Paper I | Economics and Social Issues | Objective: 30 Descriptive: 6 (Attempt any 4) |
Objective: 50 Descriptive: 50 Total: 100 |
Objective: 30 min
Descriptive: 90 min Total: 120 minutes |
| Paper II | English (Writing Skills) | Descriptive: 3 (Precis, RCs & Essay) | 100 | 90 minutes |
| Paper III | Finance and Management | Objective: 30 Descriptive: 6 (Attempt any 4) |
Objective: 50 Descriptive: 50 Total: 100 |
Objective: 30 min
Descriptive: 90 min Total: 120 minutes |
RBI Grade B Prelims Syllabus 2027 (General Stream)
Although the Prelims syllabus is relatively simple, the questions can be as challenging as those in Bank PO Mains exams. The Quantitative Aptitude section is often moderate to difficult, while the English section can be easier for candidates with strong language skills. Candidates should also prepare at least 4–6 months of current affairs for Phase 1.
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Subject
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Topics
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Reasoning
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Quantitative Aptitude
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English Language
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General Awareness
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Let’s go through the Mains syllabus for General/DEPR/DSIM posts now:
RBI Grade B Mains Economic and Social Issues (ESI) Syllabus
The following subjects and topics are to be covered in depth for ESI Paper:
| Section | Topics Covered |
| Growth and Development |
Measurement of growth: National Income and Per Capita Income
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Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India
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Sustainable Development and Environmental Issues
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| Indian Economy |
Economic History of India
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Changes in Industrial and Labour Policy
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Monetary and Fiscal Policy since the 1991 reforms
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Priorities and Recommendations of Economic Survey and Union Budget
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Indian Money and Financial Markets and their linkages with the Economy
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Role of Indian Banks and RBI in Development
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| Public Finance | |
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Political Economy
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Industrial Developments in India
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Indian Agriculture
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| Services Sector |
RBI Grade B Mains English Writing Skills Syllabus
- Precis
- Essay
- Reading Comprehension
Topics To Cover for English Descriptive
- Structure and Functions of Financial Institutions,
- Functions of RBI,
- Banking System in India,
- Financial Institutions (SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB, NABFID),
- Global Financial System and its impact on India,
- Information Technology in Banking,
- Non-Banking System,
- Digital Payments.
- Primary and Secondary Markets (Forex, Money, Bond, Equity),
- Functions, Instruments, and Recent Developments.
- Financial Risk Management,
- Basics of Derivatives,
- Global financial markets and International
- Banking,
- Financial Inclusion,
- Alternative finance,
- Public-Private Partnership,
- Corporate Governance in Banking,
- Union Budget,
- Accounting Basics,
- Inflation and its management,
- Monetary and Fiscal policies.
RBI Grade B Mains Finance and Management Syllabus
| Section | Topics Covered |
| Fundamentals of Management & OB |
Introduction to Management
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Evolution of Management Thought (Scientific, Administrative, Human Relations)
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Systems Approach to Management
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Managerial Roles
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| Nudge Theory | |
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Personality – Big Five Model
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Reinforcement and Perception
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Motivation – Maslow, Alderfer, McClelland, Herzberg
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Leadership – Trait, Behavioural, Contingency, Charismatic, Transactional, Transformational
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Emotional Intelligence
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Interpersonal Relationship – Transactional Analysis, Johari Window
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Conflict Management
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Organisational Change
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Organisational Development
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Ethics at the Workplace
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| Corporate Governance |
Meaning of Ethics
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Ethical Problems in Business
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Theories of Ethics – Utilitarianism, Rights & Duties, Justice & Fairness, Ethics of Care
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Moral Issues – Ethics in Compliance, Finance, HR, Marketing
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Ethical Principles in Business
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Role of Board of Directors
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| Best Practices | |
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Code of Ethics and Conduct
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Corporate Governance Mechanisms
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| Communication |
Communication Process
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Communication Channels – Oral vs Written, Verbal vs Non-verbal
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Communication Barriers, Upward, Downward, Lateral Communication
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Role of Information Technology in Communication
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RBI Grade B DEPR Exam Pattern 2027
Like the General stream, the DEPR Exam also consists of Phase 1 and Phase 2, but its exam pattern differs. Check the RBI Grade B DEPR Exam Pattern for both stages here.
| RBI Grade B DEPR Phase 1 Exam Pattern | |||
| Name of Paper | Type | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| Paper I: Economics | Objective | 120 minutes | 100 |
| Paper II: English (to be typed using keyboard) | Descriptive | 120 minutes | 100 |
| Total | – | – | 200 |
| RBI Grade B DEPR Phase 1 Exam Pattern | |||
| Name of Paper | Type | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| Paper I: Economics (Question paper on computer, answers on paper) | Descriptive | 120 minutes | 100 |
| Paper II: Economics (Question paper on computer, answers on paper) | Descriptive | 120 minutes | 100 |
| Total | – | – | 200 |
RBI Grade B DEPR Syllabus 2027
The Standard of papers on Economics will be based on the master’s degree examination in Economics of any Central University. The RBI Grade B DEPR Syllabus is divided into three papers: Paper 1 is Economics objective, Paper 2 is Economics descriptive, and Paper 3 is English descriptive.
| Phase/Paper Name | Subjects | Topics Covered |
| Phase 1 Paper 1 (Objective) | Microeconomics |
Theories of consumer demand, Production, Market structures & pricing, Distribution, Welfare economics
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Theories of employment, Output & inflation, Monetary economics, IS–LM model, Schools of economic thought
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| International Economics |
Theories of international trade, Balance of payments, Exchange rate models
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| Economic Growth & Development |
Classical and neo-classical approaches to economic growth, Major development theories
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| Public Finance |
Theories of taxation, Public expenditure, Public debt management
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| Environmental Economics |
Green GDP, Environmental valuation, Environmental policy instruments
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| Quantitative Methods in Economics |
Mathematical & statistical methods for economics, OLS regression
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| Current Developments in the Indian Economy |
Growth, inflation, poverty, unemployment, financial sector, external sector, fiscal developments, agriculture, industry, infrastructure, services
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| Phase 1 Paper 2 (Descriptive) | English Language |
The paper on English shall be framed in a manner to assess the writing skills including expression and understanding of the topic.
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| Phase 2 Paper 1 Microeconomics (Descriptive) | Consumer Theory |
Utility analysis, Consumer surplus, Indifference curves, Price/Income/Substitution effects, Game theory
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| Production Theory |
Production functions, Returns to scale, Partial vs General equilibrium
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| Market Theory | Pricing under different market structures | |
| Distribution Theories | Ricardo, Marx, Kalecki, Kaldor | |
| Welfare Economics | Pareto optimality, Arrow, Coase, Sen | |
| Phase 2 Paper 1 Macroeconomics (Descriptive) | National Income | Methods of measuring national income |
| Employment & Output |
Classical, Neo-classical, Keynesian, Post-Keynesian, Business cycles
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| Inflation | Types, Phillips curve, Taylor’s rule, Lucas critique | |
| Money & Banking |
Quantity theory, Neutrality, IS–LM, AD–AS, Money multiplier, Monetary policy, Inflation targeting
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| Growth & Development | Growth theories, Development theories | |
| International Trade & BoP |
Trade theories, Exchange rate determination, Impossible trinity
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| Public Finance | Taxation, Public expenditure, Public debt management |
RBI Grade B DSIM Exam Pattern
| RBI Grade B DSIM Phase 1 Exam Pattern | ||
| Name of Paper | Duration | Maximum Marks |
| Paper I: Objective Type (Statistics) | 120 minutes | 100 |
| Total | – | 100 |
| RBI Grade B DSIM Phase 2 Exam Pattern 2027 | ||
| Name of Paper | Duration | Max Marks |
| Paper II: Descriptive Type (Statistics)- Question paper on computer, answers to be written on paper | 180 min | 100 |
| Paper III: English – Descriptive (to be typed using keyboard) | 90 min | 100 |
| Total | – | 200 |
RBI Grade B DSIM Syllabus 2027
The RBI Grade B 2027 Syllabus for Phase 1 or Phase 2 for the DSIM post has been discussed here for candidates.
| Paper | Type | Topics Covered |
| DSIM Papers 1 and 2 |
Objective + Descriptive |
Theory of Probability, Probability Distributions and Sampling Theory
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Linear Models and Economic Statistics
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Statistical Inference: Estimation, Testing of Hypotheses, and Non-Parametric Test
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Stochastic Processes
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Multivariate Analysis
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Econometrics and Time Series
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Optimisation and Statistical Computing
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Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Techniques
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| Database and Data Warehouse Management | ||
| DSIM Paper 3: English | Descriptive | Writing skills, expression, and understanding of the topic |
RBI Grade B Official Syllabus PDF
Candidates can now download and take a printout of the official syllabus. This will help in being aware of what are the topics to be covered and what can be left for exam preparation.
Download RBI Grade B Syllabus PDF
RBI Grade B Interview Details
The final stage of the selection process for the RBI Grade B Exam is the Interview. The interview is a Personality Test round to assess behavioural aptitude, on-the-spot decision-making, and the ability to handle questions in a cool and composed manner.
- The total marks for the Interview round are 75.
- This round carries 20% weightage in the final merit list.
- In the interview round, the candidates will be asked professional and educational background questions to assess them.
RBI Grade B Selection Process 2027
| Stage | Examination/Process | Key Details |
| 1. Phase I- Preliminary Exam | Objective Test (Online) | Screening Test |
| 2. Phase II- Main Exam | Paper I – Economic and Social Issues (ESI) Paper II – English (Writing Skills) Paper III – Finance & Management |
Descriptive/subject-specific test |
| 3. Interview | Personal Interview | Assesses personality, knowledge, communication, and suitability |
| 4. Medical Examination | Medical Test | Candidates must meet the medical standards prescribed by RBI |
| 5. Final Merit List | Final Selection | Based on Phase II (Main Exam) and Interview performance |
Time Management Strategies to Cover RBI Grade B Syllabus
The RBI Grade B 2027 Syllabus is a vast curriculum to cover within a few months; hence, the candidates need to start a year before appearing in the examination. It is important to manage your time while covering the subject-wise syllabus. Here’s how you can manage your time to cover the syllabus.
Make a Comprehensive Study Plan: Start by creating a study plan that covers all the key topics for the exam. Allocate time for each subject according to your strengths and weaknesses, ensuring all topics are covered systematically.
Prioritise Important Topics: Identify the most crucial topics for the exam, focusing on those with higher weight. Dedicate sufficient time to thoroughly understand and master these areas.
Set Achievable Goals: Establish realistic daily, weekly, and monthly goals. This approach will help you manage the syllabus effectively. Break down larger topics into smaller sections and set specific targets to cover them.
Take Regular Breaks: Incorporate short breaks between study sessions to stay focused and maintain concentration. Balancing relaxation with intensive study is essential for optimal preparation.
RBI Grade B Preparation Tips 2027
Candidates preparing for the RBI Grade B Exam 2027 must keep these preparation tips in mind to boost their chances of selection:
- Complete the Phase 1 syllabus at least two months before the exam.
- Read newspapers and RBI publications daily.
- Prepare current affairs for the last 6-8 months.
- Practice descriptive writing regularly.
- Focus extensively on ESI and Finance & Management.
- Attempt full-length mock tests weekly.
- Analyze previous years’ memory-based papers.
- Revise important economic reports and banking terms.
- Work on interview communication skills from the beginning.









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