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RBI Grade B 2026: Notification Released, Limited Positions
On April 29, the Reserve Bank of India released the official 2026 recruitment notification for Grade B Officers across three streams: General, DEPR (Department of Economic and Policy Research), and DSIM (Department of Statistics and Information Management). This year, only 60 vacancies have been announced, making the competition very intense.
Online application submission opened on the same day and will close on the 20th of May 2026 at 6:00 PM. Applications received after that will be considered for next year’s recruitment. In the last five years, there has been a consistent decline in the number of vacancies, and this year’s recruitment, the 2026 recruitment, has the lowest number of vacancies so far. Therefore, this year will also see the highest competition so far. For any candidates aiming to secure a position at the top banking organisation in India, the notification is an indicator to apply and prepare.
Exam Dates and Selection Criteria for Phase 1
The RBI Grade B 2026 exam has set the dates for Phase 1: the 13th and 14th of June, 2026, for the General stream, and for the DEPR and DSIM streams, respectively. The second phase of the exam will be conducted on July 25th and 26th. The last phase will be the personal interview, after which the merit list will be published.
The selection process is divided into three phases. The first phase is the qualifying exam, which does not count towards the final merit list. However, candidates must achieve the minimum required scores for each section and the overall score to progress to the next phase. The scores for the second phase will count and are important for the final list. The merit list is then derived from the scores from the second phase and the interview scores. This process is well-designed to evaluate both the practical and theoretical competencies of the candidates.
What is the Phase 1 Exam Pattern?
For Phase 1, the entire test is objective, worth 200 marks, and fully computer-based, with a time limit of 120 minutes. The exam is split into four sections. Each section has its own time duration, specified on the admit card. The General stream will test candidates on Ability Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Knowledge of General Issues.
Marks for a correct answer are determined by the weight of marks for the section, and a wrong answer will incur a penalty of 0.25 marks. There are no differences in the exam pattern from the previous year. The exam is fully online, and the information handout provided along with the admit card will give the candidates all the details. Candidates must also realise that Phase 1 is just a step. Intensive preparation for Phase 2 subjects must also be undertaken, as the time gap for the two exams is less than six weeks.
RBI Grade B Exam breakdown – Phase 1
The Phase 1 syllabus for the General stream contains four categories. The Reasoning section tests your logical reasoning through a variety of puzzles, seating arrangements, syllogisms, and input-output questions. The Quantitative Aptitude section tests your ability to interpret data, recognise a number series, perform arithmetic, and perform calculations in an efficient manner. The English Language focuses on your ability to comprehend textual materials, perform cloze tests, correct sentence errors, and understand vocabulary. The General Awareness section of the exam is the most unpredictable, as it tests your knowledge of current events, RBI policies, banking, and recent economic developments.
For DEPR candidates, economics forms this objective test in Phase 1, while the descriptive papers for Phase 2 comprise English and Economics. For DSIM candidates, statistics is the core subject in Phase 2 and follows the same pattern. The RBI Grade B exam is known to require a deeper understanding of concepts than other banking exams, such as IBPS PO or SBI PO. Because of this, surface-level preparation would most certainly be inadequate. It requires candidates to develop strong, in-depth fundamentals and to keep abreast of economic and monetary developments over the last six months for each exam cohort.
Vacancies, Salary, and Eligibility
Under the General stream, candidates are required to complete graduation with at least 60 per cent marks. For SC (Scheduled Caste) and ST (Scheduled Tribe) candidates, the minimum requirement is 55 per cent marks. The age limit is 21 to 30 years on the reference date in the notification. Age relaxations will apply to reserved category candidates.
1. General candidates have a maximum of six attempts. There are no restrictions on the number of attempts for SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates, provided they are within the age limits.
2. Out of the total 60, 40 vacancies are for the General stream, and 10 each for DEPR and DSIM for 2026. The salary of a Grade B Officer is Rs. 1,54,936 (approximately) with a basic pay of Rs. 78,450 plus D.A, grade allowances, and HRA. Job security policy-making and a clear pathway to promotion to the Deputy Governor and Governor ranks are other benefits of this job.
Preparation Strategy: How to Approach Phase 1
Experts recommend preparing for both phases simultaneously, given the six-week break between Phase 1 and Phase 2. The first thing you want to do is create the complete syllabus and then seize control of your schedule. Get your Phase 1 objectives done first thing in the morning and do those pesky Phase 2 subjects in the evening. For General Awareness, you should read your daily news and keep up with RBI’s monetary policy changes and Union Budget updates.
Before you can start your preparations, it is helpful to practice previous years’ papers. This helps you get an understanding of the topics and questions that are most popular and that may even appear on your paper. The best way to get training in answering and response times for the exam is to take practice tests. When it comes to the reasoning and quantitative parts of an exam, there is no other preparation method that works but practice. The other subjects of Phase 2, especially English Descriptive, need preparation of concepts along with practice in writing. The longer time you have, the more time you have to prepare and then revise before the Phase 2 exam at the end of July.
Important Dates
The 2026 application can be submitted from April 29, 2026, to May 20, 2026. After this window, applicants can access and print their submitted application until June 5, 2026. Phase 1 of the examination is scheduled for June 13 and June 14, and Phase 2 for July 25 and July 26, for General, DEPR, and DSIM, respectively. The admit card for Phase 1 is typically released 10 to 14 days prior to the exam, and results for Phase 1 are released 20 to 25 days post the exam. For the most up-to-date information, applicants are advised to visit the official RBI website at rbi.org.in.
FAQ:
Q1. When will RBI Grade B Phase 1 take place in 2026?
The General stream Phase 1 exam dates are set for 13th June 2026, and DEPR and DSIM streams will take place on 14th June 2026.
Q2. Is the Phase 1 score considered for the final merit list?
No, Phase 1 will only serve as a qualifying exam. The scores are not considered for the final merit list, although candidates must qualify Phase 1 in order to take Phase 2 of the exam.
Q3. What is/are the total number of vacant seat(s) in RBI Grade B for 2026?
There are a total of 60 vacancies: 40 for the General stream, and 10 each for DEPR and DSIM.
Q4. What is the negative marking system in Phase 1?
In Phase 1, 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer.
Q5. What is the pay scale for an RBI Grade B Officer?
The approximate monthly gross pay is Rs. 1,54,936, which includes all the allowances, and the monthly basic pay is Rs. 78,450.
Q6. When does the RBI Grade B 2026 Application process close?
The online application process and fee payment will close on 20th May 2026, at 6:00 PM.
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