Exam pattern at a glance
RBI Grade B (DR) General 2026 (Advt. RBISB/DA/01/2026-27) has three stages: an online Phase I, an online Phase II and an interview. Phase I only screens candidates. Phase II and interview marks make the final merit list.
Phase I exam pattern
Four objective tests, each with its own timer: 200 questions for 200 marks in 120 minutes. You must reach the minimum the Board sets in each test and in the aggregate. Candidates are then shortlisted for Phase II on aggregate marks, with the cut-off fixed in relation to the number of vacancies.
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 min | English & Hindi |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 min | English |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 min | English & Hindi |
| Reasoning | 60 | 60 | 45 min | English & Hindi |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 min | −¼ of marks per wrong answer |
Every question has five options. Phase I may run in more than one session, and scores across sessions are equated and reported to two decimal places. RBI’s Phase I handout tells candidates to expect about 180 minutes at the venue. Source: Phase I information handout.
Phase II exam pattern
Phase II is where marks start to count. It is held on one day in two shifts, all three papers are compulsory, and one admit card covers both shifts. Candidates are then shortlisted for interview on the aggregate of Papers I, II and III, with the cut-off fixed by the Board in relation to the vacancies.
| Stage | Taken by | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase II papers (3) | Candidates shortlisted from Phase I | 60 objective + descriptive | 300 | 330 min |
| Personality assessment | Candidates shortlisted for interview | — | No marks | Complete within 5 days of the e-mail |
| Interview | Candidates shortlisted for interview | — | 75 | — |
Phase II — shift-wise breakdown
The morning shift is Paper III. The afternoon shift is Paper I followed straight away by Paper II, with no break between them. There is a break between the two shifts. In Papers I and III, the objective part switches to the descriptive part automatically after 30 minutes, and you cannot go back.
| Paper | Part | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning · III General Finance & Management | Objective | 30 | 50 | 30 min |
| Morning · III General Finance & Management | Descriptive (typed) | 6 asked, answer 4 | 50 | 90 min |
| Afternoon · I Economic & Social Issues | Objective | 30 | 50 | 30 min |
| Afternoon · I Economic & Social Issues | Descriptive (typed) | 6 asked, answer 4 | 50 | 90 min |
| Afternoon · II English (Writing Skills) | Descriptive (typed) | 3 | 100 | 90 min |
| Grand total | Two shifts | — | 300 | 330 min |
Source: Phase II information handout (General) and Appendix II of the advertisement. No physical calculator is allowed in any phase.
Descriptive papers & interview
More than half of Phase II is written answers you type on the keyboard. Clearing Phase II leads to a personality assessment and the interview.
Descriptive · Papers I & III
Six questions are shown and you answer four: two of 15 marks (up to 600 words each) and two of 10 marks (up to 400 words each). If you answer more than four, only the first four are evaluated. Hindi answers can be typed in the Inscript or Remington (GAIL) layout.
Paper II · English (Writing Skills)
A fully descriptive paper that tests expression and understanding of the topic. It may include essay writing, précis writing and comprehension, and is typed on the computer in English.
Personality assessment
Before the interview, RBI e-mails shortlisted candidates a link to an online personality assessment, which must be completed within 5 days of receiving it. It carries no marks and is not part of the final selection.
Interview
A 75-mark interview, which you can take in Hindi or English. The Board decides the centre, and the date, time and venue come in a call letter sent by e-mail.
Negative marking, stage by stage
RBI uses one rule for every objective question in both phases: a wrong answer costs one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question. Leave a question blank and there’s no penalty.
| Exam stage | Penalty per wrong answer |
|---|---|
| Phase I (all four tests, 1 mark per question) | ¼ of the question’s marks |
| Phase II objective parts, Papers I & III (1 or 2 marks per question) | ¼ of the question’s marks |
| Phase II descriptive answers and Paper II | Marked by evaluation; the penalty rule covers objective questions |
| Unattempted questions | No penalty |
Phase I marks are used only to shortlist for Phase II. For the General cadre, the merit list adds Phase II marks (out of 300) and interview marks (out of 75), plus grace marks where the rules allow. RBI shows General candidates their Phase I marks on rbi.org.in in an interactive mode after the Phase II shortlist. Phase II and interview marks are shown only after the final result.
Crack RBI Grade B with your own daily plan
Daily targets, PYQ-style practice sets & timed mocks — built around the RBI Grade B Phase I pattern.
Rehearse the exam pattern
Knowing the pattern is step one. JobSafal lets you practise the objective side of it in timed tests, so separately timed sections feel familiar on exam day.
Timed mocks
RBI Grade B mocks with objective, Phase I-style questions in a timed test interface.
Negative-marking analysis
See how your accuracy and number of attempts affect your net score, question by question.
Section-wise practice
Drill one section at a time. Phase I needs a minimum score in every test, so weak sections matter.
PYQ-style practice sets
Six timed sets to check your speed and accuracy before the real exam.
