RBI Grade B 2026 Notification: Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Salary & How to Apply
Every year, thousands of young Indians refresh the RBI website, waiting for one PDF to drop — the RBI Grade B notification. That single document decides who gets to sit for India's most prestigious central bank exam. Here's everything it contains, decoded in plain English.
- The RBI Grade B notification is published as a PDF on rbi.org.in under 'Opportunities @ RBI', typically between January and March each year.
- Eligibility: General stream requires a bachelor's degree with at least 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwBD); age 21–30 years as of the notification date, with relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer), and 10 years for PwBD.
- Selection process: Phase 1 (prelims, 200 marks, 2 hours, negative marking of 1/4th per wrong answer), Phase 2 (mains, three papers: Economic and Social Issues, Finance and Management, English), and an interview (75 marks).
- Salary: Basic pay ₹55,200 per month; gross monthly salary ranges between ₹1,00,000 and ₹1,20,000 with allowances and perks including rent-free accommodation or HRA, medical facilities, and pension.
- Cut-off marks vary yearly — for the 2025 cycle, Phase 1 cut-off for General category was around 120–130 out of 200; check the official RBI PDF after each exam for exact numbers.
- RBI Grade B notification is the official recruitment document — read it carefully for eligibility, syllabus, and dates.
- Eligibility: bachelor's degree with 60% marks (55% for reserved), age 21-30 years.
- Exam pattern: Phase 1 (prelims), Phase 2 (mains), and interview. Negative marking applies.
- Salary: basic pay ₹55,200, gross monthly around ₹1,00,000-1,20,000 with perks.
- Cut-off varies yearly — check official RBI PDF after each exam for exact numbers.
What Exactly Is the RBI Grade B Notification?
The RBI Grade B notification is the official recruitment announcement released by the Reserve Bank of India. It contains every detail you need to apply: number of vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam dates, syllabus, application fee, and pay scale. Think of it as the rulebook for the entire selection process.
The notification is published as a PDF on the RBI website. It usually appears between January and March each year, though the exact date varies. For the 2026 cycle, aspirants should start checking the RBI website from early January 2026.
Who Can Apply for RBI Grade B 2026?
Educational qualification:
- General stream: A bachelor's degree in any discipline with at least 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwBD).
- DEPR stream: A master's degree in Economics with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD).
- DSIM stream: A master's degree in Statistics/Mathematics/Econometrics with at least 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD).
Age limit: 21 to 30 years as of the notification date. Age relaxation applies for reserved categories: 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer), and 10 years for PwBD.
Nationality: Must be an Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1962.
RBI Grade B 2026 Exam Pattern: Phase 1, Phase 2, and Interview
The selection process has three stages:
Phase 1 (Preliminary Exam): Objective type, 200 marks, 2 hours. Four sections: General Awareness (80 marks), English Language (30 marks), Quantitative Aptitude (30 marks), and Reasoning (60 marks). There is negative marking — 1/4th mark deducted for each wrong answer.
Phase 2 (Mains Exam): Three papers — Economic and Social Issues (100 marks), Finance and Management (100 marks), and English (100 marks). The first two papers are objective type; the English paper is descriptive (essay, precis, comprehension).
Interview: 75 marks. Candidates who clear Phase 2 are called for an interview. The final merit list is based on Phase 2 marks (weighted) plus interview marks.
RBI Grade B Syllabus: What Topics to Study
The syllabus is vast but predictable. Here's a breakdown by paper:
Phase 1 General Awareness: Current affairs (national and international), banking awareness, Indian economy, RBI functions, government schemes, and sports. This section is the most scoring if you read a newspaper daily.
Phase 2 Economic and Social Issues: Indian economy, growth and development, poverty, unemployment, demographics, social sector initiatives, and globalization.
Phase 2 Finance and Management: Financial system, banking regulations, risk management, corporate governance, human resource management, and leadership.
English: Essay writing, precis writing, reading comprehension, and grammar. Practice writing 500-word essays on current topics.
For a detailed topic-wise breakdown, see our RBI Grade B 2026 guide.
RBI Grade B Salary and Perks: What You Earn as an Officer
RBI Grade B officers are among the highest-paid government employees in India. The basic pay is ₹55,200 per month (as of the last revision). With allowances (dearness allowance, house rent allowance, city compensatory allowance), the gross monthly salary ranges between ₹1,00,000 and ₹1,20,000.
Perks include: rent-free accommodation (or HRA), medical facilities, leave travel concession, pension under the RBI Pension Fund, and a loan facility at concessional rates. The job also comes with a car and driver for official use.
How to Apply for RBI Grade B 2026: Step-by-Step
Applying is entirely online. Here's the process:
- Go to rbi.org.in → 'Opportunities @ RBI' → 'Current Vacancies'.
- Click on the link for 'Recruitment of Grade B Officers 2026'.
- Register with a valid email ID and phone number.
- Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, and work experience (if any).
- Upload scanned photograph, signature, and required documents (caste certificate, disability certificate, etc.).
- Pay the application fee: ₹850 for General/OBC candidates; ₹100 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
- Submit and print the confirmation page.
The application window is usually open for 2-3 weeks. Don't wait until the last day — the website can get slow due to high traffic.
RBI Grade B Cut-Off: What Score Gets You Through
The cut-off marks vary every year based on the number of vacancies, difficulty level, and candidate performance. For the 2025 cycle, the Phase 1 cut-off for General category was around 120-130 marks out of 200. For Phase 2, the cut-off was around 50-55% in each paper.
Reserved category candidates get a relaxation of 5-10 marks in the cut-off. The final merit list cut-off (Phase 2 + interview) is usually around 60-65% for General category.
Check the official RBI website for the exact cut-off after each exam — it's published as a PDF.
How to Prepare for RBI Grade B 2026: Tips from Toppers
Start early — at least 6-8 months before the notification. Here's a strategy that works:
- Read The Hindu or Indian Express daily for current affairs and economic news.
- Master the basics: NCERT textbooks for Economics (Class 11 and 12) are gold for the Economic and Social Issues paper.
- Practice mock tests: Take at least 20 full-length mocks for Phase 1 and 10 for Phase 2. Analyze your mistakes.
- Focus on writing: The English descriptive paper is where many candidates lose marks. Write one essay and one precis every week.
- Use BankPulse resources: Our current affairs guide covers RBI KYC, BBPS, CRILC, Account Aggregator, and NACH vs UPI e-mandate — all high-probability topics for the exam.
Also check our guides for other bank exams: SBI PO 2026, IBPS PO 2026, and RBI Assistant 2026 — the syllabus overlaps significantly.
Questions people ask
The notification is typically released between January and March. For 2026, expect it in early 2026. Check rbi.org.in under 'Opportunities @ RBI' regularly.
₹850 for General and OBC candidates. ₹100 for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates. The fee is non-refundable.
Yes, but you must complete your degree before the notification date. If you graduate after the notification, you are not eligible.
Yes. 1/4th mark is deducted for each wrong answer. Unanswered questions get no penalty.
OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates get 3 years of age relaxation. SC/ST get 5 years, and PwBD get 10 years.
The number varies each year. In recent cycles, it has ranged from 200 to 400 vacancies across all streams. Check the notification for the exact number.