NABARD Grade A vs Grade B in 2025, Which is Better for You?

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NABARD Grade A vs Grade B: The official notification for NABARD Grade A and Grade B 2025 has not been released yet, but the announcement is expected soon. Many aspirants are confused about which exam they should focus on, Grade A or Grade B? Both exams are prestigious and lead to a rewarding career with NABARD, but each has its own differences. In this blog, we will break down NABARD Grade A vs Grade B in 2025 so you can make an informed decision.

NABARD Grade A vs Grade B 2025 At a Glance

Take a quick look at the NABARD Grade A vs Grade B comparison table below. A detailed breakdown of each feature is provided in the following sections:

Feature	NABARD Grade A	NABARD Grade B
Vacancies	150 Vacancies in 2024	7 Vacancies in 2021
Eligibility	Bachelor’s Degree in relevant discipline.	Bachelor’s Degree + Postgraduate qualification in Economics/Finance or related field (as per past trends).
Salary	Approx. ₹70,000 – ₹75,000 per month (with allowances).	Approx. ₹80,000 – ₹85,000 per month (with allowances).
Work Pressure	Relatively balanced workload, more implementation-based tasks.	Higher responsibility, involves supervision and policy-level work.
Career Growth	Slower promotions, but steady growth path from Assistant Manager upwards.	Faster promotions, starts at Manager level, higher authority from the beginning.

Attempt NABARD Grade A Mock Test

NABARD Grade A and Grade B Vacancies

Candidates can take a look at the NABARD vacancies table of previous cycle provided below for Grade A and Grade B. Generally, Grade A usually has higher vacancies, making it more accessible, while Grade B has limited seats but higher authority.

Category	NABARD Grade A (2024)	NABARD Grade B (2021)
UR	61	3
SC	22	1
ST	12	0
OBC	46	2
EWS	9	1
Total	150	7

NABARD Grade A and Grade B Salary & Perks in 2025

Both NABARD Grade A and Grade B officers enjoy excellent pay, allowances, and benefits. Below, we have shared the official pay scale details from the latest available notifications of the previous cycles.

NABARD Grade A Salary (as per 2024 notification)

NABARD Grade A Salary Basic Pay: ₹44,500 per month
Pay Scale: ₹44,500 – ₹89,150
Gross Monthly Salary (with allowances): Around ₹1,00,000 (varies by posting location)

NABARD Grade B Salary (as per 2021 notification)

NABARD Grade B Salary Basic Pay: ₹35,150 per month
Pay Scale: ₹35,150 – ₹62,400
Gross Monthly Salary (with allowances): Around ₹80,000–₹85,000

Feature	Grade A (2024)	Grade B (2021)
Basic Pay	₹44,500	₹35,150
Pay Scale	₹44,500 – ₹89,150	₹35,150 – ₹62,400
Gross Salary	₹1,00,000 (approx.)	₹80,000 – ₹85,000 (approx.)
Allowances	DA, HRA, LTA, Medical, Travel	DA, HRA, LTA, Medical, Travel
Perks	Accommodation, Fuel, Loans, Education perks, Pension	Accommodation, Fuel, Loans, Education perks, Pension

Attempt NABARD Grade A Previous Year Papers

NABARD Grade A and Grade B Exam Pattern

As per the latest NABARD Grade A and Grade B Notification of previous cycle, the following differences can be seen on their exam pattern:

Stage	Grade A	Grade B
Prelims (Phase I)	– 200 MCQs, 120 mins – Qualifying Section: Reasoning, English Language, Computer Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, Decision Making – Merit Section: General Awareness, Economic & Social Issues (ESI), Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD)	– Same as Grade A – 200 MCQs, 120 mins – Qualifying + Merit sections identical
Mains (Phase II)	– Paper I: General English (Descriptive) – 100 marks, 90 mins – Paper II: ESI & ARD (Objective + Descriptive) – 100 marks, 120 mins	– Paper I: General English (Descriptive) – 100 marks, 90 mins – Paper II: ESI & ARD (Objective + Descriptive) – 100 marks, 90 mins – Paper III: Development Economics, Statistics, Finance & Management (Objective + Descriptive) – 100 marks, 90 mins
Interview (Phase III)	50 marks	75 marks

Overall Difficulty Level:

Grade A & B Prelims has same exam structure.
Grade B Mains includes one extra specialized paper. Paper III covers topics like Development Economics, Statistics, Finance, and Management.
Grade A Mains focuses on General English and sectors like ESI & ARD.
Grade B requires stronger domain knowledge in economic and statistical concepts.

NABARD Grade A vs Grade B Job Role & Responsibilities

The roles of NABARD Grade A and Grade B officers differ mainly in terms of seniority, responsibilities, and decision-making power.

Aspect	Grade A (Assistant Manager)	Grade B (Manager)
Role Level	Entry-level managerial	Mid-level managerial
Main Focus	Implementation, monitoring, rural-level execution	Policy oversight, supervision, strategic decision-making
Tasks	Appraising and approving rural credit, evaluating rural projects, conducting field visits, capacity building	Loan approvals, departmental coordination, financial analysis, strategy and program supervision
Interaction	Direct interaction with rural units and local branches	Oversight, coordination, and leadership at regional and policy levels
Decision Power	Limited to execution and operational follow-up	Greater authority in scheme design and execution oversight
Example	A Grade A officer may handle tasks like approving rural credit applications, monitoring agricultural projects, coordinating with state governments, or ensuring that schemes such as farmer credit support are implemented properly at branch or regional levels.	A Grade B officer may be involved in framing new financing schemes for rural infrastructure, reviewing agricultural credit policies, supervising Assistant Managers, or making financial/statistical analysis for rural development projects.

Explore NABARD Grade A Courses

NABARD Grade A vs Grade B Career Growth

Both Grade A and Grade B officers have similar chances for promotions. The main difference is that Grade B officers start at a higher level. This often leads to faster career growth. On the other hand, Grade A officers start as Assistant Managers and gradually move up the hierarchy. Below, we have provided the promotion levels for both positions and the estimated timelines.

Level	Grade A (Assistant Manager Entry)	Grade B (Manager Entry)	Approx. Time for Promotion
Entry Point	Assistant Manager (Grade A)	Manager (Grade B)	–
1st Promotion	Manager	Assistant General Manager (AGM)	3–5 years
2nd Promotion	Assistant General Manager (AGM)	General Manager (GM)	5–6 years
3rd Promotion	General Manager (GM)	Chief General Manager (CGM)	5–6 years
4th Promotion	Chief General Manager (CGM)	Deputy Managing Director (DMD)	5–7 years
5th Promotion	Deputy Managing Director (DMD)	Managing Director (MD)	6–7 years
Top Position	Managing Director (MD)	Managing Director (MD)	–

NABARD Grade A and Grade B Work-Life Balance

When it comes to work-life balance, there is a slight difference between NABARD Grade A and Grade B roles. NABARD Grade A Officers usually enjoy a balanced work-life. However, in the initial years, they are posted in semi-urban or rural areas where NABARD projects are implemented, giving them hands-on exposure to development work. Later, they may be transferred to metro cities.

On the other hand, Grade B officers have greater responsibility as they focus on policy-making, supervision, and decision-making. This often leads to longer working hours and higher job pressure. However, they are usually posted in regional or head offices, which provides a better lifestyle in urban cities.

Aspect	Grade A (Assistant Manager)	Grade B (Manager)
Work Pressure	Balanced, implementation-focused	Higher pressure, policy & decision-making
Posting Locations	Mostly rural/semi-urban branches	Regional/Head offices, urban postings
Work-Life Balance	Relatively better	Comparatively tougher

Which Exam Should You Choose in 2025?

Choosing between NABARD Grade A and Grade B depends on your career goals and how much work pressure you can handle. Both roles are prestigious, but the nature of work, growth opportunities, and difficulty level vary.

Choose NABARD Grade A if:

You are a fresher or starting your career, or
You prefer job stability with a balanced workload, or
You enjoy implementation-level work in semi-urban or rural areas, directly engaging with NABARD’s projects.

Choose NABARD Grade B if:

You want to enter at a higher managerial level, or
You are looking for faster promotions and leadership roles, or
You can handle tough jobs in policy-making and supervision.

FAQs

Q1. What is the difference between NABARD Grade A and Grade B posts?

Grade A is an entry-level Assistant Manager role, while Grade B is a Manager-level role with more responsibility and policy-making work.

Q2. Which exam is tougher, NABARD Grade A or Grade B?

NABARD Grade B is tougher because it includes an extra paper on Development Economics & Finance along with higher-level competition.

Q3. What is the starting salary for NABARD Grade A and Grade B?

Grade A officers earn around ₹70,000 per month, while Grade B officers earn about ₹80,000 per month (approx, including allowances).

Q4. Who should apply for NABARD Grade A?

Freshers or candidates seeking stability and field-level work should go for Grade A.

Q5. Are transfers compulsory for NABARD Grade A and Grade B officers?

Yes. Grade A officers are usually posted in semi-urban/rural project areas first, while Grade B officers are more likely posted in regional/head offices in urban areas.

Priti Palit

Priti Palit, is an accomplished edtech writer with 4+ years of experience in Regulatory Exams and other multiple government exams. With a passion for education and a keen eye for detail, she has contributed significantly to the field of online learning. Priti’s expertise and dedication continue to empower aspiring individuals in their pursuit of success in government examinations.