RBI Grade B Phase 2 ESI Descriptive Questions 2025, Download Free PDF

The RBI Grade B exam is conducted in two phases, and the Phase 2 exam is extremely important as the score obtained in Phase 2 is considered for the final selection. The RBI Grade B Phase 2 consists of three papers Economic and Social Issues (ESI), Finance and Management (FM), and English (Writing Skills). The descriptive questions test the ability to explain concepts, analyze situations, and present opinions in a structured manner.

In this blog, we have provided ESI descriptive questions and answers along with a direct link to download the 35+ Model ESI Descriptive Questions and Answers Free PDF.

RBI Grade B ESI Solved Question and Answer

Aspirants appearing for the RBI Grade B Phase 2 exam must have a clear understanding of how to frame an answer in an organized manner while covering all the important points. Some examples of questions and answers are provided below:

Q1. What are the key changes announced in GST 2.0 reforms? Discuss the benefits of these reforms & what are the fiscal & operational constraints involved, if any? (10 Marks, 400 Words)

Ans. The GST Council has approved next-generation reforms, moving towards a simplified two-slab structure of 5% and 18%, along with a 40% rate for luxury and sin goods. This marks a major milestone in streamlining India’s eight-year-old indirect tax regime. The reforms aim to reduce the tax burden on common people, rationalise slabs, ease working capital issues, and enhance business efficiency through automated refunds and registrations.

Key changes in the reforms

• Focus on common-use goods and services: Significant relief has been provided on daily-use items. Packaged food products such as juices, butter, cheese, coconut water, pasta, and nuts have been reduced to 5%. Medical essentials like oxygen, gauze, bandages, and diagnostic kits are lowered from 12% to 5%. Ultra-high temperature milk, paneer, pizza bread, chapati, khakra, and erasers are now GST-free. Household items including hair oil, soaps, shampoos, bicycles, and kitchenware have been brought down to 5%.
• Tax cuts on white goods and automobiles: GST on ACs, TVs, and dishwashers has been reduced from 28% to 18%. Small cars (petrol up to 1200 cc/diesel up to 1500 cc) are now taxed at 18%. Motorcycles under 350 cc and all auto parts are also shifted to 18%. Luxury cars remain taxed at 40%, while electric vehicles continue at 5%.
• Insurance and services: Life and health insurance—including term plans, ULIPs, endowment policies, and family floater policies—have been made GST-exempt. Services such as gyms, salons, barbers, and yoga centres are reduced from 18% to 5%.
• Rationalisation of GST slabs: The Council has replaced the earlier multi-slab structure of 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28% with a simplified two-slab system of 5% and 18%, along with a 40% demerit rate for sin goods like tobacco, pan masala, and luxury cars. This measure corrects the inverted duty structure, simplifies compliance, and reduces disputes.
• Sector-specific reforms:
  • Textiles: GST on manmade fibre has been cut from 18% to 5%, and on yarn from 12% to 5%.
  • Fertilisers: Inputs such as sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and ammonia have been reduced from 18% to 5%.

Next-gen GST – benefits for all

• Lower prices, higher demand: GST cuts are expected to improve household savings (30% of income) and boost consumption, which drives 60% of India’s GDP.
• Support for MSMEs: Rate reductions on inputs such as cement (from 28% to 18%) and auto parts lower costs for India’s 6.3 crore MSMEs, which contribute 30% to the GDP.
• Ease of living: The new two-slab structure (5% & 18%) is expected to reduce nearly 1.5 lakh annual tax disputes and improve compliance.
• Wider tax net: Simplification aims to expand India’s GST base beyond the current 1.4 crore registered taxpayers, improving tax buoyancy.
• Support for manufacturing: Fixing inverted duty structures in sectors like textiles and footwear strengthens domestic production, which contributes 17% to GDP.
• Social protection: GST exemptions on health insurance and essential medicines enhance access for 50 crore beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat.

Operational and fiscal constraints

• Fiscal shortfall: The GST rate cuts may reduce government revenue by approximately ₹48,000 crore annually.
• State concerns: Industrialised states may experience sharper revenue losses, complicating fiscal equity discussions.
• Classification gaps: Fewer slabs increase the challenge of accurate item placement, potentially leading to classification disputes.
• Transition burden: A phased rollout of sin goods adds complexity to compliance, monitoring, and enforcement.
• Systemic readiness: The GSTN infrastructure requires significant upgrades to support automated compliance processes.

Way forward

• Tax base expansion: Gradually include petroleum and alcohol to remove cascading tax distortions.
• State support: Provide transitional compensation to states facing disproportionate revenue losses.
• Digital capacity: Strengthen GSTN with AI-driven reconciliation to reduce invoice mismatches.
• Fitment oversight: Implement quarterly fitment reviews to avoid sector-specific rate disputes.
• Council mechanism: Empower GST Council sub-committees to ensure faster resolution of anomalies.

The adoption of a simplified GST structure with broad-based rate cuts marks a transformative phase in India’s taxation landscape. These reforms position GST as a driver of inclusive prosperity, economic expansion, and the realisation of PM Modi’s $5 trillion economy vision.

Q2. How has the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) acted as a key driver of
financial inclusion in India? Analyze its three key impacts. (10 Marks, 400 words)

Ans: The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), launched in April 2015, aims to provide institutional credit of up to ₹10 lakh to small businesses and non-corporate, non-farm enterprises. By addressing the needs of the micro and informal sector, the scheme plays a critical role in extending formal credit to segments traditionally excluded from the banking system, thereby advancing India’s financial inclusion agenda.

Loans are sanctioned under three categories Shishu (up to ₹50,000), Kishore (₹50,001–₹5 lakh), and Tarun (₹5–₹10 lakh) which support enterprises at different stages of development. Recently, a new Tarun Plus category has been added, extending loan limits to ₹20 lakh for growing small businesses.

Three key impacts of the Mudra Scheme

• Fostering the growth of MSMEs: The scheme has significantly strengthened small business units by providing easy access to credit, enabling financial independence and enterprise expansion. A notable indicator of this progress is the decline in the share of the smallest Shishu loans and the near-tripling of the average loan size over the past decade.
• Empowering women entrepreneurs: Mudra loans have been instrumental in boosting women-led MSMEs. States with a higher share of Mudra disbursements to women exhibit a direct correlation with increased employment in women-led enterprises, highlighting the scheme’s role in advancing gender-inclusive entrepreneurship.
• Reorienting credit towards underdeveloped regions:The scheme has effectively channelled funds towards states with historically low levels of financial inclusion. Over the years, allocations to developed states have declined, while underdeveloped regions such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and the North-East have seen an increased share of Mudra funding.

Challenges and limitations

• Overdependence on Shishu loans: A majority of loans fall under the small-ticket Shishu category, limiting substantial enterprise growth. The lower uptake of Kishore and Tarun categories restricts scalability.
• Concerns about asset quality: Since Mudra loans are collateral-free, repayment stress is common. Reports of rising NPAs raise concerns about the robustness of credit appraisal mechanisms.
• Limited skill and market linkages: Credit alone cannot ensure entrepreneurial success. Many borrowers lack adequate training, mentorship, and market access, resulting in suboptimal loan utilisation.
• Risk of over-indebtedness: The easy availability of small loans has in some cases led to multiple borrowings. Without sufficient financial literacy, some borrowers risk falling into debt traps.

Future of MSME credit

• Digital-first approach: NBFCs are increasingly adopting digital technologies, including the Account Aggregator framework, to enhance credit delivery.
• Unified Lending Interface (ULI): The RBI’s proposed ULI initiative is expected to strengthen credit access further. Pilot studies show it can significantly reduce loan turnaround time in a cost-effective manner.

PMMY has become a cornerstone of India’s financial inclusion strategy by expanding access to formal credit, empowering women and vulnerable sections, and promoting grassroots entrepreneurship. Although challenges persist in ensuring repayment discipline, improving skill development, and preventing over-indebtedness, the scheme’s contribution to inclusive growth and reducing India’s credit divide remains undeniable.

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Q3. List down 7 key takeaways from RBI Annual Report 2024-25. What are the challenges identified by RBI in its annual report & what measures has the report suggested to ensure economic growth & financial stability? (15 Marks, 600 words)

Ans: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released its Annual Report for 2024–25, presenting a detailed assessment of the central bank’s operations, monetary policy direction, financial stability indicators, regulatory initiatives, and the overall economic landscape. The report highlights global and domestic growth trends, inflation dynamics, fiscal developments, and technological advancements in the financial system.

7 Key Takeaways from RBI’s Annual Report 2024–25 (any 7)

• Global Economic Growth: Global growth slowed to 3.3% in 2024, lower than the long-term average of 3.7% (2000–19). Growth is expected at 2.8% in 2025 and 3.0% in 2026 due to geopolitical tensions, rising protectionism, and elevated public debt. Global inflation eased to 5.7% in 2024 from 6.6% in 2023, though services inflation remains sticky in major advanced economies.
• Indian Economy Resilience: India’s GDP growth moderated to 6.5% in 2024–25 but remained the fastest among major global economies. Agricultural GVA rose by 4.6% owing to favourable weather and record foodgrain output. Industrial growth slowed to 4.3%, while services stayed strong at 7.5%.
• RBI Balance Sheet: As of March 2025, RBI’s balance sheet expanded by 8.2% year-on-year. Income increased by 22.77%, driven by a nearly 33% rise in forex transaction gains and stronger investment returns, while expenditure rose by 7.76%. This resulted in a record surplus of ₹2.68 lakh crore. Gold holdings increased by 52.09%, domestic investments by 14.32%, and foreign investments by 1.70%.
• Inflation Trends: Headline inflation eased to 4.6% in 2024–25 from 5.4% in 2023–24, and is projected to move closer to the target in 2025–26.
• Monetary Policy and Liquidity: The MPC held the repo rate at 6.50% for most of 2024–25 but shifted its stance to “neutral” in October 2024. The CRR was reduced to 4% in December 2024 to ease liquidity. In 2025, the repo rate has been reduced by a total of 100 basis points to 5.50%, along with a planned 100 bps reduction in CRR in four tranches.
• External Sector: Merchandise exports grew marginally by 0.1%, while imports increased by 6.2%, widening the trade deficit to USD 282.8 billion. CAD remained comfortable at 1.3% of GDP. Forex reserves stood at USD 668.3 billion, adequate to cover 11 months of merchandise imports.
• Increased Household Savings: Net household savings increased to 5.1% of Gross National Disposable Income (GNDI), indicating stronger financial buffers at the household level.
• Digital Payments and Financial Inclusion: Digital payment volumes grew by 34.8%. UPI accounted for 48.5% of global real-time payment volumes. The Financial Inclusion Index improved from 60.1 in 2023 to 64.2 in 2024. Initiatives such as Financial Literacy Week 2025 and new mascots “Junior Money” and “Mini Money” strengthened financial awareness.
• Regulatory and Technological Initiatives: RBI launched the ‘bank.in’ domain to enhance digital security and expanded the CBDC pilot to 17 banks and 60 lakh users. The FinTech Repository and EmTech Repository were introduced to track ML and AI adoption among FinTechs and regulated entities, providing insights for policy formulation.
• Fiscal Situation: The central government’s GFD declined to 4.7% of GDP in 2024–25 from 5.5% in 2023–24. Capital expenditure grew by 5.2%, revenue expenditure by 5.8%, and states’ consolidated fiscal deficit is expected to stay within 3.2% of GDP.

Challenges Identified by the Report

• Counterfeit Notes: Although overall detection of fake notes has decreased, counterfeit ₹200 and ₹500 notes have increased significantly, requiring heightened vigilance.
• Surge in Bank Fraud Amounts: Fraud amounts nearly tripled to ₹36,014 crore despite a decline in the number of cases. Public sector banks recorded the highest fraud values, mainly in loan portfolios, while private banks saw more digital payment-related fraud cases.
• Global Uncertainties: Geopolitical tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and rising protectionism threaten global trade stability. Changes in US tariff policies and retaliatory measures could cause market volatility.
• Inflation Management: Rising input costs and weak external demand pose challenges for industrial growth. Despite moderation, food price volatility continues to slow the disinflation process.
• Fiscal Consolidation vs Capital Expenditure: While the GFD has declined, maintaining fiscal consolidation alongside the need for higher capital expenditure remains a challenge.
• Climate Change and Sustainability Risks: Climate shocks threaten agricultural output and food price stability. Renewable energy adoption and green technology efforts need scaling to meet long-term sustainability goals.

Measures Suggested by the Report

• Controlling Food Inflation: Strengthen agri-logistics, including cold chains and warehousing, to minimise post-harvest losses. Adopt forecast-based MSP planning and ensure timely buffer stock releases to manage supply shocks.
• Enhancing Financial Sector Resilience: Improve fraud detection using RBI’s Mulehunter AI and advanced digital forensics, especially for public sector banks and digital payments, to maintain trust.
• Harnessing Digital Innovation: Expand the CBDC pilot to enhance transaction efficiency, reduce cash usage, and strengthen anti–money laundering monitoring.
• External Sector Diversification: Deepen engagement in multilateral and bilateral trade partnerships to mitigate risks from protectionist policies. Maintain strong forex reserves for external resilience.
• Quality Capital Expenditure: Prioritise higher capital spending on infrastructure, renewable energy, and digital connectivity to boost productivity. Strengthen public financial management through outcome-based budgeting and digital governance.
• Climate Adaptation and Green Financing: Promote green finance through instruments like green bonds and incentivise ESG-compliant investments to support India’s COP26 commitments.

The RBI Annual Report 2024–25 underscores the need to maintain a balance between strong economic growth and financial stability in an environment of global uncertainty. Focused action on inflation control, digital innovation, climate resilience, and high-quality capital expenditure will be essential for sustained growth and long-term stability.

Download RBI Grade B ESI model question and answer Free PDF

Candidates appearing for the RBI Grade B Phase 2 exam scheduled for 6th December 2025 can go through these descriptive model questions and answers. They can also download the PDF containing 35+ descriptive questions with detailed answers through the direct link provided below.

35+ ESI Model Question and Answer

What are the best ways to prepare for descriptive questions for the RBI Grade B exam?

Preparing for descriptive questions in the RBI Grade B Phase 2 ESI section becomes easier when you follow a structured method. Start with understanding the topic clearly, then organise your ideas in a logical flow. Regular writing practice and awareness of current affairs will help you build strong answers for the exam.

• Understand the topic before you start writing
• Create a clear structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion
• Be concise and stay on the main idea
• Use real-life examples or recent data
• Practice typing and writing within time limits

How to frame the answer for descriptive questions?

To frame a good descriptive answer, begin by interpreting the question and identifying its main demand. Write a short introduction that sets the context. Use the body to explain your points in a simple and organised way, supported by examples or facts. End with a crisp conclusion that summarises your view without adding new information. This structure helps maintain clarity and makes your answer examiner-friendly.

What is the RBI Grade B phase 2 exam pattern for (DR) General?

The RBI Grade B Phase 2 has three papers Economic and Social Issues, English (Writing Skills), and General Finance and Management. Papers I and III follow a mix of objective and descriptive questions, and candidates can also type descriptive answers in Hindi using Inscript or Remington (GAIL) layouts. 

The Paper II is fully descriptive and tests English writing skills. In Papers I and III, the objective part includes 30 questions for 50 marks, while the descriptive part has 6 questions, out of which 4 must be attempted. Negative marking applies for objective questions, and the cut-off is decided based on the number of candidates shortlisted. All papers except English are bilingual, and the Board may change the exam schedule if required.

Papers	Type of Test	Total Marks	Duration
Paper 1 – Economic and Social Issues	50% Objective Test (30 objective questions) 50% Descriptive Test (6 descriptive questions out of which 4 need to be answered) Hindi typing allowed (Inscript/Remington)	50 marks 50 marks	30 mins 90 mins
Paper 2 – English (Writing Skills)	Descriptive Test (3 questions) to be typed using keyboard	100 marks	90 mins
Paper 3 – Finance and Management	50% Objective Test (30 objective questions) 50% Descriptive Test (6 descriptive questions out of which 4 need to be answered) Hindi typing allowed (Inscript/Remington)	50 marks 50 marks	120 minutes

Important Points:

• No penalty is applied for unanswered questions.
• The exam is conducted online with both objective and descriptive questions.
• Descriptive answers must be typed using a keyboard.
• The exam is bilingual except for the English descriptive paper.
• Phase 2 carries a total of 300 marks.
• Cut-offs are set based on the number of candidates shortlisted.
• Wrong answers carry negative marking (0.25 for 1-mark questions, 0.50 for 2-mark questions).

Key Takeaways

Key Point	Summary
Importance of Descriptive Section	Plays a major role in final selection as Phase 2 scores are counted in the merit list.
Build Conceptual Clarity	Strong understanding of ESI topics such as growth, development, inflation, poverty, government schemes, and policies is essential.
Structure Answers Well	Use a clear format: Introduction → Body → Conclusion for every descriptive response.
Practice Writing Regularly	Attempt previous year questions and mock tests to improve speed and presentation.
Use Relevant Examples	Include current affairs, government initiatives, and real-life case examples to add value.
Maintain Simplicity	Write in clear, simple, and professional language to avoid confusion and time loss.
Time Management	Practice with a timer to improve writing speed and complete answers within the exam limit.
Improve Reading Habits	Reading editorials, reports, and RBI publications helps improve content quality.
Stay Updated with Current Affairs	Latest economic and social developments strengthen descriptive answers.

FAQs

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