NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy

NABARD Grade A 2021 notification in May 2021. This leaves aspirants with a substantial amount of time to prepare for the same if strategized and planned properly. To be able to clear an exam with such a vast syllabus & enormous competition, you would need a clearly tabulated list of preparation resources and topics. Here in this blog of NABARD Grade A preparation strategy, we have done exactly this for your ease of preparation. Read on to know all about it.

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NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy 2021
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NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy 2021

Before we discuss the NABARD Grade A preparation strategy for Phase-1 & Phase-2, let us have a thorough look at the scheme of the examination and exam pattern for Phase-1 & Phase-2.

NABARD Grade-A Exam is for recruitment for the post of Assistant Managers is conducted in three phases.

1. Phase-1 – Preliminary Examination (Online Exam) – 200 Marks

2. Phase-2 – Main Examination will be online and will be a mix of MCQ and descriptive patterns. – 200 Marks

3. Phase-3 – Interview – 25 marks

I. NABARD Grade-A Exam Pattern – Phase-1

It is an objective online exam comprising of seven sections The total marks for this phase of the examination is 200. There is a sectional cut-off as well as an overall cut-off in this phase. This is a qualifying stage and marks obtained by the candidate are not counted in the subsequent phases.

Name of Section	Marks Allotted
Quantitative Aptitude	20
Reasoning Ability	20
English Language	40
Computer Knowledge	20
General Awareness	20
Economics & Social Issues	40
Agriculture & Rural Development	40
Total Marks	200

Start practising for Quants, Reasoning, English & GA using Sectional Tests

II. NABARD Grade-A Exam Pattern – Phase 2

NABARD Grade A-Main Examination (Phase II) will be conducted online and will be a mix of MCQ and descriptive patterns.

Mains Exam Pattern

Nature	Paper	Marks	Time
Descriptive	Paper I: General English	100	1.5 Hours
Objective	Paper-II: For General Post – Economic & Social Issues; Agriculture and Rural Development	100	1.5 Hours
Objective	Paper-II: For all other Posts – Related to the discipline of the post	100	1.5 Hours

Paper-I – General English: (Descriptive – online through the keyboard). The paper will have descriptive questions carrying 100 marks. Duration: 1 ½ hrs.

Take up ESI & ARD Topic Tests Here

III. NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy for Phase-1 & Phase-2

» NABARD Grade-A Exam Myths Busted

Most of the candidates take SEBI Gr. A and RBI Gr. B but are hesitant about taking up the NABARD Gr. A exam. There is not much of a difference when we talk about RBI, SEBI & NABARD exams. These are the exams conducted by regulatory bodies. The position, status, perks, salary, everything is almost the same.

If we talk about the syllabus, we a very good overlap. Do not restrict yourself from appearing for the NABARD exam.

When you hear about NABARD, you would associate it with agriculture. But this does not mean that you should have complete knowledge of agriculture as a subject. Learning the basics and revising it multiple time would work in your favour.

» NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy – Phase-1

Quants, Reasoning & English – The questions asked here are of medium difficulty level. Do not give away too much of your precious time in preparing for these subjects. Revise the basics, practice a few questions of each type, and then gradually move on to taking topic & sectional tests and then finally to take up mock tests.

Mock tests would help you cover questions of varying difficulty levels from the syllabus of these subjects. Solve as many questions as possible. Analyse the questions and the solutions and assess where you lack and what else needs to be done to get most of these questions right in the stipulated time.

General Awareness – Cover the current affairs of the last 3-4 months prior to the date of the examination. As of now, you can start covering the current affairs starting January 2021.

ESI & ARD – ESI & ARD preparation would be common for both Phase-1 & Phase-2 exams. You will have to do a simultaneous prep for Phase-1 & Phase-2. In Phase-1, 80 out of 200 marks are from ESI & ARD, when you study for ARD & ESI, you study for both the Phases.

Start practising for Quants, Reasoning, English & GA using Sectional Tests

» NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy – Phase-2

For Phase-2 you need to individually clear the cut off for the papers of Descriptive English and ESI & ARD.

1. NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy – Phase-2 – Descriptive English Preparation

The following question types can be asked:

Essay writing
Reading comprehension
Precis’ writing
Report writing
Letter writing
Paragraph writing

Here you need to focus on two aspects: One is the format and the other is content. Each of the question type given above has a unique writing format and you need to be thorough with the same.

Coming to the content part, as you prepare for ESI, ARD and GA, you would have enough fodder material for writing about any topic that is asked in the exam.

It is recommended practising (typing) each of these questions type on a weekly basis or say every ten days using your desktop/laptop.

2. NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy – Phase-2 – ESI & ARD

You will have two parts: Static & Current Affairs

Usually, equal weightage is given to ESI (50 Marks) & ARD (50 Marks).

A total of 65 questions of 100 marks are asked. 35 questions of 2 marks each (70 marks). 30 questions of 1 mark each (30 marks).

As per the past years’ trends, it is observed that in some years, the paper was tilted more towards static questions, while in other years, the paper was tilted more towards current affairs questions.

To be able to clear the sectional cut off, you need to be good in both static portions as well current affairs related to ESI & ARD.

Have a look at the video lessons, study notes & topic tests for ESI & ARD

Important Chapters for ESI & ARD

If you have not started your preparations yet, we would suggest picking up these chapters in the first place and cover the basics of them.

Economic & Social Issues (ESI)	Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD)
Measurement of Growth & National Income	Agronomy
Monetary Policy	Soil Science
Fiscal Policy	Agricultural Engineering
Balance of Payments	Irrigation Management
Industrial & Labour Policy	Animal Husbandry & Poultry
Role of Economic Planning	Horticulture

After you cover the basics, start solving previous years questions or topic tests to understand and assess your knowledge.

Take up ESI & ARD Topic Tests Here

3. Current Affairs for Phase-2

8-10 months prior to the exam is of great importance.
As of now, you can start reading the CA from the month of July 2020.

What topics need to be covered?

Daily Current Affairs (Reports & Indices especially)
Economic Survey
Union Budget
Government Schemes
NABARD Bankable Project Reports
Other Important Agriculture Reports

Have a look at the NABARD CA Capsules Here

IV. How do you manage your time?

We would recommend covering the basic chapters of ESI & ARD during weekdays while reserving the weekends for the coverage & revision of the current affairs, and practising Quants, Reasoning & English Questions.

Get ESI Study Notes, Video Lessons & Topic Tests to Boost your Preparations

This was all from us in this blog of “NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy 2021 for Phase-1 & Phase-2. We hope that you like the content of the blog NABARD Grade A preparation strategy and would prove useful to you. We have prepared Free Agriculture & Rural Development Notes for your extensive preparation.

Refer to them below: