Preparing for NABARD Grade A requires a disciplined approach, especially with limited time before the exam. With just three months left, aspirants need a structured plan to cover both the qualifying and merit sections effectively, while also revising current affairs and practicing mock tests. This blog breaks down a clear strategy for the next 3 months, ensuring focused preparation without compromising on health or consistency.
What is the NABARD Grade A exam pattern?
The NABARD Grade A Exam 2026 has different patterns for the RDBS, Legal, and Protocol & Security Service (P&SS) streams. For RDBS and Legal posts, the selection includes four stages: Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, Psychometric Test, and Personal Interview. The Preliminary Exam is an online objective test covering subjects like Reasoning, English, Computer Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, Decision Making, General Awareness, Economic & Social Issues, and Agriculture & Rural Development.
The Mains Exam includes both objective and descriptive papers based on the chosen discipline. Candidates who pass the Mains are called for a Psychometric Test and then a Personal Interview.
For the P&SS post, the selection has three stages: Online Exam, Psychometric Test, and Interview. The Online Exam tests Reasoning, English, General Awareness (with focus on banking), and Professional Knowledge. For all posts, the final selection depends on the combined performance in the Mains or Online Exam and the Interview.
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What is the NABARD Grade A syllabus?
The NABARD Grade A syllabus differs for both phases. In Phase 1, candidates are tested on Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, General Awareness, Decision Making, and Computer Knowledge. For the Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD) streams, Phase 2 focuses on Agriculture, Soil & Water Conservation, Water Resource Management, Agri & Farm Engineering, Horticulture & Plantation, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Forestry, Agricultural Extension, Ecology & Climate Change, Rural Development, and the current situation of agriculture. The Economic & Social Issues (ESI) section is included in both phases and covers topics such as Indian Economy, Inflation, Employment & Poverty, Population, Industry, Financial Institutions, Globalization, Social Structure, Education, Social Justice, and support for underprivileged groups.
Which subjects should be prioritized in qualifying and merit sections?
The qualifying section consists of Reasoning, English, Decision Making, and Computer Knowledge, while the merit section includes Finance, Management, Agriculture, and Rural Development.
- Decision Making is scoring but tricky; practice previous year questions to get familiar.
- Prioritize merit section as it carries more weight in the final selection.
- Divide qualifying subjects into smaller, daily study portions for better retention.
Also Check: NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy
How should current affairs be integrated into your preparation?
Current affairs play a vital role in both the merit and qualifying sections, particularly for ESI and ARD, making daily consistency essential. Aspirants should thoroughly cover at least the last six months of general awareness and dedicate around two hours each day specifically for current affairs. Maintaining a notebook to record important schemes, reports, indices, and key dates can make quick revision much easier. To save time and enhance retention, using videos or practicing MCQs at an increased speed, such as 1.5x, can be highly effective.
| Activity | Time Allocation | Notes |
|---|
| Reading & notes | 1 hour | Cover reports, schemes, important facts |
| MCQs / video revision | 1 hour | Helps in faster retention |
| Quick recap | 10–15 mins | Last-minute revision of key facts |
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What should be your NABARD Grade A 2026 study plan for the next 3 months?
To prepare effectively for NABARD Grade A 2026 in the next 3 months, you should follow a structured study plan covering Phase 1 topics like Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, General Awareness, Decision Making, and Computer Knowledge, along with ARD and ESI topics, which are common for both Phase 1 and Phase 2. Divide your preparation into daily sessions for theory, practice, and sectional mocks, and dedicate specific days to ARD and ESI topics to cover them in depth. Include weekly full-length mock tests to track progress and revise weak areas. Consistency, focused revision, and regular practice will ensure you complete the syllabus while building speed and accuracy.
| Week | Phase 1 Topics | ESI & ARD (Common Phase 1 & 2) |
|---|
| Week 1 | Reasoning: Puzzles & Seating Arrangement, Syllogism Quant: Number Series, Simplification/Approximation English: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test GA: Current Affairs (National & International), Banking, Economy Decision Making: Interpreting Information Computer Knowledge: Input–Output Devices, Networking | ARD: Agriculture basics – Definition, branches, Agronomy, Classification of field crops ESI: Indian Economy – Institutional & structural features, Economic underdevelopment |
| Week 2 | Reasoning: Data Sufficiency, Statement-Based Questions Quant: Arithmetic Questions, Quantity Comparisons English: Sentence Improvement, Spotting Errors GA: Government Schemes, Science & Technology Decision Making: Recognizing Assumptions Computer Knowledge: DBMS, MS Office basics | ARD: Factors affecting crop production, Agro-climatic zones, Types of cropping systems ESI: Globalization, Opening up of Indian economy, Economic reforms |
| Week 3 | Reasoning: Inequality, Miscellaneous Questions Quant: Quadratic Equations, Mathematical Inequalities English: Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Rearrangement GA: Recent Appointments, Awards & Honours Decision Making: Situation-Based Questions Computer Knowledge: Internet, History & Generations of Computers | ARD: Dryland problems, Seed production & processing, Seed village ESI: Inflation – types, trends, causes, control measures |
| Week 4 | Reasoning: Input–Output, Blood Relations, Coding–Decoding Quant: Data Interpretation English: Para Jumbles, New Pattern Questions GA: Sports, Miscellaneous Current Affairs Decision Making: Case Studies Computer Knowledge: Keyboard Shortcuts | ARD: Meteorology, crop-weather advisory, Precision farming, System of crop intensification, Organic farming ESI: Employment generation & poverty alleviation – trends, methods, major programmes |
| Week 5 | Revision Week Phase 1: All topics – Reasoning, Quant, English, GA, Decision Making, Computer Knowledge Take 1 Full Mock Test | ARD: Soil & Water Conservation: Soil types, Fertility, Fertilizers, Erosion & conservation, Watershed management Water Resource Management: Irrigation management, types & sources |
| Week 6 | Phase 1: Focus on weak areas from mocks – Quant & Reasoning intensive practice English: RC & Cloze Practice | ARD: Crop-water requirement, Command area development, Water conservation techniques, Micro irrigation, Irrigation pumps Agri & Farm Engineering: Power & machinery, Power sources |
| Week 7 | GA: Banking, Economy & Insurance (Revision + Current Affairs) Decision Making: Practice Case Studies Computer Knowledge: Networking & DBMS Practice | ARD: Water harvesting structures, Farm ponds, Agro processing, Storage of perishable foods, Bins, godowns, grain silos Horticulture & Plantation: Meaning, production technology, agronomic practices, value chain, post-harvest management ESI: Agriculture – status, technical & institutional changes, rural credit |
| Week 8 | Reasoning & Quant: Mixed full-length practice English: Grammar + RC & Cloze intensive GA: Current Affairs + Static GK Decision Making: Mock Case Studies Computer Knowledge: MS Office & Internet Practice | ARD: Animal Husbandry: Role in economy, practices, livestock terminologies, cattle breeds, fodders, poultry, mixed farming Fisheries: Resources, aquaculture, biotechnology, post-harvest, importance in India ESI: Industry – industrial & labour policies, performance, regional imbalances |
| Week 9 | Full-Length Mock Test Week (Phase 1) + Analysis & Weak Topic Practice | ARD: Forestry: Basic concepts, management, mensuration, forest economics, silviculture, agroforestry, social forestry, legislation & policies Agriculture Extension: Role & importance, evaluation, KVKs ESI: Financial Institutions & Rural Banking – structure, role, reforms |
| Week 10 | Revision: Reasoning, Quant, English, GA, Decision Making, Computer Knowledge Attempt 2 Full Mocks | ARD: Ecology & Climate Change: Ecology, sustainable management, climate change, adaptation & mitigation, carbon credits, IPCC, UNFCCC, CoP, Indian initiatives Present Scenario of Agriculture & Allied Activities: Trends, challenges, solutions, finance, marketing, globalization impact, food security, farm management ESI: Economic Globalization – IMF, World Bank, WTO, regional cooperation |
| Week 11 | Phase 1: Targeted practice on weaker areas, attempt 1 mock daily (alternating topics) | ARD: Rural Development: Rural economy concept, backwardness, population/workforce trends, occupational structure, labour & handlooms, Panchayati Raj, key rural schemes ESI: Social Structure – multiculturalism, diversity, demographics, migration, gender, joint family, social infrastructure Education – status, problems, policies, reforms Social Justice – SC/ST/OBC programmes, policies, equity Positive Discrimination – Upliftment measures, human development, current socio-economic issues |
| Week 12 | Full Syllabus Revision Week Phase 1 Take 2 full-length Mock Tests with sectional timing | ARD & ESI: Full topic-wise revision + practice MCQs; solve previous year papers & sectional tests |
| Week 13 | Final Week: Quick Revision of Phase 1 Daily 1 Mock Test + Weak Topic Focus | ARD & ESI: Quick Final Revision + Mini Mock Tests (2–3 papers/day), focus on weak areas |
What should be your daily study schedule to cover the NABARD Grade A exam syllabus?
A well-structured daily study schedule is crucial to cover the NABARD Grade A exam syllabus efficiently. Candidates should focus on balancing Phase 1 topics like Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, General Awareness, Decision Making, and Computer Knowledge with in-depth coverage of ARD (Agriculture & Rural Development) and ESI (Economic & Social Issues), which are common for both Phase 1 and Phase 2. Each day should include concept study, practice questions, sectional mock tests, and revision to ensure complete coverage and retention of the syllabus.
| Time/Session | Focus Area | Suggested Activity |
|---|
| Morning | Reasoning / Quant | Concept review + practice 20–30 questions |
| Morning | English | Reading Comprehension / Cloze / Grammar / Para Jumbles |
| Morning | GA & Decision Making | Current Affairs, Banking, Economy, Case Studies |
| Mid-Morning | ARD | Focus on one ARD topic per day with diagrams & notes |
| Mid-Morning | ESI | Focus on one ESI topic per day with short notes |
| Afternoon | Sectional Mock | Practice one section per day (Reasoning, Quant, English, GA, Decision Making) |
| Afternoon | Computer Knowledge | MS Office, Networking, Keyboard Shortcuts, Input/Output devices |
| Evening | Revision | Revise ARD/ESI & previous Phase 1 topics |
| Evening | Full-Length / Topic Mock | 1–2 full-length mocks per week or mini topic-wise mocks |
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How to make mock tests and analysis effective?
Practicing mock tests helps assess preparation level and identify weak areas. Proper analysis is critical.
| Step | Action | Duration |
|---|
| Mock test | Attempt full-length test | 2–3 hours |
| Break | Refresh mind | 10–15 mins |
| Analysis | Review mistakes & weak areas | 1 hour |
| Revision | Revise topics based on errors | 30–45 mins |
