Key Takeaways
- The RBI Grade B Notification 2026 will be released soon, requiring disciplined preparation from candidates.
- A structured 6-month study plan balances Phase 1 and Phase 2 topics for effective coverage.
- Key strategies include consistent practice, mock tests, and regular revision of current affairs.
- Focus on mastering foundational concepts in the first month while gradually integrating advanced topics in the following months.
- The final month emphasizes revision, descriptive writing practice, and taking multiple full-length mock tests.
The RBI Grade B Notification 2026 is expected to be released soon by the Reserve Bank of India for the recruitment of RBI Grade B officers. Aspirants interested in appearing for the RBI Grade B exam require a disciplined approach. Starting the preparation early is an advantage for all aspirants, whether beginners or working professionals. Once the notification is released, candidates will have only 60 days to appear for the Phase 1 exam, followed by nearly another 60 days to appear for the Phase 2 mains exam.
In this blog, we have provided a detailed month-wise study plan to help aspirants prepare for the upcoming RBI Grade B 2026 exam.
How to cover the entire RBI Grade B syllabus in the next 6 months?
To cover the syllabus effectively in the next six months, candidates need a structured plan that balances Phase 1 preparation (Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, General Awareness) and Phase 2 preparation (Economic & Social Issues, Finance & Management, and English Writing Skills).
- Balance your schedule: Spend about half your study time on learning new concepts, around 30% on solving questions and practice, and the remaining 20% on revising previously studied topics.
- Start taking mocks early: Begin integrating mock tests from the second month to track your progress and identify weak areas.
- Practice descriptive writing alongside: From the third month, dedicate time to essays, précis, and reading comprehension to strengthen your Phase 2 writing skills.
- Stay consistent with current affairs: Set aside weekly slots to follow national and international news, RBI updates, government schemes, and financial developments.
- Use rolling revision: Continuously revise past topics while learning new ones to ensure long-term retention and avoid last-minute cramming.
What topics should be covered in month 1 of the RBI Grade B study schedule?
The first month is all about strong foundation. Focus on understanding the core concepts of Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, and General Awareness while starting with basic Phase 2 introductions. Emphasize on learning new topics, solving initial practice questions, and building a habit of daily current affairs updates. Small weekly revisions and practice sessions will help solidify the fundamentals before moving on to more advanced topics.
| Week | Topics to Cover | Practice / Revision / GA |
| Week 1 | Reasoning: Puzzles, Seating Arrangement Quant: Simplification, Percentage English: RC | 20–30 Qs reasoning + 20–30 Qs quant + 1 RC passage GA: 30 mins national & financial news Revise formulas & shortcuts |
| Week 2 | Reasoning: Coding-Decoding, Syllogism Quant: Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion English: Cloze Test | 20–30 Qs reasoning + 20–30 Qs quant + 1 Cloze GA: RBI notifications & government schemes Revise Week 1 topics |
| Week 3 | Reasoning: Blood Relations, Input-Output Quant: Time & Work, Speed & Distance English: Para Jumbles | 20–30 Qs reasoning + 20–30 Qs quant + 1 Para Jumble GA: Financial awareness, current affairs Revise Week 2 topics |
| Week 4 | Phase 2 Intro: ESI – Growth & Development Phase 2 Intro: FM – Financial System Basics English: Fillers, Sentence Improvement | 15–20 ESI Qs + 15–20 FM Qs + 20 English Qs Mini Mock: 1 Phase 1 sectional test + 1 essay/précis GA weekly recap |
Also Check: RBI Grade B preparation Strategy
What topics should be covered in month 2 of the RBI Grade B study schedule?
In the second month, shift to a more structured approach by tackling advanced Phase 1 topics while gradually integrating Phase 2 subjects. The focus is on reinforcing your understanding through higher-level practice questions, sectional mocks, and continued current affairs. This is also the ideal time to start incorporating short descriptive writing sessions, laying the groundwork for Phase 2 writing skills.
| Week | Topics to Cover | Practice / Revision / GA |
| Week 1 | Reasoning: Data Sufficiency, Tabulation Quant: Mensuration, DI English: RC & Cloze Test | 40–50 Qs per subject Revise Month 1 topics GA: International news & RBI updates |
| Week 2 | Reasoning: Ranking, Direction Test Quant: Time & Work, SI/CI English: Para Jumbles | 40–50 Qs per subject Descriptive Writing: 30–45 mins GA: Government schemes & reports |
| Week 3 | Phase 2: ESI – Indian Economy, Fiscal & Monetary Policy Reasoning: Syllogism & Coding English: Fillers & Sentence Improvement | 30 ESI Qs + 30 Reasoning + 20 English Mini Mock: 1 Phase 1 test GA daily updates |
| Week 4 | Phase 2: FM – Banking, Markets, Corporate Governance Quant: Sequence & Series, Probability English: Idioms & Phrases | 30–40 Qs per subject Descriptive Writing: 1 essay/précis GA weekly recap |
What topics should be covered in month 3 of the RBI Grade B study schedule?
The third month is critical as you should try to complete the entire Phase 1 syllabus while actively starting Phase 2 preparation. Along with reasoning, quant, English, and GA practice, you will dedicate time to descriptive writing including essays, précis, and reading comprehension. Weekly mini mocks and targeted revisions will help identify weak areas early, ensuring a smooth transition into intensive Phase 2 preparation.
| Week | Topics to Cover | Practice / Revision / GA |
| Week 1 | Reasoning: Blood Relations, Puzzles Quant: DI, Time & Work English: RC & Para Jumbles | 40–50 Qs per subject Descriptive Writing: 1 essay + 1 précis GA daily current affairs |
| Week 2 | Phase 2: ESI – Social Structure, Demographics Reasoning: Data Sufficiency English: Fillers & Sentence Improvement | 30–40 Qs reasoning + 30 ESI Qs + 20 English Mini Mock: Phase 1 sectional test GA: finance & banking news |
| Week 3 | Phase 2: FM – Accounting, Ratio Analysis Quant: Probability, Permutation & Combination English: Cloze Test | 40–50 Qs per subject Descriptive Writing: 30–45 mins daily GA: update notes weekly |
| Week 4 | Revision: All Phase 1 topics ESI & FM: review previous topics English: Essay / Précis practice | Full-length Phase 1 mock + 1 essay/précis GA weekly revision Focus on weak areas |
What topics should be covered in month 4 of the RBI Grade B study schedule?
Focus on intensifying Phase 2 preparation while maintaining Phase 1 proficiency. This includes deep dives into Economic & Social Issues (ESI) and Finance & Management (FM), alongside daily Reasoning and Quant practice.
| Week | Topics to Cover | Practice / Revision / GA |
| Week 1 | ESI: Globalization, Balance of Payments FM: Financial System & Markets English: RC & Fillers | 30–40 Qs per subject Descriptive: 1 essay/précis GA daily updates |
| Week 2 | ESI: Industrial Policy, Public Finance FM: Risk Management, Ethics Reasoning: Tabulation, Data Sufficiency | 30–40 Qs per subject Mini Mock: Phase 2 subject-wise GA weekly revision |
| Week 3 | FM: Accounting, Ratio Analysis, Corporate Governance ESI: Demographics & Social Issues English: Sentence Improvement & Cloze Test | 40–50 Qs per subject Descriptive Writing: 1–2 essays/précis GA: financial & economic news |
| Week 4 | Mixed Practice: Phase 1 + Phase 2 Descriptive Writing: Essay & Précis Reasoning & Quant Revision | Full-length Phase 1 + Phase 2 mock GA weekly revision Focus on weak areas |
What topics should be covered in month 5 of the RBI Grade B study schedule?
The fifth month is dedicated to full-scale practice and consolidation. You will rotate daily between all subjects Phase 1 and Phase 2 while focusing on weak areas and enhancing speed and accuracy. Descriptive writing continues alongside intensive full-length mock tests. This is the phase where exam temperament is built and preparation becomes more exam-centric, ensuring readiness for the final stages.
| Week | Topics to Cover | Practice / Revision / GA |
| Week 1 | Reasoning, Quant, English, ESI, FM (daily rotation) | 40–50 Qs per subject Descriptive Writing: 30–45 mins daily GA daily current affairs |
| Week 2 | Phase 1 + Phase 2 mixed practice Descriptive Writing | Full-length mocks: 2 per week Revise weak areas GA: RBI/SEBI updates |
| Week 3 | Revision: All subjects Essay/Précis daily | Full-length mocks 40–50 Qs per subject GA weekly revision |
| Week 4 | Past Year Papers + Mock Test | Solve previous 5–10 years papers Descriptive Writing: 1–2 essays daily GA: Final weekly review |
Know about personalized guidance from AIR-1
What topics should be covered in month 6 of the RBI Grade B study schedule?
The final month is all about revision, refinement, and mock test practice. You will focus on revising all subjects, practicing descriptive writing daily, and taking multiple full-length mocks to strengthen confidence and time management. Weak areas should be revised on a regular basis. Current affairs, along with the revision of formulas, concepts, and notes, ensures complete readiness for the exam day.
| Week | Topics to Cover | Practice / Revision / GA |
| Week 1 | Complete Phase 1 topics revision ESI & FM: Important topics English: Essay/Précis | 1 full-length Phase 1 + Phase 2 mock Descriptive Writing: 45 mins daily GA daily updates |
| Week 2 | Weak areas focus (Reasoning, Quant, ESI, FM) English: Essay & Cloze Test | Solve sectional mocks Revise formulas, shortcuts, notes GA weekly revision |
| Week 3 | Full-length mocks: Phase 1 + Phase 2 Descriptive Writing | 2 full mocks + 1 essay/précis daily Revise weak topics GA: current affairs revision |
| Week 4 | Final Revision: All subjects & Descriptive GA & revise notes | Solve last mini mocks Essay/précis final practice Quick revision of formulas, GA & notes revision |
What is the RBI Grade B exam pattern?
The RBI Grade B exam pattern consists of three phases. Phase 1 is the preliminary exam and includes Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, and English. It has 200 questions for 200 marks, lasts 120 minutes, and has sectional timing. A penalty of 1/4th mark is applied for each wrong answer.
Phase 2 is the mains exam with three papers. Paper I and Paper III have both objective and descriptive questions, while Paper II is fully descriptive. Marks from Phase 2 are considered for the final merit list.
Phase 3 is the interview, which carries 75 marks. The final selection is based on the marks obtained in Phase 2 and the interview.
| Phase | Exam Details | Key Points |
| Phase 1(Preliminary) | Subjects: Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, English200 questions / 200 marks Duration: 120 minutes | Sectional timing Negative marking: 1/4 per wrong answer |
| Phase 2 (Mains) | Paper 1 & 3: Objective + Descriptive Paper 2: Descriptive | Marks of all papers considered for final result |
| Phase 3(Interview) | 75 marks | Final selection based on Phase 2 marks + interview score |
What is the RBI Grade B syllabus?
The RBI Grade B syllabus is designed to test a candidate’s knowledge and skills across multiple areas for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 exams, including reasoning, quantitative aptitude, English, general awareness, economics, finance, management, and writing skills.
RBI Grade B phase 1 syllabus (Objective)
- Reasoning: Logical reasoning, puzzles, seating arrangement, blood relations, coding-decoding, syllogism, tabulation, alphanumeric series, ranking/direction tests, data sufficiency, coded inequalities.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Simplification, profit & loss, ratio & proportion, percentages, time & work, speed & distance, SI & CI, mensuration, data interpretation, number series, probability, permutation & combination, mixtures & allegations.
- English Language: Reading comprehension, cloze test, para jumbles, fillers, error spotting, sentence improvement, idioms & phrases, paragraph completion.
- General Awareness (GA): Current affairs (national, international, financial), financial awareness (RBI & SEBI updates), government schemes, reports, static GK (capitals, banks, awards, important days).
RBI Grade B phase 2 syllabus (objective + descriptive)
- Economic & Social Issues (ESI): Growth & development, Indian economy (industrial, fiscal, monetary policy), globalization, international institutions, social structure, demographics, urbanization, gender issues, social justice.
- Finance & Management (FM): Financial system and institutions, banking structure, financial markets, risk management, accounting, ratio analysis, corporate governance, management principles, organizational behavior, ethics at workplace.
- English Writing Skills: Essay (400–600 words), précis (summarizing 400–600 words into 170–180 words), reading comprehension with descriptive answers.
Toppers’ strategies to crack the RBI Grade B exam
One of the smartest ways to prepare for the RBI Grade B exam is by learning from those who have already succeeded. Toppers’ strategies not only provide tested methods but also help avoid common mistakes. Let’s look at the success stories of Tanay Gaurav and Hardik Mehta, exploring how they planned their preparation and what aspirants can learn from their journeys.
AIR 1 Tanay Gaurav’s success story
Tanay Gaurav achieved AIR 1 in his second attempt through a disciplined approach, strategic preparation, and unwavering determination. His preparation strategy, challenges faced, and insights are a great guide for aspirants aiming to excel in the exam.
Effective study approach
Tanay’s preparation involved setting weekly and daily goals and focusing on high-scoring topics like Blood Relations and Simplification in Quantitative Aptitude. He recommended solving RBI previous years’ questions (PYQs) to understand the exam pattern and identify important topics. His daily routine consisted of 7–8 hours of study, including buffer days for breaks to maintain consistent progress.
Phase 1 and Phase 2 strategy
He followed a 70-30 study plan, dedicating more time to Phase 2 until one month before Phase 1. For government schemes and economic surveys, he relied on quality resources like Oliveboard. For Phase 2, he focused on descriptive writing skills, ensuring his answers were concise, structured, and content-rich, which helped him excel in the exam.
AIR 1 Hardik Mehta’s strategy
Hardik Mehta (AIR 1, 2016) followed a strategy-driven approach emphasizing smart planning, quality mock tests, and consistent self-assessment.
Phase 1 preparation
Hardik prioritized mock tests from Oliveboard to identify gaps in preparation. For time management, he allocated 10 minutes each for General Awareness (70 questions) and English (25 questions), dedicating the remaining time to Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning.
His resources included:
- General Awareness: The Telegraph, Economic Times, Mint
- English: CAT preparation books
- Quantitative Aptitude: Arun Sharma’s books
He stressed giving maximum focus to General Awareness due to its significance in Phase 1.
Phase 2 preparation
Hardik began by building a strong foundation in Finance, Management, and Economic & Social Issues (ESI) using RBI Grade B study materials. He first took sectional tests to improve accuracy and later moved to full-length mocks with detailed analysis.
After the last-minute pattern change, he adapted using Oliveboard’s updated mocks. Recommended books included:
- Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh
- Financial Management by Prasanna Chandra
- Day to Day Economics by Satish Deodhar
- Ratios Made Simple by Robert Leach
- UGC NET Management by Arihant Publications
Tip: Fully understand technical terms and never skip unfamiliar concepts.
Interview preparation
- Regularly followed the RBI website and key publications including governor speeches and annual reports
- Read newspapers and watched business news channels consistently
- Reviewed reports and ratings from agencies like CRISIL and ICRA
FAQs
Ans. A structured 6-month preparation plan is suggested for effective coverage.
Ans. Yes, essays, précis, and reading comprehension are crucial for Phase 2.
Ans. Focus on revision, multiple full-length mocks, descriptive practice, and weak area improvement.
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Hi, I’m Aditi. I work as a Content Writer at Oliveboard, where I have been simplifying exam-related content for the past 4 years. I create clear and easy-to-understand guides for JAIIB, CAIIB, and UGC exams. My work includes breaking down notifications, admit cards, and exam updates, as well as preparing study plans and subject-wise strategies.
My goal is to support working professionals in managing their exam preparation alongside a full-time job and to help them achieve career growth.