The RBI Grade B exam is one of the most prestigious exams in the country today. It is conducted every year for the recruitment of Grade ‘B’ officers (Managers) in the apex bank of the country. Stating the obvious, the RBI Grade B is a highly competitive exam, and it requires sincere and dedicated preparation to be able to clear it.
The RBI Grade B Recruitment Notification 2023 has been released for the Generalist officer/DEPR/DSIM. Starting the preparations early will be the key to acing the exam. In this blog, we will give you the detailed RBI Grade B Study Plan 2023 and RBI Grade B Preparation Strategy for both Phase 1 and 2 exams. Please note that the strategy suggested here works well for beginners as well as aspirants who have taken the exam before.
Table of Contents
- 15 Days RBI Grade B Study Plan 2023
- Categories & RBI Grade B Study Plan Important Points
- FREE Ebooks on General Awareness, ESI, FM & Miscellaneous Topics for all Regulatory Exams: IRDAI, RBI, NABARD, SIDBI, SEBI, IFSCA – Download
- Download FREE Ebooks on Government Schemes for all Regulatory Exams: IRDAI, RBI, NABARD, SIDBI, SEBI, IFSCA
- Download FREE Ebooks on QRE (Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English) for all Regulatory Exams: IRDAI, RBI, NABARD, SIDBI, SEBI, IFSCA
- RBI Grade B Study Plan 2023 (Phase 1 & 2) – 60 Days
- RBI Grade B Study Plan & Preparation Tips [Phase 1 & 2]
- I. How to Kick-start Your RBI Grade B Preparation?
- II. A Quick Look at the RBI Grade B Eligibility Criteria
- III. RBI Grade B Exam Pattern for Phase 1, Phase 2 & Interview
- IV. RBI Grade B Phase 1 Preparation Strategy
- RBI Grade B Past Year Questions from the Phase 1 Quants Section
- V. RBI Grade B Current Affairs Preparation Strategy
- VI. RBI Grade B Preparation Plan for Phase 2
- FAQs
- Q. How many hours of study is required for RBI Grade B exam?
- Q. How can I prepare for RBI Grade B at home?
- Q. What should I study for RBI Grade B?
- Q. Can you prepare for RBI Grade B without coaching?
- Q. Can a UPSC aspirant prepare for RBI Grade B?
15 Days RBI Grade B Study Plan 2023
Check out the detailed RBI Grade B Study Plan for 16th May 2023 to 31st May 2023.
| DAY | Phase 1 QRE | Current Affairs | Phase 2 Components |
| 16th & 17th May 2023 Weekdays (Tue, Wed) 6 hrs Daily | (Any one Subject – Quant/Reasoning/English) Daily Give 2 hrs | February 2023 (Focus for both Phase 1 & Phase 2) RBI BOLT (for Ph 1) Monthly Capsules (for Ph 1 & Ph 2) Daily Give 2 hrs | General Management 1 Daily Give 2 hrs |
| 18th & 19th May 2023 Weekdays (Thu, Fri) 6 hrs Daily | (Any one Subject – Quant/Reasoning/English) Daily Give 2 hrs | February 2023 (Focus for both Phase 1 & Phase 2) RBI BOLT (for Ph 1) Monthly Capsules (for Ph 1 & Ph 2) Daily Give 2 hrs | General Management 2 Daily Give 2 hrs |
| 20th, 21st May 2023 Weekends (Sat, Sun) Total 10.5 hrs | 1 Full Length Mock Test Phase 1 (2 Hrs) Analyzing the Mock Test (1.5 hrs) Total 3.5 hrs | Revise Feb 2023 – Phase 1 & Phase 2 Current Affairs Give 3 hrs Complete Union Budget & Economic Survey Give 2 hrs Total 5 hrs | Total – 2 hrs Attempt General Management 1 & 2 Topic Test Foundation Test Write these 2 Descriptive Questions (**Please Note: Evaluation available for Mentorship Students) In “The Principles of Management” book written by Fredrick Winslow Taylor; Scientific Management was discussed. Discuss in detail about the Principles of Scientific Management and the Structure of Scientific Management given by F. W. Taylor. What is OODA Loop or the Observe-Orient-Decide-Act loop in Decision making. Also discuss common biases in Decision Making. |
| 22nd, 23rd & 24th May 2023 Weekdays (Mon, Tue, Wed) 6 hrs Daily | (Any one Subject – Quant/Reasoning/English) Daily Give 2 hrs | March 2023 (Focus for both Phase 1 & Phase 2) RBI BOLT (for Ph 1) Monthly Capsules (for Ph 1 & Ph 2) Daily Give 2 hrs | Leadership Daily Give 2 hrs |
| 25th & 26th May 2023 Weekdays (Thu, Fri) 6 hrs Daily | (Any one Subject – Quant/Reasoning/English) Daily Give 2 hrs | March 2023 (Focus for both Phase 1 & Phase 2) RBI BOLT (for Ph 1) Monthly Capsules (for Ph 1 & Ph 2) Daily Give 2 hrs | Motivation Daily Give 2 hrs |
| 27th & 28th May 2023 Weekends (Sat, Sun) Total 12.5 hrs | 1 Full Length Mock Test Phase 1 (2 Hrs) Analyzing the Mock Test (1.5 hrs) Total 3.5 hrs | Revise March 2023 – Phase 1 & Phase 2 Current Affairs Give 3 hrs Government Schemes Give 4 hrs Total 7 hrs | Total – 2 hrs Attempt Leadership & Motication Topic Test Foundation Test Write these 2 Descriptive Questions (**Please Note: Evaluation available for Mentorship Students) What are the key factors that determine whether a particular leadership style is effective in a given situation, and how can leaders adapt their approach to different contexts and challenges? How do individual and situational factors interact to influence motivation and performance in the workplace? |
| 29th, 30th & 31st May 2023 Weekdays (Mon, Tue, Wed) 6 hrs Daily | (Any one Subject – Quant/Reasoning/English) Daily Give 2 hrs | April 2023 (Focus for both Phase 1 & Phase 2) RBI BOLT (for Ph 1) Monthly Capsules (for Ph 1 & Ph 2) Daily Give 4 hrs | – |
Categories & RBI Grade B Study Plan Important Points
Before moving on to the detailed study plan, we have bifurcated the GA syllabus into categories.
| Category | Total Marks/Questions | Target (Marks) | Time/Effort % | Coverage |
| Category 1 Static GK | 12-15 | 8-9 | 15% | 50% Banking & Finance Related Topics 50% Static Questions (Linked to Current Affairs) |
| Category 2 Union Budget & Economic Survey | 4-5 | 3-4 | 5% | |
| Category 3 Phase 2 Related Questions | 30-35 | 25-27 | 40% | Coverage for June 2023, May 2023, April 2023, March 2023, Feb 2023, Jan 2023, Dec 2022 (Imp Ones) |
| Category 4 Phase 1 Related Questions | 30-35 | 25-27 | 40% | Coverage for Phase 1 – June 2023, May 2023, April 2023, March 2023, Feb 2023 (Only Important Ones) |
FREE Ebooks on General Awareness, ESI, FM & Miscellaneous Topics for all Regulatory Exams: IRDAI, RBI, NABARD, SIDBI, SEBI, IFSCA – Download
The syllabus of all the regulatory exams is somewhat similar, so practicing and learning from other exam-specific ebooks are also beneficial in the preparation. Here, we have compiled all the latest ebooks that will help you ace the exam.
Top 50 Banking & Finance CA for all Regulatory Exams (March-April 2023)
RBI Bolt March 2023 Summary FREE Ebook
Top 100 PIB Current Affairs MCQs for RBI Grade B 2023: Part 1 – Download FREE
Top 100 PIB Current Affairs MCQs for RBI Grade B 2023: Part 2 – Download FREE
FREE Ebook on Introduction to Management
FREE Ebook on Indian Agriculture
Insurance Sector in India FREE Ebook
International Economic Institutions FREE Ebook
Top 50 Appointment News for all Regulatory Exams (March-April 2023)
Download FREE Ebooks on Government Schemes for all Regulatory Exams: IRDAI, RBI, NABARD, SIDBI, SEBI, IFSCA
FREE Ebook on Top 10 Govt Schemes from Ministry of Agriculture: Part 1 – Download
FREE Ebook on Top 10 Govt Schemes from Ministry of Agriculture: Part 2 – Download
Download Top 5 Government Schemes From the Ministry of Education
Download the Free Ebook on Top 6 Govt. Schemes from the Ministry of Finance
Ebook on Top 5 Initiatives of NITI Aayog – Download FREE
Download FREE Ebooks on QRE (Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English) for all Regulatory Exams: IRDAI, RBI, NABARD, SIDBI, SEBI, IFSCA
Download all the ebooks for FREE and enhance your preparation.
Ebooks on Quantitative Aptitude
Top 25 Number Series Questions for RBI Grade B 2023 – Download FREE
Ebooks on Reasoning
Top 25 Puzzle Questions for RBI Grade B 2023: Download FREE
Top 25 Syllogism Questions for RBI Grade B 2023: Download FREE
Ebooks on the English Language
FREE Ebook on Top 25 Subject Verb Agreement Questions for RBI Grade B 2023: Download
Ebook on Top 20 Para Jumble Questions for RBI Grade B 2023: Download FREE
Top 100 Idioms & Phrases for RBI Grade B 2023: Download FREE Ebook
Top 135 One Word Substitutions for RBI Grade B 2023: Download FREE Ebook
RBI Grade B Study Plan 2023 (Phase 1 & 2) – 60 Days
The RBI Grade B Notification is released on 26th April 2023. The detailed notification will be out on 9th May 2023. The Phase 1 exam will be conducted on 9th July 2023 and the Phase 2 exam will be on 30th July 2023 for General Posts. Note that Phase 1 is qualifying in nature. Below is the detailed 60 days study plan.
RBI Grade B Current Affairs Study Plan
| Month | Only Phase 1 Related Focus RBI BOLT | Both Phase 1 & Phase 2 Related Focus Monthly Capsules | Study Plan – When to Study? | Other Current Affairs Components |
| June 2023 | Yes | Yes | June 2023 (Week 4) & July (Week 1) | Government Schemes |
| May 2023 | Yes | Yes | June 2023 (Week 1, Week 2 & Week 3) | Government Schemes |
| April 2023 | Yes | Yes | May 2023 (Week 3 & Week 4) | Government Schemes, RBI Notifications & Other Imp Reports |
| March 2023 | Yes | Yes | May 2023 (Week 1 & Week 2) | Union Budget, Economic Survey |
| February 2023 | Yes | Yes | May 2023 (Week 1 & Week 2) | Union Budget, Economic Survey |
| January 2023 | NO | Yes | May 2023 (Week 3 & Week 4) | Government Schemes, RBI Notifications & Other Imp Reports |
| December 2022 | NO | Only Important Ones | May 2023 (Week 3 & Week 4) | Government Schemes, RBI Notifications & Other Imp Reports |
RBI Grade B 60 Days Study Plan 2023
| WEEK | Phase 1 | Phase 2 |
| Week 1 & Week 2 (May 2023) | QRE Topics Practice Make a list of those topics which you think need improvement Refer Current Affairs Table | Complete Management Portion Attempt at least 2 Descriptive Answers |
| Week 3 & Week 4 (May 2023) | QRE Topics Practice Make a list of those topics which you think need improvement Refer Current Affairs Table | Fiscal Policy Monetary Policy Measurement of Growth Balance of Payments Primary & Secondary Markets Basics of Derivatives Inflation Attempt at least 2 Descriptive Answers |
| June 2023 | Complete Focus on Phase 1 – QRE + GA 1 Week – Complete Revision | – |
RBI Grade B Study Plan & Preparation Tips [Phase 1 & 2]
We will discuss here in detail the preparation plan for the upcoming RBI Grade B 2023 exam.
I. How to Kick-start Your RBI Grade B Preparation?
Before jumping on to the preparation strategy and study plan, we would like to emphasize that you should know the examination very well.
You should be thorough with these two things:
1. Exam Pattern + Syllabus:
- The most common mistake that the aspirants do is that they directly dive deep into the preparations without even knowing the exam pattern and syllabus. You should by heart the exam syllabus.
- Knowing the syllabus thoroughly helps you link any particular topic that you are reading or listening to, directly to the topics given in the syllabus.
- Never make the mistake of going ahead with your preparations without knowing thoroughly about the RBI Grade B Exam Pattern and RBI Grade B Syllabus.
2. Previous Years’ Questions
It is very essential to have a look at the RBI Grade B Previous Year Question Papers. We have listed some of the benefits below. You can check out the detailed benefits of attempting RBI Grade B Previous Year Papers in the linked blog.
Benefits of Analysing Past Years’ Questions
- Types of questions being asked.
- Gives an idea of the repeatedly asked topics.
- Weightage of current affairs & static topics.
Divide Your RBI Prep into these 4 Components
Visualise RBI Gr. B Exam as the following components:
- Phase 1 (only Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, and English Language)
- Phase 1 & 2 (General Awareness including Current Affairs)
- Phase 2 (Economic & Social Issues (ESI), Finance & Management (F&M), Descriptive English)
- Interview
Whenever you are studying or reading a newspaper or listening to the news, visualize these four components. These are the components for which you need to prepare to clear the RBI Grade B examination.
RBI Grade B Exam Preparation Strategy: A Systematic Approach
Step-1 – Examine past year’s papers to understand the types of questions asked & trends followed. !
Step-2 – Practice QRE questions and then take mock tests to test your preparation level. Continue reading the current affairs each day and revise your CA from the last few months. Also, revise the government’s schemes, reports, and indices. !
Step-3 – In Phase -II subjects, review the basics using study notes and gain clarity through video lessons. Re-read these chapters using study notes.
Step-4 – Test your understanding with ESI & FM topic-wise tests. The topic tests will give you an opportunity to practice a range of questions and strengthen your foundation!
Step-5 – Take a look at the Descriptive Q&A and determine what kind of questions can be asked and what content should be included in your descriptive questions. Last but not least, and then take the descriptive tests to get hands-on experience.
Points to Remember
- Preparation for Phases 1 & 2 goes hand-in-hand.
- Don’t neglect your Phase 1 prep. You must clear the individual and the overall cut-off marks in order to appear for Phase 2
- Meanwhile, you should continue revising current affairs and ESI and FM basics.
II. A Quick Look at the RBI Grade B Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit as of 1st of May 2023
Candidate must have been born not earlier than May 02, 1993, and not later than May 01, 2002
| Minimum age to apply | 21 years |
| Maximum age to apply | 30 years |
| For candidates possessing M. Phil | 32 years |
| For candidates possessing a PhD | 34 years |
Educational Qualifications
Graduation in any discipline/equivalent technical or professional qualification (at least 3 years of duration).
- For General Category/EWS/OBS – 60% Marks in Graduation or Post-Graduation / Equivalent technical qualification with a minimum of 55% marks
- For SC/ST/PwBD – 50% Marks in Graduation or Post-Graduation / Equivalent technical qualification with passing marks.
Note:
- Any such full-time course from a recognized University / Institute that is taken after Class XIIth and is at least 3 years duration/ candidates possessing professional and technical qualifications which are recognized by the Government as equivalent to professional and technical graduation will be eligible for admission to the examination.
- Candidates who have passed the Final Examination for Membership in the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India may also apply for the post.
OR
- Any such full-time course from a recognized University / Institute that is taken after graduation and is at least 2 years duration / recognized by the Government as equivalent to post-graduation will be eligible for admission to the examination.
Number of Attempts
Candidates belonging to unreserved i.e. General Category, who have already appeared Six times for Phase-I Examination for this post/s in the past, are not eligible to apply. No such restriction applies to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/EWSs if the posts are reserved for them.
Check out the following blogs for detailed RBI Grade B Preparation Tips & Strategies by our toppers:
- RBI Grade B Topper Strategy by Nikhil Bharate
- RBI Grade B Topper Strategy by Aneesh J
- RBI Grade B Topper Strategy by Vinay Kumar
- RBI Grade B Topper Strategy by Bijapur Pallavi
- RBI Grade B Topper Strategy by Saurabh Gupta
- RBI Grade B Topper Strategy by Veerella Ravichandra
- RBI Grade B Topper Strategy by Samyak Bhandari
III. RBI Grade B Exam Pattern for Phase 1, Phase 2 & Interview
RBI Grade B Phase 1 Exam Pattern
| Section | Marks | Number of Questions | Time allotted (In minutes) |
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 |
| Quantitative aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 |
| English language | 30 | 30 | 25 |
| Reasoning | 60 | 60 | 45 |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 |
Note: There will be a 1/4th negative marking for each question. Candidates, who secure minimum marks separately for each Test, as prescribed, will be shortlisted for Phase 2 of the examination based on the aggregate marks obtained in Phase 1.
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Exam Pattern
The RBI Grade B Mains exam consists of three papers: Paper 1, Paper 2, and Paper 3. Papers 1 and 3 are a combination of both objective and descriptive questions, while Paper 2 is a completely descriptive paper.
The detailed format is presented below in a tabular format:
| 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) | 50 marks 50 marks | 30 mins 90 mins |
| Paper 2 – English (Writing Skills) | Descriptive Test | 100 marks | 90 mins |
| Paper 3 – General Finance and Management | 50% Objective Test (30 objective questions) 50% Descriptive Test (6 descriptive questions out of which 4 need to be answered) | 50 marks 50 marks | 120 mins |
Note:
- For both Paper I and III, there will be 30 questions and 50 marks for Objective questions (some questions carrying 2 marks each and some carrying 1 mark each).
- In the case of Descriptive questions, 6 questions will be asked, of which candidates will be required to attempt 4 questions (2 of 15 marks each (with difficulty level) and 2 of 10 marks each). In case, the candidate answers more than 4 questions in descriptive, the first 4 shall be evaluated.
- All question papers (in both Phases, except the test of English) will be set bilingually in Hindi and English.
RBI Grade B Interview
- Candidates will be shortlisted for the interview, based on the aggregate of marks obtained in Phase 2 (Paper 1+ Paper 2 + Paper 3). The minimum aggregate cut-off marks for being shortlisted for the Interview will be decided by the Board in relation to the number of vacancies.
- Roll No. of the candidates shortlisted for interview will be published on the RBI website at an appropriate time and interview call letters will be sent to the registered email ID.
- The interview will be 75 marks.
- The candidate shall be required to undergo Psychometric Test conducted by the Bank before appearing for the Interview.
- No marks will be allotted for the same and this will not form part of the final selection criteria.
- Candidates may opt for an interview either in Hindi or English.
- Final Selection will be through a merit list which will be prepared by adding marks secured by candidates in the Phase 2 examination and interview and grace marks as applicable as per extant rules.
IV. RBI Grade B Phase 1 Preparation Strategy
First, let us take a look at the cut-off marks for the Phase 1 exam from previous years.
RBI Grade B Cut-off Marks Comparison for Phase 1 Exam
| Section | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness (Max. Marks = 80) | 16 | 20 | 20 | 16.5 | 20 | 20 |
| Reasoning (Max. Marks = 60) | 12 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 15 | 15 |
| English Language (Max. Marks = 30) | 6 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 6.75 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Quantitative Aptitude (Max. Marks = 30) | 6 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 4 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Phase 1 Cut Off Marks (Max. Marks = 200) | 66.75 | 122 | 105.75 | 78 | 98.50 | 88.50 |
Important Preparation Pointers for Phase 1
- The key to clearing Phase 1 is GA Section (80/200 marks).
- GA should be studied in detail.
- Revision is the key to getting the questions right.
- Other sections – Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning & English should be prepared by using topic/sectional tests and mock tests. The kind of questions asked in these sections are unpredictable therefore we should not have a dependency on these sections.
#YourGatewaytoRBI #Oliveboard
| RBI Grade B Phase 1 Preparation | RBI Grade B Previous Year Question Papers | RBI Grade B Study Material |
| RBI Grade B Online Coaching | RBI Grade B Cut Off Marks | RBI Grade B Salary |
Phase 1 Study Plan – For Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, and English Language
- Prepare by giving Topic/Sectional tests and Mock tests. We would also recommend watching some QRE videos available on our YouTube channel to grasp the basics and also understand the shortcuts for solving these questions.
- Analyze the Mock Tests to know about and practice those areas that you are weak at. Keep your weekends for this.
- Do not spend more than 8 hours a week on these 3 sections.
RBI Grade B Past Year Questions from the Phase 1 Quants Section
RBI Grade B Books and Resources for English Preparation
Important Topics
| Section | Important Topics |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Data Interpretation, Quantity Based, Data Sufficiency, Simplification, Approximation, Quadratic Inequalities, Number Series both missing and wrong number series. Important arithmetic topics: Partnership, Average, Ages, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, Speed Time Distance, Boat & Stream, Trains, Simple Interest and Compound Interest, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion. |
| Reasoning | Alphanumeric Series, Order and Ranking, Direction Sense, Alphabet Test, Data Sufficiency, Inequalities, Seating Arrangement, Puzzle, Syllogism, Blood Relations, Input-Output, Coding-Decoding, Logical Reasoning. |
| English Language | Cloze test, Fillers, Spotting the errors, Para Jumbles, New pattern questions, Idioms and phrases, Word Rearrangement, Column Based questions, Sentence improvement, Paragraph Completion, Grammar, Reading Comprehension. |
V. RBI Grade B Current Affairs Preparation Strategy
Sections for which current affairs are to be prepared:
- Phase 1 General Awareness Section.
- Phase 2 ESI Paper (80% – 90% of the ESI paper comprises current affairs).
- Phase 2 Desctiove English (Fodder Material for Essay).
- Phase 2 Finance Paper (Concepts linked to current affairs are being asked).
- Interview Phase (Questions about the current happenings in the Economy and Finance are asked).
Preparation Pointers
Keep the current affairs preparation for Phase 1 and Phase 2 simultaneous.
Current Affairs for Phase 1
In general, the current affairs (CA) for the last 4 months (from the date of the examination) should be prepared but high priority should be given to the last 3 months of CA. (also the last week before the exam).
For RBI Gr. B 2023, the highest priority should be given to the months of May, April, March, and February 2023 for Phase 1 GA. Your next priority should be to revise the current affairs of January 2023, December 2022, November 2022, and October 2022.
You should definitely read and revise the Government schemes, Reports & Indices starting from the month of June 2023 till the exam date.
Current Affairs for Phase 2
In general, the current affairs (CA) for the last 6 months (from the date of the examination) should be prepared. But the last 8-10 months of CA are to be referred for important indices, reports, and schemes.
Point to note: The overall cut-off for phase 1 can be cleared easily if you have a good score in GA.
Important Topics for Current Affairs
Current Affairs include the following:
- Daily News (for Phase 1 & 2).
- Static GK related to the current affairs (for Phase 1).
- Economic Survey (for Phases 1 & 2).
- Union Budget (for Phase 1 & 2).
- Census 2011 (for Phase 1 & 2).
- SECC 2011 (for Phase 1 & 2).
- Important RBI Notifications, Circulars, Reports (for Phase 2 – high priority, Phase 1 – fewer chances).
- Government Schemes (Union & State Govt schemes, Phase 1 & 2).
How to Prepare?
- Once you have understood the requirements of the exam, it is important that you read the current affairs based on that. You should know what to leave and what to study!
- Understanding the PRIORITY. The 3 months prior to the exam are of great importance for current affairs.
- Always be aware of the latest trends, the level of the question/areas from which questions are asked keeps changing.
- You can cover current affairs on a daily basis or refer to the monthly capsules for your comprehensive coverage. Don’t forget to practice a lot of current affairs MCQ for retention of what you have read.
- REVISION is the KEY. Keep revising on a weekly basis so that your preparation is on point.
Previous Years GA (CA) Questions Asked in Phase 1
Let us see a few questions that have come in the previous years. The aim is to see the areas from which questions are picked.
- Capital Infusion of Rs.93,00 crore is being done in which of the following banks by LIC and the Government of India? – Current Affairs – Banking/Finance related news.
- Teenage Environmental Activist Greta Thunberg belongs to which of the following countries? – Current Affairs – Persons in News.
- According to Railway Cleanliness Survey 2019, the top three cleanest railway stations under the Suburban category belong to which of the following states? – Current Affairs – Reports – ESI.
- Which of the following countries is the host of the 2034 Asian Games? – Sports.
- Recently H-2B Rocket has been launched from Tanegashima Space Center. It is located in which of the following countries? – Current Affairs – Imp events – World.
- Recently National Nutrition Survey has been released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in collaboration with which the following? – Current Affairs – Reports – ESI.
- Lakshmi Vilas Bank is headquartered in which of the following cities? – Static GK – Bank HQ.
- Global Innovation Index for India in 2020 is 48. What was the ranking of India in 2019? – Reports & Indices.
- A book named ‘150 Years of Celebrating the Mahatma the South African Legacy’ has been recently launched. It has been launched in which of the following cities? – Current Affairs – Books.
- IAAF World Championship 2019 has recently taken place in Khalifa Stadium. It is located in which of the following countries? – Current Affairs – Sports.
- UN-HABITAT is headquartered in which of the following countries? – Static GK – HQs.
- Border Area Exercise ‘Chang Thang’ between India and China has recently taken place in which of the following places? – Static GK – Military Exercises.
- Nobel Prize for the year 2019 has been awarded to James Peeble, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz for which of the following? – Current Affairs – Awards and Honours.
- Piyush Goyal is a Member of the Parliament of Rajya Sabha from which of the following countries? – Current Affairs – Constituencies.
- RudraSagar Lake is located in which of the following states? – Static GK – Geography.
- The meeting of the Councils of Heads of Government of SCO has recently taken place in which of the following places? – Current Affairs – Summits/Conferences.
- What was the theme of World Teachers Day 2019? – Current Affairs – Imp Days/Themes.
- Recently, Dr H.L. Trivedi passed away. He was associated with which profession? – Current Affairs – Obituaries.
- Edwar Chagwa Lungu is President of one of the following countries, who recently visited India? – Current Affairs – Persons in News.
- Article 15 of the Indian Constitution provides for which of the following? – Static GK – Indian Constitution – ESI.
- Helsinki is the capital of which country? – Static GK – Capitals/Currencies.
- Recently, which of the following banks has deployed ‘Robotic Arms’ to count currency notes? – Current Affairs – Banking/Finance related news.
- Recently, which of the following personality has won the Japan Open tournament in Men’s single category? – Current Affairs – Sports.
- Recently, which of the following company has been renamed Nippon Life Insurance? – Current Affairs – Banking/Finance related news.
- According to International Migrant Stock 2019, which of the following is the leading country of origin of international migrants in 2019 with a 17.5 million strong diaspora? – Current Affairs – Reports – ESI.
- Recently, which of the following bank launched the digital-fixed product called ‘Express FD’? – Current Affairs – Banking/Finance related news.
- Gaofen Satellite is launched by which of the following countries? Current Affairs – Imp events – World.
- Pradhan Mantri Innovative Learning Programme – DHRUV is related to which of the following ministries? – Current Affairs – Schemes/Programmes – ESI.
- According to RBI Annual Report 2018-19, what is the NPA in the banking sector in 2018? – Current Affairs – Banking/Finance related news.
- Which of the following organization has published the report, ‘South Asia Economic Focus, Making (De) Centralization Works’? – Current Affairs – Reports – ESI
- Which of the following states has topped in India Innovation Index 2019? Current Affairs – Reports – ESI According to the 2011 Census data, the sex ratio of the population in the country in 2011 stood at? – Census 2011 – ESI.
- Which of the following is not a money market instrument? – Static – Basic Concepts – Finance.
- LAF is a monetary policy instrument that allows banks to borrow money through repurchase agreements. The alphabet ‘L’ in the abbreviation ‘LAF’ stands for – Static – Basic Concepts – ESI.
Key Takeaways from Previous Years’ Questions
- We have questions from static GK as well as current affairs.
- Questions related to the basic concepts of ESI and FM (Current Affairs and Static) are also asked.
- Understanding the depth of questions is important. This will help in knowing what are the possible dimensions from which questions can be asked.
Previous Years Questions asked in Phase 2 (ESI)
- According to the CS Gender 3000 in 2019: the changing face of companies report, what is the percentage increase in India’s female representation on boards over the past 5 years in the year 2019? – Reports/Policies/Indices.
- Which of the following organization has submitted a master plan of $300 m for logistics infrastructure development in Kolkata? – Allocations – Industrial Policy
- What is India’s Life Expectancy according to the National Health Profile 2019? – Reports/Policies/Indices – Health.
- Which of the following organization releases the World Economic Outlook report? – Reports/Policies/Indices.
- As per the UN’s Multi-Dimensional Poverty Index report, India has lifted how many people out of poverty between 2005/6 and 2015/16? – Reports/Policies/Indices.
- SEQI was developed by which of the following organization? Reports/Policies/Indices – Education.
- Share of exports of products related to India’s MSME during the year 2018-19 stood at? – Allocations – Industrial Policy.
- According to SECC, how much percentage of rural households are landless and derive a major part of their income from manual casual labour? – SECC.
- The Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum marking its 50th anniversary will be held in which of the following places? – Summits/Conferences – Regional Economic Co-operation/International Financial Institutions.
Previous Years Questions asked in Phase 2 (F&M)
- As per the recent RBI guidelines, Fit and proper guidelines are applicable to?
- As per the recent RBI guidelines, the maximum number of non-executive directors in the NRC committee will be?
- Which bank was merged with the Bank of Baroda?
- Which of the following is of Micro-Finance institutions is a universal bank now?
- Which of the following is not a scheme related to financial inclusion?
Key Takeaways from Previous Years’ Questions
- Current Affairs linked to the chapters given in the syllabus are asked.
- A few questions are very simple (like Phase 1 level) and some questions go one step deeper.
VI. RBI Grade B Preparation Plan for Phase 2
Before we plan for Phase 2, let us take a look at Phase 2 and the final cut off marks here.
RBI Grade B Cut Off Marks Comparison for Phase 2 and Interview
| Recruitment Stage | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate Cut–Off Marks in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 (Out of 300) | 187.75 | 193.25 | 201.25 | 196.75 | 176.75 | 197 |
| Aggregate Marks in Written Examination (Paper- 1, 2 and 3) and interviews were taken together (Out of 375) | 252.25 | 238.25 | 248.5 | 245.75 | 225.50 | 244 |
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Preparation Plan
| General Tip | Prepare simultaneously for Phase 1 & Phase 2. You only have 3-4 weeks b/w Phase-1 & 2. The last 1 week before the Phase 1 paper, focus completely on Phase 1 prep. Keep reading the static portion as well as keep covering CA. |
| Management | Cover all the chapters given in the syllabus. Have a clear understanding of the concepts to be able to write descriptive as well as answer objective answers. |
| ESI | Brush up on your basic concepts. Current affairs would dominate here. Know the latest development (CA) related to the topics given in the syllabus. Descriptive Ques. can be of three types: Completely static, Static + Current Affairs + Completely Current Affairs Based or Opinion Based. Cover the latest Budget, Eco. Survey & Govt. Schemes. |
| Finance | Again, get your concepts strong. Cover all the topics given in the syllabus. Follow current affairs related to the topics in the Finance syllabus. Cover the past year obj.+ desc. ques. to get a clear understanding of the types of questions being asked. |
| Mock Tests | There is no alternative to practice. Practice Phase 1 Mock Tests + Topic + Sectional Tests + High-level puzzles & DI. Take Phase 2 Mock Tests (Objective + Descriptive). Analyse your mock tests and go through the solutions thoroughly. |
How to Approach ESI & FM Descriptive Papers of RBI Grade B?
i. Categories of the Topic for Desc. Questions
Descriptive questions for both ESI & FM can be categorized into three categories:
1. Completely Static Questions (concepts based)
2. Completely Current Affairs Based Questions (current affairs related to the topics of the syllabus)
3. Static + Current Affairs-Based Questions
4. Opinions Based Questions (Mostly on Social Issues)
ii. Approach for Economic & Social Issues (ESI) Descriptive Paper
Step 01: Get a grip on all imp. concepts. List them down and make sure to understand each one.
Step 02: Expect questions related to Current Affairs, so track all the important events, reports, schemes, and policies and have key points ready for these. Coverage: Last 6 months.
Step 03: Make a list of imp. points mentioned in the Union Budget and Economic Survey. Note the points such that you can use them for any type of questions asked from these two sources.
Step 04: For opinion-based questions which would mostly be asked from the Social Issues section, you need to justify the stand you take. Do not spend time preparing points for these. You can use a few data points noted down while studying current affairs for these answers.
Step 05: Practice at least 12-15 answers before you go for the examination.
Start out by Practising Free Descriptive Tests for ESI
Download RBI Gr. B 2021 Ph-2 Memory Based Questions Here
III. Approach for Finance & Management (F&M) Descriptive Paper
Step-01: Start with the Management section. The desc. ques. from this section would be static in nature. Be thorough with the concepts.
Step-02: While reading each chapter, note down keywords for each chapter (as part of various theories/concepts).
Step-03: For the Finance section, make a list of current affairs-related topics (in news lately) and static topics and write down keywords for each one.
Step-04: While writing the answers, make sure you are building your answers around these keywords.
Step-05: Practice at least 12-15 answers before you go for the examination
IV. Expert Guidance for Descriptive Papers
Practice RBI Grade B – Descriptive Answer-Writing with our expert faculty: For ESI, FM & Descriptive English Get expert guidance for your exhaustive preparation of RBI Grade B Phase 1 & Phase 2.
Important Chapters for ESI, Finance & Management
Most Important Chapters for ESI
- Introduction to Economics
- Measurement of Growth
- Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation
- Sustainable Development & Environmental Issues
- Money & Inflation
- Role of Economic Planning
- Economic Reforms
- Industrial Policy & Labour Policy
- Monetary Policy & Fiscal Policy
- Introduction to Financial Market
- Balance of Payments
- Foreign Trade Policy
- International Economic Institutions
- Regional Economic Cooperation
- Demographic Trends
- Urbanization & Migration
- Social Justice
- Social Movements
- Indian Political System
- Human Development
- Health & Education
You can the notes + videos + live classes for these chapters in our cracker course.
Most Important Chapters for Finance
- Financial Regulatory Bodies
- Banking System in India
- Reforms in the Banking & Finance Sector
- Impact of the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-08
- Primary & Secondary Markets
- Risk Management in the Banking Sector
- Basics of Derivatives
- Alternate sources of Finance
- Inflation
You can the notes + videos + and live classes for these chapters in our cracker course.
Note: While reading the news/current affairs, make sure you keep these chapters in mind so that you can map the news to the syllabus. This will help you answer the finance objective questions as well as descriptive ones.
Most Important Chapters for Management
- General Management
- Leadership
- Communication
- Corporate Governance
- Organizational Behaviour
- Organizational Change
- Emotional Intelligence
- Interpersonal Relationship
- Nudge Theory
- Ethics at Workplace
You can the notes + videos + live classes for these chapters in our cracker course.
Note: In F&M Paper – Equal weightage is given to Finance and Management. Management is Static – this can help increase the scores.
FAQs
Q. How many hours of study is required for RBI Grade B exam?
A. After the notification is announced, you must devote at least 4 hours daily towards your studies for the RBI Grade B exam. Read the daily current affairs, cover the basics for ESI & FM, practice QRE questions, revise government schemes report & indices, read about the latest developments in the Finance & Economy sector etc.
Q. How can I prepare for RBI Grade B at home?
A. The easiest way is to prepare from home is to first get hold of all the aspects of the exam like what the exam entails, what should you study, and what you should not study. You can subscribe to a read-made online course to help you streamline your preparation.
Make your QRE (quants, reasoning, English) very strong, refer to the past year’s papers to understand the types of questions asked, read the daily current affairs (as well as revise the CA from the past 6 months), cover ESI & FM basics, revise the latest Government schemes, Reports & Indices, and last but not the least take up and mock tests.
Q. What should I study for RBI Grade B?
A.
1. Phase 1 – Make your QRE (quants, reasoning, English) very strong, refer to the past year’s papers to understand the types of questions asked, read the daily current affairs (as well as revise the CA from the past 6 months),
2. Phase 2: Cover ESI & FM basics, revise the latest Government schemes, Reports & Indices,
3. Mock Tests – Last but not least take up mock tests.
Q. Can you prepare for RBI Grade B without coaching?
A. Yes, you can definitely prepare for the RBI Grade B exam without coaching but then you will have to search for the study material by yourself using textbooks and free online study portals. This activity would consume a lot of time.
If you are falling short of time, consider subscribing to an online course that caters to all the preparation needs of Phase 1 and Phase 1 paper of the RBI Grade B exam. This would save your time and also streamline your preparation.
Q. Can a UPSC aspirant prepare for RBI Grade B?
A. In fact it has become a lot easier for a UPSC aspirant now to clear the RBI Grade B exam due to the following reasons:
1. UPSC aspirants have expertise in current affairs coverage as well as Economic & Social Issues (ESI) Coverage.
2. UPSC aspirants have a practice writing descriptive answers which are required on the RBI Grade B Phase 2 exam.
The only they need to focus is on clearing the QRE sectional cut-off and the overall cut-off marks in the Phase 1 paper. They would also need to need Management and General Finance.
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