Every year, the Reserve Bank of India releases the RBI Grade B recruitment notice to hire officers for the General, DEPR, and DSIM cadres. Candidates preparing for the upcoming 2026 exam must start their preparation now, as once the notification is released, they will have only 60 days to prepare for the Phase 1 exam. In this blog, we have provided the RBI Grade B Phase 1 memory-based papers for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, along with details of the types of questions asked in the previous year question papers.
RBI Grade B Previous Year Papers, Download PDF
Below, we have provided the RBI Grade B memory-based papers along with a direct link to download the PDF to help aspirants prepare for the upcoming 2026 RBI Grade B exam.
RBI Grade B Previous Year Paper 2024, Download PDF
The direct link to download the RBI Grade B previous year paper 2024 is provided below. Aspirants can download the PDF through the link.
| Paper Name | Link |
| RBI Grade B 2024 PYP PDF | Download Now |
RBI Grade B Previous Year Paper 2023, Download PDF
The direct link to download the RBI Grade B previous year paper 2023 is provided below. Aspirants can download the PDF through the link.
| Paper Name | Link |
| RBI Grade B 2023 PYP PDF | Download Now |
RBI Grade B Previous Year Question Paper 2022, Download PDF
The direct link to download the RBI Grade B previous year paper 2022 is provided below. Aspirants can download the PDF through the link.
| Paper Name | Link |
| RBI Grade B 2022 PYP PDF | Download Now |
RBI Grade B Past Year Paper 2021, Download PDF
The direct link to download the RBI Grade B memory-based paper for the year 2021 is provided below. Aspirants can download the PDF through the link.
| Paper Name | Link |
| RBI Grade B 2021 PYP PDF | Download Now |
RBI Grade B PYP 2020, Download PDF
The direct link to download the RBI Grade B memory-based paper for the year 2020 is provided below. Aspirants can download the PDF through the link.
| Paper Name | Link |
| RBI Grade B 2020 PYP PDF | Download Now |
RBI Grade B Previous Year Paper 2019, Free PDF
The direct link to download the RBI Grade B memory-based paper for the year 2019 is provided below. Aspirants can download the PDF through the link.
| Paper Name | Link |
| RBI Grade B 2019 PYP PDF | Download Now |
RBI Grade B Previous Year Paper 2018, Free PDF
The direct link to download the RBI Grade B memory-based paper for the year 2018 is provided below. Aspirants can download the PDF through the link.
| Paper Name | Link |
| RBI Grade B 2018 PYP PDF | Download Now |
RBI Grade B previous year exam trends

Preparing for the RBI Grade B exam becomes more strategic when you study trends from the past five years. Analysis of previous papers shows that Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning are consistently challenging, while English remains moderate and General Awareness is mostly current-affairs based. Understanding which topics appear frequently and the number of questions from each section helps candidates prioritize their preparation and focus on high-scoring areas.
Also Check: RBI Grade B Syllabus
What is the difficulty level of the RBI Grade B phase 1 paper?
The overall difficulty of the Phase 1 exam usually falls between moderate and difficult. Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning are often challenging, whereas English and General Awareness are generally more manageable for those with consistent practice. A smart approach is to prioritize high-weightage topics and selectively attempt tougher questions.
| Year | Section-wise Difficulty | Overall Difficulty |
| 2025 | Quant: Moderate to Hard, Reasoning: Moderate to Hard, English: Moderate, GA: Moderate to Hard | Moderate to Hard |
| 2024 | Quant: Hard, Reasoning: Moderate, English: Moderate, GA: Moderate | Moderate |
| 2023 | Quant: Hard, Reasoning: Hard, English: Moderate, GA: Moderate to Hard | Hard |
| 2022 | Quant: Hard, Reasoning: Hard, English: Moderate, GA: Moderate | Hard |
| 2021 | Quant: Moderate, Reasoning: Moderate, English: Hard, GA: Moderate | Moderate |
Also Download RBI Grade B PYQs of 7 years
What are the common Quant topics in RBI Grade B previous year papers?

Quant questions mainly come from Data Interpretation, Number Series, Quadratic Equations, and other arithmetic topics. Data Interpretation is always important and has a high number of questions. Some topics, like Mensuration, HCF–LCM, and Boat & Stream, appear rarely, so they can be lower priority.
| Topic | Avg Questions per Year | Notes |
| Data Interpretation | 11-13 | Appears every year; high weightage |
| Number Series | 3–4 | Regularly asked; accuracy matters |
| Quadratic Equations | 2–4 | Needs basic understanding |
| Data Sufficiency | 2–3 | Irregular but scoring |
| Profit & Loss | 1–2 | Rare; focus only if confident |
| Time & Work / Distance | 1–2 | Occasional; moderate priority |
| Miscellaneous Arithmetic | 1–2 | Low priority |
What are the common Reasoning topics in RBI Grade B previous year question papers?

Reasoning questions in RBI Grade B mainly come from Puzzles, Seating Arrangements, Critical Reasoning, and Input-Output. Based on the last 5 years’ exams, the approximate number of questions from each topic is as follows:
| Topic | Approx. Questions (per year) | Notes |
| Puzzles | 15–20 | Appears every year; most important |
| Seating Arrangement | 9–14 | Consistently high; crucial for scoring |
| Critical Reasoning | 8–12 | Regularly asked; scoring with practice |
| Input-Output | 5 | Appears every year; relatively easy |
| Syllogism & Inequalities | 4–5 | Basic practice needed |
| Direction Sense | 1–3 | Occasionally asked |
| Miscellaneous (Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Alphanumeric Series) | 1–5 | Appears irregularly; practice selectively |
Download RBI Grade B 2024 AIR 1 Handwritten Notes
From which English topics are questions mostly asked?

English questions usually cover Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Detection, Idioms & Phrases, and Sentence Rearrangement. Reading Comprehension always carries the highest weight, while other topics vary each year.
| Topic | Avg Questions | Notes |
| Reading Comprehension | 6–8 | Most important; practice daily |
| Cloze Test | 1–6 | Appears occasionally |
| Error Detection | 3–4 | Regular; basic grammar needed |
| Idioms & Phrases | 2–4 | Regular; high scoring |
| Sentence Rearrangement / Connector | 1–5 | Irregular; practice selectively |
Which are the common General Awareness topics from which questions were asked in RBI Grade B papers?
GA is mostly current-affairs based, including defense, sports, science & technology, space, awards, finance, RBI notifications, and reports. Static GA appears every year as a supporting section, but current affairs are the key scoring area.
| Topic | Avg Questions | Notes |
| Current Affairs (defense, sports, awards, science) | 15–20 | Most important; daily revision required |
| RBI Notifications & Reports | 7–12 | Important for scoring |
| Finance & Schemes | 5–8 | Must be revised regularly |
| Static GA | 6–12 | Supportive; don’t ignore |
FAQs
Expected to be released soon; candidates should stay updated on the official RBI website.
PDFs for 2018–2024 are available through direct download links in the article.
Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning are usually the toughest sections.
Data Interpretation, Number Series, and Quadratic Equations appear most often.
Mostly current affairs, RBI notifications, finance, awards, and science & technology.
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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.
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