Success Story Of Tanay Gaurav, AIR 1 In RBI Grade B 2024

Securing the All India Rank 1 in the prestigious RBI Grade B 2024 exam is no small feat, and Tanay Gaurav’s journey to the top is nothing short of inspiring. A graduate of IIT Kharagpur (2023), Tanay initially set out to crack the UPSC exam but shifted his focus to the RBI Grade B exam after facing setbacks. Despite missing his interview opportunity in his first attempt due to a technicality, he refined his strategy, worked on his weaknesses, and came back stronger.

Success Story Of Tanay Gaurav

Tanay Gaurav’s disciplined approach, strategic preparation, and unwavering determination led him to achieve AIR 1 in his second attempt. In this success story, Tanay shares his preparation strategy, challenges, and insights that helped him achieve this remarkable milestone.

Q1: How are you feeling after securing All India Rank 1 in RBI Grade B 2024?

Tanay Gaurav: I am feeling very happy and satisfied. It is a feeling of relief and excitement. I am looking forward to the new opportunities ahead.

Q2: What was your parents’ reaction to your success?

Tanay Gaurav: They were extremely happy. Clearing the exam itself is a big achievement, but securing AIR 1 was beyond expectations. We all are celebrating this success.

Q3: Can you share your journey from the beginning to achieving this success?

Tanay Gaurav: I graduated in 2023 from IIT Kharagpur. Initially, I was preparing for the UPSC exam, but after failing to clear prelims, I decided to shift my focus to the RBI Grade B exam. In my first attempt, I cleared Phase 1 and Phase 2, but I missed my graduation deadline by 8 days and could not appear for the interview. This year, I refined my strategy, worked on my weaknesses, and finally achieved AIR 1.

Q4: Coming from an engineering background, what motivated you to join the banking sector?

Tanay Gaurav: I have always been interested in economics. During my college days, I took several major and minor subjects related to economics. The transition to the RBI was natural for me. Also, the skills I developed during UPSC preparation helped in the RBI exam as well. The RBI is a prestigious institution, and I was determined to be a part of it.

Q5: What extra efforts did you put into your preparation to achieve AIR 1?

Tanay Gaurav: I had already covered a major part of the Economic and Social Issues (ESI) section during my UPSC preparation. This time, I focused more on management and finance. I made sure that I covered them in-depth so that I had a strong chance of success. For Phase 1, I was already good at Quantitative Aptitude, so I mainly focused on General Awareness to clear the sectional cutoff. Most of my extra effort went into Phase 2 preparation.

Q6: What was your daily study routine?

Tanay Gaurav: I do not believe in a fixed timetable. Instead, I set targets for myself. First, I analyzed the syllabus and divided my time according to the subject weightage and my strengths. I set weekly and daily goals and ensured that I completed them. On an average day, I studied for 7–8 hours, sometimes extending to 10 hours if the target was heavy. I also kept buffer days to manage unexpected breaks.

Q7: Were you working anywhere while preparing, or were you fully focused on your studies?

Tanay Gaurav: I was fully dedicated to my preparation and was not working anywhere.

Q8: What activities did you do in your free time?

Tanay Gaurav: I have always been interested in reading, especially about international affairs, politics, and culture. I used to read online articles and follow recent developments on social media. I also enjoyed debating in school and college. Occasionally, I watched movies or series on weekends.

Q9: Did you ever consider joining the corporate sector, or were you always focused on government exams?

Tanay Gaurav: I was always focused on government exams. However, there are many different government exams, and one must choose wisely based on their strengths. Preparing for too many exams at once does not help. I focused on exams where my preparation could be useful in multiple areas.

Q10: How did your UPSC preparation help in the RBI exam?

Tanay Gaurav: Many topics from the UPSC syllabus, especially in the Society section, helped in the RBI exam. Concepts like urbanization, multiculturalism, and demographic dividend are relevant in both exams. This overlap made it easier for me to prepare.

Q11: Many aspirants feel that their efforts are wasted if they do not clear an exam. What would you say to them?

Tanay Gaurav: No effort goes to waste. The skills and knowledge you gain during preparation will help you somewhere in life. Maybe not in one exam, but in another opportunity. Hard work always pays off in the long run.

Q12: Now that you have cleared the RBI Grade B exam, what are you looking forward to?

Tanay Gaurav: I am excited to join the RBI and explore the opportunities ahead. I want to contribute my best to the organization.

Q13: What message would you like to give to aspirants preparing for competitive exams?

Tanay Gaurav: I believe in the principle of Karma. Hard times will come, but they will not last forever. Your hard work will always outlive the challenges you face. Be consistent, structured, and methodical in your preparation. If you follow the right strategy and stay determined, success will come your way.

Q14: What was your score in Phase 1?

Tanay Gaurav: My Phase 1 score was 81 in my first attempt and 88 this time.

Q15: Can you share the section-wise breakup of your Phase 1 score?

Tanay Gaurav: Yes, sure. This time, my scores were:

English: 27.5 (Last time, it was 25)
General Awareness (GA): 30
Quantitative Aptitude (QA): 12
Reasoning Ability: Around 18-20

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Q16: What resources did you use for Phase 1 preparation?

Tanay Gaurav: For Quant and Reasoning, I mainly relied on mock tests and improved by analyzing my mistakes. For General Awareness, I followed five months of current affairs from different sources, including compilations from multiple institutes. I also used Oliveboard’s YouTube channel, especially for budget, economic surveys, and their top 100 MCQ series.

Q17: How did you manage Phase 1 and Phase 2 preparation?

Tanay Gaurav: It depends on personal strengths. Since Quant was easy for me, I focused more on Phase 2 and followed a 70-30 study plan—

Until one month before Phase 1: 70% time to Phase 2, 30% to Phase 1.
Last one month before Phase 1: 70% time to Phase 1, 30% to Phase 2.

Q18: When did you complete ESI, Finance, and Management preparation?

Tanay Gaurav: I covered these subjects well in advance. However, I was already studying GA along with Phase 2 subjects since some parts, like government schemes, reports, budget, and the economic survey, are common in both phases.

Q19: Did UPSC preparation help in your RBI Grade B preparation?

Tanay Gaurav: Yes, definitely. My UPSC preparation helped a lot, especially in General Awareness and ESI (Economic and Social Issues).

Q20: Many aspirants struggle with Quant and Reasoning. What advice would you give them?

Tanay Gaurav: If Quant and Reasoning are not your strong areas, focus on high-scoring topics that require less effort but give good results. Some of them are:

Reasoning: Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Syllogism
Quant: Simplification, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion

Start with these easy topics to clear sectional cut-offs, then move to puzzles (Reasoning) and Data Interpretation (Quant), which require more time and practice. Also, mock tests are very important.

Q21: How did you identify high-scoring topics?

Tanay Gaurav: I first attempted 2-3 free mock tests, including one from RBI’s official platform, to understand which topics were easy for me. Then, I focused on those high-yielding topics first before moving to complex areas.

Q22: How important are Previous Year Questions (PYQs)?

Tanay Gaurav: PYQs are very important. They help you understand the types of questions asked in the exam and the level of difficulty. By solving them, you can prepare only the relevant topics instead of covering everything.

Q23: How did you prepare for General Awareness (GA)?

Tanay Gaurav: GA was challenging for me since I have an engineering background. I followed these steps:

Did not read primary sources like newspapers, reports, or economic surveys.
Used compilations from different coaching institutes.
Watched Oliveboard’s YouTube videos for topics like the budget, economic survey, and top 100 MCQs.

Q24: Can you share your strategy for Phase 2 preparation?

Tanay Gaurav: Yes, Phase 2 is the most important stage of the RBI Grade B exam. It has both MCQ and descriptive sections, and both need a different approach. I focused on refining my preparation this time.

For MCQs, I ensured a strong grip on government schemes, economic reports, budgets, and other relevant topics. For the descriptive section, I practiced writing structured and crisp answers.

Q25: How did you manage to write concise and high-quality descriptive answers?

Tanay Gaurav: Writing crisp and qualitative answers requires brainstorming and structuring before writing. If the question was from a topic I had already prepared, I could start writing directly, keeping the word limit in mind.

For new or unexpected questions, I first created a rough structure before writing. This helped me divide the answer into key sections while maintaining clarity and coherence.

Q26: How important are government schemes in Phase 2?

Tanay Gaurav: Government schemes are extremely important, especially those related to key ministries. For example, topics like startups and entrepreneurship are frequently asked. I ensured I covered all relevant schemes from an exam perspective.

Q27: How did Oliveboard help you in your preparation?

Tanay Gaurav: Oliveboard was a key resource for my refinement process. Their YouTube videos, MCQ series on economic reports, budget analysis, and explainers were very helpful in strengthening my preparation.

Q28: How did you approach ESI (Economic & Social Issues) in Phase 2?

Tanay Gaurav: The MCQ section of ESI is a continuation of the Phase 1 GA (General Awareness), so I followed a similar approach. For the descriptive part, I focused on writing structured answers using relevant data, examples, and government reports.

Q29: What was your approach for Finance and Management?

Tanay Gaurav: In Finance, I prepared for both MCQs and descriptive questions. Some finance topics require deep understanding, like the question on AT1 bonds this year. However, other finance questions were more general and doable.

Management was easier for me, so I prepared extensively to ensure I could answer any descriptive question confidently. Since it is mostly static, I revised theories, key thinkers, and philosophers while adding relevant examples.

Q30: Which section did you find more comfortable: objective (MCQs) or descriptive?

Tanay Gaurav: I was more comfortable with the descriptive section. I was confident of scoring above 35 in descriptive, regardless of the question type.

The objective section is unpredictable. For example, this year, the management MCQs were unconventional and required comprehension-based deduction, making them tricky. But descriptive answers follow a consistent pattern, so with good preparation, scoring well is possible.

Q31: How did you handle unexpected descriptive questions?

Tanay Gaurav: Some questions, like the one on growth vs. value investing in finance this year, were unexpected. For such questions, I quickly planned the structure before writing. I mapped out the key points and then divided my answer accordingly within the word limit.

Q32: What was your approach to maintaining the word limit in descriptive answers?

Tanay Gaurav: Time management is crucial since every word counts. For known topics, I could directly start writing with a sense of proportion. For new topics, I structured my thoughts first.

The key is to be clear, concise, and relevant while covering all major points. Adding examples or current affairs references also makes the answer more impactful.

Q33: How did you prepare differently for Phase 2 as compared to Phase 1?

Tanay Gaurav: Phase 2 is the core of the RBI Grade B exam, so most of my preparation efforts went into it. It has both MCQ and descriptive sections, which require different strategies. The MCQ part in ESI is an extension of the General Awareness (GA) section from Phase 1, while the descriptive section needs more structured preparation. For Finance and Management, I focused more on descriptive answers in Management since it was easier for me, and I covered Finance from an MCQ perspective while ensuring I could attempt basic descriptive questions too.

Q34: Which section did you find more comfortable—Objective or Descriptive?

Tanay Gaurav: I was more comfortable with the descriptive section because I was confident that I could score at least 35 marks in it, regardless of the questions. The objective section is unpredictable—this year, for example, the Management section had difficult and unconventional MCQs. Descriptive answers, on the other hand, are more stable, and good preparation helps in securing decent marks.

Q35: How did you manage to write crisp and high-quality answers within the word limit?

Tanay Gaurav: Writing a clear and structured answer requires brainstorming before starting. For topics I had already prepared, I could directly start writing as I knew how to divide the content. But for new questions, I quickly mapped out a rough structure. For example, in Finance, there was a question on growth vs. value investing, which was not expected. In such cases, planning the answer before writing helps in keeping it well-structured and within the word limit.

Q36: How did you ensure that your answers were rich in content?

Tanay Gaurav: I focused on adding data points, government schemes, and relevant examples. Since I had studied Vivek Singh’s book on the Indian economy during my UPSC preparation, I was confident in my ESI static knowledge. For refinement, I picked 50 key topics based on previous year questions, current affairs (of the last 5 months), and the syllabus. For each topic, I created 2-3 page notes, which included:

Introduction
Current context
Data points
Government initiatives
Challenges
Future prospects
Way forward

I revised these notes multiple times so that I could use them in the exam even if the question was indirectly related to the topic. This approach worked well—three out of the four descriptive questions in ESI were from my notes.

Q37: How did you integrate government schemes into your answers?

Tanay Gaurav: I included relevant government schemes directly in my notes. For example, for startup and entrepreneurship topics, I covered schemes like:

Startup India Seed Fund Scheme
Village Entrepreneurship Program
Other key initiatives related to startups

For the MCQ section, I studied separate compilations that covered deeper details like eligibility, launch year, and financial outlay. But for descriptive answers, I mentioned schemes briefly in one or two lines to support my arguments.

Q38: How did you filter important news from PIB for your preparation?

Tanay Gaurav: While preparing for Phase 1, I categorized PIB news using different color highlights—one for descriptive answers and another for MCQs. After Phase 1, when I was making my notes for descriptive answers, I included relevant PIB content under the appropriate topics.

Even though PIB and current affairs seem vast, most of them can be condensed into about 50 broad topics. These topics are often repeated in different contexts, so organizing them helped me remember and use them effectively in the exam.

Q39: How did you manage to write a qualitative and structured answer in ESI, especially for finance and management?

Tanay Gaurav: During my UPSC preparation, I had already studied Vivek Singh’s book on the Indian economy, which covered almost the entire ESI static syllabus. This gave me confidence in writing good answers on any topic.

This year, I focused on refining my content. I selected 50 important topics based on previous year questions (PYQs), recent current affairs (last 5 months), and the syllabus. For each topic, I created 2-3 page notes, covering:

Introduction
Current context
Key data points
Government schemes
Challenges and prospects
Way forward

I revised these notes multiple times so that even if a question was slightly different, I could still write a well-structured answer. This helped me a lot because out of the four descriptive ESI questions, three were directly from my notes.

For example:

A question on youth unemployment was already in my notes.
A question on national industrial corridors was covered in my infrastructure notes.
A question on sustainability and conflict was also in my notes.

I also covered topics like gender issues, AI, and financial inclusion in the same way. By merging current affairs with static portions, I was able to write strong answers in the exam.

Q40: How did you refine government schemes and focus on the most important ones for the exam?

Tanay Gaurav: For each topic, I included relevant government schemes in my notes. For example, while covering startup and entrepreneurship, I added schemes like:

Startup India Seed Fund Initiative
Village Entrepreneurship Program
Other related schemes

For MCQ preparation, I studied government scheme compilations since objective questions often go deep into eligibility, launch year, budget allocation, and implementation details.

For descriptive answers, I only added one or two key lines about each scheme in my notes. This made it easy to recall and write in the exam.

Q41: How did you filter important news from PIB for exam preparation?

Tanay Gaurav: While preparing for Phase 1, I already segregated PIB current affairs using different color highlights—one for descriptive answers and another for MCQs.

After Phase 1, I had a better understanding of the syllabus, so I included relevant PIB content in my 50 topic-wise notes. Even though current affairs seem vast, most of them fall under 50 broad topics. This structured approach helped me recall the right news for the right question during the exam.

Q42: Did you follow any specific newspaper or editorial section for your preparation?

Tanay Gaurav: No, I did not follow any newspaper. My philosophy has always been not to follow primary sources when there are better and more experienced people compiling them.

Instead, I used current affairs compilations from different institutes. While editorials can help in descriptive writing, I chose to focus on refining syllabus-related content and PYQs rather than reading editorials.

However, before my interview, I did go through some editorials for better clarity.

Q43: How did you prepare for finance and management, given that finance was not your strong area?

Tanay Gaurav: Since I was not from a finance background, I followed a simple strategy:

Finance: I covered most topics from Vivek Singh’s book. For advanced topics like financial markets and derivatives, I studied from YouTube channels and online sources.
Basel norms and other technical topics were challenging, so I made my own easy-to-understand notes after watching multiple explanations.
For MCQs, I used institute-provided notes and compilations.

For Management, I put in extra effort because I knew I had to answer at least three descriptive questions from this section.

I followed a YouTube channel and created my own notes with examples of thinkers and theories to make my answers stand out.
I had a 90%+ strike rate in MCQs in Management, but this year’s paper was a bit unconventional, so my final score was 37.

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Q44: How did you prepare for finance-related current affairs?

Tanay Gaurav: I followed compilations from institutes because RBI circulars and notifications can be difficult to understand for a non-finance student like me.

To build a strong base, I:

Practiced MCQs from different sources to get a thematic understanding of topics.
Created one or two-page summary notes for important reports since last year’s exam had many direct questions from reports.

This helped me write answers with relevant data instead of relying only on general knowledge in the exam.

Q45: How did you prepare for the English section?

Tanay Gaurav: Since English was my strong subject, I spent the least time preparing for it. My approach:

I watched 50 YouTube videos from different institutes and wrote down the do’s and don’ts for English.
I attempted 2-3 mock tests to check if I could complete the paper on time.
For essays, I didn’t write full essays but practiced brainstorming ideas, structuring answers, and creating strong introductions and conclusions.

This basic preparation was enough for me to do well in the English section.

Q46: Did you follow any specific newspaper for your preparation?

Tanay Gaurav: No, I did not follow any particular newspaper. My approach was to use compilations from different institutes instead of relying on primary sources. However, I do believe that editorials help in improving descriptive writing. If someone has time, following editorials can be useful.

Q47: What was your approach to studying Finance and Management?

Tanay Gaurav: I was more comfortable with Management, but Finance was a weak area for me. For Finance, I used Vivek Singh’s book for most topics. For advanced topics like financial markets and derivatives, I referred to online sources and YouTube channels. I made notes on complex topics like Basel norms. For Management, I put in more effort since I had to write three descriptive answers from this section. I followed a YouTube channel, researched online, and made notes on different thinkers and examples to make my answers better.

Q48: How did you cover current affairs for Finance?

Tanay Gaurav: I used compilations from institutes because RBI circulars and notifications are difficult to understand, especially for someone without a Finance background. I also practiced MCQs from different sources to develop a thematic understanding. Additionally, I made short notes (one-page or two-page) on important reports, as descriptive questions often come from them.

Q49: Since English was your strength, how did you prepare for it?

Tanay Gaurav: I spent very little time on English. I watched around 50 YouTube videos from different institutes and noted the important dos and don’ts. I attempted two or three mock tests to check if I could complete the paper. I also practiced essay topics by brainstorming ideas and structuring my answers without actually writing them.

Q50: Since the exam is completely CBT (Computer-Based Test), how important is typing speed?

Tanay Gaurav: Typing speed is important but not the only factor. It can be a bottleneck in descriptive writing if you are too slow. A good typing speed of around 40 WPM is helpful. I was already comfortable with typing because I had always studied on my laptop, so I didn’t have to practice much. Instead, I focused on structuring my answers well, ensuring good introductions and conclusions, and making my content easy to read for the examiner.

Q51: How did you adjust from UPSC answer writing to RBI’s descriptive writing?

Tanay Gaurav: The biggest change was the exam interface, which is not as user-friendly as the software we usually use. But since I had good typing speed, I didn’t face much difficulty. The main difference in writing style was that in UPSC, answers are short and analytical, while in RBI, answers need more direct references from official sources like reports, RBI documents, or the Chief Economic Adviser’s statements. In RBI, there are fewer questions but a higher word limit, so I focused on structuring answers well and using relevant data, quotes, and examples.

Q52: Did you follow any specific writing style for descriptive answers?

Tanay Gaurav: If I had complete information about a question, I wrote in point-wise format to include more details. But if I was generating ideas while writing, I used paragraphs to make my answer more structured and comprehensive. I also ensured good transitions between paragraphs and avoided repeating the same points.

Q53: How did you improve your mock test scores over time?

Tanay Gaurav: Last year, I faced difficulties in descriptive writing. But after clearing Phase 2 with a good margin, I was more confident this year. I focused more on content enrichment—adding facts, figures, official reports, and unique examples. This year, I did not attempt many mock tests. Instead, I brainstormed ideas to check if I could generate points quickly. In mock tests, I scored around 30-32 marks, and in the final exam, I scored above 35 in both ESI and FM descriptive papers. Last year, I solved mock tests from a couple of institutes, but this year, I did not attempt many.

Q54: How many panelists were there in your interview, and what kind of questions did they ask?

Tanay Gaurav: There were multiple panelists in my interview. It was a multi-dimensional interview covering different topics. The questions started with finance and economy, then moved to HR-related topics. At one point, we discussed climate change from a chemical engineering perspective since I am a chemical engineer. The chairman, who also had a chemical engineering background, asked me technical questions related to differential equations and plug flow reactors. The last part of the interview was a bit tough for me, but overall, it went smoothly.

Q55: How did you prepare for the interview? What was your strategy for the 16-day preparation period?

Tanay Gaurav: I had only 16 days to prepare, so I had to make a choice—either focus on finance, management, and current affairs or work on my biodata in detail. I chose to focus on my biodata because finance was difficult to cover in such a short time. I researched every point mentioned in my biodata and read two newspapers—LiveMint and The Indian Express, focusing mainly on the editorial sections to get different perspectives. I also gave a few mock interviews to check my confidence level.

Q56: How did your preparation for Phase 1 and Phase 2 help in the interview?

Tanay Gaurav: Phase 1 and Phase 2 helped in building my knowledge base, but the interview is more about personality and confidence. However, having good knowledge never hurts. My preparation for current affairs and finance in earlier phases gave me a strong foundation to answer many questions.

Q57: How important is the interview in deciding the final selection and rank?

Tanay Gaurav: The interview plays a very important role. Phase 2 is the core of the selection process, but the interview can make a big difference in ranking. A good interview score can give you a lead of 15–20 marks, which is hard to achieve in Phase 2. I scored 65 out of 75 in my interview, which helped my overall ranking.

Q58: What kept you motivated throughout your long journey—from JEE preparation to IIT, UPSC, and finally RBI?

Tanay Gaurav: For me, motivation was never the key driving force. Instead, I always focused on discipline and consistency. I developed a habit of studying and following a structured plan from an early age. JEE preparation required long study hours, but later, for UPSC and RBI, smart work became more important. There were low moments, but overall, I enjoyed the process.

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Q59: How did Oliveboard help in your preparation?

Tanay Gaurav: Oliveboard was very useful in my preparation. The explainer videos, MCQ series on budget and economic surveys, and YouTube content helped me a lot. I also used their content for note-making. Additionally, I attempted free mock tests on Oliveboard and analyzed my weaknesses, which helped me improve.

Q60: Did you face any pressure from family expectations?

Tanay Gaurav: No, my parents were very supportive. They always told me to do my best and believed that I would achieve great things in life. This gave me confidence and kept me stress-free.

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