FreePYQ
RBI Grade B 2025 Previous Year Questions with Detailed Solutions
The full paper. Practise it or take it timed, with solutions after.
275 questions210 min
Conducted by Reserve Bank of India (RBI), through the RBI Services Board
Online (CBT)
RBI Grade B Exam 2027 preparation guide
Everything you need to crack RBI Grade B
Exam pattern, eligibility, previous year papers, mock tests and topic-wise practice, all on this page. Pick a test, start it here, and get your score with solutions.
Free PYQs & mock testsInstant score & solutionsPractice mode open without sign-up
What is the RBI Grade B exam
The Reserve Bank of India conducts the RBI Grade B Officer exam every year through the RBI Services Board, and this recruits officers into its General, DEPR (Department of Economic and Policy Research), and DSIM (Department of Statistics and Information Management) streams. Once you clear it, you join RBI as a Grade B Officer, and the work itself spans monetary policy, banking regulation, currency management, and economic research, so the role is broader than most banking exams prepare you for.
RBI Grade B is widely considered one of the toughest and most prestigious banking exams in India, and that reputation is earned. Lakhs of candidates apply every year for a very limited number of seats, so the exam does not just test aptitude, it tests whether you actually understand how the economy works and whether you can write about it clearly under time pressure.
At Aptitude 360, we break RBI Grade B preparation down into three parts. Building strong fundamentals across General Awareness and Quant and Reasoning for Phase 1, developing real command over Economic and Social Issues, Finance and Management, and descriptive writing for Phase 2, and practicing consistently with mock tests and previous year papers so none of this is unfamiliar on exam day.
Exam pattern & marking scheme
The RBI Grade B selection process for the General stream runs across three stages, Phase 1, Phase 2, and the Interview. Phase 1 is qualifying in nature only, so its marks are not counted anywhere in the final merit list. It is Phase 2 and the Interview that actually decide whether you get in.
RBI Grade B 2027 Phase 1 Exam Pattern
Phase 1 is an online, objective-type test with 200 questions for 200 marks, to be completed in 120 minutes, and the timing is fixed section-wise, so you cannot borrow time from one section to finish another.
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 minutes |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Marking Scheme: +1 for every correct answer, minus 0.25 for every incorrect answer, no penalty for questions left unattempted. You need to clear both the sectional cut-offs and the overall cut-off to move to Phase 2.
RBI Grade B 2027 Phase 2 Exam Pattern
Phase 2 has three papers, a mix of objective and descriptive questions, for a total of 300 marks. This is the stage that actually decides your final merit, so how you perform here matters far more than how you performed in Phase 1.
| Paper | Subject | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Economic & Social Issues (ESI) | 100 | 120 minutes |
| Paper II | English (Writing Skills, fully descriptive) | 100 | 90 minutes |
| Paper III | Finance & Management (FM) | 100 | 120 minutes |
| Total | 300 |
Paper I and Paper III each carry an objective section and a descriptive section. Paper II, the English paper, is entirely descriptive, essays, précis, and comprehension, and there is no negative marking on it. The objective portions of Paper I and Paper III do carry negative marking of minus 0.25 per wrong answer.
👉 For a detailed breakdown of how to prepare for the Phase 2 descriptive papers and score well in ESI and Finance & Management, [read our complete Phase 2 strategy guide]
RBI Grade B 2027 Interview
The Interview carries 75 marks and makes up roughly 20% of your final selection weightage. It usually covers your educational background, your work experience if you have any, current affairs, and questions on how RBI actually functions and how the economy is doing.
Note for DEPR and DSIM Streams
DEPR and DSIM follow a different Phase 1 and Phase 2 pattern, with subject-specific papers in Economics or Statistics respectively. So if you're applying under either of these streams, always cross-check the paper-wise pattern in the official RBI Grade B notification rather than assuming it mirrors the General stream.
Eligibility criteria
RBI Grade B 2027 Age Limit
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General | 21 – 30 years |
| M.Phil holders | Upper limit extended to 32 years |
| Ph.D holders | Upper limit extended to 34 years |
RBI Grade B 2027 Age Relaxation (Category-wise)
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per government rules |
RBI Grade B 2027 Educational Qualification
| Stream | Qualification Required |
|---|---|
| General | Graduation in any discipline with minimum 60% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD), or Post-Graduation with minimum 55% marks |
| DEPR | Master's degree in Economics, Econometrics, Quantitative Economics, Mathematical Economics, or Finance (with Economics/Finance as principal constituent) |
| DSIM | Master's degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, or related quantitative fields (including Data Science / AI / ML backgrounds where applicable) |
Nationality
You need to be an Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanent settlement, or a Person of Indian Origin who migrated from specified countries and holds an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India where applicable.
Number of Attempts
- General / EWS: Maximum 6 attempts
- SC / ST / OBC / PwBD: No restriction on number of attempts, subject to the prescribed age limit
Selection process
How candidates are shortlisted and admitted after the RBI Grade B results.
Phase 1: Qualifying Stage
Phase 1 exists only to shortlist you for Phase 2. Your Phase 1 score does not carry forward into the final merit, so there is no real advantage in scoring far beyond the cut-off. The actual competition starts at Phase 2.
Phase 2: The Stage That Decides Your Selection
Phase 2 marks, out of 300, go directly into your final merit calculation. You need to clear both the overall cut-off and the individual sectional cut-offs for ESI, English, and Finance and Management to get shortlisted for the Interview.
Interview: Final Stage
Once shortlisted, you appear for a personal interview worth 75 marks.
Final Merit Calculation
| Component | Marks Considered |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Not counted (qualifying only) |
| Phase 2 | 300 |
| Interview | 75 |
| Total for Final Merit | 375 |
The final merit list combines your Phase 2 and Interview marks. Category-wise and stream-wise cut-offs get released separately by RBI after each stage.
RBI Grade B previous year questions
Slot-wise RBI Grade B PYQs in quiz format. Attempt them like the real exam, with instant scoring and detailed solutions.
FreePYQ
RBI Grade B 2024 Previous Year Questions with Detailed Solutions
The full paper. Practise it or take it timed, with solutions after.
180 questions120 min
FreePYQ
RBI Grade B 2023 Previous Year Questions with Detailed Solutions
The full paper. Practise it or take it timed, with solutions after.
200 questions120 min
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RBI Grade B 2022 Previous Year Questions with Detailed Solutions
The full paper. Practise it or take it timed, with solutions after.
200 questions120 min
Practice questions, by topic
162 topic-wise quizzes covering every RBI Grade B syllabus area. Pick a topic and start practising it.
Arithmetic (16 topics)Number System (10 topics)Algebra (8 topics)Geometry (8 topics)Logical Reasoning (7 topics)Analytical Reasoning (5 topics)Series & Sequence (2 topics)Data interpretation (3 topics)English Language (2 topics)Verbal / Basic Reasoning (2 topics)
View all 63 practice topics →Assessments
Take a short benchmark test to see where you stand, then move on to topic-wise practice.
FreeVocabulary
Vocabulary Assessment test Level - 1
Check your vocabulary level in one sitting.
60 questions40 min
FreeVocabulary
Vocabulary Assessment test II
Check your vocabulary level in one sitting.
30 questions20 min
FreeAssessment
Assessment Test by Aptitude360
See where you stand before starting topic-wise practice.
30 questions30 min
FreeAssessment
Assessment Test - 2 by Aptitude360
See where you stand before starting topic-wise practice.
30 questions30 min
RBI Grade B prep, explained
Strategy, syllabus breakdowns and exam comparisons from the Aptitude360 blog.
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RBI Grade B Salary 2027, Career Growth and How It Compares to SEBI Grade A and NABARD Grade A
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RBI Grade B Phase 2 2027: Syllabus, Descriptive Paper Strategy and How to Score High
Strategy and analysis from the Aptitude360 blog.
Frequently asked questions
What students most often ask us about RBI Grade B.
How many attempts are allowed for RBI Grade B?
General and EWS candidates get a maximum of 6 attempts. SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates have no restriction on attempts, subject to the age limit.
Is RBI Grade B Phase 1 counted in the final merit list?
No. Phase 1 only qualifies you for Phase 2. Your final merit comes from Phase 2 and Interview marks combined, out of 375.
What is the salary of an RBI Grade B Officer?
The starting basic pay is approximately ₹78,450 per month, and gross monthly emoluments including allowances come to approximately ₹1,50,000 or above, depending on your posting city and accommodation status.
Is RBI Grade B tougher than other bank PO exams?
Yes, and most candidates who've attempted both will tell you the same thing. It is widely considered tougher than SBI PO or IBPS PO, largely because of the Phase 2 descriptive papers, which demand real subject knowledge in Economics, Finance, and Management, not just speed and aptitude.
Can I apply for RBI Grade B General and DEPR/DSIM together?
Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria for more than one stream, you can apply to multiple streams in the same cycle, subject to RBI's specific conditions in the official notification.
What is the RBI Grade B interview weightage?
The Interview carries 75 marks and contributes roughly 20% to your final selection, alongside your Phase 2 score.
Start your RBI Grade B preparation
Take a free assessment to see where you stand, or book a call with our counsellors.