RBI Grade B Complete Guide: Eligibility, Pattern & Salary

RBI Grade B is one of the most prestigious officer jobs in Indian banking — a Class-I officer role at the Reserve Bank of India, covering policy, regulation, supervision and research. It offers excellent pay and standing, which makes it highly competitive.

This guide covers eligibility (including the percentage requirement), the three-phase selection, salary and how merit is decided. Confirm details in the official RBI notification on rbi.org.in.

What is RBI Grade B?

RBI Grade B (General) is a direct-recruit Class-I officer post at the Reserve Bank of India, working across departments on monetary policy, financial regulation, supervision and research. Specialist cadres (DEPR/DSIM) are recruited separately.

Eligibility and age

• Education: graduation with a minimum of 60% (50% for SC/ST/PwBD) or a relevant post-graduation/professional qualification. Note: a minimum percentage applies, unlike most banking exams.
• Age: generally 21–30 years, with standard relaxations and a capped number of attempts for General/OBC.

Exam pattern

Selection has three phases. Objective papers carry 0.25 negative marking, and Phase I is only a screening filter.

• Phase I (Prelims): an objective test of 200 marks — English, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and General Awareness.
• Phase II (Mains): three papers (300 marks) — Economic & Social Issues, English (Writing Skills, fully descriptive), and Finance & Management (objective + descriptive).
• Interview.

How final selection works

The Phase I marks do not count toward the final merit — they only qualify you for Phase II. The final merit is based on Phase II and the Interview combined.

Salary

An RBI Grade B officer starts at a basic pay of around ₹78,450, with initial gross emoluments of roughly ₹1.5 lakh a month (in cities where official quarters are provided, HRA may not apply). It is among the best-paid entry officer roles in the public sector, with strong growth.