RBI Grade B General 2027: Exam Dates, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Syllabus and Preparation Plan
RBI Grade B General 2027 is due to be notified in February 2027, with Phase-I in April 2027 and Phase-II in May/June 2027 (RBI tentative calendar). It is open to graduates of any discipline with 60% (or PG with 55%). Selection is a 200-mark objective Phase-I (qualifying), a 300-mark Phase-II (ESI, English writing, Finance & Management) and a 75-mark interview, and only Phase-II + interview count in the final merit. The 2026 cycle had 40 General posts with a starting basic pay of ₹78,450.
RBI Grade B 2027 tentative schedule (RBI recruitment calendar, as on 22.10.2026, for Officers in Grade 'B' (DR) General/DEPR/DSIM)
| Stage | Month |
|---|---|
| Notification (online application opens) | February 2027 |
| Phase-I examination | April 2027 |
| Phase-II examination | May / June 2027 |
| Interview and final result | After Phase-II results (dates to be announced) |
These are month-level tentative dates. Exact dates for each cadre and paper will be in the February 2027 notification and the admit cards. In 2026, General Phase-I and Phase-II were held a day before the DEPR/DSIM papers.
RBI Grade B General 2027: Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Post | Officer in Grade 'B' (DR) General, Panel Year 2027 |
| Notification | February 2027 (tentative) |
| Phase-I exam | April 2027: objective, 200 marks, 120 min |
| Phase-II exam | May / June 2027: 3 papers, 300 marks |
| Interview | 75 marks |
| Final merit | Phase-II (300) + Interview (75) = 375 |
| Vacancies | To be announced (PY 2026: 40) |
| Qualification | Graduation in any discipline (60%) or Post-Graduation (55%) |
| Age limit (expected) | 21 to 30 years as on 01 April 2027, if the 2026 rule continues |
| Starting basic pay (PY 2026) | ₹78,450 (gross about ₹1,54,936 per month without HRA) |
RBI Grade B General 2027 Exam Date vs 2026
| Stage | 2026 (actual) | 2027 (tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| Notification | 29 April 2026 | February 2027 |
| Phase-I | 13 June 2026 | April 2027 |
| Phase-II | 25 July 2026 | May / June 2027 |
| Gap: notification to Phase-I | About 6 weeks | About 2 months |
In 2026, General Phase-II came about 6 weeks after Phase-I. For 2027 the calendar shows Phase-II in May/June, so the gap may be 4 to 8 weeks. Since ESI and Finance & Management are the only written papers that count in the final merit, build them alongside Phase-I from now.
RBI Grade B General Vacancy 2027
To be announced in February 2027. Previous year (PY 2026) breakup for reference:
| UR | EWS | OBC | SC | ST | Total | PwBD (horizontal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 40 | C: 1, D: 1 |
The General cadre had two-thirds of all Grade B posts in 2026 and attracts by far the largest pool of applicants.
RBI Grade B General 2027 Eligibility
Educational qualification (PY 2026 rule)
- Graduation in any discipline, or an equivalent technical/professional qualification, with 60% (50% for SC/ST/PwBD where posts are reserved). The course must take at least 3 years after Class XII.
- or Post-Graduation in any discipline with 55% (pass marks for SC/ST/PwBD). The course must take at least 2 years after graduation.
- Marks are the aggregate of all semesters/years. Without a university formula, 6.75 CGPA = 60%, 6.25 = 55%, 5.75 = 50%.
Age limit 2027 (expected)
Age limit: In the 2026 cycle candidates had to be 21 to 30 years old on 01 April 2026 (born 02 April 1996 to 01 April 2005). If RBI keeps the same rule for 2027, the cut-off date would be 01 April 2027, meaning born between 02 April 1997 and 01 April 2006. This is our projection; confirm it in the February 2027 notification.
| Category (PY 2026 rules) | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| PwBD (Gen/EWS / OBC / SC-ST) | 10 / 13 / 15 years |
| Ex-servicemen, ECOs/SSCOs (5 years' service) | 5 years |
| M.Phil / Ph.D holders | Upper limit 32 / 34 years |
| Officers in SCBs, public sector insurers, AIFIs, or past RBI experience | Years of experience, max 3 (upper limit capped at 33) |
Attempt limit
GEN and EWS candidates who have already appeared six times in Phase-I are not eligible. There is no limit for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates where posts are reserved for them.
RBI Grade B General Exam Pattern 2027
Phase-I, April 2027 (objective, online)
| Test | What to expect |
|---|---|
| General Awareness | Banking, economy, current affairs, RBI policy, static GK |
| English Language | Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, para-jumbles, cloze |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Data interpretation, arithmetic, number series, quadratics, data sufficiency |
| Reasoning | Puzzles, seating, syllogism, inequality, coding-decoding, input-output |
| Total | 200 marks, 120 minutes, separate time per section |
You must clear the sectional minimum in every test and the aggregate cut-off. Phase-I marks only decide who goes through to Phase-II; they do not count in the final merit. Scores across shifts are normalised using the equipercentile method.
Phase-II, May / June 2027 (objective + typed descriptive)
| Paper | Objective | Descriptive (typed) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper-I: Economic and Social Issues | 30 questions, 50 marks, 30 min | Attempt 4 of 6 (2×15 + 2×10), 50 marks, 90 min | 100 marks, 120 min |
| Paper-II: English (Writing Skills) | None | 3 questions, 90 min | 100 marks, 90 min |
| Paper-III: General Finance and Management | 30 questions, 50 marks, 30 min | Attempt 4 of 6 (2×15 + 2×10), 50 marks, 90 min | 100 marks, 120 min |
| Grand total | 300 marks |
RBI Grade B General Syllabus 2027 (Phase-II)
As per the official PY 2026 syllabus. RBI revises it occasionally (for example, Nudge theory was listed in 2026), so compare against the 2027 notification.
Paper-I: Economic and Social Issues (ESI)
| Unit | Official topics |
|---|---|
| Growth and Development | Measuring growth: national income and per capita income; poverty alleviation and employment generation in India; sustainable development and environmental issues |
| Indian Economy | Economic history of India; industrial, labour, monetary and fiscal policy since the 1991 reforms; Economic Survey and Union Budget priorities; Indian money and financial markets and their links with the economy; role of banks and RBI in development; public finance; political economy; industrial developments; agriculture; services sector |
| Globalization | Opening up of the Indian economy; Balance of Payments; Export-Import Policy; IMF, World Bank, WTO; regional economic co-operation; international economic issues |
| Social Structure in India | Multiculturalism; demographic trends; urbanisation and migration; gender issues; social justice |
Suggested references (indicative): Uma Kapila series, Misra & Puri Indian Economy, Debraj Ray Development Economics, C.N. Shankar Rao Sociology, Andley & Sundaram Public Finance, RBI Bulletins, EPW, World Development Report, Economic Survey, RBI Annual Report, Report on Trend and Progress of Banking, IMF World Economic Outlook.
Paper-II: English (Writing Skills)
Assesses writing skill, expression and understanding of the topic. Expect an essay, a précis and a comprehension or letter/report task, all typed within 90 minutes.
Paper-III: General Finance and Management
| Section | Official topics |
|---|---|
| Financial System | Structure and functions of financial institutions; functions of RBI; banking system in India; SIDBI, EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB, NaBFID; global financial developments and their impact on India; role of IT in banking; non-banking system; developments in digital payments |
| Financial Markets | Primary and secondary markets (forex, money, bond, equity): functions, instruments, recent developments |
| General Topics | Financial risk management; basics of derivatives; global markets and international banking; financial inclusion; alternate sources of finance, private and social cost-benefit, PPP; corporate governance in banking; Union Budget concepts and trends; accounting basics (balance sheet, P&L, cash flow, ratios such as debt-equity, debtor/creditor days, inventory turnover, ROA, ROE); inflation (WPI, CPI, trends, control through monetary and fiscal policy) |
| Management: Fundamentals and OB | Evolution of management thought; management functions and roles; Nudge theory; personality and the Big Five; reinforcement; perception and perceptual errors; motivation (Maslow, Alderfer ERG, McClelland, Herzberg, Adams equity, Vroom expectancy); leadership (trait, behavioural, contingency, charismatic, transactional, transformational); emotional intelligence; Transactional Analysis; Johari Window; conflict management; Kurt Lewin and organisational development models |
| Management: Ethics, Governance, Communication | Theories of ethics (utilitarianism, rights, justice, care, virtue, teleological, egoism, relativism); ethics in compliance, finance, HR and marketing; code of ethics and conduct; role of the Board; corporate governance factors and mechanisms; communication process, channels, barriers, role of IT |
Suggested references (indicative): Prasanna Chandra Financial Management, Kurihara Monetary Theory and Public Policy, Hill & Jain International Business, Robbins & Coulter Management, Robbins, Judge & Vohra Organisational Behaviour, Velasquez Business Ethics, A.C. Fernando Business Ethics: An Indian Perspective, B.N. Ghosh Business Ethics & Corporate Governance.
RBI Grade B General 2027: test series and notes
Phase-I sectional mocks, ESI and Finance & Management notes, and typed descriptive-answer practice, built by Piyush Wairale (IIT Madras). Phase-I is in April 2027.
Explore Test Series & NotesInterview, Personality Assessment and Final Merit
- Shortlisting for interview is on the aggregate of Phase-II (Paper-I + II + III); the cut-off depends on vacancies.
- A Personality Assessment is held before the interview; it carries no marks.
- The interview carries 75 marks and can be taken in Hindi or English.
- Final merit = Phase-II marks + interview marks (+ grace marks where the rules allow). Phase-I is qualifying only.
- Selected candidates join on 2 years' probation (extendable to 4) and can be posted anywhere in India.
RBI Grade B General Salary
As per PY 2026: starting basic pay ₹78,450 in the scale ₹78450-4050(9)-114900-EB-4050(2)-123000-4650(4)-141600, with initial gross emoluments of about ₹1,54,936 per month without HRA. 15% HRA is paid if bank housing is not provided, and up to 4 advance increments can be granted at the interview stage.
Free Pre-Exam Training for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD
In 2026, RBI offered free online pre-exam training for Phase-I, and for Phase-II to candidates who cleared Phase-I, for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD applicants to the General cadre. You applied by email to a designated RBI regional office by the application closing date. Look for the same appendix in the February 2027 notification and apply promptly, because the window will be short.
RBI Grade B General 2027: Month-by-Month Plan
| Month | Focus | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2026 | Quant, Reasoning, English basics + ESI static (growth, development, social issues) | Two sectional tests a day; one-page ESI notes per topic |
| Dec 2026 | Finance: RBI functions, markets, risk, derivatives, accounting ratios | Concept sheet; 20 typed answers |
| Jan 2027 | Management, OB, ethics, governance, communication | Tables comparing theories; diagrams ready to use in answers |
| Feb 2027 | Notification and application; Union Budget 2027-28 and Economic Survey | Data bank: growth, inflation, CAD, fiscal deficit |
| Mar 2027 | Phase-I full mocks daily; two typed ESI/FM sets a week | Sectional cut-off safety in every test |
| Apr 2027 | Phase-I exam; switch fully to Phase-II | Typed full Phase-II mock every 3 days |
| May / June 2027 | Phase-II exam; RBI reports and monetary policy revision | Final current-affairs sheet |
- Type, don't handwrite: aim for 25 to 30 words per minute with a clean structure (introduction, 3 to 4 headed points, data, conclusion).
- Prioritise Phase-II from day one: it is the only written score that counts in your final merit.
- Use RBI's own vocabulary: quote RBI reports and policy terms such as inflation targeting, financial inclusion and digital payments.
About 5 months to Phase-I. Start today.
Full-length mocks with evaluation of descriptive answers, plus short notes for ESI and FM.
Explore Test Series & NotesRBI Grade B General 2027: Frequently Asked Questions
When is the RBI Grade B General 2027 exam?
Phase-I is tentatively in April 2027 and Phase-II in May/June 2027, with the notification in February 2027, as per RBI's recruitment calendar (as on 22.10.2026).
How many vacancies are there in RBI Grade B General 2027?
They will be announced in the February 2027 notification. The 2026 cycle had 40 General posts: UR 16, EWS 4, OBC 9, SC 7 and ST 4.
What is the eligibility for RBI Grade B General?
Based on 2026: graduation in any discipline with 60% (50% for SC/ST/PwBD) or post-graduation with 55% (pass marks for SC/ST/PwBD), as an aggregate of all semesters.
Are Phase-I marks counted in the RBI Grade B final merit?
No. Phase-I is qualifying. The final merit is based on Phase-II (300 marks) and the interview (75 marks).
What is the RBI Grade B General Phase-II exam pattern?
Three papers of 100 marks each: Economic and Social Issues (50 objective + 50 typed descriptive), English Writing Skills (typed, 90 minutes) and General Finance and Management (50 objective + 50 typed descriptive).
How many descriptive questions must I answer in ESI and FM?
You attempt 4 of 6: two of 15 marks and two of 10 marks. If you answer more than 4, only the first 4 are evaluated.
Is there a sectional cut-off in RBI Grade B Phase-I?
Yes. You must reach the minimum marks set by the Board in each test and in aggregate to qualify for Phase-II.
What will the age limit be for RBI Grade B General 2027?
In 2026 it was 21 to 30 years as on 01 April 2026. If RBI keeps the same rule, 2027 candidates must be born between 02 April 1997 and 01 April 2006.
Other RBI Grade B 2027 Guides
RBI Grade B 2027: All Cadres
Dates, vacancies, eligibility, age, salary, fee and exam pattern compared across General, DEPR and DSIM.
RBI Grade B DEPR 2027
MA/MSc Economics or Finance. Objective and descriptive economics plus English writing.
RBI Grade B DSIM 2027
Statistics, Maths, Econometrics, Data Science, AI or ML. PG-level statistics, ML and SQL.