NABARD Grade B Exam Pattern 2026: Prelims, Mains and Interview

The NABARD Grade B exam pattern has three stages: a 200-mark online Preliminary, a 300-mark online Main with descriptive writing, and a 75-mark interview. Only the Main and the interview decide the final merit list, but the Preliminary acts as a strict filter with qualifying sections and sectional cut-offs. Knowing exactly how marks are divided helps you decide where to spend your study hours and your exam minutes.

The details on this page follow the official advertisement for Manager in Grade B (RDBS) released in July 2021, which is the last Grade B notification we could verify. We have not found a new notification at the time of writing (October 2026). NABARD can change the pattern in any cycle, so confirm everything against the latest notice before you finalise your plan.

Table of Contents

NABARD Grade B Exam Pattern at a Glance

These figures belong to the 2021 cycle. The post is Manager in Grade B in the Rural Development Banking Service (RDBS).

Phase I Preliminary Exam Pattern

The Preliminary is an online objective test of 200 marks. The 120 minutes are given for all sections together, so you decide how long to spend on each section. The eight sections fall into two groups.

How qualifying and merit sections work

• Qualifying sections: Reasoning, English, Computer Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude and Decision Making carry 100 marks together. You must clear the cut-off, but the marks are not used to rank you for the Main.

• Merit sections: General Awareness, ESI and ARD also carry 100 marks. These marks are used to shortlist candidates for the Main.

• Cut-offs at two levels: The advertisement applies cut-offs to each test and to the total, so a good total does not rescue a section that is below its own cut-off.

Phase II Main Exam Pattern

The Main is also online and carries 300 marks across three papers. Two of the papers combine an objective part with a descriptive part.

Inside Papers II and III

Both papers follow the same structure.

You choose four descriptive questions out of six, so each answer is worth roughly 12 marks. That makes the choice of questions a strategic decision, not just a formality.

Marking Scheme and Negative Marking

One quarter of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer in Phase I and Phase II objective questions. There is no deduction for a question you leave unanswered, and no penalty is mentioned for the descriptive answers, which are assessed on content and expression.

Here is a quick example. In ESI you attempt 30 of the 40 questions. If 24 are correct and 6 are wrong, you score 24 minus 1.5, which is 22.5 marks out of 40. A student who attempted only the 24 sure answers would score 24, so the six guesses cost you 1.5 marks and gained nothing.

What the Pattern Means for You

• Spend time where the merit marks are: ESI and ARD carry 80 of the 200 Prelims marks, and they are also the core of Main Paper II. A single strong subject block pays you twice.

• One mark per question in the Prelims: Every Prelims question carries one mark, so a wrong answer costs 0.25. Guess only when you can remove at least two options.

• Sectional risk is real: Decision Making has only 10 marks, yet it is a separate qualifying test. A careless attempt there can end an otherwise strong paper.

• Writing is two-thirds of the Main: Of the 300 Main marks, Paper I and the descriptive halves of Papers II and III account for 200. Prepare for writing under a timer, not just for MCQs.

• Only four of six: In Papers II and III you can drop two descriptive questions. Learn to choose fast and avoid spending ten minutes deciding.

Section-wise Priority for the Prelims

All sections need a pass, but they do not deserve equal effort. This table turns the pattern into a study priority.

The qualifying sections should be brought to a safe level and then maintained with short practice. Extra hours are better spent on the merit sections, which also feed directly into the Main.

Phase III Interview

The interview carries 75 marks. Candidates are called in a limited ratio, up to three for each vacancy in 2021, and the bank can reduce the ratio at its discretion. Questions cover your academic background, work experience, the economy and agriculture of your region, current policy issues and your reasons for choosing a development bank. Some older pages still show 40 marks for the interview, which was the case in earlier cycles and not in 2021.

Final Selection and Merit

The Preliminary only decides who goes to the Main. In 2021 the bank called candidates in the ratio of up to 25 for each vacancy, again at its discretion. After the Main, the interview shortlist is made. The final merit list is based on the Main and interview marks combined, subject to document verification and medical fitness.

If two candidates have the same combined marks, the 2021 advertisement ranked them by Main marks first, then by higher qualification marks, then by age.

Share of Marks in the Final Merit

Final selection uses the Main and interview marks. Taken at face value, that is 375 marks, of which the Main contributes 300 (80%) and the interview 75 (20%). Treat this as a rough guide. If a notification applies scaling or different weights, the shares will change, so read the selection clause of the latest advertisement.

The practical message is simple: the interview can move your rank, but a weak Main cannot be rescued by it. With vacancies in single digits in 2021, even a few marks decide who is selected.

Time Management Strategy

Phase I: 120 minutes, one pool

Because time is not divided by section, plan your own order. Many students begin with the sections they find easiest, collect those marks first, and then move to the merit sections with a clear mind. A workable split, which you can adjust after a few mocks, is shown below.

This is a practice guide, not an official rule. Your own mock results will show where you need more or less time.

Phase II: separate clocks

• Paper I: With 90 minutes for three descriptive questions, plan about 25 minutes for each and keep the last 10 minutes for revision.

• Papers II and III objective part: 30 minutes for 30 questions leaves about a minute each. Attempt the ones you know first.

• Papers II and III descriptive part: With 90 minutes for four answers, give each about 20 minutes and keep 10 minutes in hand. Write in a clear structure of definition, explanation, example and conclusion.

Writing Strategy for the Main

The descriptive parts reward clear, organised answers. These habits suit the structure of the papers.

• Paper I: Plan each answer before writing. Use a short introduction, three or four points with examples, and a one-line conclusion. Practise typing speed as well, because the Main is taken on a computer.

• Papers II and III: Answer the question asked. If it says discuss, give both sides. If it says explain, define and illustrate. Add one scheme, report or data point to show current awareness.

• Question choice: Spend the first five minutes of the descriptive part choosing the four questions where you can score best, then start with your strongest answer.

• Revision: Keep the last ten minutes to correct spelling, add missing points and check that every answer has a conclusion.

Keep your written answers in a notebook and review them after a week, because gaps are easier to see on a second reading.

Pattern Changes and Official Source

Older pages and videos may still show earlier versions of the pattern, including a different interview mark and different section names. Treat those as outdated, and follow the latest official notification. For eligibility and dates, see the NABARD Grade B overview.

Official advertisement (2021): https://www.nabard.org/auth/writereaddata/CareerNotices/1607212011Grade%20B-2021%20Advt.pdf

Official website: https://www.nabard.org/