RBI Assistant Syllabus 2026: Prelims and Mains Topic-Wise Guide

The RBI Assistant syllabus covers five subjects across two online stages: English Language, Numerical Ability, Reasoning Ability, General Awareness and Computer Knowledge. The Preliminary exam tests the first three, while the Main exam adds General Awareness and Computer Knowledge and carries the marks that decide your final merit.

The Reserve Bank of India names these tests in its notification but does not publish a topic-wise syllabus. The topic lists below are built from the official test names, the structure of the latest 2026 cycle and the questions asked in previous years. Use them as a working checklist, not as an official list. This page also shows where the two stages overlap, which topics deserve the most time and how to cover everything in a sensible order.

Table of Contents

• RBI Assistant syllabus at a glance

• Key points to know before you start

• Preliminary exam syllabus

• Main exam syllabus by subject

• Overlap between Prelims and Main

• Is there a syllabus for the Language Proficiency Test?

• How to cover the syllabus in phases

• Common syllabus mistakes

RBI Assistant syllabus at a glance

The marks and timings above follow the 2026 notification. For marking rules and qualifying conditions, see the RBI Assistant exam pattern page.

Key points to know before you start

• No official topic list: RBI publishes test names only. Anyone claiming an "official" detailed syllabus is working from the same inference you are.

• Same subjects, different depth: English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning appear in both stages, but the Main exam goes deeper and has more questions per section.

• Two Main-only subjects: General Awareness and Computer Knowledge appear only in the Main exam. Start them early, because they are the easiest way to build a lead over candidates who prepare for Prelims alone.

• Sectional timing applies: You must finish each section inside its own time, so topic choice and speed matter as much as coverage.

Older pages may still show earlier syllabi or pattern details, so follow the official notification and the RBI website for any change. Official RBI website: https://www.rbi.org.in/

Preliminary exam syllabus

The Prelims is a 60-minute screening test of 100 questions. It does not add marks to your final merit, but you must clear sectional and overall cut-offs to reach the Main exam.

High-weight areas in Prelims

Numerical Ability and Reasoning together carry 70 of the 100 marks, so they decide most results. In Numerical Ability, calculation-based questions such as simplification, series and data interpretation usually give the fastest marks. In Reasoning, puzzles and seating arrangements take the most time, so practise picking the easier set first. In English, reading comprehension and error spotting are the most reliable scoring areas.

Main exam syllabus by subject

The Main exam is a 135-minute test of 200 questions across five sections of 40 questions each. These marks alone decide merit, so treat every subject below seriously.

English Language

• Reading comprehension: Passages on economy, banking, society and current issues, with inference and vocabulary questions.

• Grammar-based tasks: Error spotting, sentence improvement, phrase replacement and active-passive voice.

• Sentence-level tasks: Cloze test, fillers, para jumbles and sentence rearrangement.

• Vocabulary: Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution and commonly confused words.

Numerical Ability

Reasoning Ability

• Puzzles and arrangements: Linear and circular seating, floor-based puzzles, scheduling and box-based puzzles.

• Logical reasoning: Syllogism, inequalities, statement and assumption, statement and conclusion, cause and effect.

• Coding and relations: Coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, order and ranking.

• Pattern questions: Number series, analogy, odd one out and alphabet series.

General Awareness

This section is a 40-mark test in 25 minutes, so it rewards recall and quick elimination.

• Current affairs: Roughly the last six to eight months of national, international, economic and sports news, plus appointments, awards and summits.

• Banking and financial awareness: RBI functions, monetary policy tools, repo and reverse repo, CRR and SLR, payment systems, financial inclusion, banking terms and recent regulations.

• Economy: Basic Indian economy concepts, budget and economic survey highlights, inflation, GDP and government schemes.

• Static GK: Important days, books and authors, national parks, capitals and currencies, and headquarters of major organisations.

Computer Knowledge

Computer Knowledge is often the quickest section to score in, because the question bank is limited and repeats concepts. A few weeks of focused revision can move this section from average to strong.

Overlap between Prelims and Main

Study the shared subjects once at Main depth, then use the Prelims phase to build speed on them.

Is there a syllabus for the Language Proficiency Test?

RBI does not publish a syllabus for the Language Proficiency Test (LPT). It is a qualifying test of the official or local language of the state for which you applied, and it checks whether you can read, write, speak and understand that language. The test is mandatory with no exemption, so do not leave it to chance if the language is not your first one. Revise basic reading, writing and conversation skills in that language once the Main exam is over, and keep an eye on the official website for the test format.

How to cover the syllabus in phases

1. Weeks 1 to 8, concepts: Complete arithmetic, core reasoning topics and grammar rules. Read an English newspaper editorial daily.

2. From week 3, awareness habit: Spend 30 to 40 minutes daily on current affairs and banking news, and write short monthly notes.

3. From week 6, topic tests: Attempt topic-wise tests after finishing each chapter, and begin 20-minute sectional tests.

4. From week 10, Computer Knowledge: Revise fundamentals, shortcuts and security in a compact block.

5. Final phase, full mocks: Take full-length Prelims and Main mocks, analyse them on the same day and revise from your error log.

Common syllabus mistakes

• Starting with the hardest topics: Begin with high-frequency areas such as simplification, inequalities and reading comprehension, then move to difficult ones.

• Skipping Computer Knowledge: It is a full 40-mark section with a sectional cut-off, so leaving it out can end your attempt.

• Collecting too many sources: One main book per subject and regular mocks beat five half-read resources.

• Studying current affairs only before the exam: Daily reading with short notes is far more effective than a last-minute dump.

Before you finalise your plan, check the RBI Assistant overview for the latest recruitment details.