RBI Grade A Syllabus 2026: Topics for Both Posts

The RBI Grade A syllabus depends on which Grade A post you are applying for. In the latest cycle (Panel Year 2026), the Reserve Bank of India recruited for Assistant Manager (Rajbhasha) and Assistant Manager (Protocol & Security), and each post has its own set of tests. Reasoning, English and General Awareness are common to both. Professional Knowledge, and the descriptive paper for Rajbhasha, are where the two syllabi separate.

RBI names the tests in its notification but does not print a topic-wise syllabus in the main advertisement. The topic lists on this page are built from the official test names, the Official Language and security duties listed in the notification, and the kind of questions candidates report from earlier cycles. Use them as a working checklist, not as an official list, and read the appendices of the latest notification when it is released

RBI Grade A Syllabus at a Glance

This table follows the Panel Year 2026 pattern. It shows where each syllabus area is tested.

Key Points to Know Before You Start

• There is no Quantitative Aptitude test: Neither Grade A post has a maths section in the Panel Year 2026 pattern. Pages that list quant topics for Grade A are mixing it up with other bank exams.

• The syllabus differs by post: Rajbhasha leans on language, translation and Official Language. Protocol & Security leans on security and administration topics. Pick your post first, then prepare.

• Questions are bilingual: Except for the English test, questions appear in Hindi and English, and you can answer in either language.

• Grade B is a different syllabus: RBI Grade B has Economic and Social Issues, Finance and Management and a different structure. Do not use Grade B material as your main source.

• 2027 syllabus is not out: RBI's calendar lists an Officers in Grade A (DR) - General recruitment for 2027 as a tentative event. Its syllabus will be known only when the advertisement is released.

Older pages may still show a different syllabus or an earlier pattern, so follow the official notification on https://www.rbi.org.in/

Syllabus Common to Both Posts

Three tests are shared. They carry the same kind of questions, but the number of questions and marks differ by post, so adjust your speed target.

Reasoning

Puzzles and seating arrangements usually take the most time. Practise them in a fixed time block, and leave a long set for the end if you are running short.

English Language

The English test checks reading and usage, not literature. Cover these areas:

• Reading comprehension: Short passages on banking, economy and general topics, with inference and vocabulary-in-context questions.

• Grammar and usage: Error spotting, sentence correction, fill in the blanks and cloze test.

• Sentence rearrangement: Para jumbles and sentence connectors.

• Vocabulary: Synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitution, idioms and phrases.

For Protocol & Security, English questions are worth 0.5 marks each, so do not let this test take time away from Professional Knowledge, where each question is worth 1.5 marks.

General Awareness

The notification describes this test as banking, economics, commerce and allied subjects for Rajbhasha, and as banking industry awareness for Protocol & Security. A practical checklist:

• Banking basics: Types of banks, role and functions of the Reserve Bank of India, monetary policy tools, repo rate, CRR and SLR, payment systems and digital banking.

• Economy and finance: Inflation, GDP, fiscal and monetary policy, financial inclusion, regulators such as SEBI and IRDAI.

• Commerce and allied topics: Basic business terms, insurance, mutual funds and capital markets.

• Current affairs: Banking and economy news from the last 6 to 8 months, RBI announcements, appointments, awards and key reports.

Syllabus for Assistant Manager (Rajbhasha)

The Rajbhasha post has two papers on the same day: Paper I (objective, 150 marks) and Paper II (descriptive, 50 marks). The post-specific content is in Professional Knowledge and Paper II.

Professional Knowledge (including Official Language)

The notification does not list topics for this 45-mark test. Based on the test name and the duties of the post, these areas are worth covering:

Check each item against the latest notification. The aim of the table is to give you a starting structure, not to promise that every topic will be asked.

Paper II: Descriptive (Official Language)

Paper II is worth 50 marks and lasts 60 minutes. The notification states that it tests translation between Hindi and English and basic knowledge of the Official Language Policy of the Government of India. It is evaluated only for candidates who score sufficiently in Paper I, as decided by the Board.

• Hindi to English translation: Passages on official, administrative and general topics.

• English to Hindi translation: The same kind of passages, with accurate administrative terminology.

• Official Language Policy: Short answers or explanations on the basics of the policy.

Practise by hand. Translation speed, spelling and clarity are tested together, and typing practice will not build the same skill.

Syllabus for Assistant Manager (Protocol & Security)

This post has one online test of 200 marks. Professional Knowledge is the heaviest test at 75 marks, and the notification refers to a separate appendix for its syllabus. The areas below are those commonly reported for this test, grouped for easier planning. Verify them against the appendix in the official notification.

Professional Knowledge

The nature of duties in the notification gives useful hints about the test. The post covers physical security, security personnel, CCTV and equipment, protocol services for top management and visiting dignitaries, fire safety drills, and upkeep of premises. Questions are likely to stay close to these duties.

Where the Marks and Minutes Go

Knowing the weight of each area helps you decide how long to spend on it. The shares below are worked out from the Panel Year 2026 marks and timings.

General Awareness gives the least time per question in both papers. It rewards recall, so fast revision of notes matters more than long reading sessions. For Rajbhasha, Paper II adds 50 marks on top of Paper I, so Professional Knowledge and translation together shape a large part of the final result. For Protocol & Security, Professional Knowledge alone carries 37.5 per cent of the written marks, which makes it the first priority.

Overlap Between the Two Posts

If you are unsure which post to target, or you meet the eligibility for both, this table shows what you can study once.

Because the age limits and qualifications are very different, most candidates qualify for only one of the posts.

Is There a Syllabus for the Interview?

No topic-wise syllabus is published for the 35-mark interview. Candidates can choose Hindi or English as the language of interview. Prepare your own profile, your subject or service background, current banking and economy news, and the duties of the post. Rajbhasha candidates should be ready to discuss translation work and the use of Hindi in offices. Protocol & Security candidates should be ready to talk about their service experience and security practices.

How to Cover the Syllabus

A phased plan keeps the preparation realistic. The weeks below are a guide and can be stretched if you have more time.

1. Weeks 1 to 4, build the base: Cover Reasoning basics, English grammar and the banking basics in General Awareness. Start the post-specific subject with its fundamentals.

2. Weeks 5 to 8, go deeper: Finish Professional Knowledge topics one group at a time. Rajbhasha candidates begin daily translation practice. Add 30 minutes of current affairs and keep monthly notes.

3. Weeks 9 to 12, practise by topic: Take topic-wise and sectional tests, and solve previous papers where available.

4. Final weeks, test and revise: Take full-length mocks in the exact pattern, with the same sectional timings. Analyse each test on the same day, update an error log and revise it every week.