RBI Grade B 2026 — 60 Posts Open, Apply by 20 May | Phase I on 13 June
RBI Grade B 2026 — Key Numbers
Reserve Bank of India | Notification: 29 April 2026
RBI Grade B 2026 notification is released. The Reserve Bank of India has announced 60 vacancies for Grade B Officers (Direct Recruitment) across three streams: General (DR), DEPR (Department of Economic and Policy Research), and DSIM (Department of Statistics and Information Management). The online application window is open at rbi.org.in from 29 April 2026. The last date to apply is 20 May 2026 at 6:00 PM. Phase I (online) exam is on 13 June 2026 and Phase II on 25 July 2026.
RBI Grade B 2026 — Key Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 29 April 2026 |
| Online application opens | 29 April 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 20 May 2026 (6:00 PM) |
| Admit Card — Phase I | First week of June 2026 (expected) |
| Phase I exam (Online) | 13 June 2026 |
| Phase I result | July 2026 (expected) |
| Phase II exam | 25 July 2026 |
| Interview | September 2026 (expected) |
RBI Grade B 2026 Vacancy Details — Stream-wise
| Stream | Approx. Posts | Qualification Required |
|---|---|---|
| General (DR) | ~40 | Graduation with min. 60% in any discipline |
| DEPR | ~10 | Master’s / PhD in Economics, Econometrics, or Applied Economics (55%) |
| DSIM | ~10 | Master’s / PhD in Statistics, Mathematics, or Quantitative Finance (55%) |
| Total | 60 | — |
The General stream is open to graduates from any discipline and has the highest seat count. DEPR and DSIM streams are specialist streams for candidates with advanced degrees in Economics or Statistics respectively. A single notification covers all three streams; candidates must choose their stream at the time of application.
Eligibility Criteria — RBI Grade B 2026
Educational Qualification
- General (DR): Graduation with minimum 60% marks (50% for SC/ST) from a recognised university in any discipline. OR Post-graduation with minimum 55% (45% for SC/ST).
- DEPR: Master’s degree or PhD in Economics / Econometrics / Applied Economics / Development Economics with minimum 55% marks.
- DSIM: Master’s degree or PhD in Statistics / Mathematical Statistics / Mathematical Economics / Econometrics / Statistics & Informatics from IIT with minimum 55% marks.
Age Limit (as on 01 April 2026)
| Category | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 21–30 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 21–33 years (+3 years relaxation) |
| SC / ST | 21–35 years (+5 years relaxation) |
| PwBD | 21–40 years (+10 years relaxation) |
| Ex-servicemen | Relaxation as per Govt. rules |
RBI Grade B 2026 Salary — Full Breakdown
RBI Grade B is one of the highest-paying entry-level government jobs in India. The gross monthly emoluments are approximately ₹1,54,936, which includes basic pay, DA, HRA, and allowances. The effective CTC works out to ₹18–20 LPA.
| Salary Component | Amount (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay | ₹78,450 / month |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | ₹35,000 (linked to CPI-IW, revised quarterly) |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | ₹9,414 (12% of Basic, metro cities) |
| Local Allowance + Transport + Medical | ~₹32,000 |
| Gross Monthly Emoluments | ~₹1,54,936 |
| Annual Gross (approx.) | ~₹18.6 lakh |
| Additional Benefits | Pension, Gratuity, PF, medical coverage, staff housing / HRA |
RBI Grade B 2026 Selection Process & Exam Pattern
RBI Grade B selection is a three-stage process: Phase I (online objective), Phase II (descriptive + objective papers), and an Interview. Both phases must be cleared to proceed. There is negative marking of ¼ mark for each wrong answer in Phase I.
Phase I — Online Objective Exam (13 June 2026)
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 80 | 80 | Composite 120 min |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | — |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | — |
| Reasoning | 60 | 60 | — |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Phase II — Papers (25 July 2026)
- General Stream (DR): Paper I — Economic & Social Issues (ESI) + Finance & Management (FM) | Paper II — English (descriptive, 90 min)
- DEPR: Paper I — Economics (objective + descriptive) | Paper II — English (descriptive)
- DSIM: Paper I — Statistics (objective + descriptive) | Paper II — English (descriptive)
- Interview: 30–50 marks; personality and domain knowledge assessment; shortlisted candidates from Phase II
How to Apply for RBI Grade B 2026 — Step by Step
- Visit rbi.org.in → Click “Opportunities” in the top menu → “Current Vacancies”
- Click on “RBI Grade B Officers — DR — 2026” notification link
- Click “Apply Online” and complete the registration with a valid email ID and mobile number
- Fill the application form: personal details, educational qualifications, stream choice
- Upload scanned photo (4.5 cm × 3.5 cm), signature, and relevant documents
- Pay the application fee online: ₹850 (General/EWS/OBC) | ₹100 (SC/ST/PwBD) | ₹0 (RBI Staff)
- Submit and download/print the confirmation page. Keep it for future reference.
RBI Grade B vs NABARD Grade A vs SBI PO — Quick Comparison
| Parameter | RBI Grade B | NABARD Grade A | SBI PO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vacancies (2026) | 60 | ~100–200 | ~2,000 |
| Gross Monthly Salary | ₹1.54L | ₹1.60L | ~₹75,000 |
| Effective CTC | ₹18–20 LPA | ₹19–22 LPA | ₹12–14 LPA |
| Prestige / Brand | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Central Bank) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Competition Level | Extreme (60 seats) | High | Moderate–High |
| Key Exam Papers | ESI + FM + English | RDBS + Finance | Reasoning + Quant |
| Bond Period | 2 years | 3 years | 2 years |
RBI Grade B 2026 Preparation Tips
With only 60 seats and Phase I on 13 June 2026, you have approximately 6 weeks to prepare. Economic & Social Issues (ESI) and Finance & Management (FM) are the most important papers for the General stream — they carry the highest weight in Phase II. General Awareness (80 marks) dominates Phase I and is the primary filter. Start with the JAIIB financial awareness modules for banking finance fundamentals, follow RBI Annual Report 2025–26 for ESI, and track RBI circulars from the last 6 months for current affairs. For Phase I, target 110+ marks (General category cut-off typically 100–115).
Related: Other Bank Jobs Open Now
RBI Grade B is just one of several bank recruitments open in 2026. See the full list of 15 curated bank job openings for May 2026 →, including private bank (HDFC, ICICI, Axis), NBFC (Bajaj Finance), and international banking opportunities (UAE, Singapore, UK).
How many posts are there in RBI Grade B 2026?
RBI Grade B 2026 has 60 posts in total across three streams: approximately 40 posts in the General (DR) stream, around 10 posts in DEPR (Department of Economic and Policy Research), and around 10 posts in DSIM (Department of Statistics and Information Management). The exact stream-wise vacancy split is published in the official RBI notification at rbi.org.in.
What is the last date to apply for RBI Grade B 2026?
The last date to apply online for RBI Grade B 2026 is 20 May 2026 at 6:00 PM. Applications must be submitted through the official RBI website at rbi.org.in/opportunities. The application window opened on 29 April 2026. Do not wait until the last day — server congestion on deadline day is common.
What is the salary for RBI Grade B officers in 2026?
RBI Grade B officers receive a basic pay of ₹78,450 per month. The gross monthly emoluments including DA, HRA, and allowances are approximately ₹1,54,936 per month. The effective CTC (cost to company) works out to ₹18–20 LPA. Additional benefits include pension under the New Pension Scheme, gratuity, group medical insurance, and staff housing / HRA.
Can science or engineering graduates apply for RBI Grade B 2026?
Yes. The General (DR) stream is open to graduates from any discipline including Science, Engineering, Commerce, Arts, and Management — provided they have a minimum of 60% marks in graduation (50% for SC/ST). CA, MBA Finance, and CFA candidates are also eligible for the General stream. The DEPR stream requires a Master’s in Economics and DSIM requires a Master’s in Statistics/Mathematics.
What is the Phase I exam pattern for RBI Grade B 2026?
RBI Grade B Phase I is an online objective exam of 200 questions, 200 marks, 120 minutes. It has four sections: General Awareness (80 questions, 80 marks), English Language (30 questions, 30 marks), Quantitative Aptitude (30 questions, 30 marks), and Reasoning (60 questions, 60 marks). There is negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. The Phase I exam is scheduled for 13 June 2026.
