RBI assistant syllabus with prelims and mains exam pattern

RBI assistant prelims exam pattern

Wrong answers cost 0.25 each. The prelims result is only a gate to mains; RBI ignores it when ranking. Recent notifications have set a minimum for each section as well as an overall cut off, which you can study on the RBI assistant cut off page.

RBI assistant mains syllabus and pattern

Your mains score fixes your place in the merit list, provided you then clear the language test. Mains carries the same 0.25 penalty for each wrong option.

RBI assistant syllabus: topics for each section

Reasoning

• Seating arrangement (linear, circular, square) and floor or box puzzles
• Inequalities, syllogisms, ranking, family trees and directions
• Coding and decoding, input and output, alphanumeric series
• Data sufficiency and, in mains, statements with assumptions or conclusions

Numerical ability

• Quadratic equations, missing or wrong number series, approximation and simplification
• Arithmetic word problems on ages, mixtures, averages, ratios, percentages, simple and compound interest, work rates, boats and streams, trains, and buying and selling
• Data interpretation sets built on caselets, pie charts, tabular data and graphs

English

• Reading passages, usually the biggest single block
• Fillers, spotting errors, improving a phrase and the cloze passage
• Para jumbles, word usage and vocabulary in context

General awareness (mains only)

• National and international news from about the previous half year
• Banking and financial awareness: RBI functions, monetary policy tools, payment systems, recent regulations
• Static topics such as headquarters of national bodies and important days

Computer knowledge (mains only)

• Hardware, software, operating systems and memory
• Word processing and spreadsheet basics, keyboard shortcuts, networks and the internet
• Database basics and cyber security terms

Language proficiency test

Mains qualifiers then sit a test of reading, writing and speaking whichever official or local tongue is used in that office's state. It works as a filter: fail it and no offer follows, however strong your mains score. Pick the office whose state language you can read, write and speak with confidence, since you cannot switch after applying.

Who is eligible

Any bachelor's degree with an aggregate of 50 percent or more qualifies you; for SC, ST and PwBD candidates a simple pass is enough. RBI accepts assistant applicants aged 20 to 28, with upper age relaxation of five years (SC, ST), three years (OBC) and ten to fifteen years (PwBD), and separate rules for ex-servicemen and widows. Basic computer skills and knowledge of the state language are also expected.

How to prepare with sectional time limits

Twenty minutes for 35 reasoning questions leaves barely half a minute each, so prelims rewards quick question selection more than depth. In mains the general awareness section is the one that decides ranks most often, because it is fast to attempt and many candidates leave marks there.

1. First 6 weeks: arithmetic and puzzles daily, and a comprehension passage each evening.
2. Weeks 7 to 10: full sectional tests under the exact clock, then review every wrong answer.
3. From week 4 onward: 40 minutes a day of banking and current affairs notes, revised weekly.
4. Last month: computer knowledge in short daily slots and full mains mocks twice a week.

Related bank exam pages

If you are aiming higher at the central bank, compare this with the RBI grade B syllabus. The IBPS clerk syllabus and SBI clerk syllabus share most prelims topics, so one preparation can serve several forms. See the bank exams hub for the full list.