NABARD Grade A Mock Test Free 2026 — Assistant Manager (RDBS) Pattern
The NABARD Grade A — Assistant Manager (RDBS) exam is conducted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to recruit officers for its Rural Development Banking Service. NABARD is India's apex regulatory body for the cooperative banking and rural financial system.
NABARD Grade A is one of the highest-paying officer-cadre jobs in the Indian financial sector — comparable to RBI Grade B in pay scale and prestige. Starting CTC is approximately ₹13–14 lakh per annum, with rapid growth and excellent benefits including lifetime healthcare and PF.
Selection is in three phases: Phase 1 (objective screening, 200 marks), Phase 2 (descriptive + objective, 300 marks across 3 papers), and Phase 3 (Interview, 50 marks). The exam has multiple specialist disciplines (General, Economics, Computer/IT, Finance, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Forestry, Plantation, Statistics, etc.).
संक्षिप्त परिचय
NABARD Grade A परीक्षा National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development में Assistant Manager (RDBS) पद के लिए होती है। यह भारत के वित्तीय क्षेत्र की सबसे अधिक वेतन वाली नौकरियों में से एक है।
चयन तीन चरणों में होता है — Phase 1 (200 अंक वस्तुनिष्ठ), Phase 2 (300 अंक — GEAB + ESI + ARD), और Phase 3 (Interview 50 अंक)। शुरुआती CTC लगभग ₹13–14 लाख प्रति वर्ष है।
परीक्षा में सामान्य, अर्थश ास्त्र, कंप्यूटर/IT, वित्त, पशुपालन, कृषि, सांख्यिकी सहित कई विशेषज्ञता धाराएं हैं।
Exam Pattern
NABARD Grade A General has three phases. Phase 1 is objective (200 marks). Phase 2 has 3 papers — General English Descriptive (100), Economic & Social Issues + Agriculture & Rural Development (100 marks descriptive), and Paper II objective (100 marks).
| Subject / Section | Questions | Marks / Time |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 — Reasoning | 20 | 20 marks · 15 min |
| Phase 1 — English Language | 30 | 30 marks · 20 min |
| Phase 1 — Computer Knowledge | 20 | 20 marks · 15 min |
| Phase 1 — General Awareness | 20 | 20 marks · 15 min |
| Phase 1 — Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 marks · 15 min |
| Phase 1 — Decision Making | 10 | 10 marks · 10 min |
| Phase 1 — ESI | 40 | 40 marks · 30 min |
| Phase 1 — ARD (Agri & Rural Dev) | 40 | 40 marks · 30 min |
| Phase 1 Total | 200 | 200 marks · 120 min |
| Phase 2 Paper I — General English (Writing Skills) | 3 desc | 100 marks · 90 min |
| Phase 2 Paper II — ESI + ARD (Objective) | 60 | 100 marks · 90 min |
| Phase 2 Paper III — ESI + ARD (Descriptive) | 6 desc | 100 marks · 90 min |
| Phase 3 — Interview | — | 50 marks |
Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong objective answer. Phase 1 cut-off: Sectional and overall cut-offs apply. Phase 2: Descriptive answers must be typed in the exam (not handwritten). Final merit = Phase 2 (300) + Phase 3 (50).
Syllabus — Topic-wise Breakdown
ESI (Economic & Social Issues)
Indian Economy — Growth & Development, Sectors (Agri, Industry, Services), NITI Aayog, Five-Year Plans/Vision documents, Globalisation, Liberalisation, FDI, FII, RBI Monetary Policy, Inflation. Social Issues — Poverty, Unemployment, Health, Education, Demographics, Migration, Urbanisation, Women & Child Welfare. Sustainable Development & SDGs. Recent Economic Survey & Union Budget themes.
ARD (Agriculture & Rural Development) — NABARD-specific
Agriculture — Land use, cropping pattern, irrigation, fertilizers, seeds, agricultural credit, farm subsidies, MSP, APMC, e-NAM, Contract Farming, FPOs, agriculture insurance (PMFBY). Rural Development — Rural infrastructure (roads, electricity, sanitation), MGNREGA, NRLM, PMAY-G, Panchayati Raj, Cooperatives, SHGs. NABARD operations — Refinance, RIDF, schemes for marginal farmers and rural artisans.
General English (Phase 1 + Phase 2)
Phase 1: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Error Spotting, Vocabulary, Sentence Correction. Phase 2 Descriptive: Essay (40 marks), Précis (30 marks), Reading Comprehension with descriptive answers (30 marks). Topics revolve around economy, agriculture, rural development, social issues.
Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, Computer Knowledge, Decision Making
Reasoning — Puzzles, Syllogism, Inequality, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction. Quant — Number Series, Simplification, DI, Arithmetic. Computer — Hardware/Software, MS Office, Internet, Networking, Cybersecurity basics. Decision Making — Statement-based decisions, Course of Action, Inferences.
General Awareness
Banking & Financial Awareness (RBI, NABARD, SEBI, IRDAI), Static GK (capitals, currencies, days), Current Affairs of last 6 months — special focus on agriculture, rural development, cooperative banking, government schemes (PM-KISAN, PMFBY, KCC, MUDRA), and NABARD-specific news.
Preparation Tips & Strategy
1. ARD is the Differentiator — Don't Skip Agriculture
ARD has 40 marks in Phase 1 and 100 marks (50 obj + 50 desc) in Phase 2. Most non-agriculture-background candidates underprepare here. Read NABARD Annual Report, Agriculture chapter of Indian Economic Survey, and Yojana magazine. Memorise key schemes: PM-KISAN, PMFBY, KCC, e-NAM, FPO promotion.
2. ESI + ARD Together Carry 80 Marks in Phase 1
These two sections decide your Phase 1 cut-off. They have only 1.25 minutes per question — you need conceptual mastery. Prepare from a focused source rather than scattered material.
3. Descriptive Typing Practice
Phase 2 descriptive (Paper I English + Paper III ARD) is typed in the exam. Practice typing essays / short answers under timed conditions. Aim for 30+ WPM with grammatical accuracy. Use the system's built-in editor — no spellcheck or autocorrect.
4. Editorial Reading + Yojana / Kurukshetra Magazines
Yojana and Kurukshetra magazines are gold for ARD descriptive answers. Their themes (rural finance, agri-tech, cooperatives, FPOs) are repeatedly tested. Read editorials in The Hindu / Mint for English Writing.
5. Mock Tests — 15+ for Phase 1, Solved Papers for Phase 2
15 full-length Phase 1 mocks in the last 30 days. For Phase 2, solve last 5 years' descriptive papers and write your own answers within time limits. Get answers reviewed by mentors / peer groups.
Ready to Test Your Preparation?
Free mock tests on ParikshaExamPrep — no signup, instant score, available in Hindi & English. Practice with the latest exam pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NABARD Grade A 2026 exam pattern?
NABARD Grade A General has three phases. Phase 1: 200 marks objective in 120 minutes (with ESI and ARD as the largest sections). Phase 2: 300 marks across 3 papers (Paper I English Descriptive, Paper II ESI+ARD Objective, Paper III ESI+ARD Descriptive). Phase 3: Interview (50 marks). Final merit = Phase 2 + Phase 3.
What is the NABARD Grade A salary?
Starting basic pay is ₹44,500 per month under the current pay scale. Including DA, HRA, learning allowance, special allowance and other benefits, gross monthly is approximately ₹1 lakh. Total annual CTC including pension and PF contributions is around ₹13–14 lakh. Lifetime medical benefits add significant value.
What is the age limit for NABARD Grade A?
Age limit is 21–30 years for General category. Relaxation: OBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10, Ex-servicemen as per rules. Some specialist disciplines (e.g., Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Forestry) may have higher upper limits depending on educational qualification.
What disciplines does NABARD Grade A recruit for?
Major disciplines: General, Economics, Computer/IT, Finance, Statistics, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Forestry, Plantation & Horticulture, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mass Communication, Environmental Engineering, Food Processing, Geo-Informatics, Land Development. Each has specific eligibility (relevant graduation/PG) and may have a discipline-specific Phase 2 paper.
How does NABARD Grade A compare to RBI Grade B?
Both are top-tier financial sector officer exams with similar pay scales (~₹1 lakh+ gross). NABARD focuses on rural & agricultural development; RBI focuses on monetary policy and banking regulation. NABARD requires deeper agriculture/rural domain knowledge (ARD). Both are equally tough; choice depends on career interest.
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न (हिंदी में)
NABARD Grade A परीक्षा पैटर्न क्या है?
तीन चरण — Phase 1 (200 अंक वस्तुनिष्ठ, 120 मिनट), Phase 2 (300 अंक — 3 पेपर: English Descriptive, ESI+ARD Objective, ESI+ARD Descriptive), और Phase 3 (Interview 50 अंक)। अंतिम मेरिट Phase 2 + Phase 3 से बनती है।
NABARD Grade A का वेतन कितना है?
शुरुआती बेसिक ₹44,500 प्रति माह। कुल gross लगभग ₹1 लाख प्रति माह और वार्षिक CTC ₹13–14 लाख तक।
NABARD Grade A के लिए आयु सीमा क्या है?
सामान्य के लिए 21–30 वर्ष। OBC +3, SC/ST +5, PwBD +10 की छूट।
NABARD Grade A किन विषयों में भर्ती करता है?
सामान्य, अर्थशास्त्र, कंप्यूटर/IT, वित्त, सांख्यिकी, कृषि, पशुपालन, वानिकी, सिविल/इ लेक्ट्रिकल इंजीनियरिंग, खाद्य प्रसंस्करण आदि।
क्या NABARD Grade A RBI Grade B से कठिन है?
दोनों लगभग समान कठिनाई के हैं। NABARD में कृषि और ग्रामीण विकास का गहन ज्ञान चाहिए; RBI में मौद्रिक नीति और बैंकिंग विनियमन।
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