NABARD Grade APreliminary, objective
200 questions in 120 minutes. Reasoning, English, Computer, Quant and Decision Making only qualify; GA, ESI and ARD decide who goes to Mains.
200marks
When is it?
| Cycle | Applications | Phase I | Phase II |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 to 30 November 2025 | 20 December 2025 | 25 January 2026 |
Psychometric test dates are announced later on the NABARD website.
Stage by stage.
Mains: English and ESI & ARD
Paper I is descriptive English. Paper II is half objective, half descriptive.
200marks
After a psychometric test
The psychometric test is mandatory but carries no marks.
50marks
| Paper | Type | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I: Reasoning 20, English 30, Computer 20, Quant 20, Decision Making 10 | Objective, qualifying | 100 | 120 min for all of Phase I |
| Phase I: GA 20, ESI 40, ARD 40 | Objective, merit | 100 | |
| Phase II, Paper I: General English | Descriptive, typed | 100 | 90 min |
| Phase II, Paper II: ESI and ARD | 30 objective questions + 4 of 6 descriptive | 50 + 50 | 30 + 90 min |
| Interview | In Hindi or English | 50 | — |
General discipline, from the 2025 notification. A wrong answer costs a quarter of the marks in both phases. The final merit list adds Phase II and interview marks.
How many seats?
48posts in 2025
Assistant Manager (RDBS) General discipline. The 2025 notification had 91 posts in all: 85 RDBS across 14 disciplines, 2 Legal and 4 Protocol and Security.
What it takes to get through.
NABARD applies cut-offs twice in each phase, on every test and on the total, separately for each discipline, and calls up to 25 candidates per post to Mains and 3 per post to the interview.
What they ask.
Phase I
- Reasoning, English, Computer Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, Decision Making
- General Awareness
- Economic and Social Issues, with a focus on rural India
- Agriculture and Rural Development, with an emphasis on rural India
Phase II, Paper I
- English: essay, précis, comprehension and business or office correspondence
Phase II, Paper II · ESI
- Nature of the Indian economy, reforms, privatisation
- Inflation, poverty alleviation and employment, population
- Agriculture, food security and rural credit
- Industry and labour policy, public sector enterprises
- Rural banking and financial sector reforms, globalisation, social issues
Phase II, Paper II · ARD
- Agriculture: agronomy, soil, water, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry, agricultural extension, ecology, climate change
- Rural development: rural India, programmes and institutions
Illustrative syllabus from the 2025 notification. Other disciplines write their own Paper II.
What it pays.
- Starting basic pay
- ₹44,500 a month (2025 notification)
- Pay scale
- ₹44,500 to ₹89,150 over 17 years
- Gross pay
- About ₹1,00,000 a month at the start (2025 notification)
Plus dearness, local compensatory, house rent and grade allowances, the bank’s accommodation where available, and medical and other perquisites.
Can you apply?
- Age
- 21 to 30 years, with relaxations for reserved categories
- Education (General)
- A bachelor’s degree with 60% (55% for SC/ST/PwBD), or a postgraduate degree or MBA/PGDM with 55% (50% for SC/ST/PwBD)
- Attempts
- No limit
Always check the notification for the exact dates and relaxations.