NABARD Grade A 2026 · Notification Expected Jul–Aug 2026

NABARD Grade A.
Rural India's
Banking Career.

Complete NABARD bank exam coaching guide for Surat & Vadodara aspirants — exam pattern, full syllabus, cutoff marks, eligibility and salary for NABARD Grade A Assistant Manager (RDBS, Legal, Protocol & Security) and NABARD Development Assistant 2026. Includes free mock tests and 1:1 mentor support, updated as official notifications drop at nabard.org.

Posts Covered On This Page

Grade A — RDBS Grade A — Legal Grade A — Protocol & Security Development Assistant

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NABARD Grade A 2026 At a Glance

Conducting BodyNational Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development

PostAssistant Manager (Grade A)

Phase 1 (Prelims)Expected Oct–Nov 2026

Phase 2 (Mains)A Few Weeks After Phase 1

2025 Vacancies91 posts (last cycle)

ModeComputer-Based (CBT) + Descriptive

InterviewYes, after Phase 2

Starting Basic Pay~₹44,500/month

Dates and vacancies are based on NABARD's 2025 cycle. Verify before applying at nabard.org.

Exam Pattern

Phase I, Phase II & Interview.

NABARD bank exam recruitment runs through two main tracks — Grade A (Assistant Manager) is a 3-stage officer-level exam, while NABARD Development Assistant is a 2-stage clerical-level exam. Select a track below.

Phase I (Prelims) — 120 minutes composite (no sectional time limit) · 200 questions · 200 marks, split into 5 qualifying sections (pass/fail only) and 3 merit sections (count toward the Phase I cutoff).

Section	Type	Questions	Marks
Test of Reasoning	Qualifying	20	20
English Language	Qualifying	30	30
Computer Knowledge	Qualifying	20	20
Quantitative Aptitude	Qualifying	20	20
Decision Making	Qualifying	10	10
General Awareness	Merit	20	20
Economic & Social Issues (with focus on Rural India)	Merit	40	40
Agriculture & Rural Development (with Emphasis on Rural India)	Merit	40	40
Total		200	200

Phase II (Mains) — 2 papers, conducted online. Paper I is a descriptive test on General English; Paper II combines objective and descriptive sections on Economic & Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural Development (Generalist post).

Paper	Subject	Type	Questions	Marks	Duration
Paper I	General English	Online Descriptive	3	100	90 min
Paper II	ESI & Agriculture and Rural Development	Objective	30	50	30 min
Paper II	ESI & Agriculture and Rural Development	Descriptive	6 asked, attempt 4 (2 of 15 marks + 2 of 10 marks)	50	90 min
Total (Phase II)				200	210 min (3.5 hrs)

Descriptive answers for both Paper I and Paper II's descriptive section are typed using a keyboard — Paper II descriptive answers may be typed in either English or Hindi (Remington and Inscript keyboards supported).

Interview: Candidates shortlisted from Phase II appear for a Psychometric Test followed by a Personal Interview. Final merit is based on Phase II + Interview scores combined — Phase I marks are not added once you clear the merit-section cutoff. NABARD's "Decision Making" section in Phase I has no fixed syllabus — it tests situational judgment through case-based scenarios, not memorized content.

NABARD Development Assistant Prelims — 60 minutes with sectional timing · 100 questions · 100 marks. Objective type, available in Hindi & English, −0.25 for each wrong answer. Qualifying for Mains.

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
English Language	40	40	20 min
Quantitative Aptitude	30	30	20 min
Reasoning Ability	30	30	20 min
Total (Prelims)	100	100	60 min

NABARD Development Assistant Mains — objective + descriptive, 135 minutes total, 200 marks. −0.25 negative marking. Merit-based; no interview.

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
Test of Reasoning	30	30	30 min
Quantitative Aptitude	30	30	30 min
General Awareness (with special reference to agriculture, rural development & banking)	50	50	25 min
Computer Knowledge	40	40	20 min
Test of English Language (Descriptive) — Essay, Précis Writing, Report/Letter Writing	03	50	30 min
Total (Mains)	—	200	135 min

Local Language Test: Candidates shortlisted after Mains appear for a Local Language Proficiency Test in the official language of the state/UT applied for. This is qualifying (pass/fail) and does not carry marks for merit. No interview is conducted for Development Assistant — selection is purely Mains-merit based.

Syllabus

What To Actually Study.

Phase I is breadth — speed and accuracy across Reasoning, English, Quant, and the merit-section topics. Phase II is depth — real understanding of rural development, agriculture, and India's economy. Both matter enormously.

Phase I — Merit Section (Counts Toward Cutoff)

General Awareness

Merit section

Current Affairs

● National & international news — last 4–6 months

● Rural/agri policy announcements, budget allocations, RBI/NABARD circulars

● Banking sector news: new schemes, monetary policy updates, appointments

Banking & Financial Awareness

● NABARD's role, structure, subsidiaries & refinance functions

● RBI functions, monetary policy tools, cooperative banking structure

● Financial inclusion: Jan Dhan, MUDRA, payments banks, digital banking

Economy & Static GK

● Union Budget, Economic Survey, GDP, inflation, agri-credit policy

● Static GK: countries-capitals-currencies, national parks, awards, summits

Government Schemes

● PM-KISAN, Kisan Credit Card (KCC), PMFBY (crop insurance)

● Jan Dhan Yojana, MUDRA, Stand-Up India, rural livelihood missions

Economic & Social Issues (ESI)

Merit section — with rural India focus

Poverty & Human Development

● Poverty measurement, unemployment types, human development indices (HDI, MPI)

● Population trends, demographic dividend, health & education indicators

Economic Reforms & Planning

● Liberalization, privatization, globalization — impact on rural economy

● Five-Year Plans legacy, NITI Aayog's role & policy think-tank function

Social Structure & Inclusion

● Caste, gender, urbanization, migration & their rural development linkages

● Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) relevant to rural India

Financial Inclusion Frameworks

● Financial inclusion index, welfare-scheme delivery via DBT & JAM trinity

● Government welfare schemes tied to the social-issue themes above

Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD)

Merit section — NABARD's signature subject

Agriculture Fundamentals

● Cropping patterns, irrigation systems, land reforms & land holding patterns

● Green Revolution, agricultural productivity, seed & fertilizer policy

Rural Credit & Institutions

● Cooperative banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), SHGs, microfinance

● NABARD's refinance role, priority-sector lending, agri-credit flow

Agri-Marketing & Infrastructure

● Agri-marketing reforms, food processing, supply chain & warehousing

● Rural infrastructure, watershed development, climate-resilient farming

Government Rural Schemes

● MGNREGA, PMGSY, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin)

● Watershed & livelihood missions, cooperative reform initiatives

Phase I — Qualifying Section (Pass/Fail Only)

Reasoning, English, Quant

Qualifying — same general aptitude as other banking exams

Reasoning

● Puzzles, seating arrangement (linear/circular), syllogisms

● Coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, inequalities

English Language

● Reading comprehension, cloze test, para jumbles

● Grammar, vocabulary, error spotting, sentence correction

Quantitative Aptitude

● Arithmetic (percentage, ratio, profit-loss, SI/CI), number series

● Data interpretation (tables, bar/line/pie charts), simplification & approximation

Computer Knowledge

● Computer fundamentals, hardware/software basics, MS Office

● Internet basics, networking terms, cyber-security basics

Decision Making

● Case-based situational judgment — no fixed syllabus, practice-driven

Phase II — Mains

Paper I — General English

Descriptive, typed online

Essay & Précis Writing

● Essay writing on rural development, agriculture, or economic themes

● Précis Writing — condensing a passage to roughly 1/3rd length while retaining core meaning

Comprehension & Correspondence

● Reading Comprehension with analytical & inference-based questions

● Business/Office Correspondence — letters, memos, reports

Paper II — ESI & ARD (Deep Dive)

Objective + descriptive, applied questions

Depth & Application

● Same ESI & ARD subjects as Phase I merit section, at significantly greater depth

● Paragraph-based, numerical, and application-based interpretive questions

Current Affairs Application

● Current rural-policy case studies and data-driven analysis

Specialized Streams

● For Legal / Protocol & Security streams, Paper II reflects your chosen discipline instead

Specialized streams: If you apply for Legal or Protocol & Security Service instead of the general RDBS stream, Phase II Paper II is replaced with subject matter specific to that discipline (e.g., law for the Legal stream). The general RDBS stream — the one most candidates target — uses the ESI + ARD syllabus described above. Always confirm your stream's exact Phase II syllabus in the official notification, since NABARD states the syllabus is "indicative and not exhaustive."

Expected Timeline

NABARD Grade A 2026 Calendar.

Based on NABARD's 2025 notification cycle (released November 2025, 91 vacancies). All dates are indicative until the official 2026 notification is released at nabard.org.

July – August 2026 (Expected)

Official Notification Released

NABARD releases the Grade A notification with stream-wise vacancies, application fee, and eligibility at nabard.org. Application window typically stays open for 20-25 days.

August – September 2026

Online Application Window

Application form filling, document upload, and fee payment. NABARD staff candidates satisfying eligibility criteria can apply with fee reimbursement upon verification.

October – November 2026 (Expected)

Phase I (Prelims) Exam

200 MCQs in 2 hours, conducted in English and Hindi. Results typically declared within 3-4 weeks, based on merit-section cutoff.

~4-6 Weeks Post-Phase I

Phase II (Mains) Exam

Two papers — descriptive English (90 min) and ESI/ARD or your specialization (90 min) — conducted online in a single day.

~6-8 Weeks Post-Phase II

Psychometric Test & Interview

Shortlisted candidates undergo a psychometric assessment followed by a Personal Interview, typically at NABARD's regional or head offices.

Dec 2026 – Feb 2027

Final Results & Joining

Final merit list published combining Phase II and Interview scores. Selected candidates receive appointment letters and are posted to NABARD offices across India.

Eligibility

Can You Apply?

NABARD Grade A accepts a graduate, postgraduate, or professional qualification route — broader than RBI Grade B's graduate-only path. Development Assistant has simpler graduation-only eligibility, similar to bank clerical posts.

Grade A — Bachelor's Degree Route

Bachelor's degree in any discipline with minimum 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwBD) in aggregate from a recognized university or institution.

Grade A — Postgraduate / MBA Route

Postgraduate degree, MBA, or PGDM with minimum 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD). This route is open even if your bachelor's percentage falls below the direct-graduate threshold.

Grade A — Professional Qualification Route

CA, CS, ICWA (Cost Accountancy), or Ph.D. from an institution recognized by the Government of India / UGC also satisfies the educational eligibility, independent of percentage in the underlying degree.

Development Assistant — Education

Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university with minimum 50% marks (pass class for SC/ST/PwBD). Basic computer knowledge is mandatory. Final-year/semester students awaiting results are generally NOT eligible — degree must be complete by the cutoff date.

Age Limit

Grade A: 21–30 years. Development Assistant: 21–35 years. Age relaxation: +5 years (SC/ST), +3 years (OBC non-creamy layer), +10 years (PwBD), and additional relaxation for Ex-Servicemen as per government norms.

Nationality

Citizen of India. Specific categories of migrants, refugees, and persons of Indian origin as defined under Government of India norms may also be eligible.

Number of Attempts

NABARD does not impose a cap on the number of attempts for Grade A or Development Assistant — you can apply every cycle as long as you meet the age and educational eligibility criteria.

Key flexibility: Unlike RBI Grade B (graduate-only, 60% minimum, no alternate route), NABARD Grade A explicitly allows postgraduates, MBAs, and professional-qualification holders (CA/CS/ICWA/Ph.D.) to apply even if their bachelor's percentage doesn't meet the direct threshold — broadening the eligible pool considerably. Always cross-verify the exact percentage criterion against the official notification, as NABARD revises specifics each cycle.

Selection Process

How NABARD Selects You.

NABARD Grade A selection runs through three stages after the initial screening — each stage filters differently, and only your Phase II + Interview scores decide the final rank.

Stage 1 — Phase I (Screening)

200 objective MCQs across 5 qualifying sections (pass/fail only) and 3 merit sections (General Awareness, ESI, ARD). Only merit-section marks count toward the Phase I cutoff — this stage exists purely to screen candidates into Phase II, and its marks are not carried forward.

Stage 2 — Phase II (Discipline Paper + English)

Paper I is descriptive General English (essay, précis, comprehension, correspondence). Paper II is objective + descriptive on Economic & Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural Development for the general RDBS stream — or your chosen discipline's subject matter for the Legal / Protocol & Security streams.

Stage 3 — Psychometric Test & Interview

Candidates shortlisted from Phase II undergo a Psychometric Test (used for profiling, not scoring) followed by a Personal Interview assessing communication, subject depth, and suitability for a development-banking role.

Final Merit

Final selection is based on combined Phase II + Interview scores only — Phase I marks are dropped entirely once you clear the merit-section cutoff and qualify for Phase II.

Why this matters: Because Phase I marks don't carry forward, a candidate who barely clears the Phase I cutoff can still finish above a Phase I topper by performing stronger in Phase II and the Interview — treat every stage as a fresh scoring slate.

Pay & Perks

Salary & Benefits.

NABARD Grade A is consistently ranked among India's best-paying entry-level financial institution jobs, with compensation comparable to RBI Grade B and benefits well above commercial bank officer roles.

Class I Officer

NABARD Grade A — Assistant Manager

₹1.0–1.2L+

Approx. gross emoluments / month (metro centres)

Basic Pay: ₹44,500/month (on joining)

Scale: ₹44500-2500(4)-54500-2850(7)-74450-EB-2850(4)-85850-3300(1)-89150

CTC approx. ₹14–16 LPA at joining, growing significantly with promotions

HRA / leased accommodation at concessional rent in most centres

DA, Local Compensatory Allowance, Grade Allowance, Transport Allowance

Medical: comprehensive cover for self and family

Pension under NPS, Provident Fund, Gratuity

Children's Education Allowance, LFC, Staff Loan at concessional rates

Promotion path: Grade A → B → C → D, with regular departmental exams

Class III Staff

NABARD Development Assistant

₹46,500+

Approx. gross emoluments / month

Basic Pay: ₹23,100/month (on joining, IBPS-aligned scale)

Scale: ₹20700-1200/3-24300-1440/4-30060-1920/6-41580-2080/2-45740-2370/3-52850

CTC approx. ₹6.5–7.5 LPA at joining

HRA / leased accommodation (centre-wise)

DA, Transport Allowance, Medical Cover for self and family

Pension under NPS, PF, Gratuity

Promotion policy: Development Assistant → Manager (Grade A) via internal exam

Why NABARD Grade A is attractive: Beyond the salary, Grade A officers work on rural credit policy, agricultural refinance, and development banking — directly shaping how institutional credit reaches India's farmers and rural enterprises. NABARD's compensation and benefits structure mirrors RBI's, since both are central financial institutions under similar pay commission frameworks, making it one of the most competitive yet accessible entry points (via the broader degree/PG/professional eligibility) into top-tier development banking.

Previous Year Data

NABARD Cutoff
2020–2024 — Phase Wise

Phase I/Prelims and Phase II/Mains cutoffs for NABARD Grade A and Development Assistant — last 5 years, all categories. For Grade A, the qualifying section in Phase I (Reasoning, English, Computer Knowledge, Quant, Decision Making) has no separate cutoff — only a minimum pass mark. Only merit-section marks count toward the Grade A Phase I cutoff shown below.

Note: Phase I's merit section (General Awareness 20 + Economic & Social Issues 40 + Agriculture & Rural Development 40 = 100 marks total) determines shortlisting for Phase II; the other five Phase I sections are qualifying-only and don't count toward this cutoff. Phase II cutoff below is the combined Paper I (English, descriptive) + Paper II (ESI & ARD or chosen specialization) score, out of 200 — official NABARD sources don't publish a paper-wise cutoff split, so only the combined figure is shown. Note NABARD introduced the merit/qualifying split in Phase I only from the 2021 cycle onward — 2020 used a single combined 200-mark Phase I cutoff (shown below on its own scale).

General/UR

OBC

EWS

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Phase I — Merit Section	100	47.00	44.25	39.25	37.50	38.00
Phase II — Combined	200	126.75	123.50	121.00	120.25	123.00

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Phase I — Merit Section	100	46.00	42.50	37.50	30.25	33.50
Phase II — Combined	200	128.50	125.50	120.75	111.50	121.00

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Phase I — Merit Section	100	41.75	37.75	33.25	30.75	29.25
Phase II — Combined	200	130.50	124.50	120.00	119.25	121.50

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Phase I — Merit Section	100	53.50	45.75	44.00	41.50	32.75
Phase II — Combined	200	118.42	114.08	109.67	109.83	115.50

2020 note: pre-dates the merit/qualifying split — Phase I cutoff below is a single combined score across all 200 questions (200 marks), not just the merit section.

Stage	Max	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
Phase I — Combined (pre-split format)	200	118.50	104.00	98.50	92.00	95.75
Phase II — Combined	200	126.00	117.00	116.75	115.25	117.00

Note: Development Assistant Prelims is qualifying-only (no sectional cutoff, only an overall pass score); Mains determines final merit along with a qualifying Local Language Test. Unlike Grade A, NABARD releases DA cutoffs separately for each Regional Office (state), not as a single national figure — and they vary widely by state and category, since vacancies differ enormously by region. A genuine "national average" table would misrepresent how selection actually works, so it isn't shown here.

Cycle	Stage	Lowest Reported (State, Category)	Highest Reported (State, Category)
2022–23	Prelims	~59.00 (Goa, UR)	~84.00 (Delhi, UR)

Reliable, independently-verifiable state-wise Mains figures for other recent cycles weren't available at the confidence level this page holds itself to — check the specific Regional Office's official cutoff notification for the state you're applying in, since that's the only figure that actually applies to you.

Previous Year Analysis

What Past Papers Reveal.

Patterns from recent NABARD Grade A cycles that matter more than any single year's cutoff number — these shape where serious preparation time should go.

ESI & ARD Are The Differentiators

Highest weight, highest variance

● Economic & Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural Development carry the largest share of Phase I merit marks and the entirety of Phase II Paper II

● These are NABARD-specific subjects rarely tested in other bank exams, so generic aptitude prep doesn't transfer — dedicated study here creates the biggest score gap between candidates

Descriptive English Is Under-Prepared

Phase II Paper I

● Most Phase I qualifiers spend the bulk of their Phase II time on Paper II's ESI/ARD content and treat descriptive English as an afterthought

● Since the paper is evaluated on structure, clarity and content rather than simple correctness, unpracticed typed essay/précis writing tends to cost marks that are otherwise easy to secure

Qualifying Sections Reward Speed, Not Depth

Phase I qualifying set

● Reasoning, English, Quant, Computer Knowledge and Decision Making only need a pass mark — over-investing prep time here has a low ceiling on total score improvement

● Candidates who clear these quickly and redirect remaining Phase I time to GA/ESI/ARD tend to post stronger merit-section scores

Current Affairs Windows Are Narrow

General Awareness & ESI overlap

● Questions lean toward the months immediately preceding the exam rather than the full year, especially for rural/agri policy and banking developments

● A running current-affairs tracker maintained through the notification-to-exam window tends to outperform last-minute static compilations

Preparation Strategy

Prep By Where You Stand.

NABARD Grade A's two-phase-plus-interview structure and its rural-development/agriculture specialization mean the right starting point depends on your background, not just your timeline.

Beginner

New to bank/officer-level exams: start with Reasoning, English and Quant basics to clear the Phase I qualifying bar comfortably, while building an ESI & ARD foundation from NCERT-level economy and agriculture concepts — this is the syllabus most beginners underestimate.

Intermediate

Comfortable with general aptitude: shift focus to the Phase I merit sections (GA, ESI, ARD) since only these count toward the cutoff, and begin timed descriptive-writing practice for Phase II Paper I so it isn't neglected later.

Advanced

Already clearing Phase I mock cutoffs: go deep on Phase II Paper II — applied, paragraph-based ESI/ARD questions and current rural-policy case studies — and start mock Interviews to practice articulating views on rural credit and development banking.

Working Professional

Limited daily hours: prioritize the high-weight, NABARD-specific ESI & ARD sections over generic aptitude revision, use commute time for current-affairs tracking, and reserve weekends for full-length Phase I mocks and descriptive-writing drills.

FAQ

Common Questions.

When is NABARD Grade A 2026?+

NABARD typically releases the Grade A notification between July and August, with Phase 1 (Prelims) conducted a few months later. Exact 2026 dates will be confirmed on nabard.org once the notification is released.

What is the NABARD Grade A exam pattern?+

Phase 1 (Prelims) has 200 MCQs in 2 hours, split into a qualifying section (Reasoning, English Language, Computer Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, Decision Making) and a merit section (General Awareness, Economic & Social Issues, Agriculture & Rural Development). Only merit-section marks count toward the Phase 1 cutoff — the qualifying section just needs a minimum pass. Phase 2 (Mains) has two papers: Paper 1 is descriptive English, Paper 2 is objective and descriptive questions on Economic & Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural Development (or your chosen specialization).

What is the NABARD Grade A marking scheme?+

Phase 1 has negative marking for incorrect answers in the objective sections, with the exact penalty specified each cycle in the notification — historically around 0.25 marks per wrong answer. Phase 2's descriptive papers are evaluated for content, structure, and language quality rather than simple right/wrong scoring.

Who is eligible for NABARD Grade A?+

Candidates need a Bachelor's degree with at least 60% aggregate (55% for SC/ST/PwBD) from a recognized university, or a Postgraduate/MBA with 55% (50% for SC/ST/PwBD), or a professional qualification like CA/CS/ICWA/Ph.D. Age limit is typically 21-30 years, with standard reservation-category relaxations.

What is the NABARD Grade A salary?+

NABARD Grade A (Assistant Manager) starts with a basic pay of approximately ₹44,500/month. Including DA, HRA, and other allowances, the total gross emoluments are significantly higher — NABARD officer roles are widely considered among the best-paying entry-level central banking/financial-institution jobs in India.

Is there a limit on the number of attempts for NABARD Grade A?+

No. NABARD does not cap the number of attempts for Grade A or Development Assistant — you can apply in every recruitment cycle as long as you meet the prevailing age and educational eligibility criteria.

Is a calculator allowed in the NABARD Grade A exam?+

NABARD Grade A follows the standard practice for objective bank/officer-level exams: no personal or physical calculator is permitted in Phase I or Phase II. For numerical questions (Quantitative Aptitude, Decision Making, or ESI/ARD numerical portions), candidates rely on manual calculation and approximation. Always check the current cycle's official notification and admit card for the exact exam-hall rules.

What is considered a good score in NABARD Grade A Phase I?+

Since only the merit section (General Awareness, ESI, ARD — out of 200) counts toward the Phase I cutoff, a good score is one comfortably above the General category cutoff shown in the Cutoffs section on this page for the relevant year, with enough margin to safely clear Phase II shortlisting. Because cutoffs shift each cycle based on vacancies and difficulty, compare your mock performance against the last few years' trend rather than any single fixed number.

What is the NABARD Grade A application fee?+

The exact application fee is specified in NABARD's official notification each cycle and typically differs by category, with a concessional fee for SC/ST/PwBD candidates as is standard for most public-sector recruitment. NABARD staff candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can apply and get the fee reimbursed after verification. Always check the current year's notification at nabard.org for the exact amount before applying.

What does the NABARD Grade A Interview stage involve?+

Candidates shortlisted after Phase II first undergo a Psychometric Test, which profiles behavioural and personality traits rather than being scored for merit. This is followed by a Personal Interview conducted by a panel, typically assessing communication skills, subject-matter depth in your stream (RDBS, Legal, or Protocol & Security), awareness of rural development and banking issues, and overall suitability for an officer role. Final merit combines Phase II marks with Interview marks — Phase I scores are not added at this stage.

Is there age relaxation for reserved categories in NABARD Grade A?+

Yes. Beyond the standard age limit of 21-30 years for Grade A, NABARD provides age relaxation of +5 years for SC/ST candidates, +3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer), +10 years for PwBD candidates, and additional relaxation for Ex-Servicemen, consistent with standard Government of India reservation norms. Exact relaxation slabs are reconfirmed in each year's official notification.

Does the Phase II paper differ by NABARD Grade A stream (RDBS, Legal, Protocol & Security)?+

Yes. For the general RDBS (Rural Development Banking Service) stream — the stream most candidates apply for — Phase II Paper II covers Economic & Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural Development, the same subjects as Phase I's merit section but at greater depth. If you apply for the Legal or Protocol & Security Service streams instead, Phase II Paper II is replaced with subject matter specific to that discipline (for example, law for the Legal stream), while Paper I (descriptive English) stays common to all streams. Always confirm your specific stream's Phase II syllabus in the official notification, since NABARD describes it as indicative and not exhaustive.

NABARD Grade A.
Rural India's
Banking Career.

Phase I, Phase II & Interview.

What To Actually Study.

General Awareness

Economic & Social Issues (ESI)

Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD)

Reasoning, English, Quant

Paper I — General English

Paper II — ESI & ARD (Deep Dive)

NABARD Grade A 2026 Calendar.

Can You Apply?

Grade A — Bachelor's Degree Route

Grade A — Postgraduate / MBA Route

Grade A — Professional Qualification Route

Development Assistant — Education

Age Limit

Nationality

Number of Attempts

How NABARD Selects You.

Stage 1 — Phase I (Screening)

Stage 2 — Phase II (Discipline Paper + English)

Stage 3 — Psychometric Test & Interview

Final Merit

Salary & Benefits.

NABARD Cutoff
2020–2024 — Phase Wise

What Past Papers Reveal.

ESI & ARD Are The Differentiators

Descriptive English Is Under-Prepared

Qualifying Sections Reward Speed, Not Depth

Current Affairs Windows Are Narrow

Prep By Where You Stand.

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Working Professional

Start Your
NABARD Grade A Prep.

Common Questions.

Know The Exam.
Now Build The Plan.

Thinkoraa — Surat & Vadodara Centres

NABARD Grade A.Rural India'sBanking Career.

Phase I, Phase II & Interview.

What To Actually Study.

General Awareness

Economic & Social Issues (ESI)

Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD)

Reasoning, English, Quant

Paper I — General English

Paper II — ESI & ARD (Deep Dive)

NABARD Grade A 2026 Calendar.

Can You Apply?

Grade A — Bachelor's Degree Route

Grade A — Postgraduate / MBA Route

Grade A — Professional Qualification Route

Development Assistant — Education

Age Limit

Nationality

Number of Attempts

How NABARD Selects You.

Stage 1 — Phase I (Screening)

Stage 2 — Phase II (Discipline Paper + English)

Stage 3 — Psychometric Test & Interview

Final Merit

Salary & Benefits.

NABARD Cutoff2020–2024 — Phase Wise

What Past Papers Reveal.

ESI & ARD Are The Differentiators

Descriptive English Is Under-Prepared

Qualifying Sections Reward Speed, Not Depth

Current Affairs Windows Are Narrow

Prep By Where You Stand.

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Working Professional

Start YourNABARD Grade A Prep.

Common Questions.

You Might Also Be Preparing For

Know The Exam.Now Build The Plan.

Thinkoraa — Surat & Vadodara Centres

NABARD Grade A.
Rural India's
Banking Career.

NABARD Cutoff
2020–2024 — Phase Wise

Start Your
NABARD Grade A Prep.

Know The Exam.
Now Build The Plan.