Topics Covered: NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern for 2025 – Phase 1 (Prelims) and Phase 2 (Mains) – Subjects, Questions & Marks, Sectional Timing, Language options, Negative Marking, Interview Round & Final Selection, NABARD Grade A Officer Syllabus including Phase 1, Phase 2 & Personality Test.
NABARD Grade A Generalist 2025 Exam Pattern (Phase-Wise)
Going through the exam pattern during your NABARD Grade A exam preparation can give you a realistic idea of what to expect on the actual day.
Understanding the structure of the exam such as the number of questions, time limits, and the marking scheme will not only give you clarity but also help you plan your preparation in a more focused and efficient manner.
Also Read: NABARD Grade A Recruitment 2025, Apply Online Begins for 91 Assistant Manager Vacancies
The exam for the Generalist post in the Rural Development Banking Service (RDBS) is divided into three distinct phases which are mentioned below:
Phase 1 (Prelims):
- Nature: Objective, Online
- No. of questions: 200
- Total Marks: 200
- Time duration: 120 Minutes (Composite time for all sections)
Phase 2 (Mains):
- Nature: Objective & Descriptive, Online
- Total Marks: 200 (100 for Paper I + 100 for Paper II)
- Time duration: 210 Minutes (3 hours 30 minutes) across two papers.
Interview:
- Nature: Personality Test
- Total marks: 50 Marks
NABARD Grade A Generalist Exam Pattern Phase 1 (Prelims)
The NABARD Grade A Phase 1 is the first screening stage. However, passing it is essential to progress to the Main Examination. This phase tests your skills across a range of subjects, with a special focus on rural India and development issues.
Here’s a detailed overview that you must know before appearing for the exam:
- No. Of Questions: The paper consists of 200 questions.
- Total Marks: The total marks allotted for the Phase 1 exam is 200 marks.
- Time Duration: The time allocated to complete the exam is 120 minutes (composite time).
- Exam Mode: The exam is conducted online in a computer-based format.
- Marking Scheme:
- Candidates will receive 1 mark for each correct answer.
- A penalty of 0.25 marks (1/4th) is deducted as negative marking for each incorrect answer.
- Sections: The paper is divided into a Qualifying Section and a Merit Section. Shortlisting for Mains is based only on the Merit Section.
NABARD Grade A Generalist Phase 1 Exam Pattern
| Sr. No. | Name of the Tests | No. of Qs | Max Marks | Section Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Test of Reasoning | 20 | 20 | Qualifying |
| 2. | English Language | 30 | 30 | Qualifying |
| 3. | Computer Knowledge | 20 | 20 | Qualifying |
| 4. | Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 | Qualifying |
| 5. | Decision Making | 10 | 10 | Qualifying |
| 6. | General Awareness | 20 | 20 | Merit |
| 7. | Eco & Soc. Issues (with focus on Rural India) | 40 | 40 | Merit |
| 8. | Agriculture & Rural Development | 40 | 40 | Merit |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 Minutes |
NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern Phase 2 (Mains)
The Phase 2 exam is the most critical stage, and the scores from here, along with the interview, determine your final selection. For the Generalist post, it includes two papers: Paper I (General English) and Paper II (Economic & Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural Development).
Here’s a complete guide to help you understand what can appear in Phase 2 and how to prepare effectively:
Total Marks: The total marks for the exam are 200 marks.
Time Duration: The total duration is 210 minutes.
Exam Mode:
- Both papers are conducted online.
- The descriptive answers must be typed using a keyboard.
Negative Marking: In Phase 2, there is a negative marking of 1/4th of the marks for wrong answers in the objective section of Paper II. There is no negative marking for the descriptive papers.
Cut-off Criteria: To qualify for the interview, candidates must clear the minimum cut-offs in both papers and the overall cut-off.
NABARD Grade A (Generalist) Phase 2 Exam Pattern
| Paper | Type of Paper | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I General English | Online Descriptive | 3 | 100 | 90 Minutes |
| Paper II (ESI & ARD) | Objective | 30** | 50 | 30 Minutes |
| Descriptive | 6 (to be attempted 4) | 50 | 90 Minutes | |
| Total | 200 | 210 Minutes |
NABARD Grade A Exam Sectional Timing
The NABARD Grade A exam provides strict sectional timing for Phase 2. You cannot switch between sections before the allotted time for that section ends.
Sectional Timing in Phase 1
Phase 1 has a composite time of 120 minutes. You can freely switch between sections and manage your time as you see fit within the total 2-hour window.
Sectional Timing in Phase 2
In NABARD Grade A Phase 2 examination, you get fixed time limits for each paper and section:
Paper I (General English): 90 Minutes
Paper II:
- Objective section: 30 minutes
- Descriptive section: 90 minutes
You must manage your time effectively within these fixed slots.
NABARD Grade A Exam Negative Marking
The NABARD Grade A exam follows a structured negative marking scheme for incorrect answers in its objective papers only.
Phase 1 (Prelims) –
- There is a 0.25 marks deduction for every wrong answer.
- No marks are deducted for unattempted questions.
Phase 2 (Mains) –
Objective Paper (Paper II):
- For 1-mark questions, 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer.
- For 2-mark questions, 0.50 marks are deducted for each incorrect answer.
Descriptive Papers (Paper I & Paper II Descriptive):
There is no negative marking. You are evaluated purely based on the quality of your written answers.
NABARD Grade A Exam Language Options for Phase 1 & 2
For the NABARD Grade A exam, the papers are bilingual, except for the English sections.
Phase 1 (Prelims)
- All sections except the English Language are available in both Hindi and English.
- The English Language section can only be attempted in English.
Phase 2 (Mains)
- Paper I (General English) can be attempted only in English.
- Paper II (ESI & ARD) – Both Objective and Descriptive parts are bilingual.
Psychometric Test & Interview
Psychometric Test:
- This is a mandatory test but it is qualifying in nature. No marks are awarded.
- It is an MCQ-based test of 90 minutes duration.
- Candidates must appear for this test to be eligible for the interview.
Interview:
- The Interview is the final stage for the shortlisted candidates.
- Total marks: The Interview constitutes 50 marks.
- Language Choice: Candidates can opt for the interview in either Hindi or English.
NABARD Grade A 2025 Final Selection
The final selection for NABARD Grade A 2025 is determined by combining the scores from Phase 2 and the Interview.
How Final Selection is Calculated:
The final merit is calculated from a total of 250 marks:
- Phase 2 (Both Papers): 200 marks
- Interview: 50 marks
Marks obtained in Phase 1 are not counted in the final selection. The NABARD Grade A Phase 1 exam is purely qualifying in nature.
Example:
Suppose a candidate scores 70 marks in Paper I, 75 marks in Paper II, and 40 marks in the Interview. The total becomes:
Marks calculation: 70 + 75 + 40 = 185 out of 250
This final score is used to prepare the merit list. In case of a tie, the candidate with higher marks in Phase 2 (Mains) will be ranked higher. If the Phase 2 marks are also identical, the candidate with higher qualifications or higher marks in graduation will be preferred.
NABARD Grade A Generalist Syllabus 2025
The NABARD Grade A Exam for the Generalist (RDBS) post has a syllabus that deeply focuses on Economic & Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural Development, reflecting the bank’s core functions.
NABARD Grade A Officer Syllabus Phase 1 (Prelims)
| Reasoning | English Language | Quantitative Aptitude | Computer Knowledge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logical Reasoning | Reading Comprehension | Number Series | History of Computers |
| Alphanumeric Series | Cloze Test | Simplification/Approximation | Hardware & Software |
| Ranking/Direction | Error Spotting | Quadratic Equations | Networking |
| Blood Relations | Fill in the blanks | Data Interpretation | Internet & Security |
| Puzzles | Sentence Improvement | Mensuration | MS Office |
| Syllogism | Para Jumbles | Time & Work | DBMS |
| Input-Output | Vocabulary | Profit & Loss | Emerging Technologies |
| Decision Making | Grammar | Simple & Compound Interest | Computer Abbreviations |
| General Awareness | Eco & Soc. Issues (ESI) | Agriculture & Rural Dev. (ARD) | |
| Current Affairs (National & International) | Growth & Development | Agriculture: Definition, Agronomy | |
| Banking & Economic News | Indian Economy & Reforms | Soil & Water Conservation | |
| Government Schemes | Globalization | Water Resource Management | |
| Important Summits & Reports | Social Structure in India | Farm & Agri Engineering | |
| Sports & Awards | Sustainable Development | Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Forestry | |
| Static GK | Poverty Alleviation | Agriculture Extensions | |
| Population Trends | Ecology & Climate Change | ||
| Agriculture & Rural Development | Rural Development: Concept & Programmes | ||
| Panchayati Raj, MGNREGA, NRLM, etc. |
NABARD Grade A Officer Syllabus Phase 2 (Mains)
Paper-I: General English (Descriptive)
- Essay Writing
- Précis Writing
- Comprehension
- Business/Office Correspondence (Letters, Reports, Memos)
The paper is designed to assess writing skills, expression, and understanding of the topic.
Paper-II: Economic & Social Issues (ESI) and Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD)
The syllabus for Paper II is extensive. The key topics are:
A) Economic & Social Issues (ESI):
- Nature of Indian Economy: Structural features, Economic underdevelopment, Opening up of the Indian Economy.
- Globalization & Economic Reforms.
- Inflation: Trends and Impact.
- Poverty Alleviation & Employment Generation.
- Population Trends & Policy.
- Agriculture & Industry: Status, Performance, Issues (e.g., Food Security).
- Rural Banking & Financial Institutions.
- International Funding Institutions: IMF, World Bank, WTO.
- Social Structure in India: Multiculturalism, Demographics, Urbanisation, Gender Issues.
- Social Justice & Movements.
- Education & Health.
- Current Economic & Social Issues.
B) Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD):
- Agriculture: Definition, Agronomy, Cropping Systems, Dryland agriculture, Meteorology, Precision Farming, Organic farming.
- Soil & Water Conservation.
- Water Resource & Irrigation Management.
- Farm & Agri Engineering.
- Plantation & Horticulture.
- Animal Husbandry.
- Fisheries.
- Forestry.
- Agriculture Extensions.
- Ecology & Climate Change.
- Present Scenario & Challenges in Indian Agriculture.
- Rural Development: Concept, Structure, Characteristics.
- Rural Population & Occupational Structure.
- Panchayati Raj Institutions.
- Rural Development Programs: MGNREGA, NRLM (Aajeevika), Swachh Bharat, Rural Housing, etc.
