NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern: Phase I, Mains and Interview
Last updated: 2026-11-12 · MockMentor
NABARD Grade A (Assistant Manager, RDBS General) is selected in four stages. Only Mains (200) and the interview (50) count in the final merit list, and 150 of the 200 Mains marks are descriptive, typed on a computer.
Phase I (Preliminary): 200 marks, 120 minutes
| Section | Questions | Marks | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test of Reasoning | 20 | 20 | Qualifying |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | Qualifying |
| Computer Knowledge | 20 | 20 | Qualifying |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 | Qualifying |
| Decision Making | 10 | 10 | Qualifying |
| General Awareness | 20 | 20 | Merit |
| Economic and Social Issues (with focus on rural India) | 40 | 40 | Merit |
| Agriculture and Rural Development (with emphasis on rural India) | 40 | 40 | Merit |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
- You must clear the minimum in each qualifying section, but shortlisting for Mains is on the 100-mark merit section only: General Awareness, ESI and ARD.
- One quarter of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer, in Phase I and Phase II.
- The paper is in Hindi and English, except the English test.
Phase II (Mains): 200 marks
| Paper | Type | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I: General English | Descriptive, 3 questions, typed | 100 | 90 minutes |
| Paper II: ESI and ARD | Objective, 30 questions | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Paper II: ESI and ARD | Descriptive: 6 questions, attempt 4 (two of 15 marks, two of 10 marks) | 50 | 90 minutes |
- Paper I tests writing skills through essay writing, précis, comprehension, report writing, paragraph writing and letter writing. Questions are in English only.
- Paper II objective and descriptive parts run back to back: 30 minutes objective, then 90 minutes descriptive, and you cannot switch between them.
- In the descriptive part, if you answer more than four questions, only the first four are evaluated.
- Descriptive answers in Paper II can be typed in English or Hindi (Inscript or Remington keyboard).
Specialist disciplines take a stream-specific Paper II in place of ESI and ARD.
Psychometric test
The psychometric test is mandatory before the interview, but it is not part of the merit total. Only candidates who clear the Mains cut-off and appear in the psychometric test are called for interview.
Interview: 50 marks
You can choose to take the interview in Hindi or English.
Final merit
The final list is based on Mains + interview = 250 marks. When two candidates have the same total, the one with the higher Mains score ranks higher. Merit lists are prepared discipline by discipline, because vacancies are fixed for each discipline.
Frequently asked questions
How many phases are there in NABARD Grade A?
Four: Phase I (Preliminary), Phase II (Mains), a psychometric test and an interview. The final merit list uses Mains and interview marks.
Is there negative marking in NABARD Grade A?
Yes. One quarter of the marks for a question is deducted for each wrong answer, in Phase I and Phase II.
How much of NABARD Grade A Mains is descriptive?
150 of the 200 Mains marks: all 100 marks of Paper I (General English) and 50 of the 100 marks of Paper II (ESI and ARD).
Do Phase I marks count in the final selection?
No. Phase I only shortlists candidates for Mains, and only its merit section (GA, ESI and ARD, 100 marks) is used for that.
What is the total marks for the NABARD Grade A final merit list?
250 marks: 200 from Mains and 50 from the interview.
Next steps
Check the 2025 cut-offs to set your targets, and practise descriptive answers early. ESI is common with RBI Grade B, so our descriptive writing guide applies to NABARD too.
Source: NABARD Advertisement No. 05/Grade A/2025-26 and the 2025 Mains information handout.
More in NABARD Grade A
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NABARD Grade A Descriptive Writing Program (₹4,000) – ESI, ARD and English descriptive papers with evaluation. 365 days validity.