Divyanshu Verma · AIR 10
Selected · RBI Grade B (DR) General 2026
MockMentor programme: RBI Grade B Super Elite 2026 + Paid Interview Guidance Program 2026
Marks
- Interview: 52 / 75
Divyanshu Verma's feedback
Divyanshu
My token of gratitude.
I have taken help from quite a few coaching institutes, since the paucity of time was a serious concern for me. Having a teacher to guide you through thick and thin is a blessing. And, all the teachers poured in their heart to make sure their students made it through this chakravyuh of RBI.
I want to thank the mockmentor team, and Rahul sir in particular, for the structured, efficient, and to-the point guidance provided throughout the preparation phase.
Solid content, practice based on lateral thinking ability, and the availability of a support team 24x7 definitely helped me ease the pressure I believed I was carrying all alone. I've had late night discussions with sir because I couldn't sleep a week before mains. This part is the most important.
No matter the result, but to be there for the students, it's a rare quality but the most humane. In the chase for glory, we often forget that the whetstone was as important as the sword.
I am happy to make everyone associated with me proud, and to the mockmentor team, Kudos to your efforts.
You guys deserve this too!
Thank you.
Divyanshu verma.
RBI Grade B interview transcript
Dated: 24.09.2026, Divyanshu Verma
Profile:
a.Age – 28 years, 4th attempt, 2nd mains, 1st interview.
b.91% in 10th and 12th, Category - UR.
c.Civil Engineering Graduate – 2020.
d.Cleared SBI PO (2023), Joined 2024. Presently, assistant manager at SME branch.
e.KPMG intern for 4 months in 2020. Resigned in March 2020.
f.Gap Years from 2020 till 2024.
g.Certifications:
a.JAIIB – IIBF
b.Monetary Policy Analysis and Forecasting – IMF
Interview in Delhi, 3rd Day – 24th September 2026, Time – 30 mins.
I was the last candidate for the day.
There were 5 panelists. One lady, and four male members including the chairman sir in the following pattern:
Lady panelist (M1) ---(M2) ---Chairman---(M4) ----(M5)
As soon as I entered the room, I was greeted with a smile by the board, and I reciprocated by greeting each member individually. The chairman asked me to take the seat, and we started.
Ch: “Divyanshu, how are you feeling? You must be anxious, considering you’re the last candidate for the day.”
Me: (maintaining a warm smile) No, sir. It’s alright. The wait was long, but it’s better now.
Ch: “Divyanshu, the journey from the waiting hall to this seat is the hardest, I know. But, why did it take you four years to reach this seat? We do not ask such difficult questions in the prelims. What went wrong for you in the previous attempts? And what did you do right this year?”
Me: Sir, I cleared the prelims of 2022. That was my first attempt, and I missed my interview call then by 5-6 marks. And my profile is not that of an economic graduate, so it took me a while to learn about the concepts and terminology related to economy and finance. Also, I could not practice answer writing adequately. In my second and third attempt, I missed the cut-off 0.25 or 0.5 marks. I prepared for the difficulty of CAT, but the questions were more oriented towards speed. I did not practice this properly and missed my chances. This year I worked on my weaknesses and prepared based on the difficulty of this exam.
Over to M1: the Lady panelist
M1: Hi, Divyanshu. So, you have worked on Digital banking, and promotion of e-rupee. Why do you think people are not using e-rupee as much as the RBI would like?
Me: Ma,am, the primary issue is the difficulty in convincing consumers. People are comfortable with UPI, and its interoperability is very convenient. Given the adoption of UPI, people don’t want to use another application. We try to convince them and help them understand that it is the same as paper currency, but people think it is a hassle.
M1: (follow Up) Okay, do you use e-rupee? When was the last time you used e-rupee?
Me: Ma’am, I had to do it a few days back since we had our targets for e-rupee transaction. And we get our allowance on e-rupee, so I have to use it regularly.
(The board members had a laugh here, and everyone was chuckling about this response. I was laughing as well, because it helped ease the tension of the room.)
From here on, the interview was exclusively technical.
M1: Divyanshu, as we can see you’ve done a certification on monetary policy, can you tell me the channels of monetary policy transmission?
Me: Credit channel, Asset price channel, Interest rate channel, Expectation channel, and Aggregate demand channel (I think this was incorrect, the answer should be Exchange Rate).
M1: What channel is the most important for India?
Me: Interest rate channel, since India is an EMDE.
M1: What is the lag in monetary policy transmission in India?
Me: In India, it is 2-3 quarters.
Over to M5.
M5: What do you understand by Re-KYC?
Me: Answered
M5: Why is Re-KYC needed?
Me: Answered
M5: What happens when a customer does not do his Re-KYC for over a year when it is due?
Me: closure of account
M5: and what is someone happens after that?
Me: Couldn’t answer this. Then he went on to say about DEAF accounts. I got confused because an account after closure cannot be marked as DEAF. But, this is the direction where he was trying to take the interview.
M5: Okay, as per your certification, can you tell me how the change in rates of policy repo will impact financial inclusion?
Me: Answered. Credit disbursal costlier, banks strain on cheap CASA. Also, all MSME and retail loan now EBLR linked. Therefore, rate hike or fall will impact EMIs and available income.
M5: What about those who are financially included?
Me: Answered. Since, rate hike would also mean increase in deposit rates for banks. Banks will have to offer more on term deposits so people can park more money safely.
M5: therefore, can it be said that those who are financially included are more responsive to the changes in Repo?
Me: Yes, sir. I’ll agree here.
Over To M4. (The strictest panel member)
M4: Divyanshu, you have a certification on monetary policy analysis and forecasting. Assume that you are the Governor of RBI. Make a decision whether to cut the rate, keep it constant, or decrease it. Give me the rationale for your decision.
Me: Answered. US rate Hike, Supply shocks passing through to the aggregate demand and price. Inflation data inching up to 4.82%. Extended fluctuation in energy price on the higher side. 25 bps rate hike in Oct.
M4: and, what should be the stance?
Me: (got confused a little here) Withdrawal of accommodation. (the answer should be calibrated tightening)
M4: Do you know what’s the maximum rate cut that RBI has done?
Me: Sir, I am not completely sure but in the previous FY the largest cut was by 50 bps. (here, M4 and Chairman questioned me simultaneously)
Chairman: “RBI Homeopathic dawai ke jaisa rate change kyu karta hai yaar? Ek hi sath pura dose de de.”
M4: Yes, exactly. Why does RBI change the rates so slowly?
Me: Answered. (Essentially, I explained Brainard’s Principle of Attenuation wherein the central bank should change the rate less than what it would do under normal circumstances, if its not sure about the upcoming shocks). Also, policy transmission lag, and every bps flushes and absorbs a great amount of liquidity from the system.
M4: What happens to the bond yield on rate hike?
Me: Increased.
M4: Why?
Me: Sir, can I explain the process here?
(He said please, of course, And I explained all the details about movement of bond yields based on coupon rates, issuance of new higher coupon bonds, and the relationship with price.)
M4: Do you know how the market adjusts the prices?
Me: Yes sir, Gave the formula for Present Value of Bond based on coupon rates and current rate.
M4: Do you know anything about sustainable finance?
Me: Yes, sir.
M4: Do you know what green washing is?
Me: answered. (explained in detail)
M4: RBI issues Sovereign Green Bonds for the Govt. Do you have any idea about the governing guidelines and framework issued by the Ministry for the same?
Me: I’ll have to read on this. I am not aware of this framework right now.
Over to M2 (the chill guy of the room)
M2: Divyanshu, what is the influence on rate hike of the Bonds of RBI?
Me: Answered
M2: and what is its influence on the balance sheet of SBI?
Me: Answered
M2: Where to G-secs lie in the balance sheet? Asset or liabilities?
Me: Assets.
M2: is interest income part of balance sheet or P/L Statement?
Me: Answered although got confused due to the framing of the question. It was asked a little vaguely.
M2: Impact on rate hike on NIM of SBI
Me: Answered.
Over to Chairman again.
Ch: Divyanshu, can you tell me about FCNR-B scheme?
Me: Answered.
Ch: What will be the impact on our currency due to inflow?
Me: Answered
Ch: Is RBI bearing the interest component also?
Me: No. Only the Principal and Currency Hedge cost.
Ch: Okay, Divyanshu answer this. The interest rate differential between US 10 year and GoI 10 yr bonds is 200 bps. And we have seen foreign outflows due to increase in US rates. Why is that so?
Me: I tried to explain about dollar being the gilt-edged asset which sets the standard for countries across the world. Carries zero risk.
Ch and M4 (both): yes, but why would FIIs leave the economy?
Me: Because of Uncovered interest rate parity. (I took a deep breath here, thought for 20 seconds and gave the keyword which would explain everything)
M4: Explain uncovered interest rate partiy
Me: answered
Ch: Explain the mechanism
(Here, M2 interrupted the chairman and said “Arey Sahi bol raha hai. Rehene dijiye ab.” He looked over to M4 and they decided to end the interview after a nod from everyone on the panel.)
Personal Review:
I think the interview went well. I maintained a composed and calm demeanor and did not rush to answer everything. After every question, I tried to absorb and listen to what the panel was trying to ask and framed each answer within a 5-10 second window. Everyone was polite, and looking back at it, I feel I was being grilled albeit very politely. The panel made sure follow up questions to almost all the initial questions asked to assess the depth of my understanding,
Every member of the board interacted, and no one was looking at their phones or appeared disinterested. (Also, I maintained my eye contact throughout to make sure I was addressing the members no matter who asked the question.)