The NABARD Development Assistant Prelims Exam 2026 Shift 1 has been successfully conducted on 21 February 2026 across various centres in the country. Candidates who appeared in the first shift shared mixed reactions regarding the paper pattern and overall experience. Based on initial feedback, the paper was manageable for candidates with clear fundamentals and good time management.
NABARD Development Assistant Prelims Exam Analysis 2026, 21 February Shift 1
The examination, conducted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, maintained a balanced structure with questions from Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language. Most candidates reported that the exam tested basic concepts with a few moderately time-consuming questions, particularly in puzzles and data interpretation.
NABARD Development Assistant Prelims Exam 2026, 21 February Shift 1: Difficulty Level
The overall difficulty level of Shift 1 was Easy to Moderate. While English was relatively straightforward, Quantitative Aptitude had a few calculative questions. Reasoning included standard puzzles that required careful reading but were solvable within time.
| NABARD Development Assistant Prelims Exam 2026, 21 February Shift 1: Difficulty Level | |
| Section | Difficulty Level |
| English Language | Easy to Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | Easy to Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Easy to Moderate |
| Overall | Easy to Moderate |
NABARD DA Prelims Exam 2026, 21 February Shift 1: Good Attempts
Based on student feedback and exam pattern, a safe number of good attempts is estimated as follows. Candidates with high accuracy within this range are likely to stay in a competitive position.
| NABARD Development Assistant Prelims Exam 2026, 21 February Shift 1: Good Attempts | |
| Section | Good Attempts |
| English Language | 33-36 |
| Reasoning Ability | 23-27 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 21-25 |
| Overall | 77-82 |
NABARD Development Assistant Prelims Exam Analysis 2026: Section-Wise Analysis
The exam was divided into three sections with sectional timing. Below is the detailed section-wise review of Shift 1.
Reasoning Ability
The Reasoning section was Easy to Moderate and largely puzzle-driven. Most questions were from familiar topics, making it scoring for well-prepared candidates.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
| Seating Arrangements (Linear- 8 persons) | 5 |
| Puzzle (Box Based- 7 Boxes) | 5 |
| Inequality | 4 |
| Chinese Coding | 5 |
| Direction and distance | 3 |
| Alpha Numeric Series | 5 |
| Pair formation | 1 |
| Meaningful Word | 1 |
| Number Based | 1 |
| Total | 30 |
Quantitative Aptitude
The Quantitative Aptitude section was easy to moderate, with emphasis on arithmetic and data interpretation. A few questions required careful calculation but were not conceptually difficult.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
| Simplification | 12 |
| Missing Number Series | 4-5 |
| Data Interpretation (Tabular) | 5 |
| Arithmetic (Partnership, P&L, Boat & Stream, Speed & Distance, Mensuration, SI&CI, Time & Work, Ages, etc.) | 8-9 |
| Total | 30 |
English Language
The English section was considered the easiest among the three. Questions were largely based on grammar fundamentals and contextual understanding.
| Topics | Number of Questions |
| Reading Comprehension (Narration) | 8-9 |
| Spotting Error | 5 |
| Double Fillers | 5 |
| Phrase Replacement | 5 |
| Para Jumble (Story Based) | 5 |
| Sentence Arrangement | 5 |
| Cloze Test | 5-6 |
| Starter | 1 |
| Total | 40 |
NABARD Development Assistant Prelims Exam Analysis 2026, 21 February Shift 1: Video Link
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