The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development conducts the Development Assistant examination to recruit candidates for clerical and support roles across its offices. For aspirants preparing for the upcoming cycle, understanding the NABARD Development Assistant Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern is a crucial starting point. A clear idea of subjects, section-wise structure, and marking scheme helps candidates prepare in a focused and time-bound manner.
NABARD Development Assistant Syllabus and Exam Pattern
The NABARD Development Assistant Syllabus 2026 is designed to test a candidate’s fundamental aptitude, language skills, and awareness of the banking and economic environment. It typically covers sections such as reasoning ability, numerical ability, English language, and general awareness, with a strong emphasis on agriculture and rural development-related topics. Each section plays a crucial role in the overall selection process, making balanced preparation extremely important.
NABARD Development Assistant Exam Pattern 2026
NABARD Development Assistant Exam Pattern 2026 provides an insight into the number of questions asked, maximum marks, and time duration for the paper. After having the knowledge of the exam pattern, aspirants can allocate their time wisely during the exam. The selection of candidates for the position of Development Assistant will be made after qualifying for the Prelims and Mains stages of the recruitment process, which we have discussed in detail below.
NABARD Development Assistant Exam Pattern 2026 For Prelims
The main highlights of the NABARD Development Assistant Preliminary Examination 2026 are as follows:
- Each individual question holds a weightage of one mark.
- The question paper will be provided in both Hindi and English.
- A deduction of 0.25 marks will occur for each incorrect answer.
- The time limit for the preliminary examination is 60 minutes.
| NABARD Development Assistant Prelims Exam Pattern 2026 |
|||
| Name of Test | No. of Qs. | Max. Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 40 | 40 | 20 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
NABARD Development Assistant Exam Pattern 2026 For Mains
The main points that an aspirant has to keep in mind for the NABARD Development Assistant Mains Exam 2026 are listed below.
- The objective test has a time duration of 90 minutes.
- Additionally, there is a Descriptive Test for the English Language, which carries 50 marks, and to solve it, 30 minutes will be allotted.
- Notably, a negative marking of 0.25 marks will be applied in the main examination.
| NABARD Development Assistant Mains Exam Pattern 2026 |
|||
| Name of Test | No. of Qs. | Max. Marks | Duration |
| Test of Reasoning | 30 | 30 | 30 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 30 min |
| General Awareness (with special reference to agriculture, rural development, and banking) |
50 | 50 | 25 min |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 40 | 20 min |
| Test of English Language (Descriptive) Essay, Precis, Report/ Letter Writing |
3 | 50 | 30 min |
| Total | 200 | 135 minutes | |
NABARD Development Assistant (Hindi) Exam Pattern 2026
The NABARD Development Assistant (Hindi) Exam Pattern 2026 is designed to assess a candidate’s proficiency in Hindi language along with essential aptitude and awareness required for the role. In addition to sections like reasoning ability, numerical ability, English language, and general awareness, special emphasis is placed on Hindi language skills, particularly translation and comprehension.
NABARD Development Assistant (Hindi) Exam Pattern 2026 For Prelims
| NABARD Development Assistant Prelims Exam Pattern 2026 |
|||
| Name of Test | No. of Qs. | Max. Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 40 | 40 | 20 min |
| Professional Knowledge | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
NABARD Development Assistant (Hindi) Exam Pattern 2026 For Mains
| NABARD Development Assistant Mains Exam Pattern 2026 |
|||
| Name of Test | No. of Qs. | Max. Marks | Duration |
| Test of Reasoning | 20 | 20 | 25 min |
| Professional Knowledge | 50 | 50 | 35 min |
| General Awareness (with special reference to agriculture, rural development, and banking) |
40 | 40 | 25 min |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 40 | 20 min |
| Test of English Language (Descriptive) Essay, Precis, Report/ Letter Writing |
3 | 50 | 30 min |
| Total | 200 | 135 minutes | |
NABARD Development Assistant Syllabus 2026
Aspirants have to prepare the following sections as prescribed in the NABARD Development Assistant Syllabus 2026: English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, Computer Knowledge, and General Awareness. The detailed NABARD DA Syllabus 2026 for each of the subjects has been discussed in the table below. The preparation of candidates should be strictly based on the given NABARD Development Assistant Syllabus so that they don’t miss any of the topics.
| NABARD Development Assistant Syllabus 2026 Section-Wise | |
| Sections | Topics |
| English Language |
|
| Quantitative Aptitude |
|
| Reasoning Ability |
|
| Computer Knowledge |
|
| General Awareness |
|
NABARD DA Descriptive Paper
The NABARD Development Assistant Descriptive Paper is an important component of the selection process and is conducted as a Test of English Language (Descriptive). This section is designed to assess a candidate’s written communication skills, clarity of thought, and ability to present ideas in a structured manner.
The syllabus for this paper includes Essay writing, Precis writing, and Report or Letter writing, carrying a total weightage of 50 marks. Candidates are expected to demonstrate grammatical accuracy, coherent expression, and relevance to the given topic, making regular writing practice and strong language fundamentals essential for scoring well in this section.
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