The competition now enters its most crucial stage as the RBI Grade B Phase 2 Exam 2026 approaches. Candidates who have qualified the phase 1 exam must now focus entirely on the Mains, as this stage plays a decisive role in the final selection. The RBI Grade B Mains Exam Date 2026 has been announced on the official website, giving aspirants a clear timeline to plan their preparation.
RBI Grade B Mains Exam Date 2026 Out
According to the official schedule, the RBI Grade B Mains Exam 2026 will be conducted on 25 and 26 July 2026. The General (DR) stream Phase 2 examination is scheduled for 25 July 2026, while the Department of Economic and Policy Research (DEPR) and Department of Statistics and Information Management (DSIM) Phase 2 examinations will be held on 26 July 2026.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | RBI Grade B Exam 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Reserve Bank of India (RBI) |
| Current Stage | Phase 2 (Mains) |
| Total Vacancies | 60 |
| Candidates Qualified for Phase 2 | 635 Candidates |
| RBI Grade B Mains Exam Date | 25 & 26 July 2026 |
| Mode of Examination | Online |
| Total Marks (Phase 2) | 300 Marks |
| Number of Papers | 3 (ESI, English Writing Skills & Finance & Management) |
| Question Type | Objective + Descriptive (English paper is fully descriptive) |
| Admit Card Status | Yet to be released |
| Expected Admit Card Release | 10–15 days before the examination |
| Selection Process | Phase 1 → Phase 2 → Interview |
| Interview Marks | 75 Marks |
| Official Website | https://www.rbi.org.in |
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Exam Pattern 2026
The RBI Grade B Phase 2 Examination is conducted for a total of 300 marks and consists of three separate papers. While the English paper is completely descriptive, the Economic & Social Issues (ESI) and Finance & Management (FM) papers include both objective and descriptive sections.
Paper 1: Economic & Social Issues (ESI)
- Maximum Marks: 100
- Exam Duration: 2 Hours (120 Minutes)
- Objective Section: 30 MCQs carrying 50 marks in total.
- Descriptive Section: Candidates are required to answer 4 out of 6 questions, including two 15-mark questions and two 10-mark questions.
Paper 2: English (Writing Skills)
- Maximum Marks: 100
- Exam Duration: 90 Minutes
- This paper is entirely descriptive and evaluates candidates’ writing ability through essay writing, precis writing, and reading comprehension.
Paper 3: Finance & Management (FM)
- Maximum Marks: 100
- Exam Duration: 2 Hours (120 Minutes)
- Objective Section: 30 multiple-choice questions worth 50 marks.
- Descriptive Section: Out of 6 questions, candidates need to attempt 4 questions comprising two questions of 15 marks and two questions of 10 marks.
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Exam Shift Timings 2026
The RBI Grade B Phase 2 Exam Shift Timings 2026 have not been announced yet. The Reserve Bank of India will mention the reporting time, gate closing time, and exam timings in the RBI Grade B Mains Admit Card 2026 which is expected to be released a few days before the examination.
What to Expect in RBI Grade B Mains 2026?
Candidates who cleared the phase 1 exam and will appearing for phase 2 can expect a balanced mix of conceptual, analytical, and descriptive questions. Based on the last five years trends, the RBI Grade B Mains exam has gradually become more application oriented, especially in the Economic & Social Issues (ESI) paper. Aspirants should focus not only on static concepts but also on current economic developments and answer-writing practice.
- Economic & Social Issues (ESI) has become more analytical, with a greater emphasis on current affairs, economic reports, and government policies.
- Finance & Management (FM) generally remains moderate, but the difficulty level can vary from year to year, making conceptual clarity essential.
- English (Descriptive) is considered a scoring paper for candidates who regularly practice essay writing, precis writing, and comprehension.
- In recent years, RBI has increasingly tested candidates’ ability to apply concepts rather than rely on factual memorization.
RBI Grade B Phase 2 Difficulty Trend (2021-2025)
Keeping these trends in mind, candidates must prioritize revision of current affairs, improve descriptive answer-writing skills, and practice previous year papers and mock tests to perform well in RBI Grade B Mains 2026.
| Paper | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| Economic & Social Issues | Difficult | Difficult | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| English (Descriptive) | Moderate | Moderate | Easy | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult |
| Finance & Management | Moderate | Difficult | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult | Difficult | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
RBI Grade B Mains Admit Card 2026: Release Date & Details
The RBI Grade B Mains Admit Card 2026 has not been released yet. Candidates can expect by the department to release the Phase 2 admit card around 10 to 15 days before the exam, which is scheduled to be held on 25 July 2026 (General) and 26 July 2026 (DEPR & DSIM). Candidates will be able to download their admit card from the official RBI recruitment portal using their Registration Number/Roll Number and Password/Date of Birth.
The admit card will contain the following details:
- Candidate’s Name and Roll Number
- Registration Number
- Exam Date and Shift Timing
- Reporting Time and Gate Closing Time
- Exam Centre Address
- Candidate’s Photograph and Signature
- Important Exam Day Instructions
RBI Grade B Selection Process 2026
The RBI Grade B Selection Process 2026 consists of three stages.
- Phase 1 (Prelims): Completed and qualifying in nature.
- Phase 2 (Mains): Scheduled on 25 & 26 July 2026 and carries 300 marks.
- Interview: Conducted after the Mains result for candidates who qualify Phase 2. The interview carries 75 marks.
- Final Selection: The final merit list is prepared based on the combined marks obtained in Phase 2 (300 marks) and the Interview (75 marks).
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