Best Recommended Books for NABARD Grade A Phase 1 and 2 2024

Hope to land your dream job at the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) as an Assistant Manager? You must arm yourself with the necessary information and tools to succeed in this competitive exam, especially a topper’s approved NABARD Grade A booklist. 

This article explores the recommended books for the NABARD Grade A exam, carefully selected for Phase 1 and 2 for aspirants of the 2024 examination.

NABARD Grade A Phase 1: Best Books

The NABARD Grade A Phase 1 (Prelims) exam has two sections:

1. Qualifying (Non-Merit) Sections: Reasoning, English Language, Computer Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, and Decision Making. 
2. Merit Sections: General Awareness, Economic & Social Issues (with a focus on rural India), and Agriculture & Rural Development (with emphasis on rural India). 

Note: The official syllabus for Economic & Social Issues (ESI) and Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD) is the same for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 as per the notification.

Below we will list down the books suitable for Phase 1, and later look at the recommended books for ESI and ARD for Phase 1 and 2 together. 

Reasoning Books: NABARD Grade A

Following is the list of expert-recommended book(s) that you can refer to for NABARD Grade A Reasoning.

Tips on How to Cover Reasoning

1. While the recommended book can provide a solid foundation, you can consider complimenting your preparation with our YouTube videos and previous years’ question papers (PYQs). 
2. PYQs offer invaluable insights into the exam pattern and question types, ensuring you’re well-equipped for the actual test.

The important topics that you need to cover under Reasoning are:

• Seating Arrangement
• Alphanumeric Series
• Coding Decoding
• Ranking and Order
• Blood Relation
• Puzzles
• Inequality
• Syllogism
• Directions

This list of important topics is not meant to replace the entire syllabus. Instead, it serves as a guide to streamline your preparation and maximise efficiency.

English Books: NABARD Grade A

Following is the list of expert-recommended book(s) that you must refer to for English.

Tips on How to Cover English

1. Build a strong foundation of grammar and comprehension rules. This includes understanding subject-verb agreement, tenses, voice, and other essential concepts.
2. Utilise grammar exercises and mock tests to advance your understanding and identify areas for improvement.
3. Read editorials from renowned newspapers like The Hindu.
4. Actively incorporate new vocabulary into your daily conversations to enhance your fluency.
5. Refer to YouTube videos for a more comprehensive understanding.

The English section of the exam encompasses a diverse range of topics, making it difficult to concentrate solely on a specific few. The section comprehensively assesses your language proficiency, vocabulary, and grammatical proficiency.

Computer Knowledge Books: NABARD Grade A

Following is the list of expert-recommended book(s) that you must refer to for NABARD Grade A Computer Knowledge.

Tips on How to Cover Computer Knowledge

1. Arihant’s Computer Awareness is suitable for both beginner and advanced learners.
2. It covers the theoretical fundamentals of the various topics as well as provides MCQs to test your knowledge.
3. Refer to YouTube Videos for a more comprehensive understanding.

The important topics that you need to cover under Computer Knowledge are:

• Hardware and Memory
• Software and Operating System
• MS Office
• Database Management System
• Internet and Computer Security
• Shortcut Keys

This list of important topics is not meant to replace the entire syllabus. Instead, it serves as a guide to streamline your preparation and maximise efficiency.

Quantitative Aptitude Books: NABARD Grade A

Following is the list of expert-recommended book(s) that you must refer to for NABARD Grade A Quantitative Aptitude.

Tips on How to Cover Quantitative Aptitude

1. Instead of cramming the entire book, strategically target the first nine chapters only. These chapters cover the core concepts that form the foundation of QA.
2. Since QA is a merit section, time is of the essence. Avoid getting lost in the rabbit hole of research and instead, utilise the mentioned source dedicatedly.
3. PYQs are your gateway to understanding the exam pattern and the types of questions that frequently appear.
4. Lastly, refer to YouTube Videos to enhance your understanding and gain a deeper grasp of complex topics.

The important topics that you need to cover under Quantitative Aptitude are:

• Number Series
• Data Interpretation
• Quadratic Equations
• Simplification
• Word Problem
• Percentage

This list of important topics is not meant to replace the entire syllabus. Instead, it serves as a guide to streamline your preparation and maximise efficiency.

Decision Making Books: NABARD Grade A

Following is the list of expert-recommended book(s) that you must refer to for NABARD Grade A Decision Making.

Tips on How to Cover Decision Making

1. It is crucial to identify the key concepts and theories related to your syllabus based on PYQ analysis. 
2. As you read the book, try to apply the concepts and theories to real-world examples. This will help you to see how decision-making principles play out in practice. 
3. You can find application examples in news articles, case studies, and other personal experience stories.

The important topics that you need to cover under Decision Making are:

• Basics of Decision Making
• Types of Decision Making
• Decision Making Models
• Decision Making Approaches
• Factors Affecting Decision Making
• Types of Problems in Decision Making

This list of important topics is not meant to replace the entire syllabus. Instead, it serves as a guide to streamline your preparation and maximise efficiency.

General Awareness (GA) Books: NABARD Grade A

Following is the list of expert-recommended book(s) that you must refer to for NABARD Grade A General Awareness.

Tips on How to Cover General Awareness

1. General Awareness is divided into two categories: GA Static and GA Current Affairs. 
2. Static knowledge refers to facts, such as dates of events, geographical landmarks, and other discoveries. For this, Lucent’s General Knowledge serves as a comprehensive resource.
3. Current Affairs cover the ever-evolving landscape of daily happenings. To stay updated on current events, aspirants should make a habit of reading prominent news sources like The Hindu.
4. Additionally, staying informed through official channels like the Press Information Bureau (PIB) will help. 

The important topics that you need to cover under General Awareness are:

• General awareness is not a finite subject; it’s a continuous learning process. 
• Schemes
• Books + Authors
• Sports: Winners, Loosers, Venues
• Partnerships with Govt. or International Organisations
• Defence: Military Exercise, Equipment
• Govt. Launches: Bodies, Courses, Projects, Infrastructure

This list of important topics is not meant to replace the entire syllabus. Instead, it serves as a guide to streamline your preparation and maximise efficiency.

NABARD Grade A Phase 2: Best Books

The NABARD Grade A Phase 2 (Mains) exam is divided into two papers.

• Paper I: Descriptive English 
• Paper II: Economic and Social Issues (ESI) + Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD)

Let’s first examine preparation resources for Paper 1 of descriptive English.

Descriptive English

It is challenging to recommend a book for a paper wherein candidates have to form answers based on their knowledge and understanding of the asked topic. 

Tips on How to Cover Descriptive English

The important topics that you need to prepare for Descriptive English are,

• Essay writing
• Precis writing
• Reading comprehension
• Letter writing

To effectively prepare for essay, precis, and letter writing alongside reading comprehension, candidates need to have a subject-relevant vocabulary, for which reading newspapers consistently is of utmost importance. 

NABARD Grade A Phase 1 + 2: Best Books

It is time to examine books for ESI and ARD respectively. Kindly note that the recommended list is applicable for both Phase 1 and 2 preparation.

Economic and Social Issues (ESI)

Following is the list of expert-recommended book(s) that you must refer to for NABARD Grade A Economic and Social Issues.

Tips on How to Cover Economic and Social Issues (ESI)

1. The syllabus for ESI is further divided into two sections: ESI Static and ESI Current Affairs.
2. Regularly visit the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and the official NABARD website and also read through the Economic Survey and Union Budget to stay on top of current economic and social developments.
3. Refer to the most recent Census data to grasp demographic trends.
4. Supplement your knowledge with a standard newspaper such as BusinessLine to gain a holistic perspective on current affairs.
5. For economic static preparation, choose one between NCERT Class 11th and 12th Economics textbooks or Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh to build a strong foundation in economic concepts.
6. For the subject of social issues, aspirants can refer to Social Problems in India.

The important topics that you need to cover under ESI Static are:

• Measurement of Growth
• Balance of Payment
• Inflation
• Monetary Policy
• Fiscal Policy
• Employment generation and Poverty alleviation
• Rural Banking and Financial Institutions

The important topics that you need to cover under ESI Current Affairs are:

• Flagship Economic Development Schemes: PM-SYM, PMJDY, PMJJBY, PMSBY, PMMY, Stand Up India, DDU-GKY, PMEGP, Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme
• Books and Authors
• Defence: Military Exercises, Equipment
• MoUs + Funding, Banks, Alliance, Membership
• Person in News: Awards, Appointments, Obituaries
• First in News (For ex: an initiative taken for the first time, a national organisation’s first event, etc.)
• Summits and Conference
• Science and Tech
• Sports
• Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology
• Data by Important Institutes: NITI Ayog, RBI, NABARD, WTO, WB, IMF, ADB, etc.

This list of important topics is not meant to replace the entire syllabus. Instead, it serves as a guide to streamline your preparation and maximise efficiency.

Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD)

Following is the list of expert-recommended book(s) that you must refer to for NABARD Grade A Agriculture and Rural Development.

Tips on How to Cover Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD)

1. The syllabus for ARD is further divided into two sections: static and current affairs.
2. Static ARD covers fundamental topics like farming techniques, agricultural engineering, and fisheries.
3. For static, the above book recommendations are divided into two categories. Candidates are advised to choose ONE book from each of the three options provided.
4. Strictly refer to the syllabus provided in the notification to target the most relevant topics.
5. ARD Current Affairs focuses on recent developments, schemes, and reports related to static topics.
6. Rely on the Press Information Bureau (PIB) for updates on the Ministries of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and other ARD-related schemes.
7. Utilise Krishijagran for information on private corporations and their advancements.
8. Read a newspaper with a dedicated agriculture column, like BusinessLine, to stay up-to-date on current developments.

The important topics that you need to cover under ARD Static are:

• Agronomy: Production, Definition, & Meaning
• Farming System: Types of Farming
• Soil and Water Conservation
• Plantation and Horticulture Crops
• Animal Husbandry and Poultry
• Fisheries
• Forestry

The important topics that you need to cover under ARD Current Affairs are:

• ARD Schemes of the last 6 months preceding the exam date
• Flagship Agriculture Schemes (AIF, PMKSY, PMFBY, PM-KMY, e-NAM, KCC, SHC, PMMSY, NHM)
• Flagship Rural Development Schemes: PMAY-G, PMGSY, NRuM, MGNREGA, JJM, NRLM, DDUGKY
• Census: 2011, SECC, Livestock, Agriculture
• Annual Reports: MoA&FW, AH&D, NABARD, and MSP
• Latest Union Budget
• Latest Economic Survey
• Indian State of Forest Report
• Key Stats of Cooperative Banks

This list of important topics is not meant to replace the entire syllabus. Instead, it serves as a guide to streamline your preparation and maximise efficiency.

Important Note: Prioritise and selectively study the most relevant chapters and topics aligned with the syllabus and previous years’ question papers (PYQs) for efficient preparation. Do not follow the given list of resources from start to end.

Now that you are equipped with the right books to develop your preparation strategy for the NABARD Grade A exam, it is important to know the expected dates for the 2024 examination.

NABARD Grade A 2024: Expected Notification

Let us analyse the previous year’s trends to come at a tentative date for the release of the recruitment notification for the 2024 exam.

As per the trend of the last 4 years, except for the year 2020, the notification was released in the 3rd quarter of the year. 

If the same trend of the last 3 years is to be followed for 2024, the notification can be expected at the end of August or the beginning of September 2024. 

NABARD Grade A 2024: Expected Vacancies

NABARD has consistently released a good number of vacancies over the last few years. Based on this trend, aspirants can expect about 150+ vacancies in the 2024 recruitment notification for assistant managers.

To learn more about whether the General Elections 2024 will have an impact on the notification release, click here. 

Conclusion

The NABARD Grade A exam can be easily cracked with the help of the right guidance and the use of correct study materials. These serve as a compass, assisting you in navigating the extensive syllabus and prioritising the most important subjects. 

Remember, comprehensive exam preparation includes reading thoroughly, taking notes, timely revision, watching lesson videos, and taking consistent mock tests to check progress.

FAQs