NABARD Grade A 2024: Phase 1 Syllabus, Most Important Topics & Questions

The Phase 1 exam is the first hurdle that you have to clear to become an Assistant Manager (Grade A officer) at NABARD. All serious aspirants of the NABARD Grade A exam must be clear about the pattern, the most important topics of all subjects of this stage, the types of questions that can be asked, and the difficulty level of the various subjects. 

This article will list down the decoded syllabus for the NABARD Grade A 2024 phase 1 exam, the important topics for various subjects, the types of questions you can expect, the difficulty level of Phase 1, and a broad strategy that you can implement to clear this stage with confidence.

NABARD Grade A Phase 1 Syllabus

The NABARD Grade A Phase 1 (Prelims) exam is divided into 2 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). 

The official recruitment advertisement for NABARD does not mention the syllabus for Phase 1. To ease your mind and preparation, our experts have analyzed the PYQs in-depth to come up with an exhaustive list of chapters and topics that you have to cover for each subject.

Note: The prelims syllabus for Economic and Social Issues (ESI) and Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) is the same for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the NABARD Grade A exam. The official recruitment notification provides a detailed topic listing for ESI and ARD for Phase 2. You can download the same here (Pages 13 to 15).

Let’s now examine the subject-wise NABARD Grade A phase 1 syllabus, important topics, types of questions, and difficulty level.

Reasoning Syllabus 

Reasoning is a qualifying section comprising 20 questions of 1 mark each. Following is the list of chapters that you must prepare for Reasoning.

1. Alphanumeric series 
2. Coding and Decoding 
3. Syllogism 
4. Direction Sense 
5. Inequality 
6. Ranking and Order 
7. Blood Relation 
8. Puzzles and Seating arrangement 
9. Input-Output 
10. Questions based on Statements 
11. Questions based on Data Sufficiency

Reasoning: Most Important Topics

To help you identify the most important topics for Reasoning, here’s a detailed analysis of Previous Year Questions for the last few years.

		Number of Questions
SNo.	Topics	2022	2021	2020	2019
1	Seating Arrangement	8	8	4	2
2	Puzzles	4	5	4	5
3	Inequality	2	2	2	3
4	Syllogism	2	2	0	5
5	Ranking	2	0	1	5
6	Blood Relation	1	0	0	0
7	Coding & Decoding	0	0	5	0
8	Direction Sense	1	2	0	0
9	Data Sufficiency	0	0	2	0

Based on the PYQs analysis, the following are the most important topics for the Reasoning subject for the NABARD Grade A phase 1 exam.

1. Seating Arrangement
2. Puzzles
3. Inequality
4. Syllogism

Kindly note that the above list of important topics is solely to help you streamline your preparation and make it more efficient. It does not indicate that you should skip the rest of the syllabus.

Now, let’s examine the type of questions candidates can expect for Reasoning.

Reasoning: Types of Questions

Following are a few questions from the NABARD Grade A 2023 Phase 1 examination.

Topic: Blood Relations
Q.1	Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given beside. A, B, C, D, E, F, and G are family members, and there are two married couples in two generations of people who live in the same house. A is the father of the spouse of C. F is the maternal uncle of G, who is not a male. A is the brother-in-law of F. D and G are sisters of each other. E is the son of B. C is a feminine gender. How is D related to C?
a)	Son
b)	Sister-in-law
c)	Daughter
d)	Aunt
e)	None of these
Topic: Syllogism
Q.2	Study the following statements and then decide which of the given conclusions logically follows from the given statements disregarding commonly known facts. Only lamp is light. Only a few footballs are cricket. Some cricket is lamp. Conclusion I: Few light can be cricket Conclusion II: Some footballs can never be cricket
a)	Only I follows
b)	Only II follows
c)	Both I and II follow
d)	Neither I nor II follows
e)	Either I or II follows
Topic: Inequality
Q.3	In each of the following questions, the relationship between different elements is shown in the statements followed by three conclusions. Find the conclusion that logically follows. Statements: P < Q = G > A ≥ I; B < Y = V < H ≤ D < G Conclusion: P > YH ≤ AI < V
a)	Only I follows
b)	Only II follows
c)	Only III follows
d)	Both I and II follows
e)	None follows

Key Takeaways

Practicing with previous year’s questions and taking mock tests will help you to understand the type of questions asked in the exam. It will also help you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and work on them accordingly.

The next non-merit section in Phase 1 is Quantitative aptitude. 

Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Syllabus

There are 20 questions of 1 mark each under the Quantitative Aptitude section. Following is the list of chapters that you must prepare for Quantitative Aptitude.

1. Ratio and Proportion 
2. Percentage 
3. Profit and Loss 
4. Simple and Compound Interest 
5. Questions on Average and Age 
6. Time and Work 
7. Pipes and Cistern 
8. Time and Distance 
9. Mixture and Alligation 
10. Questions on Series and Quadratic equation 
11. Mathematical Inequalities 
12. Number series
13. Data interpretation 
14. Simplification/approximation
15. Quantity Comparisons 

Quantitative Aptitude: Most Important Topics

To help identify the important topics for Quantitative Aptitude, here’s a detailed analysis of Previous Year Questions for the last few years.

		Number of Questions
SNo.	Topics	2022	2021	2020	2019
1	Number Series	3	3	3	3
2	Data Interpretation	6	5	6	6
3	Quadratic Equations	3	0	3	3
4	Simplification	0	3	0	0
5	Word Problem	0	3	6	0
6	Percentage	0	0	0	1
7	Profit and Loss	1	0	1	1
8	Time and Distance	1	1	0	0
9	Time and Work	1	2	0	1
10	Ages and Partnership	2	0	0	2
11	Ratio, Mixture	1	1	1	1
12	Interest	1	1	0	1

Based on the PYQs analysis, the following are the most important topics for the Quantitative Aptitude subject for the NABARD Grade A phase 1 exam.

1. Number Series
2. Data Interpretation
3. Quadratic Equations
4. Word Problem
5. Ratio, Mixture

Kindly note that the above list of important topics is solely to help you streamline your preparation and make it more efficient. It does not indicate that you should skip the rest of the syllabus.

Now, let’s examine the type of questions candidates can expect for Quantitative Aptitude.

Quantitative Aptitude: Types of Questions

Following are a few questions from the NABARD Grade A 2023 Phase 1 examination.

Topic: Partnership
Q.1	Mano and Varthan started a business with an investment of Rs.3200 and Rs.4800 respectively. Mano invested for 40% of the year and Varthan invested for the remaining time. In what ratio do Mano and Varthan receive profit after one year of partnership?
a)	3:5
b)	5:6
c)	2:5
d)	1:3
e)	4:9
Topic: Time, Speed, and Distance (Boat and Stream)
Q.2	The boat travelled 80 km upstream in 16 hours and travelled 280 km downstream in 8 hours. If the boat and stream’s speed is increased by 5 kmph and 3 kmph respectively, then what is the time taken by the boat travelling 301 km upstream and downstream?
a)	40 hours
b)	45 hours
c)	50 hours
d)	60 hours
e)	Cannot be determined
Topic: Number Series
Q.3	What value should come in place of (?) in the following number series? 22, 39, 58, 79, ? , 127
a)	109
b)	104
c)	102
d)	106
e)	108

Key Takeaways

Practicing with mock tests will help you to understand the type of questions asked in the exam. Mock tests and PYQs are key to succeeding in Quantitative Aptitude.

The next non-merit section in Phase 1 is English. 

English Syllabus 

The English section has 30 questions of 1 mark each. Following is the list of topics that you must prepare for English. 

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Sentence Rearrangement
3. Cloze Test
4. Parajumbles
5. Double fillers
6. Error Detection and Sentence Improvement
7. Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word Substitution, Phrasal verbs)

English: Most Important Topics

To help you identify the most important topics for English, here’s a detailed analysis of Previous Year Questions for the last few years.

		Number of Questions
SNo.	Topics	2022	2021	2020	2019
1	Reading Comprehension	7	12	15	12
2	Word Replacement	3	5	10	4
3	Cloze Test	7	5	5	6
4	Sentence Rearrangement	5	5	5	3
5	Error Detection	5	3	2	10
6	Miscellaneous	3	0	3	5

The English section has a good balance of questions across various topics. As a result, it is challenging to shortlist just a few topics. English is a holistic paper evaluating your language skills, vocabulary, and grammatical understanding.

Hence, you should have a well-rounded approach focusing on reading newspaper editorials and practicing answer typing consistently to build vocabulary and answer writing skills. 

Now, let’s examine the type of questions candidates can expect for English.

English: Types of Questions

Following are a few questions from the NABARD Grade A 2023 Phase 1 examination.

Topic: Vocabulary
In each of the given questions, there is a sentence with two blanks in it. You have to find a suitable pair of words for each blank from the given options that can make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct.
Q.1	The Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, Mamata Banerjee and M.K. Stalin, respectively, have jointly proposed a ______ of non-BJP Chief Ministers. The initiative is still _______ and there is no clear agenda or a definite date but the political context is amply clear.
a)	bond, hectic
b)	standard, developing
c)	convention, nascent
d)	settlement, growing
e)	None of these
Q.2	Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s remark that the State could become Kashmir, West Bengal, or Kerala if voters _________ a mistake, could have been, at any other time or context, laughed at for stretching ________.
a)	pledged, credulously
b)	committed, credulity
c)	confided, credulous
d)	bounded, credit
e)	None of these
Topic: Error Detection and Sentence Improvement
A part of each sentence is highlighted. You need to find the best replacement for the highlighted part to make the sentence grammatically and meaningfully correct. If no correction is required, then mark (E) No correction required as the answer.
Q.3	A 54-year-old man have been arrested for marrying 14 women across the country and duping them of lakhs of Rupees.
a)	has been arrested for
b)	has arrested for
c)	have arrested for
d)	had been arrested for
e)	No improvement required
Q.4	Thirty-three people were injured when a Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) bus met on an accident in Shimla district.
a)	bus met an accident in
b)	bus met with an accident in
c)	bus met to an accident in
d)	bus met of an accident in
e)	No improvement required

Key Takeaways

English language questions are designed to test your language skills. Therefore, it is important to improve your vocabulary by reading newspaper editorials and developing an understanding of the type of questions by reviewing PYQs and taking regular mock tests.

The next non-merit section in Phase 1 is Computer Knowledge. 

Computer Knowledge (CK) Syllabus

There are 20 questions of 1 mark each under the Computer Knowledge section. Following is the list of chapters that you must prepare for Computer Knowledge.

1. Computer Awareness 
2. Hardware and Memory 
3. Software and Operating Systems 
4. MS Office 
5. Database Management System 
6. Internet and Computer Security 
7. History and Computer & Generations 
8. Shortcuts

Computer Knowledge: Most Important Topics

We have carried out a detailed analysis of Previous Year Questions for the last few years, to help you identify the most important topics for Computer Knowledge.

		Number of Questions
SNo.	Topics	2022	2021	2020	2019
1	Introduction to Computer	0	2	0	2
2	Computer Organisation and Data Processing Cycle	2	3	2	0
3	Hardware	1	1	5	1
4	Memory	4	1	1	2
5	Software	1	1	1	3
6	Operating System	0	1	0	0
7	Computer Network	5	2	5	7
8	MS Office	7	8	4	3
9	Database Management System	0	1	0	2
10	Computer Security	0	0	1	0

Based on the PYQs analysis, the following are the most important topics for the Computer Knowledge subject for the NABARD Grade A phase 1 exam.

1. Microsoft Office
2. Computer Network
3. Computer Organisation and Data Processing Cycle
4. Memory
5. Software
6. Basics of Computer

Kindly note that the above list of important topics is solely to help you streamline your preparation and make it more efficient. It does not indicate that you should skip the rest of the syllabus.

Now, let’s examine the type of questions candidates can expect for Computer Knowledge.

Computer Knowledge: Types of Questions

Following are a few questions from the NABARD Grade A 2023 Phase 1 examination.

Topic: Introduction to Computer
Q.1	Which computer device played a key role during World War 2, helping the Germans during the war?
a)	Enigma
b)	IBM
c)	Colossus
d)	ENIAC
e)	Abacus
Topic: Full Forms
Q.2	ASCII stands for _________________________________
a)	American Standard Code for Information Interchange
b)	Advanced System for Computer Information Integration
c)	American Society of Computer Information Engineers
d)	Artificial System for Computer Intelligence
e)	None of the above
Topic: Memory
Q.3	What is the accurate sequence for memory speed, ranging from fastest to slowest?
a)	Cache, ROM, hard disk, floppy disk, tape drive
b)	Floppy disk, hard disk, ROM, cache, CD
c)	Hard disk, floppy disk, ROM, cache
d)	ROM, hard disk, floppy disk, cache
e)	Tape drive, Floppy disk, ROM, cache, floppy disk

Key Takeaways

Focus on the basics. Computer knowledge questions are designed to test your basic computer system and software knowledge. 

The last non-merit section in our list is Decision Making which was introduced in the NABARD Grade A Phase 1 Exam in 2021.

Decision Making (DM) Syllabus

The Decision Making section consists of 10 questions of 1 mark each respectively. Following is the list of chapters that you must prepare for Decision Making.

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

Decision Making: Most Important Topics

We have carried out a detailed analysis of Previous Year Questions since its introduction in 2021 to help you identify the most important topics for Decision Making.

		Number of Questions
SNo.	Topics	2022	2021
1	Basics of Decision Making	1	1
2	Types of Decision Making	0	1
3	Process of Decision Making	0	1
4	Decision Making Models	0	1
5	Conditions of Decision Making	1	0
6	Approaches of Decision Making	2	0
7	Techniques of Decision Making	1	3
8	Styles of Decision Making	0	0
9	Bias in Decision Making	3	0
10	Miscellaneous Topics(General Management, Planning, and Leadership)	2	3

At the moment, it would be difficult to list down important topics based on an analysis of 2 exam years. 

Candidates are advised to approach the exam with full confidence targeting the listed syllabus. The ten questions for NABARD Grade A 2024 Phase 1 can be a shuffle of all topics mentioned. 

Now, let’s examine the type of questions candidates can expect for Decision Making.

Decision Making: Types of Questions

Following are a few questions from the NABARD Grade A 2023 Phase 1 examination.

Topic: Techniques of Decision Making (Heuristic)
Q.1	What technique is used to identify the most important factors that contribute to a particular problem or outcome, based on the 80:20 ratio?
a)	Pareto analysis
b)	Root cause analysis
c)	Ishikawa diagram
d)	Five whys
e)	Brainstorming
Topic: Decision Making Approaches (Bias)
Q.2	What strategies can individuals employ to mitigate confirmation bias in their decision-making processes?
a)	By reducing personal thoughts and emphasising objectivity
b)	By reducing objectivity and increasing personal opinion
c)	Seeking out only information that supports your existing beliefs
d)	Avoiding any kind of critical thinking
e)	None of the above
Topic: Decision Making Approaches (Uncertainty)
Q.3	In situations marked by uncertainty in the condition or outcome, but where the associated risk is deemed minimal, what is the recommended approach to decision-making?
a)	Be cautious and conservative.
b)	Gather as much information as possible.
c)	Consider all possible options.
d)	Make a decision based on your intuition.
e)	All of the above.

Key Takeaways

Understand the techniques and strategies of decision making process. Try to read subject-relevant case studies to develop a better understanding of the given syllabus.

This was your non-merit section. Let’s now examine the merit section of NABARD Grade A Phase 1 exam. 

It is important to note here that the selection for Phase 2 (Mains) Exam is based on your score in the merit section of Phase 1 only, given you qualify in the non-merit section.

General Awareness (GA) Syllabus 

There are 20 questions of 1 mark each for General Awareness. Following is the list of chapters that you must prepare for GA.

1. Current affairs of the preceding 6 months from the date of examination
2. National News: MoUs, summits, and major events related to India.
3. International: Summits and conferences held abroad
4. Defence: Military exercises, drills, and major updates related to the defence sector of India
5. Days in News: Major events or days, along with its date, and theme
6. Persons in News: Obituaries, appointments, retirements
7. Sports: Major tournaments and their winners
8. Science, Technology, and Space 
9. Awards and honours 
10. Environment
11. Banking, Economy, and Schemes 
12. Books and Authors 
13. Static GA: Chief Ministers and Cabinet Ministers, National Parks and Sanctuaries, Organisations’ Headquarters, Banks’ Headquarters and Taglines, Power Plants in India, Indian Dance Forms, Countries’ Capitals and their Currencies

General Awareness: Most Important Topics

To help you identify the most important topics for General Awareness, here’s a detailed analysis of Previous Year Questions for the last few years.

		Number of Questions
SNo.	Topics	2022	2021	2020	2019
1	Government Schemes/Acts/Programmer	2	4	2	3
2	Reports	0	1	0	0
3	First in News	1	1	0	2
4	Place in News	3	0	4	1
5	Environment	1	1	0	0
6	Person in News	1	2	1	4
7	Awards/Honour	1	0	2	2
8	Books + Authors	1	2	0	2
9	Sports	1	1	2	0
10	Defence	1	0	2	1
11	Science and Tech	2	0	0	0
12	Miscellaneous	4	5	6	6

Based on the PYQs analysis, the following are the most important topics for the General Awareness subject for the NABARD Grade A phase 1 exam.

1. Schemes
2. Books + Authors
3. Sports: Winners, Loosers, Venues
4. Partnerships with Govt. or International Organisations
5. Defence: Military Exercise, Equipment
6. Govt. Launches: Bodies, Courses, Projects, Infrastructure

Kindly note that the above list of important topics is solely to help you streamline your preparation and make it more efficient. It does not indicate that you should skip the rest of the syllabus.

Now, let’s examine the type of questions candidates can expect for General Awareness.

General Awareness: Types of Questions

Following are a few questions from the NABARD Grade A 2023 Phase 1 examination.

Q.1	Recently, the Russian Federation allowed Indian passport holders electronic visa (e-Visa) facility from 1 August 2023, which is valid for 60 days, allowing tourists to stay in Russia for how many days per visit?
a)	21
b)	30
c)	16
d)	45
e)	60
Q.2	Which of the following statements are incorrect regarding the Ramsar Convention? 1. The Convention covers a very wide variety of wetland habitats including rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, coastal areas, estuaries, bogs, and even coral reefs. 2. Ramsar Convention is the oldest of the global nature conservation treaties. 3. In India, the designated authority for the Ramsar Convention is Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
a)	1 and 2
b)	2 and 3
c)	1 and 3
d)	All of the above
e)	None of the above
Q.3	Which of the following schemes of the Government of India has won the National Award for e-Governance 2023 (Gold)?
a)	e-NAM
b)	PMUY
c)	SVAMITVA
d)	PMJDY
e)	PM-JAY

Key Takeaway

Stay updated with Current Affairs. Read relevant magazines and newspapers to stay informed. We recommend following our General Awareness Current Affairs Playlist.

Next in the Phase 1 merit section is Economic and Social Issues. It consists of 40 questions of 1 mark each respectively. 

Economic and Social Issues (ESI) Syllabus 

Following is the given syllabus in the NABARD Grade A notification for Phase 2 of the exam. It is applicable for Phase 1 as well, considering the syllabus for both Phases is the same. 

1. Nature of Indian Economy – Structural and Institutional features – Economic underdevelopment – Opening up the Indian Economy – Globalisation – Economic Reforms in India – Privatisation. Inflation – Trends in Inflation & their Impact on National Economy and Individual Income. 
2. Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India – Rural and Urban – Measurement of Poverty – Poverty Alleviation Programmes of the Government. 
3. Population Trends – Population Growth and Economic Development – Population Policy in India. 
4. Agriculture – Characteristics / Status – Technical and Institutional changes in Indian Agriculture – Agricultural performance – Issues in Food Security in India – Non-Institutional and Institutional Agencies in rural credit. 
5. Industry – Industrial and Labour Policy – Industrial performance – Regional Imbalance in India’s Industrial Development – Public Sector Enterprises. 
6. Rural banking and financial institutions in India – Reforms in Banking/ Financial sector. 
7. Globalization of Economy – Role of International Funding Institutions – IMF & World Bank – WTO – Regional Economic Co-operation. 
8. Social Structure in India – Multiculturalism – Demographic trends – Urbanisation and Migration – Gender Issues Joint family system – Social Infrastructure – Education – Health and Environment. Education – Status & System of Education – Socio – Economic Problems associated with Illiteracy – Educational relevance and educational wastage – Educational Policy for India. 
9. Social Justice: Problems of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes – socio-economic programmes for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and other backward classes. 
10. Positive Discrimination in favour of the under privileged – Social Movements -Indian Political Systems – Human Development. 
11. Current Economic & Social Issues.

ESI: Most Important Topics

To help you identify the most important topics for ESI, here’s a detailed analysis of Previous Year Questions for the last few years.

		Number of Questions
SNo.	Topics	2022	2021	2020	2019
1	Government Schemes/Policies,/Programmes	15	16	16	23
2	Reports/Indices	11	2	4	4
3	Union Budget/Economic Survey	1	3	2	1
4	ESI Syllabus-based Current Affairs	8	4	7	9
5	ARD Static/Current	2	0	9	3
6	ESI Static	3	13	2	0
7	Finance Current Affairs	0	2	0	0

Based on the PYQ analysis, we can conclude that topics such as Government Schemes, Reports, Policies, Current Affairs, etc., are important. However, it is crucial to combine the ESI Current topics with the ESI Static syllabus for a well-rounded preparation.

ESI Static 

Following is the list of topics that you must prepare for ESI Static.

1. Growth and Development 
2. Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India 
3. Economic History of India – Globalisation and Privatisation 
4. Sustainable Development and Environmental Issues. 
5. Fiscal Policy + Monetary Policy 
6. Inflation 
7. Industrial & Labour Policy   
8. Indian Agriculture 
9. Regional Economic Cooperation 
10. International Economic Institutions – IMF and World Bank – WTO 
11. Opening up of the Indian Economy, Balance of Payments 
12. Multiculturalism 
13. Population and Demographic Trends 
14. Urbanisation and Migration 
15. Gender Issues 
16. Social Justice- Positive Discrimination in favour of the underprivileged 
17. Social Movements 
18. Indian Political System 
19. Human Development 
20. Social Sectors in India, Health and Education 
21. Rural banking and Financial Institutions – Reforms in Banking and Financial Sector

ESI Current Affairs

Following is the list of topics that you must prepare for ESI Current Affairs.

1. Flagship Economic Development Schemes: PM-SYM, PMJDY, PMJJBY, PMSBY, PMMY, Stand Up India, DDU-GKY, PMEGP, Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme
2. Reports: Economic Survey, Union Budget, Census, SECC (latest version)
3. Data by Important Institutes: NITI Ayog, RBI, NABARD, WTO, WB, IMF, ADB, etc (latest version)
4. MoUs + Funding, Banks, Alliance, Membership
5. Ranking: India and the Indian States
6. First in News (For ex: an initiative taken for the first time, a national organisation’s first event, etc.)
7. Current Affairs related to ESI Static topics: Economics (such as GDP), Growth Projections, Monetary and Fiscal Policy (Repo Rates), and Social Issues (such as meetings related to Poverty, Gender Bias, Human Development, Education, and Health)

Kindly note that the above list of important topics is solely to help you streamline your preparation and make it more efficient. It does not indicate that you should skip the rest of the syllabus.

Now, let’s examine the type of questions candidates can expect for ESI.

ESI: Types of Questions

Following are a few questions from the NABARD Grade A 2023 Phase 1 examination.

Topic: Inflation
Q.1	The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the overall change in consumer prices based on a representative basket of goods and services over time. Which of the following are uses of CPI for rural, urban and combined sector? 1. CPI is used as a macroeconomic indicator of inflation. 2. Government of India and RBI use CPI for targeting inflation & for monitoring price stability. 3. It is used as a deflator in national accounts.
a)	1 and 2
b)	2 and 3
c)	1 and 3
d)	1, 2 and 3
e)	None of the above
Topic: ESI Current Affairs
Q.2	As per RTI Act, Central Public Information Officers/ State Public Information Officers (under Section 6) shall dispose-off the case in maximum ______ days, as per Section 8 and 9.
a)	14 days
b)	30 days
c)	45 days
d)	21 days
e)	60 days
Q.3	Which of the following statements is true about the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE)?
a)	All Board examinations must move towards becoming ‘easier’ without any compromise on assessing genuine learning.
b)	In ten years, Boards of Examination should be prepared to offer certification through modular examinations.
c)	All students will be allowed to take Board examinations on at least two occasions during any given school year, with only the best score being retained.
d)	To get a Grade 12 certificate, the students should pass the 2 examinations in Languages.
e)	All of the above

Key Takeaways

Integrate the Static syllabus with the topics of Current Affairs to comprehensively cover the ESI syllabus. 

Let’s move to the next subject Agriculture and Rural Development. It is a merit section comprising 40 questions of 1 mark each respectively. 

Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD) Syllabus 

Following is the given syllabus in the NABARD notification for Phase 2 of the exam. It is applicable for Phase 1 as well, given that the syllabus for both Phases is the same. 

Agriculture: definition, meaning and its branches, Agronomy: definition, meaning and scope of agronomy. Classification of field crops. Factors affecting crop production, Agro Climatic Zones; Cropping Systems: Definition and types of cropping systems. Problems of dry land agriculture; Seed production, seed processing, seed village; Meteorology: weather parameters, crop-weather advisory; Precision Farming, System of Crop Intensification, organic farming; 

1. Soil and Water Conservation: Major soil types, soil fertility, fertilisers, soil erosion, soil conservation, watershed management; 
2. Water Resource: Irrigation Management: types of irrigation, sources of irrigation, crop-water requirement, command area development, water conservation techniques, micro-irrigation, irrigation pumps, major, medium and minor irrigation. 
3. Farm and Agri Engineering: Farm Machinery and Power, Sources of power on the farm- human, animal, mechanical, electrical, wind, solar and biomass, bio fuels, water harvesting structures, farm ponds, watershed management, Agro Processing, Controlled and modified storage, perishable food storage, godowns, bins and grain silos. 
4. Plantation & Horticulture: Definition, meaning and its branches. Agronomic practices and production technology of various plantation and horticulture crops. Post-harvest management, value and supply chain management of Plantation and Horticulture crops. 
5. Animal Husbandry: Farm animals and their role in Indian economy, Animal husbandry methods in India, common terms pertaining to different species of livestock, Utility classification of breeds of cattle. Introduction to common feeds and fodders, their classification and utility. Introduction to poultry industry in India (past, present and future status), Common terms pertaining to poultry production and management. Concept of mixed farming and its relevance to socio-economic conditions of farmers in India. Complementary and obligatory nature of livestock and poultry production with that of agricultural farming. 
6. Fisheries: Fisheries resources, management and exploitation – freshwater, brackish water and marine; Aquaculture- Inland and marine; biotechnology; post-harvest technology. Importance of fisheries in India. Common terms pertaining to fish production.
7. Forestry: Basic concepts of Forest and Forestry. Principles of silviculture, forest mensuration, forest management and forest economics. Concepts of social forestry, agroforestry, joint forest management. Forest policy and legislation in India, India State of Forest Report 2015. Recent developments under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 
8. Agriculture Extensions: Its importance and role, methods of evaluation of extension programmes, Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s (KVK) in dissemination of Agricultural technologies. 
9. Ecology and Climate Change: Ecology and its relevance to man, natural resources, their sustainable management and conservation. Causes of climate change, Green House Gases (GHG), major GHG emitting countries, climate analysis, distinguish between adaptation and mitigation, climate change impact to agriculture and rural livelihood, carbon credit, IPCC, UNFCCC, CoP meetings, funding mechanisms for climate change projects, initiatives by Govt of India, NAPCC, SAPCC, INDC.
10. Present Scenario of Indian Agriculture and Allied activities; recent trends, major challenges in agriculture measures to enhance viability of agriculture. Factors of Production in agriculture; Agricultural Finance and Marketing; Impact of Globalization on Indian Agriculture and issues of Food Security; Concept and Types of Farm Management. 

Rural Development: Concept of Rural Area, Structure of the Indian Rural EconomyImportance and role of the rural sector in India- Economic, Social and Demographic Characteristics of the Indian rural economy, causes of Rural Backwardness. 

Rural population in India; Occupational structure, Farmers, Agricultural Labourers, Artisans, Handicrafts, Traders, Forest dwellers/tribes and others in rural India- Trends of change in rural population and rural work force; problems and conditions of rural labour; Issues and challenges in Handlooms 

Panchayati Raj Institutions – Functions and Working. MGNREGA, NRLM – Aajeevika, Rural Drinking water Programmes, Swachh Bharat, Rural Housing, PURA and other rural development programmes.

ARD: Most Important Topics

To help you identify the most important topics for ARD, here’s a detailed analysis of Previous Year Questions for the last few years.

		Number of Questions
SNo.	Topics	2022	2021	2020	2019
1	Introduction to Agriculture	1	1	0	2
2	Agronomy	4	2	2	0
3	Farming System	4	3	1	0
4	Cropping System and Pattern	0	0	1	0
5	Agrometeorology	0	2	2	0
6	Seed and Sowing	0	0	0	2
7	Soil and Water Conservation	4	3	3	2
8	Water Resource and Irrigation	0	2	2	1
9	Agriculture Engineering	0	1	0	0
10	Plantation and Horticulture	5	3	4	5
11	Animal Husbandry	5	3	3	5
12	Fisheries	2	3	1	1
13	Forestry	3	2	0	0
14	Agriculture Extension	2	2	0	2
15	Agriculture Economics	1	0	3	3
16	Important Agronomic Practices	1	0	3	1
17	Rural Development	0	0	2	0
18	ARD Current Affairs	9	8	9	9
19	ESI Current Affairs	0	5	4	7

Based on the PYQ analysis, the ARD section includes questions from the majority of the syllabus. Hence, it is important to comprehensively cover the ARD syllabus and combine it with ARD Current to best prepare for the exam. 

ARD Static 

Following is the list of topics that you must prepare for ARD Static.

1. Agronomy: Production, Definition, & Meaning
2. Farming System: Types of Farming
3. Types of Soils and Soil Water
4. Methods to prevent soil erosion
5. Nutrient deficiency and symptoms
6. Horticulture: Production and Branches
7. Vegetative Propagation and Types
8. Major Disease and Pest
9. Post-harvest method
10. Animal Husbandry: Breeds, Terminology
11. Milks and its properties
12. Poultry: Breed and Terminology
13. Fisheries: Types and Production
14. Aquaculture: Breeds, types, and terminology
15. Forestry and Types
16. Agriculture Extension Institute and Schemes

ARD Current Affairs

Following is the list of topics that you must prepare for ARD Current Affairs.

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

Kindly note that the above list of important topics is solely to help you streamline your preparation and make it more efficient. It does not indicate that you should skip the rest of the syllabus.

Now, let’s examine the type of questions candidates can expect for ARD.

ARD: Types of Questions

Following are a few questions from the NABARD Grade A 2023 Phase 1 examination.

Topic: ARD Current Affairs
Q.1	DAY-NRLM has a provision for interest subvention, to cover the difference between the Lending Rate of the banks and 7% on all credit from the banks/ financial institutions availed by women SHGs, for a maximum of ________ per SHG.
a)	Rs. 3,00,000
b)	Rs. 4,00,000
c)	Rs. 5,00,000
d)	Rs. 6,00,000
e)	Rs. 7,00,000
Q.2	Credit target for agriculture and allied sector has been announced to be increased to ______ crore with a focus on animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries.
a)	10 Lakh
b)	15 Lakh
c)	20 Lakh
d)	25 Lakh
e)	30 Lakh
Topic: ARD Static (Soil Water and Conservation)
Q.3	What is the term for the stage of erosion when it becomes exhaustive, leading to the formation of finger-like projections?
a)	Sheet erosion
b)	Rill Erosion
c)	Gully Erosion
d)	Saltation
e)	Suspension

Key Takeaways

Integrate the Static syllabus with the topics of Current Affairs to comprehensively cover the ARD syllabus. 

This article lists only a few questions from the NABARD Grade A 2023 Phase 1. However, we recommend that you study the PYQs from the last 5 years at least.

NABARD Grade A Previous Year’s Questions PDF Download

Download EduTap’s FREE PYQ Analysis PDFs to get a deep dive into past NABARD Grade A Phase 1 exams. These PDFs provide solutions to every question, break down topics, and link to helpful notes. Start with the 2018 exam and study your way up to the latest one.

A comprehensive examination of the PYQs can help you familiarize yourself with the types of questions that will be asked, identify areas where you need to improve, and subsequently develop effective strategies.

Now that you have access to the PYQs, let’s look at the difficulty level of the NABARD Grade A Phase 1.

NABARD Phase 1 Difficulty Level

The difficulty level of questions in the NABARD Phase 1 exam is generally easy to moderate, with a few challenging questions. This means that with proper preparation, you will be able to clear the first step towards becoming a NABARD Grade A Manager.

Tips for Students

Following are a few tips to help you ease the difficulty level of Phase 1.

1. Adopt a structured approach to your preparation

• Create a detailed study plan. Break down the syllabus into manageable chunks and allocate time for each section.
• Set realistic goals. Don’t try to cram everything in at once. Take breaks.

2. Focus on understanding concepts, not just memorizing

• Practice answer writing. This will help you revise the topics you have learned.
• Read the syllabus carefully and understand the concepts. For example, cramming the details of a Scheme or Report will not help you in descriptive answer writing. You need to have a thorough understanding of the Current and Static syllabus of ESI and ARD respectively to form a well-rounded answer.

3. Make the most of available resources

• Enroll in EduTap’s NABARD Phase 1 preparation course. This will provide you with structured guidance, personalised mentorship, and access to study materials.
• Utilize online resources and other free study material to access practice questions, mock tests, and study materials.

4. Manage your time effectively

• Take mock tests under time pressure. The NABARD Phase 1 exam is timed, so it’s important to be able to answer quickly and accurately.
• Learn to prioritize questions. Focus on the questions you can answer first and then tackle the more difficult ones later.

Remember, success in the NABARD Phase 1 exam requires consistent effort, smart preparation, and a positive mindset. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success and tackle the difficulty level. 

NABARD Grade A 2024 Phase 1 Preparation Strategy

Now that you are clear on the syllabus, important topics, types of questions, the expected difficulty level, and the ideal approach of the various subjects, it is time to develop a preparation strategy for the NABARD Grade A 2024 Phase 1 exam.

The following pointers will help you target each subject. 

1. Economic and Social Issues (ESI)

• Focus on ESI Current Affairs (Schemes, Reports, Current Developments, etc.)
• Practice writing 3 answers, from both static and current, as this will help you revise as well.
• Do not skip the ESI static syllabus.
• The 7 chapters to target, in the beginning, would be the Measurement of Growth, Opening up of the Indian Economy and Balance of Payments, Inflation, Monetary Policy, Fiscal Policy, Employment generation and Poverty alleviation, and Rural Banking and Financial Institutions.

2. Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD)

• Study important static chapters comprehensively.
• Practice writing any 3 answers based on the chapters you are covering; this will help you revise as well.
• Stick to the syllabus.
• The 7 chapters to target, in the beginning, would be Agronomy, Farming System, Soil and Water Conservation, Plantation and Horticultural Crop, Animal Husbandry and Poultry, Fisheries, and Forestry.

3. General Awareness

• Focus on the latest 3 months of current events and news.
• Undertake the Question to Magazine approach. Here, you first take a quiz and then later refer to the source for a better understanding of the questions, format, and syllabus.
• Based on our PYQ analysis, the weightage of current has generally been higher than static in GA.

4. Quantitative Aptitude + Reasoning + English

• Focus on Scoring/Important Topics and later target the rest of the topics.
• Practice questions based on the covered important topics.
• Invest time in English preparation. Do not assume that you will be able to clear the same without any practice.

5. Computer Knowledge + Decision Making

• Prioritise question practice.
• Study the basics of the syllabus topics and attempt mock tests for the same.
• Try to read through Cases of Decision Making as many as possible.

Lastly, incorporate consistent revision and mock tests during your study plan.

We hope that the given information will help you get started on developing your preparation strategy for the NABARD Grade A 2024 Phase 1 exam. 

Disclaimer: The provided video outlines a comprehensive preparation strategy for the NABARD Grade A 2023 Phase 1 exam. While the video specifically targets the 2023 exam, the preparation strategy remains applicable for the 2024 recruitment as well. The fundamentals of the exam have remained the same in recent years.

Conclusion

In this article, we have listed the complete NABARD Grade A Manager Phase 1 syllabus. We have examined the previous year’s questions to list the important topics, the types of questions, and the overall expected difficulty level for the exam. We have also provided you with a broad preparation strategy on how to effectively approach each subject. 

Important Note: The NABARD Grade A 2024 recruitment notification has not been released yet. The 2024 Phase 1 syllabus, exam pattern, and question format are subject to change at the discretion of NABARD. 

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