Understanding the phase 2 syllabus of the NABARD Grade A exam is crucial to know the subjects and topics asked. It also ensures that your NABARD Grade A study material is aligned with the latest NABARD Grade A syllabus, thereby increasing your chances of qualifying the exam.
Here’s a breakdown of the NABARD Grade A Phase 2 exam syllabus as per the latest official notification.
NABARD Grade A Syllabus for Phase 2
The NABARD Grade A exam for phase 2 has 2 papers:
- Paper 1: Descriptive English
- Paper 2: Economic and Social Issues (ESI) + Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD)
Descriptive English Syllabus for NABARD Grade A
Here is the syllabus for descriptive English as per the official notification of NABARD.
- Essay
- Precis writing
- Comprehension
- Business/Office Correspondence
Here, you can download the NABARD Grade A PYQs from 2023 to 2019.
Important Topics of Descriptive English for NABARD Grade A
The English paper presents 3 questions (mostly essay, precis, and letter writing) and carries 100 marks in total.
- In descriptive English, essays are generally asked from ESI, ARD, and current affairs topics.
- Precis is usually asked from LiveMint, The Hindu, The Economic Times, Forbes magazine, etc.
- Candidates are generally asked to write a formal letter regarding raising a request or complaint, an inquiry, appreciating someone, etc.
Therefore, it’s essential to cover the ESI and ARD syllabus and regularly follow reputable newspapers, news websites, official government portals, and magazines to stay informed about these current affairs topics.
Economic and Social Issues (ESI) Syllabus for NABARD Grade A
Following is the ESI syllabus as per the NABARD Grade A notification.
- 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.
- Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India – Rural and Urban – Measurement of Poverty – Poverty Alleviation Programmes of the Government.
- Population Trends – Population Growth and Economic Development – Population Policy in India.
- 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.
- Industry – Industrial and Labour Policy – Industrial performance – Regional Imbalance in India’s Industrial Development – Public Sector Enterprises.
- Rural banking and financial institutions in India – Reforms in Banking/ Financial sector.
- Globalization of Economy – Role of International Funding Institutions – IMF & World Bank – WTO – Regional Economic Co-operation.
- 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.
- Social Justice: Problems of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes – socio-economic programmes for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and other backward classes.
- Positive Discrimination in favour of the under privileged – Social Movements -Indian Political Systems – Human Development.
- Current Economic & Social Issues.
Important Topics of ESI for NABARD Grade A Phase 2
To help you identify the important topics for ESI, we have done a detailed analysis of PYQs of the last few years. Based on our analysis, here are the most, moderately, and least important ESI topics for the NABARD Grade A Phase 1 and 2 exams:
Most Important Topics of ESI Static for NABARD Grade A
- Growth and Development
- Inflation
- Opening up of the Indian Economy
- Balance of Payment
- Indian Political System
- Economic History of India
- International Economic Institutions
Moderately Important Topics of ESI Static for NABARD Grade A
- Population and Demographic Trends
- Social Sectors in India, Health and Education
- Social Justice- Positive Discrimination in favour of the underprivileged
- Indian Agriculture
- Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India
- Rural Banking and Financial Institutions – Reforms in Banking and Financial Sector
- Regional Economic Cooperation
Least Important Topics of ESI Static for NABARD Grade A
- Multiculturalism
- Social Movements
- Human Development
- Industry- Industrial and Labour Policy
Important Note: These topics cover both objective and descriptive sections.
Note: 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.
Most Important Topics of ESI Current Affairs for NABARD Grade A
- Government Schemes related to the syllabus include MGNREGA and NRLM, Ministries like the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Social Justice etc.
- ESI Current Affairs topics like Social Sectors Health, Social Sectors – Education, Social Justice, Sustainable Development and Environmental Issues, Regional Economic Co-operation, International Economic Institutes, Indian Agriculture and Indian Political System.
- Reports like National Education Policy, National Curriculum Framework, Census
Moderately Important Topics of ESI Current Affairs for NABARD Grade A
- Reports: Released by National, International, and Private Organizations related to syllabus other than those mentioned above, like reports released by WTO, IMF, Niti Aayog, FICCI, WHO, etc. For example, the World Malaria Report – WHO, Women Business and Law Index – World Bank, etc.
- ESI Current Affairs topics include Measurement of Growth, Inflation, Industrial Development, and Globalization.
Least Important Topics of ESI Current Affairs for NABARD Grade A
- Government Schemes related to the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Defence, etc.
- Reports like the SRS Statistical Report
Important Note: These topics cover both objective and descriptive sections.
Note: 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.
ARD Syllabus for NABARD Grade A
Following is the ARD syllabus as per the NABARD Grade A notification.
- 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.
- Soil and Water Conservation: Major soil types, soil fertility, fertilisers, soil erosion, soil conservation, watershed management.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Agriculture Extensions: Its importance and role, methods of evaluation of extension programmes, Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s (KVK) in dissemination of Agricultural technologies.
- 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.
- 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.
Here, you can download the NABARD Grade A PYQs from 2023 to 2019.
Important Topics of ARD for NABARD Grade A Phase 2
To help you identify the important topics for ARD, we have done a detailed analysis of PYQs for the last few years. Based on our analysis, here are the most, moderately, and least important ARD topics for the NABARD Grade A Phase 1 and 2 exams:
Most Important Topics of ARD Static for NABARD Grade A 2024
- Soil and Water Conservation
- Animal Husbandry and Plantation Crops
- Plantations and Horticulture Crops
- Agronomy and Field Crops
- Farming System
- Agriculture Extension
- Cropping System and Cropping Pattern
- Forestry
Moderately Important Topics of ARD Static for NABARD Grade A 2024
- Introduction to Agriculture
- Agrometeorology
- Seed and Sowing
- Farm and Agriculture Engineering
- Water Resources and Irrigation Management
- Fisheries
Least Important Topics of ARD Static for NABARD Grade A 2024
- Important Agronomic Practices
- Agriculture Economics
- Ecology and Climate Change
- Rural Development
Important Note: These topics cover both objective and descriptive sections.
*Agriculture Extension is moderately important for Phase 1
Note: 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.
Most Important Topics of ARD Current Affairs for NABARD Grade A
- Government Schemes related to the Syllabus include Schemes like MGNREGA and NRLM, and Ministries like the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ministry of Social Justice etc.
- Reports: Census 2011, Agri Census, Livestock Census, NABARD Annual Report, Reports Released by NABARD, MSP, Advanced Estimates etc.
Moderately Important Topics of ARD Current Affairs for NABARD Grade A
- Agriculture Reports: Reports released by ministries related to agriculture, such as the Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, etc.
Least Important Topics of ARD Current Affairs for NABARD Grade A
- Agriculture Current Affairs related to the syllabus.
Important Note: These topics cover both objective and descriptive sections.
Note: 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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The answer to this question depends on numerous factors, including:
Your educational background.
Strong & weak areas.
Which year you’re targeting?
Which exams have you prepared for, if any?
However, we have created a detailed video to help you prepare for the NABARD Grade A Mains syllabus here: NABARD Grade A Preparation Strategy for Phase 2.
A significant portion of the NABARD Grade A Phase 2 syllabus overlaps with the RBI Grade B Phase 2 syllabus. Phase 2 of both exams includes these subjects: Descriptive English and ESI.
However, the Phase 2 of NABARD features ARD, which is missing in the RBI Grade B Phase 2 exam. RBI Grade B Phase 2 exam has Finance Management (FM), which is missing from the NABARD Phase 2 exam.
To learn about the differences and similarities between the RBI Grade B and NABARD Grade A exam syllabus and pattern in detail, click here: RBI Grade B Vs NABARD Grade A.
While the answer to this question depends on numerous factors like your educational background, knowledge, language preference, and more, NABARD Grade A is generally considered a tough examination.
However, that does not mean the NABARD Grade A exam is not doable. With the right preparation strategy, sources, passion, and consistency, you can improve your chances of clearing the NABARD Grade A 2024 exam.
Here’s an important resource that will help you prepare well for the NABARD Grade A exam: NABARD Grade A 2024 Strategy & Study Plan.
We have curated an in-depth 5-step guide to help you cover the NABARD Grade A syllabus in its entirety: How to Prepare for NABARD Grade A 2024 – 5 Step Strategy. It includes a 9-month plan that allocates ample time for every subject, allowing for more comprehensive preparation.
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