NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern 2026: Phase 1, 2, & Interview

The NABARD Grade A exam consists of 3 stages: Phase 1, Phase 2, and the Interview, where Phase 1 is qualifying in nature, and your final selection is based on the marks obtained in Phase 2 and the Interview.

Understanding the NABARD Grade A exam pattern will help you know the subjects, marking scheme, exam duration, number of papers, exam mode, and selection process.

Let’s now break down the NABARD Grade A exam pattern and syllabus stage by stage to make everything easy to understand.

NABARD Grade A Pattern 2026

According to the NABARD Grade A notification, the selection procedure of this exam is divided into 3 phases, including:

• Phase 1 (Preliminary)
• Phase 2 (Mains)
• Phase 3 (Interview)

In this article, I will discuss all the three phases in detail.

Let’s begin by understanding the NABARD Grade A exam pattern for Phase 1.

NABARD Grade A Phase 1 Exam Pattern

Have a look at the simplified breakdown of the NABARD Assistant Manager exam pattern for Phase 1 below.

Subjects

The NABARD Grade A Phase 1 consists of a single exam comprising of the following 8 subjects:

1. Reasoning Ability
2. English
3. Computer Knowledge
4. Quantitative Aptitude
5. Decision Making
6. General Awareness
7. Economic and Social Issues
8. Agriculture and Rural Development

These 8 subjects fall under 2 categories:

• Non-Merit Subjects: Subjects 1 to 5 in the above list fall under this category. For the non-merit subjects, you need to clear the minimum cut-off for every subject.

• Merit Subjects: Subjects 6 to 8 in the above list come under this category. For the merit subjects, in addition to clearing the minimum cut-off for every subject, the total marks you score in these subjects must be more than the overall cut-off.

Understanding how many questions, marks, and time are assigned for each section is crucial to create a focused and effective NABARD Grade A preparation strategy.

Questions

I have shared below the number of questions in each subject for the NABARD Grade A Phase 1 exam:

1. Reasoning: 20 questions
2. English: 30 questions
3. Computer Knowledge: 20 questions
4. Quantitative Aptitude: 20 questions
5. Decision Making: 10 questions
6. General Awareness: 20 questions
7. Economic and Social Issues: 40 questions
8. Agriculture and Rural Development 40 questions

In total, there are 200 questions in the NABARD Grade A Phase 1 paper.

Maximum Marks

Like the number of questions shared above, here are the maximum marks for each subject:

1. Reasoning: 20 marks
2. English: 30 marks
3. Computer Knowledge: 20 marks
4. Quantitative Aptitude: 20 marks
5. Decision Making: 10 marks
6. General Awareness: 20 marks
7. Economic and Social Issues: 40 marks
8. Agriculture and Rural Development 40 marks

The maximum marks for the NABARD Grade A Phase 1 exam are 200, where each question carries 1 mark.

Duration

As far as the time duration is concerned, there is no section-wise time limit in the NABARD Grade A Phase 1 exam. You get a total of 120 minutes to answer all questions. 

To understand the information discussed above in a better manner, let’s look at the tabular representation given below of the NABARD Assistant Manager exam pattern for Phase 1:

Additional Details of NABARD Grade A Phase1 Pattern 2026

I hope you now have clarity about the number of subjects, the number of questions, the maximum marks, and the duration of the NABARD Grade A exam. Here I am sharing some additional facts about the NABARD Assistant Manager exam pattern that you must be aware of.

Mode

• The NABARD Grade A Phase 1 exam is conducted online via a computer screen and is objective in nature.
• You have to choose the right option out of the five available for every question.

Paper Structure

• The NABARD Grade A Prelims exam consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions (MCQs).

Nature

• The NABARD Grade A exam is qualifying in nature.

Paper Language

• The NABARD Grade A exam is available in two languages—Hindi and English.
• However, the English Language paper can only be taken in English.

Marking Scheme

• NABARD Grade A Phase 1 exam involves negative marking, i.e., 1/4^th or 0.25 marks will be deducted for every incorrect choice you make.
• There is no penalty for unanswered questions.

Cut-Off Marks

• The overall and sectional cut-off marks are decided based on the calling ratio. 

I’ve summarized all of this information in the table below to help you visualize it better.

hWhat Is the NABARD Grade A Prelims-to-Mains Selection Ratio?

NABARD generally shortlists candidates for Phase 2 in the ratio of approximately 1:25 (25 candidates for every vacancy), subject to the recruitment notification.

NABARD Grade A Phase 2 Exam Pattern 2026

The next step after clearing the Phase 1 exam is to prepare for the NABARD Grade A Phase 2 exam (mains).

Let us now understand the NABARD Grade A Phase 2 exam pattern with the help of this simplified breakdown shared below:

Subjects

The NABARD Grade A Phase 2 exam comprises of the following subjects:

• Paper 1: General English
• Paper 2: ESI & ARD

Number of Questions

To give you an overview, here are the number of questions in each subject of the NABARD Grade A Phase 2 exam:

• Paper 1 (General English): 3 descriptive questions
• Paper 2 (ESI & ARD): 30 objective and 6 descriptive questions, out of which 4 have to be attempted

Maximum Marks

Here are the maximum marks for each subject:

• Paper 1 (General English): 100 marks
• Paper 2 (ESI & ARD): 100 marks

The NABARD Grade A Phase 2 is worth 200 marks.

Duration

The total time allotted for Phase 2 of the NABARD Grade A exam is 210 minutes.

• Paper 1 (General English): 90 minutes
• Paper 2 (ESI & ARD): 120 minutes (30 minutes for objective questions and 90 minutes for descriptive questions)

Here’s a tabular representation of all the information given above:

Additional Details of the NABARD Grade A Phase 2 Pattern 2026

Let’s get to know a few additional facts about the NABARD Grade A Phase 2 exam pattern:

Mode

• The NABARD Grade A Phase 2 exam is conducted online.
• You can answer the objective questions by selecting the right options on your computer screens.
• For the descriptive questions, you have to type the answers using the keyboard.  

Paper Structure

• NABARD Grade A Phase 2 exam includes both objective-type MCQs and descriptive questions.

Paper Language

• The NABARD Grade A Phase 2 exam is available in 2 languages, Hindi and English.
  • The English Language exam can only be taken in English.

Total Questions

• There are 39 questions for the NABARD Grade A Mains examination. Here’s a breakdown:
  • Paper 1 (General English): 3 questions
  • Paper 2 (ESI & ARD): 36 (30 objective questions and 6 descriptive questions out of which 4 need to be attempted)

*While there are 39 questions in total, a candidate can attempt 37 questions only.

Cut-Off Marks

• Cut-off marks are decided based on the calling ratio.

Marking Scheme

• For every wrong answer you mark in the objective part, 1/4th of the total allotted marks per question will be deducted. This means that there will be a deduction of:
  • 0.25 marks for questions worth 1 mark.
  • 0.50 for questions worth 2 marks.

What Is the NABARD Grade A Mains-to-Interview Selection Ratio?

NABARD generally calls candidates for the interview in the ratio of approximately 1:3 (3 candidates for every vacancy), subject to the recruitment notification.

NABARD Grade A Interview Pattern 2026

Candidates who manage to clear Phase 2 of the NABARD Grade A exam are called for a psychometric test. After this test, the candidates will be called for an interview, which is the final step.

NABARD Grade A Pattern of Psychometric Test

• Mode: The psychometric test is online. You can complete it from the comfort of your home.
• Language Options: You can take the test in English or any of the 9 other Indian languages you’re proficient in.
• Number of Questions: Expect 100-120 questions to assess your personality and behavioral traits.
• Marks: No marks are allotted for the psychometric test.
• Time Duration: Usually, the test should take 15 to 20 minutes. While there’s no time limit to complete the test, the system tracks your completion time, and this information will be included in the report.

Important Notes:

• The psychometric test is mandatory for candidates shortlisted for the interview.
• NABARD sends the test link to your registered email ID.
• The test is not qualifying in nature and does not carry any marks.
• It cannot be retaken once submitted.
• The test report is shared with the interview panel.
• There is no syllabus and no right or wrong answers.
  • Answer the questions honestly and consistently.

NABARD Grade A Pattern of Interview

• Mode: The interview is conducted in person at various exam centers.
• Language Options: You can take the interview in Hindi or English, depending on your preference.
• Number of Questions: The number of questions varies depending on the panel.
• Marks: The interview carries a weightage of 50 marks.
• Time Duration: The interview typically lasts between 20 and 45 minutes. 

The interview panel may ask questions on:

• Your educational background, graduation subject, specialization, and academic projects.
• Current affairs, especially related to the economy, agriculture, rural development, banking, and NABARD.
• NABARD’s functions, schemes, and the banking and financial sector.
• Your work experience, if applicable, including your roles, responsibilities, and key learnings.

The official notification does not specify any minimum qualifying marks for the interview.

Final Selection as NABARD Grade A Officer

The final selection is based on the aggregate marks obtained in Phase 2 (Paper I and II) and the interview.

Weightage of Phase 2 and the Interview in NABARD Grade A

The final merit list is prepared out of 250 marks:

• Phase 2: 200 marks
• Interview: 50 marks

Important Note: Phase 1 is qualifying in nature, and its marks are not included in the final merit list.

Here you can find out the detailed NABARD Grade A salary, including in-hand salary, CTC, allowances, and perks.

Changes in NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern

Let’s talk about the changes that have taken place in the NABARD Grade A exam pattern:

NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern: Changes in Phase 1

Changes in the NABARD Grade A phase 1 pattern were last seen in 2021. 

Before 2021

There were 7 subjects in the phase 1 exam as follows:

1. Quantitative Aptitude (20 marks) 
2. Reasoning (20 marks) 
3. English (40 marks) 
4. Computer Knowledge (20 marks) 
5. General Awareness (20 marks) 
6. ESI (40 marks) 
7. ARD (40 marks) 

• The weightage of the English section was 40 marks
• The subjects were not divided into merit and non merit sections.
• There were 200 questions worth 200 marks in Phase 1
• The overall cut-off was calculated out of 200 marks.

2021 Onwards

• The weightage of English was reduced from 40 to 30 marks.
• A new subject namely Decision making, worth 10 marks, was added, taking the tally to 8 subjects as listed below:

1. Reasoning (20 marks)
2. English (30 marks)
3. Computer Knowledge (20 marks)
4. Quantitative Aptitude (20 marks)
5. Decision Making (10 marks)
6. General Awareness (20 marks)
7. ESI (40 marks)
8. ARD (40 marks)

• Subjects in Phase 1 were now divided into two sections: merit and non-merit.
• Also, the overall cut-off is now calculated out of 100 marks comprising ESI, ARD, and GA.

NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern: Changes in Phase 2

There was a small modification made in the NABARD Grade A Phase 2 exam pattern in 2021.

Before 2021

• Paper 2 (ESI & ARD) of the NABARD Phase 2 exam used to include objective-type questions only.

Starting 2021

• The paper of ESI & ARD of the Phase 2 exam, now includes both objective (50%) and subjective (50%) questions.

NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern: Changes in Interview

Phase 3, or the Interview part of the NABARD Grade A exam pattern, also underwent some changes.

Till 2021

• The interview was worth 25 marks.

In 2021

• The marks were increased to 50.

In 2023

• NABARD also introduced a psychometric test before the interview.

NABARD Grade A Exam Comparison with Other Competitive Exams

Below, I have shared the exam pattern of NABARD Grade A with the exam pattern of other competitive exams:

NABARD Grade A Vs RBI Grade B Exam Pattern

NABARD Grade A Vs SEBI Grade A Exam Pattern

NABARD Grade A Vs IRDAI Grade A Exam Pattern

NABARD Grade A Syllabus

Below, I have mentioned the NABARD Grade A syllabus for Phase 1 and Phase 2.

NABARD Grade A Syllabus: Phase 1

The official NABARD Grade A notification does not mention the syllabus topics for phase 1 except ESI and ARD. We have analyzed the NABARD Grade A previous years question paper (PYQs) of the NABARD assistant manager exam to list down the topics of the remaining subjects of Phase 1.

NABARD Grade A Syllabus for Reasoning 

Here is the NABARD Grade A syllabus for reasoning:

• Alphanumeric Series 
• Coding and Decoding 
• Syllogism 
• Direction Sense 
• Inequality 
• Ranking and Order 
• Blood Relation 
• Puzzles and Sitting Arrangement 
• Input-Output 
• Questions based on Statements 
• Questions based on Data Sufficiency

NABARD Grade A Syllabus for Quant

Here is the NABARD Grade A syllabus for Quant:

• Ratio and Proportion 
• Percentage 
• Profit and Loss 
• Simple and Compound Interest 
• Average and Age 
• Time and Work 
• Pipes and Cistern 
• Time and Distance 
• Mixture and Alligation 
• Series and Quadratic Equation 
• Mathematical Inequalities 
• Number Series
• Data Interpretation 
• Simplification/Approximation
• Quantity Comparisons

NABARD Grade A Syllabus for English 

Here is the NABARD Grade A syllabus for English:

• Reading Comprehension
• Sentence Rearrangement
• Cloze Test
• Para Jumbles
• Double Fillers
• Error Detection and Sentence Improvement
• Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word Substitution, Phrasal verbs)

NABARD Grade A Syllabus for General Awareness (GA)

Here is the NABARD Grade A syllabus for GA:

Syllabus for GA Current Affairs

• Current affairs of the preceding 6 months from the date of examination 
• National News: MoUs, summits, and major events related to India. 
• International: Summits and conferences held abroad. 
• Defence: Military exercises, drills, and major updates related to the defence sector of India. 
• Days in News: Major events or days, along with its date, and theme. 
• Persons in News: Obituaries, appointments, retirements
• Sports: Major tournaments and their winners. 
• Science, Technology, and Space 
• Awards and Honours 
• Environment
• Banking, Economy, and Schemes 
• Books and Authors

Syllabus for GA Static

• 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

NABARD Grade A Syllabus for Decision Making

Here is the NABARD Grade A syllabus 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

NABARD Grade A Syllabus for Computer Knowledge

Here is the NABARD Grade A syllabus for Computer Knowledge:

• Computer Awareness 
• Hardware and Memory 
• Software and Operating Systems 
• MS Office 
• Database Management System 
• Internet and Computer Security 
• History and Computer & Generations 
• Shortcuts

NABARD Grade A Syllabus for Economics and Social Issues

Here is the NABARD Grade A syllabus for ESI:

• Nature of Indian Economy
• Inflation
• Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India
• Population Trends
• Agriculture
• Industry
• Rural Banking and Financial Institutions in India
• Globalisation of Economy
• Social Structure in India
• Education
• Social Justice
• Social Movements
• Indian Political Systems
• Human Development
• Current Economic and Social Issues

NABARD Grade A Syllabus for Agriculture and Rural Development

Here is the NABARD Grade A syllabus for ARD:

• Agriculture
• Agronomy
• Cropping Systems
• Seed production
• Meteorology
• Farming System
• Soil and Water Conservation
• Water Resource
• Farm and Agri Engineering
• Plantation & Horticulture
• Animal Husbandry
• Fisheries
• Forestry
• Agriculture Extensions
• Ecology and Climate Change
• Present Scenario of Indian Agriculture and Allied Activities
• Rural Development
• Rural Population in India

Important Note: The syllabus for ESI and ARD is the same for Phases 1 and 2.

NABARD Grade A Syllabus: Phase 2

After getting an overview of the Phase 1 syllabus, I want you to look at the phase 2 Syllabus.

Here’s the NABARD Grade A syllabus for phase 2 paper 1:

NABARD Grade A Syllabus: Descriptive English

Generally, 3 questions are asked from the following topics:

• Essay
• Precis writing
• Comprehension 

NABARD Grade A Syllabus: ESI & ARD

As previously mentioned, the syllabus for Paper 2 is the same as the syllabus for ESI & ARD in Phase 1.

Here you can find the previous NABARD Grade A cut off of the past 5 years.

Conclusion

Now that you have detailed information about the NABARD Grade A exam pattern and a brief overview of the syllabus, you can:

• Create a strategic study plan:
  • Select the right study material
  • Focus on high-weightage sections
• Tweak your existing preparation strategy based on the updates.
• Increase the chances of your success.