Topics Covered: Who is Adarsh Tabhane? His Background and Early Dreams, When real struggle began and a big change happened, How his mindset changed for good, Smart ways of studying and managing time, Facing the exams and interview, What to do when things go unexpectedly, What can you learn from his journey, Support and motivation

We know you dream of clearing government exams, especially tough ones like RBI Grade B. Today, we’re sharing a story that will really inspire you, especially if you’re working and wondering if you can do it too. 

Meet Mr. Adarsh Tabhane, who cleared the prestigious RBI Grade B exam! His journey is full of real-life lessons, just like we face every day. He was working in SBI, just like many of you might be, and he made his dream come true. 

Let’s learn from him, step by step, in simple words, just like your elder brother or sister.

RBI Grade B
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Adarsh’s Background for RBI Grade B Preparation

Adarsh started his journey just like many bright students. He studied engineering, but soon realised his heart wanted something else

He was smart and even cleared the tough CAT exam, getting calls from many top IIMs! But he aimed for a specific few (A, B, C), and when he didn’t get them, he didn’t join because he wanted more. 

Then, life took a turn. 

When COVID-19 hit, jobs were tough. His family, like many of our families, told him, 

“Beta, sarkari naukri mil gayi hai, join kar lo.” 

So, he joined the State Bank of India (SBI) as a manager. It was a good job, a stable job, and his family was happy. 

Sometimes, we do things for our family’s happiness, right? This shows us that life can take many paths before you find your true calling.

The journey was not a straight road. It was only after a few tough turns that his real struggle and transformation began.

Early Career at SBI and RBI Grade B Aspirations

Adarsh enjoyed his first year in SBI in Pune. But then came his rural posting. Imagine, going to a village branch, seeing pigs roaming outside your office, and thinking, “Can I really spend my whole life here?” It was a big shock for him. He told us, 

“Sir, woh panchayat ka scene hota hai na, samne pani ke tanke aur uske niche pigs ghumte rehte hain, same scene mere samne tha… Maine us time par soch liya ki sir, nahi aise zindagi nikal sakti gaon mein.” 

This moment, this feeling of “I don’t want this,” became his biggest push.

This was his “waking-up call”. He decided then and there that he needed to move to a central bank, a regulatory post, like the RBI. 

That decision marked a turning point in his journey, shaping a mindset that would guide him toward bigger goals.

RBI Grade B
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Mindset Shift for RBI Grade B Success

Once Adarsh decided he needed RBI, there was no looking back. He even put an RBI wallpaper on his phone! One day, his manager saw it and teased him, 

“Bhai, tune wallpaper to laga rakha hai, par tu sach mein padhai kar raha hai ya bas wallpaper laga rakha hai? Inse nahi nikalte hain exams.” 

Ouch! That must have hurt, right?

But instead of getting sad, Adarsh took it as a challenge. He told his manager, 

“Sir, result ke din baat karenge.” 

And guess what? On the result day, he called that same manager and proudly said, 

“Sir, ho gaya aapke ladke ka RBI Grade B.” 

That’s how you turn a challenge into a win! This shows us that sometimes, a little push, even if it feels bad at first, can give us the strength we need to work harder.

And with that new energy, he started looking at his studies differently, finding smarter ways to manage time and effort.

RBI Grade B
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RBI Grade B Study Plan and Time Management Tips

Adarsh was a working professional, and we all know how tough it is to manage a job and study. But he made a super smart plan. 

He made sure no day went by without studying, even if it was for a short time. He used to wake up early, sometimes at 5 AM, to get his study done. He said, 

“Sir, subah 5 – 9 mera yahi tha ki main Phase 2 ke liye padh liya karta tha.”

Here’s how he managed his time:

Early Morning Study (5 AM – 9 AM): He dedicated these fresh hours to Phase 2 subjects — Finance & Management, and ESI. To avoid monotony, he switched subjects daily, which kept him motivated and focused.

Evening Practice (7:30 PM – 9 PM): After office, he shifted gears to Phase 1 preparation, especially Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning. Since his basics were strong from his SBI days, he concentrated purely on practice.

The “No Break” Rule: This was his golden principle. Even after tiring office hours, he made sure to study for at least a few minutes. That consistency built his momentum.

“Sir, maine kisi bhi din maine break aane nahi diya… kam se kam agar 10 minute to 10 minute main padh hi leta tha.” 

Weekend Power Boost: Saturdays and Sundays became his intensive study days — almost 10 hours! He used weekends to focus deeply on Phase 2 subjects and also practiced typing to stay exam-ready.

He also shared a great tip for descriptive writing. He started practicing it *after* completing his syllabus. But he advises *you* to start early, saying, 

“Descriptive ke liye pehle se hi practice karna chalu kar dijiye kyunki yeh aap daily nahi karte ho to sir yeh ekdam se nahi aayegi.” 

This is so true! Typing speed is also very important for RBI exams.

And just when he had built this strong routine, the real test arrived, the exam and interview stage, where unexpected situations can easily shake your confidence.

RBI Grade B
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Facing RBI Grade B Exam: Phase 1 and 2 Strategy

Adarsh faced the Phase 1 exam, and it had some surprises! There were very few government scheme questions, which many students had prepared a lot for. The GA section was tough. But Adarsh didn’t panic.

“Sir, you never know sir, RBI apne paper mein kab kaun se yeh cheez ko zyada focus kar de aur kab kisi cheez ko hata de.”

His strategy was: look at all 80 questions in 25 minutes. Don’t read the whole question, just the main points, and mark what you know. This way, you don’t miss easy questions at the end. For mock tests, he said, don’t just look at scores

“Sir, mera khud ka hi number bataunga, sir maine jo pehle paanch mock test lagaye the na, sir mera Quant par kuch bhi nahi ban raha tha.” 

He used mocks to learn *how* to attempt, to build a strategy for tough sections like Quant.

Then came Phase 2, and another shocker: ESI was full of reports, with almost no schemes! Again, Adarsh kept his cool.

“Sir, paper to sabke liye saroon ke liye ek hi aaya aur jo aapne padh rakha hai na, sir wahi saroon ne padh rakha hai.” 

Everyone was surprised, not just him. His advice: stay calm, trust your overall knowledge. Sometimes, a little bit of smart guessing and intuition also helps.

RBI Grade B Detailed Application Form (DAF) Tips

For the interview, Adarsh filled his Detailed Application Form (DAF) very carefully. He even mentioned his hobby: writing fantasy cricket articles! 

Guess what? His interview started with five minutes of discussing cricket! The chairman even joked, 

“Yaar, abhi bahut cricket ho gaya, agar cricket par hi baat karte hain to pura din cricket mein nikal jayega.” 

This shows how your DAF can set the tone.

Mock Interviews and RBI Grade B Final Interview Preparation

During his EduTap mock interview, our mentors pointed out two key things: his eye contact and some questions about NPAs (Non-Performing Assets, which he handled in his job). 

He worked hard on these. He practiced eye contact by recording himself and studied all RBI circulars on NPAs. In his final interview, he had a 15-minute discussion on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) because it was related to his job and current affairs. He realised that interviews are about your personality and opinions.

RBI Grade B
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What You Can Do to Prepare for RBI Grade B

  • Wake up early and use the quiet hours for the toughest subjects.
  • Stay consistent. Even 10 minutes of study is better than none.
  • Start practicing descriptive answers and typing early, because these skills take time to build.
  • Use weekends wisely for extra study and revision.
  • Be ready for surprises in exams; don’t panic when things go differently.
  • Take mock tests for strategy, not just for scores.
  • Fill your DAF carefully, mentioning things you can confidently talk about.
  • Read newspapers and current events to build your own opinions.
RBI Grade B
Free E-Book
  • Eligibility
  • Pattern
  • Syllabus
  • Solved PYQs
  • Strategy

Support and Motivation for RBI Grade B Aspirants

Adarsh’s journey shows us that support comes in many forms. His family’s advice to join SBI gave him a start, and EduTap’s interview guidance helped him fine-tune his skills, like eye contact and preparing for tough questions.

For working professionals, Adarsh has a clear message: 

“Sir, disciplined rahiye aur consistency rakhiye… chahe phir woh aapka job ho ya phir padhai.” 

Don’t let your job suffer, because it will be discussed in the interview. At the same time, don’t neglect your studies.

“Working candidates se kuch zyada expectations hoti hai members ki.” 

So, build your knowledge, form opinions, and be ready to talk about anything.

His story proves you don’t need to quit your job to achieve your dream. With a strong will, a smart plan, and discipline, your dream destination, just like RBI was for Adarsh, is waiting for you.