How Many RBI Grade B Vacancies Are Released Yearly?

In the latest RBI Grade B notification, RBI has announced 40 vacancies for the General stream and 60 vacancies in total across General, DEPR, and DSIM streams. 

Understanding RBI Grade B vacancy trends can help you set realistic expectations and assess the opportunities available. Comparing RBI Grade B vacancies with other regulatory body exams can also help you decide which exam to target.

In this article, I’ll analyze RBI Grade B vacancy trends over the years, compare them with those of NABARD Grade A, SEBI Grade A, and IRDAI Grade A, and explore how vacancies can impact cut-offs.

RBI Grade B Vacancy Trends: Last 14 years

Analyzing past RBI Grade B vacancy trends can help set realistic expectations for upcoming recruitment cycles. It also helps you mentally prepare for lower-than-expected vacancies and plan your preparation accordingly. 

Based on the RBI Grade B vacancy trends over the years, several patterns can be observed:

• Between 2013 and 2019, the number of vacancies remained relatively stable, ranging from 98 to 166.
• In 2021, RBI announced a significantly higher number of vacancies, reaching 270, the highest in the past decade.
• After 2021, vacancies steadily declined, falling from 270 in 2021 to 66 in 2024.
• The RBI Grade B 2025 notification brought some relief to aspirants, with vacancies increasing to 83.
• However, the RBI Grade B 2026 notification announced only 40 vacancies for the General stream, the lowest number of General vacancies released in recent years.

Expected Vacancies in RBI Grade B 2027

While it is impossible to predict the exact number of RBI Grade B vacancies, the General (DR) stream may see around 40 to 60 vacancies in the next recruitment cycle. 

Check out our article, Why RBI Grade B Vacancies Are Less?, to understand the possible reasons behind the low vacancy numbers. 

Is the Number of RBI Grade B Vacancies Too Low? Let’s Compare

Let’s compare RBI Grade B vacancy trends with those of other regulatory body exams—NABARD Grade A, SEBI Grade A, and IRDAI Grade A.

RBI Grade B Vacancies Comparison With NABARD Grade A 

Below is a vacancy comparison between RBI Grade B and NABARD Grade A:

Key Findings

• RBI Grade B has generally offered more vacancies than NABARD Grade A over the past decade.
• NABARD Grade A vacancies remained relatively stable, typically ranging between 79 and 161 vacancies.
• RBI Grade B vacancies have been more volatile, fluctuating significantly from year to year.
• In 2024, RBI Grade B vacancies dropped sharply to 66, while NABARD Grade A announced 100 vacancies.
• For 2026, RBI has announced 40 Grade B vacancies, while NABARD Grade A vacancies are yet to be announced.

RBI Grade B Vacancies Comparison With SEBI Grade A

Below is a vacancy comparison of RBI Grade B and SEBI Grade A:

Key Findings

• RBI Grade B generally offers more vacancies than SEBI Grade A whenever both recruitments are conducted in the same year.
• SEBI Grade A does not release vacancies every year, unlike RBI Grade B, which conducts recruitment more regularly.
• In 2020, RBI did not conduct Grade B recruitment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while SEBI Grade A announced 80 vacancies.
• RBI Grade B recorded its highest vacancies in 2021 with 270 vacancies, significantly higher than SEBI’s recent recruitment numbers.
• For 2026, RBI has announced 40 vacancies, while SEBI Grade A vacancies are yet to be announced.

RBI Grade B Vacancies Comparison With IRDAI Grade A

Below is a vacancy comparison of RBI Grade B and IRDAI Grade A:

Key Findings

• RBI Grade B generally offers significantly more vacancies than IRDAI Grade A whenever both recruitments are conducted.
• IRDAI Grade A recruitment is irregular, with vacancies announced only in a few years during the last decade.
• IRDAI Grade A announced 45 vacancies in 2023 and 49 vacancies in 2024, indicating relatively stable recruitment in recent years.
• For 2025, IRDAI Grade A is expected to announce around 40 vacancies, compared to 83 vacancies in RBI Grade B.
• While RBI Grade B usually has more vacancies, IRDAI Grade A can be a valuable additional opportunity for aspirants due to the significant syllabus overlap between the two exams.

Analyzing vacancy trends across different regulatory body exams will help you decide which exam to choose and prioritize. You can set realistic expectations and avoid potential disappointment.

RBI Grade B Vacancy Vs. Cut-Off: Past 7-Year Analysis

This analysis explores the impact of RBI Grade B vacancies on cut-off trends over the past 7 years, highlighting how changes in vacancy numbers have influenced the cut-off marks for each phase of the exam.

*Until 2019, the maximum marks for the final result were 350. However, starting from 2021, the maximum marks have been increased to 375.

Key Takeaways 

There is no direct relationship between the number of vacancies and cut-off marks in RBI Grade B.

• Higher vacancies do not always lead to lower cut-offs, and lower vacancies do not always result in higher cut-offs.
• In 2021, RBI announced its highest number of vacancies (270), yet the Final Cut-Off was 252.25, one of the highest in recent years.
• The highest Phase 1 Cut-Off in this period was recorded in 2019 (122 marks), despite there being 127 vacancies.
• In 2023, the Phase 1 Cut-Off dropped to 54.25, even though 222 vacancies were announced.
• Despite a sharp decline in vacancies to 66 in 2024, the Final Cut-Off (226.75) remained lower than the cut-offs of several years with significantly more vacancies.
• Similarly, in 2025, vacancies increased from 66 to 83, but the Final Cut-Off increased from 226.75 to 230.75.

Vacancies are only one factor influencing cut-offs. Other important factors include:

• Difficulty level of the exam
• Number of candidates appearing
• Number of serious aspirants
• Overall performance of candidates
• Changes in exam pattern or question distribution

Final Thoughts

RBI Grade B vacancies may rise or fall each year, but vacancies alone do not decide your chances of selection. Factors such as exam difficulty, competition, and candidate performance often have a greater impact on the final cut-offs. 

So, instead of worrying about the number of vacancies, focus on building a strong preparation strategy and maximizing your score. 

Also, consider appearing for NABARD Grade A, SEBI Grade A, and IRDAI Grade A, as their syllabi overlap significantly with RBI Grade B, increasing your chances of selection.