“Be happy, don’t stress. And how would you do that? By having clarity.”
This is the simple, honest advice from Ajay Sain, who comes from a small village in Sikar, Rajasthan, and has cleared the RBI Grade B exam.
His story is not about being a bookworm; it’s about being smart, calm, and very clear in his head.
If you are also someone who feels lost, worried about the future, or scared of the big exam syllabus, Ajay’s journey is like a friendly chat with a senior who understands you. Let’s listen to his story, and maybe you will find the answers you are looking for.
So, let’s start from the very beginning and see where Ajay’s journey began.
Beginning Of His RBI Grade B Journey
Ajay grew up in Sikar, Rajasthan, a place famous for helping students get into IITs. He was a bright student and got into NIT Jaipur for his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering. Like many bright students, he got a good job in a big company right after college.
A good college, a good job… what more could one want? But sometimes, what looks good from the outside doesn’t feel right on the inside.
Ajay was working in a plant where it was always hot, and there were fumes everywhere. He thought to himself, “Is this what I want to do my whole life?”
The work was okay, but the environment was not. He was more interested in the world of finance, which felt exciting and full of opportunities.
So, he made a very brave choice. He decided to leave his well-paying private job and move into banking.
This decision was the 1st step towards his RBI dream. But the journey was not going to be easy.
Initial Hurdles He Faced In His RBI Grade B Journey
Ajay started preparing and even got a job in a Regional Rural Bank. While working there, he gave his 1st attempt at RBI Grade B.
And guess what? He reached the interview stage in his very first try!
But, he couldn’t make it to the final list. He tried again in his 2nd attempt, but that didn’t work out either.
But he didn’t stop. He knew he had the ability, but something was missing.
So, how did Ajay handle this pressure and keep going? His next step is a lesson for all of us.
The Power of Having a Plan B
Many students ask, “Should I leave my job to prepare?” Ajay’s answer is a big lesson. He was already working in a bank while preparing for the RBI. This was his Plan B.
“I used to think that I had a job with me. If nothing worked out, then I have a plan B. It would usually calm me down and again push me forward the very next day.”
Having a job gave him mental peace. The fear of being left with nothing was not there. This calmness helped him focus better on his studies, not on his worries. He didn’t have to worry about family pressure or money. His mind was free to just study.
Now here’s where Ajay really showed what smart preparation looks like, especially while managing a full-time banking job.
RBI Grade B Study Plan While Working a Job
Let’s break down his strategy into simple, easy steps that you can also follow.
His Golden Rule for RBI Prep: Focus on Goals, Not Hours
Ajay was a Branch Manager, so his job was very busy. He never had a fixed timetable. Some days he came home early, some days late.
So what did he do?
He focused on completing daily goals, not counting hours. He knew what topics he had to finish, and he used every little bit of free time he got to study.
This is so much better than forcing yourself to study for 8 hours and not learning anything, right?
“Every single day is different,” he says. So, be flexible with your time but be strict with your goals.
Now, let’s see how he tackled each part of the exam.
How He Prepared for RBI Grade B Phase 1 (QRE & GA)
- For Quant, Reasoning & English (QRE): Ajay was already good at these because of his banking exam preparation. He advises that the RBI exam’s level is as tough as SBI PO Mains, or even tougher. So, he practiced from quizzes and test series one month before the exam to get back in touch with the concepts.
- For General Awareness (GA): This is where he really planned well. He followed EduTap’s marathon sessions for quick and confident revision.
“The monthly PDFs of EduTap’s Current Affairs would help immensely. This year it was particularly useful because schemes were not there and the magazine has helped very much.”
- For PIB & RBI News: He relied on materials from EduTap and other good sources for PIB. For RBI updates, he made it a habit to check the RBI website himself. He also read the ‘Mint’ newspaper daily, not to make notes, but to understand the big picture of the economy.
His approach for Phase 2 was even smarter.
How He Managed RBI Grade B Phase 2
Ajay says his holy book for Phase 2 was the syllabus PDF. He treated every word in the syllabus as a keyword.
He didn’t make lengthy notes. Instead, he collected good PDFs from different sources for each topic.
For revision, he would just look at the syllabus keyword and try to recall everything. If he got stuck, he would go back to that specific PDF.
For descriptive answers, his secret was reading reports from the World Bank, IMF, and RBI, along with the Budget and Economic Survey. This gave him good data and points to write meaningful answers.
And what about revision? He has a special thank you for EduTap’s mind maps.
“Those mind maps have helped me very much because they kind of help in providing a map to your mind that you can utilize in writing your descriptive answers very well.”
After clearing Phase 1 and Phase 2, Ajay faced the challenge that had stopped him before: the Interview.
RBI Grade B Interview: The Final Challenge
For Ajay, the interview was the scariest part. He had failed here before. So this time, he prepared with a clear plan. He divided his preparation into three parts:
- About RBI: Everything he could learn about the Reserve Bank of India.
- About Himself: His engineering background, his previous job, and his work in the bank.
- HR Questions: Why RBI? Why leave banking? Questions about his journey.
This structure gave him a lot of confidence. But things didn’t go smoothly at first.
Ajay felt the interview panel was a bit bored when he entered. The questions started off randomly. It was a scary moment. But Ajay didn’t panic.
This time, he was clear. He knew his boundaries. If a question was outside his preparation area, he politely said, “I do not know about that” or “I will read about it later.”
“You should know what your boundary is. This clarity… gave me the will to push forward.”
He stuck to his plan. When they started asking about his banking experience, he answered confidently.
The interview slowly turned in his favour. At the end, there was even a moment when he made a small joke, and the entire panel, including the chairman, started laughing. He left the room with a good feeling.
Finally, let’s hear Ajay’s simple and straight-from-the-heart advice for you.
Ajay’s Final Message to You
When asked for the secret behind his success, Ajay said just one word: “Clarity.”
“Clarity about everything. Clarity about the syllabus, about how to complete that syllabus, clarity about what this exam asks for.”
Don’t just study blindly. Before you start, understand the exam. Understand yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Know your boundaries. Make a clear plan.
Here’s what you can learn from Ajay’s preparation journey:
- Don’t just collect material. Use the syllabus to guide your studies.
- You don’t always need to make detailed notes. Smart revision from PDFs and mind maps can save a lot of time.
- Focus on understanding concepts, not just memorizing them.
- If you are a working aspirant, focus on daily targets, not the clock.
Ajay’s journey teaches us that success is not about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about being the clearest person. It’s about being calm under pressure and honest with yourself.
So, take a deep breath. Stop worrying about what others are doing. Sit down, look at the syllabus, and create your own clear path. Just like Ajay did.
You can do it too!
