This is the story of Sanjiv Kumar, a boy from a tiny district in Bihar, who did something amazing. He cleared not one, but two of India’s toughest exams in the same year – RBI Grade B and SEBI Grade A. His journey is full of small struggles, big lessons, and a simple, strong will.
“Last year, I missed by just 1.5 marks. This year, with the same marks, I cleared the exam. Sometimes, you just have to keep trying without losing hope.”
We will walk with Sanjiv and learn how a simple boy with a simple dream reached the top. This is not just a story; it’s a friendly guide for your own journey.
Let’s begin from where it all started, in his small village.
Sanjiv’s Background & Big Dreams
Sanjiv comes from Shekhpura, the smallest district in Bihar. He studied in a Hindi medium school. In his village, the biggest dream for any child was just one thing: “padh likh ke naukri lena hai” (study hard and get a government job). Any government job was a big deal.
Sanjiv’s parents were his biggest strength. They saw that the village environment might not be the best for studies. Kids would often play all day and not focus on books.
His parents made a big sacrifice. They sent him and his brothers to a small hostel just 5 kilometers away so they could focus on their studies. They didn’t have a lot of money, but they put every single rupee into their children’s education. They never bought anything for themselves, just to make sure their kids could study well.
This sacrifice was the biggest motivation for Sanjiv. He knew he had to do something big for them.
“My parents gave me a chance to study, so I must get the best job in India for them.”
But the path from a small village to a big city office is never easy. Sanjiv was about to face his first big challenge.
Overcoming English Struggles in the RBI Grade B Journey
When Sanjiv went to college for his B.Tech, he faced a new world. Everyone spoke in English, but he had studied everything in Hindi. He didn’t even know the simple English words for things he knew in Hindi.
He shares a small story that changed him forever.
“One day in college, someone said the word ‘cultivation.’ I had only read ‘kheti’ in my Hindi books. So, I innocently asked what it meant. Everyone in the room laughed at me.”
Sanjiv felt very small that day. But he didn’t get sad. He got determined.
From that day on, he decided he would master English. He started reading books like Word Power Made Easy, tried to read newspapers, and asked seniors for help. He knew that to get any good job, he had to cross this wall.
His hard work on English was starting to pay off, but life had another surprise waiting for him.
Life’s Setbacks and the Turning Point in RBI Grade B Preparation
During his college placements, Sanjiv got a huge confidence boost. A big company selected only three students out of 240, and Sanjiv was one of them! For the first time, he felt, “Wow, I can beat anyone if I work hard.”
He was so happy. He had an education loan and he made a full plan in his diary: “I will earn 30,000, give 10,000 to the bank, and keep 20,000 for myself.”
But one month later, he received an email from the company. It said, “We cannot give you the job anymore.”
Just like that, his dream was gone. It was a huge setback.
This was a very dark time for Sanjiv. He went back home and for two months, he felt like he had no future. But then, the fighter inside him woke up again. For the next 2 months, he locked himself in a room with just a laptop, a phone, and a notebook.
From 5 in the morning to 6 in the evening, he just practiced Quant and English.
“If you waste even one hour, 10,000 other students will get ahead of you.”
That 2 months of hard work built a foundation so strong that it helped him crack every exam later in his life.
That hard work soon got him a good job as a GST Inspector. But for Sanjiv, this was just a stop, not the destination.
Why Sanjiv’s Zid (Determination) Made RBI Grade B His Only Goal
Sanjiv got a respected job as a GST Inspector. Many people would have settled there. It’s a good post with a good salary. But Sanjiv’s dream was bigger.
He had a “zid” – a stubborn determination – to get into India’s best organizations.
He knew that in his current job, promotions were slow. But in places like RBI, the growth is very fast, and the salary is much higher. More than that, it was about fulfilling the promise he made to himself and his parents – to get the best job possible.
So, even while working in Mumbai, his mind was always on RBI. He decided to prepare for it, no matter how hard it was.
But how do you study with a full-time job? Let’s see how Sanjiv managed it.
Managing RBI Grade B Preparation with a Full-Time Job
Studying with a job is very difficult. Sanjiv first tried to wake up early and study in the morning. But it didn’t work for him. He would feel sleepy and miss his targets most days.
So, he changed his plan.
“I will not depend on the morning. I will study at night, even if it’s till 4 or 5 AM. I will complete my daily target, no matter what.”
This target-based approach worked for him.
Another thing that helped him was his supportive boss. He told his bosses about his RBI dream, and they were very supportive. They gave him 15 days of leave before the Mains exam and 5 days before the interview. Having supportive people around you is a big blessing.
Now, let’s get into the details of his study plan.
Sanjiv’s RBI Grade B Study Plan: ESI, FM, English
Here is a step-by-step look at his strategy for each subject.
Finance and Management (FM)
For the basic concepts of Finance and Management, Sanjiv completely relied on EduTap’s course materials. He preferred watching the video lectures because reading summary sheets felt boring to him sometimes. For descriptive answers, he didn’t write and practice much. Instead, he made mind maps for important topics and used ChatGPT to find real-life examples to add to his answers.
Smart ESI Strategy for RBI Grade B Preparation
This is how he managed this vast subject.
Sanjiv had already built a good base in Economics during his UPSC preparation. For RBI, he mapped the topics from the syllabus and studied only what was needed. For the most important parts – Schemes and Reports – he followed a simple routine:
- He watched EduTap’s scheme videos and made his own notes for about 100-110 schemes.
- He read the PIB magazine thoroughly, which helped him in both objective and subjective answers.
The Secret to Scoring in the RBI Grade B English Paper
Last year, Sanjiv got only 54 marks in English because he didn’t complete the word limit in the essay. This year, he corrected that mistake. He made sure to follow every instruction and wrote a full 595-word essay. This simple change increased his score to 62 and helped him clear the cutoff!
Notes, Revision, and Long-Term Planning for RBI Grade B
Sanjiv always prepared with a 2-3 year plan in mind. He made detailed notes, leaving space to add new information for the next year if he didn’t clear. This meant that for his second attempt, he didn’t have to start from zero. He just had to revise his own notes and update the current affairs.
After all the hard work, it was time for the final test.
Facing the RBI Grade B Interview with Confidence
Even though he came from a Hindi medium background, Sanjiv chose to give his RBI interview in English.
Why?
He wanted to prove to himself and to the panel that he could communicate confidently. He said, “I spoke broken English, but I spoke for the entire 25 minutes.”
He got 42 marks, which is a very good score. His main strategy was not to act like a student but like a professional who was switching jobs. This showed maturity and confidence. The lesson here is simple: it’s not about perfect English, it’s about clear and confident communication.
Now, let’s hear some final tips directly from Sanjiv.
RBI Grade B Tips from Sanjiv Kumar: Lessons from the Journey
- Make Small Promises to Yourself: Sanjiv promised himself he would buy an iPhone after he cleared the exam. He even told his friends, “If I get selected, I will forgive your loan.” These small, fun promises can keep you motivated.
- Think Long-Term: Don’t think you have to clear the exam in one attempt. Give yourself a 2-3 year horizon. This reduces pressure and helps you prepare better.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help: Sanjiv mentioned how he would contact the EduTap team for doubts or one-on-one sessions, and they always helped. Never hesitate to ask for support.
- Build Your Base: Just like Sanjiv spent 2 months mastering Quant and English, find your weak areas and work on them until they become your strength.
Sanjiv’s journey shows that it doesn’t matter where you come from. It doesn’t matter if you speak perfect English or not. What matters is your “zid” and your willingness to work hard.
What Every Aspirant Can Learn from Sanjiv’s RBI Grade B Success
Reading Sanjiv’s story might make you feel inspired, but inspiration is only useful if you act on it. Right now, you might be feeling worried, confused, or scared about the exam. That’s completely okay. Every single successful person has felt that way.
Sanjiv’s story teaches us that the journey is not a straight line. You may miss by a few marks, you may face setbacks, you may feel like giving up. But if you hold on, if you keep learning from your mistakes, and if you have a strong reason to fight, you will get there.
Just like Sanjiv, find your “zid.” What is your reason for wanting this job? Is it for your parents? Is it for your own self-respect? Write it down and look at it every single day.
Your dream is waiting for you. Go get it.
