Best Books for RBI Grade ‘B’ Officers Exam Preparation

Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s central banking institution every year recruits for Officers in Grade ‘B’ (Direct Recruitment – DR). The number of vacancies can vary according to the requirement in RBI. Selection for this post will be through Examinations and Interview. Examinations will be held in two phases: Online Examination (Objective Type) and Written Examination (Descriptive type). Candidates who had already appeared four times for this post in the past, are not eligible to apply.

Eligibility Required to apply for this post are as below:

Age Limit: Candidates must be between the age of 21 to 30 years at the time of applying. For candidates possessing M.Phil. and Ph.D. qualification, upper age limit will be 31 and 33 years respectively.
Education Qualifications: Candidate must have any one of the below stated qualification to apply for RBI Officers in Grade ‘B’ post.
i) A First Class Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 60% marks or an equivalent grade, in aggregate of all semesters / years.
ii) A Second Class Master’s Degree with minimum of 55% marks or an equivalent grade, in aggregate of all semesters / years.
iii) A Doctorate Degree; with minimum of 50% marks or an equivalent grade, in aggregate of all semesters / years in Master’s Degree.
iv) Chartered/Cost Accountant/Company Secretary (ACS) with a Bachelor’s Degree.
v) A Post Graduate Diploma in Management / MBA qualification from institutions recognized by Government of India / University Grants Commission, with Graduation / Bachelor’s Degree.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Officers in Grade ‘B’ Exam Pattern: Selection will be through Examinations and Interview. Examinations will be held in two phases: Phase-I ON-LINE Examination (Objective Type) and Phase-II Written Examination (Descriptive type).

RBI ON-LINE Examination (Objective Type) Pattern: RBI Phase-I ON-LINE Examination will be Objective Type and consists of the following four tests:

NOTE:– The Phase II Examination will be conducted only for those candidates who are shortlisted for Phase I.
– Candidates have to qualify in each part of the Objective test separately.
– Candidate may accordingly allocate their time to each test within total time of 130 minutes for all the four tests put together.
– Negative Marking: For every wrong answer, 1/4th of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty.

RBI Written Examination (Descriptive type) Pattern: RBI Phase-II Written Examination will be Descriptive type and consists of three papers as following:

NOTE:– Papers of Phase I (except the test of English Language) and Papers II and III of Phase II will be set bilingually in Hindi and English.
– Answers to questions in Paper I in Phase II must be written in English.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Officers in Grade ‘B’ Interview: Candidates will be shortlisted for interview based on the aggregate marks obtained only in Phase II – Papers I, II and III. Candidates may opt for Interview either in Hindi or English. Final selection will be based on the performance of the candidate in Phase-II of the Examination and Interview taken together.

Some of the books which can help candidates to prepare for Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Officers in Grade ‘B’ (Direct Recruitment – DR) Exam or RBI Grade B Officer Exam are suggested as below.

1) Books For RBI Grade ‘B’ Officers Exam (Phase I):

2) Books For RBI Grade ‘B’ Officers Exam (Phase II):

Syllabus for Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Officers in Grade ‘B’ Exam:

(i) Paper I – English: Essay, Précis writing, Comprehension and Business/Office Correspondence.

(ii) Paper II – Economic and Social Issues : Growth and Development – Measurement of growth : National Income and per capita income – Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India – Sustainable Development and Environmental issues. Economic Reforms in India – Industrial and Labour Policy – Monetary and Fiscal Policy – Privatisation – Role of Economic Planning. Globalization – Opening up of the Indian Economy – Balance of Payments, Export- Import Policy – International Economic Institutions – IMF and World Bank – WTO – Regional Economic Co-operation. Social Structure in India – Multiculturalism – Demographic Trends – Urbanisation and Migration – Gender Issues – Social Justice: Positive Discrimination in favour of the under privileged – Social Movements – Indian Political System – Human Development – Social Sectors in India, Health and Education.

(iii) Paper III – Finance and Management:
Finance: The Union Budget – Direct and Indirect taxes; Non-tax sources of revenue; Outlays; New Measures; Financial Sector Reforms; Capital Market, Money Market and Foreign Exchange Market; Stock Exchanges and their Regulation; Capital Market Intermediaries and their Regulation; Role of SEBI; Functions of the Money Market; Growth and Operation of the Money Market; The Foreign Exchange Market; From FERA to FEMA; Exchange Rate Management; Exchange Risk Management; Role of Banks and Financial Institutions in Economic Development; Regulation of Banks and Financial Institutions; Disinvestment in Public Sector Units.

Management: Management: its nature and scope; The Management Processes; Planning, Organisation, Staffing, Directing and Controlling; The Role of a Manager in an Organisation. Leadership: The Tasks of a Leader; Leadership Styles; Leadership Theories; A successful Leader versus an effective Leader. Human Resource Development: Concept of HRD; Goals of HRD; Performance Appraisal – Potential appraisal and development – Feedback and Performance Counseling – Career Planning – Training and Development – Rewards – Employee Welfare. Motivation, Morale and Incentives: Theories of Motivation; How Managers Motivate; Concept of Morale; Factors determining morale; Role of Incentives in Building up Morale. Communication: Steps in the Communication Process; Communication Channels; Oral versus Written Communication; Verbal versus non-verbal Communication; upward, downward and lateral communication; Barriers to Communication, Role of Information Technology. Corporate Governance: Factors affecting Corporate Governance; Mechanisms of Corporate Governance.

We wish our candidates All The Best for the Upcoming Exams and wish them great future ahead!!

Leave a comment below if you can suggest some other good books for this course. Also, if you have used the above books, please do provide a feedback.