Build a career as a NABARD Grade A
Become an officer at India's apex rural-development bank, shaping agriculture and rural finance nationwide.
Know the NABARD Grade A before you start
102 (2024 cycle; +8 PwBD backlog)
Vacancies / Year
General (RDBS) + Agriculture, Finance, IT, Legal, Civil Engg., Rajbhasha
Streams
3 (Prelims + Mains + Interview)
Exam Phases
~₹1,00,000–1,20,000/month gross (CTC ~₹18 LPA)
Starting Salary
Roles & salary as you grow
The NABARD Grade A opens an entry role that promotes upward — here's the ladder and what each rung pays.
Stage 1
Assistant Manager (Grade A / RDBS)
~₹1,00,000–1,20,000/month gross (basic ₹44,500)
Entry officer: project appraisal, refinance sanctioning, agricultural credit monitoring, and district/regional development work.
Stage 2
Manager (Grade B)
~₹1,30,000–1,50,000/month gross
First promotion (~3–5 years): supervisory oversight of schemes, credit planning and departmental functions.
Stage 3
AGM (Grade C) → DGM (Grade D)
~₹1,60,000–2,20,000+/month gross
Mid-senior management: divisional oversight, state-level policy execution and leadership of development programmes.
Stage 4
General Manager / Chief General Manager
₹2.5 L+/month gross
Top leadership: national policy formulation, regional headship and strategic direction of rural-finance mandates.
*Indicative ranges from public data; actual pay varies by employer, city and cycle.
Are you eligible?
Education
General (RDBS): Bachelor's with min 60% (55% SC/ST/PwBD), or PG/MBA with 55%, or CA/CS/CMA/PhD. Specialist streams require the relevant discipline degree at the same thresholds.
Age
21–30 years. Relaxations: SC/ST +5, OBC +3, PwBD +10, plus ex-servicemen.
Nationality
Indian citizen (or Nepal/Bhutan subject, Tibetan refugee pre-1962, PIO from specified countries).
How the NABARD Grade A is structured
Three stages. Phase I (Preliminary) is a 200-mark online objective test, purely qualifying - its marks do not count toward final merit. Phase II (Mains) is a 200-mark online exam with objective + descriptive papers and is merit-deciding, followed by a Psychometric Test and Interview. Final merit = Phase II (200) + Interview (50), weighted 80:20.
Phase I - Preliminary (qualifying)
Phase II - Paper I: General English (descriptive)
Phase II - Paper II: ESI & ARD
Phase III - Psychometric Test + Interview
What you'll study
menu_bookReasoning
menu_bookEnglish Language
menu_bookQuantitative Aptitude
menu_bookGeneral Awareness
menu_bookEconomic & Social Issues (ESI)
menu_bookAgriculture & Rural Development (ARD)
How to crack the NABARD Grade A
Apply online
Register on nabard.org during the application window, fill the form, upload documents, pay the fee (₹800 general / ₹150 SC-ST-PwBD), and choose your discipline.
Clear Phase I (Prelims)
Sit the 200-mark, 120-minute online objective test. Clear the sectional and overall cut-offs - it is qualifying only; roughly 25× the vacancies are shortlisted.
Clear Phase II (Mains)
Attempt Paper I (General English, descriptive) and Paper II (ESI & ARD or stream paper). These 200 marks are merit-deciding.
Psychometric Test & Interview
Complete the non-scoring psychometric test, then attend the 50-mark personal interview at a NABARD centre.
Final Merit List
Ranking is on Phase II (200) + Interview (50) = 250 marks (80:20), stream-wise and category-wise.
Document Verification & Joining
Selected candidates undergo document verification and medical fitness, then join as Assistant Manager (Grade A).
The NABARD Grade A cycle
27 July 2024
27 July – 15 August 2024
September 2024
October 2024
November 2024
Early 2025
Prep for NABARD Grade A with PrepClever
Launching 2026. Join the waitlist for early access, free mock tests, and a personalised study plan.
See the full NABARD Grade A guide arrow_forwardNABARD Grade A — common questions
What is the eligibility for NABARD Grade A?
A Bachelor's degree with min 60% (55% for SC/ST/PwBD), or a relevant PG/professional qualification, plus age 21–30 (with relaxations). Specialist streams need the matching discipline degree.
What is the starting salary of a NABARD Grade A officer?
Basic pay is ₹44,500/month; gross monthly emoluments are roughly ₹1,00,000–1,20,000 including DA, HRA and allowances, with an annual CTC near ₹18 lakh depending on posting.
Is NABARD Grade A tougher than a bank PO exam?
Generally yes. Beyond standard sections, it demands specialised knowledge of Economic & Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural Development, plus a descriptive Mains - making it more competitive than a typical bank PO.
How many phases does the exam have?
Three: Phase I (Prelims, qualifying), Phase II (Mains, merit-deciding), and a Psychometric Test + Interview. Final merit uses Phase II and Interview only.
How much does the interview count?
The interview carries 50 marks against Phase II's 200 - a 20% weightage in the 250-mark merit list; Phase I marks are not counted.
Is there a limit on attempts?
There is no fixed cap - candidates can appear as long as they meet the age limit (with relaxations).
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