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NABARD Grade A & B 2025 Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Mock Tests, Books, and Preparation Strategy

Topics Covered: NABARD Grade A & B 2025 Selection Criteria, Exam Pattern (Prelims, Mains & Interview), Grade A & Grade B Syllabus (Phase 1 & Phase 2), Preparation Strategy, Best Books for Grade A & B & Mock Tests

The NABARD exams for Grade A and Grade B offer a prestigious opportunity to work with one of India’s leading institutions, responsible for regulating regional banks across the country.

However, securing a position through these exams requires focused preparation, a clear strategy, and diligent effort.

To increase your chances of success, it’s essential to understand the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly, as well as to plan your preparation effectively. 
 
The NABARD exams are conducted in multiple stages, including Prelims, Mains, and Interviews, each with its own structure. Knowing the exam pattern helps you focus on the right areas.

The syllabus covers a wide range of topics, including Economic and Social Issues, Agriculture and Rural Development, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and English. A clear understanding of the syllabus will allow you to prioritize and study more efficiently. 

In addition to this, solving mock tests regularly is a great way to track your progress and improve your time management skills.

It’s also important to choose the right books and study materials that cover all the topics in-depth, ensuring you’re well-prepared.

With the right resources, a well-structured study plan, balancing your study time and breaks will help you stay on track without burning out. 
 
Finally, staying updated with current affairs, especially in the fields of agriculture, economics, and banking, is crucial for the General Awareness section of the exam.

With the right strategy, resources, and consistent effort, you can confidently tackle the NABARD Grade A and Grade B exams. 

Let’s dive into the details of the exam pattern, syllabus, preparation strategies, and more to help you on your path to success. 

Table of Content – NABARD Grade A & B Selection Criteria, Syllabus, Mock Test Series, Books & Preparation

NABARD Grade A & B 2025 Exam Pattern

NABARD Grade A & B exam pattern 2025 helps the aspirants to get a thorough understanding of the structure and types of questions being asked in the exam. With this knowledge, candidates could prepare well for the NABARD exams.  
 
Therefore, it becomes an essential for you to go through the exam pattern thoroughly before you start your preparation for the Grade A & B exams.  

Keeping that in mind, let me take you through the various stages in the NABARD Grade A & B exam 2025 that I have mentioned below: 

    • Phase 1: It is an online preliminary exam which is objective in nature. It consists of 200 marks and the time duration is 2 hours.  
    • Phase 2: The online exam includes both objective and descriptive sections. It consists of 200 marks with a total time duration of 3 hours and 30 minutes. 
    • Interview: This is the final stage of the exam process. It is conducted by the panel (consisting of senior officers) to assess the personality of the candidate and comprises a total of 50 marks. 

Talking about the NABARD Grade A exam pattern, an important thing to know about the phase 1 exam is that it’s qualifying in nature and is meant to serve as a screening test. 

The marks scored in Phase 1 are not counted in the final selection and those who clear the Phase 1 cutoff are qualified to appear for Phase 2 exam.  

The marks from the Phase 2 exam and the Interview are combined to prepare the final selection list. So, you need to score as high as possible in the phase 2 exam. 

NABARD Grade A & B Exam Pattern 2025 – Phase I

The Preliminary phase of both NABARD Grade A and B follows a similar exam pattern and syllabus. 

There are a total of 8 sections in this phase of NABARD Grade A & Grade B exam. I have covered the exam pattern for the Phase 1 exam below: 

    • No. of questions: There are a total of 200 questions. 
    • Time Allotted:  A total time of 2 hours is given for all the section together. 
    • Total marks: Phase 1 carries a total of 200 marks 
    • Marking scheme: While each correct answer is awarded +1 marks, there is a negative marking of 1/4th marks for every incorrect answer. 
Phase 1 Exam Pattern of NABARD Grade A Exams

Both the NABARD Grade A and Grade B exams are similar when it comes to their Prelims phase, both have the same syllabus, and exam pattern.   

If you are planning to prepare for NABARD Grade A 2024 exam, you can take a look at the exam pattern to understand the structure of the exam in a detailed manner. 

To begin with, both Phase 1 and 2 of both the exams are conducted online. A total time duration of 2 hours is given to clear the exam so you must allocate time accordingly to complete different sections.  

Let’s jump in. 

The section-wise breakdown of both the NABARD Grade A & B Prelims exam pattern is given in the table below: 

S.No.Name of the TestNumber of QuestionsMaximum Marks
1.Reasoning AbilityQualifying Sections2020
2.English Language3030
3.Computer Knowledge2020
4.Quantitative Aptitude2020
5.Decision Making1010
6.General AwarenessMerit Sections2020
7.Economics & Social Issues (with focus on Rural India)4040
8.Agriculture & Rural Development (with focus on Rural India)4040
Total200200

Important to Note:

1. Qualifying Sections: Reasoning Ability, English Language, Computer Knowledge, Decision Making & Quantitative Aptitude.

2. Merit Sections: General Awareness, Economic & Social Issues (with emphasis on Rural India), Agriculture & Rural Development with a focus on rural India.

This means that you will be shortlisted for the Mains exam based on the marks of merit sections only and not the qualifying sections.

So, I would recommend you to give more time to merit sections of NABARD Grade A & Grade B Phase 1.

NABARD Grade A & B Exam Pattern 2025 – Phase II

As per the latest exam pattern, there are 2 papers in the NABARD Grade A Mains exam 2025 :

Paper 1 – General English 

    • No. of Questions: This paper consists of 3 descriptive-based questions  
    • Time Allotted: A time duration of 90 minutes is given for this paper.   
    • Total Marks: A total of 100 marks is allotted. 

Paper 2 – ESI and ARD 

    • No. of Questions: There will be 30 objective questions to be attempted within 30 minutes, and 6 descriptive-type questions to be attempted within 90 minutes. 
    • Total marks: This paper comprises a total of 100 marks. 
    • Marking scheme: Objective questions are worth 1–2 marks each, with a 1/4th mark penalty for incorrect answers, while descriptive question includes 10 and 15 marker questions. 
Phase 2 Exam Pattern of NABARD Grade A Exams
Let us now talk about the NABARD Grade A and Grade B exam pattern for the Mains exams. 

    • As the marks obtained in Phase 2 are into consideration while making the final list. So, it is suggested you score as high marks as possible in this exam.  
    • Now, the Mains paper of both the exams are very similar except there is an extra paper in NABARD Grade B.  
    • The key difference between the Mains papers of the NABARD Grade A and Grade B can be easily understood if you go through the exam pattern tables I have listed below. 

This will also help you to understand the amount time that should be allocated to every question of each section. 

NABARD Grade A 2025 Phase 2 Exam Pattern

PaperGrade ATypes of PaperNo. of QuestionsMarksDurationRemarks
Paper 1General EnglishOnline Descriptive310090 MinutesDescriptive Answers to be typed using keyboard
Paper 2Economic & Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural DevelopmentObjective305030 Minutes
Descriptive Type6 questions will be asked, of which candidates will be required to attempt 4 questions [2 of 15 marks each (with difficulty level) and 2 of 10 marks each]5090 MinutesDescriptive Answers to be typed using keyboard either in English or Hindi (Remington and Inscript keyboards)

NABARD Grade B 2025 Phase 2 Exam Pattern

The exam pattern for the NABARD Grade B 2025 is discussed in the table below:  

PaperGrade BTypes of PaperNo. of QuestionsMarksDurationRemarks
Paper 1General EnglishOnline Descriptive310090 MinutesDescriptive Answers to be typed using keyboard
Paper 2Economic & Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural DevelopmentObjective305030 Minutes
Descriptive Type6 questions will be asked, of which candidates will be required to attempt 4 questions [2 of 15 marks each (with difficulty level) and 2 of 10 marks each]5090 MinutesDescriptive Answers to be typed using keyboard either in English or Hindi (Remington and Inscript keyboards)
Total100120 minutes
Paper 3Development Economics, Statistics, Finance and ManagementObjective305030 Minutes
Descriptive Type6 questions will be asked, of which candidates will be required to attempt 4 questions [2 of 15 marks each (with difficulty level) and 2 of 10 marks each]5090 MinutesDescriptive Answers to be typed using keyboard either in English or Hindi (Remington and Inscript keyboards)
Total100120 minutes

NABARD Grade A & B Exam Pattern 2025 – Interview

NABARD Grade A & Grade B Interviews are held after you clear the Phase 2 of the respective exams. The  

Interview is the third and final phase of the Grade A and & Grade B Selection Process.  

The candidates who secure the minimum sectional cut offs and the overall cut offs, become eligible to sit for the NABARD Grade A and NABARD Grade B Interview, provided they appear in the Psychometric test. 

    • Total weightage of the Interview:  

     

      • NABARD Grade A: A total of 50 marks is allotted for Grade A. 
      • NABARD Grade B: It comprises of a total of 75 marks. 
    • Interview Language: You will have an option to choose a language for the Interview, i.e., either in English or Hindi, as per your individual preference. 
    • Assessment Areas: The interview panel will ask you questions related to your background and conceptual knowledge, and you will be assessed on factors such as reasoning aptitude and leadership skills. 

    The final merit list of both, the NABARD Grade A & Grade B exams will be based on the marks scored by the candidates in their Phase 2 exams and Interview rounds.

    NABARD Interview Questions

    To make a good impression and score well in the interview for NABARD Grade A 2025, the candidates must prepare for the questions that could be asked in the final round. 

    The interviewing panel can ask questions on any topic they like, but majority of the questions are most likely to come from your personal details and some generic questions.  

    While you must be well – versed with the details given in your bio- data. To help you prepare well for generic – questions that are asked, I have mentioned a few below: 

    Q1. Why do you want to work in NABARD?

    Q2. Which department you would want to work in NABARD?

    Q3. Questions about the gap years in profile.

    Q4. Question about the last job.

    Q5. Question about the relevance of education in graduation/PG in the job in NABARD (especially in the case of non-commerce fields)

    Q6. Latest NABARD news, or actions taken by NABARD

    Q7. Which subject you liked the most in school and college and why?

    Q8. Miscellaneous questions related to biodata.

    Q9. How can your skills as mentioned in the profile be suitable for NABARD?

    Q10. Your salary and position in your current job are already good, why NABARD then?

    Q11. There is nothing in your profile that shows an interest or experience in agricultural banking, so why should we take you in?

    These were few generic questions that a candidate must prepare before the Interview for NABARD Grade A exam.

    Some Important Points about NABARD Selection

    The list of final selected candidates will be made available on the official NABARD website within 1 month after the NABARD Interviews or Phase III, get over.  

    Just imagine that you cleared the Phase 2 (Mains) exam and enter the interview level. Let’s understand different scenarios.  

    1. If you and another candidate have equal marks in total (Phase 2 examination + interview taken together), the candidate with higher marks in the Phase 2 exam will be ranked higher and be selected as an officer.  
    2. In case you and the other candidate are having equal marks in the Phase 2 exam. Then the candidate with higher qualifications will be selected.  
    3. If both of you have similar qualifications, the candidate with higher marks in graduation will be ranked higher and be selected as an officer.  
    4. In case of a further tie, the candidate senior in age will be ranked higher. 

    Now, that we have talked about NABARD Grade A exam pattern, let us proceed to the next section. 

    NABARD Grade A & Grade B Syllabus 2024

    Knowing the syllabus thoroughly is the first and foremost step towards exam preparation and the case for NABARD Grade A 2025 is no different.  

    As the NABARD Grade A 2025 notification is yet to be released, you can check the latest syllabus of Grade A. 

    In both NABARD Grade A & Grade B exams, the syllabus for ESI and ARD remains the same in Phase 1 & 2 of these respective exams. 

    The only difference lies in the difficulty level; ARD and ESI in Phase 2 are more advanced than in the Phase 1 exam. 

    To provide a detailed yet simplified explanation of the NABARD Grade A and Grade B syllabi for 2025, let’s begin with the Phase 1 exam.

    The syllabus for Phase 1 is same for both of the Grade A and Grade B, so we can cover them together. 

    NABARD Grade A & Grade B Syllabus: Phase 1

    As mentioned earlier in the exam pattern there are 8 sections in the syllabus of Phase 1 exam of both NABARD Grade A & Grade B. These sections include: 

      • Reasoning Ability 
      • English Language 
      • Computer Knowledge 
      • Quantitative Aptitude 
      • Decision- Making 
      • General Awareness 
      • ARD (Agriculture & Rural Development)   
      • ESI (Economic & Social Issues). 

    I will be discussing the syllabus for ARD & ESI in detail for the NABARD Grade A & B in their subsequent sections on this page. 

    For the NABARD Grade A syllabus of remaining 6 sections for phase 1 exam, you can check the table below: 

    NABARD Grade A & B Syllabus 2025
    Name of SectionTopics Asked
    Reasoning AbilityPuzzles & Seating Arrangement
    Syllogism
    Data Sufficiency
    Statement Based Questions (Verbal Reasoning)
    Inequality
    Miscellaneous Questions
    Input - Output
    Blood Relations
    Coding - Decoding
    Quantitative AptitudeData Interpretations
    Quadratic Equations
    Number Series
    Simplification/Approximation
    Data Sufficiency
    Arithmetic Questions
    Quantity Comparisons
    Mathematical Inequalities
    English LanguageReading Comprehension
    Cloze Test
    Sentence Improvement
    Spotting the Errors
    Fill in the Blanks
    Sentence Rearrangement
    Para Jumbles
    New Pattern Questions
    General AwarenessQuestions based on Current Affairs, Banking, Economy, and Insurance.
    Current Affairs questions will be based on recent appointments, sports, awards, and honours, new schemes, international and national news, latest science and technological developments.
    Decision MakingInterpreting Information, Recognising Assumptions, Situation-based question, Case Studies
    Computer KnowledgeTopics like Input - Output devices, Networking, DBMS, MS Office, Internet, History of Computer & Generations, Shortcuts.

    NABARD Grade A & Grade B 2025 Syllabus: Phase 1 & 2 – ARD

    In the table below, I have provided the detailed syllabus for ARD subject in Phase I and Phase 2 exam in a simplified manner: 

    Topic NameSyllabus Detail
    AgricultureDefinition, Meaning and its Branches
    Agronomy: Definition, Meaning, and Scope of Agronomy
    Classification of Field Crops
    Factors Affecting Crop Production
    Argo Climatic Zones
    Types of Cropping Systems and their Definitions
    Problems faced if land is dry - Seed Production & Processing, and Seed Village
    Meteorology: Weather Parameters, Crop-Weather Advisory
    Precision Farming
    System of Crop Intensification
    Organic Farming
    Soil and Water ConservationMajor Soil Types
    Soil Fertility
    Fertilisers
    Soil Erosion
    Soil Conservation
    Watershed Management
    Water ResourceIrrigation Management
    Types of Irrigation
    Sources of Irrigation
    Crop-Water Requirement
    Command Area Development
    Water Conservation Techniques
    Micro-Irrigation
    Irrigation Pumps
    Major, Medium and Minor Irrigation
    Agri and Farm EngineeringPower and Machinery related to Farms
    Power Sources on the farm - animal, human, electrical, mechanical, wind, biomass and solar, biofuels
    Water Harvesting Structures
    Farm Ponds
    Agro Processing
    Modified & controlled storage, storage of perishable foods, bins, godowns, and grain silos.
    Horticulture & PlantationMeaning, Definition, and its Branches
    Production Technology and Agronomic practices with respect to various horticulture and plantation crops.
    Value and supply chain management of Horticulture & Plantation crops, Post-harvest management of the same.
    Animal HusbandryFarm animals and their role in the Indian economy.
    Animal husbandry methods in India.
    Commonly used terminologies pertaining to the different species of livestock.
    Utility classification of breeds of cattle.
    Introduction to common fodders and feeds, their utility and classification.
    Introduction to the industry of poultry in India.
    Common terms pertaining to poultry production and management.
    Socio-Economic implications of mixed farming on the farmer in India and the concept of mixed farming.
    Livestock and Poultry production and their obligatory and complementary relationship with that of agricultural farming.
    FisheriesFisheries Resources
    Exploitation and management – marine water, freshwater, and brackish water.
    Aquaculture- Inland and Marine
    Biotechnology
    Post-Harvest Technology
    Importance of fisheries in India.
    Common terms pertaining to fish production.
    ForestryBasic concepts of Forest and Forestry
    Management, mensuration, and Economics regarding Forests, and the Principles of silviculture.
    Concepts of agroforestry, social forestry, joint forest management.
    Legislation and Policies regarding forests in India, 2015 Report on the State of forests in India.
    Ministry of Forest, Environment, and Climate change
    Ministry of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change and Recent developments under them.
    Agriculture ExtensionsIts role and importance, evaluations methods of extension programmes.
    KVK’s (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) role in the dissemination of technologies based on Agriculture.
    Ecology and Climate ChangeEcology and how it is relevant to man, sustainable management and conservation of natural resources.
    Climate change and its causes, GHGs (Green House Gases), countries emitting high amounts of GHGs, and climate analysis.
    Distinguish between adaptation and mitigation.
    Climate change and its impact on rural livelihoods and agriculture.
    Carbon credit
    IPCC, UNFCCC, CoP meetings
    Funding mechanisms for climate change projects
    Indian government initiatives like SAPCC, NAPCC, INDC.
    Present Scenario of agriculture and allied activities in IndiaTrends of recent times
    Major challenges in agriculture measures to enhance.
    Viability of agriculture
    Factors of Production in agriculture
    Agricultural Finance and Marketing
    Globalisation and its impacts on Indian Agriculture and the issue of food security.
    Concept and Types of Farm Management.
    Rural DevelopmentConcept of Rural Area
    Structure of the Indian Rural Economy.
    Rural sector of India and its importance and role.
    Social, Demographic, and Economic characteristics of the rural economy of India.
    Causes of Rural Backwardness.
    Rural population in India
    Occupational structure
    Agricultural Laborers, Handicrafts, Tribes/Forest dwellers, Farmers, Artisans, Traders and others in the rural parts of India.
    Changing trends in rural workforce and rural population in India.
    Problems and conditions of rural labour
    Issues and challenges in Hand-looms.
    Panchayati Raj Institutions – Functions and Working.
    NRLM, MGNREGA – Drinking Water Programmes in Rural India, Aajeevika, Swachh Bharat, Housing in Rural Area, PURA, and other programs related to rural development.

    As mentioned earlier, the syllabus of ARD is exactly the same in Phase 1 & Phase 2, only the difficulty level varies.

    I will be covering the Phase 1 & 2 syllabi of Economic & Social Issues below.

    NABARD Grade A & Grade B 2025 Syllabus: Phase 1 & 2 – ESI

    I have provided the syllabus for ESI subject of both Phase 1 and Phase 2 exam in the table below explained in a topic – wise manner:  

    Topic NameSyllabus Detail
    Indian Economy and Its NatureInstitutional & Structural Features
    Economic Underdevelopment
    Opening Up the Indian Economy
    Globalization
    Economic Reforms in India
    Privatization
    InflationVarious trends regarding inflation and the impacts they have on Individual Income and National Economy
    Employment Generation & Poverty Alleviation in IndiaUrban & Rural
    Measurement of Poverty
    Poverty Alleviation Programmes of the Government.
    Population TrendsPopulation Growth and Economic Development
    Population Policy in India.
    AgricultureCharacteristics / Status
    Technical and Institutional changes in Indian Agriculture
    Agricultural performance
    Issues in Food Security in India
    Non-Institutional and Institutional Agencies in rural credit.
    IndustryIndustrial and Labour Policy
    Industrial Performance
    Regional Imbalance in India's Industrial Development
    Public Sector Enterprises.
    Financial Institutions and Rural banking in IndiaReforms in the Financial Sector / Banking.
    Economic GlobalizationInternational Funding Institutions and their roles
    IMF & World Bank
    WTO
    Regional Economic Co-operation.
    Social Structure in IndiaMulticulturalism
    Demographic Trends
    Urbanization and Migration
    Gender Issues Joint Family System
    Social Infrastructure
    Education
    Health and Environment.
    EducationStatus & System of Education
    Socio-Economic Problems Associated with Illiteracy
    Educational Relevance and Educational Wastage
    Educational Policy for India.
    Social Justice pertaining to the various castes and classesProblems of scheduled tribes and scheduled castes
    Socio-economic programmes directed towards Scheduled castes, Scheduled tribes, and Other Backward Classes.
    Positive Discrimination or steps to favour the underprivileged classesSocial Movements
    Indian Political Systems
    Human Development

    As I have mentioned previously that the syllabus of ESI paper for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 is identical. 

    Same could be said for the Phase 2 papers of NABARD Grade A & B as well. The only difference lies between these two is that Grade B has an extra paper, called “Paper 3” in Phase 2 exam. I have discussed it below: 

    NABARD Grade B 2025 Syllabus: Phase 2 – Paper 3

    The syllabus for Paper 3 consists of subjects such as Development Economics, Statistics, Finance & Management and I have the same in the table format below: 

    Topic NameSyllabus Detail
    Development EconomicsMeasures of development
    Economic Underdevelopment
    Economic Development Models
    Rold of subsidies
    importance of savings and investment
    Importance of agriculture
    Terms of trade in agriculture
    Development issues in India – Post-2015 Agenda
    StatisticsBasic statistical concepts
    Summarizing of data
    Frequency distribution
    Measures of Central Tendency
    Relative dispersion
    Elementary Probability
    Relative Frequency Approach
    sampling
    Axiomatic Approach
    Analysis of frequency distribution
    Correlation
    Regression
    Sampling Methods
    Time Series Analysis
    FinanceFinancial system in India
    Regulation of Banks & Financial Institutions
    Banking and Financial Institutions in India
    Financial System- Features, Characteristics and Issues
    Micro Finance
    Its Significance and Importance
    Union Budget
    Project finance- Assessment and Sources for block capital
    working capital
    Infrastructure financing- Risk Management in Banking Sector
    Sources of capital
    instruments and methods
    salient features
    Development finance- scope and needs of development finance
    Concept of project cycle management
    Private and Social Cost Benefit significance of development finance
    Financial Inclusion – Use of Technology
    Public Private Partnership
    Managementits nature and scope; The Management Processes
    Planning
    Organisation
    Staffing
    Directing and Controlling
    The Role of a Manager in an Organisation
    LeadershipThe Tasks of a Leader
    Leadership Styles
    Leadership Theories
    A successful Leader versus an effective Leader
    Human Resource DevelopmentConcept of HRD
    Goals of HRD
    Performance Appraisal
    Potential appraisal and development
    Performance Counselling
    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
    CommunicationSteps 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

    How to Prepare for NABARD Grade A & B Exams 2025?

    I always tell my students that a thorough preparation strategy combined with daily practice is the key to crack any exam. 

      • To effectively prepare for NABARD Grade A & B exams, start by solving a few mock tests to assess your strengths and weaknesses.  
      • With consistent practice, you’ll be able to identify the topic areas of the NABARD syllabus you need to work harder.  
      • You can practice Grade A & B mock tests that I have provided to help you boost your preparation 
      • By solving these on a regular basis, you will understand the relevance of different subjects and strategize accordingly. 
      • You can get insights on how to create a NABARD Grade A & B preparation strategy by going through the personalized RBI Grade B preparation strategy that I curated.  

    A thorough preparation for any exam requires referring to reliable sources and comprehensively covering the syllabus.    

    So, to help you on that purpose, I have provided high- quality RBI Grade B free study material which includes concise notes and video lectures that cover all the topics with detailed explanations. 

    NABARD Grade A & B Study Plan

    In this section, I will help you prepare a study plan that would help you understand which phase to focus on and how much to do it, all taking into account the number of hours you can allocate on a daily basis.

    It has been designed keeping in mind the following:

    • Your academic qualification
    • No. of hours you dedicate for your NABARD Grade A & B preparation

    Let us understand some basic points so that you can go through the table successfully:

    Your academic qualification has been used to classify you into one of the 2 categories:

    Category 1

    If you belong to the first category, you are either “Above average in phase 1 & new in phase 2”

    Category 2

    If you belong to the second category, you are “new in both phase 1 and phase 2”.

    • Another classification has been made, based on the number of hours you can consistently dedicate each day. The division of your total daily commitment into hours spent on phase 1 and hours spent on phase 2 has been made in the below table. 

    You can fall into any one of the following categories:

    You can allocate

    • Less than 3 hours a day
    • 3 to 6 hours a day
    • More than 6 hours a day

    You might be good at some aspects of Phase 1 or Phase 2 but are assumed to be requiring improvement in some other factors. Keeping that in mind, time allocation has been made between Phase 1 and Phase 2 in your study plan.

    Having understood the above points, let us now go through the image:

    NABARD Grade A & B - Preparation Strategy

    You finally know the number of hours you need to give to each phase based on your current preparation.

    In the image below you can check the suggested study sequence for NABARD Grade A & B:

    Study Sequence of NABARD Grade A & Grade B Exams

    NABARD Grade A 2025 Books

    To prepare for NABARD Grade A 2025 exam, the candidates must have a reliable booklist to effectively complete the syllabus for the exam. 

    Therefore, in this section, I will be helping you out with the various books out there that you can use to cover the Grade A Syllabus 2025. 

    The books suggested below for NABARD Grade A are the same that should be used to cover the respective sections of Grade B as well. 

    Now it’s time to find out a way to cover this huge syllabus and clear its cut offs. To know more about NABARD Grade A cut off you can check the link attached. 

    There are hundreds of books out there but I have handpicked some for you to cover the syllabus. There is no single book to cover the Grade A & Grade B syllabus. 

    Each subject has different books and it is most likely that you need to read 2-3 books for each subject. I know it is a lot but you it’s helpful in clearing the exam. 

    Right? 

    So let’s talk about NABARD Grade A & Grade B Books for different sections and subjects. 

    Best Books for NABARD Grade A – Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language

    I used to recommend a combination of books – Arun Sharma, Banking Services Chronicles (BSC) books, and TIME material for CAT as NABARD Grade A Phase 1 Preparation Books.

    So, I myself wrote a book – “Phase 1 & Past Years’ Questions Book“. This Book caters to the needs of the candidates aspiring for NABARD Grade A Examination & helps them for Phase 1 Preparation.

    The book involves 850 Pages containing 2000+ MCQs covering a far-reaching and comprehensive inclusion of the complete syllabus of Phase 1 and Past Year Papers.

    Answers with an explanation of every question have been given toward the finish of each question to help you understand the topic simultaneously.

    Another advancement in the book is that every chapter is partitioned into 3 portions, for example, Simple, Medium, and Difficult to invigorate movement in the learning.

    Interview Guide for RBI, SEBI & NABARD Exams.

    RBI, SEBI & NABARD Phase 1 Question Book with Previous Year Papers


    ₹ 599 

    Best Books for NABARD Grade A – General Awareness

    • Spotlight
    • Financial Express or Livemint
    • Monthly Magazines like Banking Services Chronicles

    Best Books for NABARD Grade A – Computer Knowledge

    • Computer Awareness – Arihant Publication
    • Objective Computer Knowledge and Literacy – Kiran Publication

    Best Books for NABARD Grade A – Economic and Social Issues (ESI)

    • Indian Economy NCERT 11th
    • Macroeconomics NCERT 12th
    • Ramesh Singh- Indian economy
    • Indian Economy- Uma Kapila (Performance and policies)
    • Social problems in India- Ram Ahuja
    • Indian Polity- Laxmikanth
    • Economic survey for the year
    • Union Budget
    • Pratiyogita Darpan Indian Economy yearly version discharged after Union Budget
    • NITI Aayog recent reports – selective

    The NABARD Grade A Preparation Books I have mentioned above for ESI comprise of sources for both Phase 1 as well as Phase 2.

    Best Books for NABARD Grade A – Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD)

    • Objective Agriculture – S.R. Kantwa – New Vishal Publications
    • For Agricultural Field Officer IBPS-SO Book – Jain Brothers
    • Agriculture Current Affairs – New Vishal Publications
    • General Agriculture – Muniraj Singh Rathore – Jain Brothers
    • A Competitive Book of Agriculture – Nem Raj Sundra

    These were the Best NABARD Grade A Books for ARD Preparation in 2025 (for Phase 1 & 2). Apart from these ARD books, there are few other sources as well which students must cover in order to score maximum in the ARD Section.

    • Agricultural Census provided by the Ministry of Agriculture.
    • PIB Releases, i.e., Press Releases by Agriculture and Rural Department.
    • Geographical knowledge of States and Soils present in those areas.
    • Cover the Report provided by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
    • Kurukshetra and Yojana Magazines with a focus on the Agriculture part in these Magazines.
    • Cover the basics of ARD from the book by R.K. Sharma – Agriculture at a Glance.
    • Go through the Reports provided by
    • Ministry of Agriculture
    • Ministry of Rural Development
    • NABARD Website
    • State of Forest Report which is provided Bi-annually by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

    The NABARD Grade A Preparation Books I have mentioned above for Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD) comprise sources for both Phase 1 & Phase 2.

    These books will definitely help you out and you can easily find all of them on amazon.

    I didn’t mention the links here as sellers keep on changing. So it’s today’s task. Go online and find these books. I can’t spoon-feed you everything.

    NABARD Grade A 2025 Mock Test Series

    If you are planning to prepare for NABARD Grade A 2025 exam, then I can’t stress enough how much importance mock tests hold for NABARD Grade A exam.

    The practice of solving mock tests would help in assessment of your preparation level as it will provide an insight about your strengths and weaknesses, time taken to complete the paper as well as analysis of your conceptual understanding about the topics given in the syllabus. 

    The NABARD Grade A mock tests not only help you practice but will give you an experience of the real exam. 

    Benefits of Solving NABARD Grade A & B Mock Test Series

    Solving NABARD Grade A & B Mock Test Series will be extremely vital for your success in the exam.

    It should not only be important before you are done with the syllabus but also after that. I listed down the benefits of solving the NABARD Mock tests below.

    1. Solving the Free NABARD Grade A Mock Tests will help you sharpen your knowledge about the exams, and this holds even more true, towards the end of your preparation.
    1. Practicing on Mock tests will help you gain an instinctive understanding of how to solve the entire NABARD paper well before the exam duration, and that too with the highest possible efficiency.
    1. Since, the NABARD exams have negative markings in both phases. Therefore solving the NABARD Grade A and B mock test series will train you to avoid making silly mistakes in the actual exams.
    1. The greatest benefit of solving Mock tests is that you’ll get to identify the topics and subjects you are strong at and the ones you are weak at. That way you can work on your weaknesses more, and also further hone the areas you are already strong at.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, understanding the importance of exam pattern is very crucial for effective preparation.  

    With that, I have compiled all the details regarding the NABARD Grade A & B 2025 exam pattern, selection process, syllabus, books, mock tests, and preparation tips for the exam on this page.   

    I hope you find this information important and helpful for your exam preparations. I wish you success as you prepare and excel in the exam. 

    All the best!!   

    CEO of Anujjindal.in

    About Anuj Jindal

    ━━━━━

    Anuj Jindal, the founder, is an ex-manager from SBI, with an M.Com from Delhi School of Economics. He also has a JRF in Commerce & Management and NET in HRM, along with more than 5 years of experience in the field of Education.

    FAQs: NABARD Grade A & B 2024 Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Mock Tests, Books, and Preparation Strategy

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      What is the NABARD Grade A syllabus 2024?
      • The NABARD Grade A syllabus for Phase 1 which is objective in nature comprises of 8 sections such as Reasoning Ability, English Language, Computer Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, Decision Making, General Awareness, ESI & ARD.  
      • For Phase 2 which is both objective and descriptive in nature, it consists of 2 papers – Paper 1 General English and Paper 2 ESI & ARD section.  

      To check the syllabus of these 8 sections in detail, read the relevant section given above.

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      Is there any negative marking in the exam? 

      Yes, there is a negative marking in the exam. For every wrong answer, you will lose 25% of the marks assigned for the question.  

      So, suppose a question is of 2 marks, then answering it wrongly would set you back by 0.5 marks. 

       

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      What type of questions are asked in the mains exam? 

      Paper I of the mains exam is descriptive type. General English comprises questions from essay writing, comprehension, report writing, paragraph writing & letter writing.  

      As far as paper 2 of the mains exam is concerned it contains objective-type questions from the subjects of Economics and Social Issues, and Agriculture & Rural Development.  

      To know more about the selection process and exam pattern you can check the details about the same above.

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      How can I prepare for the Interview round? 

      For the interview round, two things are really important for you to prepare. First one is the biodata form which you submit to NABARD before the interview as it contains all your personal, academic and professional information. The second one is the generic questions which I have mentioned on the page above.

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      Is there sectional timing in NABARD Grade A?
      No, there is no provision of sectional timing in the NABARD Grade A examination. For Phase I exam, the total time duration is of 2 hours to attempt 200 questions. Regarding the exam for Phase II, the duration of 90 minutes is allotted to complete 65 questions.

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      What are the benefits of attempting NABARD Grade A mock test?
      Practicing the NABARD Grade A mock tests provides many benefits for the aspirants. Some of these benefits are as follows: 

      • Solving mock tests would help to provide a clearer understanding of the exam. 
      • The negative marking allotted for incorrect answers would help in minimizing errors and avoid silly mistakes.  
      • The mock tests will prove beneficial in improving efficiency of the candidate for completing the paper within the time limit.  
      • It assists in providing an assessment of the candidate’s strengths and weaknesses.

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      What are the best books for NABARD Grade A Exam 2024?
      For the examination of NABARD Grade A 2024, some of the best books include:  

      • Indian economy by Ramesh Singh  
      • Computer Awareness – Arihant Publication  
      • Objective Agriculture – S.R. Kantwa – New Vishal Publications  
      • Indian Economy- Uma Kapila (Performance and policies)  
      • For Agricultural Field Officer IBPS-SO Book – Jain Brothers  

      To get access to the complete booklist for NABARD Grade A exam, you can refer to the linked page.

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