NABARD Grade A & B 2021 Exam Pattern, Syllabus, Mock Tests, Books, and Preparation Strategy

Topics Covered: NABARD Grade A & B 2021 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

Getting selected for a government job is often considered to be one of the greatest accomplishments that one can hope to achieve in a country like India, and it gets even harder if the government job is question is that of the NABARD Grade A, or Grade B officer. 

I say that because to crack the NABARD Grade A or Grade B exams, takes a lot of hard work and planning. 

That said the best way one can crack the exam is by a thorough study of the exam patterns of the NABARD Grade A and Grade B exams, a sincere knowledge of the NABARD Grade A and/or Grade B syllabus, and an effective preparation strategy drafted accordingly. 

Then comes the hardest job of sticking to the NABARD Grade A/Grade B preparation strategy.  

Apart from all of the above, you’d also need to make sure to refer to the right books to cover the NABARD Grade A or Grade B syllabus, and also solve as many mock tests as you can to tests yourself on your knowledge. Mock tests would play a huge role in uncovering your strengths and weaknesses. 

Having mentioned all of that, I now think you might have a pretty good idea what this article is going to be about. In it I am going to talk in detail about the topics of the NABARD Grade A & B selection process, their exam patterns, the NABARD Grade A and Grade B syllabus, the NABARD Grade A & B preparation strategy, Books and Mock tests. 

Seems like a lot?

Don’t worry, I have simplified and organised all this information in this blog.

So, without wasting any time, let’s get going.

Let us start with the selection process of the NABARD Grade A & Grade B Exams.

NABARD Grade A & Grade B 2021 Selection Process

NABARD Grade A and Grade B jobs are one of the most renowned in the country and it is equally difficult to get in.

So, let us talk about the various stages in the NABARD Grade A and Grade B selection process:

1. Preliminary Exam: Online Objective Test – Phase I

2. Mains Exam: Online Objective & Descriptive Test – Phase II

3. Interview – Phase III

The 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.

So, the marks secured in Phase I – Online preliminary examination will not be counted for final selection.

This is good news as you shouldn’t focus on scoring very high marks. You should only be focused on clearing this exam.

But why?

This is because you have limited time and you don’t want to over-prepare for a qualifying paper and give less time to Phase 2 which is more important.

Candidates who clear the cut off in the Preliminary Exam get a chance to give the 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.

Some Important Points about NABARD Selection 

The list of final selected candidates will be made available on the official NABARD website within 2-3 weeks after the NABARD Interviews or Phase III, get over. 

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

1. If you and some other students have equal marks in total (Phase 2 examination + interview taken together), the candidate with higher marks in the Phase 2 Examination will be ranked higher and be selected as an officer. That is why Phase 2 is said to be the most important phase.
2. In case you and the other candidate are having equal marks in the Mains Examination. Then the candidate with higher qualifications will be selected. Let’s imagine that both of you have similar qualifications, the candidate with higher marks in graduation will be ranked higher and be selected as an officer. In case of a further tie, the candidate senior in age will be ranked higher.

Let us now talk about each and every stage I have talked about above, individually. This will let you know the amount of effort and time you need to give to each and every stage. 

NABARD Grade A & Grade B 2021 Exam Pattern – Preliminary Exam (Phase 1)

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.

With that said note that both Phase 1 and 2 of both the exams are conducted online, so you do not get the satisfaction of scribbling on paper.

You will be assigned a center near your house. You will get a computer at that center and everything will stay online.

2 hours will be given to you to complete the exam so distribute your time accordingly between different sections. This will help you to understand the structure of the exam.

Let’s jump in.

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

NABARD Grade A & Grade B 2021 Exam Pattern – Mains Exam (Phase II)

Let us now talk about the NABARD Grade A and Grade B exam pattern for the Mains exams.

The marks you obtain in this phase are taken into consideration while making the final list after the interview round. So, remember to score as high as possible.

That said, the Mains papers are almost similar for both the exams, apart from an extra paper in the case of the NABARD Grade B.

The difference between the Mains papers of the NABARD Grade A, and that of Grade B can be easily understood if you go through the exam pattern tables I have listed below.

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

NABARD Grade A 2021 Phase 2 Exam Pattern

NABARD Grade B 2021 Phase 2 Exam Pattern

NABARD Grade A & Grade B 2021 Exam Pattern – Interviews (Phase III)

NABARD Grade A & Grade B Interviews are held after you clear the second phase of the respective exams. The Interview is the third and last phase of the Grade A and Grade B Selection Process.

That said, only the applicants who secure the minimum sectional cut offs and the overall cut offs, are permitted to show up for the NABARD Grade A or Grade B interview round.

NABARD tests your IQ and knowledge in the first two stages but they will test your personality in this stage.

They will try to analyze your decision-making ability throughout the interview round.

To show up for the NABARD Grade A or Grade B Interviews, candidates need to download the call letter which will be sent on the individual email of the applicants who have cleared the Phase 2 Exams respectively.

The NABARD Grade A interviews hold a weightage of 50 marks, whereas the Grade B interviews hold a weightage of 75 marks.

You have an option to choose the interview language, i.e., either in English or Hindi, before the interview rounds as per your convenience. All you have to do while appearing for the interview is be confident and stay calm.

You will have to face an interviewing panel that will mostly ask questions from your background.

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

If you clear all three phases including the Interviews, you will at that point be called to show up for the medical trial which will be the final hindrance between you and your dream of being a NABARD Grade A or Grade B Officer.

NABARD Grade A & Grade B Syllabus 2021

Let’s dive into the NABARD Grade A & Grade B syllabus as it is a little bit confusing but we must understand the NABARD Grade A Syllabus 2021 or the one for Grade B to do well in the exams.

Right?

You can also go through the syllabi of Grade A and Grade B from the official exam notification but it’s very confusing. They use difficult words and it’s all messy. To know the finer details of the notification, check the linked blog.

I have sorted it out and lined up the topics to make them easier to read.  

Before jumping into the syllabi of the NABARD Grade A and Grade B exams directly, let’s go back in time a little bit.

Do you remember the time when we didn’t have a lot of tuition during our school time?

Well, I am not talking to those people who had rich parents. I am talking to people like me. 

My mother used to teach me till 7-8th class. She used to sit with me for hours. It was her task to find the syllabus for me. Go through that syllabus first and help me out with my studies. 

Well, whom am I kidding here? 

My mother not just helped me, she did all the work.

Well, I am not saying that I can take your mother’s place to help you analyse the syllabus and study. But I will definitely try to help you in every way possible.   

So let’s start with the Grade A 2021 syllabus for the phase 1 paper as the NABARD Grade B syllabus for phase 1 is also exactly the same:

NABARD Grade A & Grade B 2021 Syllabus: Phase 1 & 2 – ARD

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 2021 Syllabus: Phase 1 & 2 – ESI

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

Another thing to note down is that the Phase 2 papers of NABARD Grade A and Grade B have exactly the same syllabus, except for an extra paper called “Paper 3” in the NABARD Grade B phase 2 exam. I will be covering the syllabus for Paper 3 below.

NABARD Grade B 2021 Syllabus: Phase 2 – Paper 3

Paper 3 comprises subjects of Development Economics, Statistics, Finance & Management. The syllabus is provided below:

How to Prepare for NABARD Grade A & B Exams?

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

To begin your NABARD Grade A & B preparation, you’d need to solve a few test series to gauge yourself on your strengths and weaknesses. By doing so, you’ll be able to know which areas of the NABARD syllabus you’d have to work extra hard on.

Practice on a daily basis from my Grade A & B mock tests here and make a great strategy to clear the exam.

This is the way you can frame your preparation strategy as well. To know more about how to create a good NABARD Grade A & B preparation strategy, you might want to go through this document to curate your own personalised strategy.

I have shared this document as it becomes difficult for students to create a strategy.

It is now my responsibility that you get the right strategy, material, and guidance so that the day, you step into the examination hall, is not an anxious, nervous day but a confident, proud day for you.

To start you off, let me provide you some high-quality study material.

If we consider life as a game and the hurdle of clearing your examination as an important stage that determines the further stages, then you need 2 things- intense fighting skills and the right ammunition to knock down your enemies and emerge victorious by the end of this stage.

Do not worry, I am that person who can teach you fighting skills and provide the right ammunition for your fight.

Let us now come out of our gaming zone and get right into the preparation.

NABARD Grade A & B Study Plan

In this section, I will help you prepare a study plan that should 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:

1. Your academic qualification
2. No. of hours you dedicate for your NABAR 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 dedicate consistently. The division of your total hourly commitment per day 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:

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:

NABARD Grade A Books

In this section, I will be helping you out with the various books out there that you can use to cover the Grade A & Grade B Syllabus 2021.

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

It’s great to see that you are still sticking around. 

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 out my blog on the same.

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 for each subject. I know it is a lot but you get to clear 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.

I did this because there are no specific NABARD Grade A Exam Books for Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language.

But then the issue was that the level of Grade A Examination is different from CAT and other examinations.

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.

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 2021 (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 2021 Mock Test Series

I can’t stress enough how much importance mock tests hold for NABARD Grade A exam.  

They sync directly with the final part of the preparation i.e. ‘Practice’. I know everyone says that you should practice daily to accomplish anything in life.

Want to cook? Practice daily.

Want to ride a bike? Practice daily.

Similarly, want to clear any of the NABARD Exams? Practice Daily.

I have also made some free comprehensive mocks that you should take before starting your NABARD Grade A preparation to analyse where you stand right now.  

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

The panel of these mocks is made exactly like the real exam.

You have the access to view all questions at once, see colour difference of the questions you skipped, questions you haven’t opened, and the questions you have attempted.

But I don’t want to just give you the exact panel. I want to give you more. So my technical team has made a specialised analysis page for you. You will get that after you complete each mock test.  

You will be able to see your rank, marks, solutions, time spent on each section compared to the topper, heat graph, etc.

There are so many things that I can’t even list all of them here. So let’s not wait anymore.

Here is the link to the free comprehensive NABARD Grade A & Grade B mock test series. 

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 below the benefits of solving the NABARD Mock tests. 

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. 
2. 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. 
3. 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. 
4. 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

So this was all about the Selection Procedure, Syllabus, Books of NABARD Grade A & Grade B examinations, and how to prepare for NABARD Grade A & B exams. I hope this blog has cleared all your doubts related to the above topics.

All the Best!!
Keep Learning!!