RBI Grade B Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Qualification & Attempts 

The RBI Grade B exam is highly sought after by aspirants like you, but it’s important to assess whether you’re truly eligible to apply before diving in.

Having a thorough understanding of the eligibility criteria is the first and most important step toward your effective RBI preparation. It includes many factors, such as educational qualifications, number of attempts, and age limit.  

Moreover, the educational qualifications will help you get an idea of the minimum academic requirements needed for the exam. Additionally, the age criteria and number of attempts are important to get an understanding of the number of opportunities you have to take the exam.

To help you avoid any confusion, let’s take a closer look at the latest RBI Grade B eligibility criteria 2026.  

What is the RBI Grade B Eligibility 2026? 

If you are planning to appear for the RBI Grade B exam 2026, the official notification hasn’t been released. But you can check the eligibility criteria 2025, as there will be no changes in the eligibility 2026. 

I have attached the Latest RBI Grade B eligibility criteria 2025 PDF in the link given here. Here I have provided a short overview of eligibility criteria: 

• Age Limit: You must be between 21 to 30 years of age for the General category as of the date mentioned in the notification. 

• Educational qualification:  
• If you belong to General Category, you should have at least 60% marks in Graduation  
• For SC/ST/PwBD candidates, minimum 50% marks is required in Graduation.
• Nationality:  
• For the RBI exam, a candidate must be an Indian citizen.  
• If you are not an Indian citizen, but a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, then you are also eligible
• Note: If you don’t have Indian citizenship and belong to a country mentioned in RBI official notification, then you must provide proof of eligibility verified and issued by the Government of India (GOI).  
• Number of attempts:  
• For the General/EWS category, you have 6 attempts for the RBI exam.  
• Candidates belonging to the SC/ST/OBC/PwBD category have the relaxation of unlimited attempts.  
• Work experience:  
• Work experience is not mandatory for the RBI Exam. 
• If you have work experience as an officer in Commercial Banks, Public Sector Insurance Companies, All India Financial Institutions (AIFI), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), then you are given 03 years of age relaxation.  

It’s advisable to refer to the eligibility criteria to understand exam requirements for candidates who are planning to appear for the examination.

Click here to learn more about the Reserve Bank of India’s full history and its background.

RBI Grade B Eligibility 2026 – Educational Qualification

While the eligibility criteria usually remain the same and hardly go through any changes, the aspirants should keep on checking our website for any latest updates regarding it.

The minimum RBI Grade B educational qualifications required for the general stream candidates are as follows:

1. Graduation Level (General Stream) 

Candidates must have completed Graduation in any discipline or an equivalent technical/professional qualification from a recognised university/institute, with the following criteria:

• General/OBC/EWS: You must have minimum 60% marks in aggregate (across all semesters/years) in Graduation.
• SC/ST/PwBD: Candidates belonging to this category must have minimum 50% marks in aggregate in UG. 

Note: Graduation must be of at least 3 years’ duration after Class XII.

2. Post-Graduation Level (General Stream) 

Candidates may also apply based on Post-Graduation in any discipline or an equivalent technical/professional qualification, provided the following criteria are met:

• General/OBC/EWS: You need a minimum postgraduation marks of 55% in aggregate (across all semesters/years).
• SC/ST/PwBD: Passing marks are considered for these categories. 

Note: Post-graduation must be of at least 2 years’ duration after graduation from a recognized university. 

* Your graduation and post-graduation should be completed as of 01st September 2025. 

To stay updated with the exam requirements, refer to the detailed RBI Grade B educational qualifications 2026 in the table below: 

Important Things to Remember 

• Pending Results:  
• It is necessary to have your final results declared before or on the official notification release date.  
• If you are in the final year and your results are not declared, you cannot apply for the RBI exam.  
• Degree from Distance Education:  
• If you have completed your degree from an open university or in the online mode, your degree will be accepted but the university must be recognized by the UGC or the Government of India.  

CGPA to Percentage Conversion Criteria given by RBI

Some Universities do not provide a percentage marks and instead make use of grading systems like CGPA/OGPA/CPI for graduation and post-graduation. 

 If the University defines criteria for the conversion of grades into the percentage marks, then the same criteria will be accepted. 

However, if the University does not define criteria for conversion, then the following calculation method will be used: 

Important Things to Remember 

• CGPA Conversion to Percentage 
  • Follow the conversion formula provided by your university if it provides CGPA in place of percentages.  
  • However, if your university does not provide the formula, use the conversion formula specified by the RBI.  

From age limits to educational eligibility—everything you need to know is here. The eligibility criteria for Grade A might differ from Grade B. Make sure you’re on the right track and check the detailed RBI Grade A eligibility criteria.

RBI Grade B Eligibility 2026 – Age Limit & Relaxation

When aiming for the RBI exam, one eligibility requirement is the RBI Grade B age limit. Therefore, you must ensure that you fulfill the age limit criteria to appear in the examination. 

Understanding the age limit and ensuring you stand within the required range is significant for your application process.  

As per the RBI Grade B eligibility 2026, the age limit mandated by RBI is as follows:

• The minimum age limit – 21 years,  
• The maximum age limit – 30 years.   

For the RBI Grade B Exam 2025, as of 01st September 2025, candidates to be born between 02nd September 1995 and 01st September 2004.

To get an overview of the RBI Grade B age limit and relaxation, you can have a look at the table below:

Check out the salary and job profile of an RBI Grade B officer in the page linked here. 

RBI Grade B Upper Age Limit Relaxation

The RBI also offers upper age limit relaxation under the following categories: 

• SC/ST Candidates – Up to a maximum of 5 years, if the posts are reserved for them. 

• OBC Candidates – Up to a maximum of 3 years, if the posts are reserved for them. 

• Ex-employees of banking institutions – Up to a maximum of 5 years for those whose services were terminated due to economic reasons or bank liquidation, or those retrenched from government offices after at least one year of service and are registered with an Employment Exchange. 

• Ex-servicemen (including ECOs/SSCOs) – If they have completed at least 5 years of military service and were released under one of the following: 

• After completing their assignment (including those completing within one year from September 1, 2025) 
• Due to physical disability attributable to military service 
• On invalidment 

• ECOs/SSCOs with extended service – If they completed 5 years of service and have Ministry of Defense clearance to take up civil employment. 

• PwBD Candidates –
• General/EWS: Candidates belonging to General/EWS category get upto 10 years of relaxation. 
• OBC: If you belongs to the OBC category, the age relaxation of 13 years is provided to you. 
• SC/ST: Up to 15 years of relaxation is given to ST/SC candidates. (Subject to the post being identified as suitable for the disability) 

• Candidates with Higher Educational Qualifications –

• M.Phil.: Age limit relaxed up to 32 years 
• Ph.D.: Age limit relaxed up to 34 years
• Age Relaxation for Widows –
  • There is no provision of age relaxations provided to candidates who identify themselves as widows.    

To know more important details related to the exam date & upcoming events, you must also check the detailed RBI Grade B notification 2026-2025. 

RBI Relaxation based on Work Experience 

Apart from this, you are also given a relaxation if you had prior working experience as an officer in Commercial Bank/ Financial Institution/RBI in the Public Sector with an upper cap of 3 years.

However, having 10 years of work experience does not mean 10 years of age relaxation in the RBI Exam. While work experience gives you an advantage of age relaxations, it is not compulsory for the RBI exam. 

Eligible Institutions & Banks for RBI Age Relaxation

Candidates must have worked as an officer in one of the following to be eligible for this relaxation: 

• Scheduled Commercial Banks (as listed in the Second Schedule of the RBI Act, 1934) 
• Public Sector Insurance Companies such as LIC, GIC, New India Assurance, etc. 
• All India Financial Institutions (AIFIs) including NABARD, SIDBI, NHB, EXIM Bank, and NaBFID 
• Reserved Bank of India 

If you have work experience, then you can get age relaxation based on your work duration, but it does not include the probation period. Even if you have more than three years of experience, age relaxation will not exceed more than three years. 

It is also important that you are updated about the latest RBI Grade B syllabus to prepare efficiently for the exam. 

RBI Grade B Eligibility 2026 – Nationality

While nationality is a very important factor for the RBI exam eligibility, candidates usually overlook it and take this aspect for granted.  

Having a clear understanding of nationality requirements can help you ensure your eligibility in the selection process. You must fulfill one of the following RBI Grade B nationality criteria to apply for the exam: 

1. A citizen of India, or
2. a subject of Nepal, or
3. a subject of Bhutan, or
4. a Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
5. a person of Indian origin who has migrated from either Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of residing permanently in India.

Important Things to Remember:  

• For candidates who belong to categories (2), (3), (4), or (5), they must have a certificate of proof verified and issued by the Government of India.
• If a candidate does not have a necessary certificate of eligibility, he may be allowed to take the exam. However, he must have the necessary eligibility certificate verified and issued by the Government of India to get the  offer of appointment

If you want to know the paper-wise exam pattern, you can click on the link to get the detailed information about the RBI Grade B exam pattern.

RBI Grade B Eligibility 2026 – Number of Attempts

The total number of attempts is an important factor of the RBI Grade B 2026 eligibility criteria besides educational requirements and age limit.

• The maximum number of attempts that you are allowed to take for the RBI Grade B exam is:

• General/EWS Category – For candidates who belong to this category, the maximum number of attempts is 06 for the RBI Exam 2026.
• SC/ST/OBC/PWD – There are no restrictions on the number of attempts, and you can take the exam as many times, but you must fulfill the eligibility criteria.

Important Things to Note: 

• There is no mandatory requirement for you to sit for the exam each year.  
• If you are unprepared and not confident to take the exam, you don’t need to appear for the exam. Take the exam only when you are well prepared. 

In the table below, I have provided a broad overview of the RBI Grade B number of attempts for you to check. 

Important Rules for SC/ST/OBC/EWS Reserved Category Candidates 

If you belong to SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD category, there are important guidelines for you to keep in mind which are discussed below: 

Applications Submissions Without Reserved Vacancies 

• SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwBD categories may apply for a specific position even if there are no vacancies reserved for them. However, they will not receive any reservations or relaxations. 
• While candidates from SC/ST/PwBD categories are not required to pay the application fee, but they still need to pay the intimation charges.  

Caste Certificate Required in Specific Format 

If you want to avail reservation under SC/ST/OBC, you must submit a caste certificate in the prescribed GOI format issued by the designated authority. You must have the following aspects clearly mentioned in the certificate: 

• Caste or community – The caste or community name and spelling must be exactly same as in the central government’s notified list. Any change or alteration in the name or spelling can cause rejection of the certificate.
• The Act recognizing the caste as SC/ST/OBC 
• Village or Town of Residence 

Decision Regarding OBC Status  

The state where your father comes from decides your OBC status. If you move to a new state, you need to get your OBC certificate based on your father’s OBC certificate from his home state, not the state you have migrated to.

RBI Grade B PwBD Category: Eligibility & Reservation

Age Relaxations:

• PwBD General/EWS: If you belong to General/EWS category, you get an age relaxation of 10 years.
• PwBD OBC-NCL: For candidates who belong to OBC-NCL, the age relaxation is 13 years.  
• PwBD SC/ST: The age relaxation for this category is 15 years. 

Educational Criteria: You must have obtained an aggregate of 50% marks in Graduation and the minimum post-graduation marks required is Pass Marks.  

Number of Attempts: There is no limit to the number of attempts for candidates who belong of PwBD category.  

PwBD Category Division:

• Low Vision or Blindness 
• Deaf and issue in hearing 
• Locomotive disability that includes cerebral palsy, leprosy, or bodily dysfunctions 
• Mental health issues such as autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability, and mental illness.  

Guidelines For Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)

1. Eligibility and Type of Reservation

• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) may be a part of any one of the categories, including General, SC, ST, OBC, or EWS.  
• A candidate belonging to PwBD category seeking reservation must meet the eligibility conditions governed by the “Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act 2016,”  
• Functional Requirements: The PwBD category candidates should be able to sit, walk, express with fingers, read & write, see, and communicate.
• If you are a candidate in PwBD category, you must have a minimum of 40% disability as verified by a competent medical authority.   
• If you want to apply for a post in “Unreserved” category, you can still get an age relaxation and fee waiver. However, you must meet the minimum marks required for the General Category i.e is 60%.   

2. Requirement for Disability Certificate

• If you are a candidate with PwBD status, you are required to have a valid disability certificate issued by a competent authority according to the RPwD Act, 2016.  
• However, your certificate is subject to verification or re-verification by the recruiting authority. 
• Temporary disability certificates are not accepted as per government regulations. 
• Your permanent disability certificate must be issued by a medical authority before or on the closing date of online application.  

3. Scribe Facility and Compensatory Time 

• You are eligible for a scribe with a compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour if you have benchmark disabilities or writing limitations. 
• However, if you need a scribe, you must opt for it while filling out the examination form.  
• Candidates using a scribe must submit a ‘Scribe Declaration Form’ at the time of the examination. 

4. Filling Backlog Vacancies

• These vacancies are first given to the PwBD candidates for whom the vacancy was earlier reserved. 
• If there is no suitable candidate for that category, the vacancy may be filled by PwBD candidates who belong to other categories. However, this is only possible when the seat is suitable for that candidate.  

Medical Examination Process for RBI Grade B 

Once you’re selected for the RBI Grade B role, the next step is your medical examination which is conducted at RBI-approved hospital or center based on your location. This medical examination is a part of the routine during the recruitment process. 

This is What the Medical Test Includes

The medical examination covers the following tests to ensure you’re medically fit for the role: 

• Physical Examination: This involves general physical assessment by a Bank Medical Officer (BMO) which might include recording height, weight, BP, and temperature. 
• Blood Tests: These may include Complete Blood Count (CBC) with ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate), Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) and Postprandial Blood Sugar (PPBS), Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT) which is a liver function test. 
• Urine Test: A pregnancy test (R/UPT) is conducted for married female candidates. 
• Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray (PA view) is required to check for any lung infections, heart enlargement, or other issues in the chest. 
• ECG: Electrocardiogram (ECG) is performed to detect heart rhythm issues, past heart attacks, or any abnormalities in heart function. 
• Eye Test: Eyesight is examined to ensure it meets the required standards for the role. 

If the medical officer finds any issues or abnormalities, you may be asked to go through additional tests for clarity. 

RBI Officer Medical Standard Category

Before you’re selected as an RBI Grade B officer, you will be categorized based on three medical standards, such as: 

1. Healthy: Candidates who pass all the medical tests and are medically fit will be appointed as the RBI Grade B officer without any restrictions. 

2. Partially Healthy: Candidates with minor health issues but can still perform their duties belong to this category. In this case, regular checkups will be conducted to monitor your health timely. 

3. Not Fit: If you are categorized as “unfit”, this means that you do not meet the medical standards of your role. 

If you are preparing for RBI Grade B exam, it is important to solve previous year papers and enhance your prep.