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NABARD Grade A Comprehensive Demo
- As per new exam pattern
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- 22 Full-Length Practice Tests for Phase 1 and Phase
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NABARD Grade A Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025
Knowing the NABARD Grade A syllabus for all the posts is the first step that would kick-start your preparation on a strong note for the exam. Now that the NABARD Grade A notification 2025 is just around the corner with the conclusion of the current exam cycle, you should begin your preparation right away as well. Apart from knowing the complete syllabus, it is imperative to have a list of useful NABARD Grade A books in order to save your precious time.
Furthermore, it is also essential to be aware of the NABARD Grade A exam pattern. The NABARD Grade A exam will be held in four stages- Prelims, Mains, Psychometric Test and Interview. In the NABARD Grade A Phase 1 exam pattern, all sections have been divided into the qualifying and merit sections. The scores obtained in the merit section will only be considered for making the merit list. A minimum cut-off would be declared based on which the selection would be made, and those who manage equal or more than the cut-off score will get a seat in the second phase and then in the third phase.
| Preliminary Examination (Online Exam will consist of 8 sections) | |
| Main Examination will be online and will be a mix of MCQs and Descriptive Pattern | |
| Psychometric Test | |
| Interview |
NABARD Grade A Prelims Exam Pattern
The NABARD Grade A Prelims exam is an objective test that will test you based on your knowledge and skills in various subjects. A new subject, 'Decision Making', was introduced last time. The details of the NABARD Grade A Phase 1 exam pattern are as follows.
| Nature of Test | Test Name | No. Of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Duration | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qualifying | Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 | Composite time of 120 minutes | Bilingual – Hindi and English except test of English language |
| Reasoning Ability | 20 | 20 | |||
| Computer Knowledge | 20 | 20 | |||
| English Language | 30 | 30 | |||
| Decision Making | 10 | 10 | |||
| Merit Based | General Awareness | 20 | 20 | ||
| Agriculture & Rural Development (with focus on Rural India) | 40 | 40 | |||
| Economic and Social Issues (with focus on Rural India) | 40 | 40 | |||
| Total | 200 | 200 | 2 Hours | ||
Important Points to note:
- Test of Reasoning, English Language, Decision Making, Computer Knowledge, and Quantitative Aptitude will come under the qualifying section.
- General Awareness, ESI (Rural India being the primary emphasis), and ARD (emphasizing Rural India) will come under the umbrella of the merit section.
- The candidates for the Mains examination will be shortlisted based on the marks secured in the Merit Section only.
- For every wrong answer, 1/4th of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted from your total score.
- There will be sectional and overall cut-offs.
NABARD Grade A Prelims Syllabus 2024
The NABARD Grade A Prelims is the first stage of the selection process. To move into the next stage, you must perform exceptionally well in the exam. Therefore, you should note the detailed NABARD Grade A Prelims syllabus to be able to excel in the exam.
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Time and Work, Mensuration, Average, Speed, Distance and Time, Mixture and Allegations, Permutation and Combination, Probability, Data Interpretation, Ratio & Proportion, Simplification & Approximation, Percentage, Set Theory, Data Interpretation, Quadratic Equation, Number Series, Profit & loss, Boats & Stream, Simple and Compound Interest, Data Sufficiency |
| English Language | Grammar, Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Passage Making, Error Spotting, Jumble Words, Sentence Framing, Fill in the Blanks, Cloze Test, Sentence Rearrangement, Idioms & Phrases |
| General Awareness | Monetary Policies, Banking & Financial Awareness, Economic Terms, Current Affairs, Static GK, Financial & Economics News, Government Schemes, Agreement & Deals, Banking terms, rates, processes, National Institution |
| Reasoning Ability | Puzzles, Seating Arrangement - Circular, Square and Linear, Data Sufficiency, Directions and Distance, Coding Decoding, Blood Relations, Inequality, Syllogism, Machine Input Output, Verbal Reasoning, Ordering and Ranking, Alphanumeric Series |
| Computer Knowledge | Computer Languages, Basic Hardware and Software, History of Computer, Devices, Viruses and Hacking, MS Office, Networking |
| Decision Making | Behaviour Decision Making,Managerial Decision making,Eligibility Criteria based decision making,Data Arrangements Based Decision making |
NABARD Grade A Mains Exam Pattern 2024
NABARD had earlier introduced a significant change in the NABARD Grade A pattern for the Phase 2 exam. There are two different papers in Phase 2, each with its individual timing. The General English paper of the NABARD Assistant Manager is in the descriptive format with a total duration of 90 minutes, whereas the ESI paper is objective and descriptive, where the objective paper will be for 30 minutes, and the descriptive paper will be for 90 minutes, each carrying 50 marks. NABARD Grade A Paper 2 will contain questions from Economic & Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural Development with special stress on Rural India for the General post. For the Specialist posts, Paper 2 will be based on the respective discipline. The NABARD Grade A Phase 2 exam pattern as per recent changes is given below.
| Paper | Subject | Type of Paper | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | Online Descriptive | 3 | 100 | 90 Minutes | Descriptive Answers to be typed using keyboard |
| Paper II | Economic and Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural Development | Objective | 30** | 50 | 30 Minutes | |
| Descriptive Type | 6 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] | 50 | 90 Minutes | Descriptive Answers to be typed using keyboard either in English or Hindi (Remington and Inscript keyboards) | ||
| Total | 100 (Paper II) | 2 Hours (Paper II) | ||||
| **(Some questions carry 2 marks each and some questions carry 1 mark each) | ||||||
Important Points to note:
- For every wrong answer, 1/4th mark assigned to that question will be deducted from your total score.
- There will be sectional and overall cut-offs.
- If you want to type the answers in Hindi, you can take the help of either - Inscript or Remington (GAIL) keyboard layout.
- Paper 1 (General English) will take place in the morning shift, followed by Paper 2 (Economics and Social Issues) in the afternoon shift.
- You cannot shuffle between objective/descriptive papers. Furthermore, the descriptive papers will start immediately after the objective test.
- For Descriptive Paper 2, if you answer more than 4 questions, only the first 4 will be evaluated.
- Descriptive English needs to be answered in English only.
NABARD Grade A Mains Syllabus
NABARD Grade A Phase 2 (Mains) syllabus is different for different streams. For the general stream, topics from Agriculture & Rural Development and Economic & Social Issues (with a focus on Rural India) are covered in Paper 2. For the specialized posts, Paper 2 will consist of questions from the respective field of specialization.
NABARD Grade A Mains Syllabus (Generalist): Paper 1
Paper 1 of NABARD Grade A Mains will be of English Language which is descriptive type in online mode. Candidates are supposed to type their answers and their expression and comprehension skills will be examined in this phase. The detailed NABARD Grade A syllabus Paper 1 is given below.
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| English (Writing Skills) | Essay, Precis writing, Comprehension and Business/Office Correspondence. |
NABARD Grade A Mains Syllabus (Generalist): Paper 2
Before you commence the preparation for the NABARD Grade A exam for the year 2025, it is extremely important to be aware of the complete NABARD Grade A syllabus. You can go through the detailed syllabus of NABARD Grade A below.
NABARD Grade A Mains (RDBS) Paper 2 General consists of two parts. Part one is Objective type questions carrying one or two marks and Part two is of descriptive type, where candidates are required to attend any 4 (out of 6 questions) with two questions of 15 marks and two questions of 10 marks, in this section. Paper 2 will contain questions about Economic and Social Issues and questions on Agriculture and Rural Development (focus on Rural India). The detailed NABARD Grade A syllabus is given below.
Similarly Paper 2 for the specialized posts, will consist of questions from the respective field of specialization, with same marking pattern.
NABARD Grade A Syllabus for Economic & Social Issues
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Economic & Social Issues | Nature of Indian Economy - Structural and Institutional features - Economic underdevelopment - Opening up the Indian Economy - Globalisation - Economic Reforms in India - Privatisation. Inflation - Trends in Inflation & their Impact on National Economy and Individual Income. Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India - Rural and Urban - Measurement of Poverty - Poverty Alleviation Programmes of the Government. Population Trends - Population Growth and Economic Development - Population Policy in India. Agriculture - Characteristics / Status - Technical and Institutional changes in Indian Agriculture - Agricultural performance - Issues in Food Security in India - Non Institutional and Institutional Agencies in rural credit. Industry - Industrial and Labour Policy - Industrial performance - Regional Imbalance in India's Industrial Development - Public Sector Enterprises. Rural banking and financial institutions in India - Reforms in Banking/ Financial sector. Globalisation of Economy - Role of International Funding Institutions - IMF & World Bank - WTO - Regional Economic Co-operation. Social Structure in India - Multiculturalism - Demographic trends - Urbanisation and Migration - Gender Issues Joint family system - Social Infrastructure - Education - Health and Environment. Education - Status & System of Education - Socio -Economic Problems associated with Illiteracy - Educational relevance and educational wastage - Educational Policy for India. Social Justice: Problems of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes - socio-economic programmes for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and other backward classes. Positive Discrimination in favour of the under privileged - Social Movements - Indian Political Systems - Human Development. Current Economic & Social Issues. |
NABARD Grade A Syllabus for Agriculture and Rural Development
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Agriculture |
|
| Rural Development |
|
NABARD Grade A Psychometric Test
After the Mains is conducted, NABARD has introduced a psychometric test for narrowing down the most suitable candidates to be selected for the fourth and final phase of the NABARD Grade A recruitment. The psychometric test will be an MCQ of 90 minutes duration. More details on this third stage will be provided to aspirants once they reach this stage of the recruitment. Only those aspirants who score the minimum cut off marks or above in the Main Examination will be shortlisted for interview provided they appear in the Psychometric Test.
| Name of Test | Paper Type | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Psychometric Test (Mandatory) | MCQ based | 90 minutes |
NABARD Grade A Interview
If you manage to qualify in the NABARD Grade A Mains exam along with the psychometric test and secure a sufficiently high rank in merit, you will be shortlisted for the fourth phase, i.e., ‘ NABARD Grade A Interview’. The maximum marks allocated to the Interview stage are 50. The applicants to be called for an Interview for NABARD Grade-A will be in the ratio of 1:3 respectively.
Your selection will be determined by your overall Mains psychometric test and Interview results. Those three will be combined to create the final merit list. In the interview, your overall personality will be judged. Questions from your personal life, graduation and current affairs will be asked. It is advised to keep the habit of reading the newspaper daily.
NABARD Grade A Marking Scheme
NABARD Grade A Phase 1 will have objective-type questions and carry 200 marks. NABARD Grade A Phase 2 will also consist of two papers. Paper 1 will be a Descriptive English Test carrying 100 marks, and Paper 2 will be on Economic and Social Issues and Agriculture & Rural Development (Objective + Descriptive) type, also carrying 100 marks. Therefore, it is important to know the NABARD Grade A marking scheme provided below.
NABARD Grade A Marking Scheme
| Marking Scheme | Considered Marks |
|---|---|
| For correct answers | 1 Mark or 2 Marks |
| For wrong answers | For 1 Mark question: Negative Marking of 0.25 Marks For 2 Mark question: Negative Marking of 0.50 Marks |
| For not attempted | 0 (no marks) |
NABARD Grade A Exam Language
Both tests of the NABARD Grade A exam will be conducted online. Please note that all questions in NABARD Grade A Phase 1 and NABARD Grade A Phase 2 exams, except the test of English Language in Phase 1 and Descriptive Test of English in Phase 2, will be bilingual, i.e., in English and Hindi.
NABARD Grade A Preparation Tips & Strategies
To excel in the NABARD Grade A exam, it is crucial to have a well-structured and strategic approach to your preparation. In addition to putting in hard work, you also need to work smartly to cover the extensive NABARD Grade A syllabus within the given time frame. Here are some valuable tips and strategies that will prove beneficial in your NABARD Grade A exam preparation.
- Understand the NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern & NABARD Grade A Syllabus: Start by familiarizing yourself with the exam pattern and syllabus. Understand the different sections, marks allocation, and time limits for each section. This will help you plan your preparation strategy accordingly.
- Devise a Study Plan: Develop a study plan that covers all the topics mentioned in the NABARD Grade A syllabus. Divide your time wisely, allocating more time to areas where you need improvement. Set realistic goals and milestones to track your progress.
- Refer to Relevant Study Materials: Collect relevant study material such as textbooks, reference books, online resources, and previous years' question papers. NABARD's official website may provide sample papers and study material. Ensure that your study material is up-to-date and covers all the required topics.
- Focus on Core Subjects: The NABARD Grade A exam typically includes sections like Agriculture & Rural Development, Economic & Social Issues, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness and English Language. Allocate sufficient time to each section, paying more attention to your weaker areas.
- Stay Updated with Current Affairs: Stay updated with current affairs related to agriculture, rural development, and economic and social issues. Read newspapers, magazines, and reliable online sources to stay informed. This knowledge will be essential for the General Awareness section. You can also take a look at ixamBee’s BeePedia General Awareness capsules, which are absolutely free and are available in English as well as Hindi.
- Stay Healthy: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial during your exam preparation. Get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, and exercise regularly to stay physically and mentally fit. Manage stress through relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or pursuing hobbies.
It is important to remember that consistency and perseverance are essential factors for achieving success in a highly competitive exam like the NABARD Grade A exam. The tips and strategies mentioned above will help you achieve this end.
Time Management Strategies for Covering the NABARD Grade A Syllabus Effectively
To effectively manage your time during NABARD Grade A exam preparation, consider implementing the following strategies-
- Customize your Study Plan: Create a personalized study plan that encompasses all the subjects and topics of the NABARD Grade A exam. Allocate dedicated time for each subject, considering your strengths and weaknesses, to ensure comprehensive coverage of the NABARD Grade A syllabus.
- Focus on What’s Important: Identify the topics that carry more weightage or are frequently tested in the exam. Give priority to these topics and allocate sufficient time for in-depth study and practice.
- Realistic Goals: Establish realistic daily, weekly, and monthly goals to keep your preparation on track. Break down the syllabus into manageable sections and set targets to complete them within specific timeframes.
- Take Frequent Breaks: Incorporate short breaks into your study sessions to maintain focus and productivity. Schedule brief intervals of 10-15 minutes after each hour of study to relax and recharge your mind.
- Minimize Distractions: Create a conducive study environment by eliminating distractions such as social media, phone calls, and television. Designate a dedicated study area and silence or keep away any potential distractions during your study hours.
- Regular Revision: Make revision an integral part of your study plan. Set aside dedicated time for regular review of previously covered topics to reinforce your understanding and retain information effectively.
- Tech-savvy: Utilize available technology tools and resources to optimize your time management. Explore study apps, productivity software, and online platforms that offer study schedules, progress tracking, and time management features.
- Stay Motivated: Maintain a high level of motivation throughout your preparation. Keep reminding yourself of your goals and the rewards that await you after the NABARD Grade A exam. Stay positive, take breaks when needed, and maintain a healthy lifestyle to maintain motivation and focus.
NABARD Grade A Recommended Study Resources
Preparing for the NABARD Grade A exam requires dedicated effort and hard work. Here are some recommended study resources that can assist you in your exam preparation.
- Union Budget: Having a knowledge of the critical highlights of the Union Budget is crucial as it significantly impacts the country's economy, monetary policy, and banking system. Stay updated with the Union Budget to understand and analyze economic policies and trends effectively. Focus on aspects such as fiscal deficit, taxation changes, allocation of funds to different sectors, and policy measures aimed at economic growth and development.
- Economic Survey: The Economic Survey is an annual document released by the Government of India. It provides a comprehensive overview of the Indian economy, including its performance, challenges, and policy recommendations. Reading and understanding the Economic Survey can offer valuable insights into the state of the economy, emerging trends, and policy initiatives. Pay attention to topics such as GDP growth, inflation, employment, agriculture, infrastructure, and social sectors.
- Manorama Yearbook: The Manorama Yearbook is a renowned reference book that covers important events, developments, and general knowledge in India and around the world. It serves as a valuable resource for enhancing your knowledge in various subjects, including history, geography, science and technology, sports, politics, and more. Utilize the Manorama Yearbook to broaden your understanding of diverse topics and stay updated with current affairs.
- Pratiyogita Darpan: Pratiyogita Darpan is a popular magazine that focuses on current affairs, general knowledge, and other relevant topics. It provides in-depth coverage of national and international events, government policies, sports, the economy, and more. Regularly reading Pratiyogita Darpan can help you stay informed about important developments and improve your knowledge and awareness. The magazine often includes practice exercises and mock tests that can aid in your exam preparation.
- Mock Tests: Taking mock tests specifically designed for the NABARD Grade A exam is crucial. These mock tests simulate the actual exam environment and enable you to assess your preparation level. You can take the help of ixamBee to access free mock tests for the NABARD Grade A exam. Analyze your performance in these tests to identify weak areas and concentrate on improving them.
- Previous Year Papers: Solving previous year question papers of the NABARD Grade A exam is a valuable approach to get a fair idea of the NABARD Grade A exam pattern and become acquainted with the question types. It aids in developing an effective exam strategy and enhancing time management skills.
NABARD Grade A 80 Days Study Plan 2025
| NABARD 2024 Live class Plan (80 Days ARD & ESI), Batch 2 Starts from 1st April 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Day | Subject | Time | Topics | |
|
1 April |
Monday |
Intro |
5:00 PM |
NABARD Preparation Strategy & Approach |
|
|
2 April |
Tuesday |
ESI |
5:00 PM |
NABARD ESI PYQ Analysis |
|
|
3 April |
Wednesday |
ARD |
4:00 PM |
NABARD Previous Year Paper Analysis and Learning |
|
|
4 April |
Thursday |
GA |
4:00 PM |
GA Road map and focus points based on Previous year paper |
|
|
5 April |
Friday |
ARD |
4:00 PM |
ARD questions and Syllabus- What to Focus |
|
|
6 April |
Saturday |
ESI |
4:00 PM |
ESI Questions and Syllabus- What to Focus |
|
|
7 April |
Sunday |
Quants |
4:00 PM |
Quants 2021, 2022, 2023 analysis - Structure & Roadmap |
|
|
8 April |
Monday |
English |
4:00 PM |
Role of English in Prelims anf Mains based on previous year paper |
|
|
9 April |
Tuesday |
ARD |
4:00 PM |
Introduction to agriculture & Agronomy |
|
|
10 April |
Wednesday |
ESI |
4:00 PM |
Nature of Indian Economy Part-1 |
|
|
11 April |
Thursday |
Reasoning |
4:00 PM |
Reasoning 2021, 2022, 2023 analysis - Structure & Roadmap |
|
|
12 April |
Friday |
DM |
4:00 PM |
Decision Making- Crucial for Prelims- Roadmap |
|
|
15 April |
Monday |
ESI |
4:00 PM |
Nature of Indian Economy Part-2 |
|
|
16 April |
Tuesday |
ARD |
4:00 PM |
Classification of crops and Factor affecting crop Production |
|
|
19 April |
Friday |
Computer Awareness |
4:00 PM |
Computer Awareness approach -History and Generations of computer Components of computer |
|
|
20 April |
Saturday |
ARD |
4:00 PM |
Growth of agriculture - Union Budget & Economic Survey |
|
NABARD Grade A Books 2025
It will be beneficial to take cues from the best books available in the market and syllabus so that you do not waste time that can be used for productive work. So, it will be better if you utilize the available time and start your preparation step-by-step. Some useful information on NABARD Grade A exam study material is provided in the table below.
| Paper | Book | Author/Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Economic and Social Issues | Indian Economy | Uma Kapila or Mishra Puri |
| Indian Economy | Ramesh Singh | |
| Indian Social System | Ram Ahuja / Rawat Publications | |
| Agriculture & Rural Development | Agriculture at a Glance | R K Sharma and S K Bhoi |
| Rural Development | GPH Panel of Experts | |
| Fundamental Of Agriculture Vol 2 | Arun Katyan | |
| A Competitive Book of Agriculture | Nem Raj Sunda | |
| Rajbhasha | संपूर्ण हिन्दी व्याकरण और रचना | Lucent |
| सामान्य हिन्दी प्रतियोगी परीक्षाओं के लिए | lucent पब्लिकैशन | |
| सामान्य हिन्दी | अग्रवाल ग्रुप ऑफ पब्लिकैशन | |
| सरल हिन्दी व्याकरण | साहित्य भवन / पुष्पलता सिंह | |
| मानक हिन्दी व्याकरण एवं रचना | सरस्वती पब्लिकैशन / कमल सत्यर्थी | |
| राजभाषा हिन्दी | डॉ भोलानाथ तिवारी | |
| हिन्दी साहित्य का इतिहास | आचार्य रामचन्द्र शुक्ल | |
| हिन्दी शब्द सामर्थ्य | कैलाश चंद्र भाटिया | |
| राजभाषा भारती E Book | https://rajbhasha.gov.in/hi/e_book | |
| हिन्दी मासिक पत्र पत्रिकाएं |
|
|
| नोट: हिन्दी राजभाषा से संबंधित विषयों पर अधिक जानकारी हेतु https://rajbhasha.gov.in/hi का अध्ययन आवेश्यक है । | ||
| Quantitative Aptitude | Quicker Mathematics | BSC Publications |
| Quantitative Aptitude | RS Agarwal | |
| Class Notes | SS Bharti | |
| Reasoning Ability | A modern approach to verbal & Non-verbal reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | S.Chand | |
| Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | Arihant Publication | |
| English Language | English Grammar & Composition | Wren & Martin |
| Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis | |
| Descriptive General English | SP Bakshi | |
| Computer Awareness | Objective Computer Awareness | Arihant |
| General Awareness | Lucent GK Knowledge | Lucent Publication |
| Beepedia | ixamBee | |
NABARD Grade A Free Mock Tests
To succeed in any exam, it is essential to go beyond simply covering the syllabus. An assessment tool that can enhance your knowledge and boost your confidence is crucial. Mock tests provide an effective way to evaluate your preparation level. ixamBee recognizes the significance of this and offers NABARD Grade A mock tests on its website for free. These mock tests are invaluable resources designed to assist aspirants in self-analysis. By attempting the NABARD Grade A free mock test, you can gauge your progress and identify areas that require improvement. This tool serves as an asset in your exam preparation, allowing you to refine your knowledge and enhance your overall performance.
NABARD Grade A Online Course
Considering this vital requirement of all aspirants, ixamBee has brought together a comprehensive Online Learning Course- ‘ NABARD Grade A Online Course’ for the preparation for the NABARD Grade ‘A’ exam. This beneficial and precise NABARD Grade A exam course is designed by our expert faculty, keeping in mind all the preparation needs of aspiring candidates.
NABARD Grade A Phase I - Free Mock Tests
NABARD Grade A Phase I - Previous Year Question Paper
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