NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern 2026
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NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern 2026 consists of three stages -Prelims (Objective, 200 marks), Mains (Descriptive English + Objective & Descriptive subject paper, 200 marks), and Interview -for Assistant Manager (Grade A) recruitment in National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
NABARD Grade A 2026 Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) |
| Post Name | Assistant Manager (Grade A) |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains & Interview |
| Prelims Exam | Objective (200 Questions, 200 Marks, 120 Minutes) |
| Mains Exam | Paper I (Descriptive English) + Paper II (Objective + Descriptive) |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks for every wrong answer |
| Official Website | www.nabard.org |
NABARD Grade A Selection Process 2026
- Prelims Exam (Phase 1)
- Mains Exam (Phase 2)
- Interview (Phase 3)
Shortlisting for Mains is based only on merit sections (General Awareness, ESI, and ARD) in Prelims. Final selection is based on Mains + Interview marks.
NABARD Grade A Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
Key Highlights:
- 5 sections are qualifying in nature.
- 3 sections are merit sections.
- Shortlisting for Mains depends only on merit section scores.
- Composite time: 120 minutes.
- Bilingual (English & Hindi) except English section.
| S.No. | Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Test of Reasoning | 20 | 20 | 120 minutes (Composite) |
| 2 | English Language | 30 | 30 | |
| 3 | Computer Knowledge | 20 | 20 | |
| 4 | Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 | |
| 5 | Decision Making | 10 | 10 | |
| 6 | General Awareness | 20 | 20 | |
| 7 | Eco & Soc. Issues (with focus on Rural India) | 40 | 40 | |
| 8 | Agriculture & Rural Development (with Emphasis on Rural India) | 40 | 40 | |
| Total | - | 200 | 200 | 120 Minutes |
NABARD Grade A Mains Exam Pattern 2026 for Generalist Post
| Paper | Grade A | Type of Paper | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | Online Descriptive | 3 | 100 | 90 Minutes | Typed using keyboard |
| Paper II | Economic & Social Issues + Agriculture & Rural Development | Objective + Descriptive | 30 (Obj) + 6 (attempt 4) | 100 | 30 + 90 Minutes | Obj: 50 marks; Desc: 50 marks (2×15 + 2×10) |
NABARD Grade A Mains Exam Pattern 2026 for Specialist Post
| Paper | Grade A | Type of Paper | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | Online Descriptive | 3 | 100 | 90 Minutes | Typed using keyboard |
| Paper II | Stream Specific Paper | Objective + Descriptive | 30 (Obj) + 6 (attempt 4) | 100 | 30 + 90 Minutes | Obj: 50 marks; Desc: 50 marks (2×15 + 2×10) |
NABARD Grade A Prelims Syllabus 2026
Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
- Syllogism
- Data Sufficiency
- Statement based questions (Verbal reasoning)
- Inequality
- Miscellaneous Questions
- Input-Output
- Blood Relations
- Coding-Decoding
Quantitative Aptitude
- Data Interpretation
- Quadratic Equations
- Number Series
- Simplification/Approximation
- Data Sufficiency
- Arithmetic Questions (Profit & Loss, SI & CI, Time & Work, etc.)
- Quantity Comparisons
- Mathematical Inequalities
English Language
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Sentence Improvement
- Spotting Errors
- Fill in the Blanks
- Sentence Rearrangement / Para Jumbles
- New Pattern Questions (Match the column, etc.)
General Awareness
Current Affairs (National & International), Banking & Economy, Insurance, Awards & Honours, Sports, Government Schemes, Science & Technology, Appointments, and Static GK with focus on Rural & Agricultural developments.
Computer Knowledge
- Networking
- Input-Output Devices
- DBMS
- MS Office
- Internet
- History of Computers & Generations
- Computer Shortcuts
NABARD Grade A Mains Syllabus 2026
Economic and Social Issues (ESI)
| Name of Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Nature of Indian Economy | Structural & Institutional features, Economic Underdevelopment, Globalization, Economic Reforms, Privatization |
| Inflation | Trends & Impact on National Economy & Individual Income |
| Poverty Alleviation & Employment | Rural & Urban Poverty Measurement, Government Programmes |
| Population Trends | Population Growth & Economic Development, Population Policy |
| Agriculture | Characteristics, Technical & Institutional changes, Food Security, Rural Credit |
| Industry | Industrial & Labour Policy, Regional Imbalance, Public Sector |
| Rural Banking & Financial Institutions | Reforms in Banking/Financial Sector |
| Globalization | IMF, World Bank, WTO, Regional Economic Cooperation |
| Social Structure in India | Multiculturalism, Urbanization, Migration, Gender Issues, Education, Health |
| Education & Social Justice | Illiteracy issues, Educational Policy, Problems of SC/ST/OBC, Social Movements |
Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD) with Emphasis on Rural India
| Name of Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Definition, Agronomy, Agro Climatic Zones, Cropping Systems, Organic Farming, Precision Farming |
| Soil and Water Conservation | Soil Types, Fertility, Erosion, Watershed Management |
| Water Resource | Irrigation Types, Sources, Crop-water Requirement, Micro-irrigation |
| Farm and Agri Engineering | Farm Machinery, Power Sources, Water Harvesting, Agro-Processing, Storage |
| Plantation & Horticulture | Production Technology, Post-harvest Management, Value Chain |
| Animal Husbandry | Role in Economy, Breeds, Feeds & Fodders, Poultry, Mixed Farming |
| Fisheries | Resources, Aquaculture, Post-harvest Technology |
| Forestry | Silviculture, Social Forestry, Agroforestry, Forest Policy, India State of Forest Report |
| Agriculture Extensions | Role of KVKs, Evaluation of Extension Programmes |
| Ecology & Climate Change | GHG, Adaptation & Mitigation, IPCC, Government Initiatives (NAPCC, SAPCC) |
| Present Scenario of Indian Agriculture | Recent Trends, Challenges, Globalization Impact, Farm Management |
For Specialist Posts: Paper II covers stream-specific professional knowledge (e.g., Finance, IT, Economics, Statistics, etc.) along with the above ESI/ARD focus as per the discipline.
Preparation Tips for NABARD Grade A 2026
- Prioritize ESI & ARD as they carry high weightage and appear in both Prelims and Mains.
- Focus on rural development schemes, government initiatives, and current affairs related to agriculture.
- Practice descriptive answers for English and subject papers.
- Solve previous year papers and mock tests regularly.
