Introduction
The NABARD Grade A 2024 and 2023 Exam is one of the most prestigious banking exams in India, offering aspirants an opportunity to work in the Rural Development Banking Services (RDBS) of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The selection process consists of three phases:
- Phase 1 (Prelims) –
- Objective-based screening test
- Phase 2 (Mains) –
- Descriptive + Objective test for final merit ranking
- Phase 3 (Interview) –
- Personality assessment round
NABARD Grade A 2024 Phase 1 (Prelims) Exam Analysis
Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
| Section | Number of Questions | Marks | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 20 | 20 | Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 | Moderate-Difficult |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | Easy-Moderate |
| General Awareness | 20 | 20 | Moderate |
| Economic & Social Issues (ESI) | 40 | 40 | Moderate-Difficult |
| Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD) | 40 | 40 | Moderate-Difficult |
| Decision Making | 10 | 10 | Moderate |
| Total | 160 | 200 | Overall: Moderate |
- Duration:
- 120 minutes
- Negative Marking:
- 0.25 marks per wrong answer
- Nature:
- Prelims is qualifying and will not be counted in the final merit list.
Section-wise NABARD Grade A 2024 Phase 1 Analysis
Reasoning Ability
| Topics | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 8-10 | Moderate |
| Coding-Decoding | 2-3 | Easy |
| Blood Relations | 2 | Easy |
| Syllogism | 3-4 | Moderate |
Key Takeaways:
- Puzzle-based questions were dominant and required logical thinking.
- Coding-Decoding & Blood Relations were easy scoring areas.
Quantitative Aptitude
| Topics | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation (DI) | 8-10 | Moderate-Difficult |
| Arithmetic (Profit & Loss, SI-CI, Time & Work) | 5-6 | Moderate |
| Quadratic Equations | 2-3 | Moderate |
Key Takeaways:
- DI was lengthy and calculation-intensive.
- Arithmetic required conceptual clarity.
Economic & Social Issues (ESI) & Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD)
| Topics | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Government Schemes | 12-15 | Moderate-Difficult |
| Economic Survey | 5-6 | Moderate |
| Rural Development Policies | 8-10 | Difficult |
Key Takeaways:
- Focus on latest government schemes & economic updates.
- Conceptual clarity was essential for ARD.
NABARD Grade A 2024 Phase 2 (Mains) Exam Analysis
Mains Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subjects | Type | Marks | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | General English | Descriptive | 100 | Moderate |
| Paper 2 | ESI & ARD | Objective + Descriptive | 100 | Difficult |
Key Observations:
- The ESI & ARD paper was the toughest.
- Mains marks are crucial for final selection.
NABARD Grade A 2024 Phase 2 Section-wise Analysis
Descriptive English (Paper 1)
| Topics | Weightage | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Essay Writing | 40 marks | Moderate |
| Letter Writing | 30 marks | Easy |
| Reading Comprehension | 30 marks | Moderate |
Key Takeaways:
- Essay topics were agriculture and rural development-oriented.
- Time management was crucial for scoring well.
ESI & ARD (Paper 2)
| Topics | Weightage | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Current Affairs & Economic Trends | 30% | Moderate |
| Rural Development & Government Schemes | 40% | Difficult |
| Static ARD Concepts | 30% | Moderate |
Key Takeaways:
- Focus on current economic trends & rural development policies.
- ESI had tough numerical questions on GDP, inflation, and fiscal policies.
Expected Cut-off for NABARD Grade A 2024
| Category | Prelims Expected Cut-off | Mains Expected Cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| General | 122-127 | 140-145 |
| OBC | 118-122 | 135-140 |
| SC/ST | 110-115 | 125-130 |
NABARD Grade A 2023 Prelims Exam Analysis (Phase 1)
Overview of Prelims Exam Pattern
The Phase 1 exam was an objective test conducted online, with a total of 200 marks and a duration of 120 minutes (2 hours). The sectional weightage is as follows:
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | Easy-Moderate |
| Reasoning Ability | 20 | 20 | Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 | Moderate-Difficult |
| General Awareness | 20 | 20 | Moderate |
| Computer Knowledge | 20 | 20 | Easy-Moderate |
| Economic & Social Issues (ESI) | 40 | 40 | Moderate-Difficult |
| Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD) | 40 | 40 | Moderate-Difficult |
| Total | 200 | 200 | Moderate-Difficult |
Section-Wise Analysis
1. English Language (Easy-Moderate Difficulty)
The English section was relatively easy, with the following topic-wise weightage:
- Reading Comprehension – 10 Qs
- Error Detection – 5 Qs
- Cloze Test – 5 Qs
- Sentence Rearrangement – 5 Qs
- Fill in the Blanks – 5 Qs
2. Reasoning Ability (Moderate Difficulty)
The Reasoning section had a mix of puzzles and logical reasoning topics:
- Puzzles & Seating Arrangement – 10 Qs
- Syllogism – 3 Qs
- Coding-Decoding – 2 Qs
- Inequality – 2 Qs
- Blood Relations & Direction Sense – 3 Qs
3. Quantitative Aptitude (Moderate-Difficult)
The Quant section was calculation-intensive with tricky DI sets:
- Data Interpretation – 8 Qs
- Quadratic Equations – 3 Qs
- Arithmetic (Profit & Loss, SI-CI, Time & Work, etc.) – 7 Qs
- Number Series – 2 Qs
4. General Awareness (Moderate Difficulty)
- Current Affairs (Last 6 months) – 12 Qs
- Banking & Financial Awareness – 5 Qs
- Static GK – 3 Qs
5. Computer Knowledge (Easy-Moderate)
This section was easy, with basic-level questions on:
- MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
- Internet & Networking
- Basic Computer Terminology
6. Economic & Social Issues (ESI) (Moderate-Difficult)
- Government Schemes – 10 Qs
- Budget & Economic Survey – 5 Qs
- Social Issues & Reports – 10 Qs
- GDP, Inflation & Monetary Policy – 10 Qs
- Poverty, Employment & HDI – 5 Qs
7. Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD) (Moderate-Difficult)
- Agronomy, Soil Science – 10 Qs
- Animal Husbandry & Fisheries – 5 Qs
- Rural Development Schemes – 5 Qs
- Climate Change & Sustainable Agriculture – 10 Qs
- Crop Insurance & NABARD Reports – 10 Qs
Prelims Exam Analysis: Key Takeaways
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
Good Attempts: 110-130 (for a high chance of selection)
Expected Cut-off:
- General: 120-125
- OBC: 115-120
- SC/ST: 105-110
NABARD Grade A 2023 Mains Exam Analysis (Phase 2)
The Mains exam consisted of two papers:
- Paper 1 – English Descriptive (100 Marks | 90 Minutes)
- Paper 2 – ESI & ARD (Objective + Descriptive) (100 Marks | 90 Minutes)
Paper 1 – English Descriptive (Moderate Difficulty)
- Essay Writing (40 Marks) – Topics on agriculture, rural development, financial inclusion
- Precis Writing (20 Marks)
- Letter Writing (20 Marks) – Formal letters to banks and government departments
- Reading Comprehension & Analysis (20 Marks)
Ideal Score: 65-75 Marks
Paper 2 – ESI & ARD (Moderate-Difficult)
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESI Objective | 30 Qs | 50 Marks | Moderate |
| ARD Objective | 30 Qs | 50 Marks | Moderate-Difficult |
| ESI/ARD Descriptive | 6 Qs (Attempt 4) | 50 Marks | Moderate |
Key Topics in Paper 2
Economic & Social Issues (ESI):
- Indian Economy & Growth Trends
- Financial Inclusion & Digital Banking
- Recent Government Schemes & Reports
Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD):
- Soil Health, Irrigation, Cropping Patterns
- NABARD Role in Rural Development
- Climate Change & Sustainable Agriculture
Good Score in Paper 2: 65-75 Marks
Final Selection & Cut-off Trends
The final cut-off is based on the combined score of Mains + Interview. Here are the expected cut-offs based on past trends:
| Category | Prelims Cut-off (Expected) | Mains Cut-off (Expected) |
|---|---|---|
| General | 120-125 | 155-165 |
| OBC | 115-120 | 150-160 |
| SC/ST | 105-110 | 140-150 |
Comparative Analysis with Previous Years
| Year | Difficulty Level | Expected Cut-off | Key Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Moderate-Difficult | 118-123 | More focus on ESI & ARD |
| 2023 | Moderate | 120-125 | ESI & ARD questions were tougher |
| 2024 | Moderate-Difficult | 122-127 | Increased weightage on Rural Development |
NABARD Cut-off Trends (2022-2024)
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Final Preparation Strategy for NABARD Aspirants
- Stay Updated on Current Affairs & Government Schemes
- Master Agriculture & Rural Development Topics
- Solve Mock Tests & Analyze Performance
- Enhance Descriptive Writing for Mains
- Prelims Strategy:
- Focus on Current Affairs, ESI, and ARD as they hold the most weightage.
- Mains Strategy:
- Strong conceptual clarity in ESI/ARD is crucial, along with good writing skills for the descriptive section.
- Interview Preparation:
- Be well-versed with NABARD’s role, government schemes, and rural development initiatives.
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Conclusion
The NABARD Grade A 2024 Exam was moderate to difficult, with an increased focus on Agriculture & Rural Development. Aspirants must prioritize conceptual clarity and time management while strengthening descriptive writing for Mains.
