NABARD Grade A 2025: Exam Dates, Syllabus, Salary & Complete Guide

Introduction

Preparing for a competitive exam like NABARD Grade A can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry—you’re not alone in this journey. With the right guidance and planning, cracking this exam is totally achievable. I’m here to simplify everything you need to know about NABARD Grade A.

Whether it’s the latest notification, exam pattern, syllabus, preparation strategy, or even salary details—we’ll cover it all, step by step. No confusion, no stress.

But before we dive in, let’s first understand what NABARD is and why this exam is such a great opportunity.

What is NABARD?

NABARD stands for National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Established in 1982, its prime focus is on supporting the agriculture and rural development sectors of India. It’s basically India’s top institution when it comes to rural development, agriculture financing, and supporting farmers. If you’re passionate about rural progress and want a stable, respected career in the government sector, NABARD is one of the best choices out there.

Let’s break down everything about this exam in simple terms—because at C4S Courses, we believe in making learning easy and result-oriented.

Let’s get started!

NABARD Grade A 2025 Notification: Released Date, PDF Download Link

The official notification for NABARD Grade A 2025 hasn’t been released yet—but don’t worry, the C4S team is on it. We’re closely tracking every update, and the moment it’s out, we’ll share the official PDF link here so you can download it easily.

In the meantime, let’s not sit idle. To help you stay ahead, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the NABARD Assistant Manager exam based on the 2024 notification. This will give you a clear idea about how the exam works, what to study, and how to prepare smartly.

Stay tuned—we’ll keep you updated, every step of the way.

NABARD Grade A 2025 Exam Dates: Apply Online Deadline & Phase Schedule

Here are the important dates of the NABARD assistant manager 2025 exam:

Event	Dates
NABARD Grade A Notification 2025	To be announced
Online Application Start Date	To be announced
Online Application Last Date	To be announced
Phase 1 (Preliminary) Exam	To be announced
Phase 2 (Mains) Exam	To be announced

Note: Don’t worry about missing any dates—C4S Courses will update you as soon as the official schedule is released. Just focus on your preparation for now!

Click on the link to download the NABARD Grade A 2025 Notification PDF for free. (The link will be active once the NABARD assistant manager 2025 notification is released.)

NABARD Grade A 2025 Vacancy: Category-wise Seats & Reservation Details

The official NABARD assistant manager A 2025 recruitment notification is yet to be released. Once, released, we’ll update the latest NABARD assistant manager vacancies.

To give you an idea, in the 2024 notification, NABARD announced a total of 100 vacancies for Rural Development Banking Services (RDBS), with 50 of those for Generalist posts.

NABARD Grade A 2025 Eligibility: Age, Qualifications & Nationality

The NABARD assistant manager eligibility criteria for the 2025 exam cover key aspects such as age limit, educational qualification, nationality, and the number of attempts. It’s essential to ensure you meet all these requirements before you start your application process.

NABARD Grade A Age Limit 2025: Relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwD

Your age for the NABARD assistant manager 2025 exam is calculated as of the 1st of the month in which the notification is released.

If you’re in the unreserved or general category, you need to be at least 21 years old and not older than 30 years to be eligible for the exam. For reserved categories, relaxations in the upper age limit will apply as per NABARD’s guidelines.

NABARD Grade A Educational Qualification: Degree, Specializations & Marks Required

To apply for the NABARD assistant manager 2025 general stream, you must meet one of the following educational qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in any subject with a minimum of 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwBD applicants)
• A master’s degree in MBA/PGDM with a minimum of 55% marks (50% marks for SC/ST/PwBD applicants)
• A professional qualification such as CA/ CS/ ICWA
• A Ph.D. 

NABARD Grade A Nationality Criteria: Indian Citizenship Proof

To be eligible for the NABARD Assistant Manager exam, you must be an Indian citizen.

NABARD Grade A Attempt Limit 2025: Category-wise Attempt Rules

Here’s some good news! NABARD doesn’t impose any restriction on the number of attempts for the assistant manager exam. As long as you meet all the eligibility criteria, you are eligible to apply for the NABARD assistant manager 2025 Assistant Manager (RDBS) exam.

NABARD Grade A 2025 Exam Pattern: Phase 1 & 2 Paper Structure

The NABARD Assistant Manager exam follows a structured selection process to identify the best candidates. It consists of three phases:

1. Phase 1 (Pre)
2. Phase 2 (Mains)
3. Phase 3 (Interview)

Let’s start with understanding the official NABARD assistant manager Phase 1 2025 pattern:

NABARD Grade A Phase 1 Pattern: Sections, Duration & Marking Scheme

Here is the NABARD assistant manager 2025 Phase 1 exam pattern:

Subject	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks
Qualifying Sections
Reasoning	20	20
English Language	30	30
Computer Knowledge	20	20
Quantitative Aptitude	20	20
Decision Making	10	10
Merit Sections
General Awareness	20	20
Economic and Social Issues (ESI)	40	40
Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD)	40	40
Total	200	200

Note:

• The Qualifying Sections are qualifying in nature (marks may not be counted for merit ranking but must be cleared).
• The Merit Sections marks are considered for preparing the merit list.

Phase 1 Key Details: Negative Marking, Cut-Off Trends & Time Management Tips

Let’s get into more details to help you understand the NABARD assistant manager Phase 1 pattern:

• The Phase 1 exam of NABARD assistant manager is an online paper.
• It is qualifying in nature. 
• You have 2 hours to complete the Phase 1 exam and there is no sectional timing. 
• You can choose either Hindi or English language (except for the English language test). 
• Be mindful of your accuracy as there is a 1/4th negative marking for every wrong answer.

NABARD Grade A Phase 2 Pattern: Descriptive Test & Interview Weightage

Here is the NABARD assistant manager 2025 Phase 2 exam pattern:

Paper	Type	No. of Questions	Time (minutes)	Total Marks
Paper 1	General English (Online Descriptive)	3	90	100
Paper 2	Economic and Social Issues (ESI) & Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD)	50% Objective: 30 Questions50% Descriptive: 6 Questions (4 to be attempted)	Objective: 30Descriptive: 90	100

Phase 2 Key Details: ARD/ESI Paper Format & Answer Writing Strategy

Let’s get into more details to help you understand the NABARD assistant manager Phase 2 pattern:

• The Phase 2 exam of NABARD assistant manager consists of 2 online papers. 
• You can choose either Hindi or English language (except for the English description). 
• 1/4th mark will be deducted for every wrong answer in the objective paper of ESI + ARD, so be mindful of your accuracy.

NABARD Grade A Interview 2025: Panel Expectations & Common Questions

Phase 3 of the NABARD assistant manager exam consists of a psychometric test (subject to the discretion of NABARD) and an interview. Here’s what you need to know:

Psychometric Test

• You need to undergo a psychometric test before appearing for the interview. 
• While it is a mandatory step, no marks are allotted for the psychometric test.
• It serves as an assessment tool to understand your personality and aptitude.

Interview

• The NABARD assistant manager interview carries a weightage of 50 marks. 
• You can choose to give your interview in either Hindi or English, based on your preference and comfort.

NABARD Grade A Final Selection: Merit List, Document Verification & Joining Process

To become a NABARD Assistant Manager, your final selection depends on how well you perform in Phase 2 (Mains) and the Interview. Both are equally important — your marks from Paper I and II in the Mains exam, along with your interview performance, are added together to decide your final rank.

So, if you’re serious about cracking the exam, focus not just on clearing the papers but also on preparing confidently for the interview. Give your best in both stages — that’s the key to making your dream come true!

NABARD Grade A 2025 Syllabus: Phase 1 & 2 Topic-wise Breakdown

Here is the NABARD assistant manager 2025 syllabus for Phase 1 and Phase 2:

NABARD Grade A 2025: Phase 1 Syllabus (Topic-wise)

Subject	Topics
Reasoning Ability	Alphanumeric Series, Coding-Decoding, Syllogism, Direction Sense, Inequality, Ranking & Order, Blood Relations, Puzzles & Seating Arrangement, Input-Output, Statement-based Questions, Data Sufficiency
Quantitative Aptitude	Ratio & Proportion, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Average & Age, Time & Work, Pipes & Cisterns, Time & Distance, Mixture & Alligation, Number Series, Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, Data Interpretation, Simplification/Approximation, Quantity Comparison
English Language	Reading Comprehension, Sentence Rearrangement, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Double Fillers, Error Detection & Sentence Improvement, Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, One-word Substitution, Phrasal Verbs)
General Awareness (GA)	Current Affairs (Last 6 Months), National & International Summits/Events, Defence, Days & Themes, Obituaries, Appointments & Retirements, Sports, Science & Tech, Awards, Environment, Banking & Economy, Government Schemes, Books & Authors, CM/Ministers, National Parks, Organisation HQs, Bank Taglines, Power Plants, Dance Forms, Country Capitals & Currencies
Decision Making	Basics & Types of Decision Making, Models & Approaches, Factors Influencing Decisions, Problem-Solving Scenarios
Computer Knowledge	Computer Awareness, Hardware/Software, Memory, Operating Systems, MS Office, DBMS, Internet, Cybersecurity, Computer Generations, Keyboard Shortcuts

Phase 1 & Phase 2 (Common Syllabus for ESI & ARD)

Subject	Topics
Economic & Social Issues (ESI)	Indian Economy, Inflation, Poverty Alleviation, Employment, Population Trends, Industry, Rural Banking & Finance, Globalisation, Social Structure, Education, Social Justice, Social Movements, Political System, Human Development, Current Economic & Social Developments
Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD)	Agriculture, Agronomy, Cropping Systems, Seed Production, Meteorology, Farming Systems, Soil & Water Conservation, Water Resources, Agri Engineering, Plantation & Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Forestry, Agri Extension, Ecology & Climate Change, Indian Agri Scenario, Rural Population, NABARD Schemes & Initiatives

Phase 2: Descriptive English

Component	Topics
Descriptive English	Essay Writing, Precis Writing, Comprehension

NABARD Grade A Cut Off (2021-2025)

NABARD Grade A Exam Analysis 2025: Difficulty Level & Expected Cut Off

Analysis of NABARD 2021 Cut-Offs

• Introduction of Decision Making:
  • 2021 was the first year the “Decision Making” section was introduced in Phase 1. Although qualifying in nature, it required basic analytical thinking.
• Merit vs. Qualifying Sections:
  • Only marks from ESI, ARD, and GA in Phase 1 were used for shortlisting. Many aspirants scored well in Reasoning and Quant, but still failed due to poor ESI/ARD preparation.
• Phase 2 Impact:
  • Descriptive answers in General English and ESI/ARD played a decisive role. Many aspirants struggled with structure, grammar, or content depth.
• Final Selection Gap:
  • The difference between Phase 2 and Final cut-offs shows that interviews had significant weightage (50 marks). Performance here was crucial to break into the final list.
• Reserved Categories Advantage:
  • Cut-offs for SC/ST/PwBD categories were relatively lower, giving opportunities for qualified candidates from marginalized communities.

Analysis of NABARD Grade A 2022 Cut-Offs

• Phase 1 Difficulty Increased:
  • Cut-off dropped significantly from 2021 (UR: 53.50 → 41.75), possibly due to tougher questions in ARD and ESI sections.
• More Competitive Phase 2:
  • Despite lower prelims cut-offs, mains cut-offs rose (UR: 118.42 in 2021 → 130.50 in 2022).
• High English Cut-Offs:
  • The descriptive paper proved critical, with 49/100 being the UR cut-off.
• Interview Matters More:
  • Final selection cut-offs saw a jump, stressing the importance of scoring well in the interview (UR: 171.50/250).
• Consistent Trends Across Categories:
  • All categories showed higher Phase 2 and Final cut-offs than the previous year, indicating increasing competition.

Analysis of NABARD Grade A 2023 Cut-Offs

• Prelims Competition:
  • The UR cut-off rose from 41.75 (2022) to 46.00 (2023), indicating tougher competition or better average performance.
• Mains Performance:
  • The UR mains cut-off slightly dipped to 128.50 from 130.50 in 2022 — suggesting a slightly easier paper or more lenient evaluation.
• Final Selection Insights:
  • UR and OBC final cut-offs increased to 172.75, indicating consistent top performance needed across all stages.
• Category Trends:
  • Marginal improvements in SC, ST, and PwBD cut-offs show better representation and performance.
• ARD & ESI Weight:
  • These sections remain the most defining areas across both phases, especially for merit shortlisting.

Analysis of NABARD Grade A 2024 Cut-Offs

• Phase 1 Observations:
  • The overall cut-off for the UR category increased from 46.00 in 2023 to 47.00 in 2024, indicating a more competitive prelims examination.
• Phase 2 Performance:
  • The mains cut-off for the UR category decreased slightly from 128.50 in 2023 to 126.75 in 2024, suggesting a marginally easier mains paper or better candidate performance.
• Final Selection Dynamics:
  • The final cut-off for the UR category decreased from 172.75 in 2023 to 168.00 in 2024, highlighting the continued importance of interview performance in final selection.
• Category-Wise Trends:
  • All categories experienced an increase in prelims cut-offs compared to the previous year, emphasizing the need for comprehensive preparation across all stages of the exam.

Conclusion: Your NABARD Journey Starts Here with C4S Courses

Cracking NABARD Grade A 2025 is not just about studying hard—it’s about studying smart, staying consistent, and following expert guidance. At C4S Courses, we’re not just your educators—we’re your companions in this journey.

From detailed syllabus breakdowns to strategic preparation tips, from previous year cut-off analysis to real-time updates—everything you need is in one place. Our aim is simple: make your preparation result-oriented and stress-free.

With rising competition every year, the right mentorship can make all the difference. That’s why thousands of aspirants trust C4S Courses to guide them with expert faculty, updated study materials, mock tests, and exclusive interview preparation.

Now it’s your turn. Stay consistent, stay focused, and let C4S Courses be your success partner.

Join the ranks of future NABARD Officers—start your smart preparation today!

Join NABARD Grade A Course

With a structured plan, daily discipline, and the right resources, you can master and move one step closer to your dream job at NABARD.

You’ve got this — let’s make it happen!

Watch C4S Interview videos and attend mock sessions to improve your communication and confidence. Remember, your personality and thought process matter here.

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In the words of Swami Vivekananda, “Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached.” Preparing for NABARD Grade A may seem challenging, but with the right mindset, structured guidance like that offered by C4S Courses, and consistent practice, success is within reach. Focus on understanding concepts, practice writing with clarity, revise smartly, and believe in your preparation journey. You’re not just preparing for a job—you’re preparing to contribute to the growth and prosperity of rural India.

Click to know details of the programme – https://learn.c4scourses.in/learn/NABARD2025

Remember, with the right strategy, dedication, and guidance, your dream of securing a prestigious position at NABARD is within reach. Stay focused, stay motivated, and make the most of every resource available to you