NABARD Grade B Exam Analysis: Difficulty Level, Questions Asked, Good Attempts, Topic-wise Analysis
NABARD Grade B exam analysis shows Phase 1 is usually moderate with ARD and ESI carrying the highest strategic weight, while Reasoning, English, Quant, GA and Computer act as qualifying but important scoring sections. Phase 2 is tougher and more merit-deciding, especially in ESI, ARD and Development Economics/Finance topics. Based on the latest verified cycles (2021 and 2019), Phase 1 difficulty remained moderate while Phase 2 remained concept-heavy and selection-deciding.
Expected NABARD Grade B Analysis (Next Cycle)
Based on pattern stability:
Expected Phase-1 Focus Areas
ARD Expected Topics
• Cropping systems
• Agriculture schemes
• Rural development
• Animal husbandry
• Fisheries
• Agri marketing
ESI Expected Topics
• Government schemes
• Financial inclusion
• Inflation
• Budget
• RBI reports
Expected Exam Difficulty
Stage | Expected Difficulty |
|---|---|
Phase-1 | Moderate |
Phase-2 | Moderate-Difficult |
Interview | Moderate |
NABARD Grade B Exam Pattern
Phase-1 Pattern
Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
Reasoning | 20 | 20 |
English | 30 | 30 |
Computer | 20 | 20 |
Quant | 20 | 20 |
Decision Making | 10 | 10 |
General Awareness | 20 | 20 |
ESI | 40 | 40 |
ARD | 40 | 40 |
Total | 200 | 200 |
NABARD Grade B Phase-1 Exam Analysis 2021
Overall Difficulty & Good Attempts
Section | Difficulty | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|
Quant | Easy | 10-12 |
Reasoning | Easy-Moderate | 9-10 |
GA | Moderate | 10-12 |
English | Moderate | 14-15 |
Computer | Moderate | 10-12 |
Decision Making | Tough | 5-8 |
ESI | Tough | 20-24 |
ARD | Moderate | 21-23 |
Overall | Moderate-Tough | 130-140 |
NABARD Grade B Phase-1 2021 Detailed Topic-Wise Analysis
Reasoning Ability 2021
Topic | Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
Puzzle (Flat/Floor) | 4 | Easy |
Seating Arrangement (Linear) | 4 | Easy-Moderate |
Blood Relation | 2 | Easy |
Coding-Decoding | 4 | Easy |
Inequalities | 2 | Easy |
Word Formation | 1 | Easy |
Statement-Assumption | 1 | Easy |
Quantitative Aptitude 2021
Topic | Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
Data Interpretation (Pie chart DI) | 5 | Easy |
Approximation | 5 | Easy |
Arithmetic (SI, Profit Loss) | 5 | Easy-Moderate |
Number Series | 5 | Easy-Moderate |
English Language 2021
Topic | Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
Reading Comprehension | 10 | Tough |
Word Swap | 5 | Easy |
Error Detection | 5 | Easy-Moderate |
Sentence Rearrangement | 4 | Moderate |
Miscellaneous | 1 | Easy-Moderate |
Computer Knowledge 2021
Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
RAM / Memory | 3-4 |
Computer Software | 2-3 |
Computer Basics | 4 |
MS Office | 3 |
Computer Devices | 2 |
Misc concepts | 4 |
General Awareness 2021
Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
Physical Geography | 4-5 |
Indian Polity | 2-3 |
Sports | 2 |
Current Affairs | 5-6 |
Physics | 1 |
Chemistry | 2-3 |
History | 2 |
Misc | 3-4 |
Economic & Social Issues (ESI) 2021
Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
Government Schemes | 3-4 |
Economy Concepts | 2-4 |
Globalization | 4-5 |
RBI Reports | 4-5 |
Banking Reports | 4-5 |
Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD) 2021
Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
Horticulture | 2-3 |
Cropping System | 2-3 |
Current ARD news | 5-8 |
Animal Husbandry | 2-3 |
Fisheries | 3-4 |
Misc ARD topics | 10-15 |
NABARD Grade B Phase-2 Exam Analysis 2021
Phase-2 Structure
Paper | Subject | Marks |
|---|---|---|
Paper-1 | English (Descriptive) | 100 |
Paper-2 | ESI + ARD | 100 |
Paper-3 | Development Economics / Finance / Statistics | 100 |
NABARD Grade B Phase-1 Analysis 2019
Overall Difficulty
Section | Difficulty |
|---|---|
English | Moderate |
Quant | Easy-Moderate |
GA | Moderate |
Computer | Easy |
ARD | Moderat |
NABARD Grade B 2019 English Topic Distribution
Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
Reading Comprehension | 10 |
Cloze Test | 7 |
Sentence Rearrangement | 5 |
Error Detection | 5 |
Sentence Correction | 5 |
Fill in the Blanks | 4 |
Phrase Replacement | 4 |
NABARD Grade B 2019 Quant Distribution
Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
Line Graph DI | 5 |
Caselet DI | 5 |
Quadratic | 5 |
Arithmetic (SI/CI etc.) | 5 |
NABARD Grade B Phase-2 Analysis 2019
Phase-2 Difficulty
Overall:
Difficult (especially ESI & ARD)
Key topic signals included:
• Priority sector lending
• Government schemes
• Agriculture reforms
• Rural development schemes
• Census data questions
Official Sources
Official NABARD site:
• NABARD Official Website
Careers section:
• NABARD Recruitment Notices
Pattern reference:
• NABARD Grade B Exam Pattern Details
Mahendras NABARD page:
• NABARD Grade A & B Complete Guide
FAQs
Which year NABARD Grade B last conducted?
Latest fully verified cycle was 2021.
NABARD Grade B Phase-1 difficulty?
Moderate.
Which section most important?
ARD and ESI.
Which stage decides final selection?
Phase-2.
Phase-1 good attempt?
Around 130-140 questions (2021 pattern).