Find free study material for RBI Assistant Prelims General Stream Online test, Previous year papers & Sample papers, Notes, Videos, Textbook Solutions, and more available in Hindi & English on Notopedia

EXAM SYLLABUS

The selection procedure would include a three-stage process i.e. Phase I (on-line screening examination consisting of one paper comprising seven (7) sections of total 200 marks), Phase II (on-line examination consisting of two papers of total 200 marks) and Phase III [Interview of 100 marks, which shall include 25% marks for notable achievement in extracurricular activities (District/ State/ National Level), awards/ recognition in service etc. subject to the submission of documentary evidence. 

Phase I Exam Syllabus (For All Stream/ Grades)

Reasoning Ability

Puzzles & Seating Arrangement (Linear, Circular, Floor-based, Box, Scheduling)

Coding–Decoding, Inequalities, Syllogism

Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Order & Ranking

Alphanumeric Series, Input–Output, Data Sufficiency

Logical Reasoning: Statement–Assumption, Statement–Conclusion, Cause–Effect, Course of Action

Quantitative Aptitude / Data Interpretation

Simplification & Approximation

Number Series (Missing & Wrong)

Quadratic Equations

Data Interpretation: Tabular, Bar, Line, Pie chart, Caselets

Arithmetic Word Problems: Percentages, Ratio, Averages, Mixture, Profit & Loss, SI & CI, Time–Work, Pipes & Cisterns, Time–Speed–Distance, Probability, Permutation & Combination, Mensuration

English Language

Reading Comprehension (economy/finance-based passages)

Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks

Para Jumbles, Sentence Rearrangement

Error Spotting & Sentence Improvement

Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms), Idioms, Phrases

General Awareness (Banking & Economy focus)

Current Affairs (last 6–8 months) – National & International

Banking Awareness: RBI functions, Monetary Policy, NPA, Basel Norms

Economy & Financial Awareness: Budget, Economic Survey, Govt. Schemes

Static GK: Capitals, Currency, Important Days, Books & Authors

Computer Knowledge

Fundamentals of Computers (Hardware & Software)

MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Internet, Networking, DBMS basics

Cyber Security & Digital Banking

Payment Systems, FinTech updates

Phase II Exam Syllabus

Phase II exam for Assistant Manager Grade ‘A’ (General Stream) and Manager Grade ‘B’ (General Stream)

English Language (All Stream/ Grades)

Essay,

Précis writing,

Comprehension and Business/Office Correspondence.

The paper on English shall be framed in a manner to assess the writing skills including expressions and understanding the topic.

MSMEs: Policy, Regulatory and Legal Framework; Finance and Management (with focus on MSME), MSME financing (Due Diligence/ KYC, Financial ratios, Assessment of Term Loan / Working Capital, Documentary credit etc.), NPA and recovery including IRAC norms, NBFC Financing, Credit risk assessment etc. Questions related to Investment Banking, Merchant Banking, Equity, Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs), Promotion and development of MSMEs in India.

Phase II exam for Manager Grade ‘B’ (Legal)

General Knowledge of Law: Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Principles of Statutory Interpretation, Contract Act, 1872, Transfer of Property Act,1882, Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, Registration Act, 1908, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, Legal Drafting, RDB Act, 1993, SARFAESI, 2002, RTI Act 2005, Limitation Act, 1963, IBC 2013 etc.

Phase II exam for Manager Grade ‘B’ (IT)

Introduction to Software, Computer Fundamentals, Data Structure, File Structure and programming through ‘C’, ‘C++’, ‘Java’ and ‘Python’, Elements of Systems Analysis and Design, Numerical and Statistical Computing, Data Communication and Networks, Computer Architecture and Network Architecture, Object Oriented Systems, Database Management Systems including RDBMS, Software Engineering, Operating Systems, Management Information Systems, Internet of Things (IoT), Mobile Computing, Design and analysis of Algorithms, Basic of AI, ML and natural language processing, Cyber/IT Security, Big Data Analytics, Data Modelling and Analytics Concept of data visualisation using reporting tools, Data warehousing with analytical capabilities and virtual data management, API usage for cross user interaction and data exchange, application development etc.

EXAM FORMAT

The selection procedure would include a three-stage process i.e. Phase I (on-line screening examination consisting of one paper comprising seven (7) sections of total 200 marks), Phase II (on-line examination consisting of two papers of total 200 marks) and Phase III [Interview of 100 marks, which shall include 25% marks for notable achievement in extracurricular activities (District/ State/ National Level), awards/ recognition in service etc. subject to the submission of documentary evidence].


Phase I Exam (For All Stream/ Grades)

Details of Stream Specific Test

Phase II Exam

Phase II exam for Assistant Manager Grade ‘A’ (General Stream) and Manager Grade ‘B’ (General Stream)

EXAM FORMAT

The selection procedure would include a three-stage process i.e. Phase I (on-line screening examination consisting of one paper comprising seven (7) sections of total 200 marks), Phase II (on-line examination consisting of two papers of total 200 marks) and Phase III [Interview of 100 marks, which shall include 25% marks for notable achievement in extracurricular activities (District/ State/ National Level), awards/ recognition in service etc. subject to the submission of documentary evidence].


Phase I Exam (For All Stream/ Grades)

Details of Stream Specific Test

Phase II Exam

Phase II exam for Assistant Manager Grade ‘A’ (General Stream) and Manager Grade ‘B’ (General Stream)

Phase II exam for Manager Grade ‘B’ (Legal)

Phase II exam for Manager Grade ‘B’ (IT)

Candidates who qualify Phase I examination based on the minimum cut -off marks decided by SIDBI, would be called for Phase II examination. Candidates who qualify Phase II examination based on the minimum cut-off marks decided by SIDBI, would be called for interview.

The Bank shall conduct online Psychometric Test or any other suitable test through third party agency to assess the personality, level of communication, clarity & problem-solving innovativeness, level of efficiency, willingness to work in any part of the country, suitability for the post, etc. of the shortlisted candidates after Phase II exam. The finding of the test may be placed before the interview panel for having a thorough perspective on the candidates. After completion of Psychometric Test, the candidates shall be called to appear for Personal Interview, which will take place in SIDBI Office(s).

The final selection and ranking of the applicants for the post of Assistant Manager in Grade ‘A’ (General Stream) and Manager in Grade ‘B’ (General & Specialist Stream) will be based on their performance in the Phase-II Examination and Interview.

Exam Langauge

All tests (except test of English Language & English Descriptive test) will be provided in both English and Hindi.

Marking Scheme

All the objective questions will have multiple choices. Out of the five answers, to a question only one will be the correct answer. The Candidate will have to select the most appropriate answer and ‘mouse click’ that alternative which you feel is appropriate/ correct. The alternative/ option that the candidate has clicked on will be treated as his/her answer to that question. For objective type of tests, there will be penalty for wrong answers marked by the candidates. For every wrong answer marked by a candidate, 1/4 of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty.

The Scores of Online Examination will be obtained by adopting the following procedure:

(i) Number of questions answered correctly by a candidate in each objective test is considered for arriving at the Corrected Score after applying penalty for wrong answers.

(ii) The Corrected Scores so obtained by a candidate are made equivalent to take care of the minor difference in difficulty level, if any, in each of the objective tests held in different sessions (if required) to arrive at the Equated Scores* (*Scores obtained by candidates on any test are equated to the base form by considering the distribution of scores of all the forms.)

(iii) Test wise scores and scores on total is reported with decimal points upto two digits.

Note: Cutoffs may be applied in two stages:

(i) On scores in individual tests

(ii) On Total Score (Separately for qualification/ merit)

a. The cut-off for the online test in phase I (sectional and total) and in phase-II (total) would be stipulated based on the Mean / Standard Deviation/ Group Norms of the marks scored by the candidates.

b. The various qualifying cut off marks in each of the objective tests, total objective test and the Descriptive Test will be decided by SIDBI. Questions of Online Descriptive Test will be displayed on the screen of your computer. Answers are to be typed using the keyboard. Before start of typing answers to questions in Online Descriptive Test please check all key functions of the keyboard.

c. Since the vacancies are earmarked Grade/stream-wise, merit list of candidates for each stage will be prepared Grade/stream-wise.

d. Candidates are required to obtain a minimum score in each test /section and also a minimum total score in the Phase II exam to be shortlisted for Psychometric Assessment/ Interview. Candidates will be shortlisted for Interview depending on the number of vacancies, cut-off in each test and total marks secured in the Phase II exam as decided by the Bank. Prior to the completion of the interview process, scores obtained in the online examination will not be shared with the candidates shortlisted for interview.

e. Interview shall be conducted for all post/ grades for 100 marks, [which shall include 25% marks for notable achievement in extracurricular activities (District/ State/ National Level), awards/ recognition in service etc. subject to the submission of documentary evidence]. Candidate may opt for interview either in Hindi or English. The Bank reserves the right to set the minimum qualifying criteria in the interview at its sole discretion.

f. The calling Ratio to qualify for the Phase-II examination would be a maximum of 1:25. The ratio may be suitably reduced at the discretion of the bank. Candidates who qualify and rank sufficiently high as decided by SIDBI, shall be called for appearing at the Phase-II Examination and Interview. There will be penalty for wrong answers marked by the candidate.

g. In the objective part of the online examination for every wrong answer marked, 1/4th of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty in Phase-I and Phase-II, both.

h. Only such candidates who score the minimum cut off marks or above in the Phase-II examination will be shortlisted for interview.

i. In case of candidates securing same marks, their ranking will be decided as under:

i. Amongst the candidates having equal marks in total (Phase II examination and interview taken together), the candidate with higher marks in Phase II Examination will be ranked higher.

ii. In case of candidates having equal marks in Phase II Examination, the candidate senior in age will be ranked higher.

iii. In case of further tie-up, candidate with higher qualification or in case of similar qualification, candidate with higher marks in graduation will be ranked higher.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible to appear for the SIDBI Grade-A and B exams, applicants must meet the specified eligibility criteria. Candidates should review the required educational qualifications and age limits for the SIDBI Grade A and B Recruitment 2026.

???????Nationality

A candidate applying for the SIDBI Grade A exam must be either – 

(i) a Citizen of India or 

(ii) a subject of Nepal or 

(iii) a subject of Bhutan or 

(iv) a Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or 

(v) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India, provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv) & (v) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India. 

Age Limit 

Minimum and Maximum Age Limit

For officers in Grade ‘A’: Not below 21 years and not exceeding 30 years.
(Candidates born not earlier than 14.07.1996 and not later than 15.07.2005 [both days including] are expected to be eligible to apply).

For officers in Grade ‘B’: Not below 25 years and not exceeding 33 years.
(Candidates born not earlier than 14.07.1993 and not later than 15.07.2001 [both days including] are expected to be eligible to apply).

Relaxation of Upper age limit

Educational Qualifications

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible to appear for the SIDBI Grade-A and B exams, applicants must meet the specified eligibility criteria. Candidates should review the required educational qualifications and age limits for the SIDBI Grade A and B Recruitment 2026.

???????Nationality

A candidate applying for the SIDBI Grade A exam must be either – 

(i) a Citizen of India or 

(ii) a subject of Nepal or 

(iii) a subject of Bhutan or 

(iv) a Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or 

(v) a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India, provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv) & (v) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India. 

Age Limit 

Minimum and Maximum Age Limit

For officers in Grade ‘A’: Not below 21 years and not exceeding 30 years.
(Candidates born not earlier than 14.07.1996 and not later than 15.07.2005 [both days including] are expected to be eligible to apply).

For officers in Grade ‘B’: Not below 25 years and not exceeding 33 years.
(Candidates born not earlier than 14.07.1993 and not later than 15.07.2001 [both days including] are expected to be eligible to apply).

Relaxation of Upper age limit

Educational Qualifications

Note:

i. A candidate can apply for only one post and not more than one application should be submitted by any candidate. In case of multiple Applications, only the latest valid (completed) application will be retained, and the application fee/ intimation charges paid for the other multiple registration(s) will stand forfeited.

ii. SIDBI reserves the right to raise / modify the eligibility criteria in minimum educational qualification, and percentage of marks depending upon the response. The candidate must possess valid Mark-sheet / Degree Certificate that he/ she is a Graduate / Postgraduate, as applicable on the day he / she registers and indicate the percentage of marks obtained in Graduation while registering online. Candidates whose results are awaited are not eligible to apply.

iii. Staff Candidates (only permanent employees of SIDBI) shall also be eligible to apply for the advertised post subject to their fulfilling the eligibility criteria, for which they may be given relaxation in age by 5 years and waiver from payment of application fee as applicable in General Recruitment. The age relaxation of 5 years shall be over and above the age relaxation already provided to their respective category i.e. SC/ST/OBC/PwBD.

IMPORTANT DATES

As of 2026, the official notification for the SIDBI Officer Grade A and Grade B 2026-27 recruitment cycle has not been released; the 2025 cycle concluded with final results on January 23, 2026. Based on previous recruitment timelines, the 2026-27 notification is tentatively expected in the second half of 2026, with online applications likely from July to August and exams in September and October.

EXAM ANALYSIS

Last Conducted SIDBI Grade A & B Exam (2025)

Notification & Key Dates

Notification Released: 13 July 2025

Applications Started: 14 July 2025

Last Date for Online Application: 18 August 2025

Phase-I (Screening) Exam Date: 06 September 2025

Phase-I Result Date: 19 September 2025

Phase-II (Mains) Exam Date: 04 October 2025

Interview: November 2025

Final Result: January 2026 (for Phase II & Interview)

SIDBI Phase-I Analysis (Prelims) – 06 September 2025

Timing & Shift Details

The Phase-I exam was conducted as a single session for all applicants on 06 September 2025.

It was an online objective test with a total duration of 120 minutes (2 hours).

Exact reporting/slot details were issued on admit cards but all sections were to be completed in the 120-minute window.

Pattern of Phase-I (Screening)

Phase-I was a 200-mark online objective test with the following structure for all streams (Grade A & Grade B):

English Language – 30 questions – 30 marks

Reasoning Aptitude – 25 questions – 25 marks

Quantitative Aptitude – 25 questions – 25 marks

Computer Knowledge – 20 questions – 20 marks

General Awareness (Banking/Financial & Economic/Social Issues) – 20 questions – 20 marks

MSMEs: Policy, Regulatory & Legal Framework; Finance & Management – 30 questions – 30 marks

Stream Specific Test – 50 questions – 50 marks

Total: 200 questions – 200 marks – 120 mins

Qualifying Sections: English, Reasoning, Quant and Computer.

Merit Sections: General Awareness, MSME topics and Stream Specific Test (marks in these determine Phase-II shortlist).

Difficulty Trend (2025):

Phase-I overall was moderate to slightly tough due to the Stream Specific Test and MSME policy section requiring domain knowledge.

Qualifying sections were manageable, but time management was key due to the number of questions.

Merit sections, especially MSMEs and Stream Specific, separated high performers from the rest.

SIDBI Phase-II Analysis (Mains) – 04 October 2025

SIDBI Phase­II was conducted as a two-part examination – objective as well as descriptive.

General Stream (Assistant Manager – Grade A & Manager – Grade B)

Paper I – English Language

Online Descriptive: 3 questions

Maximum Marks: 75

Duration: 75 minutes

Questions included essay, précis, comprehension, business/office correspondence.

Paper II – MSME-related Objective Test

Online Objective: 50 questions

Maximum Marks: 75

Duration: 60 minutes

Topics: MSME policy, finance, due diligence, KYC, financial ratios, term loan/working capital assessment, NPA & recovery, IRAC norms, NBFC financing, credit risk assessment, documentary credit, etc.

Online Descriptive Test

10 questions asked; attempt any 4

Typically 2 of 15 marks

2 of 10 marks

Maximum Marks: 50

Duration: 75 minutes

Answers typed on computer (English or Hindi keyboard).

Difficulty Trend (Mains – General):

English descriptive was moderate to tough due to emphasis on structured writing and comprehension.

MSME objective was moderate, but required deep understanding of policies and finance.

Descriptive part tested analytical and writing clarity in financial context.

SIDBI Mains – Specialist Streams (Manager – Grade B)

Legal Stream

Paper I: English Language – Descriptive – 75 marks – 75 mins

Paper II: Law Objective – 50 questions – 75 marks – 60 mins

Online Descriptive: 6 questions; attempt any 4 – 50 marks – 75 mins

Papers focused on constitutional law, contract act, negotiation instruments act, IBC, SARFAESI, limitations, legal drafting etc.

IT Stream

Paper I: English – Descriptive – 75 marks – 75 mins

Paper II: IT Objective – 50 questions – 75 marks – 60 mins

Online Descriptive: 10 questions; attempt any 4 – 50 marks – 75 mins

IT syllabus included programming, DBMS, data structures, AI/ML basics, cybersecurity, networking, Big Data, etc.

Trend & Difficulty Insights (2025 Cycle)

Phase-I (Screening)

Combined general aptitude and domain knowledge tested breadth of skills.

Qualifying sections demanded quick accuracy, while domain and MSME sections tested depth.

Many candidates found the MSME & Stream Specific combined area moderately difficult to tough.

Phase-II (Mains)

Descriptive English only in Phase-II: required writing essays, précis, letters – very important for final ranking.

MSME + finance + policy objective section was core to final assessments.

Specialist streams (Legal/IT) had more niche domain content based on professional skills.

Interview

After Phase II, qualified candidates were called for Interview/Group Discussion which contributed to final merit.

Expected SIDBI Grade A & B Exam Timeline for 2026

While official dates for 2026 haven’t been announced yet, based on the 2025 cycle timing:

Notification Likely: Mid-2026 (e.g., July/August)

Phase-I (Prelims): Around September 2026 (similar to 06 Sep 2025)

Phase-II (Mains): Around October 2026 (similar to 04 Oct 2025)

Interview: Late 2026 or early 2027

Expect the same Phase-I ? Phase-II ? Interview progression with similar duration and pattern unless otherwise updated officially.

Summary of Key Insights

Phase-I (Prelims):

Date in 2025: 06 September 2025

200 marks, 120 minutes, combined aptitude + domain tests.

Phase-II (Mains):

Date in 2025:

EXAM ANALYSIS

Last Conducted SIDBI Grade A & B Exam (2025)

Notification & Key Dates

Notification Released: 13 July 2025

Applications Started: 14 July 2025

Last Date for Online Application: 18 August 2025

Phase-I (Screening) Exam Date: 06 September 2025

Phase-I Result Date: 19 September 2025

Phase-II (Mains) Exam Date: 04 October 2025

Interview: November 2025

Final Result: January 2026 (for Phase II & Interview)

SIDBI Phase-I Analysis (Prelims) – 06 September 2025

Timing & Shift Details

The Phase-I exam was conducted as a single session for all applicants on 06 September 2025.

It was an online objective test with a total duration of 120 minutes (2 hours).

Exact reporting/slot details were issued on admit cards but all sections were to be completed in the 120-minute window.

Pattern of Phase-I (Screening)

Phase-I was a 200-mark online objective test with the following structure for all streams (Grade A & Grade B):

English Language – 30 questions – 30 marks

Reasoning Aptitude – 25 questions – 25 marks

Quantitative Aptitude – 25 questions – 25 marks

Computer Knowledge – 20 questions – 20 marks

General Awareness (Banking/Financial & Economic/Social Issues) – 20 questions – 20 marks

MSMEs: Policy, Regulatory & Legal Framework; Finance & Management – 30 questions – 30 marks

Stream Specific Test – 50 questions – 50 marks

Total: 200 questions – 200 marks – 120 mins

Qualifying Sections: English, Reasoning, Quant and Computer.

Merit Sections: General Awareness, MSME topics and Stream Specific Test (marks in these determine Phase-II shortlist).

Difficulty Trend (2025):

Phase-I overall was moderate to slightly tough due to the Stream Specific Test and MSME policy section requiring domain knowledge.

Qualifying sections were manageable, but time management was key due to the number of questions.

Merit sections, especially MSMEs and Stream Specific, separated high performers from the rest.

SIDBI Phase-II Analysis (Mains) – 04 October 2025

SIDBI Phase­II was conducted as a two-part examination – objective as well as descriptive.

General Stream (Assistant Manager – Grade A & Manager – Grade B)

Paper I – English Language

Online Descriptive: 3 questions

Maximum Marks: 75

Duration: 75 minutes

Questions included essay, précis, comprehension, business/office correspondence.

Paper II – MSME-related Objective Test

Online Objective: 50 questions

Maximum Marks: 75

Duration: 60 minutes

Topics: MSME policy, finance, due diligence, KYC, financial ratios, term loan/working capital assessment, NPA & recovery, IRAC norms, NBFC financing, credit risk assessment, documentary credit, etc.

Online Descriptive Test

10 questions asked; attempt any 4

Typically 2 of 15 marks

2 of 10 marks

Maximum Marks: 50

Duration: 75 minutes

Answers typed on computer (English or Hindi keyboard).

Difficulty Trend (Mains – General):

English descriptive was moderate to tough due to emphasis on structured writing and comprehension.

MSME objective was moderate, but required deep understanding of policies and finance.

Descriptive part tested analytical and writing clarity in financial context.

SIDBI Mains – Specialist Streams (Manager – Grade B)

Legal Stream

Paper I: English Language – Descriptive – 75 marks – 75 mins

Paper II: Law Objective – 50 questions – 75 marks – 60 mins

Online Descriptive: 6 questions; attempt any 4 – 50 marks – 75 mins

Papers focused on constitutional law, contract act, negotiation instruments act, IBC, SARFAESI, limitations, legal drafting etc.

IT Stream

Paper I: English – Descriptive – 75 marks – 75 mins

Paper II: IT Objective – 50 questions – 75 marks – 60 mins

Online Descriptive: 10 questions; attempt any 4 – 50 marks – 75 mins

IT syllabus included programming, DBMS, data structures, AI/ML basics, cybersecurity, networking, Big Data, etc.

Trend & Difficulty Insights (2025 Cycle)

Phase-I (Screening)

Combined general aptitude and domain knowledge tested breadth of skills.

Qualifying sections demanded quick accuracy, while domain and MSME sections tested depth.

Many candidates found the MSME & Stream Specific combined area moderately difficult to tough.

Phase-II (Mains)

Descriptive English only in Phase-II: required writing essays, précis, letters – very important for final ranking.

MSME + finance + policy objective section was core to final assessments.

Specialist streams (Legal/IT) had more niche domain content based on professional skills.

Interview

After Phase II, qualified candidates were called for Interview/Group Discussion which contributed to final merit.

Expected SIDBI Grade A & B Exam Timeline for 2026

While official dates for 2026 haven’t been announced yet, based on the 2025 cycle timing:

Notification Likely: Mid-2026 (e.g., July/August)

Phase-I (Prelims): Around September 2026 (similar to 06 Sep 2025)

Phase-II (Mains): Around October 2026 (similar to 04 Oct 2025)

Interview: Late 2026 or early 2027

Expect the same Phase-I ? Phase-II ? Interview progression with similar duration and pattern unless otherwise updated officially.

Summary of Key Insights

Phase-I (Prelims):

Date in 2025: 06 September 2025

200 marks, 120 minutes, combined aptitude + domain tests.

Phase-II (Mains):

Date in 2025: 04 October 2025

Descriptive English + Objective domain tests with descriptive parts.

Difficulty Pattern:

Screening moderate-to-tough due to MSME & stream knowledge.

Mains combined writing and domain critical thinking.

Specialist streams had deeper technical/legal content.

Expectations for 2026:

Similar structure with careful preparation needed for domain subjects and descriptive writing.

Domain sections (MSME policy, finance, legal, IT) differentiate high-scoring candidates.

STUDY TIPS

Start by thoroughly understanding the syllabus and exam pattern from the last official notification (Phase 1 objective sections like Reasoning, Quant, English, Computer Knowledge, GA with banking/MSME focus, and stream-specific; Phase 2 descriptive + objective/domain). Create a realistic daily/weekly study plan—dedicate 6-8 hours if possible, balancing all sections without neglecting weaker ones. Prioritize basics first: build strong foundations in Quant (percentages, ratios, DI) and Reasoning (puzzles, syllogism) before advancing to speed and accuracy.

Incorporate active recall and spaced repetition - test yourself regularly on topics instead of passive reading, and review notes at increasing intervals (e.g., day 1, day 3, week 1). For General Awareness (key for SIDBI with heavy MSME/banking/economy weightage), read daily current affairs from sources like The Hindu/PIB, make short notes on schemes, RBI policies, and financial news—aim for 30-45 minutes daily.

Practice is crucial: solve previous year papers and attempt 3-4 full-length mock tests weekly under timed, exam-like conditions (no distractions). Analyze every mock thoroughly—note mistakes, time per section, and weak areas to improve. For English (especially Phase 2 descriptive), read editorials daily, build vocabulary (5-10 new words), practice essay/precis/comprehension, and focus on grammar.

Stay consistent with short breaks (use Pomodoro: 25-50 min study + 5-10 min break), maintain health (sleep 7-8 hours, light exercise), and track progress weekly. Revise regularly—keep a quick-revision notebook for formulas, current affairs highlights, and important MSME facts. If you're a beginner or working, focus on one section at a time initially while building speed gradually.

Many selected candidates emphasize daily improvement, mock analysis, and staying motivated by your goal. Since SIDBI often overlaps with RBI/SEBI patterns, resources for those work well too.

STUDY PLANS

6 Month Study Plan 

Month 1–2: Build strong basics in Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and English; practice daily topic-wise questions and revise grammar and vocabulary.

Month 2–3: Focus on General Awareness (Banking, Economy, Financial & Social Issues) and start preparing MSME sector policies, finance, and management.

Month 3–4: Revise core concepts and solve sectional tests; begin working on Stream-Specific subjects (General/Legal/IT) with short notes.

Month 4–5: Take mock tests for Phase I, analyze mistakes, and improve weak areas; simultaneously start Descriptive English practice (essays, precis, business correspondence).

Month 5: Prepare intensively for Phase II topics (MSME financing, regulatory framework, advanced finance & management concepts).

Month 6: Attempt full-length mocks for Phase I & II, revise short notes, update with current affairs & MSME schemes, and strengthen descriptive writing.

3 Month Study Plan

Month 1: Cover basics of Reasoning, Quant, and English; practice daily topic-wise quizzes. Start Banking & Economic Awareness along with MSME-related notes.

Month 1–2: Strengthen General Awareness (banking, finance, schemes) and focus on MSME policies, regulatory framework, credit risk, NPA norms. Begin Descriptive English practice (essays, precis, comprehension, business correspondence) and prepare Stream-Specific subjects (General/Legal/IT).

Month 2–3: Take sectional and full-length mock tests for Phase I; analyze weak areas and revise regularly.

Month 3: Focus on Phase II topics (MSME financing, management, recovery, financial ratios) and attempt descriptive writing practice daily.

1 Month Study Plan

Week 1: Revise basics of Reasoning, Quant, and English; solve daily practice sets and focus on speed & accuracy.

Week 1–2: Cover General Awareness (banking, economy, finance) and revise MSME policies, schemes, NPA norms, and regulatory framework.

Week 2: Start Descriptive English practice (essays, précis, comprehension, business correspondence) with daily writing.

Week 2–3: Prepare Stream-Specific topics (General/Legal/IT) and make short revision notes.

Week 3: Take sectional and full-length mocks for Phase I, analyze mistakes, and revise weak areas.

Week 4: Focus on Phase II important topics, write at least one descriptive answer daily, and revise current affairs (last 6 months). 

OVERVIEW

SIDBI Grade A exam is conducted to recruit Assistant Manager in General Stream in the SIDBI Bank. SIDBI exam stands for Small Industries Development Bank of India. All the SIDBI recruitments are conducted under the authority of Small Industries Development Bank of India. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is set up under an Act of Parliament for the promotion, financing, and development of the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in India.

SELECTION PROCESS

As per the last valid official notification, the selection process for SIDBI Grade A (Assistant Manager - General Stream) and Grade B (Manager - General and Specialist Streams) consists of a three-stage process.

Phase I is an online screening examination (one paper with seven sections totaling 200 marks, duration 120 minutes), common for all streams/grades, covering English Language (30 marks), Reasoning Aptitude (25 marks), Quantitative Aptitude (25 marks), Computer Knowledge (20 marks), General Awareness (with focus on Banking/Financial Sector and Economic/Social Issues, 20 marks), MSMEs: Policy, Regulatory and Legal Framework; Finance and Management (focus on MSME, 30 marks), and Stream Specific Test (50 marks, e.g., MSME financing for General streams or relevant domain for Specialist like Legal/IT). Candidates qualifying Phase I (based on SIDBI-decided cut-offs) proceed to Phase II, an online examination (two papers totaling 200 marks).

For Grade A (General) and Grade B (General), Phase II includes Paper I: English Language (Essay, Précis writing, Comprehension, Business/Office Correspondence - descriptive) and Paper II: objective/domain-specific tests (details vary slightly by stream, with potential differences in difficulty level between Grade A and B).

For Specialist streams (Legal/IT in Grade B), Phase II is tailored to the domain. After Phase II qualifiers, candidates undergo an online Psychometric Test (or similar) by a third-party agency to assess personality, communication, problem-solving, efficiency, willingness to relocate, etc., with results shared with the interview panel.

Phase III is a Personal Interview (100 marks, including credit for notable extracurricular achievements/awards at District/State/National level upon documentary evidence).

The final selection and merit ranking for all posts are based solely on combined performance in Phase II and Interview (no weightage to Phase I beyond qualifying).