Bank exams are competitive tests conducted by various banks in India to recruit qualified candidates for different job positions, such as Probationary Officers, Clerks, and Specialist Officers. These exams are shown at the national and state levels and involve multiple stages of selection, including a preliminary exam, main exam, and interview. Here is a detailed overview of bank exams in India.
Bank Exam Syllabus:
The bank exam syllabus consists of various sections such as:
- English Language
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Reasoning Ability
- General Awareness
- Computer Knowledge
Bank Exam Pattern:
The bank exam pattern varies for different positions and organizations. However, most bank exams consist of three stages of selection:
- Preliminary Exam: This exam consists of multiple-choice questions and is conducted online. It serves as a qualifying exam and is mandatory for candidates who wish to appear for the main exam.
- Main Exam: This exam also consists of multiple-choice questions and is conducted online. It is more advanced and in-depth than the preliminary exam and tests a candidate's knowledge of the subjects.
- Interview: The final stage of selection is the interview. Candidates who qualify for the main exam are shortlisted and called for an interview.
Below are some of the bank exams in India:
SBI PO (State Bank of India Probationary Officer)
The SBI PO exam is considered one of India's most competitive bank exams due to the high number of applicants and the difficulty level. A candidate must graduate in any discipline from a recognized university to be eligible for this exam. The age limit for the exam is between 21 to 30 years, and there are age relaxations for candidates belonging to specific categories.
The preliminary exam consists of three sections - English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. The total duration of the exam is one hour. Candidates who clear the preliminary exam can appear for the Main exam.
The Main exam consists of two parts - Objective and Descriptive. The objective consists of four sections - Reasoning and Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis and Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, and English Language. The Descriptive part consists of two questions - Letter Writing and Essay Writing. The total duration of the exam is three hours.
Candidates who clear the Main exam are called for an Interview. The Interview carries a weightage of 30 marks. The final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the Main exam and the Interview.
SBI PO is a prestigious job with an attractive salary and benefits. It is an excellent opportunity for candidates who wish to work with India's largest public sector bank. However, due to the high level of competition, candidates need to be well-prepared to crack this exam.
SBI Clerk (State Bank of India Clerk)
The SBI Clerk exam is one of India's most sought-after bank exams. The exam is conducted to recruit clerks for various State Bank of India branches. A candidate must graduate in any discipline from a recognized university to be eligible for this exam. The age limit for the exam is between 20 to 28 years, and there are age relaxations for candidates belonging to specific categories.
The preliminary exam consists of three sections - English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. The total duration of the exam is one hour. Candidates who clear the preliminary exam can appear for the Main exam.
The Main exam consists of four sections - General/Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude. The total duration of the exam is two hours and forty minutes.
Candidates who clear the Main exam are selected for the final round - Local Language Test. This test ensures that the candidate is proficient in the local language of the State/UT for which they have applied.
The SBI Clerk exam is an excellent opportunity for candidates wishing to start their banking career. The job offers a good salary, job security, and other benefits. However, due to the high level of competition, candidates need to be well-prepared to crack this exam.
IBPS PO (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Probationary Officer)
The IBPS PO exam is a popular bank exam in India conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection. The exam is conducted to recruit probationary officers for various public sector banks. A candidate must graduate in any discipline from a recognized university to be eligible for this exam. The age limit for the exam is between 20 to 30 years, and there are age relaxations for candidates belonging to specific categories.
The preliminary exam consists of three sections - English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. The total duration of the exam is one hour. Candidates who clear the preliminary exam can appear for the Main exam.
The Main exam consists of five sections - Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, English Language, Data Analysis & Interpretation, and English Language (Letter Writing & Essay). The total duration of the exam is three hours and thirty minutes.
Candidates who clear the Main exam are selected for the final round - Interview. The interview carries a weightage of 100 marks, and the final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the Main exam and Interview.
The IBPS PO exam is an excellent opportunity for candidates who wish to start their career as probationary officers in public sector banks. The job offers a good salary, job security, and other benefits. However, due to the high level of competition, candidates need to be well-prepared to crack this exam.
IBPS Clerk (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Clerk)
The IBPS Clerk exam is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection to recruit clerical staff for various public sector banks. The exam is held in two stages - Preliminary and Main. A candidate must graduate in any discipline from a recognized university to be eligible for the exam. The age limit for the exam is between 20 to 28 years, and there are age relaxations for candidates belonging to specific categories.
The preliminary exam consists of three sections - English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. The total duration of the exam is one hour. Candidates who clear the preliminary exam can appear for the Main exam.
The Main exam consists of four sections - General/Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude, and Quantitative Aptitude. The total duration of the exam is two hours and forty-five minutes.
The selection process is based on the marks obtained in the Main exam, and the final merit list is prepared based on the same. The selected candidates are then called for document verification and provisional allotment to one of the participating banks.
The IBPS Clerk exam is an excellent opportunity for candidates who wish to start their career as a clerk in public sector banks. The job offers a good salary, job security, and other benefits. However, due to the high level of competition, candidates need to be well-prepared to crack this exam.
RBI Grade B (Reserve Bank of India Grade B Officer)
The Reserve Bank of India conducts the RBI Grade B exam to recruit officers in various departments. The exam is conducted in three stages - Preliminary, Main, and Interview. The eligibility criteria for the exam include a minimum of 60% marks in graduation or equivalent, and the age limit is between 21 to 30 years.
The Preliminary exam consists of multiple-choice questions on General Awareness, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. The total duration of the exam is two hours. Candidates who clear the Preliminary exam are eligible to appear for the Main exam.
The Main exam consists of three papers - Economic and Social Issues, English (Writing Skills), and Finance and Management. The total duration of the exam is six hours. The questions in the Main exam are objective as well as subjective in nature.
The final selection of candidates is based on their performance in the Main exam and the Interview. The Interview carries a weightage of 50 marks. The selected candidates are recruited as Grade B officers in the Reserve Bank of India.
The RBI Grade B exam is highly competitive; candidates must understand economics and finance well. The job offers a good salary, job security, and other benefits. Therefore, candidates should prepare well to increase their chances of cracking the exam.
RBI Assistant (Reserve Bank of India Assistant)
The Reserve Bank of India conducts the RBI Assistant exam to recruit assistants in its various departments nationwide. The exam is conducted in two stages - Preliminary and Main. The preliminary exam is an online test and consists of objective-type questions on English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. The main exam is also an online test and consists of objective-type questions on Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Computer Knowledge, and General Awareness.
Candidates who qualify for the preliminary exam are eligible to appear for the main exam. The final selection is based on the candidate's performance in the main exam and the language proficiency test.
To be eligible for the RBI Assistant exam, a candidate must have a minimum educational qualification of a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university. The age limit for the exam is between 20 to 28 years.
The RBI Assistant exam is highly competitive; candidates must have a strong foundation in the subjects and good time management skills to perform well. With the proper preparation and strategy, candidates can secure a job as an assistant in the Reserve Bank of India, considered a highly prestigious job in the banking sector.
NABARD Grade A (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Grade A)
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) conducts the NABARD Grade A exam to recruit candidates for Grade A positions in various departments. The exam consists of three stages - Preliminary, Main, and Interview. The preliminary exam tests candidates on their reasoning, English language, computer knowledge, and general awareness. The preliminary exam tests candidates on their economic and social issues, agriculture and rural development, development economics, statistics, and finance.
Candidates who clear the preliminary and main exams are called for an interview, where they are evaluated on their communication skills, leadership qualities, and knowledge of the rural economy.
NABARD Grade A officers manage and develop various schemes and projects related to agriculture and rural development in India. They work closely with various government and non-governmental organizations to ensure the effective implementation of these programs.
To prepare for the NABARD Grade A exam, candidates should understand economic and social issues, agriculture and rural development, development economics, statistics, and finance. They should also have good communication skills and leadership qualities. Candidates should practice solving previous years' question papers and take mock tests to prepare for the exam.
NABARD Grade B (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Grade B)
NABARD Grade B exam is another banking exam conducted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to recruit Grade B officers in various departments. The exam is conducted in three phases – Preliminary, Main, and Interview.
The preliminary phase consists of multiple-choice questions from sections like English, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. Candidates who qualify for the initial stage can appear for the Main exam, which consists of objective and descriptive type questions. The accurate section includes questions about Economic and Social Issues, Agriculture and Rural Development, and Development Finance. In contrast, the descriptive section requires candidates to write essays, letters, and reports.
After clearing the Main phase, candidates are called for an interview which is the final selection process. Candidates who perform well in all three stages are selected as Grade B officers in NABARD.
NABARD Grade B officers handle various banking functions like agricultural credit, development finance, and rural banking. This exam is an excellent opportunity for candidates who wish to serve the nation by working in the rural banking sector.
LIC AAO (Life Insurance Corporation Assistant Administrative Officer)
The Life Insurance Corporation of India conducts the Life Insurance Corporation Assistant Administrative Officer (LIC AAO) exam to recruit Assistant Administrative Officers (AAOs) for its various departments. The exam consists of three stages - Preliminary, Main, and Interview.
The preliminary exam consists of objective questions on reasoning ability, quantitative aptitude, and English. Candidates who clear the initial exam can appear for the main exam. The main exam consists of objective and descriptive questions on reasoning ability, quantitative aptitude, general knowledge, and English.
Candidates who clear the main exam are called for an interview. The final selection is based on the candidate's performance in the main exam and interview.
The LIC AAO exam is highly competitive, and candidates must prepare thoroughly to score well. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university to be eligible for the exam. The exam is held once a year, and candidates can apply online.
The LIC AAO exam provides an opportunity for candidates to work in the insurance sector and offers a challenging and rewarding career. The LIC provides various options for career growth and professional development.
