Loading...
Loading...
The RBI Grade B cutoff is one of the highest among all banking examinations in India. With only 60 vacancies in 2026 across three streams and a highly competitive candidate pool of graduates and postgraduates with 60% or above marks, the Phase 1 cutoff for the General category is expected to be the highest it has been in recent years. The vacancy trend for RBI Grade B Recruitment has shown a continuous decline over the last five years, and as the number of vacancies has decreased, the level of competition is likely to become tougher, which may also lead to higher cut-off marks.
This page covers the official Phase 1 and Phase 2 cutoff data from 2021 to 2025, the unique structure of RBI Grade B cutoffs (which include both section-wise and overall cutoffs in Phase 1), how the Phase 2 merit cutoff differs from Phase 1, expected cutoff for the 2026 cycle, and safe score targets for candidates preparing for Phase 1 on June 13, 2026.
The RBI Grade B Phase 1 cutoff for 2026 is expected to be released along with the Phase 1 result in early July 2026. Based on the historical trend and the sharp decline in vacancies (60 in 2026 vs 102 in 2025), the projected cutoffs are:
| Category 2025 Phase 1 Cutoff (Out of 200) 2026 Projected Phase 1 Cutoff | ||
| Unreserved (UR) | 107.50 | 112 to 120 |
| OBC (NCL) | 101.25 | 106 to 114 |
| EWS | 103.75 | 108 to 116 |
| SC | 84.25 | 88 to 95 |
| ST | 75.00 | 78 to 85 |
| PwBD | Lower than SC | Category-specific |
These projections are based on the vacancy reduction of 41% from 2025 to 2026, the consistent difficulty level of Phase 1, and the candidate pool composition.
| Year UR OBC EWS SC ST | |||||
| 2025 | 107.50 | 101.25 | 103.75 | 84.25 | 75.00 |
| 2024 | 107.50 | 101.25 | 103.75 | 84.25 | 75.00 |
| 2023 | 102.75 | 97.00 | 99.25 | 80.25 | 71.50 |
| 2022 | 78.25 | 74.25 | 76.50 | 62.25 | 56.00 |
| 2021 | 91.75 | 86.75 | 88.50 | 71.75 | 64.25 |
The dramatic jump from 78.25 (2022) to 91.75 (2021) and then to 102.75+ (2023 onward) reflects the impact of vacancy reduction. In 2022, RBI recruited 294 candidates, producing a relatively accessible cutoff. In 2023-2025, with fewer than 100 vacancies each year, the cutoff sharply increased.
A unique feature of the RBI Grade B Phase 1 cutoff structure is the presence of both an overall cutoff and a section-wise minimum marks requirement. Candidates must clear both.
| Section Maximum Marks UR/EWS/OBC Minimum SC/ST/PwBD Minimum | |||
| General Awareness | 80 | 21.75 | 18.00 |
| English Language | 30 | 8.25 | 6.75 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 8.25 | 6.75 |
| Reasoning | 60 | 16.50 | 13.50 |
These section-wise minimums look low in absolute terms (21.75 out of 80 for GA for UR candidates) but are different from the competitive marks needed to actually rank within the shortlisting cutoff. A candidate who scores exactly the section-wise minimum across all sections would have a total of approximately 54.75 marks, far below the competitive overall cutoff of 107.50.
The section-wise cutoff acts as a safety net: candidates who score well in 3 sections but completely neglect one section may clear the overall cutoff but fail the section-wise threshold and still be disqualified.
A well-prepared candidate targeting the overall UR cutoff of 110-120 (projected 2026) should target approximately:
These section-wise targets comfortably exceed both the minimum qualifying marks and contribute to a competitive overall total.
The relationship between vacancies and Phase 1 cutoffs is direct and strong in the RBI Grade B examination.
| Year Vacancies UR Phase 1 Cutoff Cutoff as % of 200 | |||
| 2022 | 294 | 78.25 | 39.1% |
| 2021 | 91 | 91.75 | 45.9% |
| 2023 | 92 | 102.75 | 51.4% |
| 2024 | 98 | 107.50 | 53.8% |
| 2025 | 102 | 107.50 | 53.8% |
| 2026 (projected) | 60 | 112-120 | 56-60% |
The trend clearly shows that each reduction in vacancies drives the cutoff higher. With 60 vacancies in 2026 (a 41% reduction from 2025), the projected UR cutoff of 112 to 120 is the highest in the exam's recent history.
Understanding how candidates typically score in each section informs the preparation strategy.
GA is the highest-weighted section (40% of Phase 1 marks) and the section with the widest performance gap. Candidates with deep banking knowledge score 55 to 65. Those without it score 30 to 40. This 20 to 25 mark gap is the primary determinant of whether a candidate clears the Phase 1 cutoff.
Effective GA preparation requires:
With 60 marks in 45 minutes, Reasoning requires solving 60 questions at one per 45 seconds on average. Complex puzzle sets (4 to 5 sets, 20 to 25 questions) are the dominant question type. Candidates who cannot solve 3 to 4 puzzle sets in 25 to 30 minutes will not attempt enough simpler questions (Syllogism, Inequalities, Coding-Decoding) to reach a competitive total.
Section-wise score target: 40 to 48 out of 60.
QA is at a difficulty level similar to IBPS PO Mains rather than IBPS PO Prelims. DI sets (2 to 3 sets, typically 15 to 20 questions) dominate. Candidates with fast DI calculation skills and sound arithmetic complete this section effectively.
Section-wise score target: 20 to 23 out of 30.
English in RBI Grade B Phase 1 is harder than in IBPS PO. Reading passages are on economic and financial topics with complex vocabulary. Candidates who regularly read quality financial journalism score 22 to 26 consistently.
Section-wise score target: 20 to 24 out of 30.
Phase 2 cutoffs are the marks above which candidates qualify for the Interview stage. Phase 2 marks out of 300 (General stream) determine the shortlisting.
RBI specifies minimum qualifying marks per paper in Phase 2 in addition to an overall Phase 2 cutoff.
| Paper Maximum Marks UR/OBC/EWS Minimum SC/ST/PwBD Minimum | |||
| Paper I: ESI | 100 | 30 | 25 |
| Paper II: English Writing Skills | 100 | 30 | 25 |
| Paper III: Finance and Management | 100 | 30 | 25 |
| Category Phase 2 Competitive Cutoff (Out of 300) | |
| UR | 175 to 195 (approx.) |
| OBC | 165 to 185 |
| SC | 145 to 165 |
| ST | 135 to 155 |
Note: Phase 2 cutoffs are not officially released by RBI as a standalone PDF. The competitive shortlisting for interview is implicit in the interview call letters. The ranges above are based on candidate experience and expert analysis of recent cycles.
The final selection cutoff is based on the combined Phase 2 (300) + Interview (50) = 350 marks.
Based on candidate experience and RBI's final result pattern, the final selection cutoff for UR candidates in the General stream is approximately 215 to 235 out of 350.
| Category Final Merit Cutoff Range (Out of 350) | |
| UR | 215 to 235 |
| OBC | 200 to 220 |
| SC | 175 to 195 |
| ST | 160 to 180 |
| Category Expected Competitive Cutoff 2026 Safe Target Score Competitive Score | |||
| UR | 112 to 120 | 125 to 133 | 138 or above |
| OBC | 106 to 114 | 119 to 127 | 132 or above |
| EWS | 108 to 116 | 121 to 129 | 134 or above |
| SC | 88 to 95 | 102 to 109 | 115 or above |
| ST | 78 to 85 | 91 to 98 | 104 or above |
| Section Max Marks Safe Score Competitive Score | |||
| General Awareness | 80 | 53 to 60 | 63 or above |
| English Language | 30 | 21 to 24 | 26 or above |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 20 to 23 | 25 or above |
| Reasoning | 60 | 38 to 44 | 48 or above |
| Total | 200 | 132 to 151 | 162 or above |
RBI releases the cutoff marks with the Phase 1 result and again with the Phase 2 result. The cutoff is published on rbi.org.in.
| Step Action | |
| 1 | Visit rbi.org.in |
| 2 | Navigate to "Opportunities at RBI" → "Recent Recruitments" or "Results" |
| 3 | Find the RBI Grade B 2026 result / cutoff link |
| 4 | Click to open or download the PDF |
| 5 | The cutoff marks for each category and stage are listed within the result PDF |
Unlike IBPS and SSC, RBI does not always release a separate cutoff PDF. The cutoff marks are published within the result notification document.
| Factor Effect on Cutoff | |
| Vacancy reduction (40 General, lowest in years) | Strong upward pressure on cutoff |
| Consistent Phase 1 difficulty (moderate to hard) | Moderate upward pressure |
| Highly educated candidate pool (60%+ graduates) | All candidates are above baseline; increases clustering near the top |
| Normalisation across shifts (if multiple shifts) | Adjusts scores ±3 to 5 marks |
| Category-wise reservation | SC/ST cutoffs always lower than UR; EWS tracks close to UR |
The combination of the lowest vacancy count (60) and a consistently high-quality candidate pool makes the 2026 UR Phase 1 cutoff likely to be the highest in recent cycles.
What was the RBI Grade B Phase 1 cutoff in 2025? The RBI Grade B 2025 Phase 1 overall cutoff for the UR category was 107.50 out of 200. For OBC it was 101.25, EWS 103.75, SC 84.25, and ST 75.00.
Is there a section-wise cutoff in Phase 1? Yes. RBI sets section-wise minimum qualifying marks in Phase 1 in addition to the overall cutoff. Candidates must clear both. In 2025, the UR section-wise minimum was 21.75 for GA, 8.25 for English and QA, and 16.50 for Reasoning (out of respective section maximums).
Is Phase 1 score counted in final merit? No. Phase 1 is qualifying only. The final merit is based on Phase 2 (300 marks) + Interview (50 marks) = 350 marks.
What is the expected Phase 1 cutoff for 2026? Based on the 41% reduction in vacancies (102 in 2025 to 60 in 2026), the projected UR Phase 1 cutoff for 2026 is 112 to 120 out of 200 — the highest in recent cycles.
Where can I find official RBI Grade B cutoff PDFs for previous years? Official cutoffs are published on rbi.org.in under "Opportunities at RBI" → "Recruitment" → result notifications for each year.