Regulus for NABARD

Regulus for NABARD

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REGULUS · NABARD GRADE A

NABARD Grade A, systematically simplified.

NABARD-focused current affairs, scheme tracking, PYQs and static ARD–ESI modules—connected to what matters next: practice, answer writing and revision with highlights and flashcards.

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REGULUS · NABARD GRADE A

Your study desk

One clear next step for current affairs, practice and revision.

Systematically Simplified
Today at a glance

Build your daily NABARD study loop

Read the latest issue, practise its MCQs, then revise the facts you want to remember.

Your study plan

Make today manageable

Use a short checklist based on the content available in your portal.

Current affairs

Daily · Weekly · Monthly

Exam-focused notes with GA, ESI and ARD connections, linked to practice.

Learn from practice

Mistake notebook

Revisit questions you missed and retry the relevant set.

Phase 2 readiness

Write, review, improve

Practise descriptive answers and compare your structure with the model guidance.

Your complete NABARD workspace
Latest daily

New notes: daily by 7:00 AM IST · weekly on Mondays · monthly on the 1st

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Archive

Government schemes & scheme tracker

Fact-checked schemes ministry by ministry, and a tracker that shows every time a scheme or topic appeared in your notes.
Ministry-wise, fact-checked. Tap a ministry, then a scheme, for the full details and every time it was in your notes.
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Syllabus & Strategy

Pattern and syllabus from NABARD's official notification for Assistant Manager Grade A (RDBS/Legal/Protocol & Security), 2025 cycle. The 2026 notification is expected towards the end of the year – check nabard.org for any change.

Selection stages

Phase I · PrelimsOnline objective, 200 marks, 120 min. Screening only.
Phase II · MainsTwo papers, 200 marks. Counts for merit.
Phase III · PsychometricMCQ, 90 min. Mandatory.
Interview50 marks. Counts for merit.

Phase I – Preliminary examination

TestQuestionsMarksNature
Reasoning2020Qualifying
English Language3030Qualifying
Computer Knowledge2020Qualifying
Quantitative Aptitude2020Qualifying
Decision Making1010Qualifying
General Awareness2020Merit
Economic & Social Issues (rural focus)4040Merit
Agriculture & Rural Development (rural focus)4040Merit
Total – composite time 120 minutes200200Merit = 100 marks
Shortlisting for Mains uses only the merit section (GA, ESI, ARD). You still need the sectional cut-off in every qualifying test.

Phase II – Main examination (RDBS – General)

PaperTypeQuestionsMarksTime
Paper I – General EnglishDescriptive, typed3 (essay, précis, comprehension, business/office letter)10090 min
Paper II – ESI & ARDObjective30 (1 or 2 marks each)5030 min
Descriptive, typed (English/Hindi)Attempt 4 of 6 – two of 15 marks, two of 10 marks5090 min
Mains total2003 h 30 min
Change to note: Mains Paper II now combines ESI and ARD in one 100-mark paper – 50 objective + 50 descriptive.

How the final merit is made

StageCounts for final merit?Notes
Phase I – PrelimsNoSectional cut-offs + merit section score; calling ratio up to 1:25
Phase II – MainsYes – 200Cut-offs on each paper and total; calling ratio up to 1:3
Phase III – Psychometric testMandatoryMCQ, 90 minutes – you must appear to be considered
InterviewYes – 50Hindi or English
Final meritMains + Interview = 250Ties: higher Mains marks, then qualification, then age

Official syllabus

The notification gives the detailed syllabus for Mains; Prelims ESI and ARD follow the same scope with a rural focus. NABARD says the syllabus is indicative – recent developments are fair game.
Paper I – General English
Essay, précis writing, comprehension and business/office correspondence – tests writing skill, expression and understanding of the topic.
Paper II – Economic & Social Issues
Nature of the Indian economy – structural and institutional features, economic underdevelopment
Opening up the economy – globalisation, economic reforms, privatisation
Inflation – trends and impact on the economy and individual income
Poverty alleviation and employment generation – rural & urban, measurement, programmes
Population trends, population & development, population policy
Agriculture – status, technical & institutional change, food security, rural credit agencies
Industry – industrial & labour policy, performance, regional imbalance, PSEs
Rural banking & financial institutions; banking/financial sector reforms
Globalisation – IMF, World Bank, WTO, regional economic co-operation
Social structure – multiculturalism, demographic trends, urbanisation & migration, gender issues, joint family
Social infrastructure – education (status, wastage, policy), health, environment
Social justice – SC/ST/OBC problems and programmes, positive discrimination, social movements
Indian political system; human development
Current economic & social issues
Paper II – Agriculture & Rural Development
Agriculture & agronomy – definition, branches, classification of field crops, factors affecting crop production, agro-climatic zones
Cropping systems – definition and types
Problems of dryland agriculture; precision farming; System of Crop Intensification
Seed production, seed processing, seed village
Meteorology – weather parameters, crop-weather advisory
Organic farming
(a) Soil & water conservation – soil types, fertility, fertilisers, erosion, conservation, watershed
(b) Water resources & irrigation management – types, sources, crop water requirement, CAD, micro-irrigation, pumps, major/medium/minor projects
(c) Farm & agri engineering – farm power, machinery, renewable energy, biofuels, farm ponds, agro-processing, storage, godowns, silos
(d) Plantation & horticulture – production technology, post-harvest, value & supply chains
(e) Animal husbandry – livestock in the economy, breeds, feeds & fodder, poultry, mixed farming
(f) Fisheries – resources (freshwater, brackish, marine), aquaculture, biotechnology, post-harvest
(g) Forestry – silviculture, mensuration, management & economics, social & agroforestry, JFM, policy & law, ISFR
(h) Agricultural extension – role, evaluation of programmes, KVKs
(i) Ecology & climate change – GHGs, adaptation vs mitigation, carbon credit, IPCC, UNFCCC, COPs, NAPCC, SAPCC, NDC
(j) Present scenario of Indian agriculture; factors of production; agricultural finance & marketing; globalisation & food security; farm management
Rural development – rural economy, rural population & workforce, rural labour, handlooms, Panchayati Raj, MGNREGA, NRLM, drinking water, Swachh Bharat, rural housing, PURA
Plant protection & beneficial insects (asked regularly though not listed separately)
Phase I – other tests
Reasoning, English Language, Computer Knowledge, Quantitative Aptitude, Decision Making (qualifying) and General Awareness (merit). No separate syllabus is notified – standard bank-exam level.

Strategy to clear NABARD Grade A

This is the playbook used by candidates who make the final list: they treat NABARD Grade A as an ESI–ARD exam with a bank-exam filter in front of it. Everything below follows from that one idea.

1. Understand what actually decides selection

  • Prelims only filters. Your Prelims marks are not added to the final merit. You need (a) the sectional cut-off in all eight tests and (b) a high enough score in the merit section – GA 20 + ESI 40 + ARD 40 = 100 marks.
  • Final merit = Mains 200 + Interview 50 = 250. Mains Paper II (ESI + ARD, 100 marks) and Paper I English (100) carry four-fifths of what decides your rank.
  • So ESI and ARD are not two subjects among eight – they are 80 of the 100 merit marks in Prelims and the whole of Paper II in Mains. One deep preparation pays twice.
  • About three-quarters of past ARD questions are static (agronomy, soil, animal husbandry, horticulture, irrigation…) and about a quarter come from schemes and current data. ESI is the reverse – concepts give the frame, but the questions are dressed in the latest reports and schemes.

2. Targets to aim for (your own benchmarks, not official cut-offs)

StageComfortable targetHow toppers get there
Prelims – merit section (100)65–70 attempted-correct, accuracy ≥ 85%ARD 30+/40, ESI 28+/40, GA 12+/20
Prelims – qualifying testsClear each cut-off with a margin of 4–5 marksReasoning 12+/20, English 18+/30, Quant 10+/20, Computer 14+/20, DM 6+/10
Mains – Paper I English (100)60+Structured essay, crisp précis, error-free letter
Mains – Paper II ESI & ARD (100)65+Objective 35+/50, descriptive 30+/50
Interview (50)30+Knowledge of NABARD, your state's rural economy and your DAF

3. Which part of ARD to master first (frequency in past papers)

The ARD past questions in this portal, mapped to the 19 modules, show where the marks come from:

PriorityModulesWhy
Very highM12 Animal husbandry, dairy & poultry · M7 Soil & conservation · M11 Horticulture & post-harvest · M18 Agri economics, marketing & creditTogether about 45% of all static ARD questions; asked every year in both phases
HighM1 Agronomy basics · M19 Rural development · M8 Irrigation · M14 Farm machinery & storage · M13 Fisheries · M15 ForestrySteady 3–5 questions a paper; favourite Mains descriptive areas (irrigation, storage, social forestry, rural development)
MediumM9 Fertilizers · M16 Ecology & climate · M2 Cropping systems · M17 Extension · M5 SeedsShort factual questions – learn tables and terms
Quick winsM4 Agromet · M6 Plant protection · M10 Organic farming · M3 Dryland & precision farmingSmall syllabus, direct one-liners; finish in a day each

4. Sources – keep them few and finish them many times

PartCore sourceAdd-ons
ARD staticThe 19 ARD modules here (each has its PYQs answered inside)ICAR / ministry pages only to update a number
ARD currentDaily notes → monthly notes; scheme cards (Agriculture, Fisheries & AHD, Jal Shakti, Rural Development, Food Processing)Ministry annual reports – the 'achievements' chapter only
ESI staticESI topics here; NCERT Indian Economic Development (Class 11) and Indian Society / Social Change & Development (Class 12) for basicsOne standard Indian-economy book for reference, not cover-to-cover
ESI currentEconomic Survey (chapter summaries + data), Union Budget highlights, RBI policy, PLFS, HCES, NFHS-5, MPI, Census-related updatesSocial-sector scheme cards
GALast 6–8 months of daily/monthly notes; banking & RBI, NABARD in news, appointments, reports & indices–
Qualifying testsAny one standard bank-exam practice seriesDaily timed drills

5. The 24-week plan

WeeksPhaseWhat to finishDaily hours
1–2OrientationRead the syllabus line by line (tab 2), take one full previous-year paper cold, list your weak areas. Start the daily current-affairs habit from day 1.4–5
3–10ARD foundationAll 19 ARD modules – one every 2–3 days; read each module's PYQ corner and run its flashcards the same evening. Very-high modules get two full reads.6
5–14ESI foundation (parallel)ESI topics 1–11: concepts + latest data. Make one-page summaries for each topic.+1.5
11–16Current affairs consolidationBack-fill 12 months of monthly notes; master scheme cards ministry by ministry; topic-wise PYQs for ESI and ARD.6–7
ThroughoutQualifying tests30–40 minutes daily – rotate Reasoning, Quant, English; Computer and DM twice a week.0.5–0.75
ThroughoutWritingFrom week 6: one typed Paper II answer every other day; one English task (essay / précis / letter) every week.0.5
17–22Prelims modeTwo full mocks a week + daily sectional sets; revise modules with flashcards; mistake log every evening.7–8
Prelims → Mains (≈ 5 weeks)Mains modeDaily: 2 timed Paper II answers + 1 English task, all typed; Paper II objective sets; revise data, schemes and NABARD's role.7–8
After MainsInterviewPsychometric practice, DAF preparation, NABARD's structure and functions, your district's agriculture, mock interviews.4

6. ARD – how to study a module

  1. First read – the whole module, marking every table, number and term (breeds, varieties, institutes, ratios).
  2. PYQ corner – read the explanation under each past question; notice how the examiner twists a fact (e.g., 'which is NOT…', 'arrange in order').
  3. NABARD lens box – what NABARD finances in that area; this is exactly what Mains asks ('role of NABARD in…').
  4. Flashcards the same day, then on days 3, 7 and 21 (the portal schedules them for you).
  5. One-page revision box at the end of each module is your last-week revision sheet.

7. ESI – concept, data, scheme

  • For every topic prepare three layers: concept (e.g., what is poverty line, how is inflation measured), latest data (rate, rank, report and year) and policy (scheme, committee, law).
  • Highest-yield topics in past papers: nature of the economy, inflation-money-banking, reforms & external sector, social structure & social justice, political system.
  • Keep a running 'numbers sheet' – GDP growth, inflation, poverty, unemployment, sex ratio, literacy, IMR/MMR, budget figures. Update it whenever a new report appears in the daily notes.
  • Every ESI topic has a rural angle in this exam – rural poverty, rural credit, rural women, rural health. Prepare that angle explicitly.

8. General Awareness

  • Cover the last 6–8 months well rather than 18 months poorly. Priority: banking and RBI, NABARD and other financial institutions, agriculture and rural schemes, reports and indices, summits and appointments.
  • Revise monthly notes twice; take every monthly MCQ set.

9. Qualifying tests – don't let them knock you out

  • Reasoning – puzzles and seating carry most marks; practise 2 puzzles daily.
  • English – reading comprehension and error spotting; read one editorial daily (it also helps Paper I).
  • Quant – data interpretation and arithmetic; skip long calculations in the exam.
  • Computer – basics, shortcuts, networking, security; quick marks.
  • Decision Making – situational questions; choose the option that is lawful, fair to all parties and keeps the organisation's interest.

10. Prelims exam-day plan (120 minutes, composite time)

OrderSectionTime
1ARD (40)22 min
2ESI (40)22 min
3GA (20)8 min
4Computer (20) + Decision Making (10)13 min
5English (30)20 min
6Reasoning (20)18 min
7Quant (20)15 min
–Buffer / review2 min
  • Start with the merit section while your mind is fresh – it decides your rank.
  • Attempt a question if you can eliminate two options; leave pure guesses (¼ penalty).
  • Note the section-wise attempts on your rough sheet so no section falls below its cut-off.

11. Mains Paper I – English (100 marks, 90 minutes, typed)

TaskTimeHow to score
Essay≈ 40 min400–450 words: a crisp intro (fact or context), 3–4 body paragraphs (economic, social, rural angle, government action), challenges, way forward, short conclusion. Prefer rural/banking/economy topics if there is a choice.
Précis≈ 20 minOne-third of the passage; own words; no examples or opinions; give a title if asked.
Comprehension≈ 15 minAnswer in your own words in 2–4 lines each; quote the passage only for vocabulary questions.
Business / office letter≈ 15 minCorrect format (sender, date, subject, salutation, body in 3 short paras, closing); formal tone; under 200 words.

12. Mains Paper II – ESI & ARD (100 marks)

  • Objective (30 questions, 30 minutes, 50 marks) – application-level MCQs; same preparation as Prelims but expect more data and statement-based questions.
  • Descriptive (attempt 4 of 6 in 90 minutes) – about 25 minutes for each 15-marker (300–350 words) and 18 minutes for each 10-marker (200–250 words); keep 4 minutes to proof-read.
Answer partWhat to write
Introduction (2–3 lines)Definition or a latest fact with source and year
BodySub-headings that mirror the question; points with data, schemes and examples
Issues / challenges3–4 crisp points
Way forwardPractical steps; cite a committee or best practice (a state example such as Maharashtra's adds value)
NABARD angleOne line on NABARD's role – refinance, RIDF, watershed/WADI, FPOs, SHGs, climate funds
ConclusionOne forward-looking line
  • Type in short paragraphs or bullet points – examiners read on screen; use clear sub-headings.
  • Build a bank of 40–50 high-probability answers (irrigation, storage, FPOs, crop insurance, soil health, dairy, fisheries, climate change, social forestry, rural credit, SHGs, MGNREGA/VB-G RAM G, inflation, poverty, unemployment, women's empowerment). The PYQ corners and Phase 2 Descriptive section give you the frames.

13. The revision system

  • Daily – flashcards due (15 minutes) + yesterday's highlights.
  • Weekly (Sunday) – weekly notes, the week's modules' one-page boxes, mistake log.
  • Monthly (1st) – monthly notes + monthly MCQ set + one full mock.
  • Mistake log – every wrong or guessed question goes into it with the correct fact; read it before each mock. Most marks are gained by not repeating errors.

14. Mocks – how many and how to analyse

  • Prelims: 12–15 full mocks in the last 6 weeks, plus sectional sets. Mains: 6–8 timed Paper II and 4–5 Paper I practice papers.
  • Spend as long analysing a mock as writing it: classify every error as didn't know, knew but confused or silly, and fix the first two in the notes the same day.

15. Psychometric test and interview

  • Psychometric – mandatory; answer honestly and consistently, picture yourself as a development-banking officer working with farmers, SHGs and state governments. Don't try to 'game' it.
  • Interview – prepare: NABARD's history (1982, CRAFICARD), functions (refinance, development, supervision), funds (RIDF, LTIF, MIF, WIF, FIDF), subsidiaries (NABCONS, NABKISAN, NABSAMRUDDHI, NABFINS, NABVENTURES); your home district's crops, credit plan (PLP) and problems; your graduation subject; current rural issues (monsoon, MSP, farm incomes, climate).
  • Answer in 30–60 seconds, admit what you don't know, and connect answers to rural development.

16. Mistakes toppers avoid

  • Spending equal time on all eight Prelims tests – the merit section deserves most of it.
  • Collecting many sources – finish one set of notes three times instead.
  • Starting Mains writing after Prelims – there are only about five weeks; start typing answers by week 6.
  • Ignoring numbers – both ESI and ARD love data (production, MSP, scheme outlays, survey results).
  • Leaving qualifying sections to chance – one bad section ends the attempt.

17. Last 30 days and last 7 days

WhenWhat to do
Last 30 daysNo new sources. Two revisions of all ARD one-page boxes and ESI summaries; scheme cards; mock every 3 days; mistake log daily.
Last 7 daysNumbers sheet, scheme cards of Agriculture/Fisheries/Rural Development, monthly notes of the last 3 months, flashcards; one light mock only.
Day beforeRest, light flashcards, check exam centre and documents.

How to use this portal to clear the exam

Portal sectionHow to use it
Latest daily & CA ArchivesRead the daily note each morning (it goes up by 7 am), mark highlights, then take that day's MCQ set. Revise the weekly note on Sunday and the monthly note on the 1st.
Schemes & trackerLearn one ministry's scheme cards a day. Use the tracker to follow a scheme or topic across all past notes.
Syllabus & StrategyTick off the official syllabus line by line – every ARD line has a button to open its module.
ARD static notesOne module every 2–3 days. Read the PYQ corner in each part, then run that module's flashcards. Mark it revised.
ESI staticTopic-wise list of the official ESI syllabus with its past questions; notes are being added module by module.
Previous year questionsFilter by section and topic. Every ARD question shows its answer, explanation and the page in the notes.
Practice MCQsDaily and monthly sets for current affairs; Phase 2 sets for Mains objective practice.
Phase 2 DescriptiveWrite timed answers and compare them with the frames given.
Flashcards15 minutes every day – the due count in the sidebar tells you what to revise.

A sample day (about 6 hours)

TimeTask
45 minLatest daily note + its MCQ set
2 hOne ARD module part (or an ESI topic) with its PYQs
45 minScheme cards + tracker
40 minQualifying sections drill (Reasoning, Quant, English rotation)
45 minOne Mains answer or English task, typed
30 minFlashcards due today
15 minMark highlights, plan tomorrow

ARD static notes

Syllabus-wise notes for Phase I ARD and Mains Paper II (ESI & ARD), with figures updated from official releases. Every past question from a topic is answered and explained inside the note, and opens at the right page from the PYQ section.
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ESI static

The official Economic & Social Issues syllabus, arranged topic-wise for Phase I ESI and Mains Paper II. Each topic links to its past questions and to current-affairs tracking; the notes will be added here module by module, in the same style as the ARD notes.

Previous year questions

GA, ESI and ARD from NABARD Grade A papers 2017–2025, sorted by syllabus topic and by the same headings as your notes. Tap “In your notes” on any question to see the related current affairs.
Type
Year
Paper
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From your notes to past questions

Items in your notes on schemes and bodies NABARD has asked about before. The same “Asked before” button appears in the scheme tracker and on scheme cards.

Practice MCQs

NABARD Phase 1 style, five options each. Every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the news it is based on.
Mixed drill

Phase 2 Descriptive

Past papers 2021–2025 and practice questions ranked by how likely they are to come. Write with a timer and a flexible word limit, compare with the model answer, then get feedback.
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Flashcards

Each card comes back just before you are likely to forget it. Rate yourself honestly: Again, Hard, Good or Easy.