Great Update! The RBI Grade B Prelims 2025 Shift 1 exam has been concluded, and aspirants across the country are eager to decode its difficulty level and the level of questions asked this year. This analysis is crafted to help you understand the nature of the paper, identify high-yield areas, and recalibrate your preparation strategy for upcoming shifts or future attempts. The difficulty level was rated as Moderate to difficult, according to the feedback from candidates who appeared in the 1st Shift of the exam. Let’s go through a section-wise breakdown of the RBI Grade B Phase 1 Shift 1 (single shift) exam (18th October 2025, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM).
Key Insights
- Overall difficulty was moderate to tough, with Reasoning and Quant being the most challenging.
- GA focused on current affairs from the last 3-4 months, including RBI circulars and schemes.
- English tested grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension with a balanced mix of question types.
- Puzzles, DI sets, and caselets dominated Reasoning and Quant, demanding speed and accuracy.
RBI Grade B Exam Analysis 2025 Shift 1: Difficulty Level
Here’s a snapshot of the section-wise difficulty level as reported by candidates and verified through expert inputs:
| Section | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| General Awareness | 80 | Moderate to Difficult |
| Reasoning Ability | 60 | Difficult |
| English Language | 30 | Moderate |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | Difficult |
RBI Grade B Exam Analysis 2025 Shift 1: Good Attempts
Based on student feedback and expert review, here’s an indicative range of good attempts:
| Section | Good Attempts |
| General Awareness | 42 – 45 |
| Reasoning Ability | 20 – 23 |
| English Language | 14 – 17 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 8 – 10 |
| Overall | 80 – 88 |
Section-Wise Analysis & Questions Asked
The RBI Grade B Phase I exam tested the aspirants with four sections: Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, and General Awareness. Below is a structured overview of the types of questions asked in each section. These insights will help aspirants learn about the main patterns and recalibrate their preparation.
Reasoning Ability
This section was dominated by puzzles and seating arrangements, demanding high logical precision. Syllogisms, input-output, and data sufficiency added variety, while minor topics tested quick thinking and basic verbal logic.
| Topics Asked | Number of Questions | Notes |
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 25 | Dominated the section; time-consuming |
| Syllogism | 3-5 | Conceptual clarity needed |
| Data Sufficiency | 5 | Mixed logic-based and factual sets |
| Input–Output (Numbers + Words) | 4 | Pattern recognition essential |
| Inequality | 4 | Mostly direct |
| Directions | 3-4 | Paragraph-based logic |
| Coding | 1 | Basic alphanumeric |
| Word-Based Logic | 1 | Vocabulary + reasoning blend |
| Number Pairing | 1 | Quick calculation |
| Meaningful Word Formation | 1 | Letter arrangement |
Quantitative Aptitude
Quant focused heavily on Data Interpretation and arithmetic word problems. Caselets required fast comprehension, while quadratic equations, number series, and data sufficiency tested core numerical reasoning under time pressure.
| Key Question Theme | Number of Questions | Notes |
| Data Interpretation (DI) | 10 | Pie, Table, Graph, Line-based sets |
| Caselet DI | 4-5 | Word-heavy, required quick parsing |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | 5-6 | Ratio, Time & Work, Profit & Loss, etc. |
| Quadratic Equations | 4 | Mostly solvable with basic algebra |
| Data Sufficiency | 3 | Conceptual + numerical mix |
| Missing Number Series | 2 | Pattern-based, moderate difficulty |
English Language
The English section was balanced, with RCs, grammar-based questions, and vocabulary testing, comprehension, and precision.
| Topics Asked / Observed | Number of Questions |
| Reading Comprehension | 8-9 |
| Word Usage | 3-4 |
| Spotting Error | 5 |
| Cloze Test | 6 |
| Theme Based | 2-3 |
| Phrase Replacement | 4 |
General Awareness
GA was current-affairs heavy, with questions spanning the last 3–4 months. RBI circulars, government schemes, and international developments were prominent.
Questions on Economy, Finance & Banking
- Under Basel III norms, which type of financial entities are these regulations applicable to?
- The RBI stopped granting new licenses to which category of banks in 2004?
- Match the correct pair: Loan limits prescribed for urban housing under different tiers of Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs).
- Which parameter among the following is updated daily by the RBI? (Options: Open Market Operations, SLR, Reference Rate, etc.)
- What are the qualitative and quantitative tools used by the RBI for credit control?
- Which app was the first non-government UPI app to launch the Digital Rupee feature?
- Which app among the given options offers a credit line facility to users?
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a $200 million loan to which Indian organization?
- Infosys recently partnered for cross-border payments with which global company?
- Which are the sub-components of the Quality parameter in the Financial Inclusion Index?
- Which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not being adequately met by India due to the supply of fortified rice?
Questions on General Awareness & Governance
- India recently signed a trade agreement with which four member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)?
- What is India’s improved ranking in the latest Global Innovation Index, and which countries are in the top five?
- Which parameter in the RBI’s financial indicators is updated daily?
- Who was the first Indian to win a Pulitzer Prize?
- What is the ‘Swasth Naari, Shashakt Pariwar’ scheme about, and which ministry launched it?
- Which energy conference was recently conducted by a specific organization, and in which city was it held?
- Name the all-woman Indian naval team that successfully completed a world navigation mission.
- INS Aravali, commissioned from Gurgaon in September 2025, belongs to which class of naval ships?
- Headquarters of the Geological Survey of India is located in which city?
- ISRO was established in which year, and where is its headquarters located? Who is the current Chairman?
- Under which ministries has Piyush Goyal served as a Cabinet Minister?
Questions on Miscellaneous & Static GK
- Vallabhbhai Patel was given the title ‘Sardar’ for what reason?
- Identify the country that is incorrectly matched with its geographical area.
- Which of the following mountains is not located in the same country as the other four? (Mt. Everest, Anamudi, etc.)
- Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the Solar System, is located on which planet?
- Which daily-use item attracts nil GST under current GST rates? (Option: Paneer)
- Divya Deshmukh is associated with which sport?
- Who is the author of the book ‘Sonny and Sonia’?
- Which country’s agency provides bond ratings in Japan?
- Which male tennis player has won the most Australian Open titles in Men’s Singles history?
Final Takeaway
The RBI Grade B 2025 Shift 1 paper was a mixed bag. Some sections were straightforward, while others demanded precision and time management. If you’re appearing in upcoming shifts, focus on:
- Revising the last 3 to 4 months of current affairs
- Practicing DI and puzzles under timed conditions
- Strengthening grammar and comprehension basics
Stay tuned for the RBI Grade B Phase 2 strategy and accelerate your Phase 2 preparation from today by taking the best mock tests, by clicking on the link below, for a real Phase 2 exam experience:
Disclaimer: The information and analysis provided in this article are based on student feedback, expert inputs, and previous exam trends. Difficulty levels, good attempts, and cut‑off predictions are indicative and meant only for guidance. They should not be considered official or final. Candidates are advised to verify their performance and scores with the official answer keys, notifications, and updates released by RBI.
FAQs
The analysis isn’t just a postmortem. More than that, it’s a strategic lens. You’ll understand the paper’s structure, difficulty level, and question trends across sections. It helps you recalibrate your preparation and prioritize the most scoring topics. It is also a valuable source for the aspirants who are getting ready to face the next year’s exam, to ensure they don’t miss any important topics.
The Phase 1 exam was held in a single shift on 18th October, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Everyone got the same paper.
It was moderately tough. Reasoning and Quant were tricky and needed smart time management. General Awareness (GA) leaned heavily on current affairs. English was relatively balanced. Overall, it tested both speed and understanding.
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