RBI Grade B Phase 2 Precis Writing Tips for Success

Success in the RBI Grade B Phase 2 Descriptive English paper depends on more than grammar or vocabulary. One of the most decisive sections is Precis Writing! It is worth around 15 marks out of 100. It is a test of your ability to read, comprehend, and condense complex information into a clear, concise, and logically flowing summary. Unlike essays, where you expand on ideas, precis writing demands the opposite. You must compress a long passage into about one‑third of its length, which is typically 120 to 150 words, and that too, without losing its essence. This is not just a test of language. It is a test of discipline, clearness of thought. It tests your ability to separate the essential points from the flowery language.

The Ideal Format for Precis Writing

While the passage may be long and detailed, your precis must be disciplined:

• Title: Always provide a short, meaningful title, as it is mandatory in the RBI exam.
• Length: About one‑third of the original passage, usually 120 to 150 words.
• Tone: Neutral, objective, and formal.
• Tense: Past tense and third person.
• Flow: Begin with the central idea, then move to supporting points logically.
• Language: Always use your own words. Avoid copying phrases directly.

Think of it as distilling a long report into a single, flowing paragraph that captures the heart of the matter.

Step‑by‑Step Strategy for Precis Writing

Here are the steps needed to write down a scoring precis:

1. Read the passage not once, but twice: The first time for overall understanding, the second time for details.
2. Look for the central idea: Ask yourself, what is the author really trying to say?
3. Underline main points: Ignore examples, statistics, and anecdotes unless they are critical.
4. Draft an outline: Jot down the main points in bullet form.
5. Write the precis: Start with the central theme, then logically compress the supporting arguments. Add a title at the top.
6. Revise carefully: Count words, check grammar, and ensure you haven’t added personal opinions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here’s what you should avoid at all costs:

• Copying phrases: This shows a lack of comprehension. Always paraphrase.
• Adding personal views: The precis is not about you; it is about the author’s message.
• Over‑shortening: Cutting too much can distort meaning. Stick to the prescribed word limit (120 to 150 words).
• Including examples: RBI is testing your ability to capture ideas, not details.
• Losing logical flow: Even though shorter, your precis must read like a coherent passage.

Precis Writing Sample

Here’s the sample that will help you understand the Precis writing technique better:

Here’s the sample that will help you understand the Precis writing technique better:

India’s harbours have become clogged up with coal as imports to power an expanding economy outpace railroad capacity to transfer the fuel to consumers. Stockpiles rose by 15 per cent in seven weeks to 19.2 million metric tons, according to data from 18 ports compiled by CoalMint in a July 30 report. Inventory at Visakhapatnam Port Trust in the eastern state of Andhra Pradesh is near the limit because a rail-car shortage is slowing distribution, Deputy Chairman PL Haranadh said in an interview.That’s “pretty much all we can hold,” Haranadh said.

His port gets about 10 of the wagon clusters known as rakes each day to send coal to consumers, against a requirement of 16. A rake comprises of 60 open-top wagons, each having a capacity of 4,000 tons. The port blockages reflect the inability of India’s infrastructure to cope with an expanding economy and consumption. Freight and passenger trains jostle for space on the same tracks, and more often than not, freight trains have to make way for passenger traffic, prolonging the turnaround time for carriages to haul coal, the mainstay of power generation in the country.

Bottlenecks in coal supply are hurting utilities, aluminium smelters and steel mills. Some 8.7 gigawatts of generation capacity was shut as of the end of June due to coal shortages, according to Bloomberg calculations based on Central Electricity Authority data. India has 197 gigawatts of coal-fired capacity. At Paradip Port Trust in Odisha state, nearly 4 million tons of cargo — including 3 million tons of coal — has piled up, almost double the storage capacity. The logjam has forced Paradip to divert cargoes to other ports, even though most have similar bottlenecks. Ports across the country are encouraging coal customers to transport coal by road. That’s more cumbersome, costly and damaging to the environment.

A blockage at Gangavaram port, close to Visakhapatnam port on the east coast, has delayed transportation of 120,000 tons of coal to electricity producer Jindal Power Ltd. Nearly half is still lying at the port three months after the cargo landed, Chief Executive Officer Bharat Rohra said. Mundra port in Gujarat state on the west coast is also struggling with a shortage of carriages, according to two officials. The shortage of as many as six rakes a day started in May, and primarily slowed fertiliser shipments.

Krishnapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh on the east coast requires another five to six rakes a day for all commodities including coal, iron ore and fertiliser, in addition to the 14 to 15 that are being loaded currently, Chief Executive Officer Anil Yendluri said. “We are also facing a challenge in getting the number of rakes, like all others,” Yendluri said. “But we are continuously working with the railways and seeing that turnaround time improves.”

Precis Solution

An increase in economic growth has caused an increase in India’s coal imports, which is the primary source of energy in the country. This has surpassed the existing infrastructure being used to transport coal and other cargo from ports to industries, mainly because of a shortage of rail cars. The problem is not limited to a region, ports across the east and west coast are facing the issue. Moreover, it is not just limited to coal, other commodities such as iron ore and fertiliser are also seeing delays. This indicates how we are falling behind in developing infrastructure required for facilitating economic growth. Low coal supply has not only affected the output of industries but has also led to a decline in power production. Although coal can be transported by road, it is not feasible owing to higher costs, inefficiency and more harm to the environment.

Why This Precis Works

Notice how the solution:

• Begins with the central idea: economic growth has increased coal imports.
• Condenses supporting points: shortage of rail cars, bottlenecks across ports, and impact on industries.
• Excludes unnecessary details: no statistics, no names of ports, no direct quotes.
• Maintains logical flow: from cause to problem to impact for the alternative.
• Uses own words: nothing is copied verbatim.

This is exactly what the RBI examiner wants to see.

Practice Plan for Success

To truly master precis writing, you need regular practice. You must follow sources like The Hindu, LiveMint, The Economist, and RBI bulletins for realistic passages.

So, you need to strictly follow a simple 4 weeks plan to master the art of summarizing a given text:

• Week 1: Learn the format. Write 2 precis from editorials.
• Week 2: Practice with 3 moderate passages and always focus on word count whenever you do so. In addition, do go through the latest English Descriptive writing topics for updated practice.
• Week 3: Attempt timed precis (20 minutes) and target 120 to 150 words.
• Week 4: Experience the exam conditions with essay and precis together, and follow the best practical tips to write a high-scoring essay in RBI Grade B 2025 Descriptive Paper for essay guidance.

Use sources like The Hindu, LiveMint, The Economist, and RBI bulletins for realistic passages.

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Final Thoughts

Precis writing is not about shortening text mechanically. It is about understanding the author’s intent and expressing it with clarity, brevity, and precision. If you can master this, scoring well in the RBI Grade B exam is well within reach.

Remember:

• Clarity over complexity.
• Essence over examples.
• Structure over spontaneity.

Approach every passage with discipline, and soon you will find that precis writing is not a hurdle but a strength, not only to score maximum marks in descriptive writing with a perfect strategy, but also in your career as a central banker.

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