What were the descriptive questions in ESI & ARD?

Tariffs, dairy & poultry sector, crop diversification, and migration impact.

NABARD Grade A Mains Exam Analysis 2026, Check Difficulty Level

Q: What were the descriptive questions in ESI &amp; ARD?

Tariffs, dairy &amp; poultry sector, crop diversification, and migration impact.

Home » NABARD Grade A » NABARD Grade A Mains Exam Analysis 2026

The NABARD Grade A Mains Exam 2026 was conducted on 25th January 2026 by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Aspirants who appeared for the exam reported that the paper was moderate in difficulty and closely followed the expected pattern. The exam tested candidates on descriptive English, Economic & Social Issues (ESI), Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD), and objective MCQs. In this blog, we provide the complete NABARD Grade A Mains Exam Analysis 2026, including section‑wise difficulty level and the actual questions asked.

NABARD Grade A Mains Exam 2026 – Overall Difficulty

The paper was balanced and syllabus‑focused, with descriptive sections requiring structured answers and objective MCQs demanding updated knowledge of schemes and agriculture.

Section	Difficulty Level
English Descriptive	Moderate
ESI & ARD (Descriptive)	Moderate
ESI & ARD (Objective MCQs)	Moderate to Difficult
Overall Paper	Moderate

NABARD Grade A Mains Exam 2026 – Good Attempts

The NABARD Grade A Mains Exam 2026 was held on 25th January across centres in India. The paper was moderate overall, testing candidates on descriptive English, ESI, ARD, and objective MCQs. This analysis covers section‑wise difficulty, good attempts, and actual questions asked to guide future aspirants.

Section	Good Attempts
English Descriptive	2 essays + 1 letter + 1 precis
ESI & ARD Objective	60–65 marks
ESI & ARD Descriptive	2 long + 2 short answers

NABARD Grade A Mains Exam 2026 – Section‑Wise Analysis

English Descriptive

The English paper was moderate and scoring for candidates with strong writing practice.

Essay Topics Asked:

Manufacturing and national prosperity
Advantages & disadvantages of farm subsidies in India
Role of startups in boosting innovation
Agrovoltex (theme‑based essay)

Letter Writing:

Complaint regarding newspaper subscription not being received daily

Precis Writing:

Social media & development theme (focus on communication trends)

ESI & ARD (Objective MCQs)

The objective section was moderate to difficult, with heavy focus on government schemes, agriculture practices, and rural development.

1‑mark Questions:

Soil Health Card
E‑Shram Portal
Vidya Laxmi Scheme
Stand‑Up India Scheme
Medium Farmer Seed Value Rate
Marine Fish

2‑mark Questions:

DAY‑NRLM Scheme
Shakti Scheme
Rice Cultivation
Coffee

ESI & ARD (Descriptive)

The descriptive section tested conceptual clarity and policy awareness.

15‑mark Questions:

Tariffs & Indian economic challenges
Dairy and poultry sector – complementary & supplementary with agriculture

10‑mark Questions:

Crop diversification
Migration and its impact

NABARD Grade A Mains Exam 2026 – Takeaways for Aspirants

Practice descriptive writing regularly with structured format (Intro, Body, Conclusion).
Revise government schemes related to agriculture, rural development, and social issues.
Focus on current affairs in economics and rural development.
Attempt mock tests to improve speed and accuracy in objective sections.

FAQs

What was the overall difficulty level of NABARD Grade A Mains Exam 2026?

The paper was moderate, with objective MCQs slightly tougher.

What type of questions were asked in English Descriptive?

Essays on manufacturing, farm subsidies, startups, and Agrovoltex; letter writing; precis on social media.

Which topics dominated the ESI & ARD Objective section?

Government schemes, agriculture practices, and rural development.

What were the descriptive questions in ESI & ARD?

Tariffs, dairy & poultry sector, crop diversification, and migration impact.

Asad Yar Khan

Asad specializes in penning and overseeing blogs on study strategies, exam techniques, and key strategies for SSC, banking, regulatory body, engineering, and other competitive exams. During his 3+ years' stint at PracticeMock, he has helped thousands of aspirants gain the confidence to achieve top results. In his free time, he either transforms into a sleep lover, devours books, or becomes an outdoor enthusiast.