Why RBI Grade B Vacancies Are Going Down (And What You Should Do)

Do you think this year the vacancies will be low? If you’ve been tracking the RBI Grade B notifications, you must have noticed one big trend. The number of RBI Grade B vacancies is shrinking since 2024. And some say, they may shrink every year because of automation. In 2024, there were only 94 vacancies. And, amazingly, that’s the lowest number in the last 10 years! Today, through this blog, we’ll discuss the reasons behind this drop and how it may affect the upcoming 2025 notification and cut-offs. More importantly, we’ll discuss with you what you can do about it.

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Table of Contents

• What’s Causing the Drop in Vacancies?
• Will 2025 Be Worse?
• Is This Really “Too Low”?
• Impact on Cut-offs
• What You Should Do Now

Vacancy Trend Over the Years

Let’s first look at how RBI Grade B vacancies have changed over the last 12 years. In 2021, there were 270 posts. In 2022, this number jumped to 238. Similarly, this number jumped to 222 in 2023 and 94 in 2024. The trend is clear. The numbers are dropping fast after peaking in 2021. Check out the data below to understand why the numbers are dropping.

Year	Vacancies
2013	98
2014	117
2015	134
2016	163
2017	145
2018	166
2019	127
2020	0 (COVID)
2021	270
2022	238
2023	222
2024	94

5 Main Reasons Behind Fewer Vacancies

Now we’ll come to the most likely reasons why there may be fewer vacancies this year, as compared to last year. 

1. Heavy Recruitment in 2021-23

RBI hired in bulk in 2021 (270 posts), 2022 (238 posts), and 2023 (222 posts). Why? Mostly because they needed staff for the new Department of Supervision (DoS). DoS was created in 2019 by merging 3 departments:

• DBS (Banking)
• DNBS (Non-Banking)
• DCBS (Cooperative Banks)

Now that those posts are filled, and there is no need to hire more employees, RBI is likely slowing down hiring.

2. Internal Promotions

RBI fills many higher posts through promotions, not fresh recruitment. This means fewer seats are left for new Grade B candidates like you.

3. Retirement Rate May Be Slowing Down

RBI mostly hires when employees retire or move out of the organization. But in recent years, the retirement rate may have slowed down. Many officers who were expected to retire might have stayed back due to extensions or policy delays. When fewer people leave, fewer new people are hired. So, even if RBI wants to bring in fresh talent, it won’t open up new seats unless there’s space to fill. That’s why vacancies could be shrinking.

4. Push for Leaner, Tech-Driven Operations

RBI is slowly becoming more tech-driven. Digital banking, automation, and AI tools are helping reduce manual workload in many departments. As a result, they may not need as many officers as before to manage certain functions. If a department used to need 10 officers, now maybe 6 can do the job using new tools. This could be another big reason why fewer Grade B vacancies are being released year after year.

5. Grade A Recruitment Rumors

There are talks that RBI may start hiring Grade A officers again. If that happens:

• Grade B vacancies may drop further (maybe just 25–30).
• The focus may shift to lower grades.

Note: These are still just rumours, not confirmed.

Will 2025 See Fewer Vacancies?

Most likely, yes. If this trend continues, we might get 80 to 100 vacancies in 2025. But don’t panic. Vacancies might rise slightly again once the hiring cycle balances out. Just don’t expect a big jump like 2021.

Is 94 Vacancies Too Low?

RBI usually offers more seats than other bodies. But in 2024, both NABARD and SEBI had more seats. So what’s the smart move? Prepare for all three exams together. The syllabus overlaps a lot. In 2024, that meant 291 total seats, not just 94!

To get a clearer picture, let’s compare RBI vacancies with other regulatory bodies:

Year	RBI Grade B	NABARD Grade A	SEBI Grade A	IRDAI Grade A
2016	163	100	–	–
2017	145	91	–	30
2018	166	92	120	–
2019	127	79	–	–
2020	0	139	147	–
2021	270	148	–	–
2022	238	161	120	–
2023	222	150	–	45
2024	94	100	97	49

How Will Less Vacancies Affect Cut-offs?

When there are fewer vacancies, there is more competition. So yes, cut-offs might go up. But it also depends on:

• Difficulty of the paper
• Number of applicants
• Overall student performance

If the paper is tough, cut-offs may drop a bit. If many students apply and do well, cut-offs will rise.

What Should You Do Now?

Don’t just wait for vacancies. Prepare smart. Here’s what you can do:

• Start with mock tests to check your level.
• Focus on overlapping syllabus with NABARD & SEBI.
• Work on your weak areas early.
• Don’t ignore descriptive practice for Phase 2.
• Keep an eye on notification updates.

Takeaway

Yes, vacancies are fewer. But that shouldn’t stop you. If you’re serious about RBI Grade B, start your preparation today. And if you want to stay ahead of others, don’t limit yourself to RBI alone. Think like a smart candidate. Start preparing for RBI, NABARD, and SEBI together. And yes, don’t forget to practice with PracticeMock’s amazing mock tests regularly. That’s your best bet.

Ready to start your RBI Grade B journey? Start preparing with the courses below!

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