RBI Launches Major Recruitment Drive for Assistant Positions
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has officially announced a significant recruitment initiative for the position of Assistant under the Panel Year 2025. This nationwide campaign aims to fill 650 vacancies across various RBI offices located throughout India. The selection process will be conducted through a comprehensive competitive examination that will be administered across the country.
Application Timeline and Examination Schedule
The application window for interested candidates will remain open from February 16, 2026 to March 8, 2026. During this same period, applicants must complete the online payment of examination fees. The tentative examination dates have been scheduled as follows:
- Online Preliminary Examination: April 11, 2026
- Online Main Examination: June 7, 2026
The RBI has explicitly stated that it reserves the right to modify these examination dates if circumstances require such changes. All applications must be submitted exclusively through the official RBI website at www.rbi.org.in. Applications sent through any alternative methods or channels will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Vacancy Distribution Across India
The 650 Assistant positions will be distributed across multiple RBI offices located in major cities throughout the nation. The confirmed locations include:
- Ahmedabad
- Bengaluru
- Bhopal
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Guwahati
- Hyderabad
- Jaipur
- Jammu
- Kanpur & Lucknow
- Kolkata
- Mumbai
- Nagpur
- New Delhi
- Patna
- Thiruvananthapuram
The banking authority has clarified that the number of vacancies may be subject to increase or decrease based on organizational requirements and operational needs.
Comprehensive Eligibility Criteria
Nationality Requirements
Applicants must fall into one of the following categories:
- Citizens of India
- Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan
- Tibetan refugees who arrived in India before January 1, 1962
- Persons of Indian origin who have migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India, provided they possess an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India
Age Limit and Relaxation Policies
As of February 1, 2026, candidates must be between 20 and 28 years of age. This translates to a birth date range between February 2, 1998 and February 1, 2006 (both dates inclusive). The RBI offers substantial age relaxation for various categories:
- Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST): 5 years relaxation
- Other Backward Classes (OBC): 3 years relaxation
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 10 to 15 years relaxation depending on specific category
- Ex-servicemen: Additional relaxation as per established service rules
- Widows/Divorced Women/Judicially Separated Women: Up to 35–40 years depending on category
- RBI Staff with Work Experience: Relaxation equal to years of service with a maximum of 3 years
Educational Qualifications
Candidates must possess the following educational credentials:
- A Bachelor's degree in any discipline with minimum 50% marks (pass class for SC/ST/PwBD candidates)
- Demonstrable knowledge of word processing on computer systems
- Proficiency in the local language of the state or region applied for, encompassing reading, writing, speaking, and comprehensive understanding
For Ex-servicemen applicants, graduation from a recognized university or equivalent qualification is mandatory after completing at least 15 years of defense service.
Three-Stage Selection Process
The RBI Assistant recruitment will follow a rigorous three-stage selection procedure:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Language Proficiency Test (LPT)
The Language Proficiency Test will be conducted in the official or local language of the concerned state. Candidates who fail to demonstrate adequate proficiency in the designated language will face disqualification from the recruitment process.
Examination Pattern and Structure
Preliminary Examination Details
- English Language: 30 questions carrying 30 marks
- Numerical Ability: 35 questions carrying 35 marks
- Reasoning Ability: 35 questions carrying 35 marks
- Total: 100 questions worth 100 marks
- Duration: 60 minutes
Main Examination Structure
- Reasoning: 40 questions carrying 40 marks
- English Language: 40 questions carrying 40 marks
- Numerical Ability: 40 questions carrying 40 marks
- General Awareness: 40 questions carrying 40 marks
- Computer Knowledge: 40 questions carrying 40 marks
- Total: 200 questions worth 200 marks
Both examinations will incorporate negative marking for incorrect answers, making accuracy crucial for success.
Application Fee Structure
The application fee varies according to candidate categories:
- General and OBC Candidates: ₹450
- SC, ST, PwBD, Ex-servicemen, and RBI Staff Candidates: ₹50
All fee payments must be completed exclusively through online payment methods during the specified application window.
Step-by-Step Application Procedure
Prospective candidates should follow these systematic steps to submit their applications:
- Visit the official RBI website at www.rbi.org.in
- Locate and click on the link titled "Recruitment for the Post of Assistant – Panel Year 2025"
- Register as a new user to generate provisional registration credentials including registration number and password
- Carefully complete all required fields including personal information, educational qualifications, and other mandatory details
- Upload photograph, signature, and necessary documents following specified format and size requirements
- Utilize the "Preview" option to thoroughly verify all entered information before final submission
- Proceed with online payment of the applicable application fee
- Click "Complete Registration" to finalize and submit the application form
- Print a copy of the submitted application for personal records and future reference
Candidates must exercise extreme caution during the application process, as no modifications can be made after final submission.
Critical Instructions for Applicants
The RBI has issued several important guidelines that all candidates must adhere to:
- Applications will be accepted exclusively through online submission; offline applications will be summarily rejected
- Candidates must independently verify their eligibility against all specified conditions before applying
- Admission to the examination is provisional and contingent upon successful document verification at subsequent stages
- Qualifying in the examination does not automatically guarantee employment; final selection depends on fulfillment of all eligibility criteria
- Applicants are strongly advised to regularly monitor the official RBI website for updates regarding admit cards, examination details, and subsequent recruitment stages
This recruitment drive represents a significant opportunity for aspiring banking professionals to join India's central banking institution. With 650 positions available across the country, candidates are encouraged to prepare thoroughly and submit their applications within the specified timeframe to avoid missing this career opportunity.
