Many aspirants struggle with the right approach for RBI Grade B preparation, especially for Phase 2. Rohit, a former SBI employee, successfully cleared the exam and shared his well-structured strategy. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how he prepared and what key takeaways future aspirants can adopt.

1. How He Started

Rohit got to know about the RBI Grade B exam while working at SBI. He had attempted CGB Mentor’s Top 100, which led him check CGB’s courses. He emphasizes that Phase 1 must be given due respect as it sets the foundation for the next stage.

2. General Awareness (GA) – A Smart Approach

Many aspirants fall into the trap of covering excessive GA material, but Rohit adopted a targeted approach:

• Restricted GA coverage: He skipped awards and sports news, focusing instead on high-impact topics such as banking and finance.
• RBI Circulars: He relied on content provided by CGB Mentors.
• Current Affairs: Targeted Newspaper CA and PIB for the last three months.
• Banking & Financial Awareness: Prioritized this over generic current affairs.
• Limited Sources: Avoided multiple GA sources to prevent overload.
• The Mint Newspaper: Regularly followed for financial insights.

3. Study Discipline & Effective Time Management

• Utilized Morning Hours: Balancing studies with a full-time job, Rohit optimized his mornings for focused study sessions.
• Stayed Away from social media: He avoided distractions and was not part of any Telegram groups.
• Descriptive Writing Practice: Used CGB Mentors’ Descriptive Evaluation Sessions rather than unstructured sources.
• Avoided Information Clutter: Most Telegram content, according to him, is not useful.

4. Phase 1 Strategy – Smart & Selective Approach

Rohit’s Phase 1 preparation was mostly completed before the exam. His strategy included:

• Quantitative Aptitude: Focused on Data Interpretation (DI) rather than random topics. DI boosts confidence in the exam.
• Reasoning Ability: Avoided puzzles, focusing on miscellaneous reasoning questions instead.
• English Language: Found the section to be very basic and did not spend excessive time on it.
• Score in Phase 1: He secured 101.75 marks, highlighting the effectiveness of his method.

5. Phase 2 Preparation – Avoiding Common Pitfalls

• Avoid the UPSC Approach: Many aspirants treat RBI exam preparation like UPSC, which is a fatal mistake.
• PYQs (Previous Year Questions) Are Crucial: These help in understanding the descriptive paper's pattern and expectations.
• Concise Static Notes: If referring to multiple sources for static topics, ensure all information is consolidated into one concise set of notes.

6. Interview Strategy – The Importance of Finance Knowledge

Rohit credits Rahul Sir’s advice on studying finance as a crucial part of his interview preparation. While interviews are about personality, he firmly believes that without a strong understanding of core finance, one cannot showcase an impressive personality in the RBI interview.

• 80% of the interview questions were finance-related.
• Without knowledge of finance, the interview could have gone poorly.
• Preparation in core financial concepts helped him answer confidently.

Final Takeaway

Rohit’s success in RBI Grade B was not about excessive studying but smart preparation, focused resources, and disciplined execution. His strategy proves that with a well-planned approach, aspirants can clear the exam while managing full-time jobs.

Would you adopt Rohit’s approach for your RBI preparation? Let me know in the comments!

Watch his full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTtSzRVvCT8&t=208s