Banking & Insurance Examination 2026: All Major Exams, Syllabus, Salary, Previous Papers, and Preparation

Banking and insurance competitive exams in India are mainly used to recruit candidates into public sector banks, the Reserve Bank of India, life insurance, and general insurance companies. The biggest exam families are SBI, IBPS, RBI, LIC, and public-sector insurance company recruitments such as NIACL and New India’s AO recruitments. Many of these exams are objective online tests, but several also include descriptive writing, interviews, psychometric tests, language tests, or document/medical stages.

Banking & Insurance major exam families at a glance

Exam family	Main posts / job outcome	Objective vs written	Stages	Group / pay level	Scope
SBI PO	Probationary Officer in SBI	Objective + descriptive	Prelims → Mains → Psychometric / Group Exercise / Interview	Officer cadre; starting basic pay officially shown as ₹48,480 in the 2025 PO notice	National, SBI-only
SBI Clerk / Junior Associate	Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales)	Objective + local language test	Prelims → Mains → Local language test	Clerical cadre; starting basic pay ₹24,050 plus graduate increments; total starting emoluments around ₹46,000 in metro cities	State/UT-wise allotment under SBI
SBI CBO	Circle Based Officer	Objective + interview	Online test / screening → Interview	Officer cadre; SBI recruitment	Circle-based SBI posting
IBPS PO / MT	Officer in participating public sector banks	Objective + descriptive + interview	Prelims → Mains → Interview	Bank-wise officer cadre; salary depends on allotting bank	National
IBPS Clerk / CSA	Clerical cadre in participating banks	Objective only + language proficiency where applicable	Prelims → Mains → local language/test as per bank rules	Bank-wise clerical cadre	National
IBPS RRB Officer / Assistant	Office Assistant, Officer Scale I/II/III in RRBs	Objective + interview for some scales	Prelims → Mains → Interview for Scale I; single exam + interview for Scale II/III; Assistant has Prelims → Mains	RRB cadre; salary depends on the RRB/allotment	Multi-state / state-wise allotment
RBI Grade B	Officer in RBI (General / DEPR / DSIM)	Objective + descriptive + interview	Phase I → Phase II → Interview	Officer in RBI; starting basic pay ₹55,200 and gross emoluments around ₹1,22,717 in 2024 notice	National, RBI-only
LIC AAO / AE / Specialist AAO	Assistant Administrative Officer and specialist officer roles	Objective + descriptive + interview	Prelims → Mains → Interview	LIC officer scale; Generalist basic pay ₹88,635 and gross approx ₹1,26,000 in A-class city; specialist/AE similar officer-scale structure	National, LIC-only
NIACL AO	Administrative Officer Scale I	Objective + descriptive + interview	Prelims → Mains → Interview	Officer scale; basic pay ₹50,925 and gross around ₹90,000 in metro centres	National, NIACL-only
Other public-sector insurer AO exams	AO / Assistant / specialist posts in general insurance companies	Mostly objective + interview; varies by company	Prelims → Mains → Interview in many cases	Officer / assistant scale depending on insurer	National
NABARD Grade A / Grade B	Assistant Manager / Manager in NABARD	Objective + descriptive + interview	Prelims → Mains → Interview	Officer cadre; finance/agri development sector	National

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SBI PO

Item	Details
What it is	SBI’s flagship officer recruitment for Probationary Officers. SBI states candidates may be posted anywhere in India.
Type	Mostly objective, with a descriptive component in Mains and a later interview phase.
Number of stages	Phase I: Prelims → Phase II: Main → Phase III: Psychometric test / Group Exercise / Interview.
Posts you get	Probationary Officer in SBI.
Salary	SBI’s 2025 advertisement shows starting basic pay ₹48,480 in the officer scale.
Final marks	Prelims are screening only; final merit uses Main + Phase III. SBI normalizes Main (250) and GE/Interview (50) to 100.

SBI PO syllabus

Phase	Subject	Main topics
Prelims	English Language	Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction, cloze, para-jumbles
Prelims	Quantitative Aptitude	Arithmetic, ratio, percentage, interest, time-work, time-distance, DI, algebra basics
Prelims	Reasoning Ability	Puzzles, seating arrangement, coding-decoding, series, blood relation, direction, syllogism
Mains	Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	Tougher reasoning, puzzles, arrangement, computer basics, internet, networking, office tools
Mains	Data Analysis & Interpretation	Charts, tables, caselets, probability, mixed DI, data comparison
Mains	General Awareness / Economy / Banking Knowledge	Current affairs, banking terms, RBI updates, economy, schemes, financial awareness
Mains	English Language	RC, error spotting, paragraph completion, sentence rearrangement, precis-style writing
Mains Descriptive	Communication Skills	Emails, reports, situation analysis, precis writing.

Question style

SBI PO is a speed + accuracy + reasoning + bank-awareness exam. The Prelims are short and fast, while Mains is tougher because of DI, banking awareness, and the descriptive writing component.

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SBI Clerk / Junior Associate

Item	Details
What it is	SBI’s clerical cadre recruitment for Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales). SBI says the post is state/UT based and candidates must be proficient in the opted local language unless exempt by school certificate proof.
Type	Objective CBT plus a local language proficiency test after mains, if required.
Number of stages	Prelims → Mains → Local language test.
Posts you get	Junior Associate in SBI clerical cadre.
Salary	SBI shows starting basic pay ₹24,050 plus two advance increments for graduates; total starting emoluments in metro cities are around ₹46,000/month.
Final marks	Final selection is based on Main exam performance, then local language qualification where needed. Prelims are screening only.

SBI Clerk syllabus

Phase	Subject	Main topics
Prelims	English Language	RC, grammar, vocabulary, sentence order, cloze
Prelims	Numerical Ability	Simplification, number system, arithmetic, DI basics, approximation
Prelims	Reasoning Ability	Puzzles, order-rank, seating, coding, direction, syllogism
Mains	General/ Financial Awareness	Banking awareness, current affairs, RBI, economy, government schemes, static finance
Mains	General English	RC, cloze, grammar, error spotting, vocab
Mains	Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude	Puzzles, logic, computer basics, internet, software, office tools
Mains	Quantitative Aptitude	Higher-level arithmetic, DI, probability, mensuration, data comparison
Local language test	State/UT language	Reading, writing, speaking, understanding the opted local language.

Question style

SBI Clerk is less deep than SBI PO in reasoning and banking knowledge, but the main exam still needs good speed. The local language stage is compulsory for most candidates.

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SBI CBO

Item	Details
What it is	Circle Based Officer recruitment in SBI. SBI’s current careers pages list CBO as a live opening.
Type	Objective screening followed by interview, depending on the notice.
Number of stages	Usually online test / screening + interview.
Posts you get	Circle Based Officer in SBI.
Salary	Officer-scale SBI posting; exact pay depends on the recruitment notice.
Scope	Circle-specific posting rather than all-India posting.

SBI CBO syllabus

Typically includes reasoning, banking awareness, English, quant, and circle-specific eligibility / experience evaluation where required by the notice. SBI’s current openings page is the right place to check the active format because it changes by recruitment cycle.

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IBPS PO / MT

Item	Details
What it is	Common Recruitment Process for Probationary Officer / Management Trainee posts in participating public sector banks. IBPS’s official notification says the exam is for participating banks and has Prelims, Mains, Personality Test, and Interview in the 2025–26 cycle.
Type	Objective Prelims + objective Mains + descriptive English + interview.
Number of stages	Prelims → Mains → Personality Test → Interview → provisional allotment.
Posts you get	Officer/PO in participating public sector banks.
Salary	Bank-specific. IBPS conducts the selection; the final pay scale depends on the allotted bank.
Final marks	Prelims is screening only; final merit comes from Mains + interview/personality components as per bank rules.

IBPS PO syllabus

Phase	Subject	Main topics
Prelims	English Language	RC, cloze, grammar, vocab, sentence correction
Prelims	Quantitative Aptitude	Arithmetic, DI, number series, simplification, algebra basics
Prelims	Reasoning Ability	Puzzles, seating, syllogism, coding, order-rank, direction
Mains	Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	Harder puzzle logic, computer knowledge, input-output, coding, data sufficiency
Mains	General / Economy / Banking Awareness	Banking awareness, RBI, current affairs, economy, schemes, finance
Mains	English Language	RC, grammar, para jumbles, cloze, vocab
Mains	Data Analysis & Interpretation	DI, caselets, interpretation, probability, arithmetic-heavy data problems
Descriptive	English writing	Letter writing, essay, sometimes situation-based communication tasks.

Question style

IBPS PO is a high-speed bank exam with a tougher Mains than Clerk. The descriptive part matters, and the interview phase is part of final merit.

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IBPS Clerk / CSA

Item	Details
What it is	Common Recruitment Process for clerical cadre posts in participating banks. IBPS’s clerical notification says it is for clerical cadre posts in participating banks.
Type	Objective Prelims + objective Mains; language/proficiency rules may apply depending on posting.
Number of stages	Prelims → Mains → provisional allotment / local language requirements depending on bank.
Posts you get	Clerk / CSA in participating public sector banks.
Salary	Bank-specific. IBPS does not set one single uniform salary because allotment is to participating banks.
Final marks	Mains is the critical score; Prelims is screening only.

IBPS Clerk syllabus

Phase	Subject	Main topics
Prelims	English Language	Basic RC, grammar, vocabulary
Prelims	Numerical Ability	Simplification, arithmetic, DI basics, number system
Prelims	Reasoning Ability	Puzzles, analogy, coding, direction, syllogism
Mains	General / Financial Awareness	Banking, economy, current affairs, financial terms
Mains	General English	RC, cloze, grammar, error spotting, vocabulary
Mains	Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude	Moderate reasoning, computer basics, logic, seating, series
Mains	Quantitative Aptitude	Arithmetic, DI, approximation, mensuration, algebra basics.

Question style

IBPS Clerk is more speed-oriented than IBPS PO, but the reasoning and quant sections are still competitive. The exam remains fully objective in the main stages.

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IBPS RRB Officer / Office Assistant

Item	Details
What it is	IBPS recruitment for Regional Rural Banks, covering Group A officers (Scale I, II, III) and Group B Office Assistants.
Type	Objective for all tests; interviews are used for Officer Scale I/II/III.
Number of stages	Office Assistant: Prelims → Mains → allotment. Officer Scale I: Prelims → Mains → Interview. Officer Scale II/III: Single exam → Interview.
Posts you get	Office Assistant, Officer Scale I, Officer Scale II, Officer Scale III.
Salary	Bank/ RRB-specific, based on the actual RRB allotment and officer scale.
Final marks	For Assistant and Scale I, final merit is based on mains and/or interview as per the notice; for Scale II/III, the single exam plus interview decide merit.

IBPS RRB syllabus

Post	Subjects	Main topics
Office Assistant Prelims	Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude	Puzzles, arithmetic, number system, DI, simplification
Officer Scale I Prelims	Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude	Harder than Assistant; more data and logic heavy
Officer Scale I Mains	Reasoning, Computer, General Awareness, English/Hindi, Quant	Banking awareness, computer basics, current affairs, arithmetic, DI
Officer Scale II / III	Reasoning, Computer, Financial Awareness, English/Hindi, Quant & DI, professional knowledge for specialist roles	More mature banking and management-level questions
Interview	Banking maturity and fit	Communication, banking knowledge, role awareness.

Question style

RRB exams are similar to SBI/IBPS bank exams but often feel slightly more regionally oriented and rural-banking oriented, especially in final allotment.

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RBI Grade B

Item	Details
What it is	RBI’s officer recruitment for Grade B General, DEPR, and DSIM cadres. RBI’s 2024 notice shows Phase I, Phase II, and interview dates, and the final result pages show cumulative cutoffs.
Type	Objective + descriptive + interview. For General, Phase II includes Papers I, II, and III; DEPR/DSIM use their own paper structures.
Number of stages	Phase I → Phase II → Interview.
Posts you get	Officer in RBI Grade B General / DEPR / DSIM.
Salary	RBI states starting basic pay ₹55,200 and initial monthly gross emoluments around ₹1,22,717 in the 2024 notice.
Final marks	RBI result pages show written totals out of 300 and final totals out of 375 with interview.

RBI Grade B syllabus

Cadre	Papers	Main topics
General	Phase I	General awareness, reasoning, quantitative aptitude, English, finance/economy/current affairs style screening
General	Phase II Paper I	Economic and Social Issues
General	Phase II Paper II	English Writing Skills
General	Phase II Paper III	Finance and Management
DEPR	Written papers	Economics-focused papers
DSIM	Written papers	Statistics, mathematics, data science, information management topics.

Question style

RBI Grade B is one of the most concept-heavy finance exams in India. The descriptive writing and technical economics/finance/stats portions make it much deeper than a standard bank PO exam.

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LIC AAO / Specialist AAO / Assistant Engineer

Item	Details
What it is	LIC’s officer-level recruitment for Generalist, Specialist, and Assistant Engineer posts. LIC’s official recruitment page lists current AAO recruitment, results, call letters, and syllabus documents.
Type	Objective prelims + objective/descriptive mains + interview.
Number of stages	Prelims → Mains → Interview.
Posts you get	AAO Generalist, AAO Specialist, Assistant Engineer, and related specialist roles.
Salary	LIC says basic pay ₹88,635 for AAO and total emoluments around ₹1,26,000/month in an A-class city for the 2025 recruitment notice.
Final marks	Mains objective + descriptive are used for shortlist; interview follows.

LIC AAO syllabus

Phase	Subject	Main topics
Prelims	Reasoning Ability	Puzzles, arrangement, coding, syllogism, series
Prelims	English Language	RC, cloze, grammar, vocab
Prelims	Quantitative Aptitude	Arithmetic, DI, approximation, mensuration
Prelims	General Awareness	Current affairs, insurance, finance, economy
Mains	Reasoning Ability	Higher-level reasoning
Mains	English Language	Advanced RC, writing, grammar
Mains	General Awareness	Insurance, finance, economy, current affairs
Mains	Quantitative Aptitude	More difficult arithmetic and DI
Descriptive	English writing	Essay and letter writing; for specialist/AE, additional technical syllabus is prescribed in the “Syllabus for Main Examination” document.

Specialist/AE level

LIC’s official recruitment page also includes specialist streams such as actuarial, CA, CS, legal, insurance specialist, and assistant engineer roles.

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NIACL AO

Item	Details
What it is	New India Assurance Company’s Administrative Officer recruitment for Generalist and specialist scale-I posts.
Type	Objective prelims + objective/descriptive mains + interview.
Number of stages	Phase I → Phase II → Interview.
Posts you get	AO Scale-I Generalist / Specialist.
Salary	NIACL’s 2025 notice shows basic pay ₹50,925 and gross emoluments around ₹90,000/month in metropolitan centers.
Final marks	Mains objective + descriptive and interview together decide final merit; prelims are screening.

NIACL AO syllabus

Phase	Subject	Main topics
Prelims	Reasoning	Puzzles, series, syllogism, coding, arrangement
Prelims	English	RC, grammar, vocab
Prelims	Quantitative Aptitude	Arithmetic, DI, data interpretation
Prelims	General Awareness	Current affairs, economy, insurance, banking awareness
Mains	Reasoning	Harder reasoning and puzzle sets
Mains	English	Advanced comprehension and grammar
Mains	General Awareness	Insurance sector, economy, current affairs
Mains	Quantitative Aptitude	Data-heavy arithmetic, DI, problem solving
Descriptive	English	Essay/letter writing in English.

Question style

NIACL AO is similar to bank PO style but with stronger insurance-awareness flavor and a strong sectional-cutoff structure in many cycles.

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Other major insurance AO exams

Exam family	Main posts	Pattern nature	Notes
UIIC AO	Administrative Officer Scale I	Objective + descriptive + interview in recent cycles	UIIC’s official AO cutoff notice shows sectional cutoffs for objective sections and a descriptive paper, indicating a three-part structure in that cycle.
NICL AO	Administrative Officer	Similar insurance-AO structure	Commonly covered in banking/insurance mock ecosystems alongside SBI, IBPS, RBI, LIC, NIACL, and UIIC.
OICL AO	Administrative Officer	Similar insurance-AO structure	Common major insurance recruit in the same exam bucket.

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NABARD Grade A / Grade B

Item	Details
What it is	National bank-level development recruitment for agriculture and rural development, finance, legal, engineering, and related streams. NABARD’s career notices list Grade A and Grade B recruitment and updated Grade A mains syllabus streams.
Type	Objective + descriptive + interview in the major officer streams.
Number of stages	Prelims → Mains → Interview.
Posts you get	Assistant Manager Grade A, Manager Grade B, and specialized development/technical roles.
Salary	Officer-grade banking pay; exact pay varies by recruitment notice and grade.
Final marks	Depends on written + interview totals, with the phase structure stated in NABARD handouts.

NABARD syllabus

Stream	Main topics
Grade A / B General	Economic & Social Issues, Agriculture & Rural Development, English, reasoning, quant, current affairs
Specialist streams	Finance, Legal, IT, Agriculture, Engineering, Economics, etc. as per the notice.

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Official websites and update sources

Purpose	Best source
SBI exams and updates	SBI careers / current openings pages and recruitment results pages.
IBPS exams and updates	IBPS notification pages for PO/MT, clerks, and RRBs.
RBI exams and updates	RBI search/results/notification pages.
LIC exams and updates	LIC recruitment pages, especially AAO/recruitment notices.
NIACL / New India AO updates	New India recruitment pages and marksheet pages.
NABARD updates	NABARD career notices and archives.

Previous year papers, solutions, and practice sites

Type	Sites	What they offer
Official notices, results, marksheets, handouts	SBI, IBPS, RBI, LIC, NIACL, New India, NABARD websites	Real recruitment notices, call letters, cutoffs, mark sheets, and sometimes exam handouts / scorecards.
Mock tests and real tests with solutions and explanations	MEKJ-Govt	Provide game-based learning system where you learn and earn at the same time.
Previous year papers and memory-based papers	Oliveboard	Bank-exam PYQs and practice pages for SBI, IBPS, RBI Grade B, LIC AAO, NIACL AO, IBPS RRB, etc.
Mock tests and test series	Adda247	Banking, insurance, RBI, NABARD, SBI, IBPS and other mock-test series.
Mock tests and learning paths	Oliveboard help / exam pages	Banking and insurance mock tests, topic tests, and previous-year paper practice.

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Best reusable subject overlap across banking and insurance

Common topic block	Reusable across
Quantitative Aptitude	SBI PO, SBI Clerk, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, IBPS RRB, NIACL AO, LIC AAO, RBI Grade B, NABARD
Reasoning	Almost all bank/insurance exams
English	SBI, IBPS, LIC, NIACL, RBI, NABARD
Banking / Financial Awareness	SBI PO, SBI Clerk, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, IBPS RRB, RBI, NIACL, LIC, NABARD
Computer Aptitude	SBI PO, SBI Clerk, IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, IBPS RRB, some insurance AO exams
Descriptive English	SBI PO, IBPS PO, LIC AAO, NIACL AO, RBI Grade B, NABARD
Interview	SBI PO, SBI CBO, IBPS PO, IBPS RRB officers, RBI Grade B, LIC AAO, NIACL AO, NABARD