Banking Exam Difficulty Level: Which Exam Is Hardest to Crack in India?

Banking jobs continue to be among the most sought-after career options in India because of their attractive salary packages, job security, career growth, and work-life balance. However, not all banking examinations are equally difficult. Some require advanced subject knowledge, while others demand exceptional speed, accuracy, and performance across multiple selection stages.

From RBI Grade B and NABARD Grade A to SBI PO and IBPS PO, every exam follows a different recruitment process and tests different competencies. Understanding the difficulty level of each examination helps candidates select the right exam based on their academic background, preparation level, and career goals.

Which Banking Exam Is Hardest to Crack in India?

Among all major banking examinations in India, RBI Grade B is generally considered the toughest because of its extensive syllabus, multi-stage selection process, advanced Phase II papers, descriptive English, and interview. 

Candidates are expected to possess a strong understanding of economics, finance, management, and current affairs, making it significantly more demanding than exams focused primarily on aptitude.

NABARD Grade A follows closely due to its specialized Agriculture & Rural Development and Economic & Social Issues papers. SBI PO is known for its intense competition and additional Group Exercise stage, while IBPS PO remains competitive but is generally considered comparatively more accessible than RBI Grade B and NABARD Grade A.

Banking Exam Difficulty Comparison

The table below compares some of India's most popular banking examinations based on their syllabus, competition, and overall difficulty.

RBI Grade B: The Toughest Banking Exam

Among banking examinations, RBI Grade B is widely regarded as the most challenging because of its comprehensive syllabus and rigorous selection process.

The recruitment process consists of:

• Phase I (Objective)

• Phase II

• Interview

What makes RBI Grade B particularly difficult is its Phase II, which goes far beyond aptitude-based preparation. Candidates must study subjects such as:

• Economic & Social Issues (ESI)

• Finance & Management (FM)

• Economics or Statistics (for specialist streams)

• English (Writing Skills)

The syllabus includes advanced topics like:

• Balance of Payments

• Poverty Alleviation

• Corporate Governance

• Monetary Policy

• Inflation

• Financial Markets

• Public Finance

• Statistics and Economics (for relevant streams)

Many of these subjects are studied at the postgraduate level, making the examination significantly more demanding than regular banking recruitment exams.

NABARD Grade A: Specialized but Highly Competitive

NABARD Grade A is another highly competitive examination, especially for candidates interested in agriculture, rural development, and development banking.

Apart from aptitude-based papers, Phase II includes:

• Economic & Social Issues (ESI)

• Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD)

The descriptive component and domain-specific syllabus make this examination particularly challenging for candidates without an agriculture or rural development background.

SBI PO: Challenging Due to Competition

SBI PO remains one of the toughest public sector banking examinations because of its large applicant pool and comprehensive selection process.

The recruitment process includes:

• Preliminary Examination

• Main Examination

• Group Exercise

• Interview

Unlike IBPS PO, SBI PO includes a Group Exercise before the interview, adding another evaluation stage.

Candidates are tested on:

• Quantitative Aptitude

• Reasoning Ability

• English Language

• Data Analysis & Interpretation

• General Awareness

• Descriptive English

Although the syllabus is less specialized than RBI Grade B, the level of competition and the additional assessment stage make SBI PO highly competitive.

IBPS PO: Difficulty Has Increased

IBPS PO has become more competitive over the years due to changes in its examination pattern.

The revised recruitment process includes:

• Preliminary Examination

• Main Examination

• Interview

The mains examination now also includes a Descriptive English paper, requiring candidates to perform well in both objective and writing-based assessments.

Since IBPS conducts recruitment for multiple public sector banks, the examination attracts a large number of applicants every year.

Which Banking Exam Should You Choose?

The ideal examination depends on your academic background and career aspirations.

• Choose RBI Grade B if you are interested in economics, finance, regulation, and policymaking, and are comfortable preparing advanced subjects.

• Choose NABARD Grade A if you have an interest in agriculture, rural development, and development finance.

• Choose SBI PO if you want a managerial role in India's largest public sector bank and are comfortable with a competitive selection process.

• Choose IBPS PO if your goal is to secure a Probationary Officer position in a public sector bank through a broader recruitment process.

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