SarkariResultHome.comNABARD Grade A Syllabus 2026
Updated by Sejal on 12 Oct 2026 · Organisation: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development · State: All India
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has released the syllabus and exam pattern for Grade A on its official website. The official syllabus PDF is given in the Important Links table. This page explains how to use it for your preparation.
The direct links are in the Important Links table below.
You can also see more NABARD updates on the NABARD Recruitment page, all syllabus and the home page.
NABARD Grade A Syllabus 2026: Exam Date & Pattern
| Important Dates | Key Details |
|---|---|
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Grade A: What This Page Covers
This page puts together the exam overview of Grade A with the exam pattern, the syllabus, the topic lists and the paper-wise lists, in the order a student needs them.
- First comes the exam overview: who conducts the exam, its level, mode, language and marking.
- Next are the pattern and subject-wise syllabus tables, with the marks, subject names and figures exactly as the source gives them.
- At the end you will find a preparation plan and the questions students ask most.
Grade A: Exam Overview
National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is the organisation behind Grade A.
Negative marking: Prelims- 0.25 Marks.
Selection stages given for this exam: Prelims, Mains, Interview.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) |
| Selection stages | Prelims, Mains, Interview |
| Time allowed | Prelims- 120 minutes; Mains- 90 minutes for each paper |
| Negative marking | Prelims- 0.25 Marks |
| Posts Name | Grade A |
| Types of Questions | Prelims- Objective; Mains- Objective & Descriptive |
Grade A: Phase 1
The table below gives the phase 1 of Grade A, as it is given in the source.
In short: time: 120 minutes.
| S.No. | Name of the Test | Questions | Marks | Version | Total Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Test of Reasoning | 20 | 20 | Bilingual – Hindi and English, except for tests in the English language | Composite time of 120 Minutes for all the tests together |
| 2 | English Language | 30 | 30 | Bilingual – Hindi and English, except for tests in the English language | Composite time of 120 Minutes for all the tests together |
| 3 | Computer Knowledge | 20 | 20 | Bilingual – Hindi and English, except for tests in the English language | Composite time of 120 Minutes for all the tests together |
| 4 | Quantitative Aptitude | 20 | 20 | Bilingual – Hindi and English, except for tests in the English language | Composite time of 120 Minutes for all the tests together |
| 5 | Decision Making | 10 | 10 | Bilingual – Hindi and English, except for tests in the English language | Composite time of 120 Minutes for all the tests together |
| 6 | General Awareness | 20 | 20 | Bilingual – Hindi and English, except for tests in the English language | Composite time of 120 Minutes for all the tests together |
| 7 | Eco & Soc. Issues (with a focus on Rural India) | 40 | 40 | Bilingual – Hindi and English, except for tests in the English language | Composite time of 120 Minutes for all the tests together |
| 8 | Agriculture & Rural Development with Emphasis on Rural India | 40 | 40 | Bilingual – Hindi and English, except for tests in the English language | Composite time of 120 Minutes for all the tests together |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
Grade A: Mains 2026
Check the mains 2026 for Grade A in the table below.
In short: time: 120 minutes.
| Paper | Grade A | Type of Paper | Total Questions | Total Marks | Duration | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | Online Descriptive | 3 | 100 | 90 Minutes | Descriptive Answers are to be typed using a keyboard |
| Paper II | Stream Specific Paper | Objective | 30 | 50 | 30 minutes | |
| Stream Specific Paper | Descriptive Type | 6 questions will be asked, of which candidates will be required to attempt 4 questions [2 of 15 marks each (with difficulty level) and 2 of 10 marks each] | 50 | 90 Minutes | Descriptive: Answers are to be typed using a keyboard either in English or Hindi (Remington and Inscript keyboards) |
Grade A: Prelims 2026 [Phase 1]
Prelims 2026 [Phase 1] of Grade A:
In short: time: 120 minutes.
| Subjects | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability Syllabus | Puzzles and seating arrangement; Syllogism; Data sufficiency; Statement-based questions (Verbal reasoning); Inequality; Miscellaneous Questions; Input-Output; Blood relations; Coding-Decoding |
| Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus | Data Interpretations; Quadratic Equations; Number Sehonoursries; Simplification/ Approximation; Data Sufficiency; Arithmetic Questions; Quantity Comparisons; Mathematical Inequalities |
| English Language Syllabus | Reading Comprehension; Cloze test; Sentence improvement; Spotting the errors; Fill in the blanks; Sentence rearrangement; Para Jumbles; New pattern questions |
| General Awareness Syllabus | The questions in this test will be from Current Affairs, Banking and Economy, and Insurance.; General Awareness questions typically target current events, including national and international news, recent appointments, high-profile awards, sports updates, government policy shifts, and advancements in science and technology. |
| Computer Knowledge Syllabus | This section covers topics from various topics like Networking, Input-output devices, DBMS, MS Office, Internet, the History of computers & generations, and Shortcuts. |
Grade A: Economic Social Issues Syllabus
The table below gives the economic social issues syllabus of Grade A, as it is given in the source.
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Nature of the Indian Economy | Structural and Institutional features; Economic Underdevelopment; Opening up the Indian Economy; Globalization; Economic Reforms in India; Privatization. |
| Inflation | Trends in Inflation & their Impact on National Economy and Individual Income. |
| Poverty Alleviation and Employment Generation in India | Rural and Urban; Measurement of Poverty; Poverty Alleviation Programmes of the Government |
| Population Trends | Population Growth and Economic Development; Population Policy in India |
| Agriculture | Characteristics / Status; Technical and Institutional Changes in Indian Agriculture; Agricultural performance; Issues in Food Security in India; Non-Institutional and Institutional Agencies in rural credit |
| Industry | Industrial and Labour Policy; Industrial performance; Regional Imbalance in India’s Industrial Development; Public Sector Enterprises |
| Rural banking and financial institutions in India | Reforms in the Banking/ Financial sector. |
| Globalisation of the Economy | Role of International Funding Institutions; IMF & World Bank; WTO; Regional Economic Cooperation |
| Social Structure in India | Multiculturalism; Demographic trends; Urbanisation and Migration; Gender Issues Joint Family System; Social Infrastructure; Education; Health and Environment |
| Education | Status & System of Education; Socio-Economic Problems associated with Illiteracy; Educational relevance and educational wastage; Educational Policy for India. |
| Social Justice | Problems of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes; Socio-economic programs for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other backward classes. |
| Positive Discrimination in favour of the underprivileged | Social Movements; Indian Political Systems; Human Development |
Grade A: More Details Syllabus
More Details Syllabus of Grade A:
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | Definition, meaning, and its branches; Agronomy: Definition, meaning, and scope of agronomy.; Classification of field crops.; Factors Affecting Crop Production; Agro Climatic Zones; Cropping Systems: Definition and types of cropping systems.; Problems of dry land – Seed production, seed processing, seed village; Meteorology: weather parameters, crop-weather advisory; Precision Farming; System of Crop Intensification; Organic farming |
| Soil and Water Conservation | Major soil types; Soil fertility; Fertilizers; Soil erosion; Soil conservation; Watershed management |
| Water Resource | Irrigation Management; Types of irrigation; Sources of irrigation; Crop-water requirement; Command area development; Water conservation techniques; Micro-irrigation; Irrigation pumps; Major, medium, and minor irrigation. |
| Farm and Agri Engineering | Farm Machinery and Power; Sources of power on the farm- human, animal, mechanical, electrical, wind, solar and biomass, biofuels; Water harvesting structures; Farm Ponds; Agro-Processing; Controlled and modified storage, perishable food storage, godowns, bins, and grain silos. |
| Plantation & Horticulture | Definition, meaning, and its branches; Agronomic practices and production technology of various plantation and horticulture crops; Post-harvest management, value, and supply chain management of Plantation and Horticulture crops. |
| Animal Husbandry | Farm animals and their role in the Indian economy; Animal husbandry methods in India; Common terms about different species of livestock; Utility classification of breeds of cattle.; Introduction to common feeds and fodders, their classification, and utility.; Introduction to the poultry industry in India (past, present, and future status); Common terms about poultry production and management; The concept of mixed farming and its relevance to the socioeconomic conditions of farmers in India; Complementary and obligatory nature of livestock and poultry production with that of agricultural farming. |
| Fisheries | Fisheries resources; Management and exploitation – freshwater, brackish water, and marine; Aquaculture- Inland and marine; Biotechnology; Post-harvest technology; Importance of fisheries in India; Common terms about fish production. |
| Forestry | Basic Concepts of Forest and Forestry; Principles of silviculture, forest mensuration, forest management, and forest economics; Concepts of social forestry, agroforestry, joint forest management; Forest policy and legislation in India, India State of Forest Report 2015; Recent developments under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. |
| Agriculture Extensions | Its importance and role, methods of evaluation of extension programs; Role of Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s (KVK) in the dissemination of Agricultural technologies. |
| Ecology and Climate Change | Ecology and its relevance to man, natural resources, sustainable management, and conservation; Causes of climate change, Greenhouse Gases (GHG), major GHG-emitting countries, and climate analysis; Distinguish between adaptation and mitigation; Climate change impact on agriculture and rural livelihoods; Carbon credit; IPCC, UNFCCC, and CoP meetings; Funding mechanisms for climate change projects; Initiatives by Govt of India, NAPCC, SAPCC, INDC. |
| Present Scenario of Indian Agriculture and Allied Activities | Recent trends; Major challenges in agriculture measures to enhance; Viability of agriculture: Factors of Production in agriculture; Agricultural Finance and Marketing; Impact of Globalisation on Indian Agriculture and Issues of Food Security; Concept and Types of Farm Management. |
| Rural Development | Concept of Rural Area; Structure of the Indian Rural Economy; Importance and role of the rural sector in India; Economic, Social, and Demographic Characteristics of the Indian rural economy; Causes of Rural Backwardness.; Rural population in India; Occupational structure; Farmers, Agricultural Labourers, Artisans, Handicrafts, Traders, Forest dwellers/tribes, and others in rural India; Trends of change in rural population and rural workforce; Problems and conditions of rural Labour; Issues and challenges in Hand-looms; Panchayati Raj Institutions – Functions and Working.; MGNREGA, NRLM – Aajeevika, Rural Drinking Water Programmes, Swachh Bharat, Rural Housing, PURA, and other rural development programs. |
Grade A: Information Technology Syllabus
The table below gives the information technology syllabus of Grade A, as it is given in the source.
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Information Technology | Introduction to Software; Data Structure through ‘C’ and ‘PASCAL’; Elements of Systems Analysis and Design; Numerical and Statistical Computing; Data Communication and Networks; Object-Oriented Computer Architecture; Object-Oriented Systems; Computer Fundamentals; File Structure and Programming in COBOL; Database Management Systems; Software Engineering; Accounting and Finance on Computers; Operating Systems; Intelligent Systems; Relational Database; Management Systems |
Grade A: Legal Services Syllabus
Check the legal services syllabus for Grade A in the table below.
| Section | Topics |
|---|---|
| Legal Services | The paper will be based on proficiency in interpreting various Laws,; Banking; Negotiable Instruments; Company, Industrial, and Cooperative Laws; Cyber laws, Commerce/Property transactions; Rural non-life insurance; Direct financing; Staff matters; Good experience in drafting various types of documents |
Grade A: List
9 entries are listed for Grade A.
- General Agriculture
- Agriculture Engineering
- Animal Husbandry
- Finance
- Forestry
- Horticulture-Plantation
- Land Development- Soil Science
- Water Resources
- Information Technology
Grade A: Syllabus Topics
The list below is for Grade A.
- Agriculture
- Rural Development
- Current Affairs
- NABARD Functions
- Banking Awareness
- Educational Background
- Work Experience
- Government Schemes
Grade A: How to Prepare Exam?
Check the how to prepare exam? for Grade A in the table below.
| Section Type | Subjects | What It Decides |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Only | Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Computer Knowledge, Decision Making | Candidates only need to secure the minimum qualifying cut-off. Marks obtained in these sections are not considered for Phase 2 shortlisting. |
| Merit Sections | General Awareness, Economic & Social Issues (ESI), Agriculture & Rural Development (ARD) | Marks scored in these sections are counted for merit and determine shortlisting for the Phase 2 (Mains) examination. |
Grade A: Books 2026
The table below gives the books 2026 of Grade A, as it is given in the source.
In short: time: 120 minutes.
| Subject | Books |
|---|---|
| Test of Reasoning | Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal; A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Aggarwal.; Tricky Approach to Competitive Reasoning: Verbal and Non-Verbal by Kiran Publications |
| English Language | Objective General English by SP Bakshi; High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin; Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis |
| Computer Knowledge | Objective Computer Awareness by Arihant Experts |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams by R.S. Agarwal; Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Arihant Experts |
| Decision Making | Decision Making & Problem-Solving and Interpersonal Skills by Farhan Rehman; Comprehension, Decision Making & Problem-Solving by Disha Experts. |
| General Awareness | Advanced Objective General Knowledge by S. Chand; Current Affairs by Lucent |
| Economic & Social Issues (with a focus on Rural India) | Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh; Indian Social System by Ram Ahuja |
| Agriculture & Rural Development (with Emphasis on Rural India) | NABARD and its Significance in Agriculture by SK Chowdhury; Agricultural Finance in India: The Role of NABARD by Prabhakar Rajkumar; Rural Development: Indian Context by GPH Book |
Grade A: Subjects That Carry the Highest Marks
In the pattern table (NABARD Grade A Exam Pattern: Phase 1), the most marks are carried by Eco & Soc. Issues (with a focus on Rural India) (40), Agriculture & Rural Development with Emphasis on Rural India (40).
Marks differ from paper to paper, so check the table of your own paper.
Grade A: How to Use the Pattern and Syllabus
- Read the exam overview above first, so you know who conducts the exam, its mode, language and marking before you study.
- This page has more than one pattern table, one for each paper or post group. Read the table that matches your own post or paper first.
- Negative marking is given as Prelims- 0.25 Marks. So avoid wild guesses and mark only the answers you are sure about.
- Copy the subject-wise topics into a notebook or sheet and tick each topic as read, revised and tested.
Grade A: Step-by-Step Preparation Plan
- Read the exam overview and the pattern table carefully and note the points that matter for your paper.
- Turn the subject-wise syllabus into a checklist of topics.
- Give the subjects that carry more marks (see the section above) more time, and study them first.
- Solve previous papers every week and keep a small notebook of the mistakes you made.
- Take mock tests in the real time limit of Prelims- 120 minutes; Mains- 90 minutes for each paper, so the clock does not surprise you on exam day.
- Open the official notice once a month, because the board can change the syllabus or the pattern.
Earlier NABARD Notifications
Earlier NABARD notifications we have tracked, for comparison. Tap a title to open it, or see all NABARD updates.
| Update | Type | Posts | Key date |
|---|---|---|---|
| NABARD Assistant Manager in Grade 'A' Syllabus 2026: Topic-wise Details | Syllabus | — | 23 Oct 2026 |
| NABARD Development Assistant and (Hindi) Score Card 2026: Sarkari Result Out | Result | 162 | 31 Oct 2026 |
NABARD Grade A Syllabus: Important Links
| Link | Open |
|---|---|
| Syllabus - General — PDF | Click Here |
| Syllabus - General Agriculture — PDF | Click Here |
| Syllabus - Agriculture Engineering — PDF | Click Here |
| Syllabus - Animal Husbandry — PDF | Click Here |
| Syllabus - Finance — PDF | Click Here |
| Syllabus - Forestry — PDF | Click Here |
| Syllabus - Horticulture-Plantation — PDF | Click Here |
| Syllabus - Land Development- Soil Science — PDF | Click Here |
| Syllabus - Water Resources — PDF | Click Here |
| Syllabus - Information Technology — PDF | Click Here |
| Official website | nabard.org |
| All NABARD updates | Open NABARD Recruitment |
| NABARD latest jobs | View jobs |
| NABARD admit cards | View admit cards |
| NABARD results | View results |
NABARD Grade A Syllabus: Frequently Asked Questions
Who conducts Grade A?
Grade A is conducted by National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
How much time is given in Grade A?
The time allowed is Prelims- 120 minutes; Mains- 90 minutes for each paper.
Is there negative marking in Grade A?
Negative marking: Prelims- 0.25 Marks.
Where can I download the official Grade A syllabus or notice?
Use the official link in the Important Links table of this page or open the website of NABARD. The official document is the final word if anything changes.
Can the Grade A syllabus or pattern change?
Yes. The conducting body may revise the syllabus or the pattern in a new notice, so check the official notice before you start and again before the exam.
Where can I get the latest Sarkari Result updates of NABARD?
SarkariResultHome.com posts every new update of NABARD as soon as it is published. Bookmark the site and open it directly to see the newest jobs, admit cards, Sarkari Results and answer keys.
Source and Credit
The facts on this page come from the syllabus and exam pattern notice published by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development on its official website nabard.org. We have put the information in our own words and layout. The official website is the final word, so please check it before you apply, pay a fee or travel.
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