​Hi everyone,

​I am a former RRB PO and a BLACKI IIM graduate, currently working at a top American bank. While the compensation is excellent, I find myself increasingly dissatisfied with the corporate sector as a whole.

​I am strongly considering preparing for NABARD Grade A. I am particularly drawn to the District Development Manager (DDM) role for its potential to drive meaningful impact at the grassroots level.

​My dilemma: Is this transition practically advisable? I recognize this path means a significantly lower lifetime earning trajectory compared to corporate banking. For those who know the reality of the job, does the sense of purpose justify the financial trade-off, or am I over-romanticizing the switch?

​I would highly appreciate your honest insights and reality checks.

Hi 27F here,

I am a developer but I am seriously considering going into the banking sector/ govt job. I am a beginner and I don't know where to start from, if anyone can guide me it will be really helpful

Thank you!

I was kinda hopeful and started studying for it after a letdown in SEBI. Does anyone have any info? Please shed some light. It's frustrating to wait for a notification.

​

Hi everyone!

Sharing the RBI Preparation Strategy Phase 1 and GA PPT with You. Please have a Look.

Please refer to my earlier three posts.

https://www.reddit.com/r/forumRBI/s/LuoMCUOl0h

https://www.reddit.com/r/forumRBI/s/BJQFxUtQIX

https://www.reddit.com/r/forumRBI/s/VC20KQuqOY

Initially, I recorded the presentation with proper explanation but somehow during conversion to Video some error occurred. I'm an office-going professional and also have family responsibilities to manage. So, again recording, editing, and uploading a quality video would take a lot of time, and I don't want to delay sharing the material with you.

So, instead of making you wait, I've decided to share the complete presentation as a PDF. It contains almost everything I wanted to cover, my preparation strategy, topic-wise priorities, resources, revision approach, and practical tips based on my own experience.

📄 PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rjnlXEn\_OMY7xclkHS2N6OD5sM9SFjnB/view

If you have any questions, doubts, or need clarification on any point in the PDF, feel free to comment on this thread. I may not be able to reply immediately because of work and family commitments, but I'll definitely respond whenever I get some time.

One more thing, this PDF is completely free to share. I haven't added any watermark, copyright notice, or my name because that was never the purpose. If you think it can help someone else preparing for banking exams, please feel free to share it with your friends, study groups, or anyone who might benefit from it.

My only wish is that this small effort helps even a few aspirants move one step closer to their dream. May all of you succeed, achieve new heights in your careers, and make your families proud. ❤️

If you find the PDF useful, an upvote would be appreciated so it can reach more aspirants who might need it.

All the very best for your preparation. Stay consistent, keep believing in yourself, and success will follow. 😊

Hi all, I’m a new IIM graduate working in corporate banking in a private Bank. I don’t enjoy the work i do, I’m not sure if it’s going to get better. I get no fulfilment from it, seems soul draining and although WLB is good I really don’t know how I’m going to spend the rest of my life doing this.

I was wondering if it’s worth giving this exam a shot? Also I have cleared cfa L1 as well

In Ibps po pre i score near 16-17 marks. I do Di,speed maths and few arithmetic questions of percentage, ratio, mixture allegations, average, si ci. As these are the only topic of arithmetic I have studied.

This time I will definitely clear Ibps po pre exam as overall score in mocks very good due to eng and reasoning.

How should I prepare for quant mains as till now I have not done any preparation for quant mains. I don't know how to start, where to start, which topic i should do first. Anyone who can guide me, as daily I can give 4-5 hrs to quant only.

Hey 👋🏻 I wanted to know whether studying Quantitative Aptitude from SBI PO/IBPS PO batches, like Kaushik Mohanty Sir’s, could cause any issues for RBI Grade B Quant preparation.

Can someone prepare for QRE from banking teachers who don’t specifically teach for RBI, but teach for IBPS/SBI instead?

Please don’t come after me for asking this 😭 My friend asked me this he doesn’t use Reddit, so I thought I’d ask here.

Hey,

1. I would like to know if someone knows a good resource compiled version (book) for phase 2 subjects (fm, esi)

2. working professional this side - will like to connect and try to find highly motivated individuals with whom I could discuss progress in order to benchmark and push each other (2-3 people group with optimal with similar background/belief would be plus)

Why is it A/B?

I have graduated from IIT Roorkee last year , currently working in Deloitte. I am preparing for UPSC since last 6 months. I am unable to manage my job and preparation hence looking for a better environment and a good pay.

I am planning to purchase Anuj Jindal course. Can anyone recommend something else or give reviews.

I have a B.Com (Computers) with 60.30% and I'm considering doing a PG through IGNOU.

My long-term goal is primarily banking, but I’m also interested in potentially moving into regulatory bodies like RBI/SEBI in the future.

I'm currently confused between MA Economics, M.Com, and MA English.

From what I understand:

- MA Economics could be more relevant to economics/policy and some specialist regulatory opportunities.

- M.Com is the most natural continuation of B.Com and is directly relevant to commerce, finance and banking.

- MA English is less directly related to banking, but some regulatory exams accept a master's degree in any discipline, so I'm wondering whether it could still be a sensible option.

I'm not particularly interested in RBI DEPR, so I'm not choosing Economics specifically for that route.

For people who have done any of these degrees, or have experience with banking/regulatory careers:

- Which of the three would you recommend and why?

- Does MA Economics provide a meaningful advantage over M.Com for RBI/SEBI/regulatory careers?

- Would M.Com be more useful/relevant given my B.Com background?

- Is MA English a reasonable choice if the main purpose is to have a PG qualification while continuing banking preparation?

- How useful are these degrees for career progression after entering banking/regulatory organisations?

- Are there any other IGNOU PG programmes I should consider?

I'd really appreciate perspectives from people who have actually pursued these degrees or work in banking/regulatory organisations.

I have been trying to manage banking prep with it but no notification yet despite everyone saying notification will come on 17th. Likewise, RBI grade A is being expected but is even that reliable or am i stuck with only banking 😞

My situation

Two years ago, I graduated from a well-known private university in India with a BBA degree. I also received a campus placement at a startup, where I was working as a consultant in the insurance sector.

However, I hadn't even completed three months at my job when I was diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), which was initially associated with a middle-ear infection. Over the next six months, I progressively lost my ability to hear.

That diagnosis completely changed my life. I had to resign from my job, and for quite some time I tried different treatments, including homeopathy and Ayurveda, hoping that my hearing would recover. Unfortunately, nothing worked.

Eventually, I had to undergo cochlear implant surgery. Even that wasn't straightforward — I had to go through four surgeries before the implantation was finally successful.

The entire process took roughly two years of my early 20s. It also put a significant financial burden on my family, and we now have a large loan to repay.

I'm currently 23, and I'm trying to figure out how to rebuild my career. I have a few options, but I'm genuinely struggling to decide which direction makes the most sense.

Option 1 — RBI Grade B

This is probably my dream option.

Pros:

• Very good salary and benefits
• Respectable and intellectually stimulating career
• The syllabus is closely related to my BBA/Finance background
• Good long-term career stability
• I believe I have the ability to crack it if I prepare seriously

Cons/concerns:

• Extremely competitive
• Relatively few vacancies
• I attempted RBI Grade B Prelims this year and scored 66.5, while the cutoff was around 108
• It may take multiple attempts to reach the required level
• I don't know if I can afford to spend several years preparing when my family already has a substantial loan to repay
• My priority is to become financially independent as soon as reasonably possible

I genuinely feel that I could eventually crack RBI Grade B, but I'm also aware that "I can crack it eventually" and "I can afford to spend several years trying" are two very different things.

Option 2 — IBPS/SBI PO or banking

Another possibility is entering banking through PO-level exams.

Pros:

• Relatively good salary
• Stable employment
• Faster route to financial independence compared with spending years preparing exclusively for RBI Grade B
• I already have some familiarity with the exam pattern

Cons/concerns:

• I attempted SBI PO Prelims this year, but it didn't go as well as I had expected
• I was also informed by IBPS that I was not eligible for the PO exam under the disability category I applied under, and my application was rejected
• From what I've read online, many people have very negative experiences with banking jobs
• I'm concerned about transfers and rural postings
• I don't particularly want a career where I could spend years being posted in rural areas

So I'm not sure whether banking is actually a good fit for me, even if I manage to clear the exam.

Option 3 — MBA + corporate career

Before my hearing loss, this was actually my original plan.

I wanted to gain some work experience and then pursue an MBA, ideally from a good business school. Many of my college batchmates are currently doing their MBAs.

But after everything that happened, my priorities have changed.

An MBA from a top institution would require a significant financial investment, and I would probably need another education loan. Considering the existing financial burden on my family, I'm hesitant to take on substantially more debt.

I'm also questioning whether corporate life is the right choice for me. I worry about job security and the fact that companies ultimately prioritize business performance and profits, so I'm not sure I want to take on a large loan for a degree that doesn't necessarily guarantee long-term stability.

Option 4 — Other government jobs (LIC AAO, IFSCA Grade A, NIACL AO, SSC CGL, etc.)

This is probably the option I'm considering as a middle ground between my first two choices.

There are several other government/regulatory-sector exams that I can potentially apply for, such as LIC AAO, IFSCA Grade A, NIACL AO, SSC CGL and similar examinations.

However, one important factor is that I'm not equally interested in all of these roles. My academic background and personal interests are much more aligned with Finance and Economics. I'm not particularly interested in areas such as taxation or insurance, so even though some of these jobs offer good stability and compensation, I'm unsure whether I would actually enjoy the work in the long term.

Pros:

• More exams means more opportunities instead of depending entirely on one exam
• Relatively stable and secure careers
• Many of these positions offer decent salaries and benefits
• Some roles, particularly in financial/regulatory organizations, are more closely aligned with my interests in Finance and Economics
• I could potentially secure a job sooner rather than spending several years preparing exclusively for RBI Grade B
• Once financially independent, I could still consider attempting RBI Grade B later

Cons/concerns:

• Vacancies can be unpredictable and competition is still quite high
• Some exams are conducted infrequently, so I can't necessarily depend on one particular organization
• The roles, work culture, transfers and career growth vary significantly between organizations
• I'm not particularly interested in taxation or insurance, so I'm concerned about choosing a job primarily for stability and later realizing that the actual work doesn't interest me
• Preparing simultaneously for several different exams can also become unfocused and overwhelming

Where I'm stuck

I don't want to make a decision purely based on fear or because I feel like I'm "behind" compared with my peers.

At the same time, I can't ignore my family's financial situation. Becoming financially independent and contributing toward the existing loan is a major priority for me.

I feel like I have three competing priorities:

1. Financial independence as soon as reasonably possible
2. A stable career that I can sustain long-term
3. Doing something that actually has good growth and isn't just a job I take because I'm desperate

So, if you were 23, had a BBA/Finance background with good cgpa and academic background, had lost roughly two years because of an unexpected medical problem, had a significant family loan to consider, and were in my position:

What would you choose?

Would you:

• Take the safest job you can get first and then prepare for RBI Grade B alongside it?
• Give RBI Grade B another serious attempt despite the competition?
• Pursue banking despite the concerns about postings/work culture?
• Go back to the original MBA/corporate plan?
• Or consider an entirely different career path that I'm overlooking?

I'd especially appreciate advice from people who have actually worked in RBI, banking, corporate jobs, or completed an MBA.

I'm not looking for sympathy, I genuinely want perspective from people who have more experience than I do and can help me think through this rationally.