RBI Grade B Topper Interview 2025 | Started Late, Still Cracked RBI Manager Exam

Summary

The video follows Pradeep Choudhary’s preparation for the RBI Grade B exam, including how he balanced college, independent study, mock tests, and exam-day pressure. His central message is that starting full-time preparation late can still work if earlier study builds a foundation and the final preparation is focused, comprehensive, and consistent.

Background and decision to pursue RBI

Pradeep is from Jaipur, Rajasthan, and comes from an agricultural family. While studying Management Studies at the University of Delhi, he became interested in economic policy, monetary and fiscal policy, and the role of financial regulators.

After learning about RBI Grade B through a relative and exploring its syllabus, he felt the exam aligned with subjects he had studied in college. He chose to focus on RBI rather than pursue placements or internships, and says it was a firm decision rather than a last-minute change of plan.

Preparing during college and managing eligibility uncertainty

Pradeep began exploring RBI preparation in early 2024, but his progress was interrupted by a demanding college schedule, exams, research papers, and presentations. During that period, he made gradual progress by reading the newspaper, studying English grammar, learning reasoning puzzles through YouTube, and covering topics related to his degree.

He was initially unsure whether he would meet the graduation eligibility requirements for that year’s exam. His fallback plan was to:

• Attempt the exam if he was eligible.
• If not, download and attempt the papers after the exam to understand the format and identify gaps.
• Begin preparing for the next attempt immediately, using the experience to create a clearer plan.

He graduated in June 2025 and then shifted to more focused preparation. He emphasizes that even when eligibility is uncertain, attempting relevant papers can provide useful practice and feedback.

Phase 1 preparation

Build foundational skills early

Pradeep started with English grammar because he saw it as useful not only for the English test but also for essay writing and reading comprehension. He learned reasoning puzzles through online videos and developed other reasoning skills through practice. His early preparation in Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning gave him a foundation for the final stretch.

Use mocks to shape Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning strategy

Rather than trying to attempt every question, he used mock tests to identify topics he could solve accurately and quickly. For some Quant topics, such as averages, age problems, and boats and streams, he took several mocks to check whether he had developed reliable command.

His approach included:

• Quant: Prioritize familiar questions, such as number series, and leave time-consuming Data Interpretation (DI) for later. For DI sets, try the easier questions first rather than spending too long on a difficult one.
• Reasoning: Begin with logical, statement-based questions, then attempt puzzles. He says this approach helped him attempt around 25–27 questions.

His broader advice is to know your strengths, protect your sectional score, and use mocks to practise selecting questions—not just to measure marks.

Prepare General Awareness broadly

Pradeep did not focus heavily on General Awareness until the notification confirmed that he was eligible. He then had about a month to cover several months of current affairs. He studied a comprehensive current-affairs PDF, which he describes as roughly 400 pages, rather than restricting his preparation to topics that had dominated previous exams.

He had already practised writing answers on schemes and reports for the Mains exam. During the final stretch, he reviewed recent schemes for both objective questions and descriptive answers.

In the exam, he first attempted questions he could answer and skipped uncertain ones to avoid losing time. He says he attempted 46 questions.

His advice for using previous-year questions (PYQs) is to:

• Identify topics that have appeared repeatedly.
• Notice topics that have not appeared, since exam patterns can change.

He cautions against assuming that the next paper will follow the previous year’s General Awareness mix. A broad approach can help when the exam includes unexpected static or current-affairs topics.

Phase 2 preparation and exam experience

Pradeep’s Management Studies background helped with some material, particularly management concepts and financial accounting numericals. However, he stresses that a related degree is not an automatic or lasting advantage: candidates still need to connect static material with current affairs and the economy.

He reviewed Mains PYQs several times, distinguishing static questions from those tied to a particular period’s current affairs. His accounting experience helped with Finance and Management numerical questions involving ratios and financial statements.

He found the ESI objective section difficult and had not prepared one descriptive topic—multiculturalism—that appeared in the exam. However, he was able to use data he had studied, including material from a UN report on women, alongside static concepts in an answer.

When a paper went worse than expected, he took a short pause, reminded himself that the objective section was over, and focused on what he could still do in the descriptive section. His lesson is to stay composed and make the best use of the remaining time rather than allowing a difficult section to derail the rest of the exam.

For English descriptive writing, essay writing was a strength and a personal interest. He aimed for a clear, engaging opening and impactful but accessible language. He found the reading comprehension and précis topics technical, but tried to work through them calmly.

Interview preparation

Pradeep began preparing for the interview on December 2, before knowing whether he would be selected. He reasoned that preparation would still be useful if he received an interview call.

He divided his preparation into two areas:

• Self-study: Reviewing his personal background, education, and RBI-related material, including the RBI website.
• Mock interviews: Practising how to express answers, handle pressure, and identify weaknesses.

A mock interview revealed that he spoke too quickly. Feedback helped him slow down and improve his delivery before later mocks and the final interview. He says mock interviews were valuable not just for testing knowledge, but also for practising clear, structured responses under pressure.

Studying independently and maintaining wellbeing

Pradeep found solo preparation useful because it reduced distraction and anxiety caused by comparing study plans with other candidates. However, he also recognized that studying alone can make it harder to notice missed topics.

He used mock tests and written analysis of mistakes to identify gaps, then studied those areas specifically. He recommends treating mocks as diagnostic tools: record errors, identify weak areas, and revise them instead of simply checking the score.

He maintained an exercise routine, usually working out for about one to one-and-a-half hours in the evening. He found that exercise helped him recover energy and made the remaining study time more productive. In his view, extreme study schedules are difficult to sustain; exercise and a manageable routine can support consistency.

Main advice for future candidates

• Be consistent and disciplined, especially when preparation includes interruptions or uncertainty.
• Start building foundational skills early when possible, even if full-time preparation begins later.
• Use a comprehensive approach where time allows, since exam patterns can change.
• Let mock tests reveal both strengths and omissions, and act on the feedback.
• Stay calm when a paper is unexpectedly difficult; focus on the questions and sections still within your control.

Speakers and sources featured

• Pradeep Choudhary: The candidate interviewed, sharing his preparation and exam experience.
• Unnamed interviewer/host: Introduces the session and asks questions about Pradeep’s journey and strategies.
• Instructors and resources mentioned, but not identified as interview speakers:
  • Anchit Sir — YouTube preparation videos.
  • Ratika Ma’am — RBI circular-related material, as named in the subtitles.
  • Preetika Ma’am — lectures and current-affairs material, as named in the subtitles.
  • Jal Sir — Finance and Management lectures and revision sessions.
  • EduTap resources, including lectures, mock tests, and material on schemes, reports, and RBI-related topics.
  • YouTube videos, current-affairs PDFs, RBI materials, and previous-year question papers.