Step-by-Step Strategy to Crack RBI Grade B DEPR Exam in Your First Attempt

If you’ve ever dreamt of working at the Reserve Bank of India, the RBI Grade B DEPR exam has probably been on your radar. It’s a tough exam — no doubt about that — but not unbeatable. In fact, plenty of students clear it on their first try.

What makes them different? They prepare with focus. They don’t just study endlessly; they study smartly.

Let’s walk through how you can do that too — step by step.

Step 1: Start by Understanding the Exam

Before you even pick up a book, pause for a bit. Do you really know what this exam is testing?

The DEPR exam isn’t about memorizing economics definitions. It’s about understanding how economic principles actually work in real life — how theory meets policy.

Here’s the basic structure:

• Paper I: Objective questions from Micro, Macro, Growth, International Trade, Public Finance

• Paper II: Descriptive, analytical, and applied questions

• Paper III: English — essays, comprehension, and précis

So it’s not enough to just “know” economics. You need to think like an economist who can explain real-world events clearly and logically.

Step 2: Get Your Basics Rock Solid

This part can’t be skipped.

If you don’t understand the fundamentals, no amount of revision will help later. Begin with the standard books — Hal Varian for Micro, Dornbusch & Fischer for Macro, and Mishra & Puri for the Indian Economy.

But here’s the trick — don’t read passively. Don’t just underline lines. Engage with what you read.

Ask yourself questions like:

• Why do interest rates affect inflation?

• How does RBI balance growth and stability?

• What would Keynes say about today’s fiscal deficit?

These small “why” and “how” moments build your analytical brain.

And if you find certain topics confusing, get help early. That’s where programs like RBI DEPR Coaching can make a big difference. The mentors there explain concepts in plain language, often using real policy examples that stick with you.

Step 3: Build a Study Plan That You’ll Actually Follow

Let’s be real — most people make a plan that looks great on paper but collapses in a week.

Keep it simple. The goal isn’t to study 10 hours a day; it’s to study well every day.

Try this:

Months 1–2:

• Focus on your basics

• Take notes in your own words

• Revise weekly — short 15-minute recaps

Months 3–4:

• Solve previous years’ questions

• Write one descriptive answer every other day

• Take short topic-wise tests

Month 5:

• Full-length mocks twice a week

• Analyze your weak areas

• Practice writing within time limits

What matters isn’t how many topics you finish in a day — it’s how well you remember them a month later.

Step 4: Learn How to Write Answers that Stand Out

This paper makes or breaks your result.

Many students know their content but lose marks because their answers lack structure.

Think of it this way: the examiner isn’t judging your memory; they’re judging how clearly you can explain an idea.

Here’s what helps:

• Begin with a short, clear introduction

• Use bullet points where possible

• Include examples, small data points, or RBI references

• Conclude with your own insight or balanced view

And keep your language simple. Clarity always wins over jargon.

If you can, get your answers reviewed by someone experienced. At RBI DEPR Coaching, mentors give personal feedback on every answer — not just a score, but real comments that show you how to improve.

Step 5: Follow Economic Affairs Like a Habit

DEPR isn’t a static exam — it moves with the economy.

If you want to do well, you need to stay updated. Not just reading the news, but understanding what the news means.

Here’s what helps:

• Read RBI Bulletins and Policy Statements

• Go through the Economic Survey and Budget

• Follow editorials in Mint or Business Standard

• Watch RBI’s press releases for tone and policy shifts

Whenever you read something, link it to what you’ve studied.If you see a report on inflation, think — what’s the monetary policy angle here?

That’s how theory turns into real understanding.

Step 6: Practice Mocks Like It’s the Real Thing

Mock tests are the closest you’ll get to the real exam — so don’t treat them lightly.

Start early, not after finishing everything. Give at least one full mock every week from the third month onward.

Each test teaches you something:

• How to manage time

• How to avoid silly errors

• How to handle exam stress

And the more you practice, the calmer you’ll feel on exam day.

The mock series at RBI DEPR Coaching is built to mirror the real exam pattern. You get feedback that’s not generic — it’s focused, practical, and personalized.

Step 7: Develop Analytical Thinking

This exam doesn’t reward people who just reproduce notes. It rewards people who think.

When you write, go beyond what’s in the book.Ask yourself: “What does this mean for policy? For growth? For the common man?”

For instance, if you get a question on fiscal stimulus — don’t just define it. Discuss when it works, when it doesn’t, and what India’s experience has been.

That’s the kind of analysis RBI wants.

Step 8: Take Care of Your Mind

Preparation is a long journey. You’ll have good days and bad ones. What matters is not giving up.

A few small things help a lot:

• Take short walks

• Don’t scroll through others’ study progress online

• Sleep on time — your brain remembers better that way

• Reward yourself after completing weekly targets

You’re not competing with everyone else — you’re competing with your own consistency.

Step 9: Find the Right Guidance

It’s absolutely okay to look for help. In fact, it’s smart.

Trying to do everything alone often means wasting time figuring out what to study and how. The right mentor saves you that confusion.

That’s what RBI DEPR Coaching by Arthapoint Plus does well. You get expert faculty, current syllabus coverage, and one-on-one mentorship that keeps you on track.

You don’t feel lost. You feel guided.

Step 10: Believe You Can Do It

Sounds simple, but this one’s crucial.

Most students don’t fail because they aren’t smart enough — they fail because they stop believing they can clear it in one attempt.

Go in with a winner’s mindset. Tell yourself: I can and I will do it this year.

Every topper was once in your position — unsure, anxious, maybe even scared. What changed everything for them was consistency and self-belief.

Final Thoughts

The RBI Grade B DEPR exam is tough, yes. But it’s also fair. If you prepare with focus, think like an economist, and stay consistent, you can definitely crack it in your first attempt.

You don’t need endless hours. You just need clear direction.

And with expert guidance from RBI DEPR Coaching, you’ll know exactly how to move, what to focus on, and how to write answers that actually stand out.

Your journey to RBI doesn’t start on the exam day , it starts with a single decision: to take your dream seriously.

So why not start today?