NABARD Grade A 2026 notification expected by October, 80-100 assistant manager vacancies

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is expected to release its official notification for the Grade A Assistant Manager recruitment between August and October 2026. This recruitment drive aims to fill Assistant Manager positions across various services and disciplines nationwide.

The previous recruitment cycle, Advertisement No. 05/Grade A/2025-26, was released on 8 November 2025, with 91 vacancies. NABARD typically waits for one full recruitment cycle long story short before initiating the next. The upcoming recruitment is anticipated to offer approximately 80 to 100 vacancies, based on recent trends.

Eligibility Criteria and Application Process

Candidates applying for the NABARD Grade A Assistant Manager posts must be citizens of India. The minimum age limit for applicants is 21 years, and the maximum age limit is 30 years as of the cut-off date specified in the notification. Age relaxations are applicable for various categories, including 3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST, 5 years for Ex-Servicemen, 10 years for PwBD, 13 years for PwBD (OBC), 15 years for PwBD (SC/ST), and 5 years for victims of the 1984 riots.

Educational qualifications vary by discipline. For the General discipline, a Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwBD) or a Post Graduate Degree with a minimum of 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD) is required. Alternatively, candidates holding CA/CS/ICWA or a PhD are also eligible for the General discipline. NABARD conducts Grade A exams for disciplines such as General, Finance, Company Secretary, Civil Engineering, Forestry, Statistics, and Media Specialists.

The application mode for the recruitment is online only. The online application link will be activated on the official NABARD website, www.nabard.org, following the release of the recruitment notification. The application window typically remains open for approximately 15 to 20 days. The application fee for SC/ST/PwBD candidates is ₹150 (intimation charges only), while for all other applicants, it is ₹850 (₹700 application fee + ₹150 intimation charges).

Selection Process and Examination Structure

The selection process for NABARD Grade A Assistant Manager positions comprises three phases: Phase I (Preliminary Examination), Phase II (Main Examination), and an Interview. Phase I is an objective-type online examination and is qualifying in nature. The medium of examination is bilingual, except for the English Language section.

Phase II, the Main Examination, consists of both objective and descriptive papers and is the merit-determining stage. The final selection of candidates is based on their performance in the Mains examination and the subsequent Interview. There is no limit on the number of attempts for the examination, provided candidates meet the age and qualification criteria.

Expected Vacancies and Emoluments

While the exact number of vacancies for the 2026 cycle will be announced with the official notification, NABARD’s previous recruitment cycles indicate a varying number of posts. The 2025-26 cycle had 91 vacancies, with 85 for Rural Development Banking Service (RDBS), 2 for Legal Service, and 4 for Protocol & Security Service. Historically, vacancies have ranged from 155 in 2021 to 91 in 2025-26, with an expected range of 80 to 100 for the upcoming cycle.

The starting basic pay for Grade A Assistant Manager posts was ₹44,500 per month in the previous recruitment cycle. The expected gross emoluments for a Grade A Assistant Manager are around ₹1,40,000 per month, with an estimated in-hand salary of approximately ₹85,000 to ₹95,000 per month. NABARD, established in 1982, is wholly owned by the Government of India and focuses on promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development.

Key Dates and Preparation Advice

The NABARD Grade A 2026 notification is expected around the second week of October 2026, with Phase I (Preliminary Examination) anticipated in the first week of December 2026. Candidates are advised to regularly check the official NABARD website, www.nabard.org, for the latest updates on the notification release, application dates, and examination schedule. The application window is typically open for 15 to 20 days after the notification is released.

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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