All the government job aspirants who want to make an entry in the banking sector definitely consider RBI Assistant and SBI Clerk exams. One is the banker of banks and the other one is the largest bank of India. Both of these exams attract lakhs of aspirants every year but since the vacancies are less, only some lucky ones get to work for these reputed organizations. RBI Assistant’s notification was released long back and SBI Clerk’s notification was released yesterday (Nov 16, 2023). In this article, we will cover all the important aspects of both exams.
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Because these 2 are different profiles of different organizations, there is obviously some difference between the work profile, salary, job responsibilities, career progression etc. All of these aspects obviously make the task difficult for a layman on which exam s/he should prepare for. We suggest that you go through the complete article to get a bird’s eye view of both the exams and job profiles. This article will definitely make your task of selecting 1 exam over another easy. Have a look:
When RBI Assistant notification was released, there were 450 vacancies. When SBI Clerk notification was released yesterday, 8,773 vacancies were there. This clearly shows that competition would be less in SBI Clerk recruitment process.
Here are all the important key points of RBI Assistant and SBI Clerk exams:
| Mode and Other Type | RBI Assistant | SBI Clerk |
| Exam Conducting Body | Reserve Bank Of India | State Bank Of India |
| Exam Levels | Three: Preliminary, Mains, and LPT | Three: Preliminary, Mains, and LPT |
| Exam Mode | Online Objective Test | Online Objective Test |
| Designation | Assistant | Junior Associate (Clerk) |
| Bond | There is no bond | There is no bond |
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Aspirants should be familiar with the exam pattern. Let’s have a look at the major similarities and differences between the 2 exams.
| Basis of comparison | RBI Assistant Prelims Exam | SBI Clerk Prelims Exam |
| Sections/Subjects | Three: Reasoning, Quant, English | Three: Reasoning, Quant, English |
| Composite Time | 1 hour | 1 hour |
| Maximum Marks | 100 Marks | 100 Marks |
| Total number of questions | 100 (30 in English, 35 in quant, 35 in Reasoning) | 100 (30 in English, 35 in quant, 35 in Reasoning) |
| Negative Marking | Yes (1/4 of the marks allotted to each question) | Yes (1/4 of the marks allotted to each question) |
| Sectional Timing | Yes, 20 minutes for each section | Yes, 20 minutes for each section |
| Sectional Cut Off | Yes | No |
This year, there is a change in the sequence of sections in SBI Clerk exam.
Those candidates who clear Prelims, will be qualified to write Mains exam. Mains exam will have 1 extra section of General Awareness and for the remaining sections, the difficulty level will be high when compared with Prelims. Check all the details below:
| Basis of comparison | RBI Assistant Mains Exam | SBI Clerk Mains Exam |
| Sections/Subjects | Four: Reasoning, Quant, English, GA, Computer Knowledge | Four: Reasoning, Quant, English, GA |
| Composite Time | 135 Minutes | 160 Minutes |
| Maximum Marks | 200 Marks | 200 Marks |
| Total number of questions | 100 (30 in English, 35 in quant, 35 in Reasoning) | 100 (30 in English, 35 in quant, 35 in Reasoning) |
| Negative Marking | Yes | Yes |
| Sectional Timing | Yes | Yes |
| Sectional Cut Off | Yes | No |
No change is there in the exam pattern of both the exam when compared with previous year’s. Syllabus of both the exams is more or less similar.
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Let’s discuss the elephant in the room. Which profile has more salary and other benefits? Let’s find out.
| Salary and other benefits | RBI Assistant | SBI Clerk |
| Basic Pay | Candidates after selection will draw a basic pay of ₹ 20,700/- per month on the scale of INR 20700 – 1200 (3) – 24300 – 1440 (4) – 30060 – 1920 (6) – 41580 – 2080 (2) – 45740 – 2370 (3) – 52850 – 2850 – 55700 (20 years). They will also be entitled to various other perks and allowances given below. | As per the latest notification, the revised pay scale of the SBI Clerk is ₹ 17900-1000/3-20900-1230/3-24590-1490/4-30550-1730/7-42600-3270/1-45930-1990/1-47920. The starting Basic Pay is ₹ 19900/- (₹ 17900/- plus two advance increments admissible to graduates). |
| Other Benefits | Dearness AllowanceHouse Rent AllowanceCity Compensatory AllowanceTransport Allowance | Dearness Allowance (DA) Decided on the basis of CPI; DA is revised quarterlyHouse Rent Allowance (HRA) HRA depends on the place of posting of the employee and this component is usually higher for metro cities as compared to urban, semi-urban, or rural areasSpecial AllowanceTransport Allowance |
| In-Hand Salary (Approx) | approximately ₹ 33421/-. | SBI Clerk in-hand salary usually lies in the range of ₹27,000/-to ₹31,000/- (as per posting location). |
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| RBI Assistant | SBI Clerk |
| RBI Assistants work in the Reserve Bank of India and are involved in various roles such as data entry, file maintenance, and document verification. They contribute to the smooth functioning of the central bank, assisting in clerical and administrative tasks. While RBI Assistants may have limited direct customer interaction, they are responsible for maintaining records and processing transactions that contribute to the overall stability of the financial system. RBI Assistants are responsible for meticulous record-keeping and document verification to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial data. While not directly involved in routine cash handling, RBI Assistants contribute to the financial stability of the nation by managing financial records and facilitating transactions at a macroeconomic level. | SBI Clerks primarily serve as the face of the bank, interacting with customers on a daily basis. Responsibilities include handling cash transactions, addressing customer queries, and managing day-to-day banking operations. Clerks are also involved in document verification, ledger maintenance, and data entry tasks. Clerks play a crucial role in ensuring customer satisfaction by addressing inquiries, resolving issues, and providing information about banking products. They assist customers in opening accounts, processing transactions, and managing routine banking services. Clerks are actively involved in maintaining and updating customer records, managing ledgers, and ensuring accurate documentation of transactions. They play a key role in compliance and regulatory requirements. Clerks handle cash transactions, including withdrawals, deposits, and currency exchange, ensuring accuracy and compliance with banking procedures. They balance cash drawers and maintain cash reserves. |
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| RBI Assistant | SBI Clerk |
| RBI Assistants also have avenues for career advancement within the central bank. With experience and qualifications, they may explore opportunities for promotion to higher positions. | The SBI Clerk position offers opportunities for career progression through internal promotions. With experience, clerks may be eligible for promotions to higher roles within the bank, such as Probationary Officer (PO) or Specialist Officer (SO). |
Going by exams held in previous years, we can say that SBI Clerk exam is relatively difficult when compared with RBI Assistant exam. Since RBI Assistant exam is a bit easy, cut-offs of this exam go high. Please note that there is no interview for both of these exams but LPT (Language Proficiency Test) is there if you have applied from a different state.
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Prelims marks will not be considered in the final selection. Prelims exam is only a qualifying round and only those candidates who clear Prelims will be allowed to appear in Mains exam. LPT is qualifying in nature.
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