Vacancy for Legal Officers (Grade-B) in RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced recruitment for various posts, including the role of Legal Officer in Grade ‘B’ for the Panel Year 2024. This blog post provides all the essential details for aspiring Legal Officers, based on the official advertisement Advt. No. RBISB/DA/02/2025-26.

Overview of the Legal Officer Role at RBI

As a Legal Officer in Grade ‘B’ at the RBI, you will handle a diverse range of responsibilities that are critical to the Bank’s operations and the nation’s legal framework. Your job requirements include:

• Dealing with Legal Issues: Addressing references on legal matters from various RBI departments and associate institutions, primarily involving the interpretation of statutes such as the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934, Banking Regulation Act 1949, Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999, and Companies Act 2013.
• Legislative Drafting: Preparing initial drafts of new legislation administered or to be administered by the Bank.
• Litigation Support: Preparing drafts of pleadings and comprehensive instructions or briefs for counsel related to litigation involving the Bank and its associate institutions.
• Court Appearances: Representing the Bank before Conciliation Officers, Labour Courts, and Tribunals.
• Other Assignments: Undertaking any other work as assigned by the Bank.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Legal Officer position, candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements as of July 01, 2025.

• Nationality: Candidates must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from specified East African/South Asian countries with the intention of permanent settlement in India.
• Age Limit: You must be at least 21 years old and not have attained the age of 32 years as on July 01, 2025. This means candidates must have been born not earlier than July 02, 1993, and not later than July 01, 2004.
  • Age Relaxation:
    • 3 years for candidates possessing an LL.M. degree.
    • 5 years for candidates possessing a Ph.D. in Law.
    • OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates may receive up to 3 years relaxation if posts are reserved for them.
    • SC/ST candidates may receive up to 5 years relaxation if posts are reserved for them.
    • General/EWS PwBD candidates may receive up to 10 years relaxation.
    • SC/ST PwBD candidates may receive up to 15 years relaxation.
    • OBC PwBD candidates may receive up to 13 years relaxation.
    • Note: Cumulative age relaxation is not available.
• Educational Qualifications: A Bachelor’s Degree in Law from any University/College/Institution recognized by the UGC and the Bar Council of India is required.
  • Minimum Marks: You need a minimum of 50% marks or equivalent in aggregate across all semesters/years.
  • Relaxation for SC/ST/PwBD: For SC/ST and PwBD candidates applying against reserved vacancies, the minimum required marks are 45% in the Bachelor’s degree in Law.
  • CGPA Conversion: If your university awards Aggregate Grade Points (e.g., CGPA/OGPA/CPI) instead of percentages, the following conversion applies if the university does not define its own criteria: 5.75 CGPA = 50% marks, 6.25 CGPA = 55% marks, and 6.75 CGPA = 60% marks. The aggregate grade point or percentage is calculated over the entire duration of the course.
• Experience (Essential): You must be enrolled with the Bar Council as an Advocate. Additionally, you need at least two years’ experience after enrolment in one of the following capacities:
  • As an Advocate.
  • As a Law Officer in the Legal Department of a large bank, financial institution, statutory corporation, company, or State/Central Government.
  • As a full-time teacher in a Law College/University, teaching law.
  • Note: A copy of your Bar Council Registration/Enrolment Certificate is mandatory. If claiming advocate experience, a certificate from the Bar Association or Presiding Officer of a Court is required at the interview.
• Experience (Desirable): Special knowledge of Banking Law, Company Law, Labour Law, and Constitutional Law, along with experience in drafting pleadings and documents, is desirable.

RBI Legal Officer Exam Structure and Selection Process

The selection process for the Legal Officer in Grade ‘B’ post involves both Online and Offline Examinations followed by an Interview.

The examination consists of two papers:

• Paper-I: General Knowledge of Law
  • Type: Objective Type (30 Marks) and Descriptive Type (120 Marks)
  • Maximum Marks: 150
  • Duration: Three Hours
  • Syllabus: Candidates should be familiar with fundamental concepts, issues, and current developments in Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Financial sector laws, Procedural laws, Principles of Statutory Interpretation, and Legal Drafting. This syllabus is indicative, not exhaustive.
• Paper-II: English
  • Type: Descriptive Type
  • Maximum Marks: 100
  • Duration: Three Hours
  • Syllabus: Includes Essay, Precis writing, Comprehension, and Business/Office Correspondence.
• Total Examination Marks: 250 (Paper-I + Paper-II)
• Language of Papers: Question Paper-I will be displayed in Hindi and English. You can choose either Hindi or English for submitting your responses.
• Interview:
  • Maximum Marks: 40
  • Language: Candidates may choose either Hindi or English as their medium of interview.
• Final Selection: The number of candidates called for an interview will be decided by the Board based on marks scored in the examination. Final selection will be based on your performance in the examination (Paper-I and Paper-II) and the interview combined.

Vacancies and Reservation for Legal Officer in Grade ‘B’

There are a total of 5 vacancies for the Legal Officer in Grade ‘B’ position for the Panel Year 2024. The breakdown is as follows:

• General/Unreserved (GEN/UR): 3 vacancies
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 0 vacancies
• Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) (OBC (NCL)): 1 vacancy
• Scheduled Caste (SC): 1 vacancy
• Scheduled Tribe (ST): 0 vacancies
• Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD): 2 vacancies, which include 1 backlog vacancy.
  • Suitable PwBD Categories for Legal Officer: Blind (B), Low Vision (LV), Hard of Hearing (HH), various Locomotor Disabilities (OL, OA, BA, BL, SD/SI, OAL, BLOA, BLA, LC, Dw, AAV), Specific Learning Disability (SLD), and Multiple Disabilities involving these categories.
  • Note: There is specific reservation for PwBD candidates only for the Legal Officer in Grade ‘B’ post, unlike other posts.
  • PwBD candidates seeking reservation benefits must possess a latest disability certificate as per ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016’.
  • Candidates with 40% or more disability who have physical limitation in writing/typing may be allowed the facility of a scribe and compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour of the examination.

Compensation & Benefits

Life with RBI offers an attractive compensation structure and a supportive HR climate that encourages continuous learning.

• Monthly Emoluments: As a Grade ‘B’ Officer, you will draw a starting basic pay of ₹78,450/- per month. The pay scale is ₹78450 – 4050 (9) – 114900 – EB – 4050 (2) – 123000 – 4650 (4) – 141600 (over 16 years).
• Gross Monthly Emoluments: At present, initial monthly gross emoluments are approximately ₹1,49,006/-, which does not include House Rent Allowance (HRA).
• Allowances: You will also be eligible for Dearness Allowance, Local Compensatory Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Special Allowance, Special Grade Allowance, Learning Allowance, and Grade Allowance as per rules.
• House Rent Allowance (HRA): An additional 15% of pay will be given if you are not staying in Bank’s accommodation.
• Advance Increments: Candidates with very high academic or professional qualifications/experience of significant value to the Bank may be considered for up to four advance increments at the Board’s discretion, discussed only at the Interview stage.
• Perquisites: These include, but are not limited to, Bank’s accommodation (subject to availability), reimbursement for vehicle maintenance (official purpose), newspaper and telephone charges, book grant, allowance for furnishing residence, free dispensary facility, medical expense reimbursement for OPD/hospitalization, interest-free festival advance, and Leave Fare Allowance (once in two years).
• Loans and Advances: Concessional rates of interest are available for Housing, Vehicle, Education of children, and Consumer Articles.
• Pension: Selected candidates are governed by the Defined Contribution-New Pension Scheme (NPS), mandatory for employees joining on or after January 01, 2012, in addition to the benefit of Gratuity.
• Probation Period: The initial appointment is on probation for two years, which may be extended up to a maximum of four years at the Bank’s discretion.
• Career Growth: There are reasonable prospects for promotion to higher grades.
• Posting: Selected candidates are liable to be posted and transferred anywhere in India.

Important Dates for RBI Legal Officer Recruitment 2024

It is crucial to be aware of the key dates to ensure you don’t miss this opportunity:

• Online Registration of Applications and Payment of Fees: From July 11, 2025, to July 31, 2025 (till 06:00 PM).
• Date of Examination: August 16, 2025 (Saturday).
• Admit Card Availability: Admit Cards will be issued about one week before the examination and will be available for download on the RBI website (www.rbi.org.in). No admit cards will be sent by post.

How to Apply for RBI Legal Officer Position?

Candidates are required to apply ONLINE only through the Bank’s website www.rbi.org.in. No other mode for submission of application is available or accepted.

Before applying online, ensure you have:

• Scanned images of your photograph (4.5cm × 3.5cm), signature (black ink), left thumb impression (black or blue ink on white paper), and a hand-written declaration in English.
• The hand-written declaration must state: “I, _______ (Name of the candidate), hereby declare that all the information submitted by me in the application form is correct, true and valid. I will present the supporting documents as and when required.”
• You will also need to capture and upload a live photograph during the registration process via webcam or mobile phone.
• Keep necessary details and documents ready for online payment of the application fees/intimation charges.
• Application Fee and Intimation Charges:
  • SC / ST / PwBD: ₹100/- + 18% GST (Intimation Charges only).
  • GEN / OBC / EWS: ₹600/- + 18% GST (Application fee including intimation charges).
  • RBI Staff Candidates: Nil.
• Payment Mode: Online only (Debit Cards, Credit Cards, Internet Banking, IMPS, Cash Cards/Mobile Wallets).
• Important Note: Application fee/intimation charges once paid will NOT be refunded on any account.

Official Notification

Click Here for the Official Notification.