Overview
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The SIDBI Grade A & B Exam 2025 follows a structured selection process to recruit eligible candidates for 76 vacancies. The recruitment is conducted in three stages: Phase 1 Exam, Phase 2 Exam, and an Interview. Phase 1 is common for all streams, while Phase 2 differs for General and Specialist streams. The final selection will be based on the combined scores of Phase 2 and the Interview. The Phase 1 exam includes sections on English, Reasoning, Quant, Computer Knowledge, General Awareness, MSME-related topics, and Stream-Specific subjects. Candidates must also note that there will be a 0.25 mark negative marking for each wrong answer.
The SIDBI Grade A & B Exam Pattern 2025 outlines the structure of both Phase 1 and Phase 2 exams. Candidates must understand the subjects, marking scheme, and time duration to prepare effectively. Phase 1 is common for all, while Phase 2 varies based on the stream. Check the detailed exam pattern and syllabus tables below.
The Phase 1 exam is common for all posts and streams under SIDBI Grade A & B Recruitment 2025. It includes both qualifying and merit sections, and carries a total of 200 marks.
|
Subjects |
Type |
No. of Questions |
Marks |
Duration |
|
English Language |
Qualifying |
30 |
30 |
120 Minutes |
|
Reasoning Aptitude |
Qualifying |
25 |
25 |
|
|
Quantitative Aptitude |
Qualifying |
25 |
25 |
|
|
Computer Knowledge |
Qualifying |
20 |
20 |
|
|
General Awareness (Banking, Financial, Economic, and Social Issues) |
Merit Section |
20 |
20 |
|
|
MSMEs: Policy, Regulatory, Legal Framework; Finance & Management Topics |
Merit Section |
30 |
30 |
|
|
Stream Specific Test |
Merit Section |
50 |
50 |
|
|
Total |
200 |
200 |
120 Minutes |
The Stream Specific Test in SIDBI Phase 1 Exam evaluates candidates based on their subject knowledge relevant to the stream they have applied for. Below is the stream-wise syllabus for the test.
|
Sr. No. |
Stream |
Name of the Test / Syllabus Highlights |
Remarks |
|
1 |
General (Grade A & B) |
MSME financing (Due Diligence, KYC, Financial Ratios, Term Loan/Working Capital Assessment, Documentary Credit), NPA & Recovery, IRAC norms, NBFC Financing, Credit Risk Assessment |
The syllabus is only indicative, not exhaustive |
|
2 |
Legal (Grade B) |
Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Contract Act 1872, TPA 1882, NIA 1881, Registration Act 1908, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, BNS, BNSS, Legal Drafting, RDB Act 1993, SARFAESI 2002, RTI Act 2005, IBC 2013 |
The syllabus is only indicative, not exhaustive |
|
3 |
IT (Grade B) |
Programming & Coding, Database Management, Networking & Security, AI/ML, System Design & Architecture, Latest IT Developments and Technical Skills |
The syllabus is only indicative, not exhaustive |
The SIDBI Phase 2 exam tests candidates through both objective and descriptive papers. The pattern and syllabus vary by stream—General, Legal, and IT—though Paper 1 remains the same for all.
|
Paper |
Name of Test |
Type of Paper |
No. of Questions |
Marks |
Time |
|
Paper 1 |
English Language |
Online Descriptive |
3 |
75 |
75 minutes |
|
Paper 2 MSME-related Topics (Policy, Legal, Finance, Credit, NPA, IRAC, NBFCs, etc.) |
Online Objective |
50 |
75 |
60 minutes |
|
|
Online Descriptive |
10 questions asked; attempt 4 (2 × 15 marks, 2 × 10 marks) |
50 |
75 minutes |
||
|
Paper |
Name of Test |
Type of Paper |
No. of Questions |
Marks |
Time |
|
Paper 1 |
English Language |
Online Descriptive |
3 |
75 |
75 minutes |
|
Paper 2 General Knowledge of Law (Constitutional Law, Contract Act, IBC, etc.) |
Online Objective |
50 |
75 |
60 minutes |
|
|
Online Descriptive |
6 questions asked; attempt 4 (2 × 15 marks, 2 × 10 marks) |
50 |
75 minutes |
||
|
Paper |
Name of Test |
Type of Paper |
No. of Questions |
Marks |
Time |
|
Paper 1 |
English Language |
Online Descriptive |
3 |
75 |
75 minutes |
|
Paper 2 IT Topics (Programming, DBMS, Networks, AI/ML, Cyber Security, Data Analytics, etc.) |
Online Objective |
50 |
75 |
60 minutes |
|
|
Online Descriptive |
10 questions asked; attempt 4 (2 × 15 marks, 2 × 10 marks) |
50 |
75 minutes |
||
The SIDBI Phase I exam comprises topics related to General Aptitude and post-specific subjects. The detailed subject-wise SIDBI Assistant Manager Phase I Syllabus is given in the following subsections.
The English syllabus of SIDBI Assistant Manager exam includes the following important topics –
|
Syllabus |
|
Conjunctions and Question tag |
|
Verb and Tense Agreement between subject and verb Gerund Participles |
|
Modal auxiliaries |
|
Usage of the can may should etc |
|
Use of some many any few a little since and for |
|
Active and passive voice |
|
A degree of adjectives |
|
Common errors of usage |
This section emphasises on topics of General Awareness and General Knowledge particularly with reference to the Banking and Financial Sector and Economic and Social Issues. The syllabus for the same is listed below.
|
Syllabus |
|
Indian National Movement |
|
Budget and Five Year Plans |
|
General Polity |
|
Current Affairs – National & International |
|
Indian Economy |
|
Capitals of India |
|
Science – Inventions & Discoveries |
Candidates must strengthen their Reasoning Ability by regularly practicing questions. Look at the important syllabus topics which you will be required to prepare for the SIDBI Assistant Manager exam –
|
Syllabus |
|
Arithmetic Number Series/Letter and Symbol Series |
|
Spatial Orientation |
|
Observation |
|
Figures/Verbal Classification |
|
Relationship concepts |
|
Arithmetical Reasoning |
|
Discrimination |
|
Visual Memory |
|
Similarities and Differences |
|
Spatial Visualisation |
|
Logical Deduction |
|
Making Judgments |
A total of 40 questions for 60 marks will be asked from Quantitative Aptitude. The following are the important syllabus topics for the Quantitative Aptitude section –
|
Syllabus |
|
Simple and Compound Interest |
|
Analogy |
|
Problem Solving |
|
Pipes and Cisterns |
|
Dimensions |
|
Problems on Ages |
|
Profit and Loss |
|
Time and Distance |
|
Arithmetic Reasoning |
Check the SIDBI Assistant Manager admit card details here!
This section assesses the candidate's knowledge about the basics of computer usage and application. Questions are also asked on latest developments in the field.
| Topic |
|---|
| Basic Computer Knowledge: Overview of computers, types of computers, and basic terminology and definitions |
| Computer Hardware: Study of computer components like CPU, RAM, ROM, hard drives, and other hardware parts. |
| Computer Software: Types of software (system and application), functions, and examples. |
| Operating Systems: Basics of OS, types (Windows, Linux, macOS), and features of common OS. |
| Networking & Internet:Basic networking concepts, types of networks (LAN, WAN), internet, IP addresses, and DNS. |
| MS Office Suite Microsoft Office tools: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint - shortcuts, functions, and general usage. |
| Database Management |
| Memory & Storage Devices |
| Input and Output Devices |
| Data Representation |
| Computer Security |
| Internet & Web Technology |
| E-Governance and Digital Banking |
| Computer Abbreviations |
| History of Computers: Evolution of computers, generations, and notable inventors and inventions. |
| Latest Technology Trends: Emerging tech trends like AI, Big Data, Cloud Computing, IoT, and Blockchain. |
This section emphasises on the regulation and functioning of MSMEs. The important topics for this section are listed below.
| Topic | Sub-topic |
|---|---|
| MSMEs: Policy Framework |
National MSME Policies |
| Priority Sector Lending (PSL) | |
| Government Initiatives for MSMEs | |
| Industrial Policy & Startup India | |
| Regulatory Framework |
RBI Guidelines on MSMEs |
| MSME Registration Process | |
| Export-Import Policy for MSMEs | |
| GST and Taxation for MSMEs | |
| Legal Framework |
MSME Development Act, 2006 |
| Companies Act and LLP for MSMEs | |
| Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) | |
| Labour Laws for MSMEs | |
| Finance (with focus on MSME) |
Financial Products for MSMEs |
| Credit Guarantee Schemes | |
| SIDBI Schemes and Offerings | |
| Financial Ratios and Credit Analysis | |
| Working Capital Management | |
| Venture Capital and Alternative Finance | |
| Management (with focus on MSME) |
Business Strategy and Planning |
| Leadership and Organizational Structure | |
| Marketing and Branding | |
| Human Resource Management | |
| Financial Management in MSMEs | |
| Risk Management |
For SIDBI Assistant Manager General, the syllabus for the stream-specific subject includes the following topics:
| Topic | Sub-Topic |
|---|---|
| MSME Financing |
Due Diligence/KYC: Verification processes, Know Your Customer (KYC) norms, and compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) standards, ensuring borrower legitimacy. |
| Financial Ratios: Key ratios like Debt-to-Equity, Current Ratio, and Interest Coverage Ratio, used to assess MSME financial stability and repayment capability. | |
| Assessment of Term Loan: Evaluation criteria for MSME long-term funding, covering capital expenditure needs, projected revenue, and business expansion goals. | |
| Assessment of Working Capital: Analysis of short-term funding requirements for MSME operations, cash flow management, and inventory needs. | |
| Documentary Credit: Instruments such as Letters of Credit (LC) and Bank Guarantees (BG), which are essential for trade financing and risk mitigation in MSME transactions. | |
| NPA and Recovery |
NPA Classification: Categories of Non-Performing Assets (Standard, Sub-standard, Doubtful, and Loss assets) as per RBI guidelines, crucial for asset management. |
| IRAC Norms: Income Recognition and Asset Classification (IRAC) norms by RBI, detailing how loan assets are classified based on repayment status. | |
| Recovery Mechanisms: Methods like One Time Settlement (OTS), SARFAESI Act, and Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRTs) that banks use to recover dues from MSMEs. | |
| Provisioning Norms: RBI guidelines on setting aside funds based on NPA classification (sub-standard, doubtful, loss) to cover potential losses. | |
| NBFC Financing |
Role of NBFCs in MSME Financing: Importance of Non-Banking Financial Companies in providing credit to MSMEs, especially in underserved sectors. |
| NBFCs vs Banks: Regulations and Restrictions: Differences in regulatory requirements, capital needs, and flexibility between NBFCs and traditional banks. | |
| Types of NBFC Products for MSMEs: Financial products including term loans, microfinance, asset financing, and leasing tailored to MSME needs. | |
| RBI Guidelines on NBFC Lending: Regulatory framework, minimum capital requirements, and compliance standards set by RBI for NBFCs in MSME lending. | |
| Credit Risk Assessment |
Creditworthiness Evaluation: Criteria used in assessing MSME borrowers’ financial health, repayment history, and overall market risk exposure. |
| Credit Rating Models: Models and techniques for assigning credit ratings to MSME borrowers, helping lenders assess risk levels effectively. | |
| Risk Mitigation Strategies: Approaches such as collateral requirements, diversification, covenants, and insurance designed to reduce risk in lending. | |
| Stress Testing: Techniques to evaluate a borrower’s capacity to withstand adverse financial conditions and ensure loan resilience. |
The SIDBI Assistant Manager Syllabus for Paper I and Paper II of the Phase 2 exam is different. Paper I is focussed on English, while Paper II is focused on MSMEs, Banking, and other post-specific topics. The detailed syllabus is given below.
| Paper I Syllabus |
| English Essay, Précis writing, Comprehension and Business/Office Correspondence |
| Paper 2 Syllabus |
| MSMEs: Policy, Regulatory and Legal Framework |
| Finance and Management (with focus on MSME) |
| MSME financing (Due Diligence/ KYC, Financial ratios, Assessment of Term Loan / Working Capital, Documentary credit etc.) |
| NPA and recovery including IRAC norms, NBFC Financing |
| Credit risk assessment |
| Investment Banking, |
|
Merchant Banking |
|
Equity |
|
Alternative Investment |
|
Asset |
|
Promotion and |
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Last updated: Jul 15, 2025
-> SIDBI Grade A and SIDBI Grade B Notification 2025 has been released on 13th July 2025.
-> According to the notice, online applications can be submitted from 14 July to 11 August 2025.
-> A total number of 76 Vacancies have been announced for the post of officers in Grade ‘A’ and Grade ‘B’ (General and Specialist Stream) in Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
-> The recruitment process will involve Phase 1, Phase 2, and a personal interview round.
-> Candidates can refer to SIDBI Grade A & B Syllabus and SIDBI Salary 2025.
-> Candidates can prepare for the exam with SIDBI Assistant Manager Previous Year Papers.
Yes, 0.25 marks will be deducted for each wrong answer in the Phase 1 objective paper.
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