SIDBI Grade A Syllabus 2025: The Best Guide for Phase 1 & 2 (New Exam Pattern)!

SIDBI Grade A Syllabus 2025 and Exam Pattern

Welcome to the most comprehensive and detailed guide to the SIDBI Grade A Syllabus 2025. If you are an aspirant for the prestigious 76 Officer posts (Advt. No. 03/Grade ‘A’ and ‘B’ / 2025-26), understanding the complex exam pattern and vast syllabus is the single most important step you can take.

The SIDBI exam is not like a typical bank PO exam. It features a unique, multi-stage selection process with specialized subjects, descriptive papers, and a psychometric test. The SIDBI Grade A Syllabus 2025 is vast, covering specialized topics like “MSME Policy and Finance,” “Credit Risk Assessment,” and stream-specific knowledge in Law and IT.

This 4000-word Ultimate Guide from Rojgardesk.com is the only resource you will need. We will provide an exhaustive, topic-by-topic breakdown of the entire syllabus for both Phase I and Phase II. This guide covers:

• A detailed breakdown of the 3-stage selection process.
• The complete exam pattern for Phase I (Qualifying vs. Merit sections) and Phase II (Objective + Descriptive).
• An exhaustive, deep-dive syllabus for all 7 sections of Phase I.
• A 2000-word breakdown of the Phase II syllabus, including how to prepare for the Descriptive English paper (Essay, Précis, Letter) and the specialized descriptive questions for General, Legal, and IT streams.
• A complete guide to the Phase III Psychometric Test and Interview.

This is the definitive preparation roadmap for the SIDBI Grade A Recruitment 2025.

(Internal Link Placeholder: To check vacancies, salary, and eligibility, read our main SIDBI Grade A Recruitment 2025 post.)

SIDBI Grade A & B Selection Process 2025 (Overview)

The selection is a three-phase process. You must clear each phase to move to the next. The final merit is based on Phase II and the Interview.

1. Phase I: Online Exam (Objective) – Screening Test
2. Phase II: Online Exam (Objective + Descriptive) – Merit-deciding
3. Phase III: Psychometric Test (Qualifying) & Interview (Merit-deciding)

Final Selection Weightage:

Your final merit list will be calculated from a total of 200 marks:

• Phase II (Mains) Score: 200 marks, normalized to 100.
• Interview (Phase III) Score: 100 marks.
• (The notification is slightly ambiguous, but the most recent pattern suggests a 50/50 or 75/25 weightage. In either case, both scores are critical.)

Phase I: Detailed Exam Pattern & Syllabus

Phase I is a 200-mark screening test. It has a unique structure: four “Qualifying” sections and three “Merit” sections.

What this means: You must score minimum qualifying marks in the first four sections. However, your shortlisting for Phase II depends only on your combined score in the last three “Merit Sections.”

• Total Questions: 200
• Total Marks: 200
• Total Time: 120 Minutes (2 Hours) – Composite time, no sectional timing.
• Negative Marking: Yes, 1/4th (0.25) marks will be deducted for every wrong answer.

Section Name	No. of Qs	Max Marks	Type of Section
1. English Language	30	30	Qualifying
2. Reasoning Aptitude	25	25	Qualifying
3. Quantitative Aptitude	25	25	Qualifying
4. Computer Knowledge	20	20	Qualifying
5. General Awareness (Banking/Financial)	20	20	Merit Section
6. MSMEs: Policy, Framework, Finance	30	30	Merit Section
7. Stream Specific Test	50	50	Merit Section
Total	200	200	120 Minutes

Exhaustive Syllabus for Phase I (Topic-by-Topic)

This section provides a detailed, topic-by-topic breakdown of the SIDBI Grade A Syllabus 2025 for the Phase I exam.

Section 1: English Language (Qualifying)

This section tests your standard banking-level English proficiency.

• Reading Comprehension (RC): (8-10 Qs) Expect one or two passages, likely focused on finance, the economy, or the MSME sector. Questions will test your inference, vocabulary, and direct comprehension.
• Cloze Test (Fill in the blanks): (5-7 Qs) A paragraph with 5-7 blanks, testing vocabulary, prepositions, and grammar.
• Error Spotting / Sentence Correction: (5-7 Qs) Identifying grammatical errors in a sentence. Focus on Subject-Verb Agreement, Tenses, Prepositions, and Adverbs.
• Para Jumbles / Sentence Rearrangement: (5 Qs) Arranging 5-6 jumbled sentences into a coherent paragraph.
• Word Swap / Word Replacement: (3-5 Qs) Identifying and swapping incorrectly placed words.
• Vocabulary: (3-5 Qs) Synonyms and Antonyms.
• Match the Column: (3-5 Qs) Matching two or three columns to form grammatically correct and logical sentences.

Section 2: Reasoning Aptitude (Qualifying)

This section tests your logical and analytical abilities.

• Puzzles & Seating Arrangements: (10-15 Qs) This is the most important area.
  • Puzzles: Floor-based, Day/Week/Month-based, Box-based, Designation-based.
  • Seating: Linear (single/double row), Circular (in/out), Square/Rectangular.
• Syllogism: (3-5 Qs) 2-3 statement syllogisms, including “Only a few” and “Possibility” cases.
• Blood Relations: (2-3 Qs) Coded and direct family tree.
• Inequality: (3-5 Qs) Direct and Coded inequalities.
• Coding-Decoding: (3-5 Qs) Chinese coding (fictitious language) or new pattern.
• Direction & Distance: (2-3 Qs) Standard and coded direction problems.
• Input-Output (Machine Input): (0-5 Qs) A set on shifting or arrangement logic.
• Data Sufficiency: (2-3 Qs) Two-statement or three-statement questions.
• Logical Reasoning: (2-3 Qs) Statement & Assumption, Statement & Conclusion, Course of Action.

Section 3: Quantitative Aptitude (Qualifying)

This section tests your mathematical skills and speed.

• Data Interpretation (DI): (5-10 Qs) 1-2 sets of Bar, Line, Pie, or Tabular DI.
• Number Series: (5 Qs) Finding the missing number or the wrong number in the series.
• Simplification & Approximation: (5-7 Qs) Based on BODMAS, percentages, squares, and cubes.
• Quadratic Equations: (5 Qs) Finding the relation between x and y.
• Arithmetic Word Problems: (8-10 Qs)
  • Percentage, Profit & Loss, Discount
  • Simple Interest (SI) & Compound Interest (CI)
  • Ratio & Proportion, Partnership, Averages
  • Time & Work, Pipes & Cisterns
  • Time, Speed & Distance, Boat & Stream
  • Probability, Permutation & Combination
  • Mensuration (Area, Volume)

Section 4: Computer Knowledge (Qualifying)

• Fundamentals of Computers: History, Generations, Hardware, Software.
• Operating Systems: Basics of Windows, file/folder management.
• MS Office: Excel (most important), Word, PowerPoint. Focus on functions, formulas, and shortcuts.
• DBMS: Database Management Systems, RDBMS concepts, keys, normalization.
• Networking: LAN, WAN, MAN, Topology, TCP/IP Model, OSI Model.
• Internet: Web browsers, Email, URL, HTTP/FTP, IP Addresses.
• Cybersecurity: Viruses, Malware, Hacking, Phishing, Firewalls, Antivirus.
• Number System: Binary-Decimal conversion.

Phase I Merit Sections Syllabus (The Game-Changer)

Your selection for Phase II depends 100% on these three sections (100 marks).

Section 5: General Awareness (Banking/Financial) (20 Marks)

• Current Affairs: Focus on the last 6 months (March 2025 – August 2025).
  • National News: Government Schemes, Summits, Index & Ranks.
  • Economy News: Union Budget 2025-26, Economic Survey, GDP forecasts, Inflation (CPI/WPI).
  • Banking & Finance News: All RBI circulars, bank mergers, new digital products launched by banks.
• Banking & Financial Awareness:
  • RBI & its Functions: Monetary Policy (Repo, CRR, SLR), types of bank notes.
  • Core Banking Terms: NPA, PCA, BASEL Norms, SARFAESI, IBC, 2016.
  • Financial Institutions: SIDBI (its role, functions, and recent schemes), NABARD, NHB, EXIM Bank, NaBFID.
  • Financial Markets: Capital Market vs. Money Market.
• Static GK:
  • Bank Headquarters (India & World) and Taglines.
  • Important Days (especially financial/banking related).
  • International Organizations (World Bank, IMF, WTO, ADB).

Section 6: MSMEs: Policy, Framework, Finance (30 Marks)

This is a unique and high-scoring section of the SIDBI Grade A Syllabus 2025.

• Definition of MSME: The new 2020 definition (Composite criteria of Investment & Turnover). You must memorize the limits for Micro, Small, and Medium.
• MSME Policy: Role of MSMEs in the Indian Economy, their contribution to GDP and exports, challenges (access to credit, technology).
• Regulatory Framework:
  • MSMED Act, 2006 (key features).
  • Role of the Ministry of MSME.
  • Udyam Registration: The entire process, its benefits, and why it’s mandatory.
• MSME Finance & Support Systems:
  • Sources of finance (Formal vs. Informal).
  • Role of SIDBI: A deep dive into SIDBI’s functions.
    • Direct Lending: SIDBI’s loan products (SMILE, SPEED, STAR).
    • Indirect Lending: Refinancing MUDRA, NBFCs, and Small Finance Banks.
    • Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS): How SIDBI manages this GoI scheme.
    • Venture Capital: SIDBI’s role as a major VC provider.
  • Priority Sector Lending (PSL): RBI norms for MSME lending.
  • Credit Guarantee Schemes: CGTMSE (Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises) – its objective, coverage, and fees.
  • NPA Management in MSME: IRAC norms, SMA accounts.
  • TReDS: (Trade Receivables Discounting System) – What is it? Who are the participants (Buyer, Seller, Financer)?
  • GeM Portal: (Government e-Marketplace) and its benefits for MSMEs.

Section 7: Stream Specific Test (50 Marks)

This section tailors the exam to your specific background.

• For Grade ‘A’ & ‘B’ (General Stream):
  • MSME Financing (Advanced):
    • Credit Appraisal: Due Diligence, KYC norms, CIBIL, Credit Risk Assessment.
    • Financial Ratio Analysis: (Current Ratio, Quick Ratio, Debt-Equity, DSCR, TOL/TNW).
    • Assessment of Term Loans: Project appraisal, TEV study, breakeven point.
    • Assessment of Working Capital: Turnover method, MPBF (Maximum Permissible Bank Finance).
  • Documentary Credit: In-depth knowledge of Letters of Credit (LCs) and Bank Guarantees (BGs).
  • NPA Management (Advanced): Recovery mechanisms, SARFAESI Act, Debt Recovery Tribunals (DRT), Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) 2016.
  • NBFC Financing: Types of NBFCs, co-lending models.
  • Investment Banking: Basics of Merchant Banking, IPOs, FPOs.
  • Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs): Categories I, II, III.
  • Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs): Their role in NPA resolution.
• For Grade ‘B’ (Legal Stream):
  • Core Laws: Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Contract Act, 1872, Transfer of Property Act, 1882, Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, Registration Act, 1908.
  • New Criminal Laws: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam.
  • Banking & Recovery Laws: RDB Act 1993, SARFAESI Act 2002, Limitation Act 1963, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) 2016.
  • Other: RTI Act 2005, Legal Drafting.
• For Grade ‘B’ (IT Stream):
  • Core CS: Data Structure, C, C++, Java, Python, Systems Analysis and Design, Software Engineering, OOPs.
  • Database: DBMS, RDBMS (SQL, PL/SQL).
  • Networking: Data Communication, Computer Architecture, Network Architecture.
  • Advanced Topics: Operating Systems, Management Information Systems (MIS), Internet of Things (IoT), Mobile Computing, Algorithms.
  • Specialist Topics: AI, ML, NLP, Cybersecurity, Big Data Analytics, Data Modelling, Data Warehousing, API development.

Phase II: Detailed Exam Pattern & Syllabus

This is the main selection stage, combining objective and descriptive papers. The total marks are 200, and the total time is 210 minutes (3.5 hours).

Phase II Exam Pattern (All Posts)

Paper	Subject	Type	No. of Qs	Max Marks	Time
Paper I	English Language	Descriptive	3	75	75 Mins
Paper II	Stream-Specific	Objective	50 (some 2-mark)	75	60 Mins
	Stream-Specific	Descriptive	10 (Attempt 4)*	50	75 Mins
Total				200	210 Mins

Note: The number of descriptive questions varies. Grade B (Legal) has 6 questions (attempt 4). The total marks (50) and time (75) are the same.

Exhaustive Syllabus for Phase II

This is where your 4000-word guide provides unmatched value.

Paper I: English Language (Descriptive) – 75 Marks

This paper assesses your professional writing and communication skills. You must type your answers using the keyboard.

• Syllabus: Essay, Précis Writing, Comprehension, and Business/Office Correspondence.

1. How to Write the Essay (Approx. 30 Marks):

• What it is: You will be given 2-3 topics and must write one essay (approx. 300-400 words).
• Topics: Expect topics related to the economy, MSMEs, finance, and social issues.
  • Example Topics:
    1. “The Role of SIDBI in fueling the MSME sector’s growth.”
    2. “Challenges for Startups in India post the ‘funding winter’.”
    3. “Climate Finance: The next big opportunity for MSMEs.”
    4. “The impact of Artificial Intelligence on India’s small-scale industries.”
    5. “Financial Inclusion: How banks can empower rural entrepreneurs.”
• Preparation Strategy:
  1. Read Editorials: Read The Hindu and Livemint/Business Standard daily.
  2. Gather Fodder: Collect facts, data, and quotes related to MSMEs, the economy, and tech.
  3. Structure: Practice the classic Introduction – Body (3-4 paragraphs) – Conclusion format.
  4. Practice Typing: You must have a decent typing speed.

2. How to Write a Précis (Approx. 20 Marks):

• What it is: You will be given a long passage (e.g., 300 words). You must summarize it into a shorter version (e.g., 100 words), in your own words.
• Preparation Strategy:
  1. Read & Understand: Read the passage 2-3 times to identify the core message.
  2. Identify Key Points: Underline the main ideas and discard examples, data, and filler.
  3. Draft in Your Own Words: Rewrite the key points in simple, clear English. Do not copy sentences from the original.
  4. Check Word Count: Stick to the word limit (usually 1/3rd of the original).
  5. Give it a Title: A good précis always has a suitable title.

3. Reading Comprehension (Approx. 15 Marks):

• What it is: A passage followed by 3-4 descriptive questions (not MCQs).
• Preparation Strategy: You must answer in your own words. Do not lift sentences directly. Your answer should be based only on the information given in the passage.

4. Business/Office Correspondence (Approx. 10 Marks):

• What it is: You will be asked to write a formal business letter or internal office memo.
• Preparation Strategy: Practice the formats.
  • Formal Letter: (e.g., A letter to a client, a complaint letter to a vendor). Know where to put the date, address, subject line, “Dear Sir/Madam,” “Yours faithfully,” etc.
  • Memo (Memorandum): (e.g., An internal memo to staff about a new policy).

Paper II: Stream-Specific (Objective 75 + Descriptive 50 = 125 Marks)

This paper tests your expert-level domain knowledge.

For Grade ‘A’ & ‘B’ (General Stream):

• Objective Syllabus (75 Marks): This is a high-level version of the Phase I syllabus.
  • MSMEs: All policies, schemes (CGTMSE, MUDRA, TReDS, Udyam), and SIDBI’s role.
  • Finance: Credit Appraisal, Financial Ratios (deep understanding), Term Loan vs. Working Capital assessment (MPBF, Turnover methods).
  • NPA & Recovery: Advanced understanding of IRAC norms, SARFAESI Act 2002, and the IBC 2016.
  • NBFCs & FIs: Co-lending models, NBFC types.
  • Investment: AIFs, Merchant Banking, Venture Capital.
• Descriptive Syllabus (50 Marks – Attempt 4 of 10):
  • What to expect: These are not theory questions. They are practical case studies and situational problems.
  • Example Questions:
    • (15 Marks) “A company provides you with its Balance Sheet and P&L. Calculate its DSCR and Current Ratio. Based on the ratios, would you recommend a term loan of ₹50 Lakh? Justify your decision.”
    • (15 Marks) “An MSME account you manage has been in the ‘SMA-2’ category for 60 days. As the officer, what are the immediate steps you will take to prevent it from becoming an NPA?”
    • (10 Marks) “What is the CGTMSE scheme? Explain its benefits for a new entrepreneur who has no collateral to offer.”
    • (10 Marks) “Differentiate between ‘Direct’ and ‘Indirect’ financing by SIDBI, giving two examples of each.”

For Grade ‘B’ (Legal Stream):

• Objective Syllabus (75 Marks): All laws mentioned in the Phase I syllabus, but with in-depth, scenario-based questions.
• Descriptive Syllabus (50 Marks – Attempt 4 of 6):
  • What to expect: You will be asked to draft legal documents or give legal opinions.
  • Example Questions:
    • (15 Marks) “Draft a legal Demand Notice to a loan defaulter on behalf of the bank as per the provisions of the SARFAESI Act, 2002.”
    • (15 Marks) “A company has filed for insolvency under IBC 2016. The bank has a charge on its assets. Explain the steps the bank’s Law Officer must take in the CoC meeting.”
    • (10 Marks) “What is a ‘simple mortgage’ vs. an ‘equitable mortgage’? Which is preferred by banks and why?”
    • (10 Marks) “Write a brief legal opinion on the validity of a ‘Letter of Comfort’ versus a ‘Corporate Guarantee’.”

For Grade ‘B’ (IT Stream):

• Objective Syllabus (75 Marks): Advanced, practical questions on the IT syllabus (Data Structures, AI/ML, Python, Java, Cybersecurity, Networking).
• Descriptive Syllabus (50 Marks – Attempt 4 of 10):
  • What to expect: Problem-solving, system design, and coding questions.
  • Example Questions:
    • (15 Marks) “Design a high-level system architecture for a new ‘Apply Online’ portal for SIDBI, focusing on scalability and security.”
    • (15 Marks) “Write a Python script using the pandas library to read a CSV file of loan data and identify all accounts with a ‘High Risk’ score (e.g., CIBIL < 650).”
    • (10 Marks) “What is a ‘SQL Injection’ attack? Write a sample pseudo-code for a login function that is protected against it.”
    • (10 Marks) “Explain the difference between a Data Warehouse and a Data Lake in the context of banking analytics.”

Phase III: Psychometric Test & Interview

Candidates who clear the Phase II cut-off will be called for the final stage of the SIDBI Grade A Recruitment 2025.

1. Psychometric Test (Qualifying)

• What it is: A test of your personality, behavior, and workplace suitability.
• Format: You will be given 100-150 “Situational Judgment” or “Agree/Disagree” questions (e.g., “I prefer to work in a team” – Strongly Agree / Agree / Neutral / Disagree).
• Result: This is not an elimination round. The report is given to the interview panel to help them understand your personality.
• Strategy: Be 100% honest and consistent. Do not try to fake your answers.

2. Personal Interview (100 Marks)

This is the final stage. The panel will assess your personality, communication skills, and domain knowledge.

• Marks for Experience/Achievements: The 100 marks include marks for “notable achievement in extracurricular activities (District/ State/ National Level), awards/ recognition in service etc.”
• Common HR Questions:
  • “Tell me about yourself.”
  • “Why do you want to leave your current bank/job to join SIDBI?” (Crucial for this exam).
  • “Why SIDBI? How is it different from a normal commercial bank?”
• Domain Questions (Based on your Experience):
  • “Walk me through your resume.”
  • “What was your role in credit appraisal?”
  • “How did you manage an SMA (potential NPA) account?”
• Domain Questions (Based on the Job):
  • “What is the new definition of an MSME?”
  • “Explain the CGTMSE scheme.”
  • “What is the difference between Direct and Indirect financing by SIDBI?”
  • “What do you know about the Fund of Funds for Startups?”
• Situational Questions:
  • “A political leader calls you to sanction a loan for a unit that is not eligible. How will you handle it?”

Important Links

Link Type	Link (Button)
Download Phase II Result	Grade A | Grade B | Legal
Download Phase I Result	Grade A | Grade B | Legal
Download Admit Card	Click Here
Apply Online	Click Here
Download Notification	Click Here
Official Website	SIDBI Official Website