Great News for Banking Aspirants: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has officially released the recruitment notification for the post of Development Assistant and Development Assistant (Hindi) for the year 2026.
This is one of the most awaited banking notifications because it offers a stable government job with a good salary and less work pressure compared to other commercial bank jobs like PO or Clerk. The application window is now open, and the preliminary exam is scheduled for February 2026.
If you are a graduate looking for a prestigious job in the banking sector, here is everything you need to know about the NABARD Development Assistant 2026 exam.
Important Dates at a Glance
NABARD has released the full schedule along with the official PDF. Make sure you complete your registration before the deadline, as the window is short (only about two weeks).
- Notification Release Date: January 17, 2026
- Online Application Starts: January 17, 2026
- Last Date to Apply & Pay Fee: February 3, 2026
- Phase-I (Prelims) Exam Date: February 21, 2026
- Phase-II (Mains) Exam Date: April 12, 2026
Vacancy Details
For the 2026 cycle, NABARD has announced a total of 162 vacancies across India.
- Development Assistant (General): 159 Posts
- Development Assistant (Hindi): 3 Posts
Note: These vacancies are state-wise. You must be proficient in the official language of the state you are applying for.
Eligibility Criteria: Can You Apply?
Before you pay the application fee, please ensure you meet the following requirements as of January 1, 2026.
1. Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 21 Years
- Maximum Age: 35 Years
- Relaxation: Standard age relaxation applies (5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, etc.) as per government rules.
2. Educational Qualification
- For Development Assistant: You must have a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university with at least 50% marks in aggregate (Pass class for SC/ST/PwBD candidates).
- For Development Assistant (Hindi): You need a Bachelor’s Degree in Hindi/English medium with Hindi and English as compulsory/elective subjects (minimum 50% marks).
Selection Process & Exam Pattern
The selection will be done in two phases: Preliminary and Main Examination.
Phase 1: Preliminary Exam (100 Marks)
This is a screening test. The marks obtained here will not be counted for the final merit list.
- English Language: 40 Questions (40 Marks)
- Numerical Ability: 30 Questions (30 Marks)
- Reasoning Ability: 30 Questions (30 Marks)
- Total Time: 60 Minutes
Phase 2: Main Exam (200 Marks)
This is the most important stage. The final selection depends on your score here.
- Objective Test: Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness (Agriculture focus), and Computer Knowledge.
- Descriptive Test: English Language (Essay, Précis, Letter Writing) – 50 Marks.
Salary and Perks
This is a Group ‘B’ post. The salary structure is quite attractive.
- Basic Pay: Approx. ₹14,650 (plus increments).
- Gross Monthly Salary: Approximately ₹32,000 to ₹35,000 initially.
- Perks: You get House Rent Allowance (HRA), Dearness Allowance (DA), Medical benefits, and other allowances which make the total package very lucrative.
How to Apply Online?
- Visit the official website:
www.nabard.org. - Go to the “Career Notices” section.
- Click on the link “Recruitment to the post of Development Assistant – 2026”.
- Register using your email ID and mobile number.
- Fill in the form, upload your photo/signature, and pay the fee online.
- Fee for General/OBC/EWS: ₹450
- Fee for SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-S: ₹50 (Intimation charges only)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is the NABARD Development Assistant job a permanent role?
Yes, it is a permanent, full-time government job with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.
2. Can I apply for a state different from my home state?
Yes, you can. However, you must be proficient in the official language of that specific state (Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Understanding). There will be a Language Proficiency Test (LPT) if you clear the Mains.
3. Is there an interview for this post?
No, there is no interview for the Development Assistant post. Final selection is based solely on the marks secured in the Main Examination and the Language Proficiency Test.
4. Can final year students apply?
No. You must have your final degree marksheet/certificate ready with at least 50% marks as of January 1, 2026.
5. Is the exam difficult compared to IBPS Clerk?
The level of the exam is generally considered moderate. It is slightly easier than IBPS PO but similar to or slightly above the level of IBPS Clerk Mains.