NABARD Development Assistant Recruitment 2026 (Short Notice) - Apply Online for 162 Posts

NABARD Development Assistant Recruitment 2026: Complete Information Guide

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has released an official notification for the recruitment of 162 Development Assistant positions under a short notice recruitment drive. This is an excellent opportunity for graduates to secure a prestigious banking job with excellent career growth prospects. The online application process is currently active and will close on 3rd February 2026.

Development Assistants in NABARD play a crucial role in implementing rural development programs, assessing credit proposals, monitoring agricultural projects, and supporting the bank's mission of promoting sustainable rural development across India. The position offers competitive salary, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities to work in India's premier development financial institution.

About NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development)

NABARD was established on 12th July 1982 under an Act of Parliament to serve as an apex development bank with a mandate for facilitating credit flow for promotion and development of agriculture, small-scale industries, cottage and village industries, handicrafts, and other rural crafts.

Key Facts about NABARD:

• Established: 1982
• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Type: Development Financial Institution
• Ownership: Government of India (99%)
• Chairman: Appointed by Government of India
• Employees: Over 4,000 nationwide
• Presence: Head Office in Mumbai, Regional Offices across India

NABARD's Core Functions:

• Acts as refinancing agency for institutions providing credit for agriculture and rural development
• Monitors and evaluates projects refinanced by it
• Provides training and research support for rural banking
• Promotes innovative credit delivery mechanisms
• Implements government-sponsored rural development schemes
• Supports Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and microfinance institutions
• Facilitates watershed development and tribal development
• Promotes financial inclusion in rural areas

About Development Assistant Position

Development Assistants are Grade 'A' officers in NABARD who handle field-level operations related to rural development, agriculture finance, and project monitoring.

Key Responsibilities:

• Appraisal of loan proposals for agriculture and allied activities
• Monitoring implementation of refinanced projects
• Conducting field visits to assess agricultural and rural development schemes
• Preparing project reports and evaluation documents
• Coordinating with Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and cooperative banks
• Supporting microfinance and SHG initiatives
• Data collection and analysis for rural development programs
• Assisting in capacity building programs
• Documentation and report writing
• Interacting with farmers, rural entrepreneurs, and banking institutions

Vacancy Details - 162 Posts

Total Vacancies: 162 Development Assistant Posts

Post Classification: Grade 'A' Officer (Assistant Manager level)

Employment Type: Regular/Permanent appointment after successful completion of probation period

Probation Period: 1 year

Reservation Policy: As per Government of India norms

Note: Vacancies are tentative and may increase or decrease based on organizational requirements.

Educational Qualification

Mandatory Requirement:

Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university with minimum percentage:

• For General/EWS/OBC Candidates: Minimum 60% marks or equivalent CGPA
• For SC/ST/PwBD Candidates: Minimum 55% marks or equivalent CGPA

Acceptable Degrees:

• B.A (Bachelor of Arts)
• B.Sc (Bachelor of Science)
• B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce)
• B.Tech / B.E (Engineering)
• BBA (Bachelor of Business Administration)
• BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications)
• Any other graduation degree from UGC recognized university

Preferred Qualifications (Desirable but not mandatory):

• Degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, or Rural Development
• MBA in Agribusiness / Rural Management
• Diploma or certification in Banking / Finance
• Computer literacy certificate

Important Notes:

• Degree must be from a UGC recognized university
• Distance education degrees are acceptable if recognized by UGC-DEB
• Final year students are NOT eligible - candidates must have passed as on date of application
• Percentage calculation: (Marks obtained / Maximum marks) × 100
• CGPA conversion: As per university norms or CGPA × 9.5 (if no conversion formula available)
• Candidates with backlogs at the time of application are not eligible

Age Limit

Age as on 01/01/2026:

• Minimum Age: 21 years
• Maximum Age: 28 years
• Candidates must be born between 02/01/1998 and 01/01/2005 (both dates inclusive)

Age Relaxation:

Note: OBC candidates must submit Non-Creamy Layer certificate issued within the current financial year to claim age relaxation.

Salary and Benefits

Pay Scale: NABARD Grade 'A' Officers Scale

Starting Basic Pay: ₹35,150/- per month (approximate as per latest revision)

Gross Monthly Salary: ₹60,000 - ₹70,000/- (including all allowances)

Annual CTC: Approximately ₹8.5 - ₹10 lakhs per annum

Allowances and Perquisites:

• Dearness Allowance (DA): Currently around 50% of basic pay (revised quarterly)
• House Rent Allowance (HRA): 9% / 8% / 7% of basic pay depending on place of posting
• City Compensatory Allowance (CCA): As applicable based on city classification
• Special Allowance: As per NABARD rules
• Medical Facilities: Comprehensive medical coverage for self and family
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC): Once in two years
• Provident Fund: Contributory Provident Fund with employer contribution
• Gratuity: As per Payment of Gratuity Act
• Pension: As per NABARD Pension Scheme
• Group Insurance: Group life insurance coverage
• Staff Quarters: Subject to availability at select locations
• Festival Advance: Interest-free advance for festivals
• Vehicle Advance: As per eligibility
• Annual Leave: Privilege Leave, Casual Leave, Sick Leave as per rules

Career Progression:

• Development Assistant (Grade A) → Assistant Manager → Manager → Senior Manager → Chief Manager → General Manager
• Regular promotions based on performance and seniority
• Opportunities for specialization and higher responsibilities
• Deputation to international organizations

Selection Process

The selection will be conducted in three phases:

Phase 1: Preliminary Examination (Online)

Duration: 60 minutes (1 hour)
Total Questions: 100 Multiple Choice Questions
Total Marks: 100
Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)

Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
Nature: Qualifying only - marks not counted for final merit

Phase 2: Main Examination (Online)

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Marks: 200

Negative Marking: 0.25 marks for MCQs

Phase 3: Interview / Personal Interview

• Maximum Marks: 50
• Minimum Qualifying Marks: 15 marks (for General/OBC), 13 marks (for SC/ST/PwBD)
• Assessment Areas: General awareness, knowledge of rural sector, communication skills, personality, leadership qualities

Final Merit List:

• Main Exam Marks (200) + Interview Marks (50) = Total 250 marks
• Final selection based on aggregate marks in Main + Interview
• Preliminary exam is only qualifying in nature

How to Apply Online

Application Mode: ONLINE only through NABARD official website

Step-by-Step Application Process:

1. Visit Official Website: www.nabard.org
2. Navigate to Careers: Click on "Opportunities @ NABARD" or "Careers" section
3. Find Advertisement: Look for "Development Assistant Recruitment 2026 (Short Notice)"
4. Read Notification: Download and read detailed advertisement carefully
5. Click Apply Online: Click on "Apply Online" link
6. Registration:
   • Click "New Registration"
   • Enter Name, Email ID, Mobile Number
   • Verify via OTP
   • Create password
   • Note down Registration Number / Application Number
7. Login: Use Registration Number and Password
8. Fill Online Application:
   • Personal Details (Name as per 10th certificate, Date of Birth, Gender, Category)
   • Contact Details (Mobile, Email, Correspondence Address, Permanent Address)
   • Educational Qualification (10th, 12th, Graduation details with marks)
   • Category and Sub-category information
   • State/Zone preference for posting
   • Experience details (if any)
   • Declaration and undertaking
9. Upload Documents:
   • Recent passport photograph (JPEG format, 20-50 KB, white background)
   • Signature (JPEG format, 10-20 KB, black ink on white paper)
   • Left thumb impression (JPEG format)
   • Hand-written declaration (JPEG/PDF format)
10. Pay Application Fee:
    • Online payment via Debit Card / Credit Card / Net Banking / UPI
    • Save payment receipt
11. Preview and Submit: Review all details before final submission
12. Download Confirmation: Print application form and fee receipt for future reference

Important Guidelines:

• Keep all documents ready in scanned format before starting
• Use valid and active email ID and mobile number
• Photograph must be recent (within 3 months) with white background
• Fill percentage of marks accurately as per mark sheets
• Category certificates should be valid and in prescribed format
• Application can be edited before final submission
• Once submitted, application cannot be edited

Application Fee

Payment Mode: Online only (Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI)

Note:

• Fee once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances
• Transaction charges (if any) to be borne by the candidate
• Keep payment receipt for future reference

Important Dates

Note: This is a SHORT NOTICE recruitment with limited application time. Apply before 3rd February 2026!

Documents Required

For Online Application (Scanned Copies):

• Recent passport size photograph (white background)
• Signature (black ink on white paper)
• Left thumb impression
• Hand-written declaration as per format

For Document Verification (at Interview stage - Original + Photocopies):

• 10th Certificate and Mark Sheet (for DOB proof)
• 12th Certificate and Mark Sheet
• Graduation Degree Certificate
• All semester / year mark sheets of graduation
• Consolidated mark sheet / Provisional certificate
• Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) - if applicable
• OBC Non-Creamy Layer Certificate (issued in current financial year 2025-26)
• PwBD Certificate from competent authority - if applicable
• Ex-Servicemen Discharge Certificate - if applicable
• Domicile Certificate (if claiming state/zone preference)
• Aadhar Card
• PAN Card
• Caste Validity Certificate (for OBC/SC/ST of Maharashtra)
• Recent passport size photographs (same as uploaded)
• Experience certificates (if claiming experience)
• Any other relevant certificates

Exam Preparation Tips

For Preliminary Examination:

• Focus on speed and accuracy
• Practice English grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension
• Solve quantitative aptitude - arithmetic, number system, data interpretation
• Work on reasoning - puzzles, seating arrangement, coding-decoding
• Take regular mock tests
• Time management is crucial

For Main Examination:

• Study current affairs and banking awareness thoroughly
• Focus on agriculture and rural development topics
• Read about NABARD's initiatives and schemes
• Study economic and social issues - poverty, unemployment, inflation
• Practice descriptive English writing - essays, letters, precis
• Computer knowledge - basics, MS Office, internet, cybersecurity
• Revise quantitative aptitude and reasoning

For Interview:

• Be well-versed with current affairs
• Study NABARD's role, functions, and recent initiatives
• Understand agricultural issues and rural development challenges
• Be confident and clear in communication
• Practice mock interviews
• Be honest about your knowledge and limitations

Important Instructions

• This is a SHORT NOTICE recruitment - limited time to apply
• Read complete notification before applying
• Ensure you meet eligibility criteria before applying
• Only ONE application per candidate - multiple applications will be rejected
• Provide valid and active email ID and mobile number
• Upload clear and legible scanned documents
• Fill correct marks percentage as per certificates
• Category certificates must be valid and in prescribed format
• Keep application number and password safe
• Download admit card from official website only
• Check email and website regularly for updates
• Beware of fake websites and fraud calls
• NABARD never asks for money during recruitment process

Contact Information

Organization: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Official Website: www.nabard.org
Helpdesk Email: Check official notification for email support
Helpline Number: Available on official website

The NABARD Development Assistant Recruitment 2026 offers 162 vacancies with excellent career prospects in rural development banking. This is a short notice recruitment, so apply immediately before 3rd February 2026!