The Reserve Bank of India has announced a large-scale lateral recruitment drive for the year 2026 to appoint highly skilled and experienced professionals across various technical, analytical, risk management, IT, cybersecurity, data science, and supervisory domains. This recruitment is aimed at strengthening the institutional expertise of the central bank by bringing in domain specialists from banking, financial services, technology, analytics, and research backgrounds. The recruitment is conducted on a full-time contractual basis and offers exceptionally high monthly compensation, making it one of the most attractive opportunities for senior and mid-level professionals seeking prestigious government-sector roles. A total of 93 expert vacancies are available under this recruitment process.
Important Dates
- Application Start Date: 17 December 2025
- Last Date to Apply Online: 06 January 2026
- Eligibility Cut-off Date (Age, Qualification & Experience): 01 December 2025
- Application Printout Availability: Up to 17 January 2026
Total Vacancy Details
The total number of vacancies announced under RBI Lateral Recruitment 2026 is:
- Total Posts: 93
These vacancies are distributed across multiple expert-level roles in Information Technology, Data Science, Cyber Security, Risk Management, Supervision, Finance, Economics, and Project Management.
Category-wise Vacancy Distribution
- General (UR): 77
- EWS: 1
- OBC: 12
- SC: 3
- PwBD: 4 (across various categories)
Post-wise Vacancy Overview
The recruitment includes multiple expert designations such as:
- Data Scientist
- Data Engineer
- IT Security Expert
- IT System Administrator
- AI / ML Specialist
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Network Administrator
- Project Manager
- Risk Analyst
- Credit Risk Specialist
- Market Risk Analyst
- Operational Risk Analyst
- Accounts Specialist
- Policy Research Analyst
- Banking Domain Specialist
- Bank Examiner
- Programme Coordinator
All positions are offered at senior officer levels equivalent to Grade C, Grade D, and Grade E.
Application Fees
Candidates are required to pay the application fee as per their category:
- General / OBC / EWS: ₹600 + applicable taxes
- SC / ST / Persons with Disabilities: ₹100 + applicable taxes
- RBI Staff Candidates: No fee
Important Note:
The application fee once paid is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility varies depending on the post applied for. However, the general eligibility framework is outlined below.
Educational Qualifications
Candidates must possess qualifications from recognized Indian universities or equivalent foreign institutions. Post-wise qualifications include:
- Master’s Degree in Statistics, Economics, Finance, Mathematics, Data Science, or related disciplines
- BE / B.Tech / ME / M.Tech in Computer Science, IT, AI, ML, Electronics
- MBA / PGDM / PGDBA with specialization in Finance or Analytics
- MCA, CA, ICWA, CFA, FRM, PRM for relevant posts
Professional certifications in Data Science, Cyber Security, Risk Management, Project Management, and Banking are considered highly desirable.
Experience Requirements
Each post requires substantial professional experience, generally ranging from:
- Minimum 3 years for analytical and research roles
- 5 to 7 years for IT, cybersecurity, data engineering, and risk roles
- 10 to 15 years for senior positions such as Programme Coordinator and Senior Bank Examiner
Experience must be relevant to banking, financial institutions, regulatory bodies, IT firms, or large organizations dealing with analytics, risk, and technology.
Age Limit
Age limits differ according to the role applied for:
- Minimum Age: 21 years
- Maximum Age:
- 40 years for most expert posts
- 45 years for senior risk and analytical roles
- 62 years for Programme Coordinator
Age Relaxation
- SC/ST candidates: 5 years
- OBC candidates: 3 years
- PwBD candidates: Up to 10 years
- Ex-servicemen: As per rules
Salary Scale and Compensation
RBI offers an exceptionally high consolidated monthly salary, which is among the best in government-sector contractual jobs.
Monthly Salary Structure
- Grade C Level: ₹3,10,000 to ₹4,10,000 per month
- Grade D Level: ₹4,30,000 to ₹5,10,000 per month
- Grade E Level: ₹4,80,000 to ₹6,00,000 per month
Additional Benefits
- Annual increment of 7% after every completed year
- Housing allowance as per place of posting
- Travel allowance for official tours
- Emergency medical facility at office premises
Note:
These positions do not include pension, gratuity, or long-term retirement benefits as they are contract-based appointments.
Nature of Appointment
- Appointment is on a full-time contractual basis
- Initial contract tenure is 3 years
- Extendable by up to 2 additional years based on performance
- Posting is generally at Mumbai or any other RBI office across India
Selection Process
The selection process consists of the following stages:
Stage 1: Application Screening
Applications are screened based on eligibility, qualification, and experience.
Stage 2: Document Verification
Shortlisted candidates must submit valid documents supporting their claims.
Stage 3: Interview
Final selection is based solely on performance in the interview.
Meeting eligibility conditions does not guarantee interview shortlisting.
Leave and Work Conditions
- 30 days of leave per calendar year
- Normal RBI working hours apply
- Work may extend beyond regular hours due to the nature of assignments
Who Should Apply
This recruitment is ideal for:
- Senior IT professionals
- Data scientists and data engineers
- Cybersecurity experts
- Risk management specialists
- Banking and financial analysts
- Research professionals in economics and finance
