The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, established in 1982 and wholly owned by the Government of India, is the apex development financial institution for agriculture and rural sectors — disbursing refinance worth ₹6+ lakh crore annually to cooperative banks, RRBs, and microfinance institutions. NABARD recruits Grade A Officers (Rural Development Banking Service), Grade B Officers, Development Assistants, and Office Attendants through highly competitive written examinations and interviews. The Grade A exam is particularly respected among banking aspirants as it combines economic analysis, agriculture policy, and general banking knowledge in a format that rewards genuine subject depth over rote preparation.