Banking exam guide · Updated October 2026
CAIIB (Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers) is the advanced professional exam for bank employees who have passed JAIIB. Here is who can take it, how the five papers work, how to prepare while working full-time, and what you gain from passing it.
CAIIB is conducted by the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF), Mumbai. It is the second step after JAIIB in IIBF’s flagship qualification for bankers. JAIIB builds the foundation — economy, banking practice, accounting and retail banking — and CAIIB takes you to management level: bank management and statistics, treasury and forex, financial management, banking law, and one specialisation of your choice.
The exam is held twice a year, online, in English or Hindi. You can attempt all five papers together or spread them over attempts, because every paper you pass is kept as a credit.
| Conducted by | Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF) |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | IIBF members (subscription not in arrears) who have passed JAIIB / Part I of the Associate Examination |
| Papers | 5 — four compulsory papers + one elective |
| Each paper | 100 objective questions · 100 marks · 2 hours · online |
| Negative marking | None |
| Pass mark | 50/100 in each paper, or 45+ in every paper with 50% aggregate in one attempt |
| Time limit | Clear all papers within 5 attempts or 3 years, whichever is earlier |
| Frequency | Twice a year (May–June and November–December cycles) |
| Medium | English or Hindi |
| Exam fee (first attempt) | About ₹5,000 for the whole exam; later attempts cost less — confirm the current fee on iibf.org.in when you register |
All four compulsory papers are written by everyone; you choose one elective. Every button below opens that subject’s purchase page on the Arthzo learning platform.
Paper 1 · Compulsory · ABM
Statistics for bankers, human resource management in banks, credit management and appraisal, and compliance & corporate governance.
Arthzo course: 32 units of notes · 2,320 practice questions · 129 worked numericals · 10 mock tests
Paper 2 · Compulsory · BFM
International banking and forex, risk management and Basel norms, treasury management, and balance sheet / asset-liability management.
Arthzo course: 31 units of notes · 2,404 practice questions · 188 worked numericals · 10 mock tests
Paper 3 · Compulsory · ABFM
The management process, financial management and capital budgeting, valuation, mergers & acquisitions, and emerging business solutions.
Arthzo course: 25 units of notes · 1,852 practice questions · 136 worked numericals · 10 mock tests
Paper 4 · Compulsory · BRBL
Legal and regulatory framework of banks — RBI and BR Act provisions, PMLA, NI Act, FEMA, SARFAESI, RDB Act, IBC — and business laws such as contract, partnership and company law.
Arthzo course: 63 units of notes · 2,493 practice questions · 59 worked numericals · 10 mock tests
Elective · HRM
HRM fundamentals, HR strategy, motivation and training, personnel management and industrial relations, emerging HR trends.
Arthzo course: 1,552 practice questions · 10 mock tests
Elective · RB
Rural India, financing rural development, priority sector lending and government schemes, problems and prospects of rural banking.
Arthzo course: 1,292 practice questions · 10 mock tests
Elective · RM
Risk management framework, credit, market and operational risk, Basel and RBI guidelines, derivatives for risk management.
Arthzo course: unit-wise notes, practice questions and unit tests
Elective · CB
Functions of central banks, monetary and credit policy, regulation and financial stability, forex reserves.
Arthzo course: unit-wise notes, practice questions and unit tests
Elective · ITDB
IT fundamentals, information systems, banking technology and digital banking, IS security controls and audit.
Arthzo course: unit-wise notes, practice questions and unit tests
Tip: write all five papers in your first attempt. Only then is the aggregate route open to you, and a strong paper can pull a weak one over the line.
Registration for the December 2026 cycle closed in early October. The announced paper dates are:
| Date | Paper |
|---|---|
| 6 December 2026 | Advanced Bank Management (ABM) |
| 12 December 2026 | Bank Financial Management (BFM) |
| 13 December 2026 | Advanced Business & Financial Management (ABFM) |
| 20 December 2026 | Banking Regulations and Business Laws (BRBL) |
| 27 December 2026 | Electives |
Always confirm dates and admit-card details on the official IIBF website. The next cycle is expected in May–June 2027.
CAIIB is the banking industry’s own professional certification, widely valued across public and private sector banks.
Many banks give additional increments or a one-time incentive, and consider CAIIB in promotions, as per their service rules. Check your bank’s circular.
Credit appraisal, forex, treasury, ALM and banking law are daily work for managers — CAIIB gives you the full picture.
Promotion interviews and internal tests often draw on the same topics.
Your elective — risk, HR, rural banking, central banking or IT — builds depth in one area.
Papers you pass are kept, so you can clear CAIIB at your own pace within the time limit.
Arthzo learning platform
Unit-wise notes, practice questions, worked numericals, unit tests and 10 mock tests per subject — online, on your phone or computer. Access till 31 July 2027, covering the December 2026 and June 2027 exams.
Complete CAIIB package
₹1,999 ₹2,500
All 4 compulsory papers + 1 elective — save ₹501. Choose your elective:
Not sure yet? Read Unit 1 notes and take a unit test in every subject — free, no login.
Ordinary members of IIBF whose membership subscription is not in arrears and who have passed JAIIB (or Part I of the Associate Examination) can register for CAIIB.
CAIIB has five papers: four compulsory papers (ABM, BFM, ABFM, BRBL) and one elective. Each paper is an online objective test of 100 questions for 100 marks in 2 hours, with no negative marking. Questions include knowledge, concept, problem-solving and case-based questions.
You pass a paper by scoring at least 50 out of 100 in it. You also pass the whole exam if you score at least 45 in each paper and at least 50% in aggregate across all papers in a single attempt. Papers you pass are kept as credits for your later attempts.
You must clear all papers within five attempts or three years from your first registration, whichever is earlier. Registering for an attempt counts as an attempt even if you do not appear.
No. There is no negative marking, so attempt every question.
Pick the elective closest to your work. Branch and agriculture-lending officers often find Rural Banking familiar, HR and administration staff choose HRM, and treasury or risk staff choose Risk Management. The elective counts like any other paper, so choose the one you can score well in.
Most working bankers need about 3 to 4 months of steady study — around 1 to 1.5 hours on weekdays and longer sessions at weekends — to cover all five papers with practice and revision.
CAIIB is a recognised professional qualification for bankers. Many banks give additional increments or a one-time incentive and count it in promotion assessments, as per their own service rules — check your bank’s circular for the exact benefit.
Yes. The Unit 1 notes and unit test of every subject are free for everyone, without logging in.
Arthzo is an independent learning platform. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF). Exam rules, fees and dates are summarised from IIBF’s published information and may change — always check iibf.org.in before you register.