RBI Reports First Staff Decline in Five Years, Total Expenditure Rises
RBI staff strength falls for first time in five years, down 2.2% in FY26

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The Reserve Bank of India's staff strength decreased by 2.2% in FY26, totaling 13,220 employees. This decline, the first in five years, coincided with a 10.8% increase in employee costs, reaching ₹10,136.31 crore, attributed to pension revisions and higher superannuation contributions.
- 01RBI's total staff count fell to 13,220 as of December 31, 2025, down from 13,520 a year earlier.
- 02Class I staff increased to 7,517, while Class III and Class IV staff numbers declined.
- 03The number of new hires in 2025 was 247, significantly lower than the 604 added in 2024.
- 04Employee costs rose by 10.8% to ₹10,136.31 crore in FY26, driven by pension revisions.
- 05The RBI implemented initiatives for employee well-being and advanced technology adoption in risk management.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) reported a 2.2% decline in its total staff strength, dropping to 13,220 employees as of December 31, 2025, marking the first reduction in five years. This decrease follows a consistent increase from 12,276 in 2020 to 13,520 in 2024. The breakdown of the staff includes 7,517 in Class I, 3,206 in Class III, and 2,497 in Class IV, with only Class I seeing growth. In 2025, the RBI added 247 new employees, a significant drop from 604 in the previous year. Concurrently, total staff expenditure surged by 10.8% to ₹10,136.31 crore in FY26, largely due to increased contributions to superannuation funds following pension revisions. Despite the reduction in headcount, the RBI focused on enhancing its workforce through capacity-building initiatives and the implementation of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Framework 2.0. The central bank is also preparing for advanced technology integration in its risk and audit functions, as part of its strategic plan, Utkarsh 2029.
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The decline in staff strength and rising employee costs may affect the RBI's operational efficiency and budget allocation for human resources.
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