Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank Withholds Reserve List Amid Staff Shortage, Union Calls it Unfair

According to information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank reported 1,038 total vacancies for Office Assistants across its three erstwhile entities — Baroda UP Bank, Prathama UP Gramin Bank, and Aryavart Bank. However, only 643 candidates have joined, leaving nearly 400 positions still vacant.

The RTI response further disclosed that 123 employees have resigned since joining, further widening the staff deficit. Despite this, Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank has not released its reserve list so far, while several other RRBs across the country have issued up to three rounds to fill pending vacancies.

Image: RTI details on the vacancies and candidates joined in UPGB

The Uttar Pradesh Grameen Bank Employees Union (UPGBEU) has raised serious concerns over the bank's failure to fill vacant positions despite having a reserve list of eligible candidates from the IBPS recruitment process. In a letter dated October 7, 2025, the union highlighted that while UPGB has not released any appointments from the IBPS reserve list for Office Assistant positions, there are currently 395 vacant posts across three regional rural banks in Uttar Pradesh—Baroda UP Bank (96 vacancies), Prathama UP Bank (15 vacancies), and Aryavart Bank (284 vacancies). 

Image: UPGBEU letter to UPGB Chairman demanding release of the reserve list.

A union member, speaking to Kanal on condition of anonymity, said, “Leaving nearly 40% of posts unfilled has pushed the bank into a severe manpower crisis. The shortage is overburdening existing staff and directly affecting customer service across branches.”

He further added, “It’s deeply unfair to the candidates who cleared the exam with hard work and still remain unemployed. The management must immediately assess the actual vacancies and release appointments from the reserve list. This is essential not just for fairness to the candidates, but also for restoring operational efficiency in the bank.”

Candidates Express Anguish Over Uncertainty

Hundreds of shortlisted candidates are found distressed after years of preparation and examination is at stake.

One candidate told Kanal, “Three rounds of reserve lists have been released by IBPS, and every other RRB has filled its vacancies — except Uttar Pradesh Gramin Bank. We’ve cleared the exam but remain jobless.”

Another candidate, awaiting appointment under Officer Scale-I, “It’s disheartening that UPGB hasn’t participated in any list so far. We worked hard, cleared the exam, and still wait endlessly while our last attempt is slipping away.”

Another disgruntled candidate said, “Some of us are at the final stage of eligibility. Each delay feels like the door to our career closing a little more.”

While UPGB stands as one of the largest RRBs in the country, the continued delay in releasing the reserve list, despite clear staff shortages, highlights the growing recruitment challenges faced by the bank.