Introduction:
The NABARD Grade A Exam is a competitive examination conducted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to recruit candidates for the post of Assistant Manager in various disciplines. The selection process includes a preliminary exam, mains exam, and an interview round. In case of a tie in the overall marks, NABARD has specified tie-breaker rules to determine the final selection.

Tie-Breaker Rules:
When two or more candidates secure the same overall marks in the NABARD Grade A Exam, the following tie-breaker rules are applied in a sequential manner to determine the final selection:

1. Marks in Mains Exam: The marks obtained in the mains exam are considered first to break the tie. The candidate with higher marks in the mains exam is ranked higher.

2. Marks in Preliminary Exam: If the tie persists even after considering the marks in the mains exam, then the marks obtained in the preliminary exam are considered. The candidate with higher marks in the preliminary exam is ranked higher.

3. Age: If the tie still remains, then the age of the candidates is considered. The candidate who is older in age is ranked higher.

Impact on Cut-off Marks:
The application of tie-breaker rules in the NABARD Grade A Exam does not directly impact the cut-off marks. The cut-off marks are determined based on various factors such as the number of vacancies, the difficulty level of the exam, and the overall performance of the candidates. The cut-off marks are generally set before the tie-breaker rules are applied.

However, the tie-breaker rules can indirectly impact the cut-off marks in certain scenarios. If there are a large number of candidates who secure the same overall marks and the tie-breaker rules are applied extensively, it may result in a higher cut-off mark. This is because the tie-breaker rules may cause a significant number of candidates to score higher marks in the mains or preliminary exam, thereby increasing the competition.

Conclusion:
In the NABARD Grade A Exam, tie-breaker rules are applied to determine the final selection when two or more candidates secure the same overall marks. The tie-breaker rules consider the marks obtained in the mains exam, preliminary exam, and age of the candidates. The application of tie-breaker rules does not directly impact the cut-off marks, but it can indirectly affect the cut-off marks if there is a large number of candidates with the same overall marks.