IBPS Clerk 2026: Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Salary
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection conducts the Common Recruitment Process for Customer Service Associates (CRP CSA / Clerk) annually to recruit clerical cadre personnel across 11 participating public sector banks. Selection is based on a two-tier online examination consisting of Prelims and Mains, followed by a local language test and document verification. The post carries an initial basic pay of ₹24,050 under the 12th Bipartite Settlement, and there is no interview round.
Overview
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) [2026 Notification] |
|---|---|
| Cadre & Official Designation | Customer Service Associate (CSA) / Clerical Cadre [2026 Notification] |
| Participating Banks | 11 Public Sector Banks [2026 Notification] |
| Official Website | www.ibps.in [2026 Notification] |
| Selection Stages | Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, LLPT & Document Verification [2026 Notification] |
| Interview Stage | None (final merit is based solely on Main Examination marks) [2026 Notification] |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 (1/4th) of the marks assigned to the question [2026 Notification] |
| Probation Period | 6 months [2026 Notification] |
Eligibility
- Nationality: Must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before January 1, 1962 for permanent settlement, or a person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with permanent settlement intention (holding an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India where applicable) [2026 Notification].
- Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a recognized University or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government [2026 Notification].
- Computer Proficiency: Operating and working knowledge in computer systems is mandatory; must possess a certificate/diploma/degree in computer operations/languages or have studied Computer/Information Technology as a subject in High School/College/Institute [2026 Notification].
- Local Language: Must possess proficiency (reading, writing, and speaking) in the official local language of the State/UT applied for [2026 Notification].
- Attempts: No restriction on the number of attempts, provided the candidate meets the age and eligibility criteria [2026 Notification].
Age limit
- General / Unreserved: 20 to 28 years as of August 1, 2026 (born between August 2, 1998, and August 1, 2006, both dates inclusive) [2026 Notification].
- SC / ST: Upper age relaxation of 5 years (up to 33 years) [2026 Notification].
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): Upper age relaxation of 3 years (up to 31 years) [2026 Notification].
- PwBD: Upper age relaxation of 10 years (cumulative with SC/ST/OBC where applicable) [2026 Notification].
- Ex-Servicemen / Disabled ESM: Actual period of defense service rendered + 3 years, subject to a maximum age cap of 50 years [2026 Notification].
- Widows / Divorced Women / Legally Separated: Up to 35 years for General/EWS, 38 years for OBC, and 40 years for SC/ST [2026 Notification].
- Persons affected by 1984 Riots: Upper age relaxation of 5 years [2026 Notification].
Selection process
- Preliminary Examination — 100-mark online objective test used as a qualifying screening round to shortlist candidates for the Main Exam [2026 Notification]
- Main Examination — 200-mark online objective test used strictly for preparing the final merit list and provisional bank allotment [2026 Notification]
- Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) & Document Verification — Qualifying assessment conducted by the allotted bank before joining; candidates who studied the local language in 10th standard or higher are exempted [2026 Notification]
IBPS Clerk exam pattern
Preliminary Examination
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
Total: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes. Bilingual except English. Negative marking of 0.25 (1/4th) mark for each incorrect answer; unattempted questions incur no penalty. Preliminary scores are qualifying and are not included in the final merit calculation [2026 Notification].
Main Examination (Revised Pattern)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 40 | 50 | 20 minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 50 | 35 minutes |
Total: 160 questions, 200 marks, 125 minutes. Bilingual (English, Hindi, and specified regional languages). Negative marking of 0.25 (1/4th) of the marks assigned to that question for wrong answers. Final selection is based solely on scores from this examination [2026 Notification].
IBPS Clerk syllabus
English Language
Reading Comprehension · Cloze Test · Spotting Errors · Sentence Improvement · Para Jumbles · Fill in the Blanks · Vocabulary (Synonyms and Antonyms) · Idioms and Phrases
Numerical Ability / Quantitative Aptitude
Simplification and Approximation · Number Series · Quadratic Equations · Data Interpretation (Tables, Bar, Pie, Line, Caselets) · Percentages · Profit and Loss · Ratios · Simple Interest and Compound Interest · Time and Work · Time-Speed-Distance · Averages · Mixtures · Mensuration
Reasoning Ability
Puzzles (Box, Floor, Scheduling) · Seating Arrangements (Linear, Circular, Square) · Syllogism · Inequalities · Coding-Decoding · Blood Relations · Direction Sense · Order and Ranking · Alphanumeric Series
General & Financial Awareness
Banking and Financial Awareness · Current Affairs (National and International) · RBI Policies and Monetary Policy Updates · Government Schemes · Financial Regulators · Static GK
Salary
- Pay Scale: ₹24,050 – 1,340/3 – 28,070 – 1,650/3 – 33,020 – 2,000/4 – 41,020 – 2,340/7 – 57,400 – 4,400/1 – 61,800 – 2,680/1 – ₹64,480 under the 12th Bipartite Settlement [2026 Notification].
- Starting Basic Pay: ₹24,050 per month [2026 Notification].
- Gross Monthly Salary: Ranges approximately between ₹40,000 and ₹46,890 depending on applicable DA, HRA, Transport Allowance, and posting location [2026 Notification].
- Probation Period: 6 months before confirmation, subject to bank-specific regulations [2026 Notification].
Application fee
- SC / ST / PwBD / ESM / DESM: ₹175 (inclusive of GST) [2026 Notification]
- General / OBC / EWS / Others: ₹850 (inclusive of GST) [2026 Notification]
Exam calendar
- Online Registration: August [2026 Notification]
- Preliminary Examination: October [2026 Notification]
- Prelims Results: November [2026 Notification]
- Main Examination: December [2026 Notification]
- Provisional Allotment: March / April [2026 Notification]
Preparation tips
- Build speed in high-frequency scoring areas like Simplification, Approximation, Number Series, and Quadratic Equations to maximize your 20-minute Prelims Numerical Ability limit.
- Practice different puzzle formats (Box, Floor, Scheduling) and seating setups (Linear, Circular, Square) since Reasoning carries 60 marks across 40 questions in the Main Exam.
- Target Data Interpretation across tables, pie charts, bar graphs, line graphs, and caselets to handle the Quantitative Aptitude section effectively.
- Review banking updates, current national and international affairs, RBI monetary policies, and government schemes regularly for the 50-mark General/Financial Awareness section.
- Practice answering accurately within the strict sectional time limits, as a negative marking penalty of 0.25 (1/4th) of assigned marks applies to all wrong answers in both stages.
- Confirm your local language qualification beforehand; if you studied the local language in standard 10 or above, keep your mark sheet ready to claim exemption from the LLPT.
Previous year cut-offs: IBPS Clerk cut off — prelims & mains, category-wise, state-wise
FAQs
Is there an interview stage in IBPS Clerk / CSA recruitment?
No, there is no interview. The final merit ranking and provisional allotment are determined solely by marks obtained in the Online Main Examination [2026 Notification].
Do Preliminary Examination marks count toward the final selection?
No, marks scored in the Preliminary Examination are strictly qualifying and are used solely to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination [2026 Notification].
What is the penalty for incorrect answers in the exam?
Both the Preliminary and Main examinations carry a negative marking penalty of 0.25 (1/4th) of the marks assigned to that question. Unattempted questions attract no deduction [2026 Notification].
How many times can I attempt the IBPS Clerk / CSA exam?
There is no limit on the number of attempts. You can apply as many times as you want as long as you meet the specified age and educational criteria [2026 Notification].
Is computer knowledge compulsory to apply?
Yes, candidates must possess operating and working knowledge in computer systems, supported by a certificate/diploma/degree in computers or by having studied Computer/IT as a subject in High School or College [2026 Notification].
Who is exempted from the Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)?
Candidates who studied the official local language of the State or Union Territory in the 10th standard or higher and can produce qualifying mark sheets are exempted by the allotted bank [2026 Notification].
Sources
- mahendras.org (www.mahendras.org)
- freejobalert.com (www.freejobalert.com)
- entri.app (entri.app)
- testbook.com (testbook.com)
- examatlas.com (examatlas.com)
Always confirm details in the latest official notification before applying. Spotted an error? Write to prepzen.app@gmail.com.
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