IBPS PO 2026: Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Salary
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection conducts the Common Recruitment Process for Probationary Officers and Management Trainees (CRP PO/MT) to select officers for participating public sector banks. As per the 2026 notification (CRP PO/MT-XVI), the selection process consists of multiple assessment stages to recruit candidates for FY 2027–28 vacancies.
Overview
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Cycle | CRP PO/MT-XVI (2026 notification for FY 2027–28 vacancies) |
| Official Website | ibps.in |
| Starting Basic Pay | ₹48,480/- per month (12th Bipartite Settlement, 2026 notification) |
| Starting Gross Salary | Approximately ₹74,000 to ₹76,000+ per month (2026 notification) |
| Probation Period | 2 years of active service and practical training (2026 notification) |
| Attempt Limit | No limit on attempts within prescribed age limits (2026 notification) |
| Final Merit Weightage | 80% Main Examination and 20% Common Interview (2026 notification) |
Eligibility
- Nationality: Citizen of India, subject of Nepal, subject of Bhutan, Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before January 1, 1962 to settle permanently, or a Person of Indian Origin migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India (non-citizens require an eligibility certificate from the Government of India) (2026 notifi
- Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a recognized University or equivalent recognized by the Central Government; candidates must possess valid mark sheets/degrees by the registration closing date (2026 notification).
Age limit
- Minimum 20 years and maximum 30 years as of 01.07.2026; candidates must have been born between 02.07.1996 and 01.07.2006 (inclusive) (2026 notification).
- SC / ST candidates: Upper-age relaxation of 5 years (up to 35 years) (2026 notification).
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates: Upper-age relaxation of 3 years (up to 33 years) (2026 notification).
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD under RPwD Act 2016): Upper-age relaxation of 10 years (2026 notification).
- Ex-Servicemen / ECOs / SSCOs: Upper-age relaxation of 5 years as per central government norms (2026 notification).
- Persons affected by 1984 riots: Upper-age relaxation of 5 years (2026 notification).
Selection process
- Stage 1: Preliminary Examination — Qualifying online screening test consisting of 100 marks across three separately timed sections (2026 notification).
- Stage 2: Main Examination — 200-mark objective test followed by a 25-mark descriptive test; scores are scaled for the final merit list (2026 notification).
- Stage 3: Personality Test — Mandatory online self-report assessment taken prior to the interview stage; non-qualifying in score (2026 notification).
- Stage 4: Common Interview — 100-mark interview conducted by participating banks; minimum qualifying score is 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) (2026 notification).
- Stage 5: Provisional Allotment — Final merit computation based on Main Examination (80%) and Common Interview (20%) out of 100 marks (2026 notification).
IBPS PO exam pattern
Preliminary Examination
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 minutes |
Total: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes. Negative marking of 0.25 (one-fourth) of marks assigned to a question for every wrong answer; no penalty for unattempted questions. English Language is tested in English; other sections are bilingual (English/Hindi) (2026 notification).
Main Examination (Objective)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General / Economy / Banking / Digital / Financial Awareness | 50 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 35 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
Total: 170 questions, 200 marks, 160 minutes. An onscreen calculator is provided for Data Analysis & Interpretation. Negative marking of 0.25 (one-fourth) of marks assigned to a question applies for wrong answers (2026 notification).
Main Examination (Descriptive)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptive Test (1 Essay and 1 Comprehension) | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
Conducted online via computer typing in English immediately after the objective test. Letter writing is dropped in favor of comprehension (2026 notification).
IBPS PO syllabus
English Language
Reading Comprehension · Cloze Test · Error Detection · Sentence Improvement · Para Jumbles · Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, Idioms, Phrasal Verbs) · Fill in the Blanks
Reasoning
Circular, Linear, and Floor Puzzles · Seating Arrangement · Syllogisms · Blood Relations · Direction Sense · Coding-Decoding · Inequalities · Input-Output · Critical and Analytical Reasoning
Quantitative Aptitude / Data Analysis & Interpretation
Bar, Line, and Pie Charts · Tables · Caselet DI · Missing DI · Number Series · Quadratic Equations · Approximation · Arithmetic (Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Time & Work, Speed-Time-Distance, Simple & Compound Interest
General, Economy, Banking & Digital Awareness
Current Affairs (Domestic and International) · Recent RBI Circulars and Regulations · Monetary Policy · Financial Inclusion · Banking Terminology · Digital Payments and Fintech · Union Budget · Economic Survey
Descriptive Section
Essay Writing on economic issues, social issues, emerging trends in banking/technology, and ethics · Comprehension (answering questions based on an unseen passage)
Salary
- Starting Basic Pay: ₹48,480/- under the 12th Bipartite Settlement (2026 notification).
- Pay Scale: ₹48,480 - 2000/7 - 62,480 - 2340/2 - 67,160 - 2680/7 - 85,920 (2026 notification).
- Starting Gross Salary: Approximately ₹74,000 to ₹76,000+ per month, including Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), and Special Allowance depending on location and bank (2026 notification).
- Probation Period: 2 years of active service and practical training across banking operations, subject to performance evaluation before permanent confirmation (2026 notification).
Application fee
- General, EWS, and OBC candidates: ₹850/- (including intimation charges) (2026 notification).
- SC, ST, and PwBD candidates: ₹175/- (intimation charges only) (2026 notification).
Exam calendar
- Notification Issued: Around June / July (2026 notification).
- Preliminary Examination: August (2026 notification).
- Main Examination: October (2026 notification).
- Personality Test and Common Interview: November / December (2026 notification).
- Provisional Allotment: January to April (2026 notification).
Preparation tips
- Practice typing responses on a standard computer keyboard, as the Mains descriptive paper requires typing one essay and one comprehension answer within 30 minutes (2026 notification).
- Familiarize yourself with using an onscreen calculator, which is made available during the Mains Data Analysis & Interpretation section (2026 notification).
- Study recent RBI circulars, monetary policy updates, and digital payment systems, as these are explicit components of the Mains Banking Awareness section (2026 notification).
- Account for the 0.25 mark deduction for incorrect objective answers across both Prelims and Mains to protect overall sectional and aggregate scores (2026 notification).
- Prepare under strict sectional time limits, as you cannot carry over or reallocate unused time between test sections in Prelims or Mains (2026 notification).
- Ensure timely completion of the Stage 3 online Personality Test, which is mandatory to attend before appearing for the Common Interview (2026 notification).
Previous year cut-offs: IBPS PO cut off — prelims & mains, category-wise
FAQs
How many attempts are allowed for the IBPS PO examination?
There is no restriction on the number of attempts; candidates can participate as long as they meet the prescribed age and educational eligibility requirements (2026 notification).
What is the weightage of Prelims, Mains, and Interview in the final merit list?
The Preliminary Examination is qualifying in nature. The final merit list is computed by scaling the Main Examination score to 80% and the Common Interview score to 20%, out of a total of 100 marks (2026 notification).
Does the IBPS PO Mains Descriptive Test include letter writing?
No, letter writing is dropped. The descriptive test consists of two questions: one essay and one reading comprehension, carrying a total of 25 marks over 30 minutes (2026 notification).
What are the minimum qualifying marks in the Common Interview?
Candidates must secure at least 40% out of 100 marks in the interview, with the qualifying threshold relaxed to 35% for SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates (2026 notification).
Is a calculator allowed in the IBPS PO exam?
An onscreen calculator is provided specifically during the Data Analysis & Interpretation section of the Main Examination (2026 notification).
What is the Stage 3 Personality Test in the selection process?
The Stage 3 Personality Test is an online self-report assessment administered prior to interviews. It is non-qualifying in score, but attendance is mandatory (2026 notification).
Sources
- ibps.in (www.ibps.in) Official
- testbook.com (cdn.testbook.com)
- careerpower.in (www.careerpower.in)
- examcart.in (examcart.in)
- sarkariresultalertinfo.com (sarkariresultalertinfo.com)
Always confirm details in the latest official notification before applying. Spotted an error? Write to prepzen.app@gmail.com.
Keep Learning with PrepZen
Get daily current affairs, live mock tests, mistake bank, vocab builder & more — all free on your phone.