IBPS RRB PO 2026: Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Salary

Overview

Conducting Body	Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
Post Name	Group 'A' Officer Scale-I (Assistant Manager)
Cadre Application Limit	Candidates can apply for only one post in the Officer cadre (Scale-I, Scale-II, or Scale-III) per cycle (CRP RRBs XV 2026)
Official Website	https://www.ibps.in
Selection Stages	Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Common Interview
Final Merit Ratio	80:20 weightage between Main Examination and Common Interview
Negative Marking	1/4th (0.25) of the mark assigned to the question deducted for every wrong answer
Number of Attempts	No restriction or attempt limit, subject to age and eligibility criteria

Eligibility

• Nationality: Citizen of India, subject of Nepal, subject of Bhutan, Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, to settle permanently, or a person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries with permanent settlement intention (holding a Government of India certificate of eligibility where applicable).
• Educational Qualification: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized University or its equivalent.
• Educational Preferences: Preference is given to degrees in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Agricultural Engineering, Pisciculture, Agricultural Marketing and Cooperation, Information Technology, Management, Law, Economics, or Accountancy.
• Language Proficiency: Proficiency in the local language of the participating Regional Rural Bank is an essential qualification; candidates must have studied the local language at or above Standard VIII level.
• Language Grace Period: Candidates lacking local language proficiency at the time of selection are granted a 6-month grace period from the joining date to acquire it (extendable by the RRB Board within the probation period).
• Computer Knowledge: Working knowledge of computers is listed as a desirable qualification (no mandatory degree or diploma required).
• Work Experience: Nil (no prior experience required).

Age limit

• Standard Age Limit (CRP RRBs XV 2026): Above 18 years and below 30 years as of the cut-off date 01.09.2026 (born between 02.09.1996 and 01.09.2008, both dates inclusive).
• SC / ST: 5 years upper age relaxation.
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years upper age relaxation.
• Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): 10 years upper age relaxation.
• Ex-Servicemen / Commissioned Officers (including ECOs/SSCOs with at least 5 years military service): 5 years relaxation.
• Persons affected by the 1984 riots: 5 years relaxation.

Selection process

1. Preliminary Examination — Screening objective test consisting of Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude; marks are qualifying only.
2. Main Examination — 200-mark objective test across five sections; marks are considered for shortlisting to the interview and for final merit.
3. Common Interview — 100-mark interview coordinated by Nodal RRBs with the assistance of NABARD and IBPS; final merit is prepared with an 80:20 weightage for Mains and Interview.

IBPS RRB PO exam pattern

Prelims

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
Reasoning	40	40	Composite time of 45 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	40	40	Composite time of 45 minutes

Total 80 questions and 80 marks with a composite duration of 45 minutes. A penalty of 1/4th (0.25) of the mark assigned to a question applies for wrong answers. Scores are qualifying and not included in final merit.

Mains

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
Reasoning	40	50	Composite time of 2 hours
Computer Knowledge	40	20	Composite time of 2 hours
General Awareness	40	40	Composite time of 2 hours
English Language OR Hindi Language	40	40	Composite time of 2 hours
Quantitative Aptitude	40	50	Composite time of 2 hours

Total 200 questions and 200 marks with a composite duration of 2 hours (120 minutes). A deduction of 1/4th of the marks assigned to a question applies for wrong answers. Candidates must clear both sectional cut-offs and the overall cut-off.

Common Interview

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
Interview	N/A	100	Determined by Interview Board

Carries 100 marks. The minimum qualifying mark is 40% (35% for SC, ST, OBC, and PwBD candidates). The weightage ratio between the Main Examination and Interview is 80:20.

IBPS RRB PO syllabus

Reasoning

Puzzles (box, floor, month) · Seating arrangements (linear, circular) · Syllogisms · Inequalities · Blood relations · Direction sense · Coding-decoding · Order and ranking · Logical reasoning

Quantitative Aptitude

Data Interpretation (bar, pie, line, tabular, caselets) · Number series · Simplification and approximation · Quadratic equations · Arithmetic (percentages, ratio, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, time and work, speed-time-distance, mensu

General Awareness

Current national and international affairs · Banking and financial awareness · RBI monetary policies · NABARD and rural banking initiatives · Union budget and economic survey · Government schemes

Computer Knowledge

Computer fundamentals · Hardware and software · Operating systems · MS Office · Internet and networking · Cybersecurity basics · Abbreviations · Database management

English Language OR Hindi Language

Reading comprehension · Cloze test · Spotting errors · Sentence rearrangement · Vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms, idioms) · Hindi grammar (Vyakaran, Muhavare, Vakya Sanshodhan)

Salary

• Pay scale, allowances, and benefits are governed by the respective participating Regional Rural Bank's service rules under IBA / Bipartite settlements.
• Following the 12th Bipartite Settlement (2026 notes), the initial basic pay for Officer Scale-I is ₹48,480/- per month.
• Estimated gross salary ranges from ~₹75,000 to ₹80,000 per month.
• Estimated net in-hand salary ranges from ~₹65,000 to ₹74,500 per month, varying by posting location and applicable allowances (DA, HRA, Special Allowance).
• Probation period is typically 2 years as governed by the respective RRB's rules.

Application fee

• SC, ST, and PwBD candidates: ₹175/- (inclusive of GST)
• General, OBC, and EWS candidates: ₹850/- (inclusive of GST)
• Payment Mode: Online only (Debit Cards, Credit Cards, Internet Banking, IMPS, Cash Cards/Mobile Wallets, UPI)

Exam calendar

• 2026–2027 Cycle (CRP RRBs XV): Online registration from September 1 to September 27, 2026.
• 2026–2027 Cycle (CRP RRBs XV): Preliminary Examination in November 2026.
• 2026–2027 Cycle (CRP RRBs XV): Main Examination in December 2026.
• 2026–2027 Cycle (CRP RRBs XV): Common Interviews in January/February 2027.
• 2026–2027 Cycle (CRP RRBs XV): Provisional Allotment in February/March 2027.
• Traditional Preceding Cycles (CRP RRBs XIII / XIV): Notification issued in June/July, Prelims in August, Mains in September/October, Interviews in November, and Provisional Allotment on January 1.

Preparation tips

• Practice managing sectional pacing independently during Prelims, as the 45-minute total duration is composite without automated section-switching timers.
• Focus on high-yield arithmetic areas and Data Interpretation caselets to secure the 50 marks allocated to Quantitative Aptitude in the Mains.
• Ensure balanced preparation across all sections of the Main Exam, as you must clear both individual sectional cut-offs and the overall cutoff score.
• Track rural banking developments, NABARD initiatives, and RBI updates to perform well in the General Awareness section.
• Use Computer Knowledge as an efficiency-building section to score up to 20 marks in minimal time during the 2-hour composite Main exam.
• Choose strategically between English Language and Hindi Language based on your comfort with grammar, comprehension, and vocabulary rules.

Previous year cut-offs: IBPS RRB PO cut off — prelims & mains, category-wise, state-wise

FAQs

Always confirm details in the latest official notification before applying. Spotted an error? Write to prepzen.app@gmail.com.