Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the Common Recruitment Process (CRP) for Probationary Officers (PO) and Management Trainees (MT) in 11 participating Public Sector Banks across India. IBPS PO is one of the most popular and competitive banking examinations in India, with lakhs of candidates appearing every year. Successful candidates get appointed as PO/MT in banks like Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, UCO Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and Indian Bank.
IBPS PO offers a gateway to a prestigious banking career with Scale-I Officer pay scale (Rs.36,000–63,840/month), excellent career growth, DA, HRA, medical benefits, and pension. Probationary Officers handle customer-facing banking operations, credit appraisal, priority sector lending, and branch administration. After 2-year probation, POs are confirmed as Scale-I Officers (Assistant Manager) with performance-based career progression to Scale-II (Manager), Scale-III (Senior Manager) and beyond.
IMPORTANT DATES
| Notification Release | 01 July 2026 (Approx) |
| Online Apply Start Date | 01 July 2026 |
| Online Apply Last Date | 21 July 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam (Pre) | October 2026 |
| Mains Exam | November 2026 |
| Interview | January – February 2027 |
| Provisional Allotment | April 2027 |
| Official Website | ibps.in |
APPLICATION FEE
| SC / ST / PwBD | Rs. 175/- (Intimation charges only) |
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs. 850/- |
| Payment Mode | Online — Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, UPI |
| Note | Fee is non-refundable. Candidates must keep payment receipt for records. |
AGE LIMIT — As per IBPS PO 2026 Notification
| Minimum Age | 20 Years |
| Maximum Age (General/EWS) | 30 Years |
| SC / ST Age Relaxation | Max 35 Years (+5 Years) |
| OBC (NCL) Age Relaxation | Max 33 Years (+3 Years) |
| PwBD (General) Relaxation | Max 40 Years (+10 Years) |
| PwBD (SC/ST) Relaxation | Max 45 Years (+15 Years) |
| Ex-Serviceman Relaxation | As per Govt norms — service period + 3 years |
| Note | Age calculated as on the cutoff date specified in IBPS PO 2026 notification. Exact dates in July 2026 notification. |
EDUCATION QUALIFICATION
| Minimum Qualification | Graduation (Bachelor's degree) in ANY discipline from a University recognized by the Government of India |
| Minimum Percentage | No minimum percentage specified by IBPS — but banks may have 55-60% preference in selection |
| Final Year Students | Candidates in final year of graduation ARE eligible — must produce degree proof at joining |
| Computer Literacy | Computer literacy is essential — IBPS PO requires basic computer knowledge as mandatory skill |
| Language | English proficiency is important — all IBPS PO exams are conducted in English (with Hindi option for some sections) |
| Note | B.Tech, B.Com, B.A., B.Sc., BBA, BCA — ALL graduation streams are equally eligible for IBPS PO |
PAY SCALE & CAREER PROGRESSION
| Starting Pay Scale | Scale-I Officer (PO) — Rs. 36,000 – Rs. 63,840/- per month (IBA Pay Structure) |
| DA (Dearness Allowance) | As per IBA guidelines (~65% of Basic currently for PSBs) |
| HRA | 7% / 8% / 9% of basic depending on posting city (non-metro / metro) |
| CCA (City Compensatory Allowance) | Additional allowance for metro postings |
| Gross Monthly Salary (Approx) | Rs. 50,000 – Rs. 65,000/- per month (PO in metro city with all allowances) |
| After Promotion to Scale-II (Manager) | Rs. 48,170 – Rs. 69,810/- per month |
| After Promotion to Scale-III (Senior Manager) | Rs. 63,840 – Rs. 78,230/- per month |
| Other Benefits | Medical reimbursement, LFC (Leave Fare Concession), Conveyance allowance, Newspaper allowance, Furniture allowance (Scale-II+) |
| Pension | NPS (National Pension System) for new recruits |
| Loan Benefits | Concessional loans for home, car, personal loan — major benefit for bank employees |
EXAM PATTERN — PRELIMINARY EXAM (Pre)
| Sr. | Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| TOTAL | 100 Questions | 100 Marks | 60 Minutes (sectional time limits) |
EXAM PATTERN — MAINS EXAM
| Sr. | Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 Minutes |
| 2 | English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 Minutes |
| 3 | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
| 4 | General Economy & Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| 5 | English Letter Writing / Essay (Descriptive) | 2 | 25 | 30 Minutes |
| TOTAL | 157 Questions (Obj+Desc) | 225 Marks | 3.5 Hours total |
SELECTION PROCESS
| Stage | Process | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preliminary Exam (Pre) | 100 Qs, 100 Marks, 60 min. Screening test — qualifying in nature. Top candidates (approx 10x of vacancies) shortlisted for Mains. Negative marking 0.25/wrong answer. |
| 2 | Mains Exam | 225 marks, 3.5 hrs. Objective + Descriptive paper. Mains score is the primary basis for Interview shortlisting. Negative marking 0.25/wrong answer (objective sections). |
| 3 | Interview | Personal interview by bank panel. Tests communication skills, banking knowledge, current affairs, personality, and suitability for banking career. 100 marks. |
| 4 | Final Merit | 80% Mains + 20% Interview score = Final Merit. Category-wise merit lists prepared. |
| 5 | Bank Allotment & Joining | IBPS allots candidates to participating banks based on merit + preference. Joining at allotted bank after document verification. |
HOW TO APPLY — STEP BY STEP
▶ Step 1: Visit ibps.in — Institute of Banking Personnel Selection official website
▶ Step 2: Click 'CRP PO/MT XIV' (IBPS PO 2026) link under 'What's New' / 'Recruitment' section
▶ Step 3: Click 'Click Here to Apply Online for CRP PO/MT XIV' — Proceed to registration
▶ Step 4: Register with Name, DOB, Mobile Number, and Email ID — Obtain Provisional Registration Number
▶ Step 5: Login with Registration Number and Password
▶ Step 6: Fill Application Form — Personal details, Educational qualification, work experience (if any)
▶ Step 7: Choose Exam Centre preferences (4 cities for Pre) and Bank preferences
▶ Step 8: Upload Photo (JPG, 20-50 KB, white background) and Signature (JPG, 10-20 KB)
▶ Step 9: Pay fee — SC/ST/PwBD: Rs.175 | General/OBC/EWS: Rs.850
▶ Step 10: Submit application and print Registration Confirmation
▶ Step 11: Download Admit Card for Prelims from ibps.in (released ~2 weeks before exam date)
▶ PREPARATION TIP: Banking Awareness (last 6 months current affairs) is crucial for Mains. Descriptive English (Letter + Essay) needs special practice.
