IBPS PO (Probationary Officer)
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection
Complete guide to passing the IBPS PO (Probationary Officer) exam on your first attempt.
~$10 (INR 850)
~2%
Annual exam
India
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection
Bank officer career
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Complete Overview
IBPS PO is the Common Recruitment Process run by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection to fill Probationary Officer and Management Trainee posts in India's participating public sector banks. It costs INR 850 including GST for general candidates and INR 175 including GST for SC, ST and PwBD candidates, and it is open to any graduate aged 20 to 30 who holds a degree in any discipline from a university recognised by the Government of India.
The process has three stages that run over roughly five months. The Preliminary examination is a one-hour online objective test of 100 questions worth 100 marks, split into English Language (30 questions, 30 marks, 20 minutes), Quantitative Aptitude (35 questions, 30 marks, 20 minutes) and Reasoning Ability (35 questions, 40 marks, 20 minutes). Each of the three tests is separately timed, so you cannot borrow minutes from an easy section to rescue a hard one. Candidates must clear a minimum cut-off in every test, not merely in aggregate.
The Main examination runs 3 hours 10 minutes and carries 225 marks. Four objective tests account for 200 marks: Reasoning (40 questions, 60 marks, 45 minutes), General, Economy, Banking, Digital and Financial Awareness including RBI circulars (50 questions, 60 marks, 35 minutes), English Language (40 questions, 20 marks, 35 minutes) and Data Analysis and Interpretation (40 questions, 60 marks, 45 minutes). A Descriptive Paper of two questions worth 25 marks, taken in English over 30 minutes, covers essay and comprehension and may be scored by an automated writing-proficiency mechanism that IBPS states has been validated.
Only Main examination marks count for shortlisting. Preliminary marks are discarded once you qualify. Candidates who clear the Main are called for a Personality Test, which IBPS describes as a non-qualifying self-report placed before the interview panel, and then for an Interview worth 100 marks conducted by participating banks. The minimum qualifying interview mark is 40 percent, relaxed to 35 percent for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates. Final merit weights the Main examination and the interview in an 80:20 ratio.
Wrong answers cost you. Both the Preliminary and the Main objective tests deduct one fourth of the marks assigned to a question for each incorrect response. Unattempted questions carry no penalty. Scores from different sessions are normalised using the equi-percentile method and calculated to two decimal points.
The published basic pay scale for a Probationary Officer or Management Trainee is INR 48,480 rising through defined stages to INR 85,920, with allowances and perquisites set by whichever participating bank you are allotted to. For the CRP PO/MT-XVI cycle covering 2027-28 vacancies, the indicative indent listed 6,715 posts across participating banks, with Bank of Baroda alone reporting 1,900. Eleven public sector banks take part: Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, Punjab and Sind Bank, UCO Bank and Union Bank of India. Three of them, Indian Bank, UCO Bank and Union Bank of India, reported no vacancy at notification stage, so the indent may move before allotment.
Why Get IBPS PO (Probationary Officer) Certified?
One application fee of INR 850 puts you in the running for thousands of officer posts across multiple public sector banks at once, rather than applying to each bank separately.
The indicative indent for CRP PO/MT-XVI listed 6,715 Probationary Officer and Management Trainee vacancies for 2027-28, including 1,900 at Bank of Baroda, 1,500 at Canara Bank and 1,100 at Bank of Maharashtra.
The published basic pay scale runs from INR 48,480 to INR 85,920 with defined annual increments, plus allowances and perquisites determined by the allotting bank.
A degree in any discipline qualifies you. IBPS sets no minimum percentage in graduation and no subject restriction, so engineering, arts and commerce graduates compete on the same footing.
The post is an All India cadre officer role from day one, with a direct promotion ladder inside the bank rather than a clerical entry point you have to climb out of.
Preliminary marks are discarded after shortlisting, so a modest Prelims score that clears the cut-off does no damage to your final rank.
A reserve list of roughly 20 percent of vacancies per category is maintained for one year after provisional allotment, giving near-miss candidates a second route to appointment.
Exam Format & Structure
Duration
Preliminary: 60 minutes total, with three separately timed sections of 20 minutes each. Main: 3 hours 10 minutes, comprising 160 minutes of objective tests plus a 30-minute Descriptive Paper.
Questions
Preliminary: 100 questions for 100 marks. Main: 170 objective questions for 200 marks, plus 2 descriptive questions for 25 marks.
Passing Score
IBPS does not publish a fixed passing mark. Candidates must secure a minimum cut-off in each of the three Preliminary tests, and a minimum score in each Main test plus a minimum total, with cut-offs decided by IBPS according to vacancy numbers. The interview requires at least 40 percent, relaxed to 35 percent for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates. Final merit uses an 80:20 weighting of Main examination to interview.
Question Types
- Multiple-choice objective questions in all Preliminary and Main sections
- Essay writing in the Descriptive Paper
- Comprehension-based writing in the Descriptive Paper
- Data Analysis and Interpretation sets built on tables, charts and caselets
- Personality Test administered as a self-report instrument
- Panel interview conducted by the participating banks
Delivery Method
Online examination at IBPS-designated test centres across India. Both Preliminary and Main are computer-based. Biometric capture of a right thumb impression and photograph may be taken at multiple stages, with Aadhaar verification also conducted. The Personality Test may be run in proctored mode or at identified centres.
Exam Domains & Topics
Worth 60 of the 200 objective marks in the Main examination, answered in 40 questions over 45 minutes in English or Hindi. Reasoning Ability also appears in the Preliminary as 35 questions worth 40 marks in 20 minutes, the highest-weighted Preliminary section. The Main version is materially harder, leaning on multi-variable puzzles rather than direct-application questions.
Key Topics to Master:
- Seating arrangement in linear, circular and dual-row formats
- Floor and box puzzles with multiple parameters
- Blood relations and coded blood relations
- Syllogism including reverse syllogism and possibility cases
- Input-output machine sequences
- Data sufficiency with two and three statements
- Coding-decoding and inequality chains
- Logical reasoning, statement and assumption, course of action
Worth 60 of the 200 objective marks in the Main examination, tested through 50 questions in 35 minutes, which gives you 42 seconds per question. IBPS names RBI circulars in the section title, so central bank policy notifications are examinable material rather than background reading. This section does not appear in the Preliminary at all.
Key Topics to Master:
- RBI circulars, master directions and monetary policy decisions
- Banking terminology, NPA classification and Basel norms
- Digital payment systems including UPI, NEFT, RTGS and IMPS
- Financial inclusion schemes and government banking initiatives
- Capital markets, SEBI regulations and mutual fund basics
- Union Budget provisions and Economic Survey figures
- National and international current affairs of the preceding six months
- Insurance, pension products and bancassurance
- Static awareness on bank headquarters, taglines and appointments
Worth 60 of the 200 objective marks in the Main examination, across 40 questions in 45 minutes. This is the Main-stage evolution of Preliminary Quantitative Aptitude, which carries 35 questions worth 30 marks in 20 minutes. The Main paper shifts weight away from standalone arithmetic towards multi-part interpretation sets, caselets and missing-data problems.
Key Topics to Master:
- Tabular, bar, line and pie data interpretation sets
- Caselet DI presented as continuous prose
- Missing data interpretation and arithmetic DI
- Data sufficiency in quantitative form
- Quadratic equations and quantity comparison
- Number series including wrong-term identification
- Percentage, ratio, profit and loss, simple and compound interest
- Time, speed, distance, work and mixtures
- Probability and permutation-combination
Worth 20 of the 200 objective marks in the Main examination, across 40 questions in 35 minutes, making it the lowest mark-per-question section of the Main paper at 0.5 marks per question. English Language also appears in the Preliminary as 30 questions worth 30 marks in 20 minutes. The separate 25-mark Descriptive Paper of essay and comprehension is taken only in English.
Key Topics to Master:
- Reading comprehension on economic and banking passages
- Cloze test and fillers with single and double blanks
- Error spotting and sentence correction
- Para jumbles and paragraph completion
- Word usage, vocabulary and idiom-based questions
- Sentence connectors and word rearrangement
- Essay writing on banking, technology, ethics and current events
- Precis and comprehension-based written answers
Recommended Study Plan
- 1Download the current CRP PO/MT notification from www.ibps.in and read Section D on the structure of examination line by line, noting that each Preliminary test is separately timed
- 2Sit one full untimed Preliminary mock to find your genuine accuracy in each of the three sections
- 3Sit one Main-pattern mock in two sittings to see how far 35 minutes stretches across 50 awareness questions
- 4Record your negative marking loss separately, since 0.25 is deducted for each wrong objective answer
- 5Create a running RBI circular log and start adding entries from the RBI website each day
- 1Work through percentage, ratio and proportion, and averages from R S Aggarwal Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations
- 2Drill tables to 30, squares to 40 and cubes to 20 until recall is automatic, since no calculator is permitted
- 3Complete 150 profit and loss and simple and compound interest questions with a per-question timer
- 4Attempt two sectional Preliminary Quantitative Aptitude tests of 35 questions in 20 minutes
- 5Log every question you took over 60 seconds on and identify the specific step that slowed you
- 1Solve 40 seating arrangement and puzzle sets, split evenly between linear, circular and floor-based formats
- 2Practise syllogism with possibility cases and reverse syllogism, which appear in the Main and rarely in the Preliminary
- 3Complete 100 inequality and coding-decoding questions to build a fast, low-risk scoring base
- 4Attempt two sectional Preliminary Reasoning tests of 35 questions in 20 minutes
- 5Set a rule for puzzle abandonment: if a set is unresolved at four minutes, move on
- 1Read The Hindu Business Line or the Economic Times editorial page daily and summarise each in 60 words
- 2Complete 30 reading comprehension passages drawn from economic and banking topics
- 3Work through error spotting rules covering subject-verb agreement, tense sequencing and preposition usage in S P Bakshi Objective General English
- 4Attempt two sectional Preliminary English tests of 30 questions in 20 minutes
- 5Write one 250-word essay on a banking or technology theme and time it at 20 minutes
- 1Solve 25 tabular and graphical DI sets, then 15 caselet DI sets presented as prose
- 2Practise missing data interpretation, where one value must be derived before the set can be answered
- 3Learn approximation and fraction-to-percentage conversion so four-option DI can be resolved without full computation
- 4Attempt one full Main Data Analysis and Interpretation section of 40 questions in 45 minutes
- 5Compare your DI accuracy against your Preliminary Quantitative Aptitude accuracy and note the gap
- 1Read the current Monetary Policy Statement and the latest master directions listed on rbi.org.in
- 2Build a one-page note on each of UPI, NEFT, RTGS, IMPS and NACH covering operator, settlement mode and limits
- 3Cover Basel III capital requirements, NPA classification stages and the SARFAESI framework
- 4Revise six months of banking current affairs from a monthly capsule such as the Bankersadda or Affairscloud PDF
- 5Attempt 200 awareness questions and separate the ones you missed into static and current buckets
- 1Take three full 60-minute Preliminary mocks in the exact 20-20-20 split, at the same time of day as your slot
- 2For each mock, calculate your marks after the 0.25 penalty rather than counting raw attempts
- 3Set a section-level attempt target and stop attempting once accuracy in that section drops below 85 percent
- 4Work through previous year Preliminary papers and identify repeating question archetypes
- 5Rework every question you got wrong, writing the correct method rather than the correct option
- 1Solve input-output sequence problems, which appear in the Main but almost never in the Preliminary
- 2Practise data sufficiency with three statements and puzzle sets carrying two independent variables
- 3Complete 20 high-difficulty puzzle sets with a six-minute cap on each
- 4Attempt one full Main Reasoning section of 40 questions in 45 minutes
- 5Review whether your 45-minute allocation is being consumed by two hard puzzles
- 1Write six essays of 250 to 300 words on banking, technology, economic and social themes; the notification specifies only that the Descriptive Paper covers Essay and Comprehension, so breadth beats narrow prediction
- 2Write four comprehension answers under a strict 15-minute limit
- 3Practise typing on a keyboard, since the Descriptive Paper is taken in the online interface without a spellchecker
- 4Build a reusable structure of introduction, three body arguments each carrying a data point, and conclusion
- 5Time the full 30-minute Descriptive Paper with both questions in one sitting
- 1Take two full 3 hour 10 minute Main mocks including the Descriptive Paper without breaks
- 2Track which of the four objective sections you enter with least energy and reorder your mental preparation accordingly
- 3Push awareness accuracy above 70 percent, since 50 questions at 1.2 marks each is the cheapest 60 marks on the paper
- 4Review the last three months of RBI circulars in a single condensed sitting
- 5Recalculate your projected Main total after the 0.25 penalty and compare it with published previous-year cut-offs
- 1Prepare answers on why banking, why a public sector bank, and your graduation subject, since panels routinely open there
- 2Revise banking terminology to the level of being able to define CRR, SLR, repo rate and the current policy rates
- 3Assemble the interview document set: call letter printout, application printout, date of birth proof, photo ID, graduation marksheets and category certificates
- 4Run three mock interviews and record them to check for filler speech and posture
- 5Read the business pages daily so you can hold a two-minute view on one live banking story
- 1Take one final Preliminary mock and one final Main mock, then stop taking new mocks
- 2Revise your error log end to end rather than opening new question banks
- 3Download the call letter from www.ibps.in and check that the name on it matches your photo ID exactly
- 4Confirm the reporting time on the call letter, which is earlier than the test start time, and plan travel to the centre
- 5Remove mehndi, ink or any coating from your fingers so biometric thumb capture succeeds on the day
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Best Study Resources
IBPS official website and CRP PO/MT notification
Official notificationThe authoritative source for the examination structure, application fees, age and education eligibility, the 0.25 negative marking rule, the 80:20 Main-to-interview weighting and the indicative vacancy annexure. Every other resource is downstream of this document.
Free
IBPS Information Handout
Official guideReleased for download alongside the call letter on the IBPS website. It sets out the online test interface, navigation rules and question-marking behaviour for the specific cycle you are sitting.
Free
Reserve Bank of India website
Primary sourceThe Main paper names RBI circulars in its section title. The press releases, master directions and monetary policy pages are the direct source for that material rather than a secondary summary.
Free
IBPS Common Recruitment Process Grievance Redressal System
Official supportThe channel IBPS names for queries and complaints about registration, fee payment, call letters and results. Candidates are directed here rather than to email or phone support.
Free
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R S Aggarwal
BookA standard arithmetic and data interpretation reference covering the percentage, interest, time and work, and DI topics that carry the Preliminary Quantitative Aptitude and Main Data Analysis sections.
Around INR 500-700
A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Aggarwal
BookCovers syllogism, blood relations, coding-decoding, inequality and puzzle formats that make up the Preliminary Reasoning Ability and Main Reasoning sections.
Around INR 500-700
Objective General English by S P Bakshi
BookGrammar rules, error spotting and vocabulary practice aimed at competitive papers, matching the English Language sections in both the Preliminary and the Main.
Around INR 400-600
The Hindu Business Line and The Economic Times
NewspaperDaily business coverage that supplies both the reading comprehension register used in the English sections and the banking and economy current affairs tested in the Main awareness section.
Free online, print from around INR 5 per day
Oliveboard, Testbook or Adda247 mock test series
Mock test platformFull-length Preliminary and Main mocks that replicate the separately timed section structure. The section-level timing constraint is the hardest thing to rehearse without a platform that enforces it.
Around INR 500-1500 per series
Monthly banking awareness capsule PDFs
Free study materialConsolidated monthly digests of banking and economy current affairs published by Bankersadda, Affairscloud and similar portals. They compress six months of reading into a revisable format for the 50-question awareness section.
Free
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Treating the Preliminary as a single 60-minute paper and planning to spend extra time on a weak section.
Each of the three Preliminary tests is separately timed at 20 minutes and the interface moves you on automatically. Rehearse every mock in the enforced 20-20-20 split so you never build a strategy that depends on borrowing minutes.
Maximising attempts in the Preliminary because it is only a qualifying stage.
One fourth of the marks for each question is deducted for a wrong answer, so 20 blind guesses cost you 5 marks. Set an accuracy floor of about 85 percent per section and stop attempting once you drop below it. A blank question carries no penalty.
Carrying Preliminary marks into your target calculation for the final merit list.
IBPS states that only Main examination marks are considered for shortlisting for the Personality Test, interview and final merit. Clear the Preliminary cut-off, then treat that score as spent.
Preparing Quantitative Aptitude and assuming it covers the Main Data Analysis and Interpretation section.
The Main section is named Data Analysis and Interpretation and shifts weight to multi-part DI sets, caselets and missing-data problems across 40 questions in 45 minutes. Build a separate DI practice block rather than extending arithmetic drills.
Reading general current affairs while skipping RBI circulars.
IBPS names RBI circulars in the section title itself. Read the RBI press releases and master directions pages directly and keep a running log, because a monthly capsule usually summarises policy decisions without the circular detail.
Over-investing in English Language for the Main examination.
English carries 20 marks across 40 questions in the Main, which is 0.5 marks per question, against 1.5 marks per question in Reasoning and Data Analysis. Spend proportionally and put the recovered hours into the three 60-mark sections.
Skipping Descriptive Paper practice because it is only 25 marks.
The Descriptive Paper is 25 of 225 Main marks, more than the entire objective English section. IBPS states it may be evaluated by an automated scoring mechanism assessing writing proficiency, so practise typing structured, error-free prose inside the 30-minute window.
Arriving at the centre with mehndi, ink or dust on the fingers.
IBPS captures a right thumb biometric impression and warns that coated or moist fingers cause failure. Wash and dry your hands before travelling, and notify the centre authority immediately if your right thumb is injured so an alternative finger can be captured.
Bringing a Ration Card or a Learner's Driving Licence as photo identification.
IBPS explicitly names both as invalid for this selection process. Carry a PAN card, passport, permanent driving licence, voter card, Aadhaar or e-Aadhaar with photograph, bank passbook with photograph, employee ID or recognised college or university identity card, plus a photocopy.
Exam Day Tips
- 1
Report by the reporting time printed on the call letter, which is earlier than the test start time. IBPS states that candidates arriving after the reporting time will not be permitted to take the examination.
- 2
Carry the printed call letter plus your original photo identity and a photocopy of it. For the Main examination you must also bring the authenticated and stamped Preliminary call letter and the stamped copy of your ID proof.
- 3
Check that the name on your photo ID matches the call letter exactly. If you have changed your name, bring the original gazette notification, marriage certificate or affidavit.
- 4
Do not sign in capital letters. IBPS states that a signature in capital letters will not be accepted.
- 5
Leave every prohibited item at home rather than at the gate: calculators, scales, writing pads, log tables, geometry boxes, plastic pouches, mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, health bands, any wrist watch, cameras, goggles, handbags, hair pins, hair bands, belts, caps, rings, earrings, nose pins, chains, pendants, badges, any metallic item, and food or water bottles. IBPS states that safekeeping cannot be assured.
- 6
Do not change your appearance from the photograph you uploaded or captured in the application, because the photo taken at the centre is matched against it.
- 7
Plan for a longer stay than the test length. IBPS advises about 2 hours or more at the venue for the 60-minute Preliminary and about 4 hours or more for the 3 hour 10 minute Main, covering verification, document collection, logging in and instructions.
- 8
Treat each Preliminary section as a closed 20-minute box. Decide your attempt target for English, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning before you sit down, since the interface will not let you return.
- 9
In the Main, budget the 35 minutes for the 50-question awareness section in advance. At 42 seconds per question it rewards instant recall and punishes deliberation more than any other section.
- 10
If you have opted for a scribe, bring the completed scribe declaration form downloaded separately alongside the call letter. Candidates with more than 40 percent intellectual disability, and those with less than 40 percent specified disability who qualify for a scribe, receive compensatory time of twenty minutes per hour of examination.
Career Paths & Salary Ranges
Probationary Officer or Management Trainee, Junior Management Grade Scale I
The entry post. You serve a probation period, rotate through branch functions covering deposits, advances, remittances and customer service, and can be posted anywhere in India or outside India because the cadre is All India. IBPS runs the recruitment process, but the participating bank issues the offer of appointment and sets joining terms.
Basic pay scale of INR 48,480 rising through defined increment stages to INR 85,920, as published in the IBPS CRP PO/MT notification, plus allowances and perquisites set by the allotting bank
Branch Manager
Officers who clear internal promotion move into branch leadership, owning the branch profit and loss, credit sanctioning within delegated limits, staff supervision and audit compliance. Promotion timelines vary by bank and depend on internal written tests and interviews rather than any further IBPS process.
IBPS does not publish pay for promoted grades; officer scales above Scale I are fixed by the participating banks under industry-level wage settlements
Credit Officer or Credit Analyst
A specialisation route for officers who take to lending work. The role covers appraisal of working capital and term loan proposals, financial statement analysis, security documentation and monitoring of asset classification against the NPA norms tested in the Main awareness section.
IBPS does not publish pay for specialist postings; remuneration follows the officer grade held in the allotting bank
Treasury or Foreign Exchange Officer
Officers posted to a treasury or international banking division handle money market and foreign exchange operations, investment portfolios and regulatory reporting to the RBI. Entry usually requires an internal posting and often a certification from the Indian Institute of Banking and Finance.
IBPS does not publish pay for specialist postings; remuneration follows the officer grade held in the allotting bank
Regional or Zonal Office role in risk, compliance or human resources
Away from branch banking, officers move into controlling offices handling risk management, regulatory compliance with RBI directions, inspection and audit, or human resources. These postings suit officers who want policy work rather than a customer-facing target sheet.
IBPS does not publish pay for administrative postings; remuneration follows the officer grade held in the allotting bank
Lateral move to RBI Grade B or another regulator cadre
Many PO recruits reuse the same quantitative, reasoning and banking awareness base to sit RBI Grade B, NABARD Grade A or SEBI Grade A within a few years of joining. The overlap in economics and banking awareness is substantial, though those examinations add dedicated economic and social issues and finance and management papers.
Determined by the recruiting institution, not by IBPS
Prerequisites & Requirements
- A degree in any discipline from a university recognised by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. No minimum percentage is specified, but you must indicate your graduation percentage when applying.
- The final graduation result must have been declared on or before the closing date of registration, and you must hold a valid marksheet or degree certificate on the day you register.
- Age between 20 and 30 years as on the date specified in the notification. Upper age relaxation is 5 years for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates and 3 years for Other Backward Classes in the non-creamy layer, with further relaxations set out in the notification.
- Indian citizenship, or one of the other nationality categories listed in the notification for which a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
- A valid photo identity document bearing exactly the name used on the application. IBPS advises candidates to possess or acquire a valid Aadhaar card, since online Aadhaar verification is conducted at different stages.
- No coaching, work experience, prior banking qualification or specific graduation subject is required. There is no cap on the number of times you may sit the examination as long as you remain within the age limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the IBPS PO examination cost?
The application fee is INR 850 including GST for all candidates other than SC, ST and PwBD, who pay INR 175 including GST. Payment is online only, during the registration window stated in the notification, and bank transaction charges for the online payment are borne by the candidate. The fee covers the Preliminary, the Main and the interview stage together.
What happens if I fail the Preliminary or the Main examination?
Nothing carries over, so you reapply in the next annual CRP cycle and pay the fee again. There is no mid-cycle retake, no supplementary sitting and no partial credit for a section you cleared. Candidates who are not provisionally allotted and are not on the reserve list are not considered for any further process under that cycle.
How many times can I attempt IBPS PO?
IBPS does not cap the number of attempts for general candidates. The binding limit is the age window of 20 to 30 years, so the practical number of attempts depends on how old you are when you first become eligible. Category-based upper age relaxation of 5 years for SC and ST candidates and 3 years for OBC non-creamy layer candidates extends that window correspondingly.
Is there negative marking in IBPS PO?
Yes, in both the Preliminary and the Main objective tests. One fourth, or 0.25, of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. A question left blank carries no penalty at all, which makes selective non-attempting a genuine scoring strategy rather than a cautious one.
Do Preliminary marks count towards my final rank?
No. IBPS states that marks obtained in the Online Main examination alone are considered for shortlisting for the Personality Test and interview and for the final merit list. The Preliminary works purely as a screening filter, and you must clear a separate minimum cut-off in each of its three tests.
What identification do I need at the test centre?
Bring the printed call letter and a currently valid original photo identity bearing exactly the same name as on the call letter, plus a photocopy for the invigilator. Accepted documents include PAN card, passport, permanent driving licence, voter card with photograph, bank passbook with photograph, Aadhaar or e-Aadhaar with photograph, employee ID, Bar Council identity card, an identity card issued by a recognised college or university, or a photo identity proof issued by a Gazetted Officer or People's Representative on official letterhead. Ration cards and Learner's Driving Licences are not accepted.
Is the examination conducted online at home or at a centre?
Both the Preliminary and the Main are computer-based examinations taken at IBPS-designated centres across India, not at home. The Personality Test may be conducted through proctored mode or at identified examination centres, as IBPS decides. No request for a change of examination centre is entertained, and IBPS reserves the right to allot you a centre other than the one you opted for.
Can I use a calculator or any reference material?
No. IBPS prohibits calculators, scales, log tables, writing pads, geometry or pencil boxes, plastic pouches, printed or written textual material and electronic pens or scanners inside the examination centre. All arithmetic in the Quantitative Aptitude and Data Analysis sections has to be done mentally or on the rough sheet provided at the centre.
What accommodations are available for candidates with disabilities?
Candidates with more than 40 percent intellectual disability, covering autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness, receive compensatory time of twenty minutes per hour of examination whether or not they use a scribe. The same twenty minutes per hour applies to persons with a specified disability of less than 40 percent who are eligible for a scribe, prorated if a paper runs under an hour. Scribe details must be entered when downloading the call letter, and the completed scribe declaration form must be carried to the centre.
How are scores calculated when the exam runs across multiple sessions?
Corrected scores from different sessions are normalised using the equi-percentile method, and scores are taken to two decimal points for all calculations. This is intended to neutralise differences in difficulty between shifts. IBPS does not release Main examination scores to shortlisted candidates before the interview process is complete.
How much does the interview count towards selection?
The interview carries 100 marks, and the relative weighting of the Main examination to the interview in the combined final score is 80:20. You must score at least 40 percent in the interview to qualify, relaxed to 35 percent for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates. Failing to reach the qualifying interview mark removes you from the merit list regardless of your Main score.
What is the Personality Test and is it scored?
The Personality Test is a self-report instrument whose profile is placed before the interview panel. IBPS states that it is non-qualifying in nature, so it does not produce a score that changes your merit position. Appearing for it is nevertheless mandatory, and skipping it makes you ineligible to appear for the interview.
How long do results take?
The tentative schedule in the CRP PO/MT-XVI notification places the Preliminary examination in August, its result in September, the Main examination in October, the Main result in November, the Personality Test in November, interviews in November or December, and provisional allotment in January. That is roughly five months from the first test to allotment, though IBPS describes all these dates as tentative.
What is the reserve list and how long does it last?
A reserve list of approximately 20 percent of the vacancies in each category may be maintained, subject to candidate availability. If participating banks report further vacancies during its validity, provisional allotment may be carried out three to four times from that list. The reserve list expires automatically one year after the date of provisional allotment, or when a fresh provisional allotment is made, whichever comes first, and it carries no guarantee of appointment.
Is there any recertification or renewal once I am selected?
No. IBPS PO is a recruitment examination rather than a certification, so there is no expiry, renewal cycle or continuing education requirement attached to it. Once a participating bank issues an offer of appointment and you join, your progression runs through that bank's internal promotion process, not through IBPS.
How does IBPS PO compare with SBI PO?
IBPS PO recruits for multiple participating public sector banks through one common process, while SBI runs its own separate Probationary Officer recruitment for State Bank of India alone. Both use a three-stage Preliminary, Main and interview structure, but the section marks, timings and additional stages differ, so read the current SBI notification separately rather than assuming the IBPS pattern applies. Applying to both in the same year is common because the syllabi overlap heavily.
What is the pay for a newly selected Probationary Officer?
The IBPS notification publishes a basic pay scale of INR 48,480 rising through defined increment stages to INR 85,920 for the Probationary Officer and Management Trainee post. On top of basic pay, the officer is eligible for allowances and perquisites as per the rules of the participating bank in force at the time. IBPS does not publish a total in-hand figure, because allowances differ by bank and by posting location.
Can I choose which bank I am posted to?
No. Provisional allotment is decided by IBPS and its decision is described as final and binding, with no right to demand reallotment on any ground. The post is an All India cadre role, so you may be posted anywhere in India or outside India at the discretion of the participating bank. A candidate who declines the offer of appointment from the allotted bank forfeits candidature for that cycle.
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