IBPS Examinations (PO, Clerk, SO, RRB) — Eligibility, Syllabus & Exam Pattern
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) is an autonomous body that conducts recruitment examinations for all Public Sector Banks (PSBs) in India. It holds examinations for various posts, including Probationary Officer (PO), Clerk, Specialist Officer (SO), and posts in Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). The selection process for most IBPS exams involves a two-stage process: a Preliminary Exam and a Main Exam, with an additional Interview for officer-level posts.
📌 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962.
Age Limit & Educational Qualification
The requirements vary for each post. Age relaxation is available for reserved categories (OBC, SC/ST, PwBD) as per government rules.
IBPS PO (Probationary Officer)
Age Limit: 20 to 30 years.
Education: A Bachelor's degree in any discipline.IBPS Clerk
Age Limit: 20 to 28 years.
Education: A Bachelor's degree in any discipline.IBPS SO (Specialist Officer)
Age Limit: 20 to 30 years.
Education: A specialized degree relevant to the post (e.g., LLB for Law Officer, MBA-Marketing for Marketing Officer, Engineering Degree for IT Officer).IBPS RRB Officer (Scale I)
Age Limit: 18 to 30 years.
Education: A Bachelor's degree in any discipline. Proficiency in the local language is required.IBPS RRB Office Assistant (Multipurpose)
Age Limit: 18 to 28 years.
Education: A Bachelor's degree in any discipline. Proficiency in the local language is required.
✍️ Exam Syllabus & Pattern
1. IBPS PO (Probationary Officer)
Preliminary Exam (100 Marks)
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
Main Exam (225 Marks)
Consists of an objective test (200 marks) and a descriptive test (25 marks).
2. IBPS Clerk
Preliminary Exam (100 Marks)
The pattern is the same as IBPS PO Prelims.
Main Exam (200 Marks)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 |
| General/ Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| English Language | 40 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 |
3. IBPS SO (Specialist Officer)
Preliminary Exam (125 Marks)
Pattern varies slightly based on the post, but generally includes Reasoning, English, and either Quantitative Aptitude or General Awareness.
Main Exam (60 Marks)
This exam consists of one paper on Professional Knowledge relevant to the specialization.
4. IBPS RRB Officer Scale I & Office Assistant
Preliminary Exam (80 Marks)
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 45 mins (Composite) |
| Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability | 40 | 40 |
Main Exam (200 Marks)
Candidates can choose between English and Hindi for the language section.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 50 |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 20 |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| English OR Hindi Language | 40 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability | 40 | 50 |
General Syllabus for Common Subjects
- Reasoning Ability: Puzzles, Seating Arrangements, Syllogism, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Inequality.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Data Interpretation, Simplification/Approximation, Number Series, Quadratic Equations, and Arithmetic problems (Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, etc.).
- English Language: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Spotting, Para Jumbles, Sentence Improvement.
- General Awareness: Banking & Financial Awareness, Current Affairs (last 6 months), and Static GK.
- Computer Knowledge: History of Computers, Hardware, Software, Internet, MS Office, Networking.
👉 Note
- For full official syllabus & eligibility, refer to Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) official notification.
☞ Tip for Aspirants: Always refer to the latest official notification for syllabus and eligibility details as they may change year to year.