The IBPS PO Notification 2026 has been released for the recruitment of Probationary Officers (PO) and Management Trainees (MT) under CRP PO/MT-XVI. The total vacancies have been revised to 7,565 posts ( UCO Bank Vacancies Updated on 27th Aug ), including the latest addition of 200 vacancies by UCO Bank. The IBPS PO Prelims 2026 is scheduled for 22 and 23 August 2026, while the Mains examination will be held on 4 October 2026. The online application process has already closed, and the Prelims admit card was released on 14 August 2026. This article covers the complete IBPS PO Notification 2026, including vacancies, important dates, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, salary, selection process and the latest recruitment updates.
The IBPS PO Notification 2026 recruitment cycle is currently at the Prelims stage. The application process from 1 July to 26 July 2026 has ended, and the application correction window was available on 29 and 30 July 2026. The Prelims admit card has been released, and candidates should now focus on the examination scheduled for 22 and 23 August 2026.
The latest important updates are:
The IBPS PO Notification 2026 PDF contains the complete recruitment details, including vacancies, eligibility, important dates, application requirements, examination pattern, selection process, salary, participating banks and other conditions.
Candidates preparing for the examination should refer to the detailed notification for post-specific and recruitment-related instructions.
IBPS PO 2026 Recruitment: CRP PO/MT-XVI
Post: Probationary Officer/Management Trainee
Vacancies: 7,565
Participating Banks: 11 Public Sector Banks
The IBPS PO 2026 recruitment is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection for Probationary Officer and Management Trainee posts in participating public sector banks.
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | IBPS PO 2026 |
| Recruitment Cycle | CRP PO/MT-XVI |
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection |
| Post | Probationary Officer/Management Trainee |
| Vacancies | 7,565 |
| Participating Banks | 11 Public Sector Banks |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Dates | 1 July to 26 July 2026 |
| Correction Window | 29 to 30 July 2026 |
| Prelims Admit Card | 14 August 2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | 22 & 23 August 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 4 October 2026 |
| Selection Process | Prelims + Mains + Personality Test + Interview |
| Age Limit | 20 to 30 years |
| Qualification | Graduation in any discipline |
| Official Website | ibps.in |
The IBPS PO Exam Date 2026 has been announced. The Preliminary Examination will be conducted on 22 and 23 August 2026, while the Main Examination is scheduled for 4 October 2026. The Prelims admit card has already been released and contains the candidate’s allotted exam date, shift, reporting time and examination centre.
| Exam/Event | Date |
| IBPS PO Notification | 30 June 2026 |
| Detailed Notification | 1 July 2026 |
| Online Registration | 1 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 26 July 2026 |
| Application Correction | 29–30 July 2026 |
| Pre-Exam Training | 10–15 August 2026 |
| Prelims Admit Card | 14 August 2026 |
| IBPS PO Prelims Exam | 22 & 23 August 2026 |
| Prelims Result | September 2026 |
| Mains Admit Card | September 2026 |
| IBPS PO Mains Exam | 4 October 2026 |
| Mains Result | November 2026 |
| Personality Test | November 2026 |
| Interview | November/December 2026 |
| Final Result | January 2027 |
The IBPS PO Vacancy 2026 has been revised to 7,565 posts for Probationary Officer/Management Trainee recruitment under CRP PO/MT-XVI. The latest vacancy figure includes an additional 200 vacancies from UCO Bank. Bank-wise vacancies are indicative and may change according to the requirements reported by participating banks.
| Category | Vacancies |
| SC | 1,161 |
| ST | 577 |
| OBC | 2,069 |
| EWS | 741 |
| General/UR | 3,017 |
| Total | 7,565 |
The vacancies currently reported by participating banks are given below:
| Participating Bank | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | General | Total |
| Bank of Baroda | 285 | 142 | 513 | 190 | 770 | 1,900 |
| Bank of India | 75 | 37 | 135 | 50 | 203 | 500 |
| Bank of Maharashtra | 165 | 82 | 297 | 110 | 446 | 1,100 |
| Canara Bank | 225 | 112 | 405 | 150 | 608 | 1,500 |
| Central Bank of India | 75 | 37 | 135 | 50 | 203 | 500 |
| Indian Bank | 122 | 60 | 199 | 52 | 217 | 650 |
| Indian Overseas Bank | 84 | 41 | 148 | 54 | 223 | 550 |
| Punjab National Bank | 76 | 38 | 136 | 50 | 204 | 504 |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | 24 | 13 | 47 | 15 | 62 | 161 |
| UCO Bank | 30 | 15 | 54 | 20 | 81 | 200 |
| Union Bank of India | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Total | 1,161 | 577 | 2,069 | 741 | 3,017 | 7,565 |
Note: Union Bank of India vacancies were not reported in the available vacancy breakup. Therefore, the final vacancy position may change when additional vacancies are reported.
The number of IBPS PO vacancies changes every recruitment cycle according to the requirements reported by participating banks.
| Year | Vacancies |
| 2026 | 7,565 |
| 2025 | 6,189 |
| 2024 | 4,455 |
| 2023 | 3,049 |
| 2022 | 8,432 |
The 2026 vacancy figure is higher than the 2025 figure, making the current recruitment an important opportunity for banking aspirants.
The IBPS PO Apply Online 2026 process has already closed. Candidates could submit applications from 1 July to 26 July 2026, followed by an application correction window on 29 and 30 July 2026. Candidates who completed their applications should now focus on the upcoming Preliminary Examination.
During the application process, candidates had to:
Candidates who have already registered should keep their registration details safely for downloading the admit card and accessing future recruitment updates.
The IBPS PO application fee 2026 was different for General/OBC/EWS and SC/ST/PwBD candidates.
| Category | Fee |
| General/OBC/EWS | ₹850 |
| SC/ST/PwBD | ₹175 |
The fee included applicable GST and was payable online during the application period.
Candidates appearing for IBPS PO 2026 must fulfil the prescribed eligibility conditions related to nationality, educational qualification, age limit, and applicable category-wise relaxations. They should carefully verify all requirements before applying, as eligibility is checked at different stages of the recruitment process.
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Government of India.
The final graduation result must have been declared by the prescribed cut-off date. Candidates are also required to enter their graduation percentage correctly while completing the application.
No minimum graduation percentage has been prescribed for IBPS PO 2026. Candidates need to have passed graduation from a recognised university or possess an equivalent qualification. However, the correct graduation percentage must be entered in the application form.
The IBPS PO age limit is 20 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026.
Candidates must have been born:
Both dates are inclusive.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| SC/ST | 5 Years |
| OBC-NCL | 3 Years |
| PwBD | 10 Years |
| Eligible Ex-Servicemen/ECOS/SSCOs | 5 Years |
Candidates claiming relaxation must possess valid supporting documents.
There is no fixed restriction on the number of IBPS PO attempts. Candidates can appear multiple times as long as they continue to satisfy the prescribed eligibility conditions, particularly the age limit.
The IBPS PO selection process 2026 consists of Prelims, Mains, Personality Test and Interview, followed by provisional allotment to a participating bank.
| Stage | Details |
| Stage 1 | Preliminary Examination |
| Stage 2 | Main Examination |
| Stage 3 | Personality Test |
| Stage 4 | Common Interview |
| Final Stage | Provisional Allotment |
Prelims is qualifying in nature, and its marks are not included in the final merit list. Candidates who qualify Mains are required to appear for the Personality Test. The Personality Test is mandatory but non-qualifying. Final merit is prepared using 80% weightage for Mains and 20% for Interview.
The IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026 consists of 100 questions for 100 marks and a total duration of 60 minutes. Each section has a separate 20-minute time limit.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes |
There is a 0.25-mark negative marking for every incorrect answer. Unanswered questions do not attract a penalty. Prelims marks are not counted towards final merit.
The IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026 has been revised. The objective paper now contains 170 questions for 200 marks, followed by a descriptive paper carrying 25 marks.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness, Digital & Financial Awareness | 50 | 60 | 35 Minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 35 Minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
| Objective Total | 170 | 200 | 160 Minutes |
| Paper | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| Essay & Comprehension | 2 | 25 | 30 Minutes |
The Mains pattern has increased the objective question count from 145 to 170. General/Economy/Banking Awareness now carries 60 marks, while the descriptive paper focuses on Essay and Comprehension.
The IBPS PO 2026 recruitment brings several important changes in the Mains examination and selection process. Candidates preparing for the current cycle should understand these updates because they directly affect the exam pattern, preparation strategy, descriptive-paper practice, and the stages followed after Mains.
The IBPS PO Mains objective paper now contains 170 questions for 200 marks, compared with the earlier 145-question structure. Candidates therefore need to manage a higher number of questions within the prescribed sectional timings.
The revised paper also gives greater emphasis to sections such as Reasoning, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, and Data Analysis & Interpretation, each carrying significant marks.
The General/Economy/Banking Awareness, Digital and Financial Awareness section now contains 50 questions for 60 marks. This makes current affairs, banking awareness, financial developments, RBI-related updates and economic awareness more important for Mains preparation.
Candidates should start preparing this section regularly instead of leaving it entirely for the final stage.
The IBPS PO 2026 descriptive paper carries 25 marks and now includes Essay and Comprehension. This is different from the earlier Essay and Letter Writing format.
Candidates should therefore practise structured essay writing, reading comprehension and concise written responses according to the revised format. Regular timed practice can help improve clarity, grammar and presentation.
A Personality Test has been introduced as a stage after the Mains examination. It is non-qualifying, which means its marks are not directly added to the final merit score, but candidates shortlisted for the Interview must appear in it.
The Personality Test is intended to assess the candidate before the final Interview stage, so candidates should not ignore it after qualifying Mains.
The final merit calculation gives 80% weightage to the Mains examination and 20% to the Interview. Prelims marks are used only for shortlisting candidates for Mains and are not included in the final merit.
Therefore, candidates should focus on maintaining strong Prelims preparation while also building a solid Mains foundation from the beginning.
The IBPS PO Syllabus 2026 includes English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, Digital and Financial Awareness, and descriptive writing.
Mains preparation additionally requires:
The 2026 descriptive paper should be prepared according to the revised Essay and Comprehension format.
The IBPS PO recruitment is conducted for 11 participating public sector banks.
Candidates are provisionally allotted to participating banks based on merit, preferences and the vacancies reported by the banks.
The IBPS PO Salary 2026 starts with a basic pay of ₹48,480. The notified pay scale is:
₹48,480 – 2,000/7 – ₹62,480 – 2,340/2 – ₹67,160 – 2,680/7 – ₹85,920
In addition to basic pay, Probationary Officers receive applicable allowances and benefits such as Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, City Compensatory Allowance, Special Allowance and other benefits. The actual monthly salary depends on the posting location and applicable deductions.
Candidates selected as Probationary Officers generally undergo a two-year probation period. During this period, officers receive practical exposure to different banking functions and their performance is assessed according to the applicable bank’s rules.
The IBPS PO role provides opportunities for promotion through the bank’s internal career structure. A typical progression can move from:
Probationary Officer → Manager → Senior Manager → Assistant General Manager → Deputy General Manager → General Manager
Career progression depends on performance, experience, internal promotion rules, vacancies and the policies of the participating bank.
Solving IBPS PO Previous Year Question Papers helps candidates understand the actual question pattern, difficulty level, frequently asked topics and time-management requirements.
Candidates should practise previous year papers after completing the basic concepts and attempt them under the actual examination time limit.
The IBPS PO Cut Off varies every year according to vacancies, candidate performance, examination difficulty and the number of candidates appearing.
For the 2025 Prelims, the reported overall cutoffs included:
| Category | Prelims Cut Off 2025 |
| General | 49.21 |
| OBC-NCL | 49.21 |
| EWS | 49.21 |
| SC | 45.96 |
| ST | 40.96 |
Candidates should use previous-year cutoffs only as a benchmark and aim for a score comfortably above the previous cutoff.
A focused preparation strategy is essential to score well in the IBPS PO 2026 exam. Candidates should balance concept building, timed practice, mock analysis, revision, and early Mains preparation to improve overall performance.
Start with a full-length mock to check your current score, accuracy, attempts, and time management. Use the results to identify strong sections and topics requiring immediate improvement.
Prioritise Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Simplification, Arithmetic, Data Interpretation, Reading Comprehension, Error Detection and other frequently tested topics based on your preparation level.
Use sectional tests regularly to improve speed and accuracy within the fixed 20-minute limit of each Prelims section. Track your attempts and gradually improve your performance.
Review incorrect, guessed, skipped and time-consuming questions after every mock. Identify whether mistakes occurred because of concepts, calculations, rushing, or poor question selection, then practise accordingly.
Do not wait for the Prelims result to begin Mains preparation. Continue General/Banking Awareness and prepare for the revised Essay and Comprehension descriptive paper alongside your Prelims practice.
The IBPS PO Notification 2026 has opened another major opportunity for graduates aiming for a Probationary Officer or Management Trainee position in public sector banks. The current recruitment has 7,565 vacancies, with the application process already completed and the Preliminary Examination scheduled for 22 and 23 August 2026.
Candidates appearing for Prelims should now focus on timed practice, mock-test analysis, previous year questions and revision of high-priority topics. At the same time, Mains preparation should continue because the 2026 Mains pattern has been revised to 170 objective questions for 200 marks along with a 25-mark Essay and Comprehension paper.
With the Prelims admit card already released, candidates should check their examination details carefully and use the remaining preparation time for focused practice. The IBPS PO Notification 2026 should be used as the reference point for eligibility, dates, selection rules and the revised examination pattern.
| IBPS PO Exam Pattern | IBPS PO Salary |
| IBPS PO Previous Year Question Paper | IBPS PO Cut Off |
| IBPS PO Study Plan | IBPS PO Preparation Strategy |
| IBPS RRB PO Exam Date 2026 |
Yes, the IBPS PO Notification 2026 has been released under CRP PO/MT-XVI. The short notification was released on 30 June 2026 and the detailed notification followed on 1 July 2026. The recruitment is for Probationary Officer and Management Trainee posts in participating public sector banks.
The current recruitment has 7,565 IBPS PO vacancies. The vacancy figure has been revised during the recruitment cycle, including the addition of 200 vacancies from UCO Bank. The vacancies are indicative and can depend on the final requirements reported by participating banks.
The IBPS PO Prelims 2026 is scheduled for 22 and 23 August 2026, while the Mains examination will be conducted on 4 October 2026. Candidates should check their admit card for the exact shift, reporting time and examination-centre details.
No, the IBPS PO Apply Online 2026 process is closed. Candidates could register from 1 July to 26 July 2026, followed by the correction window on 29 and 30 July 2026. Candidates who successfully submitted the application should now focus on the Preliminary Examination.
Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification. The age limit is 20 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026, with applicable relaxation for eligible reserved categories.
No minimum graduation percentage is prescribed for IBPS PO 2026. Candidates need to have passed graduation from a recognised university or possess an equivalent qualification. The correct graduation percentage must still be entered in the application form.
The selection process includes Prelims, Mains, Personality Test and Interview, followed by provisional allotment. Prelims marks are not added to the final merit. The final merit is prepared with 80% weightage to Mains and 20% to Interview, while the Personality Test is mandatory but non-qualifying.
The Prelims examination has 100 questions for 100 marks with a total duration of 60 minutes. English Language has 30 questions, Quantitative Aptitude 35 questions and Reasoning Ability 35 questions. Each section has a separate 20-minute time limit and 0.25 marks are deducted for every incorrect answer.
The Mains objective paper now contains 170 questions for 200 marks. General/Economy/Banking Awareness, Digital and Financial Awareness carries 50 questions for 60 marks, while the descriptive paper contains Essay and Comprehension for 25 marks. A mandatory non-qualifying Personality Test has also been introduced.
The basic pay of an IBPS PO starts at ₹48,480. The notified pay scale reaches ₹85,920 through the applicable increments, while officers also receive allowances and other benefits. Actual salary varies according to the posting location, allowances and deductions.
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