The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the Regional Rural Banks (RRB) exam every year to recruit candidates for various posts like Office Assistant (Clerk), Officer Scale I (PO), Officer Scale II, and Officer Scale III. This year, IBPS has released 13000+ vacancies for various posts in Regional Rural Banks, providing a great opportunity to banking exam aspirants. The Preliminary exam for RRB PO is scheduled for 22nd and 23rd November 2025. Knowing about the selection process is the first step towards your preparation journey. If you are also an aspirant, understanding the stages of selection will help you plan your preparation in a structured way. In this blog, we will walk you through every stage of the IBPS RRB selection process and explain what you need to focus on.
Key Takeaways
- Three-stage process for Officer Scale I: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
- Two-stage process for Office Assistant: Prelims and Mains only.
- No interview for Office Assistant post; final selection is based on Mains score.
IBPS RRB Selection Process 2025
The IBPS RRB Selection Process differs slightly depending on the post you are applying for. The IBPS RRB PO (Officer Scale 1) selection Process consists of 3 stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The IBPS RRB Clerk (Office Assistant) selection process consists of 2 stages: Prelims and Mains. A Local Language Proficiency Test is required for both recruitments. Let’s break it down:
Stages in RRB PO/Clerk Selection Process
In this section, we are discussing in detail about the stages in RRB PO/ Clerk selection process. Candidates are advised to go through each stage before going for the preparation.
Selection Stage 1 – Preliminary Examination (Objective)
- Applicable for: Office Assistant (Clerk) and Officer Scale I (PO).
- Nature: Qualifying in nature – marks are not added to the final merit.
- Format: Online computer-based test.
- Subjects include:
- Reasoning
- Quantitative Aptitude (for PO)/ Numerical Ability (for Clerk)
Preliminary Exam Pattern 2025 for RRB Office Assistants (Multipurpose)
| Sr. No. | Name of Tests | Medium of Exam | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reasoning | The medium of the test that you have applied for. | 40 | 40 | 25 minutes |
| 2 | Numerical Ability | The medium of the test that you have applied for. | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 80 | 80 | 45 minutes |
Preliminary Exam Pattern 2025 for IBPS RRB Officer Scale 1
| Sr. No. | Name of Tests | Medium of Exam | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reasoning | The medium of the test that you have applied for. | 40 | 40 | 25 minutes |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | The medium of the test that you have applied for. | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 80 | 80 | 45 minutes |
Candidates must clear the sectional cut-off and overall cut-off to move to the next stage. Prelims exam is qualifying (marks not counted for final merit). There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks.
Penalty For Wrong Answer
There will be a penalty for wrong answers marked in the Objective Tests. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate one fourth or 0.25 of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as a penalty to arrive at the corrected score. If a question is left blank, i.e., no answer is marked by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question.
Selection Stage 2 – Main Examination (Objective)
- Applicable for: Office Assistant (Clerk), Officer Scale I, Officer Scale II, and Officer Scale III.
- Nature: Marks are considered for final merit.
- Subjects include:
- Reasoning
- Quantitative Aptitude/ Numerical Ability
- General Awareness (with a focus on Banking & Rural Economy)
- English/Hindi Language
- Computer Knowledge
Mains Exam Pattern for RRB Office Assistants (Multipurpose)
| Sr. No. | Name of Tests | Medium of Exam | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reasoning | English/ Hindi/ Regional Language (if applicable) | 40 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| 2 | Computer Knowledge | English/ Hindi/ Regional Language (if applicable) | 40 | 20 | 15 minutes |
| 3 | General Awareness | English/ Hindi/ Regional Language (if applicable) | 40 | 40 | 15 minutes |
| 4a | English Language | English | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| 4b | Hindi Language | Hindi | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| 5 | Numerical Ability | English/ Hindi/ Regional Language (if applicable) | 40 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Note: Candidates can opt for either 4a or 4b.
Mains Exam Pattern for RRB Officer Scale-I
| Sr. No. | Name of Tests | Medium of Exam | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reasoning | English/ Hindi/ Regional Language (if applicable) | 40 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| 2 | Computer Knowledge | English/ Hindi/ Regional Language (if applicable) | 40 | 20 | 15 minutes |
| 3 | General Awareness | English/ Hindi/ Regional Language (if applicable) | 40 | 40 | 15 minutes |
| 4a | English Language | English | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| 4b | Hindi Language | Hindi | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| 5 | Quantitative Aptitude | English/ Hindi/ Regional Language (if applicable) | 40 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Note: Candidates can opt for either 4a or 4b.
The examination patterns for IBPS RRB Clerk and PO exams are almost similar; only the level of questions asked varies. The numerical ability section in the RRB Clerk exam pattern focuses on basic mathematical operations, whereas the Quantitative Aptitude section in the RRB PO exam has questions from moderate to tough maths topics. Thus, if you prepare for the RRB PO exam, it is most likely that you will clear the RRB Clerk exam easily.
Selection Stage 3 – Interview Round
- Applicable for: Officer Scale I, II, and III.
- No Interview round in RRB Clerk (Office Assistant) exam.
- Candidates who clear the Mains/Single Exam are shortlisted for the interview process.
- Conducted by: Nodal RRBs in association with NABARD and IBPS.
- Weightage:
- Online Exam (Mains) – 80%
- Interview – 20%
This stage evaluates communication skills, banking awareness, presence of mind, and leadership qualities. Have a quick look at the IBPS RRB Selection Process given in the image below.
Provisional Allotment or Final Selection
- Based on the performance in Mains Exam + Interview (for Officer posts) and Mains only (for Office Assistant).
- Candidates are allotted to a Regional Rural Bank based on their merit rank and preferences.
- The final allotment is subject to document verification and eligibility fulfilment.
Document Verification
| Document | Details & Notes |
| Printout of Interview Call Letter | Must be downloaded from the official IBPS portal |
| Online Application Form | Final submitted form with photograph and signature |
| Proof of Identity | PAN Card / Passport / Voter ID / Aadhaar / Driving License |
| Date of Birth Proof | Birth Certificate / SSC Certificate / Passport |
| Educational Qualification Certificates | Graduation Degree Certificate and Mark Sheets (as per eligibility criteria) |
| Caste Certificate (if applicable) | For SC/ST/OBC candidates; must be issued by competent authority |
| Income Certificate (for EWS) | For candidates applying under EWS category |
| Disability Certificate (if applicable) | For PwD candidates; issued by Medical Board |
| Experience Certificate (if applicable) | Only if work experience is claimed |
| Domicile Certificate | Required for candidates applying under state-specific vacancies |
| Ex-Servicemen Certificate | For candidates claiming reservation under Ex-Servicemen category |
| No Objection Certificate (NOC) | If currently employed in government/public sector |
| Handwritten Declaration | Must be in candidate’s own handwriting, as per IBPS format |
| Passport-size Photographs | Recent color photos (usually 4–5 copies) |
| Photocopies of All Documents | Self-attested copies of all originals |
Final Words for Aspirants
The IBPS RRB selection process 2025 is structured yet competitive. If you are preparing for Clerk, focus on speed and accuracy for Prelims and Mains. For Officer Scale I, II & III, balancing conceptual knowledge with strong communication skills for the interview is essential.
To boost your preparation, you can explore PracticeMock’s Quality Resources at an affordable price:
- Banking Basic Course – for unlimited Prelims + Mains mock tests of all bank/insurance examinations.
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- Banking Plus Course – for access to PDF Course + Banking Pro course.
- Banking Max Course – complete package covering Video Course + Banking Plus Course.
Remember, with the right strategy + consistency + resources, you can definitely secure a seat in your dream RRB bank job.
IBPS RRB PO 2025 Related Articles Link
| IBPS RRB PO Salary | IBPS RRB PO Exam Pattern |
| IBPS RRB PO Cut Off | IBPS RRB PO Previous Year Question Papers |
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FAQs – IBPS RRB Selection Process
Yes. There is an interview for the IBPS RRB PO (Officer Scale 1) position. The marks obtained by the candidate in the Mains exam and the marks obtained by the candidate in the interview is counted to prepare the final merit.
Yes, an RRB PO can apply for a home posting.
The IBPS RRB PO interview is of 100 marks.
No, there is no interview in the IBPS RRB Clerk exam.
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