IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 Notification • Vacancy • Eligibility • Exam Pattern • Syllabus
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026: The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection has released the detailed IBPS SO Notification 2026 under CRP SPL-XVI for 745 Specialist Officer vacancies in participating public-sector banks. The vacancies are for the 2027–28 recruitment cycle. According to the official schedule, the IBPS SO Preliminary Examination will be conducted on 29th August 2026, while the Main Examination will be held on 1st November 2026. The online application process is open from 1st July to 21st July 2026.
The IBPS SO Selection Process 2026 consists of three stages: Online Preliminary Examination → Online Main Examination → Interview. Candidates must qualify for each stage to proceed further. Preliminary Examination marks are used only to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination and are not included in the final merit calculation. Candidates shortlisted through the Main Examination must qualify for the Interview as well. The final combined score will be calculated using 80% weightage for the Online Main Examination and 20% weightage for the Interview, followed by provisional allotment based on merit, vacancies and candidate preferences.
Here, we have provided the official PDF of IBPS SO 2026 notification. You must download the PDF and go through it for more details.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | IBPS SO 2026 (CRP SPL-XVI) |
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Recruitment Cycle | Vacancies for 2027–28 |
| Posts Offered | IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer |
| Total Vacancies | 745 indicative vacancies |
| Marketing Officer Vacancies | 0 |
| Post Level | Specialist Officer, Scale I |
| Participating Banks | 11 Public Sector Banks |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Selection Stages | Preliminary Examination → Main Examination → Interview |
| Online Application Dates | 1st July to 21st July 2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | 29th August 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 1st November 2026 |
| Job Location | Candidates may be posted anywhere in India based on the requirements of the allotted participating bank |
| Starting Basic Pay | ₹48,480 per month plus applicable allowances and perquisites |
| Official Website | www.ibps.in |
IBPS SO, short for IBPS Specialist Officer, is a Common Recruitment Process conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection to recruit Scale I officers for specialized roles in participating Public Sector Banks. Unlike the IBPS PO and Clerk recruitment processes, IBPS SO is designed for candidates with specific educational or professional qualifications in fields such as information technology, agriculture, law, language, human resources and marketing.
Under CRP SPL-XVI, recruitment is conducted for the following Specialist Officer posts:
A few features that distinguish the IBPS SO recruitment process are:
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Also Check: IBPS SO EXAM DATE
The IBPS SO 2026 recruitment process under CRP SPL-XVI covers the following Specialist Officer posts in Scale I:
Candidates can apply for only one post under the IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI recruitment cycle. Although Marketing Officer is included among the notified Specialist Officer posts, the current vacancy table reports zero vacancies for this post.
Candidates who qualify for the Main Examination and Interview may be provisionally allotted to one of the following participating Public Sector Banks:
Provisional allotment will depend on the candidate’s merit, category, post-wise vacancies, preferences submitted during the application process and the administrative requirements of the participating banks. Selection in the IBPS SO recruitment process does not guarantee allotment to a candidate’s preferred bank or location.
The IBPS SO 2026 important dates have been announced through the official CRP SPL-XVI notification. Candidates should note that most recruitment stages listed in the notification are tentative and may be revised by IBPS.
| Event | Official Schedule |
|---|---|
| Detailed Notification Release | 30th June 2026 |
| Online Registration, Including Edit/Modification | 1st July to 21st July 2026 |
| Payment of Application Fee/Intimation Charges | 1st July to 21st July 2026 |
| Application Correction Window | Two days after the registration window closes; exact dates will be notified by IBPS |
| Prelims Call Letter Download | August 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination | 29th August 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam Result | September/October 2026 |
| Mains Call Letter Download | October 2026 |
| Main Examination | 1st November 2026 |
| Main Examination Result | November 2026 |
| Interview | November/December 2026 |
| Provisional Allotment | January 2027 |
The earlier timelines of December 2026–January 2027 for the Interview and January–February 2027 for provisional allotment have been corrected. The official notification tentatively schedules the Interview for November/December 2026 and provisional allotment for January 2027.
Note: The exact registration and application closing dates will be confirmed only once IBPS releases the detailed notification.
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection has announced 745 indicative vacancies through the official IBPS SO Notification 2026 for CRP SPL-XVI. These vacancies are available for Specialist Officer Scale I posts in participating Public Sector Banks for the 2027–28 recruitment cycle.
The notified vacancies are distributed across IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer and HR/Personnel Officer posts. Marketing Officer is also included among the posts covered under CRP SPL-XVI; however, no Marketing Officer vacancy has been reported for the current recruitment cycle.
The post-wise and category-wise IBPS SO Vacancy 2026 distribution provided below is based on the official notification and should not be treated as an expected breakdown.
The IBPS SO 2026 selection process consists of three stages:
Candidates must qualify at each stage to proceed to the next phase of the recruitment process.
The IBPS SO Preliminary Examination is conducted online. Candidates must secure the prescribed minimum qualifying marks in each test to be shortlisted for the Main Examination.
Prelims marks are used only for shortlisting candidates for the Main Examination and are not considered while preparing the final merit list.
Candidates who qualify for the Preliminary Examination are called for the IBPS SO Main Examination. The Main Examination primarily evaluates Professional Knowledge relevant to the Specialist Officer post selected by the candidate.
For Rajbhasha Adhikari, the Main Examination includes objective and descriptive components related to Professional Knowledge. Candidates must secure the required cut-off score in the Main Examination to become eligible for the Interview.
Candidates shortlisted through the Main Examination are called for an Interview. The Interview is coordinated by the nodal banks in each state or Union Territory with the assistance of IBPS and is conducted by the participating banks.
The Interview carries a total of 100 marks. Candidates must qualify for both the Main Examination and Interview separately to be considered for provisional allotment.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Percentage |
|---|---|
| General and EWS | 40% |
| SC, ST, OBC and PwBD | 35% |
The minimum qualifying marks prescribed above are the minimum thresholds. IBPS may apply higher cut-offs depending on the number of vacancies and candidates shortlisted.
The final combined score is calculated using the marks secured in the Main Examination and Interview in the following ratio:
The final merit list and provisional allotment are prepared based on the combined Main Examination and Interview score, category-wise vacancies, candidate preferences and the applicable eligibility conditions.
According to the IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI notification, a candidate must be:
Candidates belonging to categories other than Indian citizens must possess a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India. Such candidates may be allowed to appear for the selection process, but an offer of appointment can be issued only after the required eligibility certificate has been provided.
The IBPS SO 2026 age limit will be calculated as on 1st July 2026.
Candidates must have been born between 2nd July 1996 and 1st July 2006, with both dates included. The upper age limit may be relaxed for eligible reserved-category candidates in accordance with Government of India rules.
| Category | Relaxation in Upper Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe | 5 years |
| Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer | 3 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen, Commissioned Officers, including Emergency Commissioned Officers and Short Service Commissioned Officers who meet the prescribed conditions | 5 years |
| Persons affected by the 1984 riots | 5 years |
Candidates claiming age relaxation must produce the prescribed category or eligibility certificates when required by IBPS. The relaxation is applicable only to the upper age limit and is subject to the conditions stated in the official CRP SPL-XVI notification.
Candidates must possess the prescribed educational qualification for the post applied for as on 21st July 2026. The qualification must be obtained from a university, institution or board recognised by the Government of India or approved by the relevant government regulatory body.
| Post | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| IT Officer (Scale I) | A four-year Engineering or Technology degree in Computer Science, Computer Applications, Information Technology, Electronics, Electronics and Telecommunications, Electronics and Communication or Electronics and Instrumentation; or a postgraduate degree in Electronics, Electronics and Telecommunication, Electronics and Communication, Electronics and Instrumentation, Computer Science, Information Technology or Computer Applications; or graduation with DOEACC ‘B’ Level qualification. |
| Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I) | A four-year degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Dairy Science, Fishery Science, Pisciculture, Agricultural Marketing and Cooperation, Cooperation and Banking, Forestry, Agro-Forestry, Agricultural Biotechnology, B.Tech Biotechnology, Food Science, Agriculture Business Management, Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Agricultural Engineering, Sericulture or Fisheries Engineering. |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) | A postgraduate degree in Hindi with English as a subject at the degree or graduation level; or a postgraduate degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects at the degree or graduation level. |
| Law Officer (Scale I) | A bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B.) and enrolment as an advocate with the Bar Council. |
| HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I) | Graduation and a two-year full-time postgraduate degree or two-year full-time postgraduate diploma in Personnel Management, Industrial Relations, Human Resources, Human Resource Development, Social Work or Labour Law. |
| Marketing Officer (Scale I) | Graduation and a two-year full-time MBA in Marketing, two-year full-time MMS in Marketing, or a two-year full-time PGDBA, PGDBM, PGPM or PGDM with specialisation in Marketing. |
Candidates must enter the exact name of their degree or qualification while completing the online application. IBPS or the participating banks will not treat a qualification as eligible merely because it is described by the candidate as equivalent to one of the prescribed qualifications.
The final result of the qualifying examination must have been declared on or before 21st July 2026. Candidates must produce valid mark sheets, degree certificates and other supporting documents during the Interview or document-verification process.
The IBPS SO 2026 application fee has been confirmed in the official CRP SPL-XVI notification. Candidates must pay the application fee or intimation charges online between 1st July and 21st July 2026, with both dates included.
| Category | Application Fee/Intimation Charges |
|---|---|
| SC, ST and PwBD candidates | ₹175, inclusive of GST |
| All other candidates, including General, OBC and EWS | ₹850, inclusive of GST |
The fee structure above is final and is not based on previous recruitment cycles. It has been officially specified in the IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI notification.
The IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2026 has been revised for the Preliminary and Main examinations under CRP SPL-XVI. Candidates must prepare Professional Knowledge from the beginning because it is now included in the Preliminary Examination as well.
| Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | English | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to the Banking Industry | 25 | 25 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 125 | — | 80 minutes |
| Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | English | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 125 | — | 80 minutes |
Candidates must qualify in each test according to the cut-off marks prescribed by IBPS. For every incorrect answer in an objective test, one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted. No penalty applies to questions left unanswered.
| Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | English | 25 minutes |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | English and Hindi | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | English and Hindi | 25 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 | English and Hindi | 40 minutes |
| Total Objective Test | 150 | 200 | — | 125 minutes |
| Descriptive Paper in English | 2 | 25 | English | 30 minutes |
| Grand Total | 152 | 225 | — | 155 minutes |
| Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | English | 25 minutes |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | English and Hindi | 35 minutes |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to the Banking Industry | 30 | 30 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 | English and Hindi | 45 minutes |
| Total Objective Test | 150 | 200 | — | 125 minutes |
| Descriptive Paper in English | 2 | 25 | English | 30 minutes |
| Grand Total | 152 | 225 | — | 155 minutes |
| Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | English | 25 minutes |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | English and Hindi | 35 minutes |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to the Banking Industry | 30 | 30 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 | English and Hindi | 45 minutes |
| Total Objective Test | 150 | 200 | — | 125 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge Descriptive Paper | 2 | 25 | English and Hindi | 30 minutes |
| Grand Total | 152 | 225 | — | 155 minutes |
Candidates must qualify in the English Language, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude or General Awareness sections, as applicable to their post. The official notification states that these tests are qualifying in nature for merit-listing purposes. After candidates qualify the prescribed standards, marks obtained in Professional Knowledge are considered for shortlisting to the Interview.
The official notification specifies the names of the tests and the revised examination structure. However, it does not provide a detailed chapter-wise syllabus. Candidates can use the following indicative topics to plan their preparation according to the subjects included in the official exam pattern.
| Reasoning | English Language | Quantitative Aptitude | General Awareness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puzzles and Seating Arrangements | Reading Comprehension | Simplification and Approximation | Banking and Financial Awareness |
| Syllogism | Cloze Test | Quadratic Equations | Current Affairs |
| Inequality | Para Jumbles | Data Interpretation | RBI and Banking Updates |
| Blood Relations | Sentence Improvement | Number Series | Government Schemes |
| Direction and Distance | Fill in the Blanks | Ratio and Proportion | Financial Institutions |
| Coding-Decoding | Error Detection | Average, Profit and Loss | Important National and International Events |
| Input-Output | Vocabulary | Simple and Compound Interest | Static Banking Awareness |
Professional Knowledge is also part of the revised Preliminary Examination. Candidates must therefore prepare the fundamental concepts associated with the post for which they have applied.
IT Officer: Database Management Systems, SQL, computer networks, operating systems, data structures, object-oriented programming, software engineering, web technologies, information security, cyber security and computer architecture.
Agricultural Field Officer: Agronomy, soil science, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy science, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, crop production, irrigation, fisheries, forestry and government agricultural schemes.
Law Officer: Banking laws, the Banking Regulation Act, Reserve Bank of India Act, Negotiable Instruments Act, SARFAESI Act, Contract Act, Companies Act, Consumer Protection Act and other laws relevant to banking operations.
HR/Personnel Officer: Human Resource Management, organisational behaviour, industrial relations, labour laws, recruitment, training and development, performance management, compensation management and employee welfare.
Marketing Officer: Principles of marketing, marketing management, consumer behaviour, market research, branding, advertising, sales management, product strategy, service marketing and digital marketing.
Rajbhasha Adhikari: Hindi grammar, official language policy, translation from Hindi to English and English to Hindi, comprehension, vocabulary, essay writing and professional language usage.
Also Check: IBPS SO Exam Syllabus
https://www.practicemock.com/blog/ibps-so-syllabus/
Candidates should enter the exact name of their educational qualification as shown on their certificates. A qualification will not automatically be accepted merely because a candidate considers it equivalent to the qualification prescribed by IBPS.
Candidates should keep the following documents and scanned files ready before starting the online application:
The handwritten declaration must be written by the candidate in English and must not be written in capital letters. The signature and handwritten declaration should also not be uploaded in capital letters.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Starting Basic Pay | ₹48,480 |
| Official Pay Scale | ₹48,480–2000/7–₹62,480–2340/2–₹67,160–2680/7–₹85,920 |
| Allowances and Perquisites | Applicable according to the rules of the allotted participating bank |
| Posting | Based on the administrative requirements and service conditions of the allotted bank |
Selected candidates will be appointed as Specialist Officers in Scale I. In addition to basic pay, they will be eligible for allowances and perquisites according to the rules applicable in the participating bank.
The official notification does not specify a fixed gross or in-hand salary because the final amount may vary according to the allotted bank, place of posting, prevailing allowance rates, deductions and other service conditions.
Career progression, promotion policies, probation, transfers and service conditions will be governed by the rules of the bank to which the candidate is provisionally allotted.
| Factor | IBPS SO | IBPS PO |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Role | Specialist and domain-focused | General banking and managerial role |
| Eligibility | Requires post-specific educational qualifications | Requires the prescribed general graduation qualification |
| Posts | IT, Agriculture, Law, Rajbhasha, HR and Marketing | Probationary Officer/Management Trainee |
| Main Examination Focus | Professional Knowledge along with aptitude sections and a descriptive paper | Reasoning, banking awareness, data analysis, English and descriptive writing |
| Career Profile | Work is generally related to the selected specialisation | Work may involve branch banking, operations, customer service, credit and administration |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains and Interview | Prelims, Mains and subsequent selection stages prescribed for IBPS PO |
IBPS SO may be suitable for candidates whose educational qualifications match a notified specialist discipline and who want to work in a domain-oriented banking role. Candidates should avoid assuming that competition, transfer frequency or promotion speed will necessarily be lower than in IBPS PO, as these factors are not guaranteed in the official notification.
The following PracticeMock resources can help candidates prepare for IBPS SO 2026 according to the revised examination structure. Begin with a mock test to assess your current preparation level and then use topic tests and previous-year questions to improve weaker areas.
| Preparation Resource | Action |
|---|---|
| IBPS SO 2026 Prelims Free Mock Test | Sign up and attempt the mock test |
| IBPS SO 2026 Reasoning Topic Tests | Practise topic tests and improve performance |
| IBPS SO 2026 Quantitative Aptitude Topic Tests | Attempt topic-wise tests |
| IBPS SO Previous Year Question Papers | Solve previous papers and assess preparation |
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Our Related Articles on IBPS SO
| Article | Article |
|---|---|
| IBPS SO Salary | IBPS SO Cut Off |
| IBPS SO Exam Pattern | IBPS SO Study Plan |
| IBPS SO Syllabus | IBPS SO Previous Year Question Papers |
| IBPS SO Notification 2026 | IBPS SO Study Plan |
The window notification for CRP SPL-XVI was released on 30th June 2026, while the detailed IBPS SO Notification 2026 was published on the official IBPS website on 1st July 2026.
Candidates can download the CRP SPL-XVI notification PDF from the Specialist Officers XVI section of the official IBPS website at ibps.in.
IBPS has announced a total of 745 indicative Specialist Officer vacancies under CRP SPL-XVI. These vacancies are for the 2027–28 recruitment cycle.
The IBPS SO Preliminary Examination 2026 is scheduled for 29th August 2026.
The IBPS SO Main Examination 2026 is scheduled for 1st November 2026.
Yes. The IBPS SO 2026 exam pattern has been revised for both Prelims and Mains. Professional Knowledge has been added to Prelims, which now contains 100 questions for 125 marks and lasts 80 minutes. The revised Main Examination carries 225 marks and lasts 155 minutes.
CRP SPL-XVI covers IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer, all in Scale I. However, the notified vacancy table reports zero Marketing Officer vacancies for the current cycle.
The selection process consists of the Online Preliminary Examination, Online Main Examination and Interview. Prelims marks are used only for shortlisting, while the final combined score is calculated using Main Examination and Interview marks in an 80:20 ratio.
No. A candidate can apply for only one Specialist Officer post under CRP SPL-XVI.
Yes. For each incorrect answer in an objective test, one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted. No penalty applies to unanswered questions.
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