IBPS SO Syllabus 2025: The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection has released the IBPS SO Notification 2025 on its official website. The IBPS SO prelims exam is scheduled for 30th August 2025, and the mains will take place on 9th November 2025. Preparing for the IBPS SO 2025 exam can be tricky, but understanding the syllabus can make the preparation a little easier. The IBPS SO 2025 exam consists of three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. In this article, we are sharing the IBPS SO Syllabus 2025, including prelims, mains, and interview exams. Candidates, check the section-wise and post-wise syllabus and exam pattern for prelims and mains in the article below. Also, download the IBPS SO Syllabus PDF from the link provided in this blog.
IBPS SO Syllabus 2025
IBPS SO Syllabus 2025 is an important factor to start preparation for Specialist Officers like Agriculture Field Officer, Marketing Officer (Scale I), HR/Personnel Officers (Scale I), IT Officers (Scale I), Law Officer (Scale I) and Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) posts. The syllabus is divided into three major sections: Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview. Candidates can check the IBPS SO Syllabus 2025 for Prelims and mains in the article below.
IBPS SO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2025: Overview
The IBPS SO prelims and mains Exam dates have been released by the IBPS Calendar. The IBPS SO Prelims and Mains exam is held on conducted on 30th August 2025 and 9th November 2025. Here we are providing important information about the IBPS SO syllabus 2025. Candidates, check all the information in tabular form.
| IBPS SO Syllabus 2025 Overview | |
| Particular | Details |
| Exam Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Exam Name | IBPS SO 2025 |
| Post | Specialist Officer (SO) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Vacancies | 1007 (including all categories) |
| IBPS SO Exam Dates | Prelims- 30th August 2025 Mains- 9th November 2025 |
| IBPS SO Exam Duration | Prelims- 40 minutes for each section Mains- 45 minutes/60 minutes |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| IBPS SO Selection Process | Prelims Mains Interview |
| IBPS Official Website | @ibps.in |
| PracticeMock Telegram link | https://t.me/Practice_Mock |
IBPS SO 2025 Exam Pattern and Syllabus
IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2025 provides the exam pattern and syllabus for candidates to prepare for the role of Specialist Officer (SO) in various public sector banks. The exam consists of three stages: Preliminary, Main and Interview. The preliminary exam is an objective test and varies depending on the post applied for, usually consisting of sections such as English Language, Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude or General Awareness with special reference to the banking industry. The main exam is more specialized, focusing on professional knowledge related to the specific post such as IT Officer, Marketing Officer, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Agricultural Field Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari. Candidates can check post wise IBPS AFO Syllabus 2025 exam pattern in the article below.
IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2025
For all the candidates who are preparing for IBPS SO exam It is mandatory to clear the three stages of the selection process, Prelims Mains and Interview. Interested candidates check the IBPS SO prelims and mains latest exam pattern and start their preparation.
IBPS SO Preliminary Exam Pattern 2025
The IBPS SO 2025 prelims exam consists of three Sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude. The total preliminary exam time duration is 1 hour 20 minutes and this exam is Qualifying in nature; marks are not counted towards final selection.
For the post of Law Officer & Rajbhasha Adhikari
| Section | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 |
For other Specialist Officers (Agriculture Field Officer, Marketing Officer (Scale I), HR/Personnel Officer, IT Officer Scale I
| Section | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 |
The prelims exam is qualifying, which means you need to score above the cut-off marks to appear in the mains exam. Final selection is based on the Mains exam marks (80% weightage) and interview marks (20% weightage).
IBPS SO Mains Exam Pattern 2025
The IBPS SO Mains exam consists of the Professional Knowledge section. Check out the post-specific mains exam pattern below.
For the Posts of Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer
| Name of Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Duration |
| Professional Knowledge | 60 | 60 | English & Hindi | 45 minutes |
For the Post of Rajbhasha Adhikari
| Name of Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Duration |
| Professional Knowledge(Objective) | 45 | 60 | English & Hindi | 30 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge(Descriptive) | 2 | English & Hindi | 30 minutes |
IBPS SO Interview Pattern 2025
The interview of the Specialist Officer in Banking is of a total of 100 marks, and the minimum qualifying marks are 40% for the general and EWS category candidates and 35% for the reserved category candidates.
- Stage: After qualifying the Mains exam
- Mode: Face-to-face interview
- Total Marks: 100
- Minimum Qualifying Marks:
- General/EWS: 40%
- SC/ST/OBC/PwBD: 35%
- Weightage (Final Score):
- Mains Exam: 80%
- Interview: 20%
IBPS SO Syllabus 2025
For those candidates who want to get the post of Specialist Officer in the bank, we have provided the detailed syllabus of IBPS SO prelims and mains. Candidates should check the syllabus and start their preparation as soon as possible.
IBPS SO Prelims Syllabus 2025
The Prelims exam is the first selection process of the IBPS SO exam. The Prelims exam consists of three sections: Reasoning, English Language, and Quantitative Aptitude / General Awareness with Special Reference to the Banking Industry. Interested candidates, check the prelims syllabus in the table below.
| IBPS SO Syllabus 2025 for Prelims | |
| Sections | Topics |
| Reasoning | Data Sufficiency Blood Relations Order and Ranking Verbal Reasoning Seating Arrangements Puzzles Inequalities Syllogism Input-Output Alphanumeric Series Distance and Direction |
| English Language | Para Jumbles Fill in the Blanks Para/Sentence Completion Column Based Cloze Test Reading Comprehension Sentence Based Error Spelling Errors Connectors Spotting Errors Sentence Improvement Sentence Correction Sentence Rearrangement Word Swap |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Quadratic Equation and Quantity comparison Data Sufficiency (Two statements) Mensuration (2D and 3D) Number Series (Missing and Wrong) Data Interpretation and Caselet Simplification and Approximation Average, Percentage, Age, Profit & Loss and Discount, Ratio and Proportion, Mixture and Alligation, Number system stream, Train Probability Time and Work, Time work and wage, Pipe and Cistern Time and Distance, Boat and Simple and Compound Interest Permutation and Combination |
| General Awareness | Current Affairs Banking Awareness GK Updates Currencies Important Places Books and Authors Awards Important Days RBI Circulars Static Banking Headquarters Central Government Schemes |
IBPS SO Mains Syllabus 2025
Here we are sharing the IBPS SO mains syllabus 2025. The mains exam syllabus includes topics from the Professional Knowledge (subject-specific knowledge) section. It is different for all Specialist Officer posts. The candidates who clear the mains exam are then eligible for the interview round. Interested candidates should check the IBPS SO mains Syllabus.
IBPS SO IT Officer (Scale-I) Syllabus 2025
The IT Officer syllabus 2025 contains important topics in the specialized field, database management system, communication and networking, data structure, operating system, and object-oriented programming.
- Database Management System
- Data Communication and Networking
- Computer Organization and Microprocessor
- Operating System
- Software Engineering
- Data Structure
- Object Oriented Programming
- Information Security and Cyber Laws
- Networking & Hardware Basics
- Cloud Computing & Virtualization
- Internet of Things (IoT) & Emerging Technologies
AFO Syllabus (Agricultural Field Officer Scale-I) 2025
The IBPS SO AFO Scale 1 exam tests candidates’ professional knowledge in agriculture. The syllabus for 2025 includes sections like Crop Production, Soil Science, Horticulture, and Agronomy. Understanding key farming techniques, soil management practices, and irrigation methods is essential for clearing this competitive examination.
- Agricultural Practices
- Soil resources
- Basics of Crop Production
- Horticulture
- Seed Science
- Agronomy and Irrigation
- Agricultural Economies
- Animal Husbandry
- Agroforestry
- Ecology
- Government Schemes
IBPS SO Marketing Officer (Scale-I) Syllabus 2025
The IBPS SO Marketing Officer Scale 1 syllabus 2025 covers marketing management, branding, advertising, digital marketing, product life cycle, sales promotion, and market research. Candidates must also study banking awareness, CRM, distribution channels, and financial services marketing to perform well in the professional knowledge section of the exam.
- Advertising
- PR
- Sales
- Retail
- Business Ethics
- Basics of Marketing Management
- Brand Management
- Market Segmentation
- Market research and forecasting demand
- Product Life Cycle
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Service Marketing
- Marketing Strategies
Law Officer (Scale-I) Syllabus for IBPS SO 2025
The IBPS SO Law Officer Scale 1 syllabus 2025 includes topics like Banking Regulations, Company Law, Contract Act, RBI Act, SARFAESI Act, and DRT Act. Candidates must also study Constitutional Law, Consumer Protection, Civil and Criminal Procedure Codes, and legal drafting relevant to banking and financial institutions for effective exam preparation.
- Compliance and Legal Aspects
- Laws and Actions with the direct link to Banking Sector
- Bankers Book Evidence Act
- DRT Act
- Relevant Law and Orders related to negotiable instruments, securities, foreign exchange
- Prevention of Money-laundering, Limitation Act
- Consumer Protection Act
- SARFAES
- Banking Ombudsman Scheme
- Banking Regulations
IBPS SO HR/Personnel Officer (Scale-I) Syllabus 2025
The IBPS SO HR/Personnel Officer Scale 1 syllabus 2025 covers Human Resource Management, Industrial Relations, Organizational Behavior, Recruitment, Training and Development, Performance Appraisal, and Labor Laws. It also includes topics like HR planning, motivation theories, employee welfare, grievance redressal, and HR policies relevant to banking and financial institutions.
- Human Resource Development
- Business policy and strategic analysis
- Rewards and Recognition
- Industrial Relations
- Business Policy and Strategic Analysis
- Grievance and Conflict Management
- Performance Management and Appraisal
- Transnational Analysis
- Training and Development
- Recruitment and Selection
IBPS Specialist Officer Interview Syllabus 2025
While there is no fixed syllabus, the interview typically assesses the following:
Professional Knowledge (Post-specific)
- Questions related to the candidate’s specialized field (Agriculture, Law, HR, IT, Marketing, etc.)
- Example:
- For AFO: Types of soil, cropping patterns, NABARD schemes
- For Law Officer: SARFAESI, Contract Act, DRT proceedings
- For Marketing Officer: Branding, digital campaigns, 7Ps of marketing
Banking and Financial Awareness
- Basics of the Indian banking system
- Role of RBI, functions of banks
- Current banking and economic updates
- Government schemes related to finance and banking
Current Affairs
- Recent developments in the economy, budget, or sector-specific news
- Important mergers, RBI policies, monetary/fiscal policies, etc.
Personality and Communication Skills
- Confidence, clarity of thought, body language
- Ability to express ideas effectively
- Leadership and team management qualities
Situational and Behavioural Questions
- Hypothetical work-related situations
- Questions to assess decision-making, ethical judgment, and problem-solving
IBPS SO Syllabus 2025 Download PDF
The IBPS SO Syllabus 2025 PDF provides a detailed topic-wise breakdown for Prelims and Mains exams, covering subjects like English, Reasoning, Quant, and Professional Knowledge. Candidates can use this syllabus to streamline their preparation according to the latest IBPS SO exam pattern. Download the IBPS SO Syllabus 2025 PDF now and boost your study plan with the right topics and weightage.
Tips For Success In IBPS SO Prelims and Mains Exam 2025
With daily practice of a few questions from at least 1 subject, you will be able to stay on track and follow the tips provided below to get success in this exam.
- Maintaining Consistency: Regular and consistent study habits lead to better retention and understanding.
- Staying Updated with Current Affairs: Daily reading of newspapers and monthly current affairs magazines is essential.
- Regular Revision: Frequent revision helps in retaining information and improves recall during exams.
- Mock Tests Practice: Practising mock tests provides you with a real scenario of where you stand in your preparation.
- Topic Tests Practice: Practising questions (time-bound) from each topic of the syllabus will surely help you improve your speed and accuracy.
Preparation Tips for IBPS SO Interview
- Revise all core concepts of your specialisation.
- Be thorough with your educational background and work experience.
- Read daily newspapers and monthly banking awareness magazines.
- Practice mock interviews with feedback.
- Dress formally and maintain positive body language.
Conclusion
The IBPS SO Syllabus 2025 provides a clear roadmap for candidates aspiring to secure specialist roles in the banking sector. Understanding the detailed syllabus and exam pattern for both Prelims and Mains is crucial for targeted preparation. Make sure to download the official PDF syllabus, plan your study schedule accordingly, and practice consistently. With the right strategy and focused effort, you can confidently crack the IBPS SO 2025 exam and move one step closer to your dream job.
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IBPS SO Syllabus 2025: FAQs
The detailed IBPS SO Syllabus has been given in the blog.
There is no limit to the number of attempts, but there is an age limit that varies by category.
Yes, final-year students can apply provided they produce proof of graduation at the time of registration.
Yes, there is 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer in the IBPS SO Exam 2025.
Hear what a successful candidate has to say:
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