NICL AO Vs IBPS PO: Which Exam is Easier to Crack?

Those who are preparing for Banking exams often want to give insurance exams as well. Because both exams have quite similar syllabus, the point is which exam is easier to crack. The point is both exam has similar syllabus, but the difficulty level, exam pattern, and selection procedure differ in many aspects. In this article, we are going to discuss this difference in detail so that you can choose according to your preference or based on the difficulty level of the exam, which is easier for you. 

Which is easier to crack:  NICL AO or IBPS PO

The answer lies in your strength and weaknesses and for majority it depends on your interest whether you want to work in insurance sector or you want to work in banking sector. The other deciding factor is that the NICL AO has less competition as compared to the IBPS PO. 

To let you decide which exam is easier for you, we have given a detailed comparison below. 

NICL AO vs IBPS PO, Main Differences

Feature	NICL AO (National Insurance Company Ltd – Administrative Officer)	IBPS PO (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection – Probationary Officer)
Conducting Body	Conducted by NICL, a public sector general insurance company under GIPSA (General Insurance Public Sector Association). The exam is held based on internal requirements and manpower needs.	Conducted annually by IBPS, an autonomous body that recruits POs for 11 public sector banks (like PNB, BOB, Union Bank, etc.). Highly standardized exam cycle.
Position	Administrative Officer – a Class I officer post with roles in Generalist and Specialist categories (Finance, Legal, IT, etc.). Work involves internal operations, policy underwriting, claims processing, and risk assessment.	Probationary Officer – an entry-level managerial post in banks. Involves handling customer service, managing bank accounts, processing loans, and cross-selling financial products. Seen as a fast-track entry to bank management.
Frequency of Exam	Not conducted every year; recruitment depends on the vacancy status in NICL and other public insurance companies. The last major NICL AO recruitment was in 2017 and then in 2024-25.	Conducted every year like clockwork, usually starting in August–September. Highly predictable schedule with Prelims, Mains, and Interview spread over 3–4 months.
Selection Stages	3-Stage Process + Interview 1. Prelims – Objective test 2. Mains – Includes Professional Knowledge for Specialists 3. Descriptive Test (Essay & Precis) 4. Interview	3-Stage Process + Interview 1. Prelims – Objective test 2. Mains – Includes General/Economy/Banking Awareness 3. Descriptive Test 4. Interview
Difficulty Level	Moderate to high – Reasoning, Quant, and English levels are similar to banking exams, but insurance awareness can be a new and tricky section for banking aspirants. Lower competition due to fewer applicants.	Moderate to high – Tough competition due to high awareness and massive participation. Around 10–12 lakh applicants every year. High cutoff trends are due to intense competition and a more regular coaching infrastructure.
Exam Syllabus	Core sections are: Quant, Reasoning, English, General Awareness, Insurance & Financial Awareness, and Descriptive. The insurance awareness part includes policies, IRDAI, terminology, and industry regulations, unique to this exam.	Standard banking syllabus: Quant, Reasoning, English, General Awareness with a strong focus on Banking & Financial Awareness (RBI, Monetary Policy, NPA, Basel Norms, etc.), plus Descriptive English.
Job Profile	Primarily an administrative role within the insurance sector. Tasks include underwriting insurance policies, handling claims and risk assessment, evaluating client eligibility, internal documentation, and compliance. Limited to office work – no direct sales or customer pressure.	Involves multitasking between customer service, core banking operations, handling deposits/loans, managing KYC & compliance, resolving issues, and meeting targets (especially in rural postings). Greater external interaction and operational duties.
Work Pressure	Comparatively lower – largely a 9-to-5 job, office-based, with minimal public dealing. Sales targets and cross-selling pressure are negligible. Workload is consistent, and roles are largely backend in nature.	High pressure – includes sales targets, rotational shifts, public dealing, branch-level responsibilities, and frequent audits. Workload increases during peak seasons, and employees often handle multiple functions simultaneously.
Career Growth	Promotions happen steadily through departmental exams and performance, though at a relatively slower pace compared to banking. Growth opportunities are available, but transfers are limited, ensuring stability.	Fast career progression with promotions to Assistant Manager, Branch Manager, AGM, and beyond. However, the trade-off is frequent job transfers and relocations, sometimes every 2–3 years.
Posting Location	Mostly posted in urban locations, corporate offices, regional/zonal offices, or major district centers. Very low probability of rural posting. Stable and fixed locations.	Can be posted anywhere in India – urban, semi-urban, or rural. Frequent relocations are common, especially early in the career. Rural stints are almost mandatory in the initial years.

Exam Pattern & Syllabus – Which Is Tougher?

If we talk about the exam pattern, then both exam has a three-step selection process in which prelims, mains, and a descriptive test, along with an interview, are included. In terms of syllabus, NICL has more insurance-related topics in general awareness, and IBPS has more banking awareness topics. The major difference between the exam pattern and syllabus is given below. 

Exam Stage	NICL AO	IBPS PO	Which Is Tougher? / Unique Pattern
Prelims	Sections:– Quantitative Aptitude (35 Qs – 35 marks) -Reasoning Ability (35 Qs – 35 marks) – English Language (30 Qs – 30 marks) Duration: 60 minutes total	Sections:– Quantitative Aptitude (35 Qs – 35 marks) – Reasoning Ability (35 Qs – 35 marks) – English Language (30 Qs – 30 marks) Duration: 60 minutes total	Same for both – Basic aptitude screening
Mains	Sections:– Reasoning- Quantitative Aptitude- English- General Awareness (focus on Insurance & Economy)– (For Specialist AO): Professional Knowledge Duration: ~150 mins (varies slightly) Marking: Standard 1 mark per question, negative marking 0.25	Sections:– Reasoning & Computer Aptitude- Data Interpretation & Analysis- English Language- General/Economy/Banking Awareness Duration: 180 minutes. Total marking: Varies; negative marking of 0.25	NICL AO: Insurance Awareness may be unfamiliar. IBPS PO: GA is broader + includes computer aptitude
Descriptive Test	– Essay & Precis Writing- Topics may include insurance, financial literacy, social issues– 30 minutes- 30 marks, but it is qualifying in nature	– Essay & Letter Writing- Topics generally include banking, economy, current issues– 30 minutes- 25 marks	Similar in pattern, NICL AO may lean more toward insurance topics
Interview	1-on-1 Interview (Based on performance in Mains + prelims)	1-on-1 Interview Conducted after qualifying Mains + Descriptive	Similar process – weightage varies by final score rules

Which job is better, NICL AO OR IBPS PO?

Both are respectable government jobs, but if you want work work-life balance and stability matter to you most, then go for NICL AO, and if you want rapid career growth opportunities AND aim for leadership roles in the banking sector, then go for IBPS PO. 

Here is a list of preferences that will help you decide to choose your exam. 

If you prefer…	Go for
A stable, desk-based job with defined hours	NICL AO
A fast-track career with wide exposure	IBPS PO
Minimal transfers and urban postings	NICL AO
Higher long-term growth and leadership potential	IBPS PO
Fewer customer interactions and public dealings	NICL AO
A dynamic, target-oriented work culture	IBPS PO

Summary

In the article above, we have given a detailed comparison between the NICL AO and IBPS PO based on difficulty level, Exam pattern, job profile, syllabus, and many other factors. If you want a stable career and a less competitive exam, then go for NICL AO, and if you want to have major leadership roles in the banking sector and are ready to fight the tough competition, then go for IBPS PO before starting your preparation. Give a thorough glance at this blog and decide accordingly. 

Join our exclusive Telegram group where our experts are ready to answer all your queries, guide you in banking exam preparation, and give personalised tips to boost your success. Get access to real-time solutions, expert advice, and valuable resources to improve your study journey. [Click here to join now!]

FAQs