{"id":157388,"date":"2026-07-02T08:47:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T03:17:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/?p=157388"},"modified":"2026-07-02T16:17:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T10:47:11","slug":"ibps-so-notification-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-notification-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"IBPS SO 2026 Notification Out for 745 Vacancies, Check Exam Date &#038; New Pattern"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"yoast-breadcrumbs\"><span><span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/\">Home<\/a><\/span> \u00bb <span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/category\/ibps-so\/\">IBPS SO<\/a><\/span> \u00bb <span class=\"breadcrumb_last\" aria-current=\"page\">IBPS SO Notification 2026 Out<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>IBPS SO Recruitment 2026:<\/strong> The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection has released the detailed <strong>IBPS SO Notification 2026<\/strong> under CRP SPL-XVI for <strong>745 Specialist Officer vacancies<\/strong> in participating public-sector banks. The vacancies are for the 2027\u201328 recruitment cycle. According to the official schedule, the IBPS SO Preliminary Examination will be conducted on <strong>29th August 2026<\/strong>, while the Main Examination will be held on <strong>1st November 2026<\/strong>. The online application process is open from <strong>1st July to 21st July 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>IBPS SO Selection Process 2026<\/strong> consists of three stages: <strong>Online Preliminary Examination \u2192 Online Main Examination \u2192 Interview<\/strong>. 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 <strong>80% weightage for the Online Main Examination and 20% weightage for the Interview<\/strong>, followed by provisional allotment based on merit, vacancies and candidate preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/ibps-so-test-series\/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fs1.practicemock.com%2Fexams%2F%3Fc%3Ddashboard%26i%3Dbanking%26dl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.practicemock.com%2Fpricing%2Fmarketing%2Ffiles%2Fpdf%2Fibps-so-quant-2024-pyp%5B1%5D.pdf&amp;ref=11647\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Download Free IBPS SO Prelims Quant Question Paper Pdf<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO Notification 2026 PDF<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, we have provided the official PDF of IBPS SO 2026 notification. You must download the PDF and go through it for more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/pricing\/marketing\/files\/pdf\/detailed-notification-crp-spl-xvi_final_v1_30.06.2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Download the IBPS SO Notification 2026 Official PDF<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>IBPS SO 2026: Exam Overview<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Particulars<\/th><th>Details<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Exam Name<\/td><td>IBPS SO 2026 (CRP SPL-XVI)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Conducting Body<\/td><td>Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Recruitment Cycle<\/td><td>Vacancies for 2027\u201328<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Posts Offered<\/td><td>IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR\/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total Vacancies<\/td><td>745 indicative vacancies<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Marketing Officer Vacancies<\/td><td>0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Post Level<\/td><td>Specialist Officer, Scale I<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Participating Banks<\/td><td>11 Public Sector Banks<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Application Mode<\/td><td>Online<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mode of Exam<\/td><td>Online<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Selection Stages<\/td><td>Preliminary Examination \u2192 Main Examination \u2192 Interview<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Online Application Dates<\/td><td>1st July to 21st July 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Prelims Exam Date<\/td><td>29th August 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mains Exam Date<\/td><td>1st November 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Job Location<\/td><td>Candidates may be posted anywhere in India based on the requirements of the allotted participating bank<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Starting Basic Pay<\/td><td>\u20b948,480 per month plus applicable allowances and perquisites<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Official Website<\/td><td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.ibps.in\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.ibps.in<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/ibps-so-test-series\/?ref=15824\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Click Here to Start Your Preparation for the IBPS SO 202<\/strong>6<strong> Exam for Free<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is IBPS SO Recruitment?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under CRP SPL-XVI, recruitment is conducted for the following Specialist Officer posts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>IT Officer (Scale I)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Law Officer (Scale I)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>HR\/Personnel Officer (Scale I)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Marketing Officer (Scale I)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A few features that distinguish the IBPS SO recruitment process are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Main Examination primarily evaluates the candidate\u2019s Professional Knowledge related to the post applied for.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Candidates must meet post-specific educational qualification requirements prescribed in the official notification.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recruitment is conducted for specialized departments and functions within participating Public Sector Banks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The selection process consists of the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Interview.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preliminary Examination marks are used only for shortlisting candidates for the Main Examination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Final selection is based on the combined scores of the Main Examination and Interview in an 80:20 ratio.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Candidates can apply for only one Specialist Officer post under the CRP SPL-XVI recruitment cycle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/ibps-po-test-series\/?ref=15824\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Take a Free Mock Test &amp; Know the Difficulty Level of the Questions Asked<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also Check:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-notification\/\">IBPS SO EXAM DATE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Posts Under IBPS SO 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The IBPS SO 2026 recruitment process under CRP SPL-XVI covers the following Specialist Officer posts in Scale I:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>IT Officer (Scale I)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Law Officer (Scale I)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>HR\/Personnel Officer (Scale I)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Marketing Officer (Scale I)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Participating Banks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Candidates who qualify for the Main Examination and Interview may be provisionally allotted to one of the following participating Public Sector Banks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bank of Baroda<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bank of India<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bank of Maharashtra<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Canara Bank<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Central Bank of India<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indian Bank<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indian Overseas Bank<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Punjab National Bank<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Punjab &amp; Sind Bank<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UCO Bank<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Union Bank of India<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Provisional allotment will depend on the candidate\u2019s 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\u2019s preferred bank or location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Important Dates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Event<\/th><th>Official Schedule<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Detailed Notification Release<\/td><td>30th June 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Online Registration, Including Edit\/Modification<\/td><td>1st July to 21st July 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Payment of Application Fee\/Intimation Charges<\/td><td>1st July to 21st July 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Application Correction Window<\/td><td>Two days after the registration window closes; exact dates will be notified by IBPS<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Prelims Call Letter Download<\/td><td>August 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Preliminary Examination<\/td><td>29th August 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Preliminary Exam Result<\/td><td>September\/October 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mains Call Letter Download<\/td><td>October 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Main Examination<\/td><td>1st November 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Main Examination Result<\/td><td>November 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Interview<\/td><td>November\/December 2026<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Provisional Allotment<\/td><td>January 2027<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The earlier timelines of <strong>December 2026\u2013January 2027 for the Interview<\/strong> and <strong>January\u2013February 2027 for provisional allotment<\/strong> have been corrected. The official notification tentatively schedules the Interview for <strong>November\/December 2026<\/strong> and provisional allotment for <strong>January 2027<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Note: The exact registration and application closing dates will be confirmed only once IBPS releases the detailed notification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO Vacancy 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection has announced <strong>745 indicative vacancies<\/strong> 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\u201328 recruitment cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-apply-online-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>IBPS SO Apply Online<\/strong> <strong>&#8211; Check all Details here<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Selection Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The IBPS SO 2026 selection process consists of three stages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Preliminary Examination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Main Examination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interview<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Candidates must qualify at each stage to proceed to the next phase of the recruitment process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stage 1: Preliminary Examination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prelims marks are used only for shortlisting candidates for the Main Examination and are not considered while preparing the final merit list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stage 2: Main Examination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stage 3: Interview<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO Interview Qualifying Marks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Category<\/th><th>Minimum Qualifying Percentage<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>General and EWS<\/td><td>40%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>SC, ST, OBC and PwBD<\/td><td>35%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO Final Merit Formula<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The final combined score is calculated using the marks secured in the Main Examination and Interview in the following ratio:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Main Examination weightage: 80%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Interview weightage: 20%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preliminary Examination marks are not included in the final merit calculation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Eligibility Criteria<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Nationality\/Citizenship<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI notification, a candidate must be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A citizen of India; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A subject of Nepal; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A subject of Bhutan; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Age Limit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The IBPS SO 2026 age limit will be calculated as on <strong>1st July 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Minimum age: 20 years<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maximum age: 30 years<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Candidates must have been born between <strong>2nd July 1996 and 1st July 2006<\/strong>, with both dates included. The upper age limit may be relaxed for eligible reserved-category candidates in accordance with Government of India rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Age Relaxation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Category<\/th><th>Relaxation in Upper Age Limit<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Scheduled Caste\/Scheduled Tribe<\/td><td>5 years<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Other Backward Classes &#8211; Non-Creamy Layer<\/td><td>3 years<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Persons with Benchmark Disabilities<\/td><td>10 years<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ex-Servicemen, Commissioned Officers, including Emergency Commissioned Officers and Short Service Commissioned Officers who meet the prescribed conditions<\/td><td>5 years<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Persons affected by the 1984 riots<\/td><td>5 years<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Educational Qualification (Post-wise)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Candidates must possess the prescribed educational qualification for the post applied for as on <strong>21st July 2026<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Post<\/th><th>Educational Qualification<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>IT Officer (Scale I)<\/strong><\/td><td>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; <strong>or<\/strong> a postgraduate degree in Electronics, Electronics and Telecommunication, Electronics and Communication, Electronics and Instrumentation, Computer Science, Information Technology or Computer Applications; <strong>or<\/strong> graduation with DOEACC \u2018B\u2019 Level qualification.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I)<\/strong><\/td><td>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.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I)<\/strong><\/td><td>A postgraduate degree in Hindi with English as a subject at the degree or graduation level; <strong>or<\/strong> a postgraduate degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects at the degree or graduation level.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Law Officer (Scale I)<\/strong><\/td><td>A bachelor\u2019s degree in Law (LL.B.) and enrolment as an advocate with the Bar Council.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>HR\/Personnel Officer (Scale I)<\/strong><\/td><td>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.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Marketing Officer (Scale I)<\/strong><\/td><td>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.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The final result of the qualifying examination must have been declared on or before <strong>21st July 2026<\/strong>. Candidates must produce valid mark sheets, degree certificates and other supporting documents during the Interview or document-verification process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Application Fee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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 <strong>1st July and 21st July 2026<\/strong>, with both dates included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Category<\/th><th>Application Fee\/Intimation Charges<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>SC, ST and PwBD candidates<\/td><td>\u20b9175, inclusive of GST<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>All other candidates, including General, OBC and EWS<\/td><td>\u20b9850, inclusive of GST<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The fee must be paid through the online payment facility provided during the application process.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Candidates may use eligible online payment options such as debit cards, credit cards, internet banking, IMPS, cash cards, mobile wallets or UPI, subject to the options available on the payment gateway.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bank transaction charges for the online payment must be borne by the candidate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Candidates should retain the electronic receipt and a copy of the submitted application form after successful payment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The application fee or intimation charges are non-refundable and cannot be reserved for any other examination or selection process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Exam Pattern<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preliminary Exam &#8211; For Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Test<\/th><th>Number of Questions<\/th><th>Maximum Marks<\/th><th>Medium<\/th><th>Duration<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>English Language<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>English<\/td><td>20 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Reasoning<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>20 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>General Awareness with Special Reference to the Banking Industry<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>20 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Professional Knowledge<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>50<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>20 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Total<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>100<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>125<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td><strong>80 minutes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preliminary Exam &#8211; For IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR\/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Test<\/th><th>Number of Questions<\/th><th>Maximum Marks<\/th><th>Medium<\/th><th>Duration<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>English Language<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>English<\/td><td>20 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Reasoning<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>20 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Quantitative Aptitude<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>20 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Professional Knowledge<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>50<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>20 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Total<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>100<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>125<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td><strong>80 minutes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Main Exam &#8211; For IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR\/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Test<\/th><th>Number of Questions<\/th><th>Maximum Marks<\/th><th>Medium<\/th><th>Duration<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>English Language<\/td><td>30<\/td><td>30<\/td><td>English<\/td><td>25 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Reasoning<\/td><td>40<\/td><td>40<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>35 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Quantitative Aptitude<\/td><td>30<\/td><td>30<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>25 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Professional Knowledge (Objective)<\/td><td>50<\/td><td>100<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>40 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Total Objective Test<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>150<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>200<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td><strong>125 minutes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Descriptive Paper in English<\/td><td>2<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>English<\/td><td>30 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Grand Total<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>152<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>225<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td><strong>155 minutes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Main Exam &#8211; For Law Officer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Test<\/th><th>Number of Questions<\/th><th>Maximum Marks<\/th><th>Medium<\/th><th>Duration<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>English Language<\/td><td>30<\/td><td>30<\/td><td>English<\/td><td>25 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Reasoning<\/td><td>40<\/td><td>40<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>35 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>General Awareness with Special Reference to the Banking Industry<\/td><td>30<\/td><td>30<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>20 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Professional Knowledge (Objective)<\/td><td>50<\/td><td>100<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>45 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Total Objective Test<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>150<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>200<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td><strong>125 minutes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Descriptive Paper in English<\/td><td>2<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>English<\/td><td>30 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Grand Total<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>152<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>225<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td><strong>155 minutes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Main Exam &#8211; For Rajbhasha Adhikari<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Test<\/th><th>Number of Questions<\/th><th>Maximum Marks<\/th><th>Medium<\/th><th>Duration<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>English Language<\/td><td>30<\/td><td>30<\/td><td>English<\/td><td>25 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Reasoning<\/td><td>40<\/td><td>40<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>35 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>General Awareness with Special Reference to the Banking Industry<\/td><td>30<\/td><td>30<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>20 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Professional Knowledge (Objective)<\/td><td>50<\/td><td>100<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>45 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Total Objective Test<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>150<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>200<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td><strong>125 minutes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Professional Knowledge Descriptive Paper<\/td><td>2<\/td><td>25<\/td><td>English and Hindi<\/td><td>30 minutes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Grand Total<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>152<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>225<\/strong><\/td><td>\u2014<\/td><td><strong>155 minutes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Syllabus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prelims Syllabus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Reasoning<\/th><th>English Language<\/th><th>Quantitative Aptitude<\/th><th>General Awareness<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Puzzles and Seating Arrangements<\/td><td>Reading Comprehension<\/td><td>Simplification and Approximation<\/td><td>Banking and Financial Awareness<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Syllogism<\/td><td>Cloze Test<\/td><td>Quadratic Equations<\/td><td>Current Affairs<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Inequality<\/td><td>Para Jumbles<\/td><td>Data Interpretation<\/td><td>RBI and Banking Updates<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Blood Relations<\/td><td>Sentence Improvement<\/td><td>Number Series<\/td><td>Government Schemes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Direction and Distance<\/td><td>Fill in the Blanks<\/td><td>Ratio and Proportion<\/td><td>Financial Institutions<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Coding-Decoding<\/td><td>Error Detection<\/td><td>Average, Profit and Loss<\/td><td>Important National and International Events<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Input-Output<\/td><td>Vocabulary<\/td><td>Simple and Compound Interest<\/td><td>Static Banking Awareness<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Main Exam Syllabus &#8211; Professional Knowledge, Post-wise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>IT Officer:<\/strong> Database Management Systems, SQL, computer networks, operating systems, data structures, object-oriented programming, software engineering, web technologies, information security, cyber security and computer architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Agricultural Field Officer:<\/strong> Agronomy, soil science, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy science, agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, crop production, irrigation, fisheries, forestry and government agricultural schemes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Law Officer:<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>HR\/Personnel Officer:<\/strong> Human Resource Management, organisational behaviour, industrial relations, labour laws, recruitment, training and development, performance management, compensation management and employee welfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Marketing Officer:<\/strong> Principles of marketing, marketing management, consumer behaviour, market research, branding, advertising, sales management, product strategy, service marketing and digital marketing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Rajbhasha Adhikari:<\/strong> Hindi grammar, official language policy, translation from Hindi to English and English to Hindi, comprehension, vocabulary, essay writing and professional language usage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also Check:<\/strong> IBPS SO Exam Syllabus<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-syllabus\/\">https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-syllabus\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Application Process &#8211; Step-by-Step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visit the official IBPS website at ibps.in.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open the CRP Specialist Officers section and select the application link for CRP SPL-XVI.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click on the new-registration option and enter the required basic details.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Note the provisional registration number and password generated by the system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Complete the application form by entering personal, communication, educational and other required information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select the Specialist Officer post carefully. A candidate can apply for only one post under CRP SPL-XVI.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Upload the photograph, signature, left-thumb impression, handwritten declaration and other required documents in the prescribed format.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Capture or upload the live photograph, wherever required by the application portal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preview the completed application and verify every entry before final submission.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pay the applicable application fee or intimation charges through the online payment gateway.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Submit the application and save the electronic receipt and final application form for future reference.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Documents Required<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Candidates should keep the following documents and scanned files ready before starting the online application:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Recent passport-size photograph<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Live photograph, as required during registration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scanned signature<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scanned left-thumb impression<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scanned handwritten declaration in the prescribed wording<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Valid personal email ID and mobile number<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Educational qualification details and certificates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category certificate for SC, ST, OBC-NCL or EWS candidates, where applicable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PwBD certificate, where applicable<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Aadhaar card details or another valid identity document, as required<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ex-servicemen or other eligibility certificates, where applicable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Salary Structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Component<\/th><th>Details<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Starting Basic Pay<\/td><td>\u20b948,480<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Official Pay Scale<\/td><td>\u20b948,480\u20132000\/7\u2013\u20b962,480\u20132340\/2\u2013\u20b967,160\u20132680\/7\u2013\u20b985,920<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Allowances and Perquisites<\/td><td>Applicable according to the rules of the allotted participating bank<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Posting<\/td><td>Based on the administrative requirements and service conditions of the allotted bank<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO vs IBPS PO &#8211; Quick Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Factor<\/th><th>IBPS SO<\/th><th>IBPS PO<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Nature of Role<\/td><td>Specialist and domain-focused<\/td><td>General banking and managerial role<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Eligibility<\/td><td>Requires post-specific educational qualifications<\/td><td>Requires the prescribed general graduation qualification<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Posts<\/td><td>IT, Agriculture, Law, Rajbhasha, HR and Marketing<\/td><td>Probationary Officer\/Management Trainee<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Main Examination Focus<\/td><td>Professional Knowledge along with aptitude sections and a descriptive paper<\/td><td>Reasoning, banking awareness, data analysis, English and descriptive writing<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Career Profile<\/td><td>Work is generally related to the selected specialisation<\/td><td>Work may involve branch banking, operations, customer service, credit and administration<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Selection Process<\/td><td>Prelims, Mains and Interview<\/td><td>Prelims, Mains and subsequent selection stages prescribed for IBPS PO<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Preparation Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Begin Professional Knowledge preparation from the first day because the revised pattern includes it in both Prelims and Mains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Study Reasoning, English and Quantitative Aptitude or General Awareness according to the post applied for.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Practise with mock tests designed according to the revised 100-question, 80-minute Preliminary Examination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Follow sectional timing while attempting Prelims mock tests because every section has a separate duration of 20 minutes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prepare for the expanded Main Examination, which now includes 150 objective questions and a two-question descriptive paper.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Give priority to Professional Knowledge because it carries 50 marks in Prelims and 100 marks in the Mains objective test.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Practise descriptive writing regularly instead of postponing it until after the Preliminary Examination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Analyse every mock test to identify errors related to speed, accuracy, question selection and conceptual understanding.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Revise post-specific notes and important developments connected with the chosen professional discipline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prepare for the Interview by reviewing domain concepts, banking awareness, academic background and work experience, where applicable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start Your Preparation for the IBPS SO 2026 Exam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Preparation Resource<\/th><th>Action<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/ibps-so-test-series\/?ref=15824\">IBPS SO 2026 Prelims Free Mock Test<\/a><\/td><td>Sign up and attempt the mock test<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/ibps-so-test-series\/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fs1.practicemock.com%2Fexams%2F%3Fc%3Dtopiclrpre%26i%3Dbanking&amp;ref=15824\">IBPS SO 2026 Reasoning Topic Tests<\/a><\/td><td>Practise topic tests and improve performance<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/ibps-so-test-series\/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fs1.practicemock.com%2Fexams%2F%3Fc%3Dtopicqapre%26i%3Dbanking%23mtestdata&amp;ref=15824\">IBPS SO 2026 Quantitative Aptitude Topic Tests<\/a><\/td><td>Attempt topic-wise tests<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-previous-year-paper-with-detailed-solutions-download-free-pdf\/\">IBPS SO Previous Year Question Papers<\/a><\/td><td>Solve previous papers and assess preparation<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO 2026 Common Mistakes to Avoid<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Following the previous IBPS SO exam pattern instead of the revised CRP SPL-XVI pattern<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ignoring Professional Knowledge while preparing for the Preliminary Examination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preparing only Reasoning, English, Quantitative Aptitude or General Awareness for Prelims<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Not practising questions with the prescribed sectional time limits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Postponing preparation for the Main Examination until after the Prelims result<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ignoring the descriptive paper included in the revised Main Examination<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spending excessive time on qualifying sections while neglecting Professional Knowledge<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Applying for a post without checking the exact educational qualification requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Entering a qualification as equivalent even though the exact degree is not listed in the notification<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uploading an unclear photograph, signature, thumb impression or handwritten declaration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Not retaining the submitted application form and electronic payment receipt<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Depending on unverified vacancy, eligibility or exam-pattern information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.practicemock.com%2Fs1pricing%2Findex.php%3Fc%3Dpremium&amp;ref=15824\">Click Here to Get the Best Banking Courses for Your Exam Preparation<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Our Related Articles on IBPS SO<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Article<\/th><th>Article<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-salary\/\">IBPS SO Salary<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-cut-off\/\">IBPS SO Cut Off<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-exam-pattern-2026\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-exam-pattern-2026\/\">IBPS SO Exam Pattern<\/a> <\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-study-plan-2025\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-study-plan-2025\/\">IBPS SO Study Plan<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-syllabus\/\">IBPS SO Syllabus<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-previous-year-paper-with-detailed-solutions-download-free-pdf\/\">IBPS SO Previous Year Question Papers<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so\/\">IBPS SO Notification 2026<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicemock.com\/blog\/ibps-so-study-plan-2025-for-2-months-check-60-day-prelims-plan\/\">IBPS SO Study Plan<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">IBPS SO Notification 2026: FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When was the IBPS SO Notification 2026 released?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where can I download the IBPS SO Notification 2026 PDF?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Candidates can download the CRP SPL-XVI notification PDF from the Specialist Officers XVI section of the official IBPS website at ibps.in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How many vacancies have been announced for IBPS SO 2026?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>IBPS has announced a total of 745 indicative Specialist Officer vacancies under CRP SPL-XVI. These vacancies are for the 2027\u201328 recruitment cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the IBPS SO Prelims exam date for 2026?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The IBPS SO Preliminary Examination 2026 is scheduled for 29th August 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the IBPS SO Mains exam date for 2026?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The IBPS SO Main Examination 2026 is scheduled for 1st November 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Has the IBPS SO exam pattern changed in 2026?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What posts are covered under IBPS SO 2026?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the IBPS SO 2026 selection process?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a candidate apply for more than one IBPS SO post?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No. A candidate can apply for only one Specialist Officer post under CRP SPL-XVI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is there negative marking in the IBPS SO examination?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IBPS SO 2026 Notification out for IT, Law, Rajbhasha, HR, and Marketing Officer posts. Read this blog for more details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":203512,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,22,72],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-157388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ibps-so","category-banking-insurance","category-notification"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>IBPS SO Notification 2026 Out, Exam Date, Vacancy, Eligibility<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"IBPS SO 2026 Notification out for IT, Law, Rajbhasha, HR, and Marketing Officer posts. 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