About IBPS PO
IBPS PO (CRP PO) is conducted annually for recruitment of Probationary Officers / Management Trainees in 11 Public Sector Banks — Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Punjab National Bank, UCO Bank, and Union Bank of India. Selection is through three stages: Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview. Final merit is based on Mains (80%) + Interview (20%).
Key Facts
- Conducted by IBPS for 11 nationalized Public Sector Banks (not SBI/RBI)
- Three-stage selection: Prelims (qualifying) → Mains (merit) → Interview
- Final score = Mains 80% + Interview 20%
- Negative marking: −0.25 per wrong answer in both Prelims and Mains
- Mains includes a Descriptive paper (Letter + Essay, 25 marks, 30 min)
- Posting at any branch of the allotted bank across India (transferable)
- Probation period: 2 years from the date of joining
- Vacancies typically range between 3,500 – 5,000 every year
Eligibility Criteria
Age
20 to 30 years as on 01-Nov-2026. Relaxation: OBC +3 yrs, SC/ST +5 yrs, PwD +10 yrs, Ex-Servicemen as per rules.
Educational Qualification
Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university / institution (any stream — Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, Law, etc.).
Nationality
Indian citizen. Subjects of Nepal/Bhutan and Tibetan refugees settled before Jan 1, 1962 also eligible (with eligibility certificate).
Number of Attempts
No restriction specified; apply every year until age limit is reached.
Prelims — CBT (Qualifying)
60 min · 100 Qs · 100 Marks| Section / Module | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
- Individual time limit: English — 20 min; Quant — 20 min; Reasoning — 20 min
- 1 mark per correct answer; −0.25 per wrong answer
- Used only for shortlisting for Mains; score not added to final merit
- Sectional cut-offs apply — must clear each section separately
Mains — CBT + Descriptive
3h 30min · 155 Qs · 200 Marks (Obj) + 25 Marks (Desc)| Section / Module | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 |
| General Economy & Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| English Language (Obj) | 35 | 40 |
| English Language — Letter + Essay (Desc) | 2 | 25 |
- Reasoning & Computer Aptitude: 60 min | Data Analysis: 45 min | GA & Banking: 35 min | English (Obj): 40 min | Descriptive: 30 min
- −0.25 per wrong answer in objective sections; no negative marking in descriptive
- Descriptive paper evaluated only if candidate qualifies in objective sections
- Mains score carries 80% weightage in final merit
Interview
100 Marks · Carries 20% Weightage| Section / Module | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Interview (conducted by bank panels) | — | 100 |
- Minimum qualifying marks: UR/EWS — 40%; SC/ST/OBC/PwD — 35%
- Interview conducted at designated centres in the state of the bank's choice
- Final merit = Mains (scaled to 80) + Interview (scaled to 20)
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
- Puzzles — Linear, Circular, Floor/Box, Month-based Arrangements
- Coding-Decoding (new pattern), Blood Relations, Direction Sense
- Syllogism, Inequality, Statement-Conclusion, Statement-Assumption
- Input-Output, Order & Ranking, Miscellaneous Verbal Reasoning
- Computer Fundamentals — Hardware, Software, Operating Systems
- MS Office, Internet, Networking basics, Keyboard Shortcuts
- Number Systems, Database Concepts (DBMS basics), Cybersecurity awareness
Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Bar Graphs, Pie Charts, Line Graphs, Tabular DI, Mixed Graphs
- Missing DI, Caselet-based DI (paragraph form)
- Number Series (missing term & wrong number)
- Quadratic Equations, Approximation & Simplification
- Data Sufficiency (two-statement problems)
- Arithmetic — Percentage, Profit & Loss, Average, Ratio, SI/CI
- Time & Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Boats & Streams, Trains
- Permutation & Combination, Probability
English Language
- Reading Comprehension (long + short passages, antonym/synonym vocab)
- Error Detection (sentence correction, phrase replacement)
- Cloze Test (single blank and multiple blanks)
- Para Jumbles (sentence rearrangement)
- Word Usage (correct usage, contextual meaning)
- Fill in the Blanks (double fillers, grammar-based)
- Descriptive — Formal Letter Writing (complaint, request, application)
- Descriptive — Essay (current affairs / banking / social topics)
General Economy & Banking Awareness
- Indian Banking System — RBI, SEBI, IRDAI, PFRDA functions
- Monetary Policy, Repo Rate, Reverse Repo, CRR, SLR, Bank Rate
- Types of Accounts, Loans & Advances, NPA, SARFAESI Act
- Government Schemes — PM Jan Dhan, MUDRA, Skill India, PM Kisan
- Budget & Economic Survey highlights (latest)
- Financial Inclusion, Digital Banking, UPI, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS
- International Bodies — IMF, World Bank, ADB, BIS, SWIFT
- Current Affairs — last 6 months (appointments, awards, summits)
- Static Banking GK — Headquarters, Taglines, CEO of major banks
Popular Posts & Salary
| Post | Department | Pay Level | Approx. In-Hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probationary Officer (PO) | Bank of Baroda | JMGS-I (Scale I) | ~₹75,000–85,000 |
| Probationary Officer (PO) | Bank of India | JMGS-I (Scale I) | ~₹75,000–85,000 |
| Probationary Officer (PO) | Canara Bank | JMGS-I (Scale I) | ~₹75,000–85,000 |
| Probationary Officer (PO) | Punjab National Bank | JMGS-I (Scale I) | ~₹75,000–85,000 |
| Probationary Officer (PO) | Union Bank of India | JMGS-I (Scale I) | ~₹75,000–85,000 |
| Management Trainee (MT) | Indian Bank / Indian Overseas Bank | JMGS-I (Scale I) | ~₹75,000–85,000 |
| Probationary Officer (PO) | Central Bank / UCO Bank | JMGS-I (Scale I) | ~₹75,000–85,000 |
| Probationary Officer (PO) | Bank of Maharashtra / Punjab & Sind Bank | JMGS-I (Scale I) | ~₹75,000–85,000 |
In-hand varies by posting city (HRA) and applicable allowances. Figures are approximate for metro cities.
Important Dates
Notification Release
July – August 2026
IndicativeOnline Application Opens
August 2026
IndicativeApplication Closes
August – September 2026
IndicativePrelims Admit Card
2–3 weeks before exam
IndicativePreliminary Exam
October 2026
IndicativePrelims Result
October – November 2026
IndicativeMains Exam
November – December 2026
IndicativeMains Result + Scorecard
January 2027
IndicativeInterview
January – February 2027
IndicativeProvisional Allotment
April 2027
IndicativeDates marked "Indicative" reflect the standard annual cycle. Always verify the latest dates from the official website before acting.