The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has officially released the IBPS PO 2026 exam schedule for Prelims and Mains. Aspirants can now view the confirmed dates, admit card release timelines, and PET details.
What is IBPS PO Exam Date 2026?
IBPS has finalized the exam calendar for the 2026 recruitment cycle. The Preliminary Examination is set for August 22nd and 23rd, 2026, while the Main Examination is scheduled for October 4th, 2026. Qualifying candidates will progress through the Mains and a final Interview round to secure their positions.
IBPS PO Important Dates 2026
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release | 30th June 2026 |
| Apply Online Starts | 1st July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 26th July 2026 |
| Application Fee Payment | 26th July 2026 |
| Application Correction/Modification window | 29th to 30th July 2026 |
| Pre-Exam Training | August 2026 |
| Prelims Admit Card | August 2026 |
| IBPS PO Prelims Exam Date |
22 & 23 August 2026
|
| Prelims Result | September 2026 |
| Mains Admit Card | September 2026 |
| IBPS PO Mains Exam Date | 4 October 2026 |
| Interview |
November/December 2026
|
| Final Result |
January 2027
|
The IBPS PO 2026 application window was open from July 29th to July 30th, 2026. Applicants who identified errors in their submissions can utilize the official Correction Window to update permitted details..
IBPS PO 2026 Recruitment: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Exam Name | IBPS PO 2026 |
| Conducting Body |
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
|
| Post Name |
Probationary Officer (PO)/Management Trainee (MT)
|
| Recruitment Cycle |
CRP PO/MT-XVI
|
| Total Participating PSBs | 11 |
| Vacancy | 7565 (Revised) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Dates | Over |
| Age Limit | 20 to 30 years |
| Qualification | Bachelor’s degree in any stream |
| Basic Salary | Rs. 48,480/- (plus allowances and deductions) |
| Selection Process |
Prelims, Mains, Personality Test, Interview
|
| Job Location | Across India |
| Official Website | www.ibps.in |
IBPS PO Notification 2026 PDF
The official IBPS PO 2026 notification provides comprehensive details regarding the exam schedule, category-wise vacancy distribution, and the online registration process. The recruitment comprises four stages: Prelims, Mains, Personality Test, and Interview. Use the link below to download the official PDF.
Download the Official IBPS PO 2026 Notification PDF
IBPS PO Vacancy 2026 (Latest Data)
IBPS has released a revised vacancy list for IBPS PO 2026. With an additional 650 openings confirmed by Indian Bank, the total vacancy count has climbed significantly, improving job prospects for applicants. Review the updated bank-wise vacancy chart in the official notification.
Category-wise Vacancy
| Category | Vacancies |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 1,131 |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 562 |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 2,015 |
| EWS (Economically Weaker Section) | 721 |
| UR (Unreserved) | 2,936 |
| Total | 7,365 |
Bank-wise Vacancy
| Sr. No. | Participating Bank | SC | ST | OBC (NCL) | EWS | UR | Total Vacancies |
| 1 | Bank of Baroda | 285 | 142 | 513 | 190 | 770 | 1900 |
| 2 | Bank of India | 75 | 37 | 135 | 50 | 203 | 500 |
| 3 | Bank of Maharashtra | 165 | 82 | 297 | 110 | 446 | 1100 |
| 4 | Canara Bank | 225 | 112 | 405 | 150 | 608 | 1500 |
| 5 | Central Bank of India | 75 | 37 | 135 | 50 | 203 | 500 |
| 6 | Indian Bank | 122 | 60 | 199 | 52 | 217 | 650 |
| 7 | Indian Overseas Bank | 84 | 41 | 148 | 54 | 223 | 550 |
| 8 | Punjab National Bank | 76 | 38 | 136 | 50 | 204 | 504 |
| 9 | Punjab & Sind Bank | 24 | 13 | 47 | 15 | 62 | 161 |
| 10 | UCO Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| 11 | Union Bank of India | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Total | All Participating Banks | 1131 | 562 | 2015 | 721 | 2936 | 7565 |
Last 4 Years IBPS PO Vacancy Trends
|
Year
|
Vacancies (Initial)
|
|
2026
|
7,365 |
|
2025
|
5,208
|
|
2024
|
4,455
|
|
2023
|
3,049
|
|
2022
|
6,432
|
IBPS PO 2026 Eligibility
Before applying, candidates must verify they meet all eligibility criteria outlined in the IBPS PO 2026 notification. Non-compliance at any stage will lead to application rejection. Review the full eligibility requirements below.
Nationality
The eligibility criteria for IBPS PO applicants include:
- A Citizen of India
- The subject of Nepal or Bhutan
- A Tibetan refugee who permanently settled in India before January 1, 1962
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zaire, or Zambia, intending to reside in India permanently.
Educational Qualification
Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in any stream from a recognized university or an equivalent institution approved by the Government of India.
- Applicants must possess a valid mark sheet or degree certificate proving their graduate status on the day of registration and must provide the percentage of marks obtained in their graduation while registering for the IBPS Bank-PO exam.
Technical Proficiency:
Candidates must possess basic computer literacy, as the IBPS PO examination is conducted exclusively in an online format and daily banking tasks require system familiarity.
Age Limit (1/7/2026)
| Criteria | Age |
| Minimum Age | 20 Years |
| Maximum Age | 30 Years |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
| SC/ST | 5 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years |
| PwBD | 10 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 5 Years |
| Persons affected by 1984 riots | 5 Years |
|
Widows/Divorced Women
|
9 years
|
|
Persons with Domicile of Jammu &Kashmir during the period of 1-1-1980 to 31-12-1989
|
5 years
|
|
Regular Employees of Union Carbide Factory, Bhopal, retrenched from service(for the MP state only)
|
5 years
|
IBPS PO Number of Attempts
There is no limit on the number of attempts for the IBPS PO exam. Candidates may appear as many times as they wish, provided they remain within the specified age limits.
IBPS PO 2026 Selection Process
The selection process consists of four distinct stages: Prelims, Mains, Personality Test, and Interview. Passing each stage is mandatory to proceed in the recruitment.
| Stage | Details |
| Stage 1: Preliminary Exam (Qualifying) |
The Preliminary Exam includes English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. Candidates must secure both sectional and overall cut-off marks to qualify for the Mains Exam. The marks obtained in the Prelims are not considered for the final merit list.
|
| Stage 2: Mains Exam |
Candidates who qualify the Prelims appear for the Mains Exam, which consists of Objective and Descriptive Tests. Both sectional and overall cut-offs apply. Marks obtained in the Mains are considered for the final merit list.
|
| Stage 3: Personality Test |
Candidates shortlisted after the Mains Exam must appear for the Personality Test (Self-Report). It is mandatory but non-qualifying. The personality profile generated through this test is shared with the Interview Panel to assist in the assessment. Candidates who do not appear for the Personality Test will not be eligible for the Interview.
|
| Stage 4: Interview |
Candidates who qualify for the Mains Exam and complete the Personality Test are called for the Interview, which is conducted by the participating banks. The Interview carries 100 marks. The minimum qualifying marks are 40% for General/EWS candidates and 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates. The final merit list is prepared by giving 80% weightage to the Mains Exam and 20% weightage to the Interview.
|
Candidates must clear both the Mains examination and the final Interview to qualify for the provisional allotment process across participating public sector banks.
IBPS PO 2026 Revised Exam Pattern
The latest IBPS PO notification confirms adjustments to the Mains exam pattern. These updates primarily involve shifting the marking scheme rather than changing the fundamental structure of the test.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern
The Prelims paper consists of English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. The exam features 100 questions totaling 100 marks, to be completed in 60 minutes, with a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes |
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern (Latest)
The Mains exam pattern has been revised: marks for General Awareness, English, and Data Interpretation have been increased, raising the total question count to 170. The descriptive section format remains unchanged.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|
Reasoning
|
40
|
60
|
45 minutes
|
|
General/Economy/Banking Awareness/Digital/ Financial Awareness, including RBI circulars
|
50 |
60
|
35 minutes
|
|
English Language
|
40 |
20
|
35 minutes
|
|
Data Analysis & Interpretation
|
40 |
60
|
45 minutes
|
| Total | 170 | 200 | 160 minutes |
Descriptive Test
In addition to the objective Mains exam, candidates must complete a 25-mark descriptive writing test.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
| (Essay and Comprehension) | 2 | 25 | 30 Minutes |
Note: The Descriptive Paper may be evaluated via a validated automated scoring system based on specific writing quality benchmarks.
What are the Changes Made in Mains Exam Pattern?
Key updates to the IBPS PO Mains examination structure include:
- The total number of objective questions has been increased from 145 to 170.
- The English Language section now includes more questions, but its maximum marks have been reduced from 40 to 20.
- Banking Awareness and Data Analysis & Interpretation now have greater weightage in the Mains Exam.
See Also: Complete Guide to the IBPS PO 2026 Personality Test
List of Participating Banks in IBPS PO
This recruitment covers vacancies across the following public sector banks:
- Bank of Baroda
- Bank of India
- Bank of Maharashtra
- Canara Bank
- Central Bank of India
- Indian Bank
- Indian Overseas Bank
- Punjab National Bank
- Punjab & Sind Bank
- UCO Bank
- Union Bank of India
IBPS PO Salary 2026
The revised IBPS PO pay scale is set at Rs. 48,480-2,000/7-62,480-2,340/2-67,160-2,680/7-85,920. Starting basic pay is Rs. 48,480, supplemented by allowances including DA, HRA, CCA, and comprehensive medical benefits.
IBPS PO Probation Period
Newly appointed Probationary Officers undergo a 2-year probation period. During this time, they receive specialized banking training and are evaluated on their performance before confirmation as permanent staff.
IBPS PO Career Growth Stages
Probationary Officer (PO)
↓
Manager
↓
Senior Manager
↓
Assistant General Manager
↓
Deputy General Manager
↓
General Manager (TEGS-VII)
IBPS PO 2026 Admit Card
IBPS issues admit cards online for all eligible candidates. Call letters are typically released 7–10 days prior to the Prelims and Mains examinations.
Download your admit card via the official portal using your Registration Number and Password/DOB. You must carry a printed copy and a valid government photo ID to your assigned exam center.
IBPS PO Previous Year Question Paper
Solving previous year IBPS PO question papers is vital for effective preparation. It helps candidates gauge the difficulty level, master time management, and identify key areas for improvement before the actual exam.
Access Previous Papers: Download IBPS PO PYP PDF
IBPS PO Previous Year Cut Off Marks
The Prelims cut-off is based on 100 marks, while the Mains is based on 225 marks. In 2025, the cut-offs were 49.21 (Prelims) and 75.75 (Mains). Achieving these scores requires a consistent and strategic study plan.
| Category | Prelims Cut Off (Out of 100) | Mains Cut Off (Out of 225) |
| General (GEN) | 49.21 | 75.75 |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) | 49.21 | 75.75 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 49.21 | 72.5 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 45.96 | 59 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 40.96 | 51.75 |
| Hearing Impaired (HI) | 20.61 | 38.75 |
| Orthopaedically Challenged (OC) | 33.57 | 50.75 |
| Visually Impaired (VI) | 21.65 | 45 |
| Intellectual Disability (ID) | 21.83 | 35.75 |
How to fill out the IBPS PO Form?
- Visit the official IBPS website and click on the CRP PO/MT XVI link.
- Click on “New Registration” and enter your basic details to create your account.
- Upload a live photo, Signature, and latest passport-size photo.
- Now, fill in your personal, educational, communication, and other required details carefully.
- Preview the application form and verify all the information before final submission.
- Upload left thumb impression, handwritten declaration, and 10th pass/SLCC certificate.
- Pay the application fee through the available online payment options.
- Submit the application form and download or print the confirmation page and e-receipt for future reference.
IBPS PO Registration Fee
- SC/ST/PWBD: Rs. 175/-
- Others: Rs. 850/-
IBPS PO Exam Centre List (Prelims+Mains)
The examinations will be held at designated centers across the country. Candidates should select their preferred location carefully during the registration process, as seat allocation is based on availability and candidate choice.
| State/UT/NCR | Preliminary Centres |
Main Centres
|
| Andaman & Nicobar | Port Blair | Port Blair |
| Andhra Pradesh | Ananthapur, Chirala, Guntur/Vijayawada, Kadapa, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Ongole, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram |
Guntur/Vijayawada, Kurnool, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram
|
| Arunachal Pradesh | Naharlagun | Naharlagun |
| Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur |
Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar
|
| Bihar | Arrah, Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea |
Arrah, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea
|
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh/Mohali |
Chandigarh/Mohali
|
| Chhattisgarh | Bhilai/Bhilai Nagar, Bilaspur, Raipur |
Bhilai/Bhilai Nagar, Bilaspur, Raipur
|
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu | Surat | Surat |
| Delhi/NCR | Delhi/New Delhi/Delhi NCR, Faridabad, Ghaziabad |
Delhi/New Delhi/Delhi NCR, Faridabad, Ghaziabad
|
| Goa | Panaji | Panaji |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, Anand, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat/Bardoli, Vadodara |
Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Surat/Bardoli, Vadodara
|
| Haryana | Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Kurukshetra |
Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Kurukshetra
|
| Himachal Pradesh | Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, Una |
Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Shimla, Una
|
| Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu, Samba, Srinagar |
Jammu, Samba, Srinagar
|
| Jharkhand | Bokaro, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi |
Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi
|
| Karnataka | Bengaluru, Belagavi (Belgaum), Kalaburagi (Gulbarga), Dharwad/Hubballi (Hubli), Mangaluru (Mangalore), Mysuru (Mysore), Shivamogga (Shimoga), Udupi |
Bengaluru, Belagavi (Belgaum), Dharwad/Hubballi (Hubli), Kalaburagi (Gulbarga), Mangaluru (Mangalore), Mysuru (Mysore), Shivamogga (Shimoga), Udupi
|
| Kerala | Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kannur, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur |
Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur
|
| Ladakh | Leh, Kargil | Leh, Kargil |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti | Kavaratti |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar, Satna, Ujjain |
Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Satna, Ujjain
|
| Maharashtra | Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad), Chandrapur, Dhule, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai/Thane/Navi Mumbai/MMR, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Solapur, Sangli, Satara |
Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad), Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Mumbai/Thane/Navi Mumbai/MMR, Nagpur, Nanded, Pune
|
| Manipur | Churachandpur, Imphal, Kakching, Thoubal |
Churachandpur, Imphal, Kakching, Thoubal
|
| Meghalaya | Shillong, Tura | Shillong, Tura |
| Mizoram | Aizawl | Aizawl |
| Nagaland | Kohima, Dimapur |
Kohima, Dimapur
|
| Odisha | Balasore, Berhampur (Ganjam), Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sambalpur |
Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur
|
| Puducherry | Puducherry | Puducherry |
| Punjab | Amritsar, Bathinda, Mohali, Patiala, Phagwara |
Amritsar, Bathinda, Mohali, Patiala, Phagwara
|
| Rajasthan | Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur |
Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Sikar, Udaipur
|
| Sikkim | Gangtok | Gangtok |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Kanchipuram, Madurai, Namakkal, Nagercoil/Kanyakumari, Salem, Thanjavur, Thiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Virudhunagar, Tiruppur |
Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Namakkal, Salem, Thiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Virudhunagar
|
| Telangana | Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal |
Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Warangal
|
| Tripura | Agartala | Agartala |
| Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Ayodhya, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Noida/Greater Noida, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Varanasi |
Ghaziabad, Noida/Greater Noida, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Varanasi
|
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee |
Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee
|
| West Bengal | Asansol, Burdwan, Hooghly, Kalyani, Durgapur, Kolkata/Greater Kolkata, Siliguri |
Asansol, Durgapur, Kalyani, Kolkata/Greater Kolkata, Siliguri
|
Is IBPS PO Tougher than SBI PO?
The IBPS PO exam is generally perceived as more accessible than the SBI PO. SBI PO is considered more challenging due to its rigorous selection process and difficulty level. Review the comparison table below for a deeper analysis.
| Basis | IBPS PO | SBI PO |
| Overall Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult |
Generally considered more difficult
|
| Vacancy Availability | More vacancies than SBI PO |
Lesser than IBPS PO; hence, high competition
|
| Reasoning & Data Interpretation | Moderate to difficult |
Usually more lengthy and complex
|
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains, Personality Test, and Interview |
Prelims, Mains, Psychometric Test, Group Exercise, and Interview
|
| Competition | High due to recruitment in multiple public sector banks |
Very high because of the popularity and reputation of SBI
|
How to Prepare for IBPS PO Exam?
Success in the IBPS PO exam relies on smart preparation, daily mock test practice, and effective time management. Implement these proven strategies to enhance your performance:
- Strengthen your basics first, especially for Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude.
- For English, you can start with reading newspapers or editorials to understand the language flow and how to use it.
- After your basics are clear, you can solve MCQs from the standard books, previous year papers, or mock tests.
- Along with solving MCQs, it is important to analyse your mistakes, weaknesses & strengths, where you need to improve and how to score more.
- Read topper strategies (not too many) and personalise the preparation strategy according to your needs.
- If you are a SC/ST candidate and opted for PET, then appear for the test to get acquainted with the exam.
- Always keep an eye on the IBPS website for daily updates and latest announcements.
FAQs
The IBPS PO Prelims exam is scheduled for August 22nd and 23rd, 2026, while the Mains examination is set for October 4th, 2026.
The IBPS PO 2026 Mains exam will be conducted on October 4th, 2026.
IBPS has announced 7,565 indicative vacancies for the PO/MT roles under CRP PO/MT-XVI, marking a 29% increase in openings compared to the previous year.
The base salary for an IBPS PO starts at ₹48,480, with an estimated in-hand monthly salary ranging from ₹74,000 to ₹76,000, factoring in location and relevant allowances.
Yes. The Mains exam pattern has been updated, increasing the total questions from 145 to 170 and adjusting the marking distribution. The descriptive section remains unchanged.
Yes. Basic computer proficiency is mandatory as the exams are computer-based, and modern banking operations are heavily reliant on digital systems.
Yes. Both the Preliminary and Main examinations include sectional cut-offs. You must pass each subject section to qualify for the final merit list.
Yes, clearing the IBPS PO exam in three months is possible with a disciplined, strategic approach. Focus on mastering the basics, daily mock tests, and current affairs. 6-8 hours of dedicated daily study is recommended to achieve a high score.
Applicants for the IBPS PO 2026 recruitment must be between 20 and 30 years of age.
The 2026 recruitment features 11 participating public sector banks: Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, PNB, Punjab & Sind Bank, UCO Bank, and Union Bank of India.