The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has officially announced the IBPS PO 2026 exam dates for both Prelims and Mains. Candidates can now access the comprehensive exam schedule, admit card release updates, and critical recruitment details.
What is IBPS PO Exam Date 2026?
IBPS has released the official schedule for the IBPS PO 2026 recruitment. The Preliminary Examination is set to be conducted on August 22nd and 23rd, 2026, while the Main Examination is scheduled for October 4th, 2026. Successful qualifiers of the Prelims will proceed to the Mains, followed by the mandatory Personality Test and Interview rounds.
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. Candidates who identified errors in their submitted forms were provided an opportunity to rectify them via the official Correction Window.
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
IBPS has released the official notification containing the full exam calendar, category-wise IBPS PO 2026 vacancies, and the application portal link. The recruitment process comprises four distinct stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, Personality Test, and Final Interview. Download the official PDF notification below.
Download Official IBPS PO 2026 Notification PDF
IBPS PO Vacancy 2026 (Latest Data)
IBPS has issued an updated IBPS PO 2026 vacancy list. With the addition of 650 vacancies from Indian Bank, the total number of openings has increased, significantly enhancing prospects for aspirants. Review the latest bank-wise vacancy distribution 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 that they meet all eligibility requirements outlined in the IBPS PO 2026 Notification. Failure to satisfy these criteria at any stage will result in application rejection. Review the comprehensive IBPS PO eligibility standards below.
Nationality
The eligibility criteria for applicants are as follows:
- 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
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification 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.
Computer Literacy Requirement:
Proficiency in operating computer systems is mandatory, both for the professional responsibilities of the role and for completing the online IBPS PO examination.
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 are eligible to appear for the recruitment process repeatedly, provided they continue to meet the age and educational qualifications.
IBPS PO 2026 Selection Process
The selection process consists of four stages: Prelims, Mains, Personality Test, and Interview. Each stage must be successfully cleared to advance to the subsequent round.
| 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.
|
To qualify for final provisional allotment in participating banks, candidates must achieve the required scores in both the Mains Examination and the Interview.
IBPS PO 2026 Revised Exam Pattern
The official notification highlights updates to the Mains examination pattern. While the core structure remains, specific adjustments have been made to the marking scheme and section weightage.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern
The Preliminary exam consists of three sections: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. Candidates face 100 questions in 60 minutes. Note that each incorrect answer incurs a penalty of -0.25 marks.
| 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)
IBPS has revised the Mains exam pattern. The marks allocated to General Awareness, English, and Data Interpretation have been increased, and the total question count is now 170. The descriptive test 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 examination, candidates must complete a descriptive writing test worth 25 marks.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
| (Essay and Comprehension) | 2 | 25 | 30 Minutes |
Note: The Descriptive Paper may be evaluated via a validated automated scoring system designed to assess candidates’ writing proficiency based on specific quality metrics.
What are the Changes Made in Mains Exam Pattern?
Key modifications implemented by IBPS in the Mains exam structure for the PO position 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.
Also Check: IBPS PO Personality Test 2026
List of Participating Banks in IBPS PO
The recruitment process facilitates placements across several Public Sector Banks (PSBs).
- 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 Rs. 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920. Beyond the base salary, Probationary Officers receive allowances including DA, HRA, CCA, and medical benefits.
IBPS PO Probation Period
Selected candidates will undergo a 2-year probation period, which includes extensive practical training in core banking functions. Performance assessments will be conducted throughout this period to confirm permanent employment.
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 will release the 2026 admit cards for eligible candidates online. Call letters are typically issued 7–10 days before the scheduled Preliminary and Main examinations.
Candidates can download their admit cards using their Registration Number/Roll Number and password or Date of Birth. A physical copy of the admit card and a valid photo ID must be presented at the test center.
IBPS PO Previous Year Question Paper
Practicing previous year question papers is vital for success. Once the syllabus is complete, aspirants should solve past papers to gauge their readiness, identify weaknesses, and improve speed and accuracy under exam-time conditions.
Check All Papers: IBPS PO PYP PDF
IBPS PO Previous Year Cut Off Marks
The Prelims cut-off is calculated out of 100, while the Mains cut-off is based on 225 marks. In 2025, the qualifying scores were 49.21 (Prelims) and 75.75 (Mains). Achieving these targets requires a consistent and disciplined preparation strategy.
| 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 various designated centers. Candidates should choose their preferred locations carefully during the application process, as allotment is based on availability and candidate selection.
| 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?
IBPS PO is generally considered more accessible than SBI PO. SBI PO is often viewed as more challenging due to its higher difficulty level and rigorous selection format. Refer to our comparison table for detailed insights.
| 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 demands a smart strategy, persistent practice, and effective time management. Follow these essential tips to enhance your preparation 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, and the Mains exam is scheduled for October 4th, 2026.
The IBPS PO 2026 Mains exam is officially scheduled for October 4th, 2026.
IBPS has announced 7,565 indicative vacancies for the PO/MT roles under CRP PO/MT-XVI. This vacancy count represents a roughly 29% increase over the previous year.
The starting basic salary for an IBPS PO is ₹48,480, with an approximate in-hand monthly salary ranging between ₹74,000 and ₹76,000, depending on location and allowances.
Yes, IBPS has updated the Mains pattern, increasing the question count from 145 to 170 and modifying mark distribution across sections. The descriptive paper remains unaffected.
Yes, basic computer proficiency is mandatory as the exams are conducted digitally, and contemporary banking operations are highly computer-reliant.
Yes. Both the Preliminary and Main examinations include sectional cut-offs. Candidates must meet the minimum qualifying marks in each individual section.
Yes, it is possible to clear the exam in 3 months with a disciplined approach. Prioritize clearing basics, daily mock tests, consistent current affairs study, and sectional practice. Candidates who commit 6–8 hours of focused study daily can achieve high scores.
Candidates applying for the IBPS PO 2026 recruitment must fall within the age bracket of 20 to 30 years.
The IBPS PO 2026 recruitment involves 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, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, UCO Bank, and Union Bank of India.