IBPS has released the updated PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern for the 2026 Preliminary and Main examinations. Aspirants should thoroughly analyze the revised paper structure, marking schemes, and time allocations to streamline their study plan effectively.
IBPS PO Syllabus 2026
Success in the IBPS PO 2026 exam hinges on a crystal-clear understanding of the syllabus and exam structure. A strategic approach involves mastering subject-wise topics, marking criteria, and the core differences between the Prelims and Mains phases.
The IBPS PO selection process is rigorously designed to evaluate a candidate’s analytical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, English proficiency, and deep-seated awareness of the banking and financial landscape.
Latest Update: According to the official IBPS PO 2026 notification, the Mains examination pattern has undergone revisions. While total marks remain constant, there are significant adjustments to the marking scheme. Review the updated structure below.
IBPS PO Notification 2026: Apply for 6,715 Vacancies
IBPS PO Exam Syllabus 2026- Highlights
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Particular
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Details
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Exam Conducting Body
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Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, IBPS
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Name of Exam
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IBPS PO
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Post
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Probationary Officer (PO)
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Total Marks
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Duration of Exam
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Marking scheme
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1 mark each for every correct answer in the Online Test
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Negative marking
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1/4th of the marks assigned to the question in the MCQ
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Mode of Examination
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Online For Prelims & Mains
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Language of examination
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English OR Hindi
The English Language paper has to be attempted in English. |
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Prelims Exam Date
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22 and 23 August 2026
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Mains Exam Date
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4 October 2026
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Boost Your Rank: Attempt Daily IBPS PO Mock Tests
IBPS PO Selection Process 2026
The IBPS Probationary Officer (PO) recruitment process is conducted in three distinct stages, outlined as follows:
| Stage | Exam Pattern |
| Prelims Exam | Objective Test Total Marks: 100 |
| Mains Exam | Objective + Descriptive Test Total Marks: 225 (200 Objective + 25 Descriptive) |
| Interview | Candidates shortlisted based on the Mains score Minimum qualifying marks set by IBPS |
IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2026
IBPS has updated the recruitment structure for the 2026 cycle. While the total marks and negative marking policy remain consistent, the sectional mark weightage has been strategically realigned.
It is essential for candidates to familiarize themselves with the updated IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2026, focusing specifically on question counts, sectional time limits, and the marking scheme prior to their start of preparation.
Prelims Exam Pattern (Revised)
The Preliminary Exam pattern has been revised to better test candidate aptitude. Quantitative Aptitude is now weighted at 30 marks (previously 35), while Reasoning Ability has been increased to 40 marks (previously 35). English Language remains at 30 marks, maintaining the total at 100.
- The Prelims exam has three sections of a total duration of 1 Hour.
- There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
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IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern (New)
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Sr. No.
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Name of Tests
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No. of Questions
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Marks
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Medium of Exam
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Time Allotted
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1
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English Language
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30
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30
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English
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20 minutes
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2
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Quantitative Aptitude
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35
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30
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English and Hindi
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20 minutes
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3
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Reasoning Ability
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35
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40
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English and Hindi
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20 minutes
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Total
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100
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100
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60 Minutes (1 Hour)
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Mains Exam Pattern (Revised)
Key Changes in the Revised IBPS PO Mains Examination Pattern:
- Total Objective Questions increased from 145 to 170.
- Banking Awareness & Data Interpretation carry higher weightage.
- English section marks have been reduced (40 to 20), although the number of questions has increased.
- Total marks (225) and overall exam duration remain unchanged.
- A penalty of 0.25 marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer in the Objective Tests.
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IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026 (Objective) (Latest)
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| Sr. No. | Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam |
Time Allotted
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| 1 | Reasoning | 40 | 60 | English & Hindi |
45 Minutes
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| 2 | General/Economy/Banking Awareness/Digital/Financial Awareness (including RBI Circulars) | 50 | 60 | English & Hindi |
35 Minutes
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| 3 | English Language | 40 | 20 | English |
35 Minutes
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| 4 | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 | English & Hindi |
45 Minutes
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| Total | Objective Test | 170 | 200 | – |
160 Minutes
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IBPS PO Descriptive Paper 2026
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| Paper | Topics | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium |
Time Allotted
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| Descriptive Paper | Essay and Comprehension | 2 | 25 | English |
30 Minute
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IBPS PO 2026 Online Application Portal – Access Here
Important Update: The official notification states that the Descriptive Paper will be assessed via an automated evaluation system. This validated technology is designed to precisely analyze writing proficiency and linguistic accuracy.
IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2026
The comprehensive syllabus for the three-subject Preliminary Examination is detailed below:
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Reasoning Syllabus
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English Language Syllabus
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Quantitative Ability Syllabus
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Logical Reasoning
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Reading Comprehension
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Simplification
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Alphanumeric Series
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Cloze Test
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Profit & Loss
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Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test
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Para jumbles
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Mixtures & Allegations
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Data Sufficiency
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Word Usage, Word-Swap
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Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices
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Inequalities
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Fill in the blanks
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Work & Time
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Seating Arrangement
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Error Detection, Error Spotting
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Time & Distance
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Puzzle
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Paragraph Completion
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Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere
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Tabulation
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One word Substitution
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Data Interpretation
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Syllogism
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Miscellaneous
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Ratio & Proportion, Percentage
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Blood Relations
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–
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Number Systems
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Input-Output
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–
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Sequence & Series
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Coding-Decoding
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–
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Permutation, Combination &Probability
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IBPS PO Mains Syllabus
Candidates who meet the requisite cut-off marks in the Prelims will advance to the Mains Examination. The detailed sectional syllabus for the Mains is provided for your reference below.
Data Analysis and Interpretation Syllabus
- Simplification
- Average
- Percentage
- Mixture and Allegations
- Ratio and Proportion
- Data Interpretation
- Mensuration and Geometry
- Quadratic Equation
- Interest
- Problems of Ages
- Profit and Loss
- Number Series
- Speed, Distance, and Time
- Time and Work
- Number System
- Data Sufficiency
- Linear Equation
- Permutation and Combination
- Probability
General Awareness and Economy/Banking Awareness Syllabus
- Financial Awareness
- Banking Awareness
- Banking Reforms
- Monetary Policy
- Fiscal Policy
- Budget and Economic Survey
- RBI Reports and Indices
- International Organisation Reports
- Static Banking Terms (CRR, SLR, Repo Rate, etc.)
- Financial Institutions (RBI, NABARD, SEBI, IMF, World Bank, etc.)
- Government Schemes and Initiatives
- Current Affairs (National and International Importance)
- Economy Basics (Inflation, GDP, Growth, etc.)
- Capital Market and Money Market
- Digital Banking and Payment Systems (UPI, NEFT, RTGS, etc.)
- Insurance and Financial Products
- Important Committees and Reports
- Banking Abbreviations and Terminologies
- General Knowledge
Reasoning Syllabus
- Verbal Reasoning
- Syllogism
- Circular Seating Arrangement
- Code Inequalities
- Linear Seating Arrangement
- Double Lineup
- Scheduling
- Input-Output
- Blood Relations
- Directions and Distances
- Ordering and Ranking
- Data Sufficiency
- Coding and Decoding
English Language Syllabus
- Reading Comprehension
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- One Word Substitution
- Verbal Ability
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles (Sentence Rearrangement)
- Fill in the Blanks
- Error Detection (Error Spotting)
- Sentence Improvement
- Word Swap
- Column-Based Questions
- Match the Following (Sentence Connectors)
- Para Completion
- Sentence Connectors
- Phrase Replacement
- Idioms and Phrases
IBPS PO Mains Descriptive Test
The Descriptive Paper evaluates writing skills, carrying 25 marks for essay and comprehension tasks. Below are common themes and frequently recurring topics from previous years.
| Expected Essay topics: |
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Some Previous Year Essay Topics asked:
- Demonetisation and its impact on the Indian Economy
- Financial Inclusion in Rural India
- Role of Technology in Banking
- Impact of Social Media on Youth
- Women Empowerment and Economic Growth
- Digital India Initiative
- Cryptocurrency and its Future in India
High-Weightage Topics in IBPS PO Syllabus
Effective preparation requires more than just knowing the syllabus; it requires a focus on high-yield topics. By analyzing historical IBPS PO trends, you can identify high-weightage sections to boost your score efficiently.
| Subject |
High-Weightage Topics (Range from 5-10 Questions)
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| Reasoning Ability |
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Inequality, Blood Relations, Direction Sense
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| Quantitative Aptitude |
Data Interpretation (DI), Simplification/Approximation, Number Series, Quadratic Equations
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| English Language |
Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Fillers, Vocabulary & Word Swap
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| General/Economy/Banking Awareness (Mains) |
Current Affairs (Last 4–6 Months), Banking & Financial Awareness, RBI Updates, Government Schemes, Budget & Economic Survey, Banking Terms, Reports & Indices
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| Descriptive Test (Mains) |
Essay Writing (Current Affairs, Banking, Economy, Social Issues), Letter Writing (Formal & Informal)
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IBPS PO Interview 2026
Successful Mains candidates proceed to the Interview stage, coordinated by Nodal Banks and IBPS. The Interview carries a total weightage of 100 marks.
- The minimum qualifying marks in the interview will not be less than 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PWBD candidates).
- The weightage (ratio) of the IBPS PO Online Main Exam and interview will be 80:20, respectively.
How to Prepare for IBPS PO Exam?
To excel in the IBPS PO 2026 exam, candidates should adopt a structured preparation strategy. Below, we outline essential tips for your study roadmap.
- Start by thoroughly understanding the syllabus, which includes sections like Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, English Language, and General Awareness.
- Make a schedule, adding all the topics and weekly or daily goals.
- Create a study plan that allocates time for each section based on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Join IBPS PO Online Coaching if you need assistance.
- Practice with IBPS PO Mock Test and IBPS PO Previous Year Question Paper to improve speed and accuracy.
- Focus on time management and regularly review your progress to ensure comprehensive preparation.
FAQs
The IBPS PO curriculum encompasses Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, Banking/Financial Awareness, Data Analysis & Interpretation, and a specialized Descriptive Test.
While the Prelims and Mains share overlapping foundations, the Mains exam requires higher-level conceptual application, including advanced Data Interpretation, Banking Awareness, and the Descriptive section.
High-priority Quantitative Aptitude topics include Simplification, Data Interpretation, Profit & Loss, Percentages, Ratio, Time & Work, Speed/Distance, Probability, Permutations, and Number Series.
The Banking Awareness section emphasizes RBI guidelines, financial reforms, monetary policy, fiscal frameworks, digital banking trends, and current economic affairs.
Yes, the Mains exam features a 25-mark Descriptive Test requiring candidates to complete essay and letter/comprehension writing in English.
To score well in General Awareness, prioritize banking news, RBI policy updates, government schemes, union budget highlights, and key international economic reports.
Download the official IBPS PO 2026 Syllabus PDF directly from the official IBPS website or via our updated link once the notification is published.
While difficulty is subjective, most aspirants find the Reasoning Ability and Data Analysis & Interpretation sections the most demanding due to their complexity and time-sensitive nature.
A consistent 4 to 6-month preparation timeline is typically recommended to cover the syllabus, perform revisions, and master mock exam strategies.
Recommended resources include R.S. Aggarwal for Quantitative and Reasoning, S.P. Bakshi for English, and reliable daily current affairs platforms to stay updated on financial trends.