IBPS has officially released the updated IBPS PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern for 2026. Aspiring candidates should thoroughly examine the latest marking scheme, question distribution, and time structure to build an effective study plan.
IBPS PO Syllabus 2026
A strategic approach to the IBPS PO Syllabus 2026 begins with a deep understanding of the official exam pattern. By analyzing the subject-wise weightage and the specific structure of both Prelims and Mains, you can prioritize high-yield topics to maximize your score.
The IBPS PO examination tests your logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude, language proficiency, and financial awareness. While the Preliminary exam is the gateway for screening, final merit is determined by the combined scores of the Mains and Interview process in an 80:20 ratio.
Latest Update: The IBPS PO 2026 notification introduces key revisions to the Mains exam pattern. While total marks remain constant, specific adjustments to the marking scheme have been implemented. See the detailed breakdown below.
IBPS PO Notification 2026 Released: 6715 Vacancies Announced
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 selection process for the Probationary Officer position consists of three distinct stages as outlined below:
| 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 refined the IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2026 for both stages. Although the total marks and negative marking criteria are unchanged, the allocation of questions per section has been updated. It is essential to review these changes to optimize your time management during the test.
Prelims Exam Pattern (Revised)
Under the updated IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026, marks are distributed differently across core subjects. Reasoning Ability carries 40 marks, Quantitative Aptitude is set at 30 marks, and the English Language section accounts for 30 marks, maintaining an aggregate of 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 Modifications in the Revised 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 | Max. Marks | Medium | Duration |
| 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 Min.
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IBPS PO Descriptive Paper 2026
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| Paper | Topics | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Medium | Duration |
| Descriptive Paper | Essay and Comprehension | 2 | 25 | English |
30 Minute
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Apply Online for IBPS PO 2026 – Click Here
Important Notice: The official notification specifies that the Descriptive Paper will be assessed via an automated evaluation system. This advanced, validated system is engineered to objectively measure your writing proficiency and analytical communication skills.
IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2026
The syllabus for the Preliminary Examination, covering all three core subjects, 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 successfully cross the IBPS PO Prelims cut-off will proceed to the Mains Examination. A comprehensive breakdown of the section-wise syllabus for the Mains stage is provided 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 Test evaluates your writing abilities through an essay and letter/comprehension task worth 25 marks. Key themes from recent exams are outlined below to help you prepare effectively.
| 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
Understanding the syllabus is only the first step; identifying exam trends is vital. Based on previous IBPS PO papers, certain topics consistently hold higher weightage. Focusing on these core areas will significantly improve your efficiency and overall exam performance.
| 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
Candidates clearing the Mains stage will be invited for an Interview, organized by the Nodal Bank and coordinated by the IBPS. The Interview carries a maximum 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 examination, candidates should adopt a structured preparation strategy. Below are expert-recommended tips to guide your study routine.
- 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 complete IBPS PO curriculum encompasses Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, General Awareness, Data Interpretation, and the mandatory Descriptive Test.
While the core subjects remain similar, the Mains syllabus requires a deeper conceptual understanding and includes advanced sections like Banking Awareness, Data Analysis, and Interpretation.
Critical Quantitative Aptitude topics include Data Interpretation, Simplification, Profit and Loss, Percentages, Ratios, Time and Work, Distance, Probability, Permutations, and Number Series.
The Banking Awareness section encompasses RBI functions, financial reforms, monetary policy, fiscal structures, digital banking trends, key government schemes, and relevant current economic developments.
Yes, the IBPS PO Mains includes a mandatory 25-mark Descriptive Test, where candidates demonstrate their writing proficiency through essays and comprehension tasks in English.
Focus your preparation on banking news, RBI updates, government welfare schemes, annual budget highlights, economic surveys, and global reports issued by major financial institutions.
You can download the official IBPS PO 2026 Syllabus PDF directly from the official website or via the link provided in this guide once it is officially released.
While difficulty levels are subjective, Data Analysis, Interpretation, and Reasoning Ability are frequently cited as the most time-intensive and challenging sections.
A consistent 4 to 6-month preparation schedule is generally recommended to master the full IBPS PO syllabus, conduct multiple revisions, and practice mock tests effectively.
Recommended study materials include Quantitative Aptitude by R.S. Aggarwal, Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi, Reasoning books by R.S. Aggarwal, and reliable resources for banking awareness and daily current events.