IBPS has released the official IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 notification (CRP SPL-XVI) for 1,035 Specialist Officer vacancies across Agriculture, Law, Marketing, IT, HR, and Rajbhasha departments. Review all essential details, including post-wise vacancies, eligibility standards, salary structure, updated exam patterns, and the complete application process.
IBPS SO Notification 2026 Out
Qualified candidates are invited to apply for various specialized roles, including IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari. Applicants must meet specific educational requirements, such as an MBA, B.Tech/Computer Science degree, Agriculture degree, LLB, or a relevant postgraduate degree in Hindi or English, tailored to their chosen post.
The rigorous selection process involves a Preliminary Exam, a Main Exam, and a final Interview. With the exam pattern now revised for better assessment, candidates should familiarize themselves with the specific requirements for each Specialist Officer role listed below.
- Information and Technology
- Agricultural Field
- Law
- HR/Personnel
- Rajbhasha Adhikari fields.
Download Official IBPS SO 2026 Notification PDF
IBPS SO 2026 Exam- Highlights
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Particulars
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Details
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Exam Name
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IBPS SO 2026 (CRP SPL XVI)
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Conducting Body
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Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
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Posts
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IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, Law Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari
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| Vacancy | 1035 (Revised) |
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Online Registration Dates
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1st to 26th July 2026 (Extended) |
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Qualification
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Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (varies by post)
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| Age Limit | 20 to 30 years |
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Selection Process
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Preliminary, Mains, and Interview
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Negative Marking
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0.25 mark |
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Pay Scale
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Rs. 48,480–2000/7–62,480–2340/2–67,160–2680/7–85,920
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Official Website
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www.ibps.in
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IBPS SO Vacancy 2026 (Revised)
IBPS has officially increased the Specialist Officer (Scale I) vacancy count from 745 to 1,035 to strengthen recruitment across participating public sector banks. Please refer to the table below for the latest category-wise breakdown of these positions.
| Post | Previous Vacancies | Revised Vacancy |
| IT Officer | 301 | 376 |
| Agriculture Field Officer | 190 | 370 |
| Law Officer | 105 | 125 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari | 89 | 94 |
| HR/Personnel Officer | 60 | 60 |
| Marketing Officer | 0 | 10 |
| Total | 745 | 1035 |
IBPS SO Bank-wise Vacancy Details (Latest)
| Participating Bank | Agricultural Field Officer | HR/ Personnel Officer | IT Officer | Law Officer | Marketing Officer | Rajbhasha Adhikari | Total |
| Bank of Baroda | 100 | 50 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 167 |
| Bank of India | 0 | 0 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 120 |
| Bank of Maharashtra | 90 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Canara Bank | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 20 | 50 |
| Central Bank of India | 0 | 0 | 50 | 30 | 0 | 31 | 111 |
| Indian Bank | 180 | NR | 75 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 285 |
| Indian Overseas Bank | 0 | 0 | 25 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 27 |
| Punjab National Bank | 0 | 0 | 100 | 25 | 0 | 10 | 135 |
| UCO Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Union Bank of India | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Total | 370 | 60 | 376 | 105 | 10 | 94 | 1035 |
Download Updated IBPS SO 2026 Vacancy PDF
What is the IBPS SO Exam Date 2026?
IBPS has finalized the examination schedule for the current recruitment cycle. The IBPS SO Prelims Exam is confirmed for 29 August 2026, and the Main Exam will follow on 1 November 2026. Candidates are advised to monitor the official website for updates regarding admit card releases and exam center details.
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Events
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Dates
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Notification
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30 June 2026
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Apply Online Starts
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1st July 2026 |
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Last Date to Apply
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26th July July 2026 |
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Application Correction Window
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– |
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Pre-Exam Training
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– |
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Prelims Exam Date
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29th August 2026
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Prelims Result
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September-October 2026
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Mains Exam Date
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1st November 2026
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Personality Test and Interview
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November/December 2026 |
| Provisional Allotment | January 2027 |
IBPS SO 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Prospective applicants should carefully review the mandatory IBPS SO Eligibility Criteria regarding nationality, educational qualifications, and age requirements before applying.
Age Limit (1/7/2026)
The standard age limit for candidates is between 20 and 30 years. Age relaxation provisions for reserved categories are clearly outlined in the official table below.
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Category
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Age Relaxation
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SC/ ST
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5 years
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OBC
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3 years
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PWD
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10 years
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Ex-Servicemen
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5 years
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A person affected by the 1984 riots
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5 years
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Qualification Requirement
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Post Name
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Educational Qualification
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|---|---|
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I.T. Officer (Scale I)
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4-year Engineering/Technology Degree in Computer Science/Computer Applications/Information Technology/Electronics/Electronics & Telecommunications/Electronics & Communication/Electronics & Instrumentation OR
Post Graduate Degree in Electronics/Electronics & Telecommunication/Electronics & Communication/Electronics & Instrumentation/Computer Science/Information Technology/Computer Applications OR
Graduate having passed DOEACC ‘B’ Level.
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Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I)
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4-year Degree (Graduation) in Agriculture/Horticulture/Animal Husbandry/Veterinary Science/Dairy Science/Fishery Science/Pisciculture/Agricultural Marketing & Cooperation/Co-operation & Banking/Agro-Forestry/Forestry/Agricultural Biotechnology/Food Science/Agriculture Business Management/Food Technology/Dairy Technology/Agricultural Engineering/Sericulture.
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Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I)
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Post Graduate Degree in Hindi with English as a subject at the Graduation level OR
Post Graduate Degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects at the Graduation level.
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Law Officer (Scale I)
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Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) and must be enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council.
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HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I)
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Graduate and Two Years Full-time Post Graduate Degree or Diploma in Personnel Management/Industrial Relations/HR/HRD/Social Work/Labour Law.
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Marketing Officer (Scale I)
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Graduate and Two Years Full-time MMS (Marketing)/MBA (Marketing)/PGDBA/PGDBM/PGPM/PGDM with specialization in Marketing.
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Nationality
Eligibility is strictly restricted to Indian citizens. Other specific categories, such as subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, may also be eligible to apply for the IBPS SO examination under certain government conditions.
- a subject of Nepal or
- a subject of Bhutan or
- a Tibetan Refugee, who came to India before 1st January 1962, to permanently settle in India or
- Persons migrated from India from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam, intending to permanently settle in India, along with the certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
IBPS SO 2026 Application Process
The online application portal is currently live. Candidates can complete their registration, upload mandatory documents, and finalize the payment of the application fee until 26 July 2026. Ensure all data is verified for accuracy before final submission to avoid rejection.
Application Fee
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Category
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Application Fee
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General & Others
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Rs. 850/- (App. Fee including intimation charges)
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SC/ST/PWD
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Rs 175/- (Intimation Charges only)
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Click the link to start your application: Apply Online for IBPS SO 2026
Steps to Apply
- Visit the official IBPS website.
- Click on CRP Specialist Officers (CRP-SPL XVI) recruitment link.
- Click on “New Registration” and register using your basic details to generate a Registration Number and Password.
- Fill in the application form by entering your personal, educational, communication, and work experience details carefully.
- Upload the required documents.
- Preview the application form and verify all the details before final submission.
- Pay the application fee online using a debit card, credit card, UPI, net banking, or other available payment methods.
- Submit the application form and download or print the confirmation page and e-receipt for future reference.
IBPS SO 2026 Selection Process
The IBPS SO selection process consists of three distinct stages, as detailed in the official structure provided below.
| Stage | Details |
| Stage 1: Preliminary Examination | This is only a screening test, and it is conducted in online mode. The exam pattern is slightly different based on the post you apply for. |
| Stage 2: Main Examination |
This is the merit-making stage, and its marks will be counted in the merit list. Only those who qualify Prelims will be called for Mains.
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| Stage 3: Interview |
The interview carries 100 marks and it is conducted by participating banks.
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| Final Selection |
The final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the Main Examination (80%) and Interview (20%), subject to document verification and meeting all eligibility conditions.
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IBPS SO 2026 Exam Pattern Revised
The IBPS SO Exam Pattern has been updated for both Prelims and Mains. The assessment focuses on specialized knowledge relevant to your domain, alongside Reasoning, English, and Quantitative Aptitude. Use the guidelines below to kickstart your preparation.
| Post | Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer (AFO), HR/Personnel Officer & Marketing Officer | English Language | 25 | 25 |
20 Minutes
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| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes | |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | 20 Minutes | |
| Total | – | 100 | 125 | 80 Minutes |
| Law Officer & Rajbhasha Adhikari | English Language | 25 | 25 |
20 Minutes
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| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes | |
| General Awareness (with Special Reference to Banking Industry) | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes | |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | 20 Minutes | |
| Total | – | 100 | 125 | 80 Minutes |
Mains Exam Pattern
The Mains exam structure is now post-specific, ensuring rigorous testing for Law, IT, Agriculture, HR, Marketing, and Rajbhasha roles. Detailed patterns for each specific discipline are provided below for your reference.
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Main Exam Pattern 2026 (For IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer & Marketing Officer)
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| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 |
| Objective Test Total | 150 | 200 |
| Descriptive Paper (English – 2 Questions) | – | 25 |
| Grand Total | 150 + Descriptive | 225 Marks |
| Duration |
155 Minutes
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Main Exam Pattern 2026 (For Law Officer)
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| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 30 | 30 |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 |
| Objective Test Total | 150 | 200 |
| Descriptive Paper (English – 2 Questions) | – | 25 |
| Grand Total | 150 + Descriptive | 225 Marks |
| Duration |
155 Minutes
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Main Exam Pattern 2026 (For Rajbhasha Officer)
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||
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks |
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 30 | 30 |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 |
| Objective Test Total | 150 | 200 |
| Descriptive Paper (English – 2 Questions) | – | 25 |
| Grand Total | 150 + Descriptive | 225 Marks |
| Duration |
155 Minutes
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Important Note: For the Mains Examination, only the Professional Knowledge section carries marks that contribute to the final merit list; other sections are qualifying in nature.
IBPS SO 2026 Salary Structure
The IBPS SO Salary offers a competitive basic pay of Rs. 48,480, with a pay scale ranging from Rs. 48,480 to Rs. 85,920, depending on performance and tenure.
In addition to the base salary, Specialist Officers receive comprehensive allowances including Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and various other performance-based incentives.
IBPS SO Job Profile
Key responsibilities of a Specialist Officer include:
- Handle specialised banking functions based on the selected post, such as IT, Agriculture, Law, HR, Marketing, or Rajbhasha.
- Provide professional support to bank branches and departments.
- Prepare reports, analyse data, and assist in decision-making processes.
- Resolve customer and operational issues related to their area of expertise.
- Support the implementation of new banking products, services, and policies.
Career Growth
Specialist Officer (Scale I)
↓
Manager (Scale II)
↓
Senior Manager (Scale III)
↓
Chief Manager (Scale IV)
↓
Assistant General Manager (Scale V)
↓
Deputy General Manager (Scale VI)
↓
General Manager (Scale VII)
IBPS SO 2026 Participating Banks
- Bank of Baroda
- Canara Bank
- Indian Overseas Bank
- UCO Bank
- Bank of India
- Central Bank of India
- Punjab National Bank
- Union Bank of India
- Bank of Maharashtra
- Indian Bank
- Punjab & Sind Bank
IBPS SO Exam Centres List
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State Code
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State/UT/ NCR
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Preliminary Examination Centre
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Main Examination Centre
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11
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Andaman & Nicobar
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Port Blair
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Port Blair
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12
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Andhra Pradesh
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Ananthapur, Eluru, Guntur/ Vijaywada, Kadapa, Kakinada, Kurnool, Ongole, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagaram
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Guntur/ Vijaywada, Kurnool, Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagaram
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13
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Arunachal Pradesh
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Naharlagun
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Naharlagun
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14
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Assam
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Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur
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Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar
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15
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Bihar
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Arrah, Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea, Samastipur
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Arrah, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea, Samastipur
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16
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Chandigarh
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Chandigarh/Mohali
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Chandigarh/Mohali
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17
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Chhattisgarh
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Bhilai Nagar, Bilaspur, Durg, Raipur
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Bhilai Nagar, Bilaspur, Raipur
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18
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Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
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Surat, Jamnagar
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Surat
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19
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Delhi
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Delhi/New Delhi/Delhi NCR, Faridabad, Ghaziabad
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Delhi/New Delhi/Delhi NCR, Faridabad, Ghaziabad
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20
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Goa
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Panaji
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Panaji
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21
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Gujarat
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Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, Anand, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat/ Bardoli, Vadodara
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Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, Vadodara, Rajkot, Surat/ Bardoli
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22
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Haryana
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Ambala, Faridabad, Hisar, Gurugram, Kurukshetra
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Ambala, Faridabad, Hisar, Gurugram, Kurukshetra
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23
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Himachal Pradesh
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Baddi, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Mandi, Kangra, Kullu, Shimla, Solan, Una
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Baddi, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, Una
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24
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Jammu & Kashmir
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Jammu, Samba, Srinagar, Baramullah
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Jammu, Samba, Srinagar
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25
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Jharkhand
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Bokaro, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi
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Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi
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26
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Karnataka
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Bengaluru, Belagavi (Belgaum), Dharwad/Hubballi (Hubli), Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Udupi
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Bengaluru, Belagavi, Dharwad/Hubballi, Kalaburagi, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Udupi
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27
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Kerala
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Alappuzha, Kannur, Ernakulam, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur
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Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur
|
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28
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Ladakh
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Leh, Kargil
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Leh, Kargil
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29
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Lakshadweep
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Kavaratti
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Kavaratti
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30
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Madhya Pradesh
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Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar, Satna, Ujjain
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Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Satna, Ujjain
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31
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Maharashtra
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Amravati, Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar), Bhandara, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad), Chandrapur, Jalgaon, Jalna, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai/ Thane/ Navi Mumbai/ MMR, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune
|
Amravati, Ahilyanagar (Ahmednagar), Bhandara, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad), Jalgaon, Jalna, Kolhapur, Mumbai/ Thane/ Navi Mumbai/ MMR, Nagpur, Nanded, Pune
|
|
32
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Manipur
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Imphal, Kakching
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Imphal, Kakching
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|
33
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Meghalaya
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Shillong, Tura
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Shillong, Tura
|
|
34
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Mizoram
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Aizawl
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Aizawl
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35
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Nagaland
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Kohima, Dimapur
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Kohima, Dimapur
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36
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Odisha
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Balasore, Berhampur (Ganjam), Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sambalpur
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Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur
|
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37
|
Puducherry
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Puducherry
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Puducherry
|
|
38
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Punjab
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Amritsar, Bhatinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Moga, Mohali, Pathankot, Patiala, Phagwara
|
Amritsar, Bhatinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Patiala, Phagwara
|
|
39
|
Rajasthan
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Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur, Sriganganagar
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Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Sikar
|
|
40
|
Sikkim
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Gangtok
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Gangtok
|
|
41
|
Tamil Nadu
|
Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Madurai, Nagercoil/ Kanyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Salem, Thanjavur, Thiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Virudhunagar, Dindigul, Dharampuri, Namakkal, Thoothukudi, Tirupur, Viluppuram
|
Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Namakkal, Tirunelveli
|
|
42
|
Telangana
|
Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad
|
Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Warangal
|
|
43
|
Tripura
|
Agartala
|
Agartala
|
|
44
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Noida / Greater Noida, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Varanasi, Ghazipur
|
Lucknow, Meerut, Noida / Greater Noida, Prayagraj (Allahabad)
|
|
45
|
Uttarakhand
|
Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee
|
Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee
|
|
46
|
West Bengal
|
Asansol, Durgapur, Kolkata / Greater Kolkata, Hooghly, Kalyani, Siliguri
|
Asansol, Durgapur, Kolkata / Greater Kolkata, Kalyani, Siliguri
|
IBPS SO 2026 Admit Card
Admit cards for each selection stage will be released individually on the official IBPS portal. Candidates must use their unique Registration/Roll Number and password to access their exam center details, shift timings, and vital exam-day instructions.
IBPS SO Previous Year Question Paper
Practicing IBPS SO Previous Year Question Papers is highly recommended to master the exam pattern, improve time management, and gain confidence for both Prelims and Mains.
IBPS SO Preparation Tips
Unlike PO or Clerk exams, the IBPS SO selection is heavily influenced by the Mains (Professional Knowledge) and Interview, which follow an 80:20 ratio. Follow these strategic tips:
For the Preliminary Stage: Focus on speed and accuracy. Since it is qualifying only, maintaining a steady pace across all sections is key.
For the Mains Exam Stage: Deep conceptual clarity in your professional domain is crucial, as this stage directly impacts your ranking and final selection.
For the Interview Stage: Start personality development early. Prepare a comprehensive introduction and stay updated with current industry trends and domain-specific questions.
| Read More | |
| IBPS SO IT Officer Syllabus | IBPS SO Syllabus |
| IBPS SO Previous Year Question Paper | IBPS SO Cut Off |
FAQs
The IBPS SO exam is a nationwide recruitment process conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection for various specialized roles, including IT, Law, HR, Marketing, Agriculture, and Rajbhasha.
As scheduled in the official IBPS Calendar 2026-27, the Prelims will be held on 29 August 2026, and the Mains is scheduled for 1 November 2026.
The selection process comprises three steps: the Preliminary qualifying round, the Mains examination, and the Interview, with the latter two being the primary determinants for your final merit.
Candidates are required to hold a graduation or post-graduation degree in the specific field related to the post they have chosen, as per official norms.
Yes, a penalty of 0.25 marks is applied for each incorrect answer across all objective-based sections of the Prelims and Mains exams.
The starting basic salary for an IBPS SO is Rs. 48,480, which is supplemented by several bank-provided allowances such as HRA, DA, and other welfare benefits.
Eligibility is strictly confirmed for those who possess the requisite educational qualifications by the cutoff date provided in the recruitment notification.
Yes, the Preliminary exam serves as a qualifying test, and the scores obtained do not contribute to the calculation of the final selection merit list.