The comprehensive IBPS SO Syllabus 2026 covers English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, and Professional Knowledge. Gain insights into the latest exam patterns for specialized roles, including IT Officer, Law Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, Marketing Officer, HR, and Rajbhasha Adhikari.
IBPS SO Syllabus 2026: Overview
The IBPS SO Prelims Syllabus 2026 is tailored to each specific Specialist Officer role. While candidates across all streams face mandatory sections in Reasoning, English Language, and Professional Knowledge, the fourth section varies based on the specialization. IT, Agriculture, Marketing, and HR officers are tested on Quantitative Aptitude, whereas Law and Rajbhasha Adhikari candidates must focus on Banking Industry-specific General Awareness.
Key Highlights of the IBPS SO Syllabus
| Particular | Detailes |
| Examination Mode | Online |
| Selection Process | Prelims- Mains- Interview |
| Duration | Prelims- 80 minutes Mains- 155 minutes |
| Negative Marking | ¼th marks |
| Question type | Prelims: Objective Mains: Objective + Descriptive |
| Exam type | National level |
| Official website | @ibps.in |
Revised IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2026
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the updated exam pattern for both Preliminary and Main examinations via the official notification. We recommend all aspirants thoroughly review these changes to build a winning study strategy.
- The exam pattern for Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) and Law Officer is the same. Whereas for all other posts is different from these two posts.
- Final selection is based on Mains + Interview in an 80:20 ratio.
IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern
The Preliminary examination features 100 questions covering Reasoning, English Language, General Awareness (Banking focus), and Quantitative Aptitude. This online test carries a total of 125 marks.
Prelims Exam Pattern for IT, AFO, HR, and Marketing Officers
| Sr. No. | Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 25 | 25 | English | 20 Minutes |
| 2 | Reasoning | 25 | 25 | English & Hindi | 20 Minutes |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | English & Hindi | 20 Minutes |
| 4 | Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | English & Hindi | 20 Minutes |
| Total | — | 100 | 125 | — | 80 Minutes |
Prelims Pattern for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari
| Sr. No. | Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 25 | 25 | English | 20 Minutes |
| 2 | Reasoning | 25 | 25 | English & Hindi | 20 Minutes |
| 3 | General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 25 | 25 | English & Hindi | 20 Minutes |
| 4 | Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | English & Hindi | 20 Minutes |
| Total | — | 100 | 125 | — | 80 Minutes |
IBPS SO Mains Exam Pattern
The Mains exam structure is specialized by post. Distinct formats apply to Law, IT, Agriculture, HR, and Marketing officers, while the Rajbhasha Adhikari exam follows a unique pattern. Review the detailed structure below for your respective discipline.
Exam Structure: IT, AFO, HR, and Marketing Officers
| Sr. No. | Name of Test | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Medium of Exam | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | English | 25 Minutes |
| 2 | Reasoning | 40 | 40 | English & Hindi | 35 Minutes |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | English & Hindi | 25 Minutes |
| 4 | Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 | English & Hindi | 40 Minutes |
| Objective Test Total | 150 | 200 | — | 125 Min. | |
| 5 | Descriptive Paper (English) | 2 | 25 | English | 30 Minutes |
| Grand Total | 152 | 225 | — | 155 Min. | |
Exam Structure: Rajbhasha Adhikari
| Sr. No. | Name of Test | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Medium of Exam | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | English | 25 Minutes |
| 2 | Reasoning | 40 | 40 | English & Hindi | 35 Minutes |
| 3 | General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 30 | 30 | English & Hindi | 20 Minutes |
| 4 | Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 | English & Hindi | 45 Minutes |
| Objective Test Total | 150 | 200 | — | 125 Min. | |
| 5 | Professional Knowledge (Descriptive Paper) | 2 | 25 | English & Hindi | 30 Minutes |
| Grand Total | 152 | 225 | — | 155 Min. | |
Exam Structure: Law Officer
| Sr. No. | Name of Test | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Medium of Exam | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | English | 25 Min. |
| 2 | Reasoning | 40 | 40 | English & Hindi | 35 Min. |
| 3 | General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 30 | 30 | English & Hindi | 20 Min. |
| 4 | Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 | English & Hindi | 45 Min. |
| Objective Test Total | 150 | 200 | — | 125 Min. | |
| 5 | Descriptive Paper (English) | 2 | 25 | English | 30 Min. |
| Grand Total | 152 | 225 | — | 155 Min. | |
Detailed IBPS SO Prelims Syllabus 2026
Here is the comprehensive, post-wise breakdown of the IBPS SO Prelims syllabus to guide your subject-specific preparation.
- Rajbhasha Adhikari Scale I officer will have to appear for the given subjects: Reasoning Ability, English Language, General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry and Professional Knowledge.
- The Specialist Officers (Agriculture Field Officer, Marketing Officer (Scale I), HR/Personnel Officer, IT Officer Scale I will appear for the given subjects: Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language and Professional Knowledge.
Reasoning Ability Syllabus
- Seating Arrangements
- Puzzles
- Inequalities
- Syllogism
- Input-Output
- Data Sufficiency
- Blood Relations
- Order and Ranking
- Alphanumeric Series
- Distance and Direction
- Verbal Reasoning
English Language Syllabus
- Cloze Test
- Reading Comprehension
- Spotting Errors
- Sentence Improvement
- Sentence Correction
- Para Jumbles
- Fill in the Blanks
- Para/Sentence Completion
Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
- Number Series
- Data Interpretation
- Simplification/ Approximation
- Quadratic Equation
- Data Sufficiency
- Mensuration
- Average
- Profit and Loss
- Ratio and Proportion
- Work, Time, and Energy
- Time and Distance
- Probability
- Relations
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Permutation and Combination
General Awareness Syllabus
- Current Affairs
- Banking Awareness
- GK Updates
- Currencies
- Important Places
- Books and Authors
- Awards
- Headquarters
- Prime Minister Schemes
- Important Days
IBPS SO Mains Syllabus 2026
Only candidates who clear the Prelims will advance to the Mains stage. Below, we provide the detailed Professional Knowledge syllabus for all specialized roles, including IT, Agriculture, Law, Marketing, HR, and Rajbhasha Adhikari.
IBPS SO IT Officer Mains Syllabus 2026
- Database Management System
- Data Communication and Networking
- Operating System
- Software Engineering
- Data Structure
- Computer Organisation and Microprocessor
- Object-Oriented Programming
View Detailed Syllabus:
IBPS SO Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) Mains Syllabus 2026
- Basics of Crop Production
- Horticulture
- Seed Science
- Agronomy and Irrigation
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Practices
- Soil resources
- Animal Husbandry
- Agroforestry
- Ecology
- Government Schemes
IBPS SO Marketing Officer Mains Syllabus 2026
- Basics of Marketing Management
- Brand Management
- Advertising
- PR
- Sales
- Retail
- Business Ethics
- Market Segmentation
- Market research and forecasting demand
- Product Life Cycle
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Service Marketing
- Marketing Strategies
IBPS SO Law Officer Syllabus 2026
- Banking Regulations
- Compliance and Legal Aspects
- Relevant Laws and Orders related to negotiable instruments, securities, foreign exchange
- Prevention of Money-laundering, Limitation Act
- Consumer Protection Act
- SURFACES
- Banking Ombudsman Scheme
- Laws and Actions with a direct link to Banking Sector
- Bankers Book Evidence Act
- DRT Act
Read More:
IBPS SO HR/Personnel Officer Syllabus 2026
- Human Resource Development
- Business policy and strategic analysis
- Transnational Analysis
- Training and Development
- Recruitment and Selection
- Rewards and Recognition
- Industrial Relations
- Business Policy and Strategic Analysis
- Grievance and Conflict Management
- Performance Management and Appraisal
IBPS SO Rajbhasha Adhikari Syllabus 2026
While IBPS does not release a prescriptive topic-wise list for Rajbhasha Adhikari, candidates should focus on Hindi and English language proficiency, translation accuracy, and grammatical command, as reflected in previous year's papers.
| Topics |
Sub-Topics
|
| Translation |
English to Hindi Translation, Hindi to English Translation
|
| Hindi Language |
Grammar, Vocabulary, Idioms and Phrases, Sentence Formation, Comprehension
|
| English Language |
Grammar, Vocabulary, Error Detection, Comprehension, Usage
|
| Official Language |
Official Languages Act, Official Languages Rules, Constitutional Provisions Related to Hindi
|
| Writing Skills |
Essay Writing, Precis Writing, Official Letter Writing
|
It is vital for all applicants to consult the official IBPS SO notification to ensure their preparation aligns perfectly with the exam's requirements.
Recommended Books for IBPS SO 2026 Preparation
| Subject/Section | Recommended Book |
Author/Publisher
|
| English Language | Objective General English | S.P. Bakshi |
| Reasoning Ability | A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Banking Awareness | Banking Awareness | Arihant Experts |
| Current Affairs & General Awareness | General Knowledge 2026 |
Manohar Pandey
|
| IT Officer Professional Knowledge | Objective Computer Awareness | Arihant Experts |
| Agriculture Field Officer Professional Knowledge | Fundamentals of Agriculture | Arun Katyayan |
| Law Officer Professional Knowledge | Banking and Financial Laws |
IIBF Publications
|
| HR/Personnel Officer Professional Knowledge | Human Resource Management | C.B. Gupta |
| Marketing Officer Professional Knowledge | Marketing Management | Philip Kotler |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari Professional Knowledge | Samanya Hindi | Arihant Experts |
IBPS SO Interview 2026 Process
Shortlisted candidates will face a final Interview round. This stage evaluates your suitability for the specific role you applied for, testing your professional expertise and situational judgment.
Success Tips for Aspirants
- Acquaint yourself properly with the marking scheme, sectional cut-off, and negative marking.
- Give time to each subject and revise regularly at intervals.
- Solve past papers to understand the difficulty level, important topics, and question trends.
- Take Mock Tests Regularly to improve speed, accuracy, and time management skills.
- Build strong fundamentals, especially for the Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning sections.
- Stay Updated with Current Affairs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Is the IBPS SO Exam held online or offline?
A. The IBPS SO examination is conducted exclusively in an online format.
Q. What is the selection process for IBPS SO 2026?
A. The selection process consists of three stages: IBPS SO Prelims, Mains, and the final Interview. Candidates must qualify in each stage to proceed.
Q. Which subjects are included in the IBPS SO Exam?
A. The Prelims cover Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, and General Awareness, while the Mains focuses on the specialized technical knowledge relevant to your chosen stream.
Q. What is the IBPS SO exam pattern?
A. Prelims consist of a 120-minute, 125-mark paper, while the Mains is a 1-hour 45-minute test worth 120 marks. Check our detailed pattern guide above for full specifics.
Q. Where can I find the IBPS SO Exam Syllabus?
A. The complete, post-wise IBPS SO syllabus is detailed throughout this article.
Q. Is there negative marking in the IBPS SO Exam?
A. Yes, there is a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
Q. How many attempts are allowed for IBPS SO?
A. There is no restriction on the number of attempts, provided candidates meet the age eligibility requirements (up to 30 years).
Q. How can I effectively prepare for the IBPS SO?
A. Focus on the official syllabus, practice previous year papers, and create a structured study plan to maximize your chances of qualifying on your first attempt.
Q. Can I clear the IBPS SO in one month?
A. Yes, if you already have a strong grasp of the syllabus and previous experience with competitive banking exams, a targeted 30-day intensive study plan can lead to success.