Introduction – IBPS Exam
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, popularly known as the IBPS is an autonomous body. It conducts recruitment examinations for all Public Sector Banks except the SBI. Over the years, it has also provided services related to assessment and testing for different banks through various bank exams.
About IBPS
- The full form of IBPS is the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection.
- The IBPS conducts various bank exams to recruit candidates into the Public Sector Banks.
- The Institute is governed by a board of nominees from different government bodies and banks such as the RBI, Ministry of Finance, IIT Mumbai, NIBM and IBA. It was constituted in 1984 from the original examining body under the National Institute of Bank Management.
- The centralised examinations covering all public sector bank's recruitment started on a limited scale the same year. The process was made entirely online in the late 2000s.
- Though banks like State Bank of India and Reserve Bank of India conduct their own examinations, such as SBI PO exam and RBI Grade B exam, the software and methodology used by them are developed by the Institute.
- The IBPS conducts the following examinations:
- IBPS Clerk Examination
- IBPS PO Examination
- IBPS SO Examination
- IBPS RRB Examination
Note: The above IBPS exams recruit employees for PSBs at various levels.
- The IBPS official website provides access to candidates for IBPS notifications and mock tests. It helps them to familiarise themselves with the pattern of examination and the software environment in use.
- The IBPS examinations provide a gateway to a great banking career and a chance to enter public service.
- Due to the tough competition level of these exams, candidates should develop effective strategies for the Institute's detailed exam process.
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IBPS Exam Dates
The tentative IBPS Exam dates for the recruitment have been released in the official IBPS Calendar.
IBPS Clerk Exam Dates
The important IBPS Clerk Exam dates for the exams are as follows.
| IBPS Clerk Exam |
IBPS Clerk Exam Dates |
| IBPS Clerk Preliminary Exam |
24th, 25th and 31st August 2024 |
| IBPS Clerk Main Exam |
13th October 2024 |
IBPS PO Exam Dates
The important IBPS PO Exam dates for the exam are as follows.
| IBPS PO Exam |
IBPS PO Exam Dates |
| IBPS PO Preliminary Exam |
19th and 20th October 2024 |
| IBPS PO Main Exam |
30th November 2024 |
IBPS SO Exam Dates
The important IBPS SO Exam dates for are as follows.
| IBPS SO Exam |
IBPS SO Exam Dates |
| IBPS SO Preliminary Exam |
30th and 31st December 2023 |
| IBPS SO Main Exam |
28th January 2024 |
IBPS RRB Exam Dates
The important IBPS RRB Exam dates for are as follows.
| IBPS RRB Exams and Posts |
Dates |
| IBPS RRB PO & Clerk Prelims Exam |
3rd, 4th, 10th, 17th and 18th August 2024 |
| Online Exam – PO Main / Single Officers (II & III) |
29th September 2024 |
| Office Assistant Mains Exam |
6th October 2024 |
IBPS Recruitment
The IBPS Recruitment details contain relevant information related to the IBPS vacancies, salary, posts, etc.
- IBPS recruitment notifications for the various posts have started to release for the position of Probationary Officers, Clerk and Regional Rural Bank recruitment.
- As per the latest information, the Government has also approved the National Recruitment Agency (NRA) to conduct a Common Eligibility Test (CET) for SSC, RRB and IBPS recruitment.
IBPS Vacancies
The IBPS Vacancies are decided by the recruiting body of the Public Sector Bank exams. The vacancies have seen a rising trend in a few years and so has the number of applicants.
IBPS Clerk Vacancies
The IBPS Clerk vacancies for the recruitment will be announced with the release of the official notification. The State-wise IBPS Clerk vacancies are released by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection in the official Notification for Clerk exam. A total of 5,830 vacancies have been released for the 2021 recruitment.
IBPS PO Vacancies
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection releases the IBPS PO Vacancies. The IBPS PO vacancies for the recruitment will be announced with the release of the official notification.
IBPS SO Vacancies
The IBPS SO vacancies for the recruitment will be announced with the release of the official notification. The IBPS SO vacancy details are usually released for the following Posts.
- I.T. Officer (Scale-I)
- Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I)
- Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I)
- Law Officer (Scale I)
- HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I)
- Marketing Officer (Scale I)
IBPS RRB Vacancies
The IBPS RRB Vacancies are published in the official Notification for the RRB Exam. As per the IBPS Recruitment, the various RRB posts are as follows.
- Group A - Officers (Scale-I, II & III)
- Group B - Office Assistant
There are a large number of vacancies for these above-mentioned posts.
Candidates should keep referring to the official website of IBPS for proper details on the vacancies.
IBPS Salary
The IBPS Salary varies for various posts and exams accordingly. The allowances and the perks included in the IBPS Salary are very lucrative for all the posts. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection takes the Bank salary-related decisions.
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IBPS Eligibility
The IBPS Eligibility details are mentioned for the various exams.
IBPS Clerk Eligibility
The important IBPS Eligibility details for the Clerk exam are given below.
| IBPS Clerk |
Eligibility Criteria |
| IBPS Clerk Age Limit |
Maximum: 28 years
Minimum: 20 years |
| Nationality |
- Citizenship of India
- Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan
- Tibetan Refugee who arrived before January 1, 1962
- A person of Indian origin migrated from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Burma(Myanmar), Vietnam or East African countries of the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire or Ethiopia to permanently settle in India.
|
| Educational Qualification |
Degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a University recognised by the Govt. Of India
or any equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government. |
IBPS PO Eligibility
The important IBPS Eligibility details for the PO Exam are given below.
| IBPS PO |
Eligibility Criteria |
| IBPS PO Age Limit |
Maximum: 30 years
Minimum: 20 years |
| Nationality |
- Citizenship of India
- Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan
- Tibetan Refugee who arrived Before January 1, 1962
- A person of Indian origin migrated from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Burma(Myanmar), Vietnam or East African countries of the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire or Ethiopia to permanently settle in India.
|
| Educational Qualification |
Bachelor’s Degree from a Recognised University. |
IBPS SO Eligibility
The important IBPS Eligibility details for the SO exam are given below.
| IBPS SO |
Eligibility Criteria |
| IBPS SO Age Limit |
Maximum: 30 years
Minimum: 20 years |
| Nationality |
- Citizenship of India
- Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan
- Tibetan Refugee who arrived before January 1, 1962
- A person of Indian origin migrated from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Burma (Myanmar), Vietnam or East African countries of the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire or Ethiopia to permanently settle in India.
|
| Educational Qualification |
Degree from a University/ Institution/ Board recognised by Govt. Of India/ approved by Govt. Regulatory Bodies. |
IBPS RRB Eligibility
The important IBPS Eligibility details for the RRB exam are given below.
| IBPS RRB |
Eligibility Criteria |
| Age Limit |
Officer Scale - III (Senior Manager): 21 years – 40 years
Officer Scale - II (Manager): 21 years – 32 years
Officer Scale - I (Assistant Manager): 18 years – 30 years
Office Assistant (Multipurpose): 18 years – 28 years |
| Nationality |
- Citizenship of India
- Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan
- Tibetan Refugee who arrived prior to 1 January 1962
- A person of Indian origin migrated from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Burma(Myanmar), Vietnam or East African countries of the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Zaire or Ethiopia to permanently settle in India.
|
| Educational Qualification |
Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised University. |
IBPS Syllabus
IBPS Clerk Syllabus
The following is the list of subjects included in the IBPS Clerk syllabus for exam preparation.
- English Language
- Reasoning Ability
- Computer Aptitude
- Quantitative Aptitude
- General and Financial Awareness
The following topics constitute the IBPS syllabus for the Clerk exam preparation.
| Subject |
Stage of Exam |
Topics |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
Mains |
|
| Prelims and Mains |
|
| Reasoning Ability |
Prelims and Mains |
|
| English Language |
Prelims and Mains |
|
| Computer Aptitude |
Mains |
- Basic of Hardware and Software
- Basics of Hacking, Security Tools and Viruses
- Database Basics
- History of Computers
- Internet Terms
- Microsoft Office
- Networking and Communication
- Windows Operating System
|
| General and Financial Awareness |
Mains |
- Banking Terms
- Current Affairs
- Indian Banking History
- Indian Financial System
- Introduction to National Institutions
- Monetary Plans
|
IBPS PO Syllabus
The IBPS PO syllabus for exam preparation covers the following subjects.
- English Language
- Quantitative Ability
- Reasoning Ability
- Computer Knowledge
- General Awareness, Economy and Banking
| IBPS PO Syllabus |
| Subject |
State of Examination |
Topics |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
Prelims and Mains |
- All the Chapters mentioned in Quantitative Aptitude (IBPS Clerk Syllabus) + Following Chapters
- Linear Equation
- Number System & Problems
- Sequence and Series
- Simplification and Approximation
- Surds and Indices
|
| Reasoning Ability |
Prelims and Mains |
|
| English Language |
Prelims and Mains |
|
| Computer Knowledge |
Mains |
- Computer Abbreviation
- Computer Fundamentals / Terminologies
- Computer Hardware
- Computer Software
- Internet
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Memory
- Microsoft Office
- Networking
- Operating System
|
| General Awareness |
Mains |
- Banking Awareness
- Budget and Monetary Plans of the Government
- Current Affairs
- Financial Awareness
- General Knowledge
- India’s Financial and Banking System
- Key National Institutions
|
IBPS SO Syllabus
The IBPS SO Syllabus for exam preparation is the same as PO syllabus. However, the professional knowledge section in the IBPS Syllabus for SO Exam is applicable for each specialisation. Additionally, candidates appearing for the Rajbhasha Adhikari position would have to appear for a descriptive paper in Hindi.
The IBPS exam syllabus for SO is slightly different from that of the PO & Clerk exams. This is because one major section of the IBPS PO exam is the professional knowledge section, where questions are asked based on the specialisations the candidate has applied for.
The level of difficulty for the IBPS SO exam is also similar to the PO exam.
IBPS RRB Syllabus
The IBPS RRB exam is held to recruit both officers and assistants for Regional Rural Banks. The IBPS syllabus of this exam is the same as the IBPS PO and IBPS Clerk examinations.
IBPS RRB Assistant Syllabus
The IBPS RRB Assistant syllabus for exam preparation covers the following subjects.
- Reasoning Ability
- Numerical Ability
- Computer Knowledge
- English Language (Optional)
- Hindi Language (Optional)
- General Awareness
The topics covered under these subjects are similar to the IBPS Clerk syllabus. However, there are some differences between the two syllabi due to the difference in the customer base which the banks cater to.
The following are the topics covered in the IBPS RRB Syllabus for Office Assistant.
| Subject |
Stage of Exam |
Topics |
| Reasoning Ability |
Prelims and Mains |
- All the Chapters mentioned in Quantitative Aptitude (IBPS Clerk Syllabus)
|
| Numerical Ability |
Prelims and Mains |
- All the Chapters mentioned in Quantitative Aptitude (IBPS Clerk Syllabus) + Following Chapters
- Basic Statistics
- Decimals
- Fractions
- LCM and HCF
|
| Computer Knowledge |
Mains |
- Basics of Hardware, Software and Networking
- Computer Fundamentals and Abbreviations
- Cyber Security Basics
- Databases
|
| English Language |
Mains (Optional) |
- All the Chapters mentioned in Quantitative Aptitude (IBPS Clerk Syllabus) + Following Chapters
- One Word Substitution
|
| Hindi Language |
Mains (Optional) |
- Error Correction
- Fill in The Blanks
- Grammar
- Reading Comprehension
|
| General Awareness |
Mains |
- Current Affairs
- International Organisations Economy
|
IBPS Exam Pattern
The IBPS Exam Pattern gives a complete idea on the exam based on the expectation level of the candidates. It gives detailed information regarding the question set, topics and marking scheme of the exam.
IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern
The IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern is given for two stages of the exam:
- IBPS Clerk Preliminary Examination
- Clerical Main Examination
The IBPS Exam Pattern for the Clerk Prelims Exam is as follows.
| Section |
Number of Questions |
Maximum Marks |
Time Allotted |
| English |
30 |
30 |
20 min |
| Numerical Ability |
35 |
35 |
20 min |
| Reasoning Ability |
35 |
35 |
20 min |
The IBPS Exam Pattern for the Clerk Mains Exam is as follows.
| Section |
Number of Questions |
Maximum Marks |
Time Allotted |
| General/Financial Awareness |
50 |
50 |
35 min |
| General English |
40 |
40 |
35 min |
| Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude |
50 |
60 |
45 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
50 |
50 |
45 min |
IBPS PO Exam Pattern
The IBPS PO exam process consists of the following stages.
- IBPS PO Prelims
- IBPS PO Mains
- IBPS PO Interview
The IBPS PO Exam Pattern for the Prelims Exam is given below.
| Section |
Number of Questions |
Marks Allotted |
Time Allotted |
| English Language |
30 |
30 |
20 min |
| Numerical Ability |
35 |
35 |
20 min |
| Reasoning Ability |
35 |
35 |
20 min |
The IBPS PO Exam Pattern for the Mains Exam is given below.
| Mains Paper |
Section |
Number of Questions |
Marks Allotted |
Time Allotted |
| Objective Test |
Reasoning and Computer Aptitude |
45 |
60 |
60 min |
| English Language |
35 |
40 |
40 min |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation |
35 |
60 |
45 min |
| General Awareness, Economy and Banking Awareness |
40 |
40 |
35 min |
| Descriptive Test |
English Language (Letter Writing and Essay) |
2 |
25 |
30 min |
IBPS PO Interview
The IBPS interview is conducted for those who clear the Bank PO Mains exam.
- As per the IBPS PO Exam pattern, the interview carries 100 marks.
- The candidates have to secure at least 40 marks in the interview to be considered for the merit list, irrespective of their score in other stages of the exam.
- According to the IBPS PO Exam pattern, candidates belonging to the weaker sections of society, are awarded a concession of 5 marks in IBPS PO Interview.
IBPS SO Exam Pattern
The IBPS SO exam process consists of the following stages.
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination (Professional Knowledge Test)
- IBPS SO Interview
The IBPS SO Exam Pattern for the Prelims Exam is given below.
| Subject |
Maximum Marks |
Duration |
| English Language |
25 |
40 minutes |
| Reasoning |
50 |
40 minutes |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to the Banking Industry (For Law and Rajbhasha) |
50 |
40 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude (For IBPS SO I.T officer, Agriculture, HR/Personnel and Marketing) |
50 |
40 minutes |
The IBPS SO Exam Pattern for the Mains exam is given below.
| Subject |
Maximum Marks |
Duration |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective for Law, I.T, HR, Marketing, Agriculture) |
60 |
45 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective for Rajbhasha) |
60 |
30 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Descriptive for Rajbhasha) |
30 minutes |
IBPS RRB Exam Pattern
The IBPS RRB Exam Pattern is different from the other exams conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection. The IBPS RRB Exam Pattern varied according to the Posts and Scale of the Post.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1: Which subjects are included in the IBPS exam syllabus?
Ans.1: The major subjects that are included in the IBPS exam syllabus are reasoning ability, general awareness, quantitative aptitude, English language and banking awareness. Apart from this, a section of professional knowledge is included in the IBPS exam syllabus for SO exam
Q.2: How many times are the IBPS exams conducted in a year?
Ans.2: IBPS conducts four exams annually. These exams include the IBPS PO, SO, Clerk and RRB exams. Candidates can know more about the IBPS notification at the linked article.
Q.3: Which are the best books to prepare for the IBPS exams?
Ans.3: Based on the latest exam pattern and IBPS exam syllabus, given below is the list of books that candidates can refer to for preparing the IBPS exams: Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams by R.S. Agarwal, Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Agarwal, Banking Awareness by Arihant Publications, Pratiyogita Darpan for Current Affairs and Wren and Martin for English Grammar.
Q.4: How to prepare for IBPS exams based on the latest exam pattern and syllabus?
Ans.4: The best way to prepare for the IBPS exams is by solving mock tests and previous year question papers on a regular basis. This helps a candidate stay updated with the latest exam pattern and syllabus.
Q.5: Is there negative marking in the IBPS exams?
Ans.5: Yes, there is negative marking in IBPS exams. A penalty of 0.25 marks is deducted for each wrongly answered question.
Q.6: Is the IBPS syllabus 2021 common for all the posts?
Ans.6: The IBPS syllabus 2021 for the post of PO Clerk and RRB is almost the same. However, slight difference is there in the syllabus for Specialist Officer exam as a separate section of professional knowledge is included in the syllabus. It must also be know that although the IBPS syllabus is quite similar, the exam pattern differs for each post.
Q.7: Is the IBPS syllabus tough?
Ans.7: The IBPS syllabus is more comprehensive than it is tough. While preparing for the banking sector exams candidates need to follow a strategic study plan to excel in the examination and cover all the important topics from the syllabus.
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