IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026: Best Prelims & Mains Guide
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Download the complete IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026 PDF with revised Prelims and Mains exam pattern, subject-wise topics, negative marking and preparation details.
IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026 covers English Language, Reasoning Ability, Numerical or Quantitative Aptitude and General or Financial Awareness for the Customer Service Associate recruitment under CRP CSA-XVI.
The Preliminary Examination contains English Language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability. The Main Examination contains General or Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability and Quantitative Aptitude.
IBPS Clerk Subject-Wise Syllabus Overview
| Stage | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Prelims | English Language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability |
| Mains | General/Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability and Quantitative Aptitude |
Complete IBPS Clerk Syllabus at a Glance
| Subject | Major Topics |
|---|---|
| English | Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Detection, Fillers, Para Jumbles, Vocabulary and Grammar |
| Reasoning | Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Inequality, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Ranking, Series and Input-Output |
| Numerical/Quantitative Aptitude | Simplification, Approximation, Number Series, Quadratic Equations, Arithmetic, Data Interpretation, Data Sufficiency and Quantity Comparison |
| General/Financial Awareness | Current Affairs, Banking Awareness, RBI, Monetary Policy, Government Schemes, Financial Institutions, Reports and Static Awareness |
IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern 2026
The recruitment process has two online examinations. Every section has a separate time limit.
IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes |
IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026 – Revised
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Financial Awareness | 40 | 50 | 20 Minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | 60 | 35 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 50 | 35 Minutes |
| Total | 160 | 200 | 125 Minutes |
Negative Marking: One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for every incorrect answer. There is no penalty for an unanswered question. Prelims is qualifying; Mains marks are used for final merit and provisional allotment.
IBPS Clerk Local Language Proficiency Test
The Local Language Proficiency Test, wherever applicable, is qualifying and is not an additional scored section of Prelims or Mains. Candidates may have to read, write, speak and understand the specified local language. Applicable exemptions and documentary proof should be checked in the official notification.
IBPS Clerk Prelims Syllabus 2026
Prelims tests basic concepts, speed, accuracy and question selection through English Language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability.
IBPS Clerk English Language Syllabus 2026
| Topic | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Theme, facts, inference, tone, title and contextual vocabulary |
| Cloze Test and Fillers | Grammar, vocabulary and contextual word selection |
| Error Detection | Tenses, articles, prepositions, pronouns and subject-verb agreement |
| Sentence Improvement | Grammar correction, phrase replacement and sentence clarity |
| Para Jumbles | Logical sequence, connectors, mandatory pairs and conclusion |
| Word-Based Questions | Word usage, word swap, synonyms, antonyms, idioms and phrasal verbs |
| Grammar | Voice, narration, conjunctions, modifiers, adjectives and adverbs |
IBPS Clerk Reasoning Ability Syllabus 2026
| Topic | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Puzzles | Floor, box, scheduling, designation, distribution and mixed-variable puzzles |
| Seating Arrangement | Linear, circular, square, rectangular, parallel-row and uncertain arrangements |
| Inequality and Syllogism | Direct or coded inequality, conclusions and possibility cases |
| Coding-Decoding | Conditional, substitution and pattern-based coding |
| Blood Relations and Direction | Family trees, coded relations, distance, turns and final position |
| Order, Ranking and Series | Positions, total persons and alphanumeric sequences |
| Other Topics | Input-Output, Data Sufficiency, analogy, classification and logical reasoning |
IBPS Clerk Numerical Ability Syllabus 2026
| Topic Group | Chapters |
|---|---|
| Calculation | Simplification, Approximation, Number Series and Quadratic Equations |
| Arithmetic | Percentage, Profit and Loss, Ratio, Average, Simple and Compound Interest |
| Work and Movement | Time and Work, Pipes, Speed-Time-Distance, Trains and Boats |
| Applied Arithmetic | Partnership, Mixture and Alligation, Ages and Mensuration |
| Data Interpretation | Table, Bar, Line, Pie, Caselet, Missing, Mixed and Arithmetic DI |
IBPS Clerk Mains Syllabus 2026
Mains covers General/Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability and Quantitative Aptitude. Questions are generally more analytical and time-consuming than Prelims.
IBPS Clerk Mains Subject-Wise Syllabus
| Section | Major Areas |
|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | Advanced puzzles, arrangements, logical reasoning, Input-Output and Data Sufficiency |
| General English | Advanced comprehension, grammar, vocabulary and contextual usage |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Arithmetic, advanced DI, Data Sufficiency and Quantity Comparison |
| General/Financial Awareness | Current Affairs, banking, RBI, economy, schemes and financial institutions |
IBPS Clerk Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus 2026
Mains Quantitative Aptitude includes calculation, arithmetic, work and efficiency, speed and movement, mensuration, advanced Data Interpretation, Data Sufficiency and Quantity Comparison. Compared with Prelims, questions may require more calculations and multiple steps.
IBPS Clerk General Awareness Syllabus 2026
Prepare national and international Current Affairs, appointments, awards, sports, books and authors, important days, reports and indices, government schemes, science and technology developments and relevant Static Awareness.
IBPS Clerk Financial Awareness Syllabus 2026
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Banking System | Types of banks, accounts, deposits, loans, NPA and financial inclusion |
| RBI and Monetary Policy | RBI functions, repo rate, standing facilities, CRR, SLR and inflation |
| Digital Banking | NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, UPI, cards, wallets and cybersecurity basics |
| Financial Institutions | RBI, NABARD, SIDBI, SEBI, EXIM Bank, IMF, World Bank and ADB |
| Markets and Economy | Money market, capital market, Budget, Economic Survey and policy decisions |
| Banking Terms | CASA, NPA, KYC, liquidity, assets, liabilities and Basel norms |
Is Computer Aptitude a Separate IBPS Clerk Mains Section?
Older study material may show Computer Aptitude with Reasoning. Candidates can revise basic computer fundamentals, hardware and software, operating systems, networking, MS Office, cybersecurity and digital banking, but should not present it as a separate official Mains section.
IBPS Clerk Prelims and Mains Syllabus Comparison
| Area | Prelims | Mains |
|---|---|---|
| English | Basic to moderate | Moderate to advanced |
| Reasoning | Short questions and basic arrangements | Advanced puzzles and analytical questions |
| Mathematics | Numerical Ability | Quantitative Aptitude and advanced DI |
| General/Financial Awareness | Not included | Included |
| Separate Computer Aptitude | No | No |
Note: Topic classifications are preparation-oriented and do not represent official topic-wise weightage.
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Phase-Wise IBPS Clerk Syllabus Study Plan
| Phase | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Concept Building | Complete Quant, Reasoning and English basics with daily Current Affairs |
| Timed Practice | Attempt topic tests, sectional tests, puzzles, DI and weekly mocks |
| Mock and Revision | Analyse full mocks, revise weak topics and improve accuracy |
IBPS Clerk Preparation Strategy 2026
Improve calculation speed for Quant, practise varied puzzles for Reasoning and combine grammar with reading for English. Prepare Current Affairs regularly and revise banking topics. After every mock, analyse attempts, accuracy, sectional time and repeated errors.
Useful IBPS Clerk Resources
- IBPS Clerk Notification 2026
- IBPS Clerk Exam Date 2026
- IBPS Clerk Vacancy 2026
- IBPS Clerk Eligibility Criteria 2026
- IBPS Clerk Selection Process 2026
- IBPS Clerk Expected Cut Off 2026
Official IBPS References
Conclusion
Complete the basic Prelims topics first, then move to advanced Mains practice, Current Affairs, sectional tests and full mocks. Follow the revised Mains pattern of 160 questions, 200 marks and 125 minutes, and do not treat Computer Aptitude as a separate official section.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026?
The IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026 includes English Language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability for Prelims. Mains includes General/Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability and Quantitative Aptitude.
How many questions are there in IBPS Clerk Prelims 2026?
IBPS Clerk Prelims contains 100 questions for 100 marks with a total duration of 60 minutes.
What is the IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026?
The revised Mains exam contains 160 questions for 200 marks in 125 minutes.
Is Computer Aptitude a separate section in IBPS Clerk Mains 2026?
No. The official CRP CSA-XVI Mains table lists Reasoning Ability and does not list a separate Computer Aptitude section.
Is there negative marking in IBPS Clerk 2026?
Yes. One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each incorrect answer.
What subjects are included in IBPS Clerk Prelims?
English Language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability.
What subjects are included in IBPS Clerk Mains?
General/Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability and Quantitative Aptitude.
Are IBPS Clerk Prelims marks counted in final selection?
No. Prelims is used for shortlisting. Main Examination marks are considered for final merit.
What is the IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Date 2026?
Prelims is scheduled for 10 and 11 October 2026
How should I prepare for the IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026?
Start with the common English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning basics. Practise topic tests, then sectional and full-length mocks; review mistakes after each test. Prepare Mains General/Financial Awareness alongside Prelims and use the revised Mains pattern of 160 questions, 200 marks and 125 minutes.
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