The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the Probationary Officer (PO) recruitment exam annually to select qualified candidates for PO positions across 11 participating public sector banks in India. The IBPS PO 2026 exam notification is expected to be released in June-July 2026, with preliminary exams scheduled for August 2026.
IBPS PO 2026 Notification Release Date
The IBPS PO 2026 notification is anticipated to be published on the official website (www.ibps.in) around late June or early July 2026. Based on the previous recruitment cycle pattern, the notification will contain comprehensive information about vacancies, exam dates, eligibility requirements, syllabus details, application procedures, and selection stages.
IBPS PO 2026 Important Dates & Exam Schedule
The tentative timeline for IBPS PO 2026 (CRP PO/MT-XVI) based on previous year patterns is outlined below:
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | June 30, 2026 |
| Online Registration Start Date | July 1, 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | July 28, 2026 |
| Application Form Correction Window | Late July/Early August 2026 |
| Prelims Admit Card Download | August 2026 |
| IBPS PO Prelims Exam Date 2026 | August 15, 22, 23, 2026 |
| Prelims Result Announcement | September 2026 |
| Mains Admit Card Release | September/October 2026 |
| IBPS PO Mains Exam Date 2026 | October 10, 2026 |
| Interview/Personality Test | January-February 2027 |
| Final Result Declaration | To be announced |
IBPS PO 2026 Vacancy Details
The total number of IBPS PO 2026 vacancies will be announced along with the official notification. In IBPS PO 2025, a total of 5208 Probationary Officer/Management Trainee positions were advertised across various participating banks.
Participating Banks in IBPS PO Recruitment 2026
The following 11 public sector banks participate in the IBPS PO recruitment process:
- Bank of Baroda
- Bank of India
- Bank of Maharashtra
- Canara Bank
- Central Bank of India
- Indian Bank
- Indian Overseas Bank
- Punjab National Bank
- Punjab & Sind Bank
- UCO Bank
- Union Bank of India
IBPS PO 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification for IBPS PO 2026
Candidates must possess a graduation degree in any discipline from a university recognized by the Government of India or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government. The degree certificate must be obtained on or before the date specified in the official notification.
IBPS PO Age Limit 2026
The age requirement for IBPS PO 2026 exam is calculated as of July 1, 2026:
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Minimum Age: 20 years
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Maximum Age: 30 years
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Candidates must be born between July 2, 1996 and July 1, 2006 (both dates inclusive)
Age Relaxation for Reserved Categories
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST Candidates | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 5 years |
| Widows/Divorced Women | 9 years |
| J&K Domicile (1980-1989) | 5 years |
| 1984 Riot Victims | 5 years |
Nationality Requirements
Applicants must be one of the following:
Citizen of India
Subject of Nepal or Bhutan
Tibetan Refugee (arrived before January 1, 1962)
Person of Indian Origin from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, or East African countries
IBPS PO 2026 Registration Process & Application Fee
How to Apply for IBPS PO 2026 Online
Eligible candidates must register online through the official IBPS website (www.ibps.in). The online application requires uploading scanned photograph, signature, handwritten declaration, and payment of application fee through online mode.
IBPS PO Application Fee 2026
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS Candidates | Rs. 850/- (inclusive of GST) |
| SC/ST/PwD Candidates | Rs. 175/- (inclusive of GST) |
IBPS PO 2026 Selection Process
The IBPS PO selection process consists of three phases:
Phase 1: Preliminary Examination (Qualifying)
The prelims exam is conducted online with separate sectional timing for each section. Candidates must qualify in all three sections individually to proceed to the mains examination.
Phase 2: Main Examination
The mains exam includes both objective and descriptive papers. Candidates must clear sectional and overall cut-offs to qualify for the interview stage.
Phase 3: Interview/Personality Test
The interview carries 100 marks maximum, with a minimum qualifying score of 40% for general category and 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates.
Final Merit Calculation
The final selection merit list is prepared based on the combined performance in Mains Exam and Interview in the ratio of 80:20 respectively.
IBPS PO 2026 Exam Pattern
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| General/Banking/Financial Awareness | 35 | 50 | 25 minutes |
| Descriptive English (Letter & Essay) | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 147 | 225 | 190 minutes |
Negative Marking
There is a penalty of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer in both Prelims and Mains objective tests.
IBPS PO 2026 Syllabus
Prelims Syllabus Topics
Reasoning Ability: Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Blood Relations, Coding-Decoding, Data Sufficiency, Alphanumeric Series, Direction Test, Inequality
Quantitative Aptitude: Simplification, Data Interpretation, Number Series, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Time & Distance, Work & Time, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest, Mensuration
English Language: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Error Spotting, Fill in the Blanks, Sentence Improvement, Vocabulary
Mains Syllabus Additional Topics
The mains exam covers advanced topics in all sections plus Banking Awareness, Current Affairs, Digital Banking, Financial Awareness, RBI Circulars, Economic & Banking Developments, and Computer Knowledge.
IBPS PO 2026 Salary Structure
The initial in-hand monthly salary of an IBPS Probationary Officer ranges from Rs. 74,000 to Rs. 76,000 including dearness allowance, special allowances, and other benefits. The basic pay scale starts at Rs. 48,480 with regular increments as per the revised pay structure.
IBPS PO 2026 Admit Card Download
The IBPS PO admit card will be released separately for each examination phase:
Prelims Admit Card: Available 10-15 days before prelims exam
Mains Admit Card: Released after prelims result declaration
Interview Call Letter: Issued to mains qualified candidates
Candidates must download the admit card from the official website using registration number and date of birth/password.
IBPS PO 2026 Preparation Tips
Best Study Material & Resources
Candidates should focus on previous year question papers, online mock tests, and comprehensive study notes covering the latest exam pattern. Regular practice with new pattern questions and sectional tests helps improve accuracy and speed.
Pre-Exam Training Facility
Free pre-examination training is provided by participating banks for SC/ST/Religious Minority Community candidates at various centers across India. This 5-day orientation program covers exam strategies, time management techniques, and practice sessions.
IBPS PO Exam Centers 2026
The IBPS PO examination is conducted at numerous test centers across India. Candidates can indicate their preferred exam center choices during online application, subject to availability. The complete list of exam centers will be announced with the official notification.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is IBPS PO Exam Date 2026?
The IBPS PO 2026 Prelims Exam is expected to be conducted on 22nd and 23rd August 2026, while the Mains Exam is scheduled for 4th October 2026. The exact exam dates will be confirmed when IBPS releases the official calendar and notification, which is anticipated in June 2026.
Q. When will IBPS PO 2026 official notification release?
The IBPS PO 2026 official notification is expected to be released in June-July 2026 on the official website www.ibps.in. Based on the previous year’s pattern, the notification will contain comprehensive information about vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, application procedure, and important dates for the CRP PO/MT-XVI recruitment cycle.
Q. What is the salary of IBPS PO?
The in-hand monthly salary of an IBPS Probationary Officer ranges from Rs. 74,000 to Rs. 76,000 including dearness allowances, special allowances, and other benefits. The basic pay scale starts at Rs. 48,480 with regular increments following the revised pay structure: Rs. 48,480-2,000/7-62,480-2,340/2-67,160-2,680/7-85,920.
Q. Can an Engineering graduate apply for IBPS PO Exam?
Yes, engineering graduates are eligible to apply for the IBPS PO Exam. The educational qualification requirement states that any candidate with a graduation degree in any discipline from a university recognized by the Government of India or an equivalent qualification can apply. This includes engineering degrees from recognized institutions, making engineers eligible for IBPS PO recruitment.
Q. Is the IBPS PO exam Bilingual?
Yes, the IBPS PO examination is conducted in bilingual format (English and Hindi), except for the English Language section. Candidates can choose their preferred language while answering questions in sections like Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, and General/Banking Awareness. However, the English Language section must be answered in English only.
Q. Is there any Negative Marking in IBPS PO Exam?
Yes, there is negative marking in both IBPS PO Prelims and Mains examinations. For each incorrect answer marked in the objective tests, 0.25 marks (one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question) will be deducted as penalty. However, no marks are deducted if a question is left unanswered or blank, so candidates should attempt questions carefully to avoid unnecessary penalties.
