IBPS PO Ex-Servicemen Selection Process 2026: Complete Official Recruitment Stages
Quick Overview
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IBPS PO ESM Selection Process Guide — ExamTune PDF
ExamTune explanatory guide for CRP PO/MT-XVI. This is not an IBPS-issued notification or certificate. Follow the official IBPS notification, later notices and your Interview/verification instructions.
IBPS PO Ex-Servicemen Selection Process 2026 follows the
official Common Recruitment Process for Probationary Officers/Management
Trainees under CRP PO/MT-XVI. Ex-Servicemen do not have a separate examination
or separate selection route for the IBPS PO post. Eligible candidates must
progress through the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, mandatory
Personality Test and Common Interview before being considered for provisional
allotment.
Candidates should also understand that there is no separate
Ex-Servicemen reservation in the Officers’ Cadre. However, eligible
Ex-Servicemen and specified Commissioned Officers can claim the prescribed
upper-age relaxation subject to the conditions laid down by IBPS.
IBPS PO Ex-Servicemen Selection Process 2026 Overview
| Stage | Official Selection Requirement |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | Qualifying and shortlisting stage |
| Main Examination | Required for Interview shortlisting and final merit |
| Personality Test | Mandatory but non-qualifying |
| Common Interview | Qualifying and counted in final merit |
| Provisional Allotment | Based on combined merit, preferences and available vacancies |
Important: Document verification is an eligibility
verification requirement and should not be confused with a separate
marks-based examination stage.
Stage 1: IBPS PO Preliminary Examination
The first stage of the IBPS PO Ex-Servicemen Selection
Process is the online Preliminary Examination. Ex-Servicemen appearing
for IBPS PO have to clear the same prescribed examination and cut-off
requirements applicable according to their eligible category.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Candidates must secure the minimum cut-off prescribed by IBPS in each test.
Preliminary Examination marks are used for shortlisting and are
not included in the final merit score.
Stage 2: IBPS PO Main Examination
Candidates shortlisted through Prelims appear for the Online Main
Examination. The objective part contains 170 questions for 200
marks, while the Descriptive Paper contains 2 questions for
25 marks.
| Main Exam Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 |
| General/Economy/Banking/Digital/Financial Awareness | 50 | 60 |
| English Language | 40 | 20 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 |
| Descriptive Paper – Essay & Comprehension | 2 | 25 |
The Main Examination is crucial because its score is considered for
shortlisting and contributes to the final combined merit.
Timing and marking: The objective Mains tests are separately timed: Reasoning 45 minutes, General/Economy/Banking/Digital/Financial Awareness 35 minutes, English Language 35 minutes, and Data Analysis & Interpretation 45 minutes. The objective total is 160 minutes; the 25-mark Descriptive Paper adds 30 minutes. For a wrong objective answer, IBPS deducts one-fourth of that question’s assigned marks; unanswered questions have no penalty. Check the IBPS-issued notification copy hosted by CareerPower for the complete structure.
Stage 3: IBPS PO Personality Test
Candidates shortlisted after the Main Examination are required to appear
for the prescribed IBPS PO Personality Test before the
Interview. It is a self-report personality assessment and is
mandatory but non-qualifying.
The Personality Test itself does not add marks to the final merit score.
However, failure to appear for the prescribed test makes the candidate
ineligible to proceed to the Interview. The personality profile may be placed
before the Interview Panel.
Stage 4: IBPS PO Common Interview for Ex-Servicemen
Eligible Ex-Servicemen do not face a separate ESM interview. Candidates
shortlisted under CRP PO/MT-XVI appear for the Common Interview
conducted by Participating Banks and coordinated by the designated Nodal Bank
with the assistance of IBPS.
The Interview carries 100 marks. The minimum qualifying
marks are 40% for General/EWS candidates and
35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates. Ex-Servicemen status by
itself does not create a separate 35% Interview qualifying standard.
IBPS PO Ex-Servicemen Age Relaxation
Under the IBPS PO Ex-Servicemen eligibility rules,
Ex-Servicemen and Commissioned Officers including eligible Emergency
Commissioned Officers (ECOs) and Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs)
who have rendered at least five years of military service and satisfy the
prescribed release conditions are eligible for 5 years of upper-age
relaxation, subject to Government guidelines.
This is an age concession and should not be described as
IBPS PO Ex-Servicemen reservation. IBPS specifically provides
no Ex-Servicemen reservation in the Officers’ Cadre.
IBPS PO Ex-Servicemen Documents Required
An Ex-Serviceman candidate must produce the prescribed proof of defence
service at the relevant verification stage. Important
IBPS PO Ex-Servicemen documents include the Service or
Discharge Book, Pension Payment Order and documentary proof of the rank last
or presently held, as applicable.
Candidates who are still serving in defence services must produce a
certificate from the competent authority stating that they will be relieved
from defence services on or before 20 July 2027. Failure to
produce the required certificate can lead to disqualification.
IBPS PO Ex-Servicemen Final Selection
The IBPS PO Ex-Servicemen final selection follows the same
merit process prescribed for CRP PO/MT-XVI. Candidates must qualify the Main
Examination and Common Interview and rank sufficiently high in the combined
merit.
| Component | Final Weightage |
|---|---|
| Online Main Examination | 80% |
| Common Interview | 20% |
Preliminary Examination marks and the Personality Test do not contribute
directly to the final combined score.
IBPS PO Provisional Allotment
After completion of the Interview process, successful candidates may be
considered for provisional allotment to a Participating Bank based on
merit-cum-preference, actual vacancies and applicable Government
guidelines. Provisional allotment itself is not an offer of
employment. Final eligibility verification and appointment are handled by the
Participating Bank concerned.
Current IBPS PO Selection Status
As of 10 September 2026, the IBPS PO/MT-XVI Preliminary
Examination scheduled for 22 and 23 August 2026 has passed.
The official IBPS examination calendar schedules the
Main Examination for 4 October 2026. Candidates should check
the latest CRP PO/MT-XVI notices issued by IBPS for results and further
selection-stage updates.
Related IBPS PO Articles
- IBPS PO ESM eligibility — notification copy hosted by CareerPower
- IBPS PO ESM Certificate
- IBPS PO ESM Reservation
IBPS Official Links
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IBPS PO selection process?
Prelims, Mains, Personality Test, Interview and Provisional Allotment.
Is ESM selection different?
No, the selection stages are the same.
Are Prelims marks counted in final merit?
No.
Is the Personality Test mandatory?
Yes.
Are Personality Test marks added to merit?
No.
What is the Mains–Interview weightage?
80:20.
Is there separate ESM reservation in IBPS PO?
No.
Do Ex-Servicemen get age relaxation?
Yes, as per IBPS rules.
What are the Interview qualifying marks?
The Interview carries 100 marks. The minimum qualifying standard is 40% for General/EWS and 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates. Ex-Servicemen status alone does not give a separate 35% standard.
What happens after the Interview?
Eligible candidates are considered for provisional allotment.
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