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Banking & Insurance · Government job

IBPS Clerk

IBPS Common Recruitment Process for Customer Service Associates (CRP CSA-XVI, formerly Clerk)

Recruits Customer Service Associates (the redesignated clerical cadre) for public-sector banks across India — the largest-volume entry route into bank branch roles.

Eligibility

A Bachelor's degree in any discipline plus working knowledge of computers (a certificate/diploma/degree in computer operations, or computer/Information Technology as a school subject). Age 20–28 years, with standard category relaxations. Proficiency in the official language of the state applied for is expected, and candidates may apply for only one state.

Age limit: 20–28 years (relaxations as per category)

Exam pattern

Fully online, two stages with no interview. Prelims: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes with 20-minute sectional timing (English 30, Numerical Ability 35, Reasoning 35). Mains: 190 questions, 200 marks, 160 minutes — General/Financial Awareness (50), General English (40), Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude (50 questions, 60 marks) and Quantitative Aptitude (50). Every wrong answer costs 0.25 marks. Final merit rests entirely on Mains, followed by state-wise provisional allotment to banks.

Syllabus at a glance

Prelims tests English, numerical ability and reasoning at high speed. Mains extends this to general and financial awareness (current affairs, banking and static General Knowledge), tougher reasoning blended with computer aptitude, and arithmetic plus data interpretation. Depth is moderate; the exam rewards speed and accuracy over difficulty.

Upcoming dates

EventDateStatus
NotificationAug 2026expected
Online application windowAug–Sep 2026expected
Preliminary exam10–11 Oct 2026confirmed
Mains exam27 Dec 2026confirmed
Provisional allotmentApr 2027expected

Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.

Free prep material

Official
IBPS official website
Notification, state-wise vacancy annexures and the official information handout.
 Mock tests
PracticeMock free IBPS Clerk mock
Free full-length mock with all-India percentile — useful for judging state cut-off readiness.
 Mock tests
ixamBee free mock tests
Fully free mocks for all major banking exams, no payment wall.
 Study material
Bankers Adda
Free daily section-wise quizzes and General Awareness capsules matched to the clerk syllabus.
 Study material
AffairsCloud
Free monthly current-affairs PDFs covering the 50-mark General/Financial Awareness section.
 Video course
Adda247 YouTube channel
Free speed-maths and reasoning marathon sessions aimed at clerk-level prelims.

Standard books

  • Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations — R.S. Aggarwal
  • Magical Book on Quicker Maths — M. Tyra
  • A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
  • Objective General English — S.P. Bakshi
  • Banking Awareness — Arihant Experts

How toppers play it

  • There is no interview — Mains marks alone decide selection, so treat prelims as a filter and build stamina for 190 questions in 160 minutes.
  • You apply for one state only: compare previous cut-offs and vacancy counts by state before locking your choice.
  • General/Financial Awareness (50 marks) is the quickest-scoring Mains section — 4–5 months of monthly capsules can swing your rank more than extra quant practice.
  • Cut-offs are speed-driven: target 25+ attempts per prelims section at 90%+ accuracy rather than attempting everything.
  • Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (60 marks) mixes basic computer questions into puzzle sets — do not skip the short computer-awareness syllabus.