IBPS PO
Common recruitment process for Probationary Officer / Management Trainee posts in 11 public sector banks (all nationalised banks except State Bank of India).
Eligibility
A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university. Age 20-30 years on the cut-off date, with standard relaxations (SC/ST +5 years, OBC +3, PwBD +10). There is no limit on the number of attempts.
Age limit: 20-30 years (relaxations for reserved categories)
Exam pattern
Fully online, three stages. Prelims: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes with 20-minute sectional timers for English Language (30), Quantitative Aptitude (35) and Reasoning Ability (35). Mains (revised for CRP PO/MT-XVI): an objective paper of 170 questions for 200 marks over 160 minutes with fixed sectional timings — Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (40Q/60m), Data Analysis & Interpretation (40Q/60m), English Language (40Q/20m) and General/Economy/Banking Awareness (50Q/60m) — followed by a 25-mark English descriptive test of 30 minutes (one essay and one letter, typed). Every wrong answer costs 0.25 of the question's marks, and both sectional and overall cut-offs apply. Qualifiers face a 100-mark interview; final merit is mains and interview in an 80:20 ratio — prelims marks are not counted.
Syllabus at a glance
Prelims tests English (grammar, comprehension, vocabulary), quantitative aptitude (arithmetic, data interpretation, series, simplification) and reasoning (puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, inequality). Mains adds computer aptitude, tougher data analysis, and General/Economy/Banking Awareness — current affairs of roughly the last six months, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy, banking terms and static banking knowledge. The descriptive test asks for an essay and a letter on banking, current-affairs or social themes.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims result | Sep 2026 | expected |
| Mains exam | 4 Oct 2026 | confirmed |
| Interviews | Nov-Dec 2026 | expected |
| Provisional allotment | Jan-Apr 2027 | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations — R.S. Aggarwal
- Fast Track Objective Arithmetic — Rajesh Verma (Arihant)
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
- Analytical Reasoning — M.K. Pandey (BSC Publishing)
- Objective General English — S.P. Bakshi (Arihant)
- Banking Awareness — Arihant Experts
How toppers play it
- Prelims has 20-minute sectional timers, so build section-wise speed drills rather than mixed 60-minute mocks alone; aim for 75+ safe attempts with high accuracy given the 0.25 negative marking.
- Prelims is purely qualifying — final merit is 80:20 mains:interview, so shift to mains-level puzzles, data interpretation and banking awareness immediately after prelims.
- General/Economy/Banking Awareness is the most scoring mains section: cover 5-6 months of current affairs with emphasis on RBI circulars, monetary policy and government schemes.
- Practise the 25-mark descriptive test on a keyboard under 30 minutes — one essay and one letter, typed, not handwritten.
- Clear every sectional cut-off first; do not over-invest in one strong section at the cost of a weak one.