1. IBPS SO Recruitment 2026: Overview & Schedule
The selection methodology follows a multi-stage path consisting of an Online Preliminary Examination, an Online Main Examination, and a Common Interview. The institutional calendar lists the following tentative timeline:
| Post Code | Specialist Officer Post | Total Indicative Vacancies PDF | Key Participating HQs PDF |
| 01 | IT Officer (Scale-I) | 301 | Bank of India, PNB, Central Bank |
| 02 | Agricultural Field Officer | 190 | Bank of Baroda, Bank of Maharashtra |
| 03 | Rajbhasha Adhikari | 89 | Canara Bank, Central Bank of India |
| 04 | Law Officer (Scale-I) | 105 | Canara Bank, PNB, Central Bank |
| 05 | HR/Personnel Officer | 60 | Bank of Baroda, Bank of Maharashtra |
| 06 | Marketing Officer (Scale-I) | 0 (NR) | Vacancies Not Reported yet |
Important Dates Table
| Activity | Tentative Dates PDF |
| Online Registration & Application Editing | 01.07.2026 to 21.07.2026 |
| Online Fee Payment | 01.07.2026 to 21.07.2026 |
| Application Modification Window | 2 days post registration closure |
| Preliminary Exam Call Letter Download | August, 2026 |
| Online Preliminary Examination | August, 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam Result Declaration | September/October, 2026 |
| Main Exam Call Letter Download | October, 2026 |
| Online Main Examination | November, 2026 |
| Main Exam Result Declaration | November, 2026 |
| Conduct of Common Interview | November/December, 2026 |
| Provisional Allotment | January, 2027 |
2. Specialized Posts & Salary Structure
Candidates can submit an application for only one post under the CRP SPL-XVI framework. Multiple submissions will result in immediate rejection.
Scale I Posts Available:
- IT Officer (Scale I)
- Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I)
- Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I)
- Law Officer (Scale I)
- HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I)
- Marketing Officer (Scale I)
Compensation & Pay Scale
Specialist Officers at Scale I receive a standardized basic salary structure:
- Basic Pay Scale: $48480 – 2000/7 – 62480 – 2340/2 – 67160 – 2680/7 – 85920$
- Perquisites: Appointed officers qualify for standard allowances and organizational benefits dictated by the rules of their provisionally allotted bank.
3. Participating Public Sector Banks
The common recruitment drive provides personnel to the following major nationalized banks:
- 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
Note: Final seat allocation depends heavily on business volume, structural modifications, and actual vacancies declared by participating banks during the allotment phase.
4. Comprehensive Eligibility Criteria
Prospective candidates must strictly meet the mandatory nationality, age, and academic benchmarks by the specified cutoff dates.
I. Nationality & Citizenship
Applicants must be either a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who arrived before January 1, 1962, or a person of Indian origin migrated from designated countries with permanent settlement intentions. Non-citizens must possess a valid certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
II. Age Parameters (As of 01.07.2026)
- Minimum Age: 20 Years
- Maximum Age: 30 Years
- Note: Candidates must be born between 02.07.1996 and 01.07.2006 (both dates inclusive).
Permissible Age Relaxations
- SC / ST: 5 Years
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 Years
- PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities): 10 Years
- Ex-Servicemen / Commissioned Officers: 5 Years
III. Minimum Academic Qualifications (Cutoff: 21.07.2026)
All educational qualifications must originate from recognized universities approved by government regulatory agencies. Results must be officially declared on or before 21.07.2026.
| Post Name | Educational Qualifications Required PDF |
| IT Officer (Scale I) | 4-year Engineering/Technology degree in CS, Computer Applications, IT, Electronics, Telecom, ECE, or E&I OR a relevant Post Graduate degree OR Graduate with DOEACC ‘B’ Level. |
| Agricultural Field Officer | 4-year graduation degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Dairy/Fishery Science, Pisciculture, Agri-Business Management, or equivalent allied agricultural fields. |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari | Post Graduate Degree in Hindi with English as a subject at the graduation level OR Post Graduate Degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as graduation subjects. |
| Law Officer (Scale I) | Bachelor Degree in Law (LL.B) and enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council. |
| HR/Personnel Officer | Graduation followed by a 2-year full-time Post Graduate degree or Post Graduate diploma in Personnel Management, Industrial Relations, HR, HRD, Social Work, or Labour Law. |
| Marketing Officer | Graduation followed by a 2-year full-time MMS, MBA, PGDBA, PGDBM, PGPM, or PGDM with a distinct specialization in Marketing. |
5. Layout & Structure of Examinations
The evaluation system comprises competitive objective and descriptive assessments across the tiers.
A. Online Preliminary Examination
Structure for IT, Agriculture, HR, and Marketing Officers
- English Language: 25 Questions / 25 Marks / 20 Minutes (Medium: English)
- Reasoning: 25 Questions / 25 Marks / 20 Minutes (Medium: English/Hindi)
- Quantitative Aptitude: 25 Questions / 25 Marks / 20 Minutes (Medium: English/Hindi)
- Professional Knowledge: 25 Questions / 50 Marks / 20 Minutes (Medium: English/Hindi)
- Total: 100 Questions / 125 Marks / 80 Minutes
Structure for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari
- English Language: 25 Questions / 25 Marks / 20 Minutes (Medium: English)
- Reasoning: 25 Questions / 25 Marks / 20 Minutes (Medium: English/Hindi)
- General Awareness (Banking Industry Focus): 25 Questions / 25 Marks / 20 Minutes (Medium: English/Hindi)
- Professional Knowledge: 25 Questions / 50 Marks / 20 Minutes (Medium: English/Hindi)
- Total: 100 Questions / 125 Marks / 80 Minutes
B. Online Main Examination
Merit ranking for shortlisting is calculated strictly via the candidate’s performance in the core domain segment.
Format for IT, AFO, HR, and Marketing Officers
- Objective Test (English, Reasoning, Quant, Professional Knowledge): 150 Questions / 200 Marks / 125 Minutes
- Descriptive Paper (English Language): 2 Questions / 25 Marks / 30 Minutes
- Total Main Score Matrix: 225 Marks / 155 Minutes
Format for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari
- Objective Test (English, Reasoning, General Awareness, Professional Objective): 150 Questions / 200 Marks / 125 Minutes
- Professional Knowledge Descriptive Paper: 2 Questions / 25 Marks / 30 Minutes
- Total Main Score Matrix: 225 Marks / 155 Minutes
Negative Marking Caution: Marking incorrect answers carries a penalty. One-fourth or 0.25 marks allocated to that specific item will be deducted. Unanswered items attract no penalty.
6. Common Interview & Final Selection
Candidates who achieve the minimum qualifying cut-offs in the Online Main Exam move to the interview pool.
- Total Interview Value: 100 Marks.
- Minimum Passing Marks: 40% for General/EWS applicants and 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD categories.
- Weightage Matrix Ratio: The mathematical weightage between the Online Main Exam and the Interview is fixed at 80:20.
- Provisional Allotment: Determined automatically via merit-cum-preference combinations matching the actual corporate vacancies declared in 2027-28.
7. Mandatory Registration Fees
Application fees are payable strictly via online payment systems from 01.07.2026 to 21.07.2026:
- SC / ST / PwBD Candidates: Rs. 175/- (Inclusive of GST)
- All Other Categories: Rs. 850/- (Inclusive of GST)
8. Document Upload Specifications
Candidates must upload their scanned application components precisely according to the parameters below to avoid application rejection.
Scanning Checklist Table
| Document Component | File Type | Dimensions | Permitted File Size PDF | Ink / Base Rule PDF |
| Passport Photograph | JPG/JPEG | $200 \times 230$ Pixels | 20 KB – 50 KB | Colour, light/white background |
| Applicant Signature | JPG/JPEG | $140 \times 60$ Pixels | 10 KB – 20 KB | White paper using Black Ink |
| Left Thumb Impression | JPG/JPEG | $240 \times 240$ Pixels | 20 KB – 50 KB | Black or Blue Ink |
| Handwritten Declaration | JPG/JPEG | $800 \times 400$ Pixels | 50 KB – 100 KB | English text using Black Ink |
| Matriculation Certificate | A4 Page Format | Under 500 KB | Clear, legible scan |
Standard Handwritten Text
The declaration text must be handwritten in English by the applicant, and must not be written in capital letters:
“I, _______________ (Name of the candidate), hereby declare that all the information submitted by me in the application form is correct, true and valid. I will present the supporting documents as and when required.”
9. Comprehensive Step-by-Step Application Process
- Access Portal: Visit www.ibps.in and select the link “CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE FOR CRP-SPECIALIST OFFICERS (CRP SPL-XVI)“.
- Generate Credentials: Click “CLICK HERE FOR NEW REGISTRATION” and provide your basic contact profile details to generate a unique Registration Number and Password.
- Upload Artifacts: Upload your scanned photograph, signature, thumb impression, handwritten statement, and 10th-grade certificate. Complete the live camera photo verification process.
- Fill Information Details: Fill in your educational background details, select your preferred exam centers, and list your bank preferences. Utilize DigiLocker integration to securely attach verified documents.
- Review Form: Verify your entries using the “SAVE AND NEXT” feature, then click “COMPLETE REGISTRATION”.
- Remit Fee: Complete the application by processing your fee payment using credit/debit cards, Internet banking, or UPI portals. Save your generated e-receipt and application copy for future reference.
Summary of Vacancies (Indicative)
Disclaimer: Vacancy figures are entirely indicative. Eligible candidates are advised to complete their registrations well before the final deadline of July 21, 2026 to avoid portal connectivity issues.
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