IBPS Clerk is the common name for the Common Recruitment Process (CRP) that the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) runs to recruit clerical staff for public sector banks. The post is now called Customer Service Associate (CSA): IBPS used the name CRP Clerks up to the 2024 cycle (CRP Clerks-XIV) and CRP CSA from 2025 (CRP CSA-XV). This guide follows the latest cycle, CRP CSA-XVI, notified on 1 August 2026 for vacancies of 2027-28 in 11 participating banks. Recruitment is state-wise: you apply for the vacancies of one state or union territory only and must know its local language. The exam has two online stages, a one-hour preliminary and a longer main exam, and the main exam alone decides the merit list. There is no interview.
At a glance
| Conducted by | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), for 11 participating public sector banks |
| Latest cycle | CRP CSA-XVI (2026 notification, vacancies of 2027-28) |
| Mode | Online objective tests: Preliminary and Main |
| Prelims | English Language, Numerical Ability, Reasoning Ability; 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes |
| Mains | General/Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude; 160 questions, 200 marks, 125 minutes |
| Sectional timing | Yes; every test is separately timed |
| Negative marking | 0.25 of the marks for the question, for each wrong answer; none for blanks |
| Eligibility | Graduate in any discipline; age 20 to 28 years as on 1 August 2026 (relaxations apply) |
| Application fee | INR 850 (INR 175 for SC/ST/PwBD/ESM/DESM), inclusive of GST |
| Vacancies | 11,403 indicative in the notification; revised on 29 September 2026 (see below) |
| 2026 dates | Prelims 10 and 11 October 2026; Mains scheduled for 27 December 2026 |
| Official website | ibps.in |
Exam pattern
The tables below are from the official CRP CSA-XVI notification dated 1 August 2026.
Preliminary examination
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Main examination
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Financial Awareness | 40 | 50 | 20 minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| Total | 160 | 200 | 125 minutes |
Notes on the pattern:
- Separate timers. Each test in both stages has its own time limit, so you cannot carry spare minutes from one section to another.
- Sectional cut-offs. In the prelims you must clear the cut-off in each of the three tests. In the mains you need a minimum score in each test and a minimum total.
- Marking. For every wrong answer, a quarter of the marks assigned to that question is deducted. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
- Only the mains counts. Prelims scores are used only for shortlisting. The main exam is marked out of 200 and converted to a score out of 100 for provisional allotment. Scores from different sessions are normalised using the equi-percentile method.
- Language of the paper. The English tests are in English only. The other tests are offered in English, Hindi and, for many states, the regional language listed for that state in the notification.
- Change in the latest edition. In the CRP CSA-XV (2025) notification, the mains Quantitative Aptitude test had 35 questions in 30 minutes, for a total of 155 questions in 120 minutes. In CRP CSA-XVI (2026) it has 40 questions in 35 minutes, taking the total to 160 questions in 125 minutes. The prelims pattern, the fees and the age limits are the same as in 2025.
IBPS notes that any change to the structure will be announced on ibps.in, with further details in the information handout issued with the call letters.
What each section tests
The notification gives test names, question counts and timings but no official topic-wise syllabus. The topic lists below follow those published by education sites such as Careers360; treat them as a guide to the usual question types, not as an official list.
English Language (prelims) and General English (mains)
Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar and error spotting, sentence and paragraph rearrangement, fillers and similar usage questions. The prelims gives 30 questions in 20 minutes, so speed of reading matters as much as accuracy.
Numerical Ability (prelims) and Quantitative Aptitude (mains)
Arithmetic (percentages, ratio and proportion, averages, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, time and work, speed and distance, mixtures), data interpretation from tables and charts, number series, simplification and approximation, and quadratic equations. The prelims allows 20 minutes for 35 questions, a little over half a minute per question, so fast calculation is essential.
Reasoning Ability
Puzzles and seating arrangements, plus short-format question types such as coding-decoding, syllogisms, inequalities, blood relations, direction sense, order and ranking, and alphanumeric series. In the mains this test carries the most marks (60). The 2025 and 2026 notifications name the mains test simply "Reasoning Ability"; some coaching syllabi still list computer aptitude under it, so check the information handout.
General/Financial Awareness (mains only)
Current affairs, banking and financial awareness (for example the RBI and other regulators, banking terms, government schemes) and general knowledge. It has 40 questions worth 50 marks in 20 minutes, which makes it the fastest section in the mains: questions are either known or not.
How it compares with IBPS PO
| IBPS Clerk (CRP CSA-XVI) | IBPS PO (CRP PO/MT-XVI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Post | Customer Service Associate (clerical) | Probationary Officer / Management Trainee |
| Age (upper limit, general) | 28 years | 30 years |
| Starting basic pay | INR 24,050 | INR 48,480 |
| Prelims | 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes | 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes (different marks per section) |
| Mains | 160 objective questions, 200 marks, 125 minutes | 170 objective questions, 200 marks, 160 minutes, plus a 30-minute descriptive paper (essay and comprehension, 25 marks) |
| After the mains | Provisional allotment, then a local language test | Personality test and interview |
In general terms:
- Same skills, different depth. Both exams test English, quantitative aptitude and reasoning, and both have a 0.25 penalty for wrong answers. The PO mains goes further, with a combined data analysis and interpretation test and a broader awareness test that includes economy and RBI circulars.
- No writing or interview for Clerk. The Clerk process is entirely objective. The PO process adds a descriptive paper, a personality test and an interview.
- Local language matters for Clerk. You must be proficient in the language of the state you apply for, and if you did not study it up to class 10 you must pass a language test before joining.
Many candidates prepare for both, since the prelims overlap closely. See our IBPS PO guide for that exam.
How Pareto Academy helps
Pareto Academy is built around CAT, so it helps with the aptitude sections rather than the whole exam. The arithmetic and data interpretation overlap well, but IBPS Clerk rewards speed on short questions, whereas CAT questions are longer and take several steps. Use our material to build understanding, then practise separately for speed.
| IBPS Clerk section | Covered by Pareto? | What to use |
|---|---|---|
| English Language / General English | Partly | VARC questions, reading comprehension strategy and daily reading for reading; grammar, error spotting and vocabulary drills are not covered yet |
| Arithmetic (percentages, ratios, interest, time and work and so on) | Yes | Quant questions, formula sheet, improve your Quant score |
| Data interpretation | Yes | DILR questions; CAT sets are longer than IBPS sets |
| Simplification, approximation, number series | Limited | Not covered as separate question types; practise with timed drills elsewhere |
| Reasoning: puzzles and seating arrangements | Partly | DILR questions and puzzle strategies |
| Reasoning: coding-decoding, syllogisms, inequalities, blood relations and other short types | Not yet | Use past papers and dedicated bank-exam practice books |
| General/Financial Awareness | Limited | Our Knowledge series on the RBI (central banking, started); for the rest, daily news reading and official sources such as RBI publications |
| Local language proficiency test | Not yet | Not covered |
| IBPS Clerk-pattern mocks | Not yet | Our mocks follow the CAT pattern, which is much longer; the mock analysis guide still applies to any mock |
For the sections we do not cover, rely on official IBPS material and previous years' papers. Awareness in particular needs a separate, regular routine.
Selection process and posts
- Online registration. The notification set registration and fee payment for 1 to 21 August 2026. You choose one state or UT, one local language and your medium of examination at this stage.
- Preliminary examination. Held on 10 and 11 October 2026. Candidates who clear every sectional cut-off, in numbers decided by IBPS for each category, are shortlisted for the mains.
- Main examination. Scheduled for 27 December 2026 in the IBPS calendar; the notification says December 2026. Merit is based on the mains alone.
- Provisional allotment. Expected in March 2027. Shortlisted candidates are allotted to a participating bank on merit and preference, against state-wise vacancies. Allotment is final; asking for a change cancels your candidature.
- Local Language Proficiency Test. Held after the mains or allotment and before joining. It is qualifying. Candidates with a class 10 or higher mark sheet showing they studied the chosen language are exempt.
- Document verification and joining at the allotted bank.
Participating banks (CRP CSA-XVI): 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 and Union Bank of India.
Vacancies. The notification listed 11,403 indicative vacancies. IBPS updated them on 29 September 2026; the state-wise totals in that update add up to 11,663, with Union Bank of India's figures marked "not reported". Allotment is made against the vacancies banks actually report, so the final number can differ.
Pay. The CSA basic pay scale is INR 24,050–1,340/3–28,070–1,650/3–33,020–2,000/4–41,020–2,340/7–57,400–4,400/1–61,800–2,680/1–64,480, plus allowances as per the allotted bank's rules.
Eligibility (key points). A degree in any discipline, with the result declared by 21 August 2026; computer literacy (a certificate, diploma or degree in computer operations, or computers or IT studied as a subject at school or college); proficiency in the local language of the state applied for. Age 20 to 28 years as on 1 August 2026, that is, born between 2 August 1998 and 1 August 2006. The upper limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer) and 10 years for PwBD, with other relaxations listed in the notification.
Preparation tips
- Train for speed first. The prelims gives 20 minutes for 35 Numerical Ability questions. Learn squares, cubes, fractions and percentage equivalents so that simplification and approximation take seconds.
- Respect the sectional timers. Since each test is timed separately, a slow start in one section cannot be made up later. Practise full 20-minute sections, not just individual questions.
- Clear every cut-off. A strong score in one test does not rescue a weak one. Find your weakest section early and bring it up to a safe level.
- Use CAT-style practice for depth, short drills for pace. Longer CAT problems build the arithmetic and DI understanding; timed sets of short questions build the speed IBPS needs.
- Do not leave awareness to the end. General/Financial Awareness is worth 50 of the 200 mains marks and cannot be crammed in a week. Follow banking and economic news every day from the start.
- Guess carefully. Each wrong answer costs a quarter of the question's marks. Blind guessing rarely pays; eliminate options first.
- Prepare for the mains early. The gap between the prelims (10 and 11 October 2026) and the mains (27 December 2026) is about eleven weeks, and the prelims result is expected in November. Start mains topics, especially awareness, before the prelims result.
- Check your local language position. If you did not study your state's language up to class 10, plan for the language test.
Frequently asked questions
Is IBPS Clerk the same as IBPS CSA?
Yes. IBPS called the process CRP Clerks up to 2024 and now calls it CRP CSA (Customer Service Associate). The 2026 cycle is CRP CSA-XVI.
Is there an interview in IBPS Clerk?
No. The CRP CSA-XVI notification describes online preliminary and main exams, provisional allotment and a local language test, with no interview. Final merit is based on the mains score alone.
What changed in the 2026 pattern?
The mains Quantitative Aptitude test went from 35 questions in 30 minutes (2025) to 40 questions in 35 minutes (2026). The mains now has 160 questions in 125 minutes, up from 155 in 120. The prelims is unchanged.
Is there negative marking?
Yes, in both the prelims and the mains. A quarter (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for leaving a question blank.
Can I apply for vacancies in more than one state?
No. You can apply for the vacancies of one state or union territory only, and you must be proficient in a specified local language of that state.
Are prelims marks counted in the final merit?
No. The prelims is only for shortlisting. Only marks in the main examination are used for the final merit list.
Sources
- IBPS official website (ibps.in): CRP updates listing, use of the names CRP Clerks-XIV and CRP CSA-XV, absence of a CSA-XVI prelims result notice as of 22 October 2026 (accessed 24 October 2026)
- IBPS CRP CSA-XVI page: notification date (1 August 2026), window notification and the corrigendum of 29 September 2026 (accessed 24 October 2026)
- CRP CSA-XVI detailed notification: participating banks, pay scale, age, eligibility, fees, exam structure, negative marking, cut-offs, normalisation, local language test, provisional allotment and indicative vacancies of 11,403 (accessed 24 October 2026)
- CRP CSA-XVI corrigendum, 29 September 2026 and updated vacancy annexure: updated state-wise vacancies, totalling 11,663 when the state totals are added, with Union Bank of India not reported (accessed 24 October 2026)
- IBPS tentative calendar 2026-27: CSA prelims on 10 and 11 October 2026 and mains on 27 December 2026 (accessed 24 October 2026)
- CRP CSA-XV detailed notification (2025): 2025 exam structure, fees and age limits, used to identify the 2026 pattern change (accessed 24 October 2026)
- CRP PO/MT-XVI detailed notification: IBPS PO age limit, pay, exam structure, descriptive paper, personality test and interview, for the comparison (accessed 24 October 2026)
- IBPS Clerk exam dates, as reported by Careers360 (2026): confirmation that the prelims was held on 10 and 11 October 2026 and that the mains is on 27 December 2026 (accessed 24 October 2026)
- IBPS Clerk syllabus, Careers360 (2026): unofficial topic lists for each section (accessed 24 October 2026)
Researched from official sources on 24 October 2026. Exam patterns change from year to year: always confirm the latest details on the official website before you apply.