IBPS PO is the common recruitment process that the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) runs once a year to recruit Probationary Officers and Management Trainees (PO/MT) for 11 public sector banks, including Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank and Bank of India. The current cycle is CRP PO/MT-XVI, notified on 1 July 2026 for vacancies of 2027-28. Selection runs through an online preliminary exam, an online main exam, a personality test and an interview, after which successful candidates are provisionally allotted to one of the banks. It suits graduates aged 20 to 30 who want an officer-grade career in a public sector bank. State Bank of India is not part of this process; it recruits through its own SBI PO exam.
At a glance
| Conducted by | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), Mumbai |
| Latest cycle | CRP PO/MT-XVI, notification dated 1 July 2026 (vacancies of 2027-28) |
| Mode | Online exams (preliminary and main) at test centres |
| Stages | Preliminary exam, main exam, personality test, interview, provisional allotment |
| Preliminary | 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes, three separately timed sections |
| Main | 170 objective questions (200 marks, 160 minutes) plus a 30-minute descriptive paper (25 marks) |
| Negative marking | 0.25 of the marks for that question, in both prelims and mains |
| Eligibility | Graduate in any discipline, result declared by 21 July 2026; age 20–30 as on 1 July 2026 |
| Fee | Rs 850 (Rs 175 for SC/ST/PwBD), inclusive of GST |
| Vacancies | 7,565 (indicative, as updated on 27 August 2026) |
| 2026 dates | Prelims 22 and 23 August; prelims result 23 September; mains 4 October 2026 |
| Official website | ibps.in |
Exam pattern
The tables below are from the official CRP PO/MT-XVI notification (2026).
Preliminary examination (objective)
| 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 |
Main examination (objective and descriptive)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness/ Digital/ Financial Awareness including RBI circulars | 50 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 35 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Objective total | 170 | 200 | 160 minutes |
| Descriptive Paper (Essay and Comprehension) | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
Notes on the pattern:
- Sectional timing. Every section in both exams is separately timed, so you cannot carry spare minutes from one section to another.
- Sectional cut-offs. In the prelims you must clear a minimum cut-off in each of the three sections. In the mains you need a minimum score in each test and a minimum total.
- Marking. A wrong answer costs one quarter (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question. Unanswered questions carry no penalty. Scores from different sessions are normalised using the equi-percentile method.
- Only the mains counts. Prelims marks are used only to shortlist for the mains. Mains marks decide who is called to the personality test and interview, and they go into the final merit list.
- Descriptive paper. IBPS says the essay and comprehension may be broadly based on economic and social issues, emerging trends in banking and technology, current events and ethics. It may be evaluated by an automated scoring mechanism.
- Medium. English Language is in English only; the other sections are offered in English and Hindi.
- Change in the latest cycle. The 2026 mains has been reworked compared with the 2025 (CRP PO/MT-XV) notification. In 2025 the objective mains had 145 questions: Reasoning 40 (60 marks, 50 minutes), General Awareness 35 (50 marks, 25 minutes), English 35 (40 marks, 40 minutes) and Data Analysis & Interpretation 35 (50 marks, 45 minutes). In 2026 it has 170 questions, with more general awareness and English questions, English reduced to 20 marks, and Reasoning cut to 45 minutes. The total of 200 marks in 160 minutes, the prelims and the descriptive paper are unchanged.
IBPS says any change to the structure will be announced on ibps.in, so check the information handout issued with the call letters.
What each section tests
IBPS publishes section names, question counts and timings but no detailed topic list. The descriptions below follow the official section names.
English Language
Reading comprehension and English usage. In the prelims it is 30 questions in 20 minutes. In the 2026 mains it is 40 questions worth only 20 marks, so each question is worth half a mark and the penalty for a wrong answer is correspondingly small.
Quantitative Aptitude
Prelims only: 35 questions in 20 minutes, which leaves just over half a minute per question. Expect arithmetic (percentages, ratios, profit and loss, interest, time and work, speed and distance), simplification and approximation, number series and small data interpretation sets, all built for quick calculation.
Reasoning Ability and Reasoning
The prelims has 35 reasoning questions in 20 minutes; the mains has 40 questions worth 60 marks in 45 minutes. Bank exams are known for puzzles and seating arrangements alongside shorter question types such as syllogisms, inequalities, coding-decoding, blood relations and direction sense. Mains questions are generally harder and longer than prelims ones.
Data Analysis & Interpretation
Mains only: 40 questions worth 60 marks in 45 minutes. It tests reading tables, bar and line charts, pie charts and caselets, and doing the arithmetic on them accurately under time pressure. This is the section closest to CAT data interpretation.
General, Economy, Banking, Digital and Financial Awareness
Mains only: 50 questions worth 60 marks in 35 minutes. The official name includes RBI circulars, and it covers current affairs, the economy, banking and financial awareness, and digital banking. Because questions are factual, this section can be answered quickly if you know the material.
Descriptive Paper
Two questions (essay and comprehension) for 25 marks in 30 minutes, typed on screen, taken as part of the mains.
How it compares with SBI PO
| IBPS PO 2026 (CRP PO/MT-XVI) | SBI PO 2026 (CRPD/PO/2026-27/09) | |
|---|---|---|
| Recruits for | 11 public sector banks | State Bank of India only |
| Vacancies | 7,565 (indicative) | 1,500 |
| Age limit | 20–30 years as on 1 July 2026 | 21–30 years as on 1 April 2026 |
| Final-year students | Graduation result must be declared by 21 July 2026 | May apply provisionally if they pass by 30 September 2026 |
| Prelims | English 30, Quant 35, Reasoning 35; sectional cut-offs | English 40, Quant 30, Reasoning 30; no sectional cut-off |
| Mains objective | 170 questions, 200 marks, 160 minutes | 170 questions, 200 marks, 3 hours |
| Mains descriptive | Essay and comprehension, 25 marks, 30 minutes | Emails, situation analysis, and report or précis, 30 marks, 30 minutes |
| Final stage | Personality test (non-qualifying) and interview (100 marks) | Psychometric test, group exercise (20) and interview (30) |
| Final weightage | Mains 80 : interview 20 | Mains 75 : group exercise and interview 25 |
| Attempt limit | None stated in the notification | 6 for UR/EWS, 9 for OBC and PwBD, no limit for SC/ST |
| Fee | Rs 850 (Rs 175 for SC/ST/PwBD) | Rs 750 (nil for SC/ST/PwBD) |
In general terms:
- The syllabus overlaps heavily. Both exams test English, quantitative aptitude, reasoning, data interpretation and banking awareness, so most candidates prepare for both together.
- SBI PO has more stages after the mains. It adds a group exercise and gives the post-written stage a slightly larger share of the final score.
- IBPS PO opens more doors. One application is considered for vacancies across 11 banks, and allotment depends on merit and your bank preferences.
See our SBI PO guide for the full SBI pattern.
How Pareto Academy helps
Pareto Academy is built around CAT. The arithmetic, data interpretation and reading skills overlap with IBPS PO, but bank exams reward speed on short questions (35 quant questions in 20 minutes in the prelims), whereas CAT questions are longer and fewer. Use our material to build the underlying skills, then practise at bank-exam pace from official and bank-specific sources.
| IBPS PO section | Covered by Pareto? | What to use |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude (prelims) | Partly | Quant questions, formula sheet and improve your Quant score cover the arithmetic; simplification, approximation and number series drills are not covered yet |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation (mains) | Yes | DILR questions for tables, charts and caselets; practise for speed separately |
| Reasoning (puzzles and arrangements) | Partly | DILR questions and puzzle strategies |
| Reasoning (short question types) | Not yet | Syllogisms, inequalities, coding-decoding, blood relations and similar types are not covered |
| English Language | Partly | VARC questions, reading comprehension strategy and daily reading; grammar, error-spotting and fill-in-the-blank drills are not covered |
| General, Economy, Banking and Financial Awareness | Limited | Our Knowledge series on the RBI (central banking, started); for the rest, official RBI and government publications and a daily newspaper |
| Descriptive Paper | Not yet | Daily reading helps with comprehension, but we have no essay practice |
| Personality test and interview | Not yet | Not covered |
| IBPS PO-pattern mocks | Not yet | Our mocks follow the CAT pattern; the habit of analysing mocks carries over |
For the sections we do not cover, use the official IBPS information handout and bank-exam practice material.
Selection process and posts
- Post. Probationary Officer / Management Trainee in one of the participating 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 and Union Bank of India.
- Pay. The notification gives a basic pay scale of Rs 48,480–2,000/7–62,480–2,340/2–67,160–2,680/7–85,920, plus allowances and perquisites as per the allotted bank's rules.
- Vacancies. The notification listed 6,715 indicative vacancies. IBPS updated this to 7,365 on 20 July 2026 and to 7,565 on 27 August 2026. Bank of Baroda (1,900) and Canara Bank (1,500) report the most; Union Bank of India had not reported a figure. IBPS stresses that these numbers are indicative and that allotment depends on vacancies actually reported by the banks.
- Prelims. Clear each sectional cut-off; candidates are shortlisted for the mains by category.
- Mains. Clear each test and the overall cut-off to be shortlisted for the personality test and interview.
- Personality test. A self-report test whose profile is placed before the interview panel. It is non-qualifying, but you must take it to be allowed to the interview. It may be held in proctored mode or at test centres.
- Interview. Conducted by the participating banks and coordinated by a nodal bank in each state or region. It carries 100 marks; the minimum qualifying mark is not less than 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD).
- Final merit and allotment. Mains and interview scores are combined in the ratio 80:20. Shortlisted candidates are provisionally allotted to a bank on a merit-cum-preference basis, with allotment tentatively scheduled for January 2027.
Preparation tips
- Train for speed first. The prelims gives about 34 seconds per question in Quant and Reasoning. Practise short, timed sets and learn to skip a question quickly.
- Respect sectional timing and cut-offs. Each section is timed separately and must be cleared separately, so a weak section can end your attempt regardless of your total.
- Treat the mains as a different exam. Data interpretation sets and reasoning puzzles become longer and harder; this is where CAT-style practice helps most.
- Read for general awareness every day. With 50 questions on economy, banking and financial awareness, including RBI circulars, it is one of the biggest sections in the mains and one of the quickest to answer if you have prepared.
- Note the new English weighting. In 2026 the mains English section carries only 20 marks for 40 questions, so do not let it eat into time you need elsewhere.
- Practise typing an essay. The descriptive paper is typed on screen within 30 minutes.
- Guess carefully. A wrong answer costs a quarter of that question's marks; leave questions blank when you cannot narrow the options.
- Prepare for SBI PO alongside. The patterns overlap and the 2026 schedules ran close together, so a single plan can cover both.
Frequently asked questions
Which notification does this guide use?
The CRP PO/MT-XVI notification issued by IBPS on 1 July 2026 for vacancies of 2027-28, together with the vacancy corrigenda of 20 July and 27 August 2026.
Is there negative marking in IBPS PO?
Yes, in both the prelims and the objective mains. For each wrong answer, 0.25 of the marks assigned to that question is deducted. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
Did the IBPS PO pattern change in 2026?
The prelims did not. The mains objective paper went from 145 to 170 questions: general awareness rose from 35 to 50 questions, English from 35 to 40 questions but fell from 40 to 20 marks, and Data Analysis & Interpretation rose from 35 to 40 questions. The total remains 200 marks in 160 minutes.
Do prelims marks count towards the final result?
No. Only mains marks are used to shortlist for the personality test and interview, and the final merit list combines mains and interview scores in the ratio 80:20.
What is the age limit for IBPS PO 2026?
20 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026, meaning you must have been born between 2 July 1996 and 1 July 2006. The upper limit is relaxed by 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer) and 10 years for persons with benchmark disabilities.
Can final-year students apply?
Only if their graduation result was declared on or before 21 July 2026, the qualifying date in the notification.
Sources
- IBPS official website (ibps.in): CRP PO/MT-XVI page listing the notification, corrigenda and notices (accessed 24 October 2026)
- CRP PO/MT-XVI detailed notification (1 July 2026): participating banks, pay scale, age, education, fees, prelims and mains pattern, negative marking, normalisation, personality test, interview marks and 80:20 weightage, original indicative vacancies (accessed 24 October 2026)
- CRP PO/MT-XVI and SPL-XVI tentative schedule (1 July 2026): registration window and month-wise schedule, including provisional allotment in January 2027 (accessed 24 October 2026)
- Vacancy corrigendum, 20 July 2026 and updated Annexure I: vacancies updated to 7,365 (accessed 24 October 2026)
- Vacancy corrigendum, 27 August 2026 and updated Annexure I: vacancies updated to 7,565, bank-wise figures (accessed 24 October 2026)
- CRP PO/MT-XV detailed notification (2025): the 2025 mains pattern used to identify the 2026 changes (accessed 24 October 2026)
- IBPS exam calendar 2026-27, as reported by Careers360: prelims on 22 and 23 August 2026 and mains on 4 October 2026 (accessed 24 October 2026)
- IBPS PO prelims result 2026, as reported by CareerIndia: prelims result declared on 23 September 2026 (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SBI PO 2026 detailed advertisement (CRPD/PO/2026-27/09): SBI PO vacancies, age, eligibility, number of chances, fee, exam pattern and final weightage used in the comparison (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.