ABOUT EXAM
The Probationary Officer (PO) job in India is a highly sought-after position in the banking sector. This is one of the best career options for banking aspirants as it offers a lucrative salary package, job security, various perks and allowances, and career growth opportunities in public sector banks. Probationary officers for different public sector banks are selected through the IBPS PO recruitment process and the shortlisted candidates are trained for a period of 2 years to become fully-fledged managers. POs are responsible for various banking operations such as managing accounts, loans, and customer service.
IBPS PO 2026 Exam Overview
The IBPS PO 2026 Notification (CRP PO/MT-XVI) is expected to be released in June-July 2026, marking the start of the most-awaited bank exam of the year. This exam is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) annually for the recruitment of Probationary Officers (PO) and Management Trainees (MT). Approximately 11 public sector banks participate in this annual recruitment drive, making it one of the most competitive and prestigious exams in the government banking sector.
To help you understand the format and important aspects of the IBPS PO exam we have prepared the following table:
| Name of Agency | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Online Registration | June - July 2026 |
| Payment of Application Fees/Intimation Charges | June - July September 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 22nd and 23rd August 2026 (Tentative) |
| Mains Exam Date |
4 th October 2026 (Tentative)
|
| Name of the post | Probationary Officer |
| Total Vacancies | TBA |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Mode of exam | CBT |
| Selection procedure | Prelims, Mains, Interview |
| Official website | www.ibps.in |
IBPS PO Pre Mock Test Series
IBPS PO 2026 Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for the IBPS PO exam is similar to other banking exams but it is always important to carefully read and understand the eligibility criteria before preparing for any exam. It is the basic criteria for appointment to the probationary officer posts in the Public sector Banks of the country including educational qualifications, age limit, nationality, work experience, and other specific requirements for this post. By carefully reviewing the IBPS PO eligibility criteria, you can determine whether you meet the requirements for the job and whether it is worth applying for.
IBPS PO 2026 Educational Qualifications
To apply for the post of IBPS PO, here are the essential education qualifications:
· You must possess a degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a University recognized by the Govt. Of India or any equivalent qualification recognized as such by the Central Government.
· You must possess a valid Graduation Mark-sheet / Degree Certificate and indicate the percentage of marks obtained in Graduation while registering online.
· You must possess a degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a University recognized by the Govt. Of India or any equivalent qualification recognized as such by the Central Government.
· You must possess a valid Graduation Mark-sheet / Degree Certificate and indicate the percentage of marks obtained in Graduation while registering online.
IBPS PO 2026 Age Limit
To apply for the post of IBPS PO, an unreserved category candidate should not be below 20 years & above 30 years of age.
However, there will be age relaxations in the upper age limit for different categories as follows:
However, there will be age relaxations in the upper age limit for different categories as follows:
| Category | Relaxation |
| Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe | 5 Years |
| Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years |
| Persons With Benchmark Disabilities | 10 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen, Commissioned Officers including (ECOs) / (SSCOs) who have 5 years 3 rendered at least 5 years of military service and have been released on completion of the assignment | 5 Years |
| Persons affected by the 1984 riots | 5 Years |
Nationality / Citizenship:
A candidate must be either –
I. A Citizen of India or
II. A subject of Nepal or
III. A subject of Bhutan or
IV. A Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or
V. A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam intending to permanently settle in India, provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv) & (v) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
I. A Citizen of India or
II. A subject of Nepal or
III. A subject of Bhutan or
IV. A Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or
V. A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam intending to permanently settle in India, provided that a candidate belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv) & (v) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.
IBPS PO 2026 Application Fee
The application fee for applying for the post of IBPS PO would be as given below. You can make the payment of Application Fees/Intimation Charges through the On-Line Mode only. As per the notification, you will also have to bear the Bank Transaction charges for Online Payment of application fees/intimation charges.
| Category | Fees (Non-refundable) |
| GENERAL/ EWS/ OBC candidate | 850/- (inclusive of GST) |
| SC/ST/PWBD candidates | 175/- (inclusive of GST) |
IBPS PO Emoluments and Salary Structure:
IBPS PO basic pay is Rs. 48480 and the in-hand salary is around Rs. 74000 to Rs. 76430. In addition to Basic Pay, bank officers (i.e. Probationary Officers / PO / Management Trainees) are eligible for the following allowances:
- Dearness Allowance (DA) – It is a cost of living adjustment allowance paid to all govt and public sector Probationary officers. It is revised on a quarterly basis and based on Consumer Price Index (CPI). The calculation of DA depends on inflation. DA can go up with higher inflation and also come down if the inflation rate is in negative.
- HRA – This depends on the place of posting, and it can be either 9.0% or 8.0%, or 7.0% depending on the place of posting.
- Special Allowance – This will add in 10th IBPS (wef. 01/11/2012) and for Scale, I 7.75% on which DA is also payable
- CCA – This also depends on the place of posting and can be either 4% (maximum Rs.870/-) or 3%(Maximum Rs.600/-) or 0%
- Conveyance allowance – It is paid for commuting between home and office.
EXAM PATTERN
IBPS PO 2026 Exam Pattern
IBPS PO selection procedure has 3 steps which are mentioned below:Step 1: Preliminary Examination (Objective Type) (100 Marks)
Step 2: Main Examination (Objective + Descriptive – 225 Marks)
Step 3: Interview (100 Marks)
Stage I: Prelims
| S.No. | Name of Tests (Objective) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes | |
Stage II: Mains
- This is the second round in the recruitment process of IBPS POs.
- The mains of the IBPS PO would be divided into 4 sections – Reasoning Ability & Computer Knowledge, General English, General / Financial Awareness, and Quantitative Aptitude.
- Like in prelims, a sectional time limit for each section would be there in this phase as well and you cannot jump to other sections until the time limit for that particular section is over.
- The marks obtained in this round will solely be considered for preparing the merit and therefore to get the final selection you must score well in this round.
| S.No | Name of the Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1. | General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness | 35 | 50 | 25 minutes |
| 2. | English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes |
| 3. | Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| 4. | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 145 | 200 | 160 minuts | |
| 5. | English Language (Letter Writing & Essay) | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
Click here to attempt a free IBPS PO mains mock test!
Stage III: Interview
This is the final & an important part of the IBPS PO recruitment process. Candidates who have been shortlisted in the Online Main examination for IBPS PO will subsequently be called for an Interview that will be conducted by the Participating Banks and coordinated by the Nodal Bank in each State/ UT with the help of IBPS.
During the interview round of IBPS PO, the panel members will try to check your confidence, knowledge, opinions, communication skills, and fitness for the job. This is also the scoring part of the examination process and the marks obtained in this round are added to the final merit. The following are the important points regarding the IBPS PO interview process:
- The total marks allotted for the IBPS PO Interview are 100.
- The minimum qualifying marks in the interview will be 40% for Unreserved category candidates and 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PWBD candidates.
- The weightage (ratio) of the Online Main Exam and interview will be 80:20 respectively.
- The combined final score of candidates shall be arrived at on the basis of scores obtained by the candidates in the Online Main Examination of CRP- PO/MT-XII and Interview.
- IBPS will not disclose the interview scores of the candidates failing to secure minimum qualifying marks.
- You have to qualify both in the Online Main Exam and interview and be sufficiently high in merit to be shortlisted for the subsequent provisional allotment process.
Descriptive
Descriptive writing is a part of the main examination and is conducted just after the completion of your objective paper in the main exam. You are required to choose and write an Essay and a Letter out of the 3 given topics. The total time allotted for the descriptive part is 30 minutes to type a letter and an essay. Scoring well in this section can be a cakewalk for you if you are aware of the latest happenings in and around the world, have a good knowledge of the format for formal/informal letter writing, and possess a good typing speed.
As notified by IBPS, the Descriptive Paper of the English Language (Letter writing & Essay) may be evaluated by an automated scoring mechanism for identifying features related to writing proficiency. This scoring mechanism is duly validated and evaluates test takers' proficiency in writing in the English Language in an objective manner as the mechanism does not have any in-built biases for evaluating responses.
Penalty For Wrong Answers
(Applicable to both – Online Preliminary and Online Main Examination)
There will be a penalty for wrong answers marked in the Objective Tests. For each question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate one-fourth or 0.25 of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as a penalty to arrive at the corrected score. If a question is left blank, i.e. no answer is marked by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question. Therefore, if you’re unaware of an answer, it would be better to leave the response blank to save yourself from a negative marking.
Cut-off Score (Online Main examination)
You will be required to obtain a minimum score (cutoff) in each test of the Online Main examination and also a minimum total score to be considered to be shortlisted for the interview. Depending on the number of vacancies available, cut-offs will be decided and candidates will be shortlisted for interview by IBPS. Prior to the completion of the interview process, scores obtained in the online Main examination will not be shared with the candidates shortlisted for interview.
IBPS SO Waitlist
In the IBPS po exam, a reserve list, to the extent of approximately 10 percent of the vacancies under each category for each post is maintained which is subject to the availability of candidates. The waitlist or reserve list is maintained for candidates who have cleared the written examination but have not been allotted any post due to a marginal difference in their marks and the cutoff. The waitlisted candidates are selected on a provisional basis, and their selection depends on the availability of vacancies in the participating banks. If any selected candidate chooses to withdraw from the post or does not meet the eligibility criteria, the vacancy is offered to a candidate from the waitlist. The reserve list is usually valid for one year from the date of the result declaration. However, being on the waitlist does not guarantee the selection.
IBPS PO Previous Year Cutoff
Having a fair idea of the previous year's cutoff can help you set realistic goals for your own performance in the IBPS PO exam. It also provides you with an idea of the level of competition you might be facing in the upcoming exam. The cutoff for the PO exam is generally lower than that of clerk exams due to an increase in the difficulty level of the paper. By getting an overview of the previous year's cutoff for the IBPS PO exam, you can make informed decisions about your target score for the upcoming exam.
However, you must remember that the cutoff largely depends on the available vacancies and the difficulty level of the examination and can differ based on the given factors. Here is the previous year’s IBPS PO prelims cutoff (out of 100) and IBPS PO mains cutoff (out of 200):
IBPS PO Prelims Cutoff 2025 Section-Wise
| Subject Name | Maximum Marks | Cut-Off Marks (Gen) | Cut Off (SC/ST/OBC/ PwD) |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 4.25 | 6.25 |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | 5.50 | 9.75 |
| English Language | 30 | 9.75 | 13.25 |
IBPS PO Prelims Cut Off 2025 Category-wise
| Category | Cut Off (Out of 100) |
| GEN | 49.21 |
| SC | 45.96 |
| ST | 40.96 |
| OBC-NCL | 49.21 |
| EWS | 49.21 |
| HI | 20.61 |
| OC | 33.57 |
| VI | 21.65 |
| ID | 21.83 |
IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus:
| Sections | Syllabus |
|
English language |
× Reading Comprehension × Para jumbles × Cloze Test × Miscellaneous × Fill in the blanks × Multiple Meaning /Error Spotting × Paragraph Completion |
|
Reasoning ability |
× Logical Reasoning × Alphanumeric Series × Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test × Data Sufficiency × Coded Inequalities × Seating Arrangement × Puzzle × Tabulation × Syllogism × Blood Relations × Input-Output × Coding-Decoding |
|
Quantitative aptitude |
× Simplification × Profit & Loss × Mixtures & Allegations × Simple Interest × Compound Interest × Surds & Indices × Work & Time × Time & Distance × Mensuration × Data Interpretation × Ratio & Proportion, Percentage × Sequence & Series × Permutation, Combination & Probability |
IBPS PO Mains Syllabus:
| Sections | Syllabus |
|
Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude |
× Analogy × Statement/Assumption/Conclusion × Direction Sense × Seating Arrangement × Puzzle × Syllogism × Machine Input-Output × Coding-Decoding × Logical Reasoning |
|
Quantitative aptitude |
× Wrong/New Pattern Number Series × High-level Data Sufficiency × Data Interpretation × Caselet DI × Time & Distance, Work × Boat and Streams × Partnership × Profit & Loss × Simple and Compound Interest × Mixture and Allegations × Ratio & Proportion × Percentage |
| General / Financial Awareness |
× Current Affairs × Awards and honors × Books and authors × Latest appointments, × Monetary Policies × Economic Terms × Current Affairs × Financial & Economics News × Static GK × Government Schemes, Agreements & Deals × Banking & Financial Awareness × Banking terms, rates, processes |
| English Language |
× Reading Comprehension × Sentence Rearrangement × Cloze Test × Miscellaneous × Fill in the blanks × Multiple Meaning /Error Spotting × Paragraph Completion × Sentence Connection |
IBPS PO 2025 Vacancies
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) releases bank-wise vacancies along with the official notification every year on their official website. For the year 2025, 5208 vacancies were declared by IBPS for the position of probationary officers in the 11 public sector banks. The table below shows the IBPS PO Vacancies for the year 2025-26:
| BANK NAME | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | General | Total Vacancies |
| BANK OF BARODA | 150 | 75 | 270 | 100 | 405 | 1000 |
| BANK OF INDIA | 105 | 53 | 189 | 70 | 283 | 700 |
| BANK OF MAHARASHTRA | 150 | 75 | 270 | 100 | 405 | 1000 |
| CANARA BANK | 150 | 50 | 200 | 100 | 500 | 1000 |
| CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA | 75 | 37 | 135 | 50 | 203 | 500 |
| INDIAN BANK | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK | 69 | 33 | 121 | 44 | 183 | 450 |
| PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK | 30 | 15 | 54 | 20 | 81 | 200 |
| PUNJAB & SIND BANK | 53 | 27 | 36 | 144 | 144 | 358 |
| UCO Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Union Bank of India | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Total | 782 | 365 | 1337 | 520 | 2204 | 5208 |
IBPS PO Participating Banks
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) collects vacancies from various participating public sector banks in India. The following 11 banks participated in the IBPS PO recruitment in the year 2026:
1. Bank of Baroda
2. Bank of India
3. Bank of Maharashtra
4. Canara Bank
5. Central Bank of India
6. Indian Bank
7. Indian Overseas Bank
8. Punjab National Bank
9. Punjab & Sind Bank
10. UCO Bank
11. Union Bank of India
1. Bank of Baroda
2. Bank of India
3. Bank of Maharashtra
4. Canara Bank
5. Central Bank of India
6. Indian Bank
7. Indian Overseas Bank
8. Punjab National Bank
9. Punjab & Sind Bank
10. UCO Bank
11. Union Bank of India
Tips to Crack IBPS PO 2026 Exam:
Becoming a Probationary officer is a professional goal for many people because of the significant career advancement it offers. Compared to other government positions, a bank PO has a relatively high chance of career progression. You can easily move up the ladder and obtain top-level banking positions in your zone depending on your abilities and performance. Strong willpower and thoughtful preparation are all that is needed on your end to ace the bank PO exam and the interview. Here, we have mentioned some important guidelines to be followed to ace the IBPS PO 2026 exam on the first attempt:
Step 1:
The first step is to understand the examination pattern before beginning your preparation. Once you have a clear understanding of the examination pattern, syllabus, important topics, marking schemes, cut-off, and the number of safe attempts, you will be able to develop an effective study plan and make the most out of your preparation.
Quant and Reasoning are always the tricky sections in banking exams as this section can consume a lot of your time if you do not have good calculation or analytical skills besides having good conceptual knowledge. Many candidates struggle in attempting the required number of questions within the stipulated time in this section. To overcome this, you have to develop a strategic study plan and adhere to a disciplined study routine to cover all the topics and regularly practice through IBPS PO Sectional Tests.
Step 2:
After thoroughly covering the syllabus and practicing each section, the next step is to attempt IBPS PO full-length mock tests. IBPS PO mock tests at Smartkeeda are the simulation of the actual exam which will give you a good idea of the IBPS PO exam pattern and the level of difficulty of the questions asked in this exam.
Step 3:
After taking the test you should analyze it thoroughly to point out your mistakes in the test and the areas of improvement where you need to alter your approach to boost your score. You should carefully go through your performance report and check the topics where your responses were wrong or where you wasted most of your time by comparing your analytics to the topper’s. This will help you to identify your weaknesses and help you work on them at the right time. You can also attempt “Topic Tests” available at Testzone to strengthen your concepts on those particular topics.
To stay ahead of the competition, it is crucial to keep oneself updated with current affairs and general knowledge to excel in the general awareness section which is one of the scoring sections of IBPS PO mains. You can attempt monthly mockdrills at Smartkeeda and boost your score in the General Awareness Section.
Step 4:
Reattempt! After understanding the loopholes in your preparation and working well on them, the next step is to review your preparation and understand how much you have improved yourself. Go to the Reattempt mode of the Smartkeeda mock test series and attempt the complete IBPS PO full-length mock test. After completing the mock test, compare your latest performance with your past performance to and analyze the improvement in your preparation.
If you’re having an examination in later shifts, get an idea about the number of questions being attempted by other aspirants of the previous shifts. To get an idea of the difficulty level of the exam and your target attempts, you can also attempt the memory-based paper of the IBPS PO exam at Smartkeeda.
The IBPS PO exam offers a great opportunity to kick-start your career as an officer in the banking sector and make your dreams come true. With dedication, hard work, and perseverance, you can easily crack the IBPS PO exam and secure a promising career in the banking sector.
Here you can find the direct links to practice Topic-wise quizzes for IBPS PO 2026 Exam:
Step 1:
The first step is to understand the examination pattern before beginning your preparation. Once you have a clear understanding of the examination pattern, syllabus, important topics, marking schemes, cut-off, and the number of safe attempts, you will be able to develop an effective study plan and make the most out of your preparation.
Quant and Reasoning are always the tricky sections in banking exams as this section can consume a lot of your time if you do not have good calculation or analytical skills besides having good conceptual knowledge. Many candidates struggle in attempting the required number of questions within the stipulated time in this section. To overcome this, you have to develop a strategic study plan and adhere to a disciplined study routine to cover all the topics and regularly practice through IBPS PO Sectional Tests.
Step 2:
After thoroughly covering the syllabus and practicing each section, the next step is to attempt IBPS PO full-length mock tests. IBPS PO mock tests at Smartkeeda are the simulation of the actual exam which will give you a good idea of the IBPS PO exam pattern and the level of difficulty of the questions asked in this exam.
Step 3:
After taking the test you should analyze it thoroughly to point out your mistakes in the test and the areas of improvement where you need to alter your approach to boost your score. You should carefully go through your performance report and check the topics where your responses were wrong or where you wasted most of your time by comparing your analytics to the topper’s. This will help you to identify your weaknesses and help you work on them at the right time. You can also attempt “Topic Tests” available at Testzone to strengthen your concepts on those particular topics.
To stay ahead of the competition, it is crucial to keep oneself updated with current affairs and general knowledge to excel in the general awareness section which is one of the scoring sections of IBPS PO mains. You can attempt monthly mockdrills at Smartkeeda and boost your score in the General Awareness Section.
Step 4:
Reattempt! After understanding the loopholes in your preparation and working well on them, the next step is to review your preparation and understand how much you have improved yourself. Go to the Reattempt mode of the Smartkeeda mock test series and attempt the complete IBPS PO full-length mock test. After completing the mock test, compare your latest performance with your past performance to and analyze the improvement in your preparation.
If you’re having an examination in later shifts, get an idea about the number of questions being attempted by other aspirants of the previous shifts. To get an idea of the difficulty level of the exam and your target attempts, you can also attempt the memory-based paper of the IBPS PO exam at Smartkeeda.
The IBPS PO exam offers a great opportunity to kick-start your career as an officer in the banking sector and make your dreams come true. With dedication, hard work, and perseverance, you can easily crack the IBPS PO exam and secure a promising career in the banking sector.
Here you can find the direct links to practice Topic-wise quizzes for IBPS PO 2026 Exam:
| English Language | Quantitative Aptitude | Reasoning Aptitude |
| Reading Comprehension | Simplification | Inequality |
| Find the Error | Number Series | Syllogism |
| Sentence Correction | Approximation | Blood Relation |
| Misspelled Words | Data Interpretation | Coding Decoding |
| Sentence Rearrangement | Problems on Ages | Direction Sense |
IBPS PO Mains Mock Test FAQs
How is the IBPS PO mains mock test series by Smartkeeda helpful?
A
IBPS PO mains mock tests by Smartkeeda simulate the actual IBPS PO mains exam and provide candidates with an idea of the exam pattern, difficulty level, and types of questions asked helping you score well in the exam.
Who can take the IBPS PO Mains mock test series?
A
Anyone who is preparing for the IBPS PO Mains or any other banking exam can take the IBPS PO Mains mock test series. It is especially useful for those who want to assess their preparation level and crack their exam on the first attempt.
How many mock tests are included in the IBPS PO Mains mock test series?
A
8+8 (previous year + current year) mains level mocks are included in the IBPS PO mains mock test series by Smartkeeda.
Is the IBPS PO Mains mock test series Bilingual?
A
Yes! The IBPS PO mock test series is bilingual (Hindi + English) and you can change the language any time by clicking on the language change option available at the upper right corner of the test window.
Is there a time limit for each mock test?
A
Yes, each mock test has a sectional as well as an overall time limit which is exactly similar to the actual IBPS PO Mains exam.
Can I pause the IBPS PO Mains mock test in between?
A
Yes, You can! However, we strongly recommend that you attempt the complete mock test in one go so that you can get familiar with the actual examination scenario. Nonetheless, if there is an emergency and you need to take a break, the option to pause and resume the mock test is available.
Can I find questions from the mock test in the actual IBPS PO Mains exam?
A
The mock test questions are designed to simulate the actual IBPS PO exam questions. While the questions may not be the same, the mock tests cover the same topics and are of a similar difficulty level.
How can I track my performance in the IBPS PO Mains mock test series?
A
Performance tracking tool, "Smart Analysis" is available in the solution window where you can track your progress, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and focus on areas that require more attention.
Is there any doubt-asking feature if I get stuck with any questions?
A
Yes! You can raise your query by clicking on the "Ask a doubt" tab and we will get back to you within 24 hours with a proper solution to your query.
What is the difficulty level of IBPS PO Mains mock tests at Smartkeeda?
A
At Smartkeeda you get IBPS PO Mains mock tests of varied difficulty levels including Exam pattern-based mocks, Memory Based mocks, Easy-level mocks, and Difficult-level mocks. You can choose to attempt the mock test that suits your level of preparation.