IBPS AFO Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern: Prelims and Mains Guide

Aspiring Agriculture Field Officers must have a thorough understanding of the IBPS AFO syllabus and exam format to succeed. Developing a strategic study plan requires a clear grasp of the official curriculum and exam structure. This comprehensive guide details the updated IBPS AFO 2026 syllabus and exam pattern, providing you with all the essential information to kickstart your preparation effectively.

IBPS AFO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026

The IBPS SO 2026 selection process for Agriculture Field Officers comprises three key stages: the Preliminary exam, the Main examination, and the personal interview. Familiarity with the specific requirements of each stage is vital for maximizing your performance. In this article, we provide an in-depth breakdown of the IBPS AFO 2026 syllabus and the structured exam format.

IBPS AFO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026- Overview
Recruitment Organisation	Institute of Banking Personnel Selection
Posts	Agriculture Field Officers
Exam Name	IBPS AFO 2026 (IBPS SO)
Exam Date	Prelims- 29th August 2026 Mains- 1st November 2026
Mode of Exam	Prelims & Mains- Online Interview- Offline
Negative Marking	1/4th mark
Duration	Prelims- 120 minutes  Mains- 45 minutes/60 minutes
Selection Process	Prelims Mains Interview
Official website	www.ibps.in

IBPS AFO Recruitment 2026 Notification and Exam Dates Out - Click Here to View

IBPS Exam Calendar 2026 Released - Click Here to Check

IBPS AFO Selection Process 2026

Candidates aiming for the Agriculture Field Officer position under the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection must qualify through a multi-stage process. The selection procedure for the IBPS AFO 2026 exam includes the following phases: 

1. Stage I: Preliminary Exam
2. Stage II: Main Exam
3. Stage III: Interview

The recruitment process is cumulative; candidates must successfully clear the Preliminary stage to qualify for the Main examination. Subsequently, only those who excel in both the Prelims and Mains are invited for the final interview round. Success across all three stages is required for final appointment as an IBPS AFO. 

IBPS AFO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

The Preliminary exam serves as the initial screening phase of the IBPS AFO selection process. To navigate this stage confidently, candidates should prioritize mastering the exam pattern. Detailed below are the essential criteria and structure of the IBPS AFO Prelims 2026.

1. The IBPS AFO Prelims exam features objective-type multiple-choice questions.
2. The total time allotted for the examination is 120 minutes (2 hours).
3. A negative marking scheme applies, with a deduction of one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question for every incorrect answer.
4. The Preliminary examination is conducted in an online mode. 

IBPS AFO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
Sections	No. of Questions	Marks	Duration
Reasoning	50	50	40 minutes
English Language	50	25	40 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	50	50	40 minutes
Total	150	125	120 minutes

IBPS AFO Main Exam Pattern 2026

The Main examination is the second and critical phase of the selection process, focusing heavily on professional knowledge. Understanding the nuances of the exam pattern is essential for high performance. Please refer to the information below regarding the IBPS AFO Main exam pattern 2026.

• The questions in the IBPS AFO Prelims exam will be objective-type questions.
• The total duration of the exam will be 45 minutes.
• Negative marking is used, which means that if you answer a question incorrectly, one-fourth of the marks will be deducted.
• The medium of the IBPS AFO Preliminary exam will be online.

IBPS AFO Main Exam Pattern 2026
Name of Test	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
Professional Knowledge	60	60	45 minutes
Total	60	60	45

IBPS AFO Prelims Syllabus 2026

A comprehensive understanding of the IBPS AFO Prelims Syllabus 2026 is necessary for targeted study. The table below outlines the subject-wise topics you need to cover to excel in the preliminary stage. 

IBPS AFO Prelims Syllabus 2026
Subjects	Topics
Reasoning	Puzzles Seating Arrangement Inequalities Blood Relations Syllogism Order and Ranking Input-Output Alphanumeric Series Data Sufficiency Coding-Decoding Distance and Direction Verbal and Non Verbal Reasoning
English Language	Cloze Test Reading Comprehension Improving Sentences and paragraphs Completion of paragraphs Para jumbling Detection of Errors Fill in the blanks Parts of speech Prepositions Modes of narration Voice Change
Quantitative Aptitude	Number Series Data Interpretation Simplification Quadratic Equations Data Sufficiency Ratio and Proportion Discounts Averages Mixtures Percentages Profit and Loss Time Work and Distance Rate of Interest Probability Permutation and Combination

IBPS AFO Main Syllabus 2026

For the Main examination, candidates must prepare based on a specific, professional-oriented syllabus. The following table highlights the topic-wise breakdown of the IBPS AFO Main exam syllabus 2026 to help streamline your revision. 

IBPS AFO Main Syllabus 2026
Topics	Sub-Topics
Agriculture in India	Agriculture in India Types of Cultivation Major Crops of India Irrigation in India Agriculture based Research Institutes in India Animal Husbandry in India Genetically Modified Crops, etc.
Agricultural Practices	Soil preparation Sowing Manuring Irrigation Weeding Harvesting Storage
Horticulture	Amateur horticulture Commercial horticulture Horticulture fruits and vegetables
Agriculture Finance	Short-term Loans Medium/Long-terms Loan Crop Loan and Kisan Credit Card Agricultural Term Loan Land Development Minor Irrigation Farm Mechanisation Finance to Horticulture Land Purchase Lead Bank Scheme Agriculture Advances Advance Against Warehouse, Receipts Produce Marketing Scheme Crop Insurance Scheme Rashtriya Krishi Bima Yojana Financing of combine harvesters Financing of Tractors and Old Tractors Advance against Gold//Silver ornaments River Lift Irrigation Schemes Forums for Coordination Service Area Approach State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC), Preparation of Credit Plan
Cultivation and Harvesting	Cultivation Techniques and Practices Harvesting Techniques and Practices Post-Harvest Technology
Soil Science	Tillage, Nutrient deficiencies, Fertilizer and fertilizer consumption Soil Types and characters Indian soil Type of facts soil-related fact Green manure
Agriculture Economics	Basics of Agriculture Economics Agriculture cost and scheme
Irrigation Methods	Lift Irrigation Drip Irrigation Sprinkler Irrigation
Self Help Groups	Introduction Need Structure and Functions of Self Help Group Self-Help Groups and SGSY Scheme
Government Schemes	Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) Million Wells Scheme (MWS) Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana Urban Self Employment Programme (USEP) Urban Women Self-Help Programme (Revolving Fund) Skill training For Employment Promotion Amongst Urban Poor (STEP-UP) Urban Wage Employment Programme (UWEP) Urban Community Development Network (UCDN) Community Structures Urban Programme for Poverty Reduction amongst SCs and STs (UPPS) Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) Scheme of Liberation and Rehabilitation of Scavengers (SLRS) Self-Employment Scheme for Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS)
Seed Technology	Basics of Seed Science Different Seed Tests
Miscellaneous	Plant Pathology Entomology Rearing of animals Agricultural Machinery Dairy Science Important points regarding plants, fruits vegetables Different Diseases Agriculture Current Affairs Different insurance schemes regarding agriculture Animal husbandry and technology

IBPS AFO Interview 2026

To qualify for the interview, candidates must achieve a minimum sectional and overall score in the IBPS AFO Mains. Interviews are coordinated by the Nodal Bank and conducted by participating banks. The interview carries 100 marks, with a final merit list calculated based on an 80:20 weightage ratio between the Online Main Examination and the interview respectively.

Interview Qualifying Standards 

• General category- 40%
• SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates- 35%

Note: Candidates applying under age relaxation categories must present original certificates and supporting photocopies during the interview verification process.