IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern: Prelims & Mains Complete Guide

IBPS has released the official IBPS Clerk Syllabus and Exam Pattern for the 2026 recruitment cycle. With thousands of vacancies expected across 11 participating public sector banks, early and strategic preparation is essential. To excel in the IBPS Clerk 2026 Exam, candidates must align their study plans with the most recent syllabus guidelines. Explore the detailed exam structure and section-wise syllabus below to build a strong foundation for your success.

• Reasoning
• Quantitative Aptitude
• English Language

Candidates who successfully qualify for the Preliminary stage will advance to the second phase of the selection process. The Mains Examination for IBPS Clerk 2026 is structured into four core sections as outlined below:

• Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude
• Quantitative Aptitude
• English Language
• General/ Financial Awareness

IBPS Clerk Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026

Reviewing the official IBPS Clerk syllabus is crucial, but supplementing it with IBPS Clerk Previous Years’ Papers is the best way to master sub-topic weightage for both Prelims and Mains. The updated Mains Exam format now features 155 questions to be completed within a 120-minute timeframe.

IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026- Overview
Exam Conducting Body	Institute of Banking Personnel Selection
Exam Name	IBPS Clerk 2026
Category	Syllabus & Exam Pattern
Vacancies	15701
No. of Questions	Prelims- 100 Mains- 155
Maximum Marks	Prelims- 100 Mains- 200
Negative Marking	0.25 marks
Selection Process	Prelims & Mains
Official website	www.ibps.in

IBPS Clerk Selection Process 2026

The IBPS Clerk selection process follows a two-tier structure: the Online Preliminary Exam and the Online Main Exam. Please note that preliminary scores are exclusively for qualifying purposes and are not factored into the final merit list, which is determined solely by your performance in the Mains Examination.

Stages	Details
IBPS Clerk Prelims	No. of Questions- 100 Type of Questions- Multiple Choice Questions Duration- 60 minutes Qualifying in nature Subjects- English Language, Reasoning Ability, Numerical Ability  Negative Marking- 0.25/ ¼th
IBPS Clerk Mains	No. of Questions- 190 Duration- 160 minutes Scoring in nature Subjects- Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude, General/ Financial Awareness Negative Marking- 0.25/ ¼th

IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern 2026

The IBPS Clerk CRP XV preliminary exam is designed to evaluate a candidate’s aptitude, reasoning, and English proficiency. To ensure accessibility, both the Prelims and Mains are conducted bilingually in English and Hindi. Candidates must achieve the section-wise cut-off to qualify for the next stage. Read on for a deep dive into the IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern 2026.

IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

The IBPS Clerk 2026 Prelims Exam pattern maintains a standard structure with a total duration of 60 minutes, allocating 20 minutes per section. Be mindful that accuracy is vital, as there is a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.

To advance to the Mains, candidates must meet the sectional and overall cut-off marks prescribed by IBPS. Shortlisting for the Main examination is competitive, based on the number of vacancies available. Remember, while the Prelims are essential for progression, only the Mains marks dictate your final merit ranking.

IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
S.No.	Name of Tests(Objective)	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
1	English Language	30	30	20 minutes
2	Numerical Ability	35	35	20 minutes
3	Reasoning Ability	35	35	20 minutes
Total		100	100	60 minutes/1 Hour

IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026

The updated IBPS Clerk Mains Exam structure consists of 155 questions carrying a total of 200 marks, with an allotted time of 120 minutes.

IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026
S.No.	Name of Tests (Objective)	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
1	Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude	40	60	35 minutes
2	English Language	40	40	35 minutes
3	Quantitative Aptitude	35	50	30 minutes
4	General/ Financial Awareness	40	50	20 minutes
Total		155	200	120 minutes

Now that we have covered the exam structure, let's explore the detailed syllabus for every subject covered in the IBPS Clerk 2026 Prelims and Mains exams.

IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026

Reviewing the subject-wise syllabus is a key step in formulating an effective study strategy. Below is the breakdown of the IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026, tailored to help you prepare efficiently for both exam tiers.

IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026 for Prelims and Mains Exam

The syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude and English Language is consistent across both Prelims and Mains. The Mains stage adds sections for General/Financial Awareness and Reasoning & Computer Knowledge, with the General Awareness section focusing heavily on the banking and financial sectors.

IBPS Clerk English Language Syllabus

The English Language section tests your grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. Here is the updated syllabus for the English Language component.

IBPS Clerk English Language  Syllabus
Vocabulary	Grammar	Reading Comprehension
Homonyms Antonyms Synonyms Word Formation Spelling	Spotting Errors Phrases and idioms Direct and Indirect speech Active/ Passive voice	Theme Detection Passage completion Topic rearrangement of passage Deriving Conclusion

IBPS Clerk Reasoning Syllabus

Reasoning Ability is a critical section that evaluates your analytical and logical thinking. Key topics for Verbal and Non-Verbal reasoning are summarized in the table below.

IBPS Clerk  Reasoning Ability Syllabus
Verbal Reasoning	Non-Verbal Reasoning
Analogy Classification Word formation Statement and conclusions Syllogism Statement and assumptions Statement and arguments Coding-Decoding Blood Relations Passage and conclusions Alphabet test Series Test Number, Ranking and time sequence Direction sense Test Decision-making test Figure series Input/output Assertion and reasoning Sitting Arrangement	Series test Odd figure Out Analogy Miscellaneous Test

IBPS Clerk Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

The Quantitative Aptitude section assesses your numerical proficiency and speed. Below is the comprehensive syllabus covering all essential arithmetic and data interpretation topics.

IBPS Clerk Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

Ratio and proportion Averages Time and work Speed Distance and time Mixture and allegation Stocks and shares Percentages Partnership Clocks Volume and surface Area Bar & Graphs Line charts Tables Height and Distances Logarithms Permutation and combinations Simple and compound interest Equations, Probability Trigonometry Profit Loss and Discount Mensuration Elements of Algebra Data Interpretation Pie charts

IBPS Clerk Computer Knowledge Syllabus

The Computer Knowledge section evaluates your understanding of basic hardware, software, and fundamental computing concepts. Find the detailed syllabus for this section below.

IBPS Clerk Computers Syllabus

Basics of Hardware and software Windows operating system basics Internet terms and services Basic Functionalities of MS-Office( MS-word, MS-Excel, MS-PowerPoint) History of computers Networking and communication Database basics Basics of Hacking Security Tools Viruses

IBPS Clerk General/ Financial Awareness Syllabus

The General Awareness section is centered on static GK, current affairs, and banking-specific developments. Key areas of focus are listed below.

IBPS Clerk General Awareness Syllabus
Current Affairs	Banking
Current affairs related to national and international issues of last 6 months, Overview of Indian Financial System, History of the Indian banking system Recent credit and monetary policies	Introduction to National financial institutions like RBI, SEBI, IRDA, FSDC etc and of International organizations like IMF, World Bank, ADB, UN etc, Abbreviations and Economic terminologies Banking Terms, Important Government Schemes on capital & money market