The IBPS PO Exam is conducted annually by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) to recruit qualified candidates for Probationary Officer (PO) roles across India's public sector banks. Since its inception in 2011, the exam has become a cornerstone for banking careers; in 2026, the IBPS will conduct the 16th edition, known as CRP PO/MT-XVI, to fill vacancies in 11 participating banks. The recruitment process comprises three rigorous stages: Prelims, Mains, and the final Interview.
Official vacancy counts and comprehensive recruitment guidelines for IBPS PO 2026 will be detailed in the upcoming notification PDF. This guide covers everything you need to know about the IBPS PO 2026 application process and exam requirements.
IBPS PO 2026- Exam Summary
IBPS manages the Common Recruitment Process (CRP) for 11 major public sector banks, centralizing the online application process via their official portal. Upon the release of the IBPS PO Notification 2026, candidates will be able to access the full schedule and essential guidelines. For a quick overview of the 2026 recruitment cycle, refer to the summary below.
| IBPS PO Recruitment 2026- Exam Summary | |
| Organisation | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Post Name | Probationary Officer |
| Exam Name | CRP PO/MT CRP-XVI |
| Vacancy | To be notified |
| Participating Banks | 11 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Recruitment Process | Prelims- Mains- Interview |
| Education Qualification | Graduate |
| Age Limit | 20 years to 30 years |
| Salary | Rs. 74,000 to 76,000 |
| Official website | www.ibps.in |
What's New?
The exam schedule for the 2026 recruitment cycle has been released in the IBPS Calendar 2026. The IBPS PO Prelims are set for August 22nd and 23rd, 2026, with the Mains examination scheduled for October 4th, 2026.
IBPS PO 2026 Notification
The detailed IBPS PO Notification 2026 (CRP-XVI PO/MT) is expected to be released in June 2026 at www.ibps.in. Once published, we will provide comprehensive coverage of all vacancy details, eligibility norms, and bank-specific requirements right here.
IBPS PO 2026—Important Dates
Online registration dates will be officially unveiled alongside the IBPS PO/MT CRP XVI 2026 notification PDF. We will keep this page updated with the latest timeline as soon as official information is released.
| Events | Dates |
| IBPS PO Notification 2026 | June 2026 |
| Online Registration Process Starts | June 2026 |
| Online Registration Process Ends | July 2026 |
| Last Date to Pay Application Fee | -- |
| Dates for Application Correction | -- |
| IBPS PO Prelims Exam Dates | 22nd and 23rd August 2026 |
| IBPS PO Mains Exam Date | 4th October 2026 |
IBPS PO Vacancy 2026
The total vacancy count for IBPS PO 2026 will be clarified in the upcoming notification. Last year, IBPS announced 6,189 vacancies for Probationary Officer/Management Trainee positions. Banks like the Bank of Baroda, Bank of Maharashtra, and Canara Bank historically account for the highest volume of openings.
| IBPS PO Vacancy 2025 | ||||||
| Participating Banks | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | General | Total |
| 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 | 105 | 52 | 189 | 70 | 284 | 700 |
| Indian Overseas Bank | 69 | 33 | 121 | 44 | 183 | 450 |
| Punjab National Bank | 30 | 15 | 54 | 20 | 81 | 200 |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | 53 | 27 | 98 | 36 | 144 | 358 |
| UCO Bank | 15 | 07 | 27 | 10 | 41 | 100 |
| Total | 929 | 437 | 1601 | 618 | 2604 | 6189 |
IBPS PO 2026 Online Application
Registration for the IBPS PO 2026 exam will commence immediately following the release of the official notification. For a step-by-step guide on the application process, fee payment, and mandatory documentation, please refer to the link provided below.
Click Here for IBPS PO 2026 Online Application Details
Eligible candidates must register through the official IBPS website, www.ibps.in. The application process includes filling out the form, paying the requisite fee, and uploading a signature, photograph, and a handwritten declaration. The selection process consists of two online exams (Prelims and Mains) followed by a personal interview. Success in each stage is mandatory to qualify for the final merit list.
Key Prerequisites for Online Application:
- A valid Email ID
- Photograph and Signature scanned in the prescribed size
- The application fee must be paid online, along with all documents required for the online transaction
The IBPS PO 2026 application form must be submitted exclusively through the official website at www.ibps.in.
Before starting the registration, candidates are strongly advised to review our complete guide on the IBPS PO Online Application process to ensure all details are accurate.
IBPS PO 2026 Application Fee
The category-wise application fee for IBPS PO 2026 will be detailed shortly. Please note that application fees are non-refundable and must be paid online. Check our dedicated article on application fees for more information.
| IBPS PO 2026 Application Fee | ||
| SNo. | Categories | Application Fee |
| 1 | SC/ST/PWD | Rs. 175/- ((inclusive of GST) |
| 2 | General and Others | Rs. 850/- ((inclusive of GST) |
IBPS PO Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must meet specific eligibility requirements regarding educational qualifications, computer proficiency, language skills, and age limits. Details are provided below:
IBPS PO Educational Qualification
Educational Qualification: Candidates must hold a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Government of India.
Applicants must possess a valid degree certificate or mark sheet confirming their graduation status as of the registration date, clearly stating the percentage of marks obtained.
Computer Literacy: Basic proficiency in operating computer systems is required, as the entire IBPS PO exam is conducted in an online format.
Nationality / Citizenship of Applicants
To be eligible for the IBPS PO/CRP examination, a candidate must meet one of the following nationality requirements:
1. Citizen of India
2. Subject of Nepal or Bhutan
3. Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before January 1, 1962, with the intent to settle permanently
4. Person of Indian Origin (PIO) who migrated from countries like Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or East African nations, with the intent to settle permanently in India
Candidates falling under categories 2, 3, and 4 must provide a valid certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
IBPS PO Age Limit
The age limit for the IBPS PO examination is 20 to 30 years as of the date of registration. Candidates must have been born between 02.07.1996 and 01.07.2006 (both dates inclusive). Age relaxations are available for specific categories as per official government guidelines.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
| Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) | 5 years |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| Persons with Disabilities (PWD) | 10 years |
| Ex-servicemen (Army personnel) | 5 years |
| Widows/Divorced Women | 9 years |
| Persons with Domicile of Jammu &Kashmir during the period of 1-1-1980 to 31-12-1989 | 5 years |
| Persons affected by 1984 riots | 5 years |
| Regular Employees of Union Carbide Factory, Bhopal retrenched from service(for MP state Only) | 5 years |
IBPS PO Recruitment 2026
The IBPS PO/MT CRP XVI 2026 recruitment is conducted annually, maintaining a rigorous 3-phase selection process (Prelims, Mains, and Interview). Candidates are required to qualify in each phase to advance to the subsequent round.
• Online Preliminary Examination
Based on the vacancy requirements, IBPS will shortlist a sufficient number of candidates for the Online Main Examination.
• Online Mains Examination
Candidates must secure the minimum sectional and overall cut-off scores in the Main Examination to qualify for the interview process.
• Interview
The interview round is organized by participating banks in coordination with the Nodal Bank for each State/UT and supported by the IBPS.
• Final Result
Final selection results are determined by the candidate’s combined performance in both the IBPS PO Main examination and the interview.
• Provisional Allotment
Successful candidates receive provisional allotment based on the preferences submitted during the online application process.
IBPS concludes its responsibility after the provisional allotment process. All further communication regarding joining dates and onboarding procedures will be handled directly by the allocated banks.
A career in Public Sector Banking is highly sought after, offering competitive salary packages, job security, and excellent professional growth. The recruitment process, managed by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), ensures a fair and standardized selection of candidates for public-sector institutions.
Attempt Daily IBPS PO Mock Tests to Enhance Your Exam Preparation
Major Banks Participating in IBPS PO Recruitment 2026
The following public sector banks participate in the IBPS PO recruitment process:
1. Punjab National Bank
2. Union Bank of India
3. Bank of India
4. Indian Bank
5. Canara Bank
6. Indian Overseas Bank
7. Central Bank of India
8. UCO Bank
9. Bank of Baroda
10. Punjab & Sind Bank
11. Bank of Maharashtra
IBPS PO 2026 Exam Pattern
IBPS implements sectional timing for all segments of the preliminary examination. The assessment comprises two online tiers—Prelims and Mains—concluded by a face-to-face interview.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The preliminary exam features a total duration of 1 hour, with 20 minutes allotted per section. With 100 questions totaling 100 marks, candidates must be aware that there is a 0.25 mark negative penalty for every incorrect answer. Qualifying in all three sections is essential for advancing to the Main stage.
| IBPS PO 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 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes | |
Candidates must clear the sectional cut-off in each of the three subjects. Only those who meet the criteria set by IBPS will be eligible to move forward to the Online Main Examination.
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026
The Main examination is also conducted online and includes five sections with a total score of 200 marks, plus a 25-mark descriptive paper. The inclusion of a descriptive paper is a key component of the IBPS PO Mains. Adherence to the specified timing and order is mandatory.
| IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026 | ||||
| S.No. | Name of Tests(Objective | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | Reasoning | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| 2 | English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes |
| 3 | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| 4 | General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness / Digital/ Financial Awareness including RBI circulars | 35 | 50 | 25 minutes |
| Total | 145 | 200 | 160 minutes | |
| 5 | English Language (Letter Writing & Essay) | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
Penalty for Incorrect Responses: A negative marking of 0.25 marks applies to all objective questions across both Prelims and Mains. Unanswered questions do not attract any penalties.
IBPS PO Interview
Candidates who pass the Mains exam are invited for a personal interview, which is worth 100 marks. The minimum qualifying percentage is 40% (35% for reserved category candidates).
The interview session generally lasts 15-20 minutes, where a panel evaluates the candidate on current affairs, banking awareness, and personal professional aptitude. Professional attire and the submission of all required documents are mandatory.
The final merit list is determined by the score calculated from the Main exam and the interview, weighted in an 80:20 ratio, respectively.
Final Score Calculation for IBPS PO Exam
Final scores for the IBPS PO are calculated based on these parameters:
• Preliminary exam scores are used only for qualification and are not included in the final merit calculation.
• Candidates must qualify for both the Mains exam and the Interview separately to be included in the final merit list.
• The final merit weightage is 80% for the Mains exam and 20% for the Interview.
• Aggregate scores are calculated out of 100, and candidates are selected based on merit rank within their respective categories.
IBPS PO 2026 Syllabus
The IBPS PO syllabus covers essential subjects such as Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and English Language. For a detailed breakdown of topic-wise sub-sections, visit our dedicated IBPS PO Syllabus page.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Syllabus 2026
The core subjects are Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and the English Language.
| IBPS PO Prelims Exam Syllabus 2026 | ||
| Reasoning | Quantitative Aptitude | English Language |
| Logical Reasoning | Simplification | Reading Comprehension |
| Alphanumeric Series | Profit & Loss | Cloze Test |
| Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test | Mixtures & Allegations | Para jumbles |
| Data Sufficiency | Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices | Multiple Meaning / Error Spotting |
| Coded Inequalities | Work & Time | Fill in the blanks |
| Seating Arrangement | Time & Distance | Miscellaneous |
| Puzzle | Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere | Paragraph Completion |
| Tabulation | Data Interpretation | |
| Syllogism | Ratio & Proportion, Percentage | |
| Blood Relations | Number Systems | |
| Input-Output | Sequence & Series | |
| Coding-Decoding | Permutation, Combination &Probability | |
Complete IBPS PO Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026 [Click Here]
Download IBPS PO Previous Year Question Papers [Click Here]
IBPS PO 2026 Salary
An IBPS Probationary Officer earns an attractive starting in-hand salary of approximately Rs. 74,000 to 76,000, inclusive of dearness and special allowances. For a detailed breakdown of the revised pay scale, please click below.
Check Revised IBPS PO Salary Structure Here
IBPS PO Exam Centre
The IBPS PO exam is held nationwide. While candidates can select their preferred exam centers, final allotment rests solely with the IBPS, and no change requests will be entertained. For the full list of centers, check our IBPS PO Exam Centre List 2026.
IBPS PO Exam Centre List 2026- Click to Check
IBPS PO Pre-Exam Training
To promote inclusivity, Nodal Banks may organize free pre-examination training for candidates from SC/ST and religious minority communities. These sessions offer guidance on time management, strategy, and exam structure to help candidates who may lack access to private coaching.
Interested candidates can opt for this training during the online registration process. Note that this training is free of charge, but participants must cover their own travel and lodging expenses. The list of training centers will be provided in the official notification.
| IBPS PO Pre-Exam Training Centres | |||
| North India | South India | East India | West India |
| Agra | Bengaluru | Agartala | Ahmedabad |
| Allahabad | Chennai | Balasore | Aurangabad |
| Amritsar | Coimbatore | Behrampur (Ganjam) | Bhopal |
| Bareilly | Gulbarga | Bhubaneshwar | Indore |
| Chandigarh | Hyderabad | Dhanbad | Jabalpur |
| Dehradun | Kavaratti | Guwahati | Jaipur |
| Gorakhpur | Kochi | Hubli | Jodhpur |
| Jammu | Madurai | Kolkata | Mumbai |
| Kanpur | Mangalore | Muzaffarpur | Nagpur |
| Karnal | Mysore | Patna | Panaji (Goa) |
| Lucknow | Port Blair | Ranchi | Pune |
| Ludhiana | Puducherry | Sambalpur | Raipur |
| New Delhi | Thiruchirapalli | Shillong | Rajkot |
| Patiala | Thiruvananthapuram | Siliguri | Vadodara |
| Rohtak | Vijayawada | Tirupati | |
| Shimla | Vishakhapatnam | ||
| Varanasi | |||
Training call letters must be downloaded from the official bank website using your registration credentials. Hard copies will not be mailed.
IBPS PO 2026 Admit Card & Call Letter
Admit cards for IBPS PO 2026 will be available for download on the official website. You will need your Registration Number and Password/Date of Birth to access them.
• Registration No / Roll No
• Date of Birth / Password
Admit cards are usually issued 10 to 15 days before the scheduled exams and are required for the following three phases:
• Online Preliminary Examination
• Online Mains Examination
• Personal Interview
IBPS PO 2026 Result
Results are released after each phase. The final merit list is compiled based on descending marks obtained in the Mains and the Interview. Successful candidates are considered for recruitment, provided they meet medical fitness standards.
IBPS PO Preparation
Systematic preparation, tailored to the current exam pattern, is crucial. Utilize high-quality study materials to master concepts and practice varied question types effectively.
Banking exams frequently introduce new question patterns. We recommend practicing with the latest material to ensure you are well-prepared for any unexpected shifts in the exam format for 2026.
Reviewing previous years' papers is the best way to understand expectations for the 2026 exam. We offer comprehensive study notes, quizzes, and video tutorials aligned with the latest syllabus to help you succeed.
IBPS PO Mock Tests and Online Test Series
Our online test series is carefully designed to simulate the actual exam environment, helping you build accuracy and speed across all sections of the IBPS PO examination.
IBPS PO 2026 Cut off
Official cut-off scores are announced along with the scorecard for each exam phase. You can refer to previous years' cut-off data below to help set your preparation goals.
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 Cut-Off 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 |
Check IBPS PO Previous Year Cut-Offs [Click Here]
IBPS PO 2026: FAQs
The IBPS PO Prelims are scheduled for August 22nd & 23rd, 2026, and the Mains for October 4th, 2026.
The detailed IBPS PO 2026 notification is tentatively scheduled for release in June 2026 at www.ibps.in.
Ans: The initial basic salary is Rs. 48,480, with a gross in-hand salary of approximately Rs. 74,000 to 76,000.
Ans: Yes, any graduate from a recognized university is eligible to apply for the IBPS PO exam.
Ans: Yes, the exam is bilingual and provided in both English and Hindi.
Ans: Yes, a penalty of 0.25 marks applies to all wrong answers in both the Preliminary and Mains objective tests.
Also Read:
- IBPS PO Interview Call Letter 2025 Released: Direct Download Link & Exam Details
- IBPS PO Apply Online 2026: Application Form, Fees & Registration Steps
- IBPS PO Cut Off 2026: Category-wise & Previous Year Cut-Off Marks
- Expert IBPS PO Interview Coaching 2023 | Boost Your Selection Chances
- IBPS PO Mock Test 2023: Practice Prelims & Mains (Get 1 Free Mock)
- IBPS PO Previous Year Question Papers with Solutions PDF Download
- IBPS PO Final Result 2025 Released: Check Scorecard & Selection Status at ibps.in
- IBPS PO Salary 2026: Revised Pay Scale, In-Hand Salary & Career Growth
- IBPS PO Final Scorecard 2025 Released: Check Your Mains and Interview Marks
- IBPS PO Syllabus 2026: Updated Exam Pattern for Prelims & Mains