IBPS SO Notification 2026 Out: 1,035 Specialist Officer Vacancies, Exam Dates & Apply Online

IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 Overview

Specialized Cadres & Eligibility Checklists

Candidates must verify that they fulfill all citizenship, age limit, and post-specific educational requirements before registering via Click Here to Apply Online for IBPS SO Exam 2026.

Specialized Cadres / Posts Under Recruitment

• Agriculture Field Officer (AFO)
• Marketing Officer
• HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I)
• IT Officer (Scale I)
• Law Officer (Scale I)
• Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I)

Citizenship Criteria

• A citizen of India
• A subject of Nepal
• A Tibetan refugee who arrived in India prior to 1st January 1962 with the intent of permanent settlement
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Burma, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Uganda, Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania, Namibia, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, or Vietnam

Age Relaxations

• Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST): 5 years
• Other Backward Class (OBC): 3 years
• Person with Disability (PWD): 10 years
• Ex-Servicemen: 5 years

What's New in IBPS SO 2026

• Revised Prelims Exam Pattern — Professional Knowledge section (50 marks) introduced, featuring 100 total questions, 125 maximum marks, and an 80-minute duration.
• Negative marking of 0.25 marks is applicable for every incorrect answer in both objective Prelims and Mains papers; unattempted questions attract no penalty.
• Marketing Officer role: 0 vacancies announced for the current CRP SPL-XVI cycle.

Educational Qualifications by Post

How to Apply for IBPS SO 2026?

Follow these step-by-step instructions to successfully complete your registration on the portal. Candidates may also access the IBPS PO & SO Application Form Correction Window 2026 - Access Here if edits are required post-submission.

1. Visit the official website of the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) at www.ibps.in.
2. Click on "CRP-Specialist Officers" under the Career section and select the new registration link.
3. Provide basic details such as name, contact number, email ID, address, etc., and click Save and Next.
4. Upload your photograph and signature in the prescribed format and size.
5. Select your preferred post(s) — IT Officer, Law Officer, AFO, HR, Marketing, or Rajbhasha — and fill in your educational qualification details.
6. Pay the required application fee through online mode (Credit Card/Debit Card/Net Banking).
7. Recheck the application preview carefully for any errors before final submission.
8. Click on Final Submit.
9. Your registration ID and password will be sent via email and SMS for future login.

IBPS SO 2026 Exam Timeline

After checking details and keeping track of the timeline, candidates should download their IBPS SO Admit Card 2026 during the second week of August 2026 and prepare travel arrangements ahead of the 29th August 2026 Prelims exam.

IBPS SO 2026 Vacancy Breakdown

IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern

Candidates can find comprehensive syllabus details at IBPS SO Syllabus.