IBPS SO 2026 Notification Out, 1,035 Revised Vacancies, Online Form, Eligibility

Posted: Jun 10, 2026 06:42 AM IST
Updated: Jul 28, 2026 08:45 PM IST
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The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has officially released the IBPS SO Notification 2026 (CRP SPL-XVI) for 1,035 Specialist Officer vacancies. Online registration is extended until 26th July 2026 at www.ibps.in. IBPS conducts the annual SO examination to recruit expert professionals across 11 participating public sector banks.

Interested candidates can review comprehensive details regarding the recruitment drive, including crucial dates, post-wise vacancy distributions, eligibility criteria, exam patterns, syllabus breakdowns, application fees, and the complete selection procedure within this article.

Latest Update: According to the official notification, the total IBPS SO 2026 vacancies have been revised upward from 735 to 1,035, adding 300 new positions to this recruitment cycle.

What is IBPS SO Exam 2026?

The IBPS SO exam recruits qualified engineering graduates, law professionals, MBA holders, agriculture graduates, and Hindi postgraduates across six distinct Specialist Officer roles through a rigorous 3-stage selection process comprising Prelims, Mains, and an Interview. The designated posts include:

  1. Agriculture Field Officer (AFO)
  2. Marketing Officer
  3. HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I)
  4. IT Officer (Scale I)
  5. Law Officer (Scale I)
  6. Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I)

IBPS SO 2026 Notification PDF

IBPS has published the detailed IBPS SO Notification 2026 PDF (CRP SPL-XVI) for 1,035 vacancies, accompanied by the complete examination schedule for the financial year 2027-28. Banking aspirants are strongly advised to thoroughly read the official notification before applying to ensure they satisfy all eligibility parameters for their chosen position.

IBPS SO Notification 2026 PDF (Official) - Click to Download

IBPS SO 2026 Exam- Overview

IBPS SO 2026 features 1,035 total vacancies, with registration closing on 26th July 2026, and an initial basic pay starting at Rs. 48,480/month. Complete details are provided below.

IBPS SO Recruitment 2026- Overview
OrganisationInstitute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
CadreSpecialist Officer (SO)
PostsAgriculture Field Officer (AFO), HR/Personnel, IT Officer, Law Officer, Marketing, Rajbhasha
Exam LevelNational
Vacancy1035 (Revised)
Participating Banks11
Mode of ApplicationOnline
Registration Dates1st to 26th July 2026
IBPS SO Recruitment ProcessPrelims, Main Exams, Interview
Educational QualificationGraduation with a relevant degree
Age Limit20 to 30 years (as on 01.07.2026)
Application FeeSC/ST/PWD- Rs.175
General and Others- Rs. 850
Pay Scale Rs. 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920
IBPS Official Websitewww.ibps.in

What's New?

  • IBPS SO Detailed Notification released on 1st July 2026 featuring the online application link, pre-exam training schedules, admit card release windows, and result dates. 
  • Revised Prelims Exam Pattern — Professional Knowledge section (50 marks) introduced; totals 100 questions, 125 marks, with an 80-minute duration.
  • A negative marking scheme of 0.25 marks applies to every incorrect objective answer in both Prelims and Mains papers, while unattempted questions incur no penalty.
  • Marketing Officer: 0 vacancies announced for the CRP SPL-XVI cycle.

IBPS SO 2026 Exam Timeline

ActivityDates
Notification1st July 2026
Online Registration Starts1st July 2026
Online Application Ends26th July 2026
Last Date to Pay Fee26th July 2026
Edit Window for Application Correction2 days after registration closes
IBPS SO Admit Card 2026August 2026
Prelims Exam Date29th August 2026
Prelims Result DatesSeptember/October 2026
Download Mains Call LetterOctober 2026
Mains Exam Date1st November 2026
IBPS SO Interview DatesNovember/December 2026
Final ResultJanuary 2027

Has the IBPS SO 2026 application deadline been extended?
Yes, the final date to submit IBPS SO online applications is extended up to 26th July 2026. 

IBPS SO Exam Date 2026

The IBPS SO Preliminary examination is scheduled for 29th August 2026 (Saturday), and the Main examination will take place on 1st November 2026 (Sunday). Examinations will be conducted in single or multiple shifts depending on the total volume of applicants. 

IBPS SO 2026 Vacancy

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has revised the cumulative vacancy count from 745 to 1,035 Specialist Officer (Scale I) positions across Agriculture Field Officer, Marketing Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, IT Officer, Law Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari streams. Review the detailed bank-wise, post-wise, and category-wise vacancy breakdowns below.

PostsSCSTOBCEWSURVacancies
Agriculture Field Officer (AFO)552710036152370
HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I)080315062860
IT Officer (Scale I)572910434152376
Law Officer (Scale I)1607321159125
Marketing Officer (Scale I)030101000510
Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I)120721084694
Total15174273954421035

IBPS SO 2026 features 1,035 total vacancies across 5 active posts (Marketing Officer: 0 vacancies this cycle)

Bank-wise Vacancy

Agriculture Field Officer (AFO)

BankTotalURSCSTOBCEWS
Bank of Baroda100411572710
Bank of India000000
Bank of Maharashtra9038136249
Canara Bank000000
Central Bank of India000000
Indian Bank1807327144917
Indian Overseas Bank000000
Punjab National Bank000000
Punjab & Sind Bank000000
UCO BankNRNRNRNRNRNR
Union Bank of IndiaNRNRNRNRNRNR
Total370152552710036

HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I)

BankTotalURSCSTOBCEWS
Bank of Baroda502273135
Bank of India000000
Bank of Maharashtra1061021
Canara Bank000000
Central Bank of India000000
Indian Bank000000
Indian Overseas Bank000000
Punjab National Bank000000
Punjab & Sind Bank000000
UCO BankNRNRNRNRNRNR
Union Bank of IndiaNRNRNRNRNRNR
Total602883156

IT Officer (Scale I)

BankTotalURSCSTOBCEWS
Bank of Baroda000000
Bank of India1104616829110
Bank of Maharashtra000000
Canara Bank000000
Central Bank of India5021831350
Indian Bank75301162275
Indian Overseas Bank251331625
Punjab National Bank1004015827100
Punjab & Sind Bank16243716
UCO BankNRNRNRNRNRNR
Union Bank of IndiaNRNRNRNRNRNR
Total3761525729104376

Law Officer (Scale I)

BankTotalURSCSTOBC (NCL)EWS
Bank of Baroda1061021
Bank of India000000
Bank of Maharashtra000000
Canara Bank30134283
Central Bank of India30134283
Indian Bank20102161
Indian Overseas Bank1061021
Punjab National Bank25114262
Punjab & Sind Bank000000
UCO BankNRNRNRNRNRNR
Union Bank of IndiaNRNRNRNRNRNR
Total125591673211

Marketing Officer (Scale I)

BankTotalURSCSTOBC (NCL)
Bank of Baroda00000
Bank of India00000
Bank of Maharashtra00000
Canara Bank00000
Central Bank of India00000
Indian Bank105311
Indian Overseas Bank00000
Punjab National Bank00000
Punjab & Sind Bank00000
UCO BankNRNRNRNRNR
Union Bank of IndiaNRNRNRNRNR
Total105311

Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I)

BankTotalURSCSTOBC (NCL)EWS
Bank of Baroda751010
Bank of India1061021
Bank of Maharashtra000000
Canara Bank2093152
Central Bank of India31134383
Indian Bank531100
Indian Overseas Bank000000
Punjab National Bank1041131
Punjab & Sind Bank1161121
UCO BankNRNRNRNRNRNR
Union Bank of IndiaNRNRNRNRNRNR
Total9446127218

Note: All reported vacancies are provisional and subject to modification based on official updates from participating financial institutions. Certain participating banks have currently reported Not Reported (NR) numbers for specific designations.

Explore the year-over-year vacancy trends:

YearVacancies
2026 (CRP SPL-XVI)1035
2025 (CRP SPL-XV)949
20242973
20231402
2022710
20211828
2020720
20191163
20181599
20171315

IBPS SO Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must fall within the age bracket of 20 to 30 years (as of 01.07.2026) and fulfill the designated post-specific educational prerequisites. Nationality, age, and academic qualifications form the core eligibility parameters for IBPS SO Recruitment 2026.

Citizenship Criteria

Eligible candidates must hold citizenship or status as:

• A citizen of India
• A subject of Nepal
• A subject of Bhutan
• 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 Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of permanent settlement in India

Educational Qualification (as on 21/07/2026)

IBPS SO recruits candidates across diverse professional domains including IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer

S No.Name of the PostEducational Qualification
1. I.T. Officer (Scale I)1)Four years engineering/Technology degree in Computer Science/IT/Computer Application/Electronics and Communication Engineering/Electronics and Telecommunication/ Electronics and Instrumentation OR
2) Post Graduate Degree in Computer Science/IT/Computer Application/Electronics and Communication Engineering/Electronics and Telecommunication/ Electronics and Instrumentation OR
Graduates having passed DOEACC ‘B’ level exam 
2.Agricultural Field Officer (Scale-I)4 years graduation degree in agriculture/ Horticulture/ Animal Husbandry/ Veterinary Science/ dairy Science/ Agricultural engineering/ Fishery Science/ Pisciculture/ Agri Marketing and cooperation/ Co-Operation and Banking/ Agro-Forestry
3.Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I)Post Graduate in Hindi with English as a subject at the graduation or degree level OR Post Graduate Degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as a subject at graduation level
 
4.Law Office (Scale I)A bachelor’s degree in Law and enrolled as an advocate with Bar Council
5.HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I)Graduate and Full Time Post Graduate Degree or Full time Diploma in Personnel Management/ Industrial Relation/ HR/ HRD/ Social Work/ Labour Law
6.Marketing Officer (Scale I)Graduate and Full-Time MMS (Marketing)/ MBA (Marketing)/Full time PGDBA/ PGDBM with specialization in Marketing

Age Limit (as on 01/07/2026)

A candidate must be at least 20 years of age to qualify for the IBPS SO examination, while the upper age threshold is capped at 30 years. Government regulations dictate that reserved category candidates receive statutory age relaxations. The comprehensive category-wise age relaxations applicable for IBPS SO posts are detailed below:

  • Minimum Age - 20 years
  • Maximum Age - 30 years
CategoryAge Relaxation
Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST)5 years
Other Backward Class (OBC)3 years
Person with Disability (PWD)10 years
Ex-Servicemen5 years

Q. Are final-year college students eligible to apply for IBPS SO 2026?
Ans. No. Candidates must possess their final graduation degree and required academic qualifications on or before the specified application deadline.

Q. Do Prelims exam marks count toward the final merit list?
Ans. No. The Preliminary examination serves strictly as a qualifying stage. Final merit rankings are determined solely by the aggregated scores secured in the Mains exam and Interview round.

IBPS SO 2026 Application Form

The online application gateway for IBPS SO 2026 opened on 1st July 2026 at www.ibps.in and concludes on 26th July 2026. Candidates are urged to finish their submissions well ahead of the deadline to circumvent server congestion and technical complications.

Click Here to Apply Online for IBPS SO Exam 2026

IBPS SO Application Fee

Applicants are required to remit an application fee of Rs. 850/- (for General and OBC candidates) for the IBPS SO 2026 examination, whereas candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PWD categories benefit from a concessional fee of Rs. 175/-

CategoryApplication Fee
SC/ST/PWDRs.175/- (Intimation Charges only)
General and OthersRs. 850/- (App. Fee including intimation charges)

How to Apply for IBPS SO 2026?

  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 PO Selection Process

The complete selection roadmap for appointing specialist officers through the IBPS SO 2026 recruitment drive comprises three distinct phases:

  1. Online Preliminary Exam
  2. Online Mains Exam
  3. Interview

Candidates must successfully clear both the Preliminary and Main examinations to qualify for the final Interview stage. Successful candidates clearing the interview are subsequently awarded formal appointment letters.

Why Choose IBPS SO as a Career?
🏦 Specialized banking career — Direct entry into a Scale-I officer position utilizing your core technical domain (IT, Law, Agriculture, HR, or Marketing).
💼 Accelerated career progression — Specialist Officers often witness faster promotions owing to their niche professional expertise.
🛡️ Ultimate job security — Permanent government-sector employment across 11 major public sector banks.
📈 Diverse career choices — Six specialized professional streams tailored to match your specific academic qualifications.

IBPS SO Exam Pattern & Syllabus (Revised)

The Preliminary examination acts as a preliminary screening test; candidates must attain scores surpassing both individual sectional cut-offs and aggregate cut-off thresholds to qualify for the Mains examination.

IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern

The IBPS SO Prelims exam structure varies depending on the specific post applied for. Candidates are mandated to secure minimum qualifying marks across every individual section to clear the Prelims phase.

Name of TestsNo. of QuestionsMaximum MarksMedium of ExamDuration
For the posts of IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer:
English Language2525English20 minutes
Reasoning2525English and Hindi20 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude2525English and Hindi20 minutes
Professional
Knowledge
2550English and Hindi20 minutes
Total100125 80 minutes
For the post of Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari:
English Language2525English20 minutes
Reasoning2525English and Hindi20 minutes
General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry2525English and Hindi20 minutes
 2550English and Hindi20 minutes
Total100125 80 minutes

Exam Syllabus

The IBPS SO 2026 Syllabus is structured distinctly for Rajbhasha Adhikari and other professional Specialist Officer roles. The curriculum is meticulously outlined separately for the Preliminary and Main examinations. Aspirants preparing for the IBPS SO 2026 exam must review the official syllabus to strategize their preparation effectively. Besides mastering foundational sections like English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning, candidates must demonstrate thorough command over their chosen professional specialization.

For access to the comprehensive syllabus breakdown for the IBPS SO 2026 exam, please visit our dedicated IBPS SO Syllabus Page

IBPS SO Pre-Exam Training

Participating organizations may organize pre-examination training sessions for candidates belonging to SC, ST, and religious minority communities at designated centers in accordance with Government guidelines. These orientation programs familiarize candidates with question formats, common pitfalls, effective time management, and test-taking strategies guided by expert educators, aiming to level the playing field for underprivileged aspirants.

Last Year's Cut-Off Marks

The official IBPS SO Cut Off 2026 will be published sequentially following the conclusion of each examination phase. Preliminary cut-offs are declared initially, followed subsequently by Mains cut-off benchmarks. Aspirants can gauge their qualification prospects by comparing their personal scores against these official thresholds.

Let us examine the previous years' Preliminary exam cut-off trends for the IBPS SO recruitment:

IBPS SO Prelims Cut-off 2025
PostsSCSTOBCEWSURHIOCVIID
I.T. OFFICER58.2548.6358.255558.2521.6346.3842.6336.13
AGRICULTURAL FIELD OFFICER50.1345.6350.1350.1350.1325.8837.7539.6323.88
HR/PERSONNEL 62.6362.6362.6362.6362.6331.3819.7525.13NA
MARKETING OFFICER21.7517.2518.1327.6327.6321.7520.5023.3835.18
RAJBHASHA ADHIKARI16.631116.6316.6316.6325.7518.8842.2513.75
LAW OFFICER42.6334.7543.2544.6346.8820.252523.1323

Click Here to Check IBPS SO Previous Year Cut-Off Marks

IBPS SO 2026 Exam Preparation

Effective preparation for the IBPS SO exam requires a methodical approach aligned with the updated exam pattern. Given the expansive syllabus—including specialized Professional Knowledge domains—selecting premium study resources and practicing a diverse range of mock questions for both Prelims and Mains is vital.

Candidates should review previous years' IBPS SO question papers to understand prevailing examination trends and difficulty levels. OnlineResult provides curated study materials, sectional quizzes, and practice mock tests specifically designed for the IBPS SO 2026 curriculum.

IBPS SO Previous Year Question Papers - Click to Access

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