🏛️ Government Job Alert
IBPS SO 2026 Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Complete Guide
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
📍
Location
All India
📅
Last Date
21 Jul 2026
💼
Salary
As per bank norms
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) - Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha) Official Notification Poster & Schedule

IBPS SO 2026 Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Complete Guide

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)

AS
By Amit Singh Chauhan • 05 Jul 2026
Syllabus Bank Experienced Jobs 📍 All India
Official Notification Details (Archive)
Deadline: 21 Jul 2026
👥 Total Vacancies 745 Posts
📍 Job Location All India
💰 Salary / Pay As per bank norms
🎯 Selection Mode Preliminary Exam -> Main Exam -> Interview
🎓 Detailed qualification, age limit & exam pattern: View Eligibility Table ↓
📌

Executive Summary & Key Facts

Verified Fact Sheet

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has issued an official recruitment notification for Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha), announcing a total of 745 vacancies located in All India. The online application window opens on 01 July 2026 and closes on 21 July 2026. To be eligible, applicants must hold Graduate in relevant stream (Post-specific) and be within the prescribed age limit of As per official notification, with category relaxation applicable as per government guidelines. Selected candidates will receive an approved pay scale of As per bank norms. The selection procedure comprises Preliminary Exam -> Main Exam -> Interview. For complete guidelines, syllabus breakdown, and official notification PDF, refer to the verified information below on ApplySarkariJob.

Official Notification Verified
Cross-checked against official board announcement & verified by ApplySarkariJob Editorial Board. Sourced from www.ibps.in ↗

📅 Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha) - Important Dates & Schedule

Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha) Schedule & Deadlines

📝 Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha) - Detailed Notification Guide

IBPS SO 2026 Examination Overview

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the CRP SPL-XVI recruitment for 745 Specialist Officer positions across 11 participating public sector banks. The selection process consists of a Preliminary examination, a Main examination, and a Common Interview. Notably, Professional Knowledge is assessed in both the Prelims and Mains stages, necessitating a focused domain preparation strategy.

IBPS SO 2026 Recruitment Highlights

ParticularsDetails
Recruitment CycleCRP SPL-XVI
Selection StagesPrelims, Mains, Interview
Prelims Duration80 Minutes
Total Questions (Prelims)100
Total Marks (Prelims)125
Negative Marking0.25 per wrong answer

IBPS SO Preliminary Examination Syllabus

The Preliminary exam is a screening stage to shortlist candidates for the Mains. Marks obtained here are not considered for the final merit list.

Sectional Composition

  • For IT, AFO, HR/Personnel, and Marketing Officers: English Language, Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, and Professional Knowledge.
  • For Law and Rajbhasha Adhikari: English Language, Reasoning Ability, General Awareness (Banking Focus), and Professional Knowledge.

IBPS SO Mains Examination Syllabus

The Main examination focuses heavily on Professional Knowledge, which carries the highest weightage for final selection. The syllabus is specific to the candidate's chosen stream:

  • IT Officer: DBMS, Computer Networks, Operating Systems, OOPs, Data Structures, Cyber Security, and Cloud Computing.
  • Agriculture Field Officer (AFO): Crop Production, Soil Science, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, and Government Agricultural Schemes.
  • Law Officer: Banking Laws, Constitutional Law, SARFAESI Act, NI Act, IBC, and Procedural Laws.
  • HR/Personnel Officer: Labour Laws, HRM, Organizational Behaviour, Industrial Relations, and Performance Management.
  • Marketing Officer: Marketing Mix, Consumer Behaviour, Brand Management, and Digital/Rural Marketing.
  • Rajbhasha Adhikari: Hindi Grammar, Translation (English-Hindi), Official Language Policy, and Essay/Precis Writing.

Preparation Strategy and Tips

  • Professional Knowledge Focus: Since this section accounts for the majority of the marks in the final merit, prioritize your core graduation subjects over generic content.
  • Sectional Timing: The Prelims exam has strict sectional time limits. Practice mock tests to improve speed and accuracy.
  • Avoid Guesswork: Given the 0.25 negative marking, prioritize accuracy. Only attempt questions where you are confident to avoid losing marks.
  • Official Resources: Regularly review RBI policies, banking awareness, and government schemes, particularly for the General Awareness section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Preliminary exam score included in the final merit list?

No, the Preliminary exam is strictly qualifying in nature. Final selection is based solely on the scores obtained in the Main Examination and the Interview.

Does the syllabus for Professional Knowledge vary by post?

Yes. Each Specialist Officer post (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha) has a unique and stream-specific Professional Knowledge syllabus tailored to that professional domain.

📝 How to Apply for Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha)

Applications are to be submitted via the official IBPS website during the window of 2026-07-01 to 2026-07-21.

❓ Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha) Frequently Asked Questions

What is the last date to apply for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha)?

The last date to submit online application forms for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha) is 21 July 2026. Candidates are advised to submit applications before the closing date.

How many vacancies are available in Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha) recruitment?

A total of 745 vacancies have been officially announced for Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha) across various categories.

What is the educational qualification required for Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha)?

Candidates must possess: Graduate in relevant stream (Post-specific) as specified in the official notification.

What is the age limit for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha)?

The prescribed age limit is As per official notification. Category-wise age relaxations apply as per government rules.

What is the salary or pay scale for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha)?

The pay scale for Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha) is As per bank norms along with applicable allowances as per organizational guidelines.

How can I apply online for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha)?

Eligible candidates can apply online by visiting https://www.ibps.in or clicking the direct Apply Online link provided on this page, completing the registration, and uploading the required documents.

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🔗 Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha) - Official Notification & Quick Links

Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
AS
Amit Singh Chauhan
Defence & Railway Recruitment Analyst

Tracks and reviews official notification PDFs, physical fitness standards, and admit card releases across Indian Railways (RRB/RRC), Defence, and Paramilitary forces.

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