IBPS SO 2026 Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Complete Guide
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
Executive Summary & Key Facts
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.
📅 Specialist Officer (IT, AFO, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha) - Important Dates & Schedule
📝 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
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Cycle | CRP SPL-XVI |
| Selection Stages | Prelims, Mains, Interview |
| Prelims Duration | 80 Minutes |
| Total Questions (Prelims) | 100 |
| Total Marks (Prelims) | 125 |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 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.