Overview of IBPS AFO 2026 Recruitment

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) exam to recruit Specialist Officers in various public sector banks. As this is a technical role, meeting the specific eligibility criteria is paramount to ensure your candidature is not rejected during the scrutiny process.

IBPS AFO 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must ensure they meet the following requirements before applying for the 2026 cycle.

Age Limit and Relaxations

The candidate must be between 20 and 30 years old. Specifically, you must have been born between 02-07-1996 and 01-07-2006. Government norms allow for age relaxation for specific categories:

• SC/ST: 5 years
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years
• Persons with Disabilities: 10 years
• Ex-Servicemen: 5 years
• Widows/Divorced Women: 9 years (up to max 35 years)

Educational Qualifications

To be eligible, you need a 4-year degree (graduation) in Agriculture or allied streams from a recognized university. Eligible streams include:

• Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Dairy Science, Fishery Science, Pisciculture, Agri-Marketing and Cooperation, Co-operation and Banking, Agro-Forestry, Forestry, Agricultural Biotechnology, Food Science, Agricultural Business Management, Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Agricultural Engineering, and Sericulture.

Note: Final-year students can apply provisionally, provided they can produce their final degree certificate at the time of the interview.

Selection Process

The selection is based on three stages:

1. Preliminary Exam: Qualifying test (Reasoning, English, Quant).
2. Main Exam: Professional Knowledge (Technical test based on Agriculture).
3. Interview: Personality and domain expertise assessment conducted by participating banks.

Expert Preparation Tips

• Focus on Professional Knowledge: Since this carries the highest weightage, master core concepts like Agronomy, Soil Science, and Agricultural Economics.
• Practice Mock Tests: Familiarize yourself with the exam interface and time management.
• Current Affairs: Keep track of government agricultural schemes and recent trends in the rural economy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Q: Is experience required for IBPS AFO? A: No, prior work experience is not mandatory for this post.
• Q: Can final year students apply? A: Yes, final year students can apply provisionally, but they must submit their final results before the interview date.
• Q: What is the maximum age for General category? A: The maximum age is 30 years as of 01-07-2026.
• Q: Can a non-agriculture graduate apply? A: Only if your degree is in one of the specific allied sciences listed by IBPS.
• Q: Is there an attempt limit? A: No, there is no restriction on the number of attempts as long as you fulfill the age criteria.