IBPS Recruitment Exam

IBPS PO

Probationary Officer — recruited by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection across 11 participating public sector banks.

                                                                  About Eligibility Exam Pattern Syllabus Preparation Strategy Career & Job Role FAQs

About IBPS PO

IBPS PO is the Common Recruitment Process (CRP) conducted by IBPS to recruit Probationary Officers/Management Trainees across 11 participating public sector banks, including Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank and Union Bank of India. Selection runs through Prelims, Mains and an Interview.

Eligibility

Age Limit

20 to 30 years as on the notified cut-off date. Age relaxation: OBC (NCL) 3 years, SC/ST 5 years, PwBD 10 years, Ex-servicemen 5 years. EWS candidates do not get age relaxation.

Educational Qualification

  • Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university

Participating Banks

Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Central Bank of India, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Punjab National Bank, UCO Bank and Union Bank of India, among others.

Exam Pattern

Prelims (100 Marks, 1 Hour — Qualifying)

Section Questions Marks Duration
English Language 30 30 20 min
Quantitative Aptitude 35 35 20 min
Reasoning Ability 35 35 20 min

Mains

Section Marks Duration
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude 60 60 min
Data Analysis & Interpretation 60 45 min
General/Economy/Banking Awareness 40 35 min
English Language 40 40 min
English Language (Descriptive) 25 30 min

Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies for each wrong answer in the objective papers.

Interview

Candidates who clear the Mains appear for a Personal Interview. Final selection is based on combined Mains and Interview marks in the ratio decided by IBPS.

Syllabus

  • Quantitative Aptitude — Number Series, DI, Simplification, Arithmetic
  • Reasoning Ability — Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding
  • English Language — Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, Descriptive Writing
  • General/Economy/Banking Awareness — Current Affairs, Banking & Financial Terms
  • Computer Aptitude — Basics of Computers, Internet, MS Office

Preparation Strategy

Focus on building speed in Quant and Reasoning early, since Prelims cut-offs are competitive. For Mains, dedicate specific practice time to Data Analysis & Interpretation and the Descriptive paper, which many candidates underprepare for.

Career & Job Role

Selected candidates join as Probationary Officers/Management Trainees at the allotted participating bank, with a starting basic pay of approximately ₹48,480 and gross monthly pay in the ₹74,000–₹76,000 range, along with a clear path to managerial roles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the age limit for IBPS PO?

20 to 30 years as on the notified cut-off date, with relaxation for reserved categories.

How many stages does IBPS PO have?

Three — Prelims, Mains, and a Personal Interview.

Which banks recruit through IBPS PO?

11 participating public sector banks, including Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, PNB and Union Bank of India.

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