IBPS SO 2026 Exam Date Out, Notification PDF, 1035 Vacancies

Posted: Jun 10, 2026 06:42 AM IST
Updated: Aug 08, 2026 01:48 PM IST
2K views

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has officially released the IBPS SO Notification 2026 (CRP SPL-XVI) announcing 1,035 Specialist Officer vacancies. Online registration was successfully completed at www.ibps.in. IBPS conducts this national-level recruitment drive annually to select expert officers for 11 participating public sector banks. The preliminary examination for these 1035 SO posts is scheduled for 29th August 2026, taking place across multiple designated exam centres nationwide.

Aspirants can access all essential recruitment details in this comprehensive guide, including exam schedules, post-wise vacancy distributions, eligibility parameters, exam patterns, complete syllabi, application fee structures, and the step-by-step selection procedure.

What is IBPS SO Exam 2026?

The IBPS SO recruitment drive offers lucrative career paths for engineering graduates, law professionals, MBA holders, agriculture graduates, and postgraduates in Hindi. Selection is conducted through a rigorous 3-stage process comprising Prelims, Mains, and a Personal Interview. The specialized cadres under this recruitment 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 Exam- Overview

With a total of 1035 vacancies for the IBPS SO 2026 cycle, registration has officially closed, witnessing hundreds of thousands of applicants. Successful candidates clearing all three stages will enjoy an attractive starting basic salary of Rs. 48,480 per month. Read on for complete details 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
IBPS SO Prelims Exam Date29th August 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

IBPS SO Exam Date 2026 Out

The IBPS SO Prelims exam is set for 29th August 2026 (Saturday), while the Mains exam will follow on 1st November 2026 (Sunday). Depending on total applicant volume, tests may be conducted across one or two shifts. Further logistical details will be shared via official admit cards released 10 to 12 days prior to the exam dates.

IBPS SO Admit Card 2026 - Click to Download

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 20262nd week of August 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

IBPS SO 2026 Notification PDF

IBPS has published the comprehensive IBPS SO Notification 2026 PDF (CRP SPL-XVI) detailing 1035 vacancies and the complete timeline for the financial year 2027-28. Candidates are strongly advised to thoroughly review the official notification to ensure they meet all post-specific eligibility criteria before proceeding.

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

What's New?

  • Revised Prelims Exam Pattern — Professional Knowledge section (50 marks) introduced, featuring 100 total questions, 125 maximum marks, and an 80-minute duration.
  • Negative marking of 0.25 marks is applicable for every incorrect answer in both objective Prelims and Mains papers; unattempted questions attract no penalty.
  • Marketing Officer role: 0 vacancies announced for the current CRP SPL-XVI cycle.

IBPS SO 2026 Vacancy

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has updated the total opening count from 745 to 1035 Scale I Specialist Officer positions spanning Agriculture Field Officer, Marketing Officer (Scale I), HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I), IT Officer (Scale I), Law Officer (Scale I), and Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I). 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 offers 1035 total vacancies across 5 active posts (Note: Marketing Officer features 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 listed vacancies are purely indicative and subject to alteration based on finalized operational requisitions submitted by participating banks. Certain institutions have currently reported Not Reported (NR) numbers for specific streams.

Analyze the historical year-wise 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 specific post-wise educational prerequisites. Nationality, age limits, and academic credentials form the core eligibility matrix for IBPS SO Recruitment 2026.

Citizenship Criteria

Eligible candidates must meet any of the following criteria:

• A citizen of India
• A subject of Nepal
• 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 Burma, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Uganda, Kenya, 
United Republic of Tanzania, Namibia, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, or Vietnam

Educational Qualification (as on 21/07/2026)

IBPS SO systematically recruits qualified professionals for diverse specializations including IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, and related fields. 

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)

Candidates must be at least  20 years of age to qualify for the IBPS SO examination, with an upper age threshold set at 30 years. In accordance with government guidelines, standard age relaxations apply to candidates belonging to reserved socio-economic categories as outlined 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. Can final-year graduation students apply for IBPS SO 2026?
Ans. No. Candidates must possess their officially completed graduation mark sheets or degree certificates prior to the application deadline to be deemed eligible.

Q. Does the Prelims exam score contribute to the final merit ranking?
Ans. No. The Prelims round serves exclusively as a qualifying filter. Final selection merit is calculated solely on aggregated scores secured in the Mains exam and Personal Interview.

IBPS SO 2026 Application Form

The online submission window for IBPS SO 2026 opened on 1st July 2026 via www.ibps.in and concludes on 26th July 2026. Aspirants are advised to submit their applications well ahead of the deadline to prevent last-minute network congestion or technical bottlenecks.

Click Here to Apply Online for IBPS SO Exam 2026

IBPS PO & SO Application Form Correction Window 2026 - Access Here

IBPS SO Application Fee

Registered applicants are required to remit an application fee of Rs. 850/- (applicable for General and OBC candidates) for the IBPS SO 2026 examination. Conversely, the fee is subsidized to Rs. 175/- for candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PWD categories

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 comprehensive IBPS SO selection architecture for appointing qualified specialist officers comprises three distinct stages:

  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 phase. Official appointment letters are issued strictly to candidates who clear the entire sequence including the interview.

Why Choose an IBPS SO Career?
🏦 Specialized Banking Career — Direct entry into prestigious Scale-I officer positions within your precise domain expertise (IT, Law, Agriculture, HR, or Marketing).
💼 Rapid Career Advancement — Specialist Officers experience swift promotional pathways due to specialized domain knowledge.
🛡️ Ultimate Job Security — Permanent government-backed public sector employment across 11 major nationalized banks.
📈 Diverse Professional Streams — Six specialized functional tracks tailored to match varied academic backgrounds.

IBPS SO Exam Pattern & Syllabus (Revised)

The Preliminary examination acts as an initial screening filter; candidates are required to satisfy both sectional thresholds and overall cut-off marks to qualify for the Mains stage.

IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern

The IBPS SO Prelims features two distinct exam structure variants depending on the opted post. Candidates must secure qualifying marks in each 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 uniquely for Rajbhasha Adhikari and other corresponding Specialist Officer designations. The official curriculum is delineated separately for Preliminary and Main examinations. Aspirants preparing for the IBPS SO 2026 exam must thoroughly analyze the syllabus to streamline their preparation strategy. Alongside core sections covering English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning, candidates must demonstrate profound command over their respective professional specialization subjects.

To access the complete curriculum breakdown for the IBPS SO 2026 exam, please visit our dedicated IBPS SO Syllabus Hub

IBPS SO Pre-Exam Training

Participating organizations may organize Pre-Examination Training (PET) sessions for candidates belonging to SC, ST, and Religious Minority communities across designated regional centers, adhering strictly to Government of India directives. These orientation programs familiarize attendees with exam structures, common pitfalls, time management techniques, and expert preparation methodologies, ensuring a level playing field for economically disadvantaged candidates.

Last Year's Cut-Off Marks

The official IBPS SO Cut-Off 2026 will be announced sequentially upon the conclusion of each examination tier. Prelims cut-off scores will be published first, followed subsequently by Mains score thresholds, empowering candidates to assess their qualification status accurately against official standards.

Review the historical trends of previous years' Prelims cut-off marks for the IBPS SO examination below:

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 View Previous Years' IBPS SO Cut-Off Trends

IBPS SO 2026 Exam Preparation

Strategic preparation for the IBPS SO exam demands a systematic approach aligned with the updated examination format. Given the extensive syllabus encompassing specialized Professional Knowledge, selecting premium study resources and practicing targeted question banks for both Prelims and Mains is vital for success.

Aspirants should rigorously practice past years' IBPS SO question papers to understand evolving difficulty trends. OnlineResult provides curated study guides, interactive quizzes, and updated mock test series tailored specifically for the IBPS SO 2026 examination.

IBPS SO Previous Year Question Papers - Access PDF Downloads

FAQs

LIVE ALERTS & NOTIFICATIONS

Never miss another exam update!

Get the fastest exam results, recruitment news, and educational guides delivered directly to your phone.

About OnlineResult.in Articles

Expert analysis and deep dives into education, career guidance and the latest trends.

Browse All Articles

Share this article

Spread the knowledge with your friends

Important Exams