Candidates preparing for the IBPS Clerk 2026 Exam should first go through the latest IBPS Clerk Syllabus to understand what to study. The syllabus includes topics from English Language, Reasoning Ability, Numerical Ability, General/Financial Awareness, and other sections prescribed for the recruitment process.
IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026
The IBPS Clerk 2026 syllabus is divided into two stages Prelims and Mains. The Prelims exam covers English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Numerical Ability, while the Mains exam includes these subjects along with General/Financial Awareness. Candidates should prepare all sections to perform well in the examination.
IBPS Clerk Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026: Overview
To perform well aspirants should regularly practice a variety of questions ranging from basic to moderate difficulty, work on improving their calculation speed and logical thinking, and focus on managing time effectively during the exam.
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Examination Name | IBPS Clerk Notification 2026 |
| Post Name | Customer Service Associate (CSA) |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Examination, Main Examination & Language Proficiency Test (LPT) |
| Mode of Examination | Online |
| Medium of Examination | English, Hindi, and 13 Regional Languages |
| Total Marks | Prelims: 100 Marks/Mains: 200 Marks |
| Exam Duration | Prelims: 60 Minutes/Mains: 120 Minutes |
| Marking Scheme | 1 mark for each correct answer |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect answer |
| Question Type | Objective (Multiple Choice Questions) |
| Final Selection | Based on performance in the Main Examination, subject to qualifying the Language Proficiency Test (LPT) |
| Official Website | www.ibps.in |
IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The IBPS Clerk Prelims 2026 is the screening stage of the recruitment process. It tests candidates’ agility and problem-solving skills through 100 objective questions to be completed in 60 minutes. Since the exam is sectionally timed and there is negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer, candidates must focus on both speed and accuracy to secure a place in the Mains exam.
| IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern 2026 For Prelims | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S. No. | Name of Tests (Objective) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes | |
IBPS Clerk Prelims Syllabus 2026
With the IBPS Clerk 2026 exam confirmed, it’s important for candidates to understand the Prelims syllabus and exam pattern. The Prelims exam is objective and includes three sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Numerical Ability. Below is the detailed syllabus to help you start your preparation in the right direction.
| IBPS Clerk Syllabus For Prelims | ||
| English Language | Reasoning Ability | Numerical Ability |
| Reading Comprehension | Puzzles(Box based puzzle, Designation based puzzle, Category based puzzle, Floor / Flat-floor based puzzle, Day / Month / Year based puzzle) | Simplification: BODMAS, Square & Cube, Square & cube root, Indices, fraction, percentage etc. |
| Fillers |
Seating Arrangement(Circular Seating Arrangement (Uncertain), Square / Rectangle / Triangular seating Arrangement, Linear seating arrangement, Single row, Double row, Uncertain) |
Approximation: BODMAS, Square & Cube, Square & cube root, Indices, fraction, percentage etc. |
| Sentence Based Error | Inequality (Direct and Indirect Statement) | Number Series: Missing Number series, Wrong number series |
| Vocabulary | Distance and Direction (Normal) | Inequality:Linear equation, Quadratic equation, Quantity comparison |
| Cloze Test | Coding-Decoding (General) | Ratio and Proportion |
| Error Detection | Blood Relation (Normal) | Percentage |
| Sentence Improvement | Syllogism (2/3 statement + 2 conclusion) | Number System and HCF & LCM |
| Word Swap(3 words, 4 words) | Series(Alpha-numeric-symbol based, Alpha-numeric based, Word-based, Number based, Digit based series, Letter based series) | Average |
| Word Rearrangement(3 Words, 4 Words) | Order – Ranking (Comparison) | Age |
| Sentence Rearrangement | Word Pair / Number Pair | Partnership |
| Parajumble | Word formation (Meaningful word) | Mixture and Alligation |
| Column Based | Odd one out | Simple Interest |
| Idioms & Phrases | Word / Number based (Multiple operations) | Compound Interest |
| Word Usage | Time and Work | |
| Connectors/Starters | Pipe and Cistern | |
| Profit & Loss and Discount | ||
| Speed Time Distance | ||
| Boat And Stream | ||
| Mensuration 2D and 3d | ||
| Probability | ||
| Permutation & combination | ||
| Data Interpretation: Table DI, Missing Table DI, Single Pie chart DI and Multiple pie chart DI, Line chart DI, Bar chart DI, Mixed DI, Caselet | ||
| Data Sufficiency: Two Statement | ||
IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026
Candidates who qualify the Preliminary Exam will appear for the IBPS Clerk Mains Exam 2026. The exam covers four major sections and consists of 155 questions carrying a total of 200 marks. Since every section has a fixed time limit, candidates should focus on both speed and accuracy while preparing.
| IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern 2026 For Mains | |||
| Section | No. of Qs. | Marks | Duration |
| General/ Financial Awareness Section A- 2 Marks (10 Questions) Section B- 1 Mark (30 Questions) |
40 | 50 | 20 minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability Section A- 2 Marks (20 Questions) Section B- 1 Mark (20 Questions) |
40 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude Section A- 2 Marks (15 Questions) Section B- 1 Mark (20 Questions) |
35 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 155 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Important Points for IBPS Clerk Exam 2026
- Final Merit List: Marks obtained by candidates in the IBPS Clerk Mains Examination will be considered while preparing the final merit list.
- Negative Marking: A penalty of 0.25 marks (one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question) will be deducted for every incorrect answer in both the Prelims and Mains examinations.
- Focus on Accuracy: Since wrong answers lead to mark deductions, candidates should attempt questions carefully and avoid unnecessary guesses.
- Changing Exam Trends: The difficulty level and question patterns may vary each year, so candidates should prepare with a flexible approach.
- Regular Practice is Important: Solving mock tests, previous year papers, and practicing regularly can help improve speed, accuracy, and confidence for the exam.
IBPS Clerk Mains Syllabus 2026
More or less, the syllabus for IBPS Clerk Prelims and mains are similar but some topics are added in all the sections with the level of difficulty. The level of the mains exam is comparatively difficult. Check the detailed IBPS Clerk mains syllabus below:
| IBPS Clerk Syllabus For Mains | ||
|---|---|---|
| S. No. | Subject | Syllabus |
| 1. | General English |
|
| 2. | Reasoning Ability |
|
| 3. | Quantitative Aptitude |
|
| 4. | General/ Financial Awareness | National Current Affairs, International Current Affairs, State Current Affairs, Sports News, Central Government Schemes, Agreements/MoU, Books & Authors, Summits & Conferences, Defense News, Science & Technology News, Banking and Financial Awareness, Static Awareness, Recent RBI Circulars Based Questions, Business & Economy related News, Important Days, Obituaries, Important Appointments, Important Awards & Honours, Union Budget 2026, Economic Survey 2026, Ranks/Reports/Indexes |
IBPS Clerk Syllabus For Language Proficiency Test
The Language Proficiency Test (LPT) is conducted after the IBPS Clerk Mains exam to assess a candidate’s ability to communicate in the local language of the state or Union Territory applied for. Qualifying this test is mandatory for final selection.
Key points of the LPT:
- Candidates must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the official local language.
- The test may include reading passages, writing tasks, grammar questions, or simple conversations.
- It ensures that selected candidates can communicate effectively with local customers.
- Failure to qualify the LPT may lead to disqualification from final appointment, even after clearing the Main Examination.
Important: Candidates should not overlook the Language Proficiency Test, as clearing the LPT is essential for final selection under the IBPS Clerk recruitment process.
| Related Posts | |
| IBPS Clerk Salary | IBPS Clerk Previous Year Papers |
| IBPS Clerk Selection Process | IBPS Clerk Preparation Strategy |











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