IBPS PO Mains Expected Cut Off 2026, Check Category Wise Qualifying Marks

The IBPS PO Mains Exam 2026 was conducted on 4 October 2026 for candidates shortlisted from the Preliminary Examination. After the exam, candidates are now waiting to know the expected cut off marks and their chances of qualifying for the interview stage. The IBPS PO Mains Cut Off 2026 will be released officially by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection along with the Mains result/scorecard. Until then, candidates can check the expected category-wise cutoff based on the exam level, previous-year trends, vacancies and overall competition.

IBPS PO Mains Expected Cut Off 2026

The expected ranges above are based on current post-exam analyses and may change once IBPS releases the official scorecards and cutoff. Different expert analyses have estimated somewhat different ranges because the final cutoff depends on normalisation, candidate performance and vacancies.

IBPS PO Mains Cut Off 2026: What Does It Mean?

The IBPS PO Mains cutoff is the minimum score required to qualify for the next stage of the recruitment process. Candidates need to satisfy the applicable sectional as well as overall qualifying requirements as prescribed by IBPS.

The cutoff is not fixed in advance. It is determined after considering the performance of candidates and other recruitment-related factors. Therefore, merely scoring around the expected cutoff does not guarantee qualification.

IBPS PO Mains Previous Year Cut Off

Previous-year cutoffs can help candidates understand how the qualifying marks have changed over different recruitment cycles. The Mains examination is evaluated out of 225 marks.

Why Is IBPS PO Mains Cut Off Important?

The IBPS PO Mains cutoff determines which candidates move ahead in the recruitment process. Candidates who meet the required cutoff are considered for the next stage, subject to the other eligibility and qualifying conditions.

The cutoff is particularly important because the Mains score also plays a major role in the final selection process. Candidates should therefore not consider the expected cutoff as merely a qualifying benchmark but should aim for a score comfortably above the expected range.

Factors Affecting IBPS PO Mains Cut Off 2026

Several factors influence the final IBPS PO Mains cutoff. The major factors are:

• Difficulty Level of the Exam : A comparatively difficult paper generally results in a lower cutoff, while an easier paper can push the cutoff higher. The IBPS PO Mains 2026 paper was reported to be around moderate to difficult overall, with some sections requiring considerable time and accuracy.
• Number of Vacancies : The number of vacancies is another important factor. A higher number of vacancies can influence the number of candidates shortlisted for subsequent stages and may affect the cutoff.
• Number of Candidates : The level of competition also affects the cutoff. The greater the number of candidates competing for the available posts, the higher the competition for each vacancy.
• Overall Performance : The cutoff depends on the performance of candidates in the examination. If candidates perform better overall, the cutoff may rise.
• Normalisation : Where applicable, IBPS uses its prescribed score calculation and normalisation process. Therefore, the raw score calculated by a candidate should not automatically be treated as the final score considered for cutoff purposes. IBPS has published a separate document explaining the process for arriving at scores for CRP PO/MT-XVI.

Note: IBPS PO Mains 2026 follows a revised exam pattern with 170 objective questions for 200 marks and a 25-mark descriptive test. The objective test is of 160 minutes, followed by a 30-minute descriptive test. As the section-wise marks have been revised, candidates should compare the 2026 cutoff with previous years carefully.

How to Check IBPS PO Mains Cut Off 2026?

Candidates will be able to check the official IBPS PO Mains cutoff through the IBPS website once it is released.

1. Visit the official IBPS website.
2. Go to the CRP PO/MT section.
3. Open the link for CRP PO/MT-XVI.
4. Log in using the required credentials.
5. Open the Mains result or scorecard.
6. Check the category-wise and sectional cutoff details.
7. Download the scorecard for future reference.

IBPS PO Mains Expected Cut Off 2026: What Score Should Candidates Target?

Candidates should avoid treating the expected cutoff as a guaranteed qualifying score. Since the official cutoff will depend on the final evaluation and normalisation, a score comfortably above the expected range provides a better margin. For General and OBC candidates, a score around 80 or above can be considered a relatively safer target based on current estimates. For EWS candidates, candidates can aim for 78 or above, while SC and ST candidates can target scores above the upper end of their respective expected ranges. However, the actual cutoff can be different from these estimates once IBPS releases the official scorecard.