The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 Notification (CRP SPL-XVI) on 30 June 2026 for 745 Specialist Officer vacancies in participating Public Sector Banks. The online application process began on 1 July 2026 and will remain open until 21 July 2026.
IBPS SO Notification 2026
The IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 includes posts like IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer (AFO), Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari. IBPS has also released the complete official schedule along with the notification. Candidates can download the PDF to check important details such as vacancies, eligibility criteria, selection process, exam pattern, syllabus, reservation rules, and step-by-step application process.
Are you Applying for the IBPS SO 2026???
IBPS SO Notification 2026: Overview
The IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 offers an excellent opportunity for candidates aspiring to work in specialized banking roles.
| Events | Particulars |
| Exam Name |
IBPS SO 2026 (CRP SPL-XVI)
|
| Conducting Body |
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
|
| Posts Offered |
IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer (AFO), Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari
|
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Selection Stages |
Prelims → Mains → Interview
|
| Prelims Exam Date |
29th August 2026
|
| Mains Exam Date |
1st November 2026
|
| Job Location |
Across India (Pan India postings)
|
| IBPS PO Notification 2026 |
Released
|
| Starting Basic Pay |
₹48,480 per month + allowances
|
| Official Website | www.ibps.in |
Major Changes in IBPS SO 2026: IBPS has introduced a revised exam pattern, increased the role of Professional Knowledge in the Main Examination, and announced 745 vacancies, with no vacancies for Marketing Officer this year.
IBPS SO 2026 Important Dates
Based on the official IBPS exam calendar and notification timeline
| Event |
Tentative Schedule
|
| Notification Release | 30 June 2026 |
| Online Registration Begins | 01 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 21 July 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination |
29th August 2026
|
| Main Examination |
1st November 2026
|
| Interview |
November/December 2026
|
| Provisional Allotment |
January 2027
|
Major Changes in IBPS SO 2026
Revised Exam Pattern introduced for both Preliminary and Main examinations.
Professional Knowledge added to the Preliminary Exam for all posts.
Application Edit Window introduced after the registration process.
Interview schedule advanced to November/December 2026.
Updated OBC (NCL) and EWS certificate validity criteria.
No changes allowed to the post, category, email ID, or mobile number during the edit window.
Provisional Allotment scheduled for January 2027.
Credit History clause removed as a separate eligibility provision.
What is IBPS SO?
IBPS SO, short for Specialist Officer, is a centralized recruitment exam conducted by IBPS to hire domain-specific Scale I officers for India’s leading Public Sector Banks. Unlike the IBPS PO or Clerk exams, which look for generalist banking talent, the SO exam is built around technical and professional expertise.
IBPS SO Vacancy 2026
The IBPS SO Vacancy 2026 details have been released along with the official notification. A total of 745 vacancies have been announced across various Specialist Officer posts in participating Public Sector Banks.The post-wise vacancy distribution is given below.
| Post | Vacancies |
| IT Officer (Scale I) | 301 |
| Agricultural Field Officer | 190 |
| Law Officer | 105 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari | 89 |
| HR/Personnel Officer | 60 |
| Total | 745 |
No vacancy has been announced for Marketing Officer in IBPS SO 2026.
The vacancies are indicative and may increase or decrease depending upon the requirements reported by participating banks.
IBPS SO Apply Online 2026
The IBPS SO Apply Online Link 2026 is active from 1 July to 21 July 2026. Candidates should complete registration, upload the required documents, and pay the application fee before the closing date to avoid last-minute technical issues.
IBPS SO 2026: Click here to Apply Online
Candidates can apply for only one Specialist Officer post. Multiple applications for different posts will be rejected.
How to Apply for IBPS SO 2026
Candidates can apply online by following these steps:
- Visit the official IBPS website.
- Click on CRP SPL-XVI Registration.
- Register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Fill in the online application form carefully.
- Upload the required documents.
- Pay the application fee.
- Submit the application form.
- Download and print the confirmation page for future reference.
IBPS SO Application Fee 2026
The application fee details have been mentioned in the official notification.
- SC/ST/PwBD: ₹175
- General/OBC/EWS: ₹850
Documents Required for Apply Online
Candidates should keep the following documents ready while applying:
- Passport-size Photograph
- Signature
- Left Thumb Impression
- Handwritten Declaration
- SSC/10th Certificate
- Live Photograph (captured during registration)
- Category Certificate (if applicable)
- Valid Photo ID
IBPS SO Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must satisfy the nationality, age limit, and educational qualification prescribed by IBPS. Eligibility will be verified during the document verification and interview stages.
Nationality
- A Citizen of India, or
- A Subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan Refugee who migrated before 1 January 1962, or
- A person of Indian origin from specified countries, subject to eligibility certification by the Government of India.
Age Limit
Age will be calculated as on 01 July 2026. Candidates should have been born between 02 July 1996 and 01 July 2006 (both dates inclusive).
- Minimum Age: 20 Years
- Maximum Age: 30 Years
Age relaxation is applicable for reserved categories as per the Government of India norms.
- SC/ST: 5 Years
- OBC (NCL): 3 Years
- PwBD: 10 Years
- Ex-Servicemen: 5 Years
Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess the prescribed educational qualification for the respective Specialist Officer post.
| Post | Qualification |
| IT Officer |
Engineering Degree/Postgraduate Degree in relevant IT disciplines
|
| Agricultural Field Officer |
Four-year Degree in Agriculture or allied disciplines
|
| Rajbhasha Adhikari |
Postgraduate Degree in Hindi/Sanskrit with required language subjects
|
| Law Officer |
Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B.)
|
| HR/Personnel Officer |
Graduate with Two-Year PG Degree/Diploma in HR/Personnel Management/IR/Labour Law
|
| Marketing Officer |
Graduate with MBA/MMS/PGDM/PGPM specializing in Marketing
|
IBPS SO Selection Process 2026
The IBPS SO Selection Process 2026 includes the following stages:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Interview
- Final Merit List (80:20 weightage of Main Exam and Interview)
- Provisional Allotment
IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2026
The IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2026 consists of three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Interview. Candidates must qualify each stage to be considered for final selection. While the Preliminary Exam is qualifying in nature, the final merit is prepared based on the Main Examination and Interview scores
Preliminary Examination
The preliminary exam is qualifying in nature.
For IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer & Marketing Officer
| Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 125 | 80 Minutes |
For Law Officer & Rajbhasha Adhikari
| Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| General Awareness (with Special Reference to Banking Industry) | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 125 | 80 Minutes |
IBPS SO Main Exam Pattern 2026
The Main Examination pattern varies according to the post applied for.
For IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer & Marketing Officer
| Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 | 40 Minutes |
| Total | 150 | 200 | 125 Minutes |
For Law Officer
| Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| General Awareness (with Special Reference to Banking Industry) | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 | 45 Minutes |
| Total | 150 | 200 | 125 Minutes |
| Descriptive Paper (English) | 2 | 25 | 30 Minutes |
| Grand Total | 152 | 225 | 155 Minutes |
For Rajbhasha Adhikari
| Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| General Awareness (with Special Reference to Banking Industry) | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 | 45 Minutes |
| Total | 150 | 200 | 125 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Descriptive) | 2 | 25 | 30 Minutes |
| Grand Total | 152 | 225 | 155 Minutes |
There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer in both the Preliminary and Main Objective Examinations.
Final Merit Calculation in IBPS SO 2026
Under the revised IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2026, the English Language, Reasoning, and General Awareness/Quantitative Aptitude sections in the Main Examination are qualifying in nature. The final merit list will be prepared based on the marks obtained in the Professional Knowledge section of the Main Examination and the Interview in an 80:20 weightage. Therefore, Professional Knowledge is the most important section for final selection.
IBPS SO Salary 2026
Selected candidates will be appointed as Scale I Officers in participating Public Sector Banks.
- Basic Pay: ₹48,480–2000/7–62480–2340/2–67160–2680/7–85920
- Dearness Allowance (DA)
- House Rent Allowance (HRA)
- Special Allowance
- Medical Benefits
- Leave Travel Concession
- Pension and other admissible benefits
IBPS Participating Banks
The following Public Sector Banks are participating in the IBPS SO Recruitment process:
- Bank of Baroda
- Bank of India
- Bank of Maharashtra
- Canara Bank
- Central Bank of India
- Indian Bank
- Indian Overseas Bank
- Punjab National Bank
- Punjab & Sind Bank
- UCO Bank
- Union Bank of India
Note : The list of participating banks and the number of vacancies are subject to change based on the requirements communicated by the participating banks and the discretion of IBPS.
| Related Posts | |
| IBPS SO Previous Year Papers | IBPS SO Syllabus |
| IBPS SO Eligibility |
IBPS SO Salary |
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