IBPS PO 2026 Exam: Eligibility, Dates, Syllabus & Salary
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) Probationary Officer (PO) examination is among the most prestigious banking recruitment tests in India. It provides aspirants with a golden opportunity to build a stable and rewarding career as a Probationary Officer in leading public sector banks. The IBPS PO 2026 exam will continue to assess candidates through a structured selection process that tests their reasoning, quantitative aptitude, English proficiency, and overall banking awareness. This overview highlights all the crucial details related to the IBPS PO Exam 2026, including important features, key dates, eligibility criteria, syllabus, admit card, and expected cut-off.
Table of Contents
IBPS PO 2026 Exam Highlights
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | IBPS PO 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Exam Mode | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| Stages of Exam | Three – Preliminary, Mains, and Interview |
| Total Vacancies | Approx. 6000 (Tentative) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Frequency | Once a Year |
| Age Limit | 20 to 30 Years (Relaxation as per Government Rules) |
| Educational Qualification | Graduation in Any Discipline |
| Selection Process | Prelims → Mains → Interview |
IBPS PO 2026 Exam Dates (Expected)
Keeping track of key dates is essential for candidates to streamline their preparation and avoid missing deadlines. Based on previous trends, the tentative timeline for the IBPS PO 2026 recruitment process is given below:
| Event | Expected Date |
|---|---|
| Start of Online Registration | 10 January 2026 |
| Last Date to Submit Application | 31 January 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination | 8–14 March 2026 |
| Declaration of Preliminary Result | 15 April 2026 |
| Mains Examination | 30 May 2026 |
| Mains Result Announcement | 25 June 2026 |
| Interview Call Letter Release | July 2026 |
| Interview Process | August 2026 |
| Final Result Declaration | September 2026 |
Note: All dates are tentative and subject to official notification by IBPS.
Eligibility for IBPS PO 2026
To apply for the IBPS PO 2026 exam, candidates must fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
Nationality: The applicant must be an Indian citizen. Candidates who are subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who settled in India before January 1, 1962, or persons of Indian origin migrated from specified countries are also eligible.
Age Limit: The candidate should be between 20 and 30 years as of January 1, 2026. Age relaxation is applicable as per government rules—5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, 10 years for PwD, 5 years for Ex-servicemen, and other categories as notified.
Educational Qualification: Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree of at least three years’ duration in any discipline from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification approved by the Government of India.
Number of Attempts: There is no fixed limit on the number of attempts; however, candidates can appear only within the prescribed age limit.
General Eligibility: Candidates who do not meet any of the above conditions will be considered ineligible for the IBPS PO 2026 selection process.
IBPS PO 2026 Syllabus
The IBPS PO recruitment process is conducted in three stages — Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview. The syllabus is designed to evaluate candidates on reasoning skills, numerical ability, English language proficiency, general awareness, and professional knowledge.
IBPS PO Preliminary Exam Syllabus
The preliminary examination serves as the qualifying stage and focuses on assessing fundamental aptitude skills:
English Language:
Reading comprehension
Grammar and usage
Vocabulary
Sentence completion
Error spotting
Quantitative Aptitude:
Number series
Simplification and approximation
Data interpretation
Arithmetic topics such as percentages, ratio and proportion, profit & loss, time & work
Reasoning Ability:
Puzzles
Seating arrangement
Syllogism
Inequality
Coding–decoding
Blood relations
Mains Exam Syllabus
The mains examination is more detailed and covers the following areas:
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude:
Logical reasoning topics such as input–output, seating arrangement, puzzles, and syllogism
Basics of computer knowledge including terminology, networking, and hardware/software concepts
General/Economy/Banking Awareness:
Current affairs related to banking, finance, and economic developments
Static GK with a focus on banking terms and history
English Language:
Reading comprehension
Grammar and vocabulary
Fill in the blanks, para jumbles, and cloze test
Data Analysis & Interpretation:
Interpretation of charts, graphs, and tables
Calculation-based questions from profit & loss, averages, and ratios.
Interview Round
Candidates who qualify the Mains exam become eligible for the Group Discussion and Personal Interview stage.
This round evaluates key aspects such as communication abilities, personality traits, and overall banking aptitude.
IBPS PO Admit Card Details
The IBPS PO admit card is an essential document required for entry into the examination hall.
It is released online on the official IBPS website around 10–15 days before the exam date.
Candidates can download it by logging in with their registration number and password or date of birth.
The admit card contains important information such as:
Candidate’s name
Roll number
Exam center address
Exam date and time
Important exam-day instructions
Separate admit cards are issued for the Preliminary and Mains exams, and a separate call letter may be issued for the Interview stage.
Carrying the admit card along with a valid photo ID proof is mandatory on the exam day.
IBPS PO Cutoff Information
Cutoff marks indicate the minimum scores required to qualify at each stage of the IBPS PO exam. These cutoffs change annually depending on exam difficulty, number of candidates, and available vacancies.
Preliminary Cutoff: Sectional and overall cutoffs are applied. Candidates must meet both to move to the Mains.
Mains Cutoff: Higher than prelims, with sectional and overall qualifying marks.
Final Cutoff: Selection is based on the combined scores of Mains and Interview.
Recent Cutoff Trends (2025 Example):
| Category | Prelims Overall Cutoff | Mains Overall Cutoff | Final Cutoff (Mains Interview) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 55-60 | 90-95 | 110-115 |
| OBC | 50-55 | 85-90 | 100-105 |
| SC | 45-50 | 80-85 | 90-95 |
| ST | 40-45 | 75-80 | 85-90 |
| EWS | 52-57 | 88-93 | 105-110 |
| PwD | 35-40 | 70-75 | 80-85 |
Success in IBPS PO 2026 hinges on a clear understanding of its core components. Aspirants should regularly check the official IBPS website for updates, practice with past years’ question papers, and prioritize effective time management to excel at each stage. This exam serves as a gateway to a rewarding banking career, offering strong growth prospects and job stability.
IBPS PO Salary Structure
IBPS Probationary Officers (POs) receive a revised starting basic pay of ₹48,480 as per the 12th Bipartite Settlement, following the pay scale: ₹48,480–2,000/7–₹62,480–2,340/2–₹67,160–2,680/7–₹85,920. With allowances included, the gross monthly salary ranges from approximately ₹83,000 to ₹90,000. After standard deductions such as NPS, PF, and taxes, the in-hand salary typically falls between ₹71,000 and ₹76,500, varying by posting location and Dearness Allowance (DA), which is currently around 50%.
Breakdown of Salary Components
Several key allowances significantly boost the overall compensation.
| Component | Approx. Amount (₹) |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay | 48,480 |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | 10,000–12,000 |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | 5,000–10,000 (7–9%) |
| Special Allowance | 12,000 |
| City Compensatory Allowance | 1,000–2,000 |
| Other Allowances (Learning, etc.) | 1,000 |
| Gross Salary | 83,000–90,000 |
| Deductions | 10,000–15,000 |
| Net In-Hand Salary | 71,000–76,500 |
Note: DA is revised quarterly based on inflation, and HRA depends on whether the posting is in a metro or non-metro city.
Career Growth and Benefits
Within 5 years, the in-hand salary can increase to ₹60,000–₹70,000 through regular increments. Advancements to Scale II (₹55,200 basic) and higher bring additional pay raises. Employees also enjoy perks such as medical insurance, Leave Travel Concession (LTC), pension under NPS, housing loan facilities, and job security across more than 20 public sector banks.
IBPS PO FAQs
An IBPS PO job refers to the position of Probationary Officer in public sector banks in India, recruited through the IBPS PO exam conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). It is one of the most sought-after banking careers, offering a structured path for career growth, competitive salary, and attractive perks such as allowances, medical benefits, pension under NPS, and job security. IBPS PO responsibilities include managing bank operations, handling customer accounts, credit appraisal, and supervising branch activities. With a fixed probation period and opportunities for promotions to higher scales, an IBPS PO job is ideal for candidates aspiring to build a stable and rewarding career in banking. This role is popular among graduates and banking aspirants seeking long-term financial and professional growth.
Yes, the IBPS PO Prelims exam is qualifying in nature, meaning it serves as a screening test for the main examination. Candidates must secure the minimum cutoff marks in each section—English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability—as well as the overall cutoff to be eligible for the IBPS PO Mains. However, the marks obtained in the Prelims are not counted for the final selection, as they only determine whether a candidate can advance to the Mains stage. This structure ensures that only candidates who meet the basic competency standards in each section proceed further, maintaining the quality of applicants for the final selection process.
Yes, the IBPS PO (Probationary Officer) exam includes an interview stage after candidates successfully clear the Preliminary and Main exams. The interview, conducted by the Participating Banks in collaboration with IBPS, assesses a candidate’s communication skills, personality, and suitability for a banking career. Typically, the Interview carries 100 marks, and the final selection is based on a combined score of the Main exam and Interview. Preparing for the interview with focus on banking awareness, current affairs, and situational judgment significantly increases the chances of securing a PO position.
A good IBPS PO score depends on the exam phase and category of the candidate. For the prelims exam, scoring around 65–70 out of 100 is generally considered competitive for general category candidates, while 55–60 may suffice for reserved categories. In the mains exam, a score of 90–100 out of 200 is usually regarded as strong, though this can vary based on exam difficulty and overall cutoff trends. Ultimately, a good IBPS PO score is one that clears the sectional and overall cutoffs, giving candidates a strong chance to secure a call for the interview round. Keeping track of previous year cutoffs can help gauge target scores effectively.
Yes, IBPS PO (Probationary Officer) gets housing benefits, although it is not a direct allotment of a free house. Most public sector banks provide accommodation facilities or house rent allowance (HRA) depending on the posting city and bank policy. Officers posted in metro cities usually receive higher HRA, while those in rural or semi-urban areas may get bank-provided quarters or lower HRA. Additionally, IBPS POs enjoy subsidized housing loans, making it easier to buy or construct a home. These benefits, combined with a stable salary and perks, make the role financially secure and attractive for long-term career planning.