IBPS PO

What is IBPS PO?

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection runs a common process for Probationary Officer and Management Trainee vacancies reported by participating public sector banks. IBPS conducts selection and provisional allotment; the allotted bank controls appointment, training, posting, pay and service conditions.

Current CRP PO/MT-XVI recruitment

CRP PO/MT-XVI is for vacancies of 2027-28. The original notification listed 6,715 indicative vacancies; IBPS's updated Annexure-I, published 27 August 2026, raises the current advertised total to 7,565. Registration opened on 1 July and, after extension, closed on 26 July 2026. The Preliminary Examination was scheduled for 22–23 August. IBPS published the Prelims result-status notice on 23 September, available through 30 September. The Main call-letter portal opened on 24 September and lists access through 4 October; the Main Examination is scheduled for 4 October 2026. Check the IBPS PO exam page and its official-source links for the latest notices.

Eligibility and age

• Graduation in any discipline is required, and the result must have been declared by the notified application cutoff. A candidate awaiting the qualifying result at that cutoff is not eligible.

• Age: 20 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026.

• Major upper-age relaxations: SC/ST 5 years, OBC (non-creamy layer) 3 years, PwBD 10 years and eligible ex-servicemen/commissioned officers 5 years. Other notified categories retain their exact official conditions.

Selection process

Candidates pass the preliminary examination, main objective and descriptive tests, a mandatory but non-qualifying Personality Test, and an interview. Preliminary scores are not added to final merit. Main and interview scores are combined in an 80:20 ratio for provisional allotment.

Preliminary examination pattern

Main examination pattern

Negative marking

Each wrong objective answer attracts a penalty of one-fourth, or 0.25, of the marks assigned to that question. There is no penalty for an unanswered question.

Syllabus and preparation scope

The notification defines broad tested areas rather than a complete micro-topic syllabus. Prepare English comprehension and usage; quantitative aptitude and data interpretation; reasoning; banking, economy, financial and digital awareness including relevant RBI material; and descriptive essay/comprehension writing.

Pay, role and progression

A PO/MT enters an officer pipeline in the allotted bank and may work across branch operations, customer service, credit, compliance, business development and supervisory assignments. The CRP notice does not publish one common salary because participating banks appoint under their own scales and settlements. Posting, probation, transfers and promotion rules therefore depend on the allotted bank.

Frequently asked questions

• Does IBPS PO have an interview? Yes.

• Do preliminary marks count in final merit? No.

• Can final-year students apply? Only if the graduation result is declared by the notification's cutoff and documentary proof is available.

• Is the Personality Test part of final marks? It is mandatory but described as non-qualifying; main and interview scores form final merit.