| Recruiting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | CRP SPL-XVI (Specialist Officer) |
| Total Posts | 745 Vacancies |
| Job Location | All Over India (Public Sector Banks) |
| Official Website | www.ibps.in |
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Starts | 01 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 21 July 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 21 July 2026 |
| Prelims Admit Card Download | August 2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | August 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | November 2026 |
You have to pay the examination fee online. You can use your Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI. Make sure to complete the payment before the last date, otherwise your form will be rejected.
| Category | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹ 850/- |
| SC / ST / PwBD | ₹ 175/- |
Age Limit (As on 01/07/2026): The minimum age to apply is 20 Years and the maximum age is 30 Years. Extra age relaxation is given to SC, ST, and OBC candidates as per the government rules.
| Post Name | Total Posts | Educational Qualification required |
|---|---|---|
| IT Officer (Scale I) | 301 | 4-year Engineering Degree in Computer Science / IT / Electronics OR PG Degree in related field OR DOEACC 'B' Level. |
| Agricultural Field Officer (AFO) | 190 | 4-year Graduation Degree in Agriculture / Horticulture / Animal Husbandry / Dairy Science etc. |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) | 89 | PG Degree in Hindi with English as a subject at the Graduation level OR PG in Sanskrit with Hindi and English as subjects at Graduation. |
| Law Officer (Scale I) | 105 | Bachelor Degree in Law (LLB) and enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council. |
| HR / Personnel Officer | 60 | Graduate and Two Years Full-time PG degree or diploma in Personnel Management / HR / Industrial Relations. |
The IBPS conducts a strict screening process to select the best candidates. You will have to clear the following stages:
- Stage 1: Online Preliminary Examination (Qualifying in nature)
- Stage 2: Online Mains Examination (Tests professional knowledge)
- Stage 3: Personal Interview (Conducted by participating banks)
- Stage 4: Document Verification & Medical Test
The preliminary exam is held online. It has sections like English Language, Reasoning Ability, and General Awareness (or Quantitative Aptitude, depending on the post). There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer.
| Subject | Total Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Allotted |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 50 | 50 | 40 Minutes |
| General Awareness / Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 Minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 Minutes |
Passing the IBPS SO exam takes smart work, not just hard work. Start by looking at the previous year's question papers to understand what type of questions IBPS actually asks. For the prelims, speed and accuracy are everything. Give at least one mock test daily and spend time analyzing your mistakes. Don't ignore the English section, as most students lose marks there. Read a daily English newspaper to improve your reading speed.
For the mains exam, completely focus on your professional degree subjects. If you are an IT Officer candidate, brush up on DBMS, Networking, and basic coding concepts. Keep your notes brief so you can revise them quickly right before the exam.
A Specialist Officer in a public sector bank enjoys a highly respected position and a great salary package. The basic pay starts at ₹ 48,480/-. After adding Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), and other banking perks, the gross salary goes very high. The day-to-day work is mostly desk-based and focuses entirely on your specialized field. For example, an AFO will handle agriculture loans, while an IT officer will manage bank servers and software safety. It is a highly secure and professional 9-to-5 banking job.
Follow these easy steps to fill your IBPS SO application form successfully:
- First, keep your scanned passport-size photograph, signature, left thumb impression, and hand-written declaration ready on your phone or PC.
- Scroll down and click on the "Apply Online" link given in the Important Links section below.
- Register as a new user by entering your name, mobile number, and active email ID. Note down your registration number and password.
- Log in and fill out your personal details, educational qualifications, and preferred exam center carefully.
- Upload all the required scanned documents exactly in the size mentioned by IBPS.
- Pay the application fee online. Finally, print the confirmation receipt and keep it safe for the future.
| Task | Action Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Download Official Notification | Download PDF |
| Join Our WhatsApp Group | Join WhatsApp |
| Join Our Telegram Channel | Join Telegram |
| IBPS Official Website | Visit Website |
The last date to fill the online application form and pay the fee is 21st July 2026. Try to apply a few days early to avoid server crashes.
You must be at least 20 years old as of 1st July 2026. The maximum age allowed is 30 years.
No, your final result must be declared on or before 21st July 2026. You will need your final mark sheet for registration.
The fee for General, OBC, and EWS candidates is ₹ 850/-. For SC, ST, and PwBD candidates, it is just ₹ 175/-.
Yes, you will lose 0.25 marks for every wrong answer in both the preliminary and main exams.
This year, IBPS has announced a total of 745 vacancies across different specialized posts.
No, prior work experience is not required. Fresh graduates with the matching educational degree are completely eligible.
The interview locations will be printed on your interview call letter after you pass the mains exam. They are mostly held in major cities.