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IBPS PO Eligibility Criteria 2026

Complete eligibility requirements for IBPS PO 2026 recruitment including nationality, educational qualification, age limit (20-30 years), category-wise relaxation, and number of attempts.

20-30
Age Limit (Years)
Graduation
Minimum Qualification
4
Maximum Attempts (General)
7+
Categories Eligible

Nationality / Citizenship

A candidate must be either:

  • A citizen of India
  • A subject of Nepal
  • A subject of Bhutan
  • A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 with permanent residence in India
  • A person of Indian origin (PIO) or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) migrated from specified countries with intention of permanently settling in India
Important Note

Candidates belonging to categories (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) must possess a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India. Such candidates may be admitted to the examination provisionally.

Educational Qualification

Degree Requirement

Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university or equivalent qualification recognized by the Government of India.

Minimum Percentage

No minimum percentage required. Candidates with passing marks in graduation are eligible to apply.

Final Year Students

Candidates appearing in the final year of graduation can also apply provisionally, provided they submit proof of passing at the time of interview.

Computer Literacy

Working knowledge of computers is essential. Candidates should have basic computer skills.

Note: Candidates with qualifications from universities not recognized by UGC/AICTE are not eligible.

Age Limit (As on 1st August 2026)

Minimum Age: 20 years | Maximum Age: 30 years

Candidates must have been born between 2nd August 1996 and 1st August 2006 (both dates inclusive).

Age Relaxation (Upper Age Limit)

Category Age Relaxation Maximum Age After Relaxation
Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) 5 years 35 years
Other Backward Classes (OBC - Non-Creamy Layer) 3 years 33 years
Persons with Disabilities (PwBD) - General 10 years 40 years
PwBD - SC/ST 15 years 45 years
PwBD - OBC 13 years 43 years
Ex-Servicemen 3 years (after deducting military service) 33 years + service period
Persons domiciled in Jammu & Kashmir (during 1980-1989) 5 years 35 years
Widows/Divorced Women (Subject to conditions) 9 years (up to 35 years for SC/ST) 39 years

Number of Attempts

IBPS has specified the maximum number of attempts for the PO examination based on category:

Category Maximum Attempts
General / EWS 4 attempts
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) 7 attempts
SC / ST / PwBD No limit (subject to age relaxation)
Important Note on Attempts
  • Attempts are counted from the first IBPS PO examination appeared.
  • If a candidate qualifies for interview but not selected, it is still counted as an attempt.
  • Candidates who were absent or disqualified are also counted as attempts.

Reservation Policy

As per Government of India norms, reservation is provided to the following categories:

SC

15% reservation

ST

7.5% reservation

OBC (NCL)

27% reservation

EWS

10% reservation

PwBD

4% horizontal reservation (across all categories)

Note: OBC candidates must belong to the Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) as per the latest Government guidelines. Candidates from Creamy Layer are treated as General category.

Domicile / State Quota

There is no state-wise domicile requirement for IBPS PO. Candidates from any state in India can apply for the exam. The final posting can be anywhere across India based on the candidate's rank and preference.

Language Proficiency

Candidates must be proficient in the official language of the state they are posted in. Knowledge of local language is desirable but not mandatory at the time of application.

Eligibility Criteria Summary

Parameter Requirement
NationalityIndian / Nepalese / Bhutanese / Tibetan Refugee / PIO/OCI
Educational QualificationBachelor's degree in any discipline from recognized university
Minimum PercentageNo minimum percentage required (only passing marks)
Age Limit (General)20 to 30 years (born between 02 Aug 1996 - 01 Aug 2006)
SC/ST Age Relaxation5 years (max 35 years)
OBC Age Relaxation3 years (max 33 years)
PwBD Age Relaxation10 to 15 years depending on category
Attempts - General4 attempts
Attempts - OBC7 attempts
Attempts - SC/STNo limit

Frequently Asked Questions about IBPS PO Eligibility

Q1: Can a final year graduation student apply for IBPS PO?
Yes, candidates appearing in the final year of their graduation can apply provisionally. However, they must produce proof of passing the degree examination at the time of the interview.
Q2: Is there any minimum percentage required in graduation for IBPS PO?
No, there is no minimum percentage requirement. Candidates who have passed graduation with passing marks are eligible to apply.
Q3: What is the age limit for IBPS PO 2026?
The age limit is 20 to 30 years for General category candidates as on 1st August 2026. Age relaxation is available for reserved categories as per government norms.
Q4: How many attempts are allowed for IBPS PO?
General category: 4 attempts, OBC: 7 attempts, SC/ST/PwBD: No limit on attempts.
Q5: Is there any domicile requirement for IBPS PO?
No, there is no state-wise domicile requirement. Candidates from any state in India can apply.
Q6: Are candidates with distance education degree eligible?
Yes, distance education degrees from UGC recognized universities are eligible for IBPS PO.
Q7: What is the age relaxation for Ex-Servicemen?
Ex-Servicemen get 3 years relaxation after deducting the length of military service from their actual age.

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