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IBPS PO 2026 Complete Overview

Complete guide to IBPS PO 2026 recruitment process including Prelims, Mains, Interview, important dates, application procedure, and selection criteria.

3
Stages: Prelims, Mains, Interview
200+
Participating Banks
5000+
Expected Vacancies
20-30
Age Limit (Years)

IBPS PO 2026: Exam Overview & Important Dates

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the Probationary Officer (PO) exam annually to recruit candidates for public sector banks. IBPS PO 2026 will follow a three-stage selection process: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.

📢 IBPS PO 2026 Official Notification

The official notification for IBPS PO 2026 is expected to be released in August 2026. Candidates must check the official website www.ibps.in for updates.

Download IBPS PO 2026 Notification (When Released)

📅 Tentative IBPS PO 2026 Exam Dates

Event Tentative Dates
Official Notification Release August 2026
Online Application Start Date August 2026
Online Application Last Date September 2026
Admit Card for Prelims October 2026
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Date October 2026
Prelims Result November 2026
Mains Exam Date November 2026
Mains Result December 2026
Interview Process January - February 2027
Final Result March 2027
Note: These are tentative dates based on previous years. Official dates will be confirmed in the IBPS PO 2026 notification.

IBPS PO 2026 Selection Process: 3 Stages

Phase I: Prelims

Objective: Screening test to qualify for Mains. 100 questions, 60 minutes, 100 marks. Sections: Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language.

Phase II: Mains

Objective: Final merit calculation. 200 questions, 3 hours 30 minutes, 200 marks. Includes Reasoning, Quant, English, GA, Computer, and Descriptive Test.

Phase III: Interview

Objective: Personality assessment. 100 marks. Final selection based on Mains (80%) + Interview (20%) scores.

📊 Detailed Stage-wise Process

Phase I: Prelims (Preliminary Examination)

  • Purpose: Qualifying stage for Mains
  • Duration: 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Total Questions: 100 MCQ
  • Total Marks: 100
  • Sections: Reasoning (35), Quantitative Aptitude (35), English (30)
  • Negative Marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer

Phase II: Mains Examination

  • Purpose: Merit ranking for interview shortlisting
  • Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes (210 minutes)
  • Total Questions: 200 MCQ + Descriptive
  • Total Marks: 200 (Objective) + 25 (Descriptive)
  • Sections: Reasoning, Quant, English, GA, Computer
  • Descriptive Test: Essay, Letter Writing (in English/Hindi)

Phase III: Interview

  • Purpose: Personality and communication assessment
  • Total Marks: 100
  • Qualifying Marks: 40% (General), 35% (Reserved)
  • Final Score: Mains (80%) + Interview (20%)

IBPS PO 2026 Application Process

📝 How to Apply Online?

  • Step 1: Visit official website: www.ibps.in
  • Step 2: Click on "CRP PO/MT" and select "Apply Online"
  • Step 3: Register with basic details (Name, Email, Mobile)
  • Step 4: Fill complete application form with personal, educational, and category details
  • Step 5: Upload scanned photo, signature, and required documents
  • Step 6: Pay application fee online (Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking)
  • Step 7: Preview and submit, then take printout for future reference

💰 Application Fee

General/OBC: ₹850 + GST

SC/ST/PWD: ₹175 + GST (Intimation charges only)

📄 Required Documents

Photo, Signature, Category Certificate, PWD Certificate (if applicable), Educational Certificates, ID Proof

IBPS PO 2026 Vacancy Details

Total vacancies will be announced in the official notification. Expected category-wise distribution:

Category Expected Vacancies
General (UR) 2000+
OBC (NCL) 1200+
SC 900+
ST 450+
EWS 450+
Total 5000+ (Approx)

Note: Vacancies are spread across all participating public sector banks including SBI, PNB, Canara Bank, Bank of Baroda, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the educational qualification for IBPS PO 2026?
Any graduate from a recognized university with minimum 50% marks (45% for SC/ST) is eligible. Final year students can also apply.
Q2: What is the age limit for IBPS PO 2026?
Minimum 20 years and maximum 30 years as of the cut-off date. Age relaxation: 3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST, 10 years for PWD.
Q3: How many attempts are allowed for IBPS PO?
General category candidates can attempt up to 4 times, OBC up to 7 times, SC/ST/PWD have unlimited attempts till age limit.
Q4: Is there negative marking in IBPS PO?
Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in both Prelims and Mains objective tests.
Q5: What is the selection criteria for IBPS PO?
Final selection is based on Mains score (80% weightage) and Interview score (20% weightage). Prelims is only qualifying.

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