IBPS PO 2026 Exam Notification, Eligibility, Expected Dates & Vacancy

The IBPS PO 2026 Exam will be conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) to recruit eligible candidates for the post of Probationary Officer (PO) in various public sector banks across India. The exam will follow a three-tier selection process : Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Candidates who clear all stages will be appointed as Probationary Officers in 11 participating banks. The exam is conducted annually in online mode, and thousands of candidates apply to secure a position in one of the top nationalized banks.

IBPS PO 2026 Exam

IBPS PO 2026 is 16th edition of IBPS CRP PO/MT recruitment and fresh graduates with no prior work experience are eligible to apply for this position. The position offers an attractive starting basic pay of Rs. 48,480, along with multiple allowances, making it a rewarding career option for recent graduates. For candidates' reference, a summary of the recruitment process is provided in the table below.

Particular
Details
Organization
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
Post
Probationary Officer (PO)/ Management Trainee (MT)
Participating Banks
11
Exam Level
National Level
Category
Bank Jobs
Vacancies
TBA
Application Mode
Online
Salary
Rs. 74,000 to 76,000/-
Selection Process
Prelims, Mains & Interview
Education Qualification
Graduate
Age Limit
20 years - 30 years
Official Website
ibps.in

IBPS PO 2026 Notification

​The IBPS PO Notification 2026 is expected to be released in July 2026 on the official website www.ibps.in. The notification will include important details such as the number of vacancies, exam dates, eligibility criteria, syllabus, application process, and selection stages. Aspirants are advised to keep an eye on the official website for updates regarding the IBPS PO 2026 Notification and exam schedule.

IBPS PO 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates who want to appear for the upcoming IBPS Probationary Officer exam in 2026 should check that they fulfil the IBPS PO Eligibility Criteria. Also, consider the age relaxation provided for the reserved categories.

Nationality

The applicant for applying for the exam can be:

  1. A Citizen of India
  2. The subject of Nepal or Bhutan
  3. A Tibetan refugee who permanently settled in India before January 1, 1962
  4. A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Zaire, or Zambia, intending to reside in India permanently.

Educational Qualification

Candidates need to have the following academic qualifications:

Graduation Degree:

  • The eligibility requirement for the IBPS CRP exam is a graduation degree (such as BA, BCom, BSc, B.Tech, or similar) from a university recognised by the Government of India. Candidates who have obtained an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government are also eligible.
  • Applicants must possess a valid mark sheet or degree certificate proving their graduate status on the day of registration and must provide the percentage of marks obtained in their graduation while registering for the IBPS Bank-PO exam.

Computer Literacy:

Proficiency in computer systems is essential both for the job and for taking the IBPS PO exam, which is conducted online.

Age Limit

Applicants must be between the ages of 20 to 30 years at the time of registration. Eligible candidates should have birthdates between 02.07.1995 and 01.07.2005, inclusive of both dates. Check the age relaxation criteria for the various categories below.

IBPS PO Age Relaxation
Category
Age Relaxation
Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST)
5 years
Other Backwards Classes (OBC Non-Creamy Layer)
3 years
Persons with Disabilities (PWD)
10 years
Ex-servicemen (Army personnel)
5 years
Widows/Divorced Women
9 years
Persons with Domicile of Jammu &Kashmir during the period of 1-1-1980 to 31-12-1989
5 years
Persons affected by the 1984 riots
5 years
Regular Employees of Union Carbide Factory, Bhopal, retrenched from service(for the MP state only)
5 years

IBPS PO Number of Attempts

There is no specific restriction on the number of times you can appear for the IBPS PO Exam, provided you meet the eligibility criteria, particularly the age requirement. For General category candidates, the age limit is 20 to 30 years, with age relaxations available for reserved categories. This means you can take the exam multiple times until you reach the upper age limit. However, it's important to enhance your preparation with each attempt to improve your chances of qualifying.

IBPS PO 2026 Application Form

​The IBPS PO 2026 Application Form will be available online on the official website www.ibps.in after the release of the notification. Eligible candidates can register by providing their personal, educational, and contact details. They must also upload scanned documents like photograph and signature and pay the required application fee. IBPS usually provides a correction window to edit any mistakes in the submitted form. Candidates should ensure the form is submitted before the last date to avoid rejection.

Category
Charges
Fee Amount
SC/ST/PWBD
Intimation Charges only
Rs. 175/-
GEN/OBC/EWSs
Application fees, including intimation charges
Rs. 850/-

IBPS PO 2026 Selection Process

The candidates will be appointed based on their performance in the three stages of the Probationary Officer Exam 2026. There are three stages, according to the IBPS PO Selection Process.

  1. Prelims Examination
  2. Mains Examination
  3. Personality Test
  4. Interview

To get selected, the candidates will have to score a section cut-off as well as an overall cut-off. The prelims round is qualifying, while the mains exam requires the minimum cut-off marks to appear for the interview round.

IBPS PO 2026 Exam Pattern (Revised)

The IBPS PO Prelims and Mains exam pattern has been updated by the Board. The revised pattern outlines key details such as the types of questions, exam sections, time duration, and the total number of questions for each stage of the examination.

IBPS PO Exam Pattern
Stage
Marks
Type of Questions
Prelims
100
Objective (MCQ)
Mains
200 + 25
Objective (MCQ), Except for the English Descriptive Paper
Interview
100
Verbal

IBPS PO 2026 Prelims Revised Pattern

Sr. No.
Name of Tests
No. of Questions
Maximum Marks
Time Allotted
1
English Language
30
30
60 Minutes (20 Minutes each section)
2
Quantitative Aptitude
35
30 (Revised)
3
Reasoning Ability
35
40 (Revised)
Total
100
100

Note: The marking scheme has been changed from the previous scheme; for example, 5 marks have been deducted from the Quant section, and those 5 marks have been added to the Reasoning sections. So, the new scheme is Quantitative Aptitude weighs 30 Marks and Reasoning Ability weighs 40 marks.

IBPS PO 2026 Mains Revised Pattern

Sr. No.
Name of Tests (Not by Sequence)
No. of Questions
Maximum Marks
Time Allotted (Each Test)
1
Reasoning
40
60
50 minutes
2
General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness / Digital/ Financial Awareness, including RBI circulars
35
50
25 minutes
3
English Language
35
40
40 minutes
4
Data Analysis & Interpretation
35
50
45 minutes
Total
145
200
160 minutes
5
Descriptive Paper* (Essay and Comprehension)
2
25
30 minutes

Note: In the Mains Exam, the exam duration, subject name, and number of questions have been changed. Duration has been changed from 3 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes

For more details on the revised exam pattern, click here: IBPS PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026.

IBPS PO Interview

The interview is the final stage of the PO Exam.

  1. Candidates qualifying with good marks in the Prelims and Mains of the IBPS PO exam will finally be appearing for the interview process.
  2. The interview round is 100 marks.
  3. The final score obtained by candidates in the exam is calculated by IBPS with the weightage of marks given to the main examination and interview ratio of 80:20, respectively.

List of All Participating Banks

  1. Bank of Baroda
  2. Bank of India
  3. Bank of Maharashtra
  4. Canara Bank
  5. Central Bank of India
  6. Indian Bank
  7. Indian Overseas Bank
  8. Punjab National Bank
  9. Punjab & Sind Bank
  10. UCO Bank
  11. Union Bank of India

IBPS PO 2026 Salary and Allowance

IBPS PO Salary is one of the most attractive things among the candidates who prepare for the probationary officer. With high perks and bonuses, a candidate gets lured to the given post. Hence, the pay scale, structure of salary, in-hand salary, perks, and profile of the job a pieces of information.​

Constituents
Amount (₹)
Pay Scale
Rs. 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920
Basic Pay
48,480.00
Dearness Allowance (19.83%)
10,277.76
Special Allowance
12847.20
Other DA
850
Learning Allowance
180
House Rent Allowance
4848.00
CCA/LOC A
23,00.00
Contribution Pension Employer
8226.00
Gross Salary
90732.77
Deductions
14302.00
Net Salary
76430.77

Is IBPS PO Easy to Crack?

Cracking the IBPS PO 2026 exam is possible with the right strategy, consistency, and dedication. While the exam is competitive, it’s not impossible if you prepare smartly. You need about 5 to 6 months of focused study, covering subjects like Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English, General Awareness, and Current Affairs (especially from the last 4–6 months).

Concept-based subjects like Reasoning and Quant require regular practice and speed, while General Awareness needs strong reading and retention habits. If you understand what each subject demands and commit to a disciplined study routine, clearing IBPS PO becomes much easier. With the right guidance and mindset, success is within reach.