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IBPS PO Syllabus 2026, Exam Pattern (Prelims+Mains), Interview Details

IBPS PO Syllabus 2026: The IBPS PO is a 3-stage selection process, such as Prelims, Mains, and Interview. The syllabus for Prelims and Mains is almost the same; however, Mains requires more conceptual clarity and in-depth knowledge.

Candidates need to have conceptual clarity, a score and accuracy percentile above 90%, and speed to qualify for the IBPS PO exam. So, check all the subject-wise important topics here and start your preparation.

IBPS PO Syllabus 2026

The IBPS PO Syllabus is a roadmap to selection and it provides clarity about what to cover and what to leave while preparing for the exam. The IBPS has officially released the Prelims and Mains exam pattern, we have provided the detailed Syllabus based on the latest pattern which was introduced last year.

In the Prelims and Mains Syllabus, candidates have to cover Reasoning, Quants, English, Data Analysis, GA, Banking/Financial Awareness, and Current Affairs. Also, there is a descriptive paper in Mains exam stage.

IBPS PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026- Highlights

Particular
Details
Exam Conducting Body
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, IBPS
Name of Exam
Post
Probationary Officer (PO)
Total Marks
  1. Prelims: 100 Marks
  2. Mains: 200 Marks + Descriptive Test: 25 Marks
  3. Interview: 100 Marks
Duration of Exam
  1. Prelims: 1 Hour
  2.  Mains: 3 Hours + 10 Min
Marking scheme
1 mark each for every correct answer in the Online Test
Negative marking
1/4th of the marks assigned to the question in the MCQ
Mode of Examination
Online For Prelims & Mains
Language of examination
English OR Hindi
The English Language paper has to be attempted in English.

Attempt Daily IBPS PO Mock Test to Crack the Exam

IBPS PO Selection Process 2026

The Probationary Officer Exam is conducted in three different stages as listed below:

Stage Exam Pattern
Prelims Exam Objective Test
Total Marks: 100
Mains Exam Objective + Descriptive Test
Total Marks: 225 (200 Objective + 25 Descriptive)
Interview Candidates shortlisted based on the Mains score
Minimum qualifying marks set by IBPS

IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2026

IBPS has revised the Exam Pattern for Prelims and Mains. The overall/total marks and negative marking remain the same, but changes have been made in terms of the marking scheme within the subjects. So, check the sections, revised marking scheme, number of questions, and duration of the examination.

IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

The Prelims exam is the screening round. Candidates will have to qualify by securing the cut-off marks both sectionally and overall.

  1. The Prelims exam has three sections of a total duration of 1 Hour.
  2. There will be a total of 100 multiple-choice questions.
  3. here will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern (New)
Sr. No.
Name of Tests
No. of Questions
Maximum Marks
Medium of Exam
Time Allotted
1
English Language
30
30
English
20 minutes
2
Quantitative Aptitude
35
30
English and Hindi
20 minutes
3
Reasoning Ability
35
40
English and Hindi
20 minutes
Total
100
100
60 Minutes (1 Hour)

IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026

The mains examination is the second stage of the exam. The candidates who pass the Prelims examination are qualified to appear in the mains stage.

  • There are 4 sections such as Reasoning Ability, English Language, and Data Analysis & Interpretation.
  • The total time for the Mains Objective Exam is 160 minutes, with an additional 30 minutes for the descriptive test.
  • Candidates will be assessed on their writing skills through an essay and a letter, totalling 25 marks to be completed within 30 minutes.
  • A penalty of 0.25 marks will be deducted for each incorrect answer in the Objective Tests.
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern (New)
Name of Tests
No. of Questions
Maximum Marks
Medium of Exam
Time Allotted
Reasoning
40
60
English & Hindi
50 minutes
General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness / Digital/ Financial Awareness (incl. RBI)
35
50
English & Hindi
25 minutes
English Language
35
40
English
40 minutes
Data Analysis & Interpretation
35
50
English & Hindi
45 minutes
Total
145
200
160 minutes
Descriptive Paper
No. of Questions
Maximum Marks
Medium of Exam
Time Allotted
Essay & Comprehension Writing (Economic and Social issues, emerging trends in Banking and Technology, Current events, Ethics etc.)
2
25
English
30 minutes

IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2026

The Syllabus for the Prelims Exam is given below for all 3 subjects:

Reasoning Syllabus
English Language Syllabus
Quantitative Ability Syllabus
Logical Reasoning
Reading Comprehension
Simplification
Alphanumeric Series
Cloze Test
Profit & Loss
Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test
Para jumbles
Mixtures & Allegations
Data Sufficiency
Word Usage, Word-Swap
Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices
Inequalities
Fill in the blanks
Work & Time
Seating Arrangement
Error Detection, Error Spotting
Time & Distance
Puzzle
Paragraph Completion
Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere
Tabulation
One word Substitution
Data Interpretation
Syllogism
Miscellaneous
Ratio & Proportion, Percentage
Blood Relations
 –
Number Systems
Input-Output
 –
Sequence & Series
Coding-Decoding
 –
Permutation, Combination &Probability

IBPS PO Mains Syllabus 2026

Candidates who score equal to or above the minimum cut-off marks will be eligible to appear for the IBPS PO Mains Exam. The detailed syllabus for each section of the Mains Exam is given below.

Data Analysis and Interpretation Syllabus

  • ​Simplification
  • Average
  • Percentage
  • Mixture and Allegations
  • Ratio and Proportion
  • Data Interpretation
  • Mensuration and Geometry
  • Quadratic Equation
  • Interest
  • Problems of Ages
  • Profit and Loss
  • Number Series
  • Speed, Distance, and Time
  • Time and Work
  • Number System
  • Data Sufficiency
  • Linear Equation
  • Permutation and Combination
  • Probability

General Awareness and Economy/Banking Awareness Syllabus

  • Financial Awareness
  • Banking Awareness
  • Banking Reforms
  • Monetary Policy
  • Fiscal Policy
  • Budget and Economic Survey
  • RBI Reports and Indices
  • International Organisation Reports
  • Static Banking Terms (CRR, SLR, Repo Rate, etc.)
  • Financial Institutions (RBI, NABARD, SEBI, IMF, World Bank, etc.)
  • Government Schemes and Initiatives
  • Current Affairs (National and International Importance)
  • Economy Basics (Inflation, GDP, Growth, etc.)
  • Capital Market and Money Market
  • Digital Banking and Payment Systems (UPI, NEFT, RTGS, etc.)
  • Insurance and Financial Products
  • Important Committees and Reports
  • Banking Abbreviations and Terminologies
  • General Knowledge

Reasoning Syllabus

  • ​Verbal Reasoning
  • Syllogism
  • Circular Seating Arrangement
  • Code Inequalities
  • Linear Seating Arrangement
  • Double Lineup
  • Scheduling
  • Input-Output
  • Blood Relations
  • Directions and Distances
  • Ordering and Ranking
  • Data Sufficiency
  • Coding and Decoding

English Language Syllabus

  • ​Reading Comprehension
  • Vocabulary
  • Grammar
  • One Word Substitution
  • Verbal Ability
  • Cloze Test
  • Para Jumbles (Sentence Rearrangement)
  • Fill in the Blanks
  • Error Detection (Error Spotting)
  • Sentence Improvement
  • Word Swap
  • Column-Based Questions
  • Match the Following (Sentence Connectors)
  • Para Completion
  • Sentence Connectors
  • Phrase Replacement
  • Idioms and Phrases

IBPS PO Descriptive Test

IBPS has included the descriptive test of 25 Marks in the PO Mains Exam. The candidates will have to write an essay and a letter of 25 marks.

The English Language Paper is to assess the candidates’ writing skills, and it is compulsory to pass this paper by securing a minimum cut-off. Some topics asked in the previous year’s essays and letters are listed below for the reference of the candidates.

  1. Economic and Social Issues
  2. Emerging Trends in Banking
  3. Technology,
  4. Current events, Ethics etc

IBPS PO Interview 2026

Candidates who qualify Mains will subsequently be called for an Interview to be conducted by the Participating Organisation and coordinated by the Nodal Bank in each State/ UT with the help of IBPS. Interviews will be conducted at select centres.

  1. The total marks allotted for the IBPS PO Interview are 100.
  2. The minimum qualifying marks in the interview will not be less than 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PWBD candidates).
  3. The weightage (ratio) of the IBPS PO Online Main Exam and interview will be 80:20, respectively.
  4. The combined final score of candidates shall be arrived at based on scores obtained by the candidates in the Online Main Examination and the Interview.

How to Prepare for IBPS PO Exam?

To prepare for the IBPS PO 2026 examination, the candidates can go through the details of the Preparation Strategy. Here we have mentioned some tips for the reference of the candidates.

  • Start by thoroughly understanding the syllabus, which includes sections like Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, English Language, and General Awareness.
  • Make a schedule, adding all the topics and weekly or daily goals.
  • Create a study plan that allocates time for each section based on your strengths and weaknesses.
  • Join IBPS PO Online Coaching if you need assistance.
  • Practice with IBPS PO Mock Test and IBPS PO Previous Year Question Paper to improve speed and accuracy.
  • Focus on time management and regularly review your progress to ensure comprehensive preparation.

FAQs

What is the IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus?

The prelims IBPS PO Syllabus 2026 included three major subjects English, reasoning, and numerical ability.

What is IBPS PO prelims exam pattern?

The IBPS PO prelims exam pattern includes three sections. The test comprises 100 objective multiple-choice questions covering Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, and English Language. Candidates have 60 minutes to complete the exam.

What is IBPS PO Syllabus for Descriptive Test?

The descriptive section includes an essay and a comprehension, which can be either formal or informal. The score from the descriptive paper significantly impacts the candidates' overall marks and their chances of selection.

Is there any negative marking for IBPS PO?

For each incorrect answer, there will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks in the IBPS PO Prelims.

IBPS PO Syllabus 2026, Exam Pattern (Prelims+Mains), Interview Details_2.1

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