IBPS PO

Nationality

• Indian citizen

Educational Qualification

• Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university

Age Limit

• Minimum age: 20 years
• Maximum age: 30 years

Age Relaxation

Bank-specific notes

• Some participating banks may apply additional eligibility conditions as per the recruitment notification.
• Final eligibility is always governed by the official IBPS notification.

IBPS follows Government reservation policy for participating banks.

Horizontal reservation

• PwBD
• Ex-servicemen
• Women

IBPS PO Selection Stages

1. Preliminary Examination

2. Main Examination

3. Interview

Prelims Exam Pattern

Mains Exam Pattern

Interview

• Prelims: Screening stage to shortlist candidates for mains.
• Mains: Merit-deciding written stage for interview shortlisting.
• Interview: Final personality and suitability assessment.
• Final merit: Prepared using mains and interview performance as per official IBPS rules.

Prelims Syllabus

• English Language: Reading comprehension, cloze test, error spotting, sentence improvement, vocabulary
• Quantitative Aptitude: Simplification, number series, arithmetic, data interpretation, quadratic equations
• Reasoning Ability: Puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, inequality, coding-decoding, blood relations

Mains Syllabus

• Reasoning and Computer Aptitude: Advanced puzzles, input-output, machine reasoning, coding, computer basics
• Banking Awareness / General Awareness: Banking terms, RBI, financial awareness, current affairs, economy
• Quantitative Aptitude: Data interpretation, arithmetic, approximation, caselets, quantity comparison
• English Language: Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, para jumbles, sentence correction
• Descriptive Test: Essay writing and letter writing on banking, economy, society, governance, digital finance, and current issues

1. Visit the official website: https://ibps.in" class="inlink">ibps.in

2. Register with basic details

3. Fill the online application form

4. Upload photograph, signature, and other required documents

5. Pay the application fee

6. Submit the form and save the confirmation page

Documents required

• Recent passport-size photograph
• Signature
• Left thumb impression
• Handwritten declaration
• Academic details
• Category certificate, if applicable
• PwBD certificate, if applicable

Pay scale

• ₹48,480–₹85,920 in JMGS-I

Gross salary

• ₹55,000–₹65,000 per month

Allowances and perks

• Dearness Allowance (DA)
• House Rent Allowance (HRA)
• City Compensatory Allowance (CCA)
• Petrol allowance
• Medical benefits

Prelims cutoff

Recommended books

• Quantitative Aptitude: R.S. Aggarwal
• Reasoning: M.K. Pandey
• Banking Awareness: Banking awareness magazines and current affairs compilations

Preparation strategy

• Focus on a 3–4 month plan
• Prioritize mains preparation from the start
• Practice sectional tests daily
• Take regular full-length mocks
• Improve speed and accuracy to manage negative marking
• Prepare current affairs and banking awareness continuously

Section-wise tips

• Reasoning: Solve puzzles and seating arrangements daily
• Quant: Strengthen arithmetic and DI
• English: Read editorials and practice RCs
• GA/Banking: Revise banking terms, financial schemes, and current affairs
• Descriptive: Practice one essay and one letter regularly

• Probationary Officer
• Assistant Manager
• Branch Manager
• Senior managerial roles

Growth ladder

• PO → Scale-I Officer → Scale-II → Scale-III → Scale-IV and above

• https://ibps.in" class="inlink">IBPS official website
• Notification archive on https://ibps.in" class="inlink">ibps.in

1. What is IBPS PO and what does PO stand for?

IBPS PO is a banking recruitment exam conducted for Probationary Officer posts in participating public sector banks. PO stands for Probationary Officer.

2. Which organization conducts the IBPS PO exam?

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, or IBPS, conducts the IBPS PO exam.

3. How many stages are there in the IBPS PO selection process?

There are three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Interview.

4. What is the educational qualification required for IBPS PO?

A candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university.

5. What is the age limit for IBPS PO?

The age limit is 20 to 30 years.

6. Is there age relaxation for reserved categories in IBPS PO?

Yes. OBC candidates get 3 years of relaxation, and SC/ST candidates get 5 years of relaxation.

7. What is the exam pattern for IBPS PO Prelims?

Prelims includes English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability, with 100 total marks and a 1-hour duration.

8. What subjects are included in the IBPS PO Mains exam?

Mains includes Reasoning and Computer Aptitude, Banking/General Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language, and a Descriptive Test.

9. Is there negative marking in IBPS PO?

Yes. There is a penalty of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in both Prelims and Mains.

10. What is the descriptive paper in IBPS PO Mains?

The descriptive paper includes essay writing and letter writing.

11. What is the application fee for IBPS PO?

The fee is ₹850 for General and OBC candidates, and ₹175 for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates.

12. How can I apply for IBPS PO?

You can apply online through the official IBPS website by registering, filling the form, uploading documents, and paying the fee.

13. Which banks participate in IBPS PO recruitment?

Participating public sector banks include banks such as Punjab National Bank, Bank of India, Canara Bank, and other PSBs notified by IBPS.

14. What is the salary of an IBPS PO?

The pay scale is ₹48,480–₹85,920 in JMGS-I, with gross monthly earnings of about ₹55,000–₹65,000.

15. What allowances are included in IBPS PO salary?

The salary package includes DA, HRA, CCA, petrol allowance, and medical benefits.

16. What is the vacancy trend for IBPS PO in recent years?

Recent vacancies have remained in the range of 3,000+ to 6,000+, with 5,208 vacancies in 2025.

17. What was the IBPS PO Prelims cutoff in the last available cycle?

The 2024 prelims cutoff for General category was around 60 marks out of 100.

18. What is the career growth path after joining as an IBPS PO?

A PO can grow into roles such as Assistant Manager, Branch Manager, and higher managerial positions through promotions.

19. Is IBPS PO an All India exam?

Yes. IBPS PO is an All India recruitment exam.

20. Where can I find the official notification and updates for IBPS PO?

You can find the notification and all updates on the official website: https://ibps.in" class="inlink">https://ibps.in