IBPS PO Syllabus 2026
IBPS PO SYLLABUS 2026 – PRELIMS & MAINS EXAM PATTERN
CRP PO/MT XVI – Complete Syllabus for Probationary Officer / Management Trainee
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Conducting Body
IBPS
Post Name
Probationary Officer (PO)
Selection Process
Prelims + Mains + Interview
Negative Marking
0.25 marks per wrong answer
Prelims
100 Marks
60 Minutes • 3 Sections
Mains
225 Marks
190 Minutes • 5 Sections
Interview
100 Marks
Qualifying: 40% (UR) / 35% (SC/ST/OBC)
Final Selection
80:20
Main Exam (80%) + Interview (20%)
IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2026 – At a Glance
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Post Name | Probationary Officer (PO) / Management Trainee (MT) |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Exam → Main Exam → Personality Test → Interview |
| Prelims Marks | 100 Marks (3 Sections) – Qualifying Only |
| Mains Marks | 200 (Objective) + 25 (Descriptive) = 225 Marks |
| Interview Marks | 100 Marks (Qualifying) |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks for each wrong answer (no penalty for unanswered) |
| Final Selection Weightage | Main Exam (80%) + Interview (20%) |
| Exam Language | English & Hindi (except English Language paper) |
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The Preliminary Examination is qualifying in nature. Marks obtained in Prelims are not counted in the final merit list.
English Language
No. of Questions30
Maximum Marks30
Time Allotted20 minutes
MediumEnglish
Quantitative Aptitude
No. of Questions35
Maximum Marks35
Time Allotted20 minutes
MediumEnglish & Hindi
Reasoning Ability
No. of Questions35
Maximum Marks40
Time Allotted20 minutes
MediumEnglish & Hindi
Total: 100 Questions – 100 Marks | Duration: 60 Minutes (Separately Timed)
Candidates must qualify in each section by securing minimum cut-off marks decided by IBPS.
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026
Mains Examination consists of Objective (200 marks) and Descriptive (25 marks) sections. Marks obtained in Mains are counted for final merit.
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
No. of Questions40
Maximum Marks60
Time Allotted45 minutes
MediumEnglish & Hindi
General / Economy / Banking Awareness
No. of Questions50
Maximum Marks60
Time Allotted35 minutes
MediumEnglish & Hindi
English Language
No. of Questions40
Maximum Marks20
Time Allotted35 minutes
MediumEnglish
Data Analysis & Interpretation
No. of Questions40
Maximum Marks60
Time Allotted45 minutes
MediumEnglish & Hindi
Descriptive Paper (Essay & Comprehension)
No. of Questions02
Maximum Marks25
Time Allotted30 minutes
MediumEnglish
TopicsEconomic & Social issues, Banking & Technology trends, Current events, Ethics
Objective Total: 170 Questions – 200 Marks | Descriptive: 02 Questions – 25 Marks | Grand Total: 225 Marks | Duration: 3 hrs 10 mins
Personality Test & Interview
- Personality Test: Non-qualifying but mandatory. Self-report assessment. May be conducted in proctored mode or at identified centres.
- Interview: Conducted by Participating Banks & coordinated by Nodal Bank. Total marks: 100.
- Minimum Qualifying Marks (Interview): 40% for UR/EWS candidates, 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates.
- Final Selection Weightage: Main Exam (80%) + Interview (20%).
Detailed Section-wise Syllabus
IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus
1. English Language (30 Marks)
- Reading Comprehension (including vocabulary-based questions)
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles / Sentence Rearrangement
- Error Spotting / Error Detection
- Sentence Improvement / Sentence Correction
- Fill in the Blanks (Single / Double)
- Synonyms & Antonyms
- Phrase Replacement
- Spelling Errors
2. Quantitative Aptitude (35 Marks)
- Number Series (Missing / Wrong)
- Simplification / Approximation
- Quadratic Equations / Inequality
- Data Interpretation: Tables, Pie Charts, Line Graphs, Bar Graphs, Caselet, Radar, Missing DI
- Ratio & Proportion
- Percentages
- Averages
- Profit & Loss
- Simple & Compound Interest
- Time & Work (including Pipes & Cisterns)
- Time, Speed & Distance (including Boats & Streams, Trains)
- Mixtures & Allegations
- Mensuration (2D & 3D)
- Probability
- Permutation & Combination
- Data Sufficiency
- Partnership
- Problems on Ages
3. Reasoning Ability (40 Marks)
- Puzzles: Circular, Linear, Square, Floor/Flat, Box-based, Scheduling, Comparison, Family-based
- Seating Arrangement: Circular (Unidirectional/Bidirectional), Linear, Square, Triangular
- Blood Relations (including Coded Blood Relations)
- Direction Sense
- Inequalities (Coded & Direct)
- Syllogism (Coded & Direct)
- Coding-Decoding
- Order & Ranking
- Alphanumeric Series
- Input-Output
- Logical Reasoning (Statements & Assumptions/Conclusions/Arguments, Cause & Effect)
- Data Sufficiency
- Decision Making
- Course of Action
IBPS PO Mains Syllabus
1. Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (60 Marks)
- All topics from Prelims Reasoning (at a higher difficulty level)
- Computer Awareness: Basics of Hardware & Software, Networking, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Internet, Cybersecurity, Database Management, Operating Systems
- Advanced Puzzles & Seating Arrangement (complex)
- Input-Output (advanced)
2. General / Economy / Banking Awareness (60 Marks)
- Current Affairs: National & International (last 6-8 months)
- Banking & Financial Awareness: RBI policies, Monetary Policy, Banking Terms, Financial Institutions, NPA, Basel Norms, Inflation, GDP, etc.
- Government Schemes (Central & State)
- Indian Economy & Budget
- International Economy & Organizations (WTO, IMF, World Bank, etc.)
- RBI Circulars & Guidelines
3. English Language (20 Marks)
- Reading Comprehension (with advanced vocabulary and inference-based questions)
- Error Spotting (advanced)
- Para Jumbles (advanced)
- Cloze Test (advanced)
- Sentence Rearrangement
- Fill in the Blanks (advanced)
- Vocabulary-based questions (Synonyms, Antonyms, Word Usage)
4. Data Analysis & Interpretation (60 Marks)
- Advanced Data Interpretation: Tables, Pie Charts, Line Graphs, Bar Graphs, Caselet DI, Radar, Missing DI, Mixed DI
- Data Sufficiency
- Arithmetic-based DI
- Number Series & Approximation (advanced)
5. Descriptive Paper (25 Marks)
- Essay Writing: Economic & Social issues, emerging trends in Banking & Technology, Current events, Ethics
- Letter Writing / Email Writing: Formal/Informal letters, Official correspondence
Negative Marking in IBPS PO 2026
- 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer in Objective Tests.
- No penalty for unanswered questions.
- Applicable to both Prelims and Mains examinations.
Preparation Tips for IBPS PO 2026
- Understand the Syllabus: Go through the detailed syllabus and exam pattern thoroughly before starting preparation.
- Focus on Accuracy: Since there is negative marking, accuracy is more important than speed. Practice with sectional tests.
- Time Management: Each section in Prelims is separately timed (20 minutes). Practice managing time effectively.
- Data Interpretation: Practice different types of DI (Tables, Charts, Caselet) daily – this is a high-scoring area.
- Reasoning Puzzles: Practice various types of puzzles and seating arrangements regularly. Start with easy ones and gradually increase difficulty.
- Banking Awareness: Read newspapers daily. Follow RBI updates, economic surveys, and banking news.
- Descriptive English: Practice writing essays and letters on current topics. Focus on clarity, structure, and grammar.
- Mock Tests: Take full-length mock tests regularly. Analyze your performance and work on weak areas.
Download the Official Notification or share this syllabus:
📥 Download Syllabus PDF 🔗 Visit IBPS Official Website Share on WhatsApp Share via Gmail Share on TelegramFrequently Asked Questions
Is the IBPS PO Prelims syllabus the same as Mains?
No. While there is some overlap, Mains has additional topics like Computer Aptitude, Banking Awareness, and Descriptive English. The difficulty level in Mains is also higher.
Are marks of Prelims counted in final merit?
No. The Prelims is qualifying only. Marks obtained in Prelims are not counted in the final selection. Only Main Exam + Interview marks are considered.
What is the negative marking in IBPS PO 2026?
0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer in Objective Tests. There is no penalty for unanswered questions.
Is there any change in IBPS PO syllabus 2026?
The syllabus remains largely similar to previous years. However, candidates should check the official notification for any minor changes. The Descriptive Paper may include topics on Ethics and Emerging Technology Trends.
What is the medium of the IBPS PO exam?
The question papers are in English & Hindi for all tests except the English Language paper, which is only in English.
How can I download IBPS PO syllabus PDF?
You can download the official syllabus from the IBPS website (www.ibps.in) by clicking on the "CRP PO/MT" link. We have also embedded a preview and download link above on this page.
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