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IBPS PO Syllabus 2026, Exam Pattern (Prelims+Mains)
IBPS PO Syllabus 2026, Exam Pattern (Prelims+Mains)
The Probationary Officer Exam is conducted in three different stages as listed below:
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Stage
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Exam Pattern
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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
Prelims Exam Pattern (Revised)
IBPS introduced changes to the Preliminary Exam Pattern in 2025 by revising the marks distribution among sections. Under the revised scheme, the Quantitative Aptitude section now carries 30 marks instead of 35, while the Reasoning Ability section has been increased to 40 marks from 35. The English Language section continues to carry 30 marks, making the total marks for the Prelims exam 100.
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The Prelims exam has three sections of a total duration of 1 Hour.
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There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks or 1/4 marks for every incorrect answer.
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IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern (New)
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Sr. No.
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Name of Tests
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No. of Questions
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Marks
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Medium of Exam
|
Time Allotted
|
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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
|
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Total
|
|
100
|
100
|
|
60 Minutes (1 Hour)
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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 |
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Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test |
Para jumbles |
Mixtures & Allegations |
|
Data Sufficiency |
Word Usage, Word-Swap |
Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices |
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Inequalities |
Fill in the blanks |
Work & Time |
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Seating Arrangement |
Error Detection, Error Spotting |
Time & Distance |
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Puzzle |
Paragraph Completion |
Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere |
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Tabulation |
One word Substitution |
Data Interpretation |
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Syllogism |
Miscellaneous |
Ratio & Proportion, Percentage |
|
Blood Relations |
– |
Number Systems |
|
Input-Output |
– |
Sequence & Series |
|
Coding-Decoding |
– |
Permutation, Combination &Probability |
Mains Exam Pattern (Revised)
Important Changes in the Revised Mains Pattern
- Total Objective Questions increased from 145 to 170.
- Banking Awareness & Data Interpretation carry higher weightage.
- English section marks have been reduced (40 to 20), although the number of questions has increased.
- Total marks (225) and overall exam duration remain unchanged.
- A penalty of 0.25 marks or1/4 will be deducted for each incorrect answer in the Objective Tests.
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IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026 (Objective) (Latest) |
|||||
| Sr. No. | Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam |
Time Allotted |
| 1 | Reasoning | 40 | 60 | English & Hindi |
45 Minutes |
| 2 | General/Economy/Banking Awareness/Digital/Financial Awareness (including RBI Circulars) | 50 | 60 | English & Hindi |
35 Minutes |
| 3 | English Language | 40 | 20 | English |
35 Minutes |
| 4 | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 | English & Hindi |
45 Minutes |
| Total | Objective Test | 170 | 200 | – |
160 Minutes |
|
IBPS PO Descriptive Paper 2026 |
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| Paper | Topics | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium |
Time Allotted |
| Descriptive Paper | Essay and Comprehension | 2 | 25 | English |
30 Minute |
IBPS PO Mains Syllabus
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
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Simplification
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Average
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Percentage
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Mixture and Allegations
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Ratio and Proportion
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Data Interpretation
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Mensuration and Geometry
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Quadratic Equation
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Interest
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Problems of Ages
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Profit and Loss
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Number Series
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Speed, Distance, and Time
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Time and Work
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Number System
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Data Sufficiency
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Linear Equation
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Permutation and Combination
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Probability
General Awareness and Economy/Banking Awareness Syllabus
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Financial Awareness
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Banking Awareness
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Banking Reforms
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Monetary Policy
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Fiscal Policy
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Budget and Economic Survey
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RBI Reports and Indices
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International Organisation Reports
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Static Banking Terms (CRR, SLR, Repo Rate, etc.)
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Financial Institutions (RBI, NABARD, SEBI, IMF, World Bank, etc.)
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Government Schemes and Initiatives
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Current Affairs (National and International Importance)
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Economy Basics (Inflation, GDP, Growth, etc.)
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Capital Market and Money Market
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Digital Banking and Payment Systems (UPI, NEFT, RTGS, etc.)
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Insurance and Financial Products
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Important Committees and Reports
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Banking Abbreviations and Terminologies
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General Knowledge
Reasoning Syllabus
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Verbal Reasoning
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Syllogism
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Circular Seating Arrangement
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Code Inequalities
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Linear Seating Arrangement
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Double Lineup
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Scheduling
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Input-Output
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Blood Relations
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Directions and Distances
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Ordering and Ranking
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Data Sufficiency
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Coding and Decoding
English Language Syllabus
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Reading Comprehension
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Vocabulary
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Grammar
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One Word Substitution
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Verbal Ability
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Cloze Test
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Para Jumbles (Sentence Rearrangement)
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Fill in the Blanks
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Error Detection (Error Spotting)
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Sentence Improvement
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Word Swap
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Column-Based Questions
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Match the Following (Sentence Connectors)
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Para Completion
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Sentence Connectors
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Phrase Replacement
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Idioms and Phrases
IBPS PO Mains Descriptive Test
The descriptive paper is conducted to assess the writing skills of the candidates. They will have to write an essay and a letter of 25 marks.
NOTE : May be broadly based on Economic and Social issues, emerging trends in Banking and Technology, 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. The total marks allotted for the IBPS PO Interview are 100.
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The minimum qualifying marks in the interview will not be less than 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PWBD candidates).
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The weightage (ratio) of the IBPS PO Online Main Exam and interview will be80:20,respectively.
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