The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the official IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 Notification (CRP SPL-XVI) inviting online applications for 745 Specialist Officer (Scale I) posts across 11 Participating Public Sector Banks.
Vacancies are announced for IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari profiles. Candidates holding a B.Tech/B.E., LLB, M.A., M.Sc., MBA/PGDM or a relevant PG Diploma can apply online through the official website ibps.in from 1 July 2026 up to the last date of 21 July 2026.
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 — Overview
| Recruiting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Recruitment Name | Common Recruitment Process for Specialist Officers (CRP SPL-XVI) |
| Post Names | IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Marketing Officer |
| Total Vacancies | 745 (Indicative) |
| Notification Date | 30 June 2026 / 1 July 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Application Start Date | 01 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 21 July 2026 |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Common Interview |
| Prelims Exam Date | 29 August 2026 (Tentative) |
| Mains Exam Date | 01 November 2026 (Tentative) |
| Job Location | Anywhere in India (as per Participating Bank) |
| Official Website | www.ibps.in |
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 Post-Wise Vacancy Details
A total of 745 indicative vacancies have been announced across six Specialist Officer profiles. The post-wise break-up is given below:
| Post Name | Vacancies | Scale |
| IT Officer | 301 | Scale I |
| Agricultural Field Officer (AFO) | 190 | Scale I |
| Law Officer | 105 | Scale I |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari | 89 | Scale I |
| HR/Personnel Officer | 60 | Scale I |
| Marketing Officer | Nil vacancies this year | Scale I |
| Total | 745 | — |
Note: The above vacancy figures are indicative and may undergo revision as per the final requirement of the Participating Public Sector Banks. Candidates should verify the latest figures from the official IBPS SO 2026 notification PDF before applying.
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 – Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee |
| SC / ST / PwBD | ₹175/- |
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹850/- |
The application fee/intimation charges must be paid online only, through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI, at the time of registration.
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 – Age Limit (As on 01.07.2026)
- Minimum Age: 20 years
- Maximum Age: 30 years
This means candidates should have been born between 02 July 1996 and 01 July 2006 (both dates inclusive) to be eligible. Upper age relaxation is applicable to reserved category candidates as per Government of India norms — SC/ST, OBC, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen categories are eligible for relaxation as per the official notification.
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 – Educational Qualification
Educational qualification requirements vary by post. Candidates must possess the relevant degree from a Government-recognised university or institution as on the cut-off date specified in the official notification.
| Post | Educational Qualification |
| IT Officer (Scale I) | 4-year Engineering/Technology degree in Computer Science, Computer Applications, IT, Electronics, Electronics & Telecommunication, Electronics & Communication, or Electronics & Instrumentation; OR a Postgraduate degree in the same disciplines; OR graduate with DOEACC ‘B’ Level certification. |
| Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I) | 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Dairy Science, Fishery Science, Agri. Marketing & Cooperation, Agro-Forestry, Forestry, Agricultural Biotechnology, Food Science/Technology, Agricultural Engineering, Sericulture, or related allied fields. |
| Law Officer (Scale I) | A Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) and enrollment as an advocate with the Bar Council. |
| HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I) | Graduate plus full-time Postgraduate degree/diploma in Human Resource Management, Personnel Management, Industrial Relations, Social Work, or Labour Law. |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) | Postgraduate degree in Hindi with English as a subject at degree level, or Postgraduate in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects at degree level (combinations as per official notification). |
Candidates are strongly advised to cross-check the exact qualification combinations, equivalent degrees, and relevant experience (wherever applicable) from the detailed official notification PDF available on ibps.in.
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 – Selection Process
Selection to the post of Specialist Officer (Scale I) is made through a three-stage process:
- Online Preliminary Examination — Qualifying in nature; marks are not counted toward the final merit list.
- Online Main Examination — Objective paper plus a Descriptive Paper based on the relevant post/domain.
- Common Interview — Conducted for candidates shortlisted through the Main Examination.
The final merit list is prepared based on the marks scored in the Main Examination and Interview, normally taken together in an 80:20 ratio. The minimum qualifying marks in the interview are 40% for General category and 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates, out of a total of 100 marks.
Exam Pattern — Preliminary Examination
(Applicable for IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer posts)
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 20 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 125 | 80 minutes |
For Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari posts, General Awareness (with special reference to the Banking Industry) replaces the Quantitative Aptitude section, with a similar overall structure. There is a penalty of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer in the objective papers; no marks are deducted for unattempted questions.
Exam Pattern — Main Examination
The Main Examination consists of 150 objective questions carrying 200 marks, along with a Descriptive Paper of 25 marks (English Language — Letter Writing & Essay), taking the total to 225 marks within a duration of 155 minutes. Professional Knowledge carries a significantly higher weightage this year as part of the revised exam pattern.
Salary / Pay Scale
Selected candidates will be placed in Junior Management Grade Scale I with the following basic pay scale:
₹48,480 – 2000/7 – 62,480 – 2340/2 – 67,160 – 2680/7 – 85,920
In addition to basic pay, selected candidates are entitled to Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Special Allowance, Transport Allowance and other perquisites as applicable per the rules of the concerned Participating Bank.
How to Apply — Step-by-Step Application Guide
- Visit the official IBPS website: www.ibps.in
- Navigate to the ‘CRP-Specialist Officers’ section under the ‘Common Recruitment Process’ tab.
- Click on the link ‘Click here to apply online for CRP-SPL-XVI (2026-27)’.
- Complete the one-time registration process using a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Fill in the online application form with personal, academic, and post-preference details.
- Upload scanned copies of your photograph, signature, and other required documents in the prescribed format and size.
- Pay the applicable application fee/intimation charges through the online payment gateway.
- Review all entered details carefully, then submit the form.
- Use the Application Edit Window (if applicable) to correct minor errors, and download/print the confirmation page for future reference.
Note: Candidates cannot change the post applied for, category, email ID, or mobile number once submitted, even during the edit window. Apply well before the last date to avoid last-minute server load or technical issues.
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 – Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | 30 June / 01 July 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 01 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 21 July 2026 |
| Application Edit Window | To be notified |
| Preliminary Exam Admit Card | To be notified |
| Preliminary Examination | 29 August 2026 (Tentative) |
| Preliminary Result | September/October 2026 (Tentative) |
| Main Exam Admit Card | To be notified |
| Main Examination | 01 November 2026 (Tentative) |
| Interview | November/December 2026 (Tentative) |
| Provisional Allotment | January 2027 (Tentative) |
All dates other than the notification, application start, and last date are tentative and based on the official IBPS Exam Calendar 2026-27. Candidates must regularly check the official website for confirmed schedules.
Participating Public Sector Banks
Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, UCO Bank, and Union Bank of India.
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 – Important Links
- Apply Online: Click here
- Official Notification PDF: Click here
- Official Website: Click here
- Join WhatsApp Channel: Click Here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs – IBPS SO Recruitment 2026)
Q1. What is IBPS SO Recruitment 2026?
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 is a centralised recruitment process (CRP SPL-XVI) conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection to hire Specialist Officers for various domains in Participating Public Sector Banks.
Q2. How many vacancies have been announced under IBPS SO 2026?
A total of 745 indicative vacancies have been announced across IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Law Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, and HR/Personnel Officer posts.
Q3. What is the last date to apply for IBPS SO 2026?
The last date to apply online for IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 is 21 July 2026.
Q4. What is the application fee for IBPS SO 2026?
The application fee is ₹175 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates and ₹850 for General, OBC, and EWS candidates.
Q5. What is the age limit for IBPS SO 2026?
Candidates must be between 20 and 30 years of age as on 01 July 2026, with age relaxation applicable for reserved categories.
Q6. What educational qualification is required for IBPS SO 2026?
Qualification requirements vary by post and include B.Tech/B.E., LLB, M.A., M.Sc., MBA/PGDM, or a relevant PG Diploma, depending on the specific Specialist Officer profile.
Q7. What is the selection process for IBPS SO 2026?
Selection is based on a three-stage process: Online Preliminary Examination, Online Main Examination, and Common Interview.
Q8. Is the Preliminary Exam counted in the final merit list?
No. The Preliminary Examination is only qualifying in nature. The final merit list is prepared using combined marks from the Main Examination and Interview.
Q9. When will the IBPS SO Prelims and Mains exams be conducted?
As per the tentative IBPS Exam Calendar 2026-27, the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 29 August 2026 and the Main Examination for 01 November 2026.
Q10. What is the starting salary of an IBPS Specialist Officer?
The starting basic pay is ₹48,480, along with DA, HRA, Special Allowance, and other bank-specific benefits as applicable.
Q11. Can final-year students apply for IBPS SO 2026?
No. Candidates must have completed the required educational qualification on or before the last date of application to be eligible.
Q12. How can I apply for IBPS SO Recruitment 2026?
Eligible candidates can apply online only through the official IBPS website, www.ibps.in, from 01 July 2026 to 21 July 2026.
Q13. Which banks participate in IBPS SO Recruitment 2026?
Participating banks include Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, UCO Bank, and Union Bank of India.
Q14. Are there any vacancies for Marketing Officer in IBPS SO 2026?
No. As per the official notification, no vacancies have been announced for the Marketing Officer post this year.
Q15. Can changes be made to the application after submission?
Minor corrections may be permitted through an Application Edit Window, if provided. However, the post applied for, category, email ID, and mobile number cannot be changed under any circumstances.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is compiled for general informational purposes only, based on the official IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 notification (CRP SPL-XVI). While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, vacancy numbers, dates, and other details are subject to change as per official updates from IBPS.
Readers are strongly advised to verify all information, including eligibility, vacancy details, exam dates, and application procedures, from the official IBPS website (www.ibps.in) before taking any action.
This website/article is not affiliated with IBPS or any Government body and does not guarantee employment.
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