The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the IBPS SO 2026 Notification for CRP SPL-XVI to recruit Specialist Officers for the 2027-28 recruitment cycle. One of the most important changes is the new Mains exam pattern. Earlier, the Mains exam mainly focused on professional knowledge. Now, candidates will also have to attempt English Language, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude or General Awareness, Professional Knowledge, and a Descriptive Paper. At the same time, the final merit list will now be prepared using professional knowledge marks and interview performance.
IBPS SO 2026 vs IBPS SO 2025: Major Changes
The recruitment process remains largely the same, but IBPS has made several important changes in this year’s notification. Candidates will notice changes in the exam pattern, vacancy numbers, application process, and some eligibility-related rules. There are also new provisions for the application correction window, PwBD verification, and DigiLocker integration. The table below gives a quick comparison of the major changes introduced in IBPS SO 2026.
| Particulars | IBPS SO 2026 Notification | IBPS SO 2025 Notification | Change |
| Recruitment Cycle | CRP SPL-XVI | CRP SPL-XV | New cycle |
| Vacancy Year | 2027-28 | 2026-27 | Updated recruitment year |
| Total Vacancies | 745 | 1,007 | Vacancies reduced by 262 |
| Application Dates | 1 July to 21 July 2026 | 1 July to 21 July 2025 | Updated dates |
| Application Edit Window | Available for 2 days after registration closes | Not separately listed | New correction window added |
| Prelims Structure | 4 sections, 100 questions | 3 sections, 150 questions | Professional Knowledge added in Prelims |
| Mains Structure | Multi-section Mains + Descriptive Paper | Mainly Professional Knowledge-based | Major pattern change |
| Final Merit Basis | Professional Knowledge + Interview | Main Exam + Interview | Merit focus shifted to Professional Knowledge |
| Marketing Officer Vacancies | 0 | 350 | No vacancies this year |
| Credit History Clause | Not listed separately | Listed separately | Separate section removed |
IBPS SO Vacancy 2026: Total Vacancies Reduced
The total number of vacancies has gone down this year. IBPS has announced 745 vacancies in the 2026 notification, compared to 1,007 vacancies in the previous recruitment. While some posts have received more vacancies than last year, others have seen a reduction. The biggest change is that there are no Marketing Officer vacancies in IBPS SO 2026. The complete post-wise comparison is given below.
| Post | IBPS SO 2026 Vacancies | IBPS SO 2025 Vacancies | Change |
| IT Officer | 301 | 203 | +98 |
| Agricultural Field Officer | 190 | 310 | -120 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari | 89 | 78 | +11 |
| Law Officer | 105 | 56 | +49 |
| HR/Personnel Officer | 60 | 10 | +50 |
| Marketing Officer | 0 | 350 | -350 |
| Total | 745 | 1,007 | -262 |
IBPS SO Application Edit Window Added in 2026
One new feature introduced in the 2026 notification is the application correction window. After the registration process closes, candidates will get two days to make changes to their submitted IBPS SO application form. IBPS has said that the exact dates for this correction window will be announced later on the official website. This facility was not mentioned separately in the previous notification.
| Application Detail | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 | Change |
| Online Registration | 01.07.2026 to 21.07.2026 | 01.07.2025 to 21.07.2025 | Updated dates |
| Fee Payment | 01.07.2026 to 21.07.2026 | 01.07.2025 to 21.07.2025 | Updated dates |
| Edit Window | Available for 2 days after registration closes | Not separately listed | New addition |
| Edit Window Notification | To be notified by IBPS | Not applicable | New process |
IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026: Professional Knowledge Added
The Preliminary Exam has changed in several ways this year. The biggest update is that Professional Knowledge has now been added to the Prelims, which means candidates will have to answer subject-related questions from the very first stage of the selection process. Along with this, the number of questions and the exam duration have been reduced, while the total marks remain the same. Candidates will also have to qualify in all four sections instead of three.
| Prelims Detail | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 | Change |
| Number of Sections | 4 | 3 | Professional Knowledge added |
| Total Questions | 100 | 150 | Questions reduced |
| Total Marks | 125 | 125 | No change |
| Total Duration | 80 minutes | 2 hours | Duration reduced |
| Sectional Duration | 20 minutes per section | 40 minutes per section | Shorter sectional timing |
| Qualifying Requirement | Qualify in each of 4 tests | Qualify in each of 3 tests | PK added to qualifying stage |
IBPS SO Prelims Pattern for IT, AFO, HR and Marketing Officer
For IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer posts, the basic subjects remain the same, but there is one major addition. Professional Knowledge has now become part of the Preliminary Exam, carrying 25 questions for 50 marks. This means candidates will need to start preparing their professional subject from the beginning instead of waiting for the Mains stage.
| Section | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 |
| English Language | 25 Questions, 25 Marks, 20 Minutes | 50 Questions, 25 Marks, 40 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 Questions, 25 Marks, 20 Minutes | 50 Questions, 50 Marks, 40 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 Questions, 25 Marks, 20 Minutes | 50 Questions, 50 Marks, 40 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 Questions, 50 Marks, 20 Minutes | Not included in Prelims |
| Total | 100 Questions, 125 Marks, 80 Minutes | 150 Questions, 125 Marks, 2 Hours |
IBPS SO Prelims Pattern for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari
For Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari posts, General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry continues to replace Quantitative Aptitude. However, just like the other posts, Professional Knowledge has now been added to the Preliminary Exam. This makes the first stage of the recruitment more post-specific than before.
| Section | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 |
| English Language | 25 Questions, 25 Marks, 20 Minutes | 50 Questions, 25 Marks, 40 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 Questions, 25 Marks, 20 Minutes | 50 Questions, 50 Marks, 40 Minutes |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 25 Questions, 25 Marks, 20 Minutes | 50 Questions, 50 Marks, 40 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 Questions, 50 Marks, 20 Minutes | Not included in Prelims |
| Total | 100 Questions, 125 Marks, 80 Minutes | 150 Questions, 125 Marks, 2 Hours |
IBPS SO Mains Exam Pattern 2026: Major Structural Change
The Mains examination has undergone the biggest change in this year’s notification. Earlier, the Mains exam mainly tested Professional Knowledge. Now, IBPS has introduced a full multi-section examination that includes English Language, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude or General Awareness, Professional Knowledge, and a Descriptive Paper. Because of these additions, both the total marks and the exam duration have increased significantly.
| Mains Detail | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 | Change |
| Mains Structure | Multi-section exam + Descriptive Paper | Mainly Professional Knowledge-based | Major expansion |
| Total Objective Questions | 150 | 60 (45 for Rajbhasha) | Questions increased |
| Objective Marks | 200 | 60 | Marks increased |
| Descriptive Paper | Added for all posts | Only Rajbhasha had descriptive section | Expanded |
| Total Marks | 225 | 60 | Increased |
| Total Time | 155 Minutes | 45–60 Minutes | Duration increased |
Mains Pattern for IT, AFO, HR and Marketing Officer
Candidates applying for IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer posts will now appear for a much larger Mains examination. Along with Professional Knowledge, the exam now includes English Language, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and an English Descriptive Paper. Professional Knowledge continues to carry the highest weightage.
| Section | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 |
| English Language | 30 Questions, 30 Marks | Not included |
| Reasoning | 40 Questions, 40 Marks | Not included |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 Questions, 30 Marks | Not included |
| Professional Knowledge | 50 Questions, 100 Marks | 60 Questions, 60 Marks |
| Descriptive Paper | 2 Questions, 25 Marks | Not included |
| Total | 225 Marks, 155 Minutes | 60 Marks, 45 Minutes |
Mains Pattern for Rajbhasha Adhikari
The Rajbhasha Adhikari Mains examination has also been expanded. Instead of only Professional Knowledge, candidates will now answer questions from English Language, Reasoning, General Awareness and Professional Knowledge, along with a descriptive paper. This makes the examination broader than in previous years.
| Section | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 |
| English Language | 30 Questions, 30 Marks | Not included |
| Reasoning | 40 Questions, 40 Marks | Not included |
| General Awareness | 30 Questions, 30 Marks | Not included |
| Professional Knowledge Objective | 50 Questions, 100 Marks | 45 Questions, 60 Marks |
| Professional Knowledge Descriptive | 2 Questions, 25 Marks | Included within 60 Marks |
| Total | 225 Marks | 60 Marks |
Mains Pattern for Law Officer
Law Officer candidates will also see a major change in the Mains examination. Along with Professional Knowledge, the exam now includes English Language, Reasoning, General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry, and a Descriptive Paper. Overall, the exam has become much more comprehensive than last year.
| Section | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 |
| English Language | 30 Questions, 30 Marks | Not included |
| Reasoning | 40 Questions, 40 Marks | Not included |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 30 Questions, 30 Marks | Not included |
| Professional Knowledge | 50 Questions, 100 Marks | 60 Questions, 60 Marks |
| Descriptive Paper | 2 Questions, 25 Marks | Not included |
| Total | 225 Marks | 60 Marks |
Credit History Clause Removed from Separate Eligibility Index
Another small but noticeable change is related to the Credit History section. In the 2025 notification, Credit History was listed separately under the eligibility section. In the 2026 notification, this separate heading has been removed from the index, making the eligibility section shorter and simpler.
| Detail | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 | Change |
| Separate Credit History Clause | Not listed separately | Listed under eligibility | Removed from index |
| Eligibility Index Structure | Ends with Educational Qualifications | Included Credit History section | Separate section removed |
| Candidate-facing Impact | Not highlighted separately | Clearly highlighted | Reduced prominence |
EWS Certificate Validity Clarified in IBPS SO 2026
The basic EWS eligibility rules remain the same this year. However, IBPS has clearly mentioned which certificate candidates should produce while applying. This clarification will help EWS candidates avoid mistakes during document verification.
| EWS Detail | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 | Change |
| EWS Certificate Validity | Valid for 2026-27 for FY 2025-26 | General rule mentioned | Specific validity added |
PwBD/PwSD Verification Rules Strengthened
IBPS has also strengthened the verification process for PwBD/PwSD candidates. The notification clearly mentions that disability certificates and UDID cards may be verified through the official UDID portal or the concerned authority. Banks may also conduct a fresh medical examination if required. Candidates submitting fake documents can face strict action under the RPwD Act.
| Rule | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 | Change |
| Disability Certificate Verification | UDID authentication may be done | General verification | Verification strengthened |
| UDID Portal Reference | Specifically mentioned | Not highlighted | New clarification |
| Fresh Medical Assessment | May be conducted by bank medical board | Not highlighted | New verification layer |
| Fraudulent Certificate Action | Action under RPwD Act Sections 89 & 91 | General warning | Stronger compliance |
Scribe Rules Updated in IBPS SO 2026
The main rules regarding the use of a scribe remain the same. However, IBPS has added one more condition this year. Candidates should make sure that the scribe they choose has not previously acted as a scribe for a candidate who was debarred from any CRP examination.
| Rule | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 | Change |
| Scribe linked to debarred candidate | Candidate must ensure compliance | Not highlighted separately | New caution added |
DigiLocker and Data Protection References Added
The application process has also been updated with a few digital features. IBPS has introduced DigiLocker integration, allowing candidates to voluntarily share documents through DigiLocker. The notification also clearly mentions live photograph capture through webcam or mobile and includes consent for processing personal data under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
| Application Process Detail | IBPS SO 2026 | IBPS SO 2025 | Change |
| DigiLocker Integration | Mentioned in application process | Not highlighted | New digital document option |
| Live Photograph | Webcam/mobile upload mentioned | General upload process | More detailed requirement |
| Data Protection Consent | DPDP Act, 2023 referenced | Not highlighted | New compliance language |
| Document Access | DigiLocker access can be provided voluntarily | Traditional uploads | New convenience option |
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FAQs
Q1: What are the biggest changes in the IBPS SO 2026 notification?
A1: The major changes include a new Prelims and Mains exam pattern, Professional Knowledge added to the Prelims, a descriptive paper in Mains, reduced vacancies, an application correction window, and updated PwBD verification rules.
Q2: Has the IBPS SO 2026 exam pattern changed?
A2: Yes. The Prelims now have four sections instead of three, with Professional Knowledge added. The Mains exam now includes English, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude or General Awareness, Professional Knowledge, and a Descriptive Paper.
Q3: How many vacancies have been announced in the IBPS SO 2026 notification?
A3: IBPS has announced 745 Specialist Officer vacancies for the 2026 recruitment cycle, compared to 1,007 vacancies in the previous year’s notification.
Q4: Is there any application correction window in IBPS SO 2026?
A4: Yes. IBPS has introduced a new application correction window that will remain open for two days after the registration process closes. The exact dates will be announced on the official website.
Q5: How will the final merit list be prepared in IBPS SO 2026?
A5: According to the 2026 notification, the final merit list will be prepared based on the candidate’s Professional Knowledge marks and Interview performance.
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Hi, I’m Tripti, a senior content writer at Oliveboard, where I manage blog content along with community engagement across platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. With 3+ years of experience in content and SEO optimization related to banking exams, I have led content for popular exams like SSC, banking, railway, and state exams.