For many banking aspirants, clearing the IBPS PO mains exam is a significant milestone, but the final interview round often proves to be the most mentally demanding stage of the selection process. A candidate who recently appeared for their first-ever IBPS PO interview shared a detailed account of the experience on the Reddit forum r/bankingexam, offering rare insight into the kinds of questions asked and the pressure faced inside the interview room.
The candidate travelled nearly 750 kilometers to Kolkata to attend the interview and was allotted Panel 4 with a reporting time of 1:00 p.m. The interview itself lasted just over eleven minutes—but, as the candidate put it, “Those 11 minutes felt so long and hard.”
Inside the Interview Room
According to the account, the interview began with basic banking fundamentals, a common starting point in IBPS interviews.
One of the first questions was to define a bank and explain its primary functions. This was followed by questions on the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and its role, responsibilities, and authority over banks.
Despite having prepared these topics, the candidate admitted that nerves affected performance. “I knew these things while preparing,” the candidate wrote, “but when they asked me directly, I couldn’t frame the answers properly.”
The panel then moved into financial irregularities, asking the candidate to differentiate between diversion of funds and siphoning of funds, a topic frequently associated with banking fraud and NPAs.
Economics and GDP-Related Questions
The discussion soon shifted to economic concepts. Panel members asked which sector contributes the most to India’s GDP and followed up by asking about the second-largest contributor.
When the candidate answered “services sector” for GDP contribution, the panel pressed further: “Why is agriculture still important if it contributes less to GDP?”
The candidate attempted to respond by linking agriculture to employment and rural livelihoods but later reflected that the answer lacked structure. “I was trying to explain, but my confidence was clearly shaking,” the candidate noted.
General Awareness and Cultural Knowledge
The interview also tested general awareness, moving beyond pure banking topics. The panel asked:
- Who wrote Vande Mataram
- Who authored the Mahabharata
The candidate answered some of these correctly but admitted feeling increasingly anxious as questions kept coming without pause. “At that point, I felt like they were testing how calm I could stay, not just what I knew,” the post reads.
Situational and Opinion-Based Questions
In the later part of the interview, the tone shifted to situational and opinion-based questions. One question asked how banking institutions could help increase rural income, prompting the candidate to discuss loans, SHGs, and financial inclusion.
Another unexpected question focused on social perceptions and stereotypes related to regions in India. The candidate described this as one of the most difficult moments of the interview: “I was scared of saying something wrong or sounding insensitive.”
The panel also questioned the candidate on career choices, asking why they had not attempted the UPSC exam. The candidate responded honestly, explaining a preference for banking over civil services.
After the Interview
When the interview ended, the candidate walked out feeling unsettled. “I came out thinking I completely messed it up,” they wrote. “My answers were incomplete, and my confidence kept dropping with every question.”
However, the candidate later reflected that the experience itself was a learning opportunity. “This was my first interview ever. Now I know how different real interviews are from mock interviews.”
Key Takeaways for Aspirants
This first-hand account highlights several important lessons for future IBPS PO interview candidates:
- Knowledge alone is not enough: Interview panels test clarity, confidence, and presence of mind.
- Expect wide-ranging questions: Interviews may include banking, economics, general awareness, social issues, and personal choices.
- Communication matters: Even correct knowledge must be articulated calmly and coherently under pressure.
- First interviews are tough: Many candidates struggle initially, and that is part of the learning curve.
Final Word
The IBPS PO interview is not designed to intimidate but to assess whether a candidate can think clearly, communicate responsibly, and handle pressure—qualities essential for a future bank officer. As this experience shows, even a difficult interview can provide valuable insight and prepare aspirants better for what lies ahead.
For candidates preparing for upcoming interview cycles, reading real experiences like this one can be just as important as revising banking notes.
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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, railways, and state exams.