The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the IBPS AFO Eligibility Criteria 2026 along with the official CRP SPL-XVI notification. Candidates interested in applying for the Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I) post must fulfill the prescribed nationality, age limit, educational qualification, and other eligibility requirements before submitting the online application form. The 2026 notification has introduced a few important updates for agriculture field officer aspirants. Eligible qualifications have been expanded with the inclusion of B.Tech. Biotechnology and fisheries engineering, while IBPS has also clarified that equivalent degrees will not be accepted. Candidates should carefully review the complete eligibility conditions before applying.
IBPS AFO Eligibility 2026
The table below provides a quick overview of the IBPS AFO Eligibility Criteria 2026. Candidates should satisfy each of these conditions on the prescribed cut-off date to be considered eligible for the recruitment process.
| Parameter | Eligibility Requirement |
|---|
| Conducting Body | IBPS |
| Post | Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I) |
| Nationality | As prescribed by IBPS |
| Age Limit | 20–30 Years |
| Age Reference Date | 01 July 2026 |
| Educational Qualification | 4-Year Bachelor's Degree in prescribed disciplines |
| Final Year Students | Not Eligible |
| Work Experience | Not Required |
| Attempts | No Limit (within age limit) |
Check IBPS AFO Notification 2026 PDF
What's New in the IBPS AFO Eligibility 2026?
Compared to previous recruitment cycles, IBPS has made a few important clarifications and additions to the eligibility criteria for Agricultural Field Officer. While the age limit remains unchanged, candidates should pay close attention to the updated educational qualifications and document verification requirements.
- B.Tech Biotechnology has been added as an eligible qualification.
- Fisheries Engineering has been included as a separate eligible discipline.
- The qualifying degree must be completed on or before 21 July 2026.
- Equivalent educational qualifications will not be accepted.
- Candidates should possess computer proficiency through a certificate, diploma, degree, or computer/IT as a subject.
- Aadhaar verification and DigiLocker integration have been introduced during the recruitment process.
IBPS AFO Nationality Criteria 2026
To apply for the Agriculture Field Officer post, candidates must satisfy the nationality conditions prescribed by IBPS. Applicants belonging to certain foreign-origin categories can also apply, provided they possess a valid eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India wherever applicable.
| Eligible Nationality |
|---|
| Citizen of India |
| Subject of Nepal |
| Subject of Bhutan |
| Tibetan Refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 intending to settle permanently |
| Person of Indian Origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India |
Attempt FREE IBPS AFO Mock Test
IBPS AFO Age Limit 2026
Candidates applying for the Agriculture Field Officer post must satisfy the prescribed age criteria as of 01 July 2026. Only candidates falling within the specified age range will be eligible to participate in the recruitment process. Candidates should have been born between 02 July 1996 and 01 July 2006 (both dates inclusive).
| Particular | Age |
|---|
| Minimum Age | 20 Years |
| Maximum Age | 30 Years |
IBPS AFO Age Relaxation
IBPS provides upper age relaxation to candidates belonging to reserved categories as per Government of India guidelines. The applicable category-wise age relaxation is given below. Candidates claiming age relaxation must produce valid supporting certificates during document verification and the interview.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|
| SC/ST | 5 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 10 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen/ECOs/SSCOs | 5 Years |
IBPS AFO Educational Qualification 2026
Educational qualification is one of the most important eligibility requirements for the agriculture field officer post. Candidates must possess a 4-year bachelor's degree in agriculture or one of the prescribed allied disciplines from a recognized university. IBPS has also clarified that equivalent qualifications will not be accepted.
| Eligible Degree Disciplines |
|---|
| Agriculture |
| Horticulture |
| Animal Husbandry |
| Veterinary Science |
| Dairy Science |
| Fishery Science |
| Pisciculture |
| Agricultural Marketing & Cooperation |
| Co-operation & Banking |
| Agro-Forestry |
| Forestry |
| Agricultural Biotechnology |
| B.Tech Biotechnology |
| Food Science |
| Agriculture Business Management |
| Food Technology |
| Dairy Technology |
| Agricultural Engineering |
| Sericulture |
| Fisheries Engineering |
Candidates should note the following important points regarding educational qualifications:
- The final result must have been declared on or before 21 July 2026.
- Equivalent qualifications are not accepted.
- Candidates must produce proof of passing during document verification.
- The degree should be obtained from a recognized university or institution approved by the Government of India.
Apply Online for IBPS AFO 2026
Additional Eligibility Conditions for IBPS AFO 2026
Apart from age and educational qualification, candidates should also fulfill a few additional eligibility conditions mentioned in the official notification.
Final-Year Students
Candidates who are pursuing the final year or awaiting their final results are not eligible to apply. The qualifying degree must be completed, and the result should have been declared on or before 21 July 2026.
Computer Proficiency
Candidates applying for the Agriculture Field Officer post should possess computer knowledge. This requirement can be fulfilled if the candidate has:
- Studied Computer or Information Technology as a subject, or
- Completed a certificate, diploma, or degree in computer operations or computer applications.
Work Experience
IBPS has not prescribed any prior work experience for the Agriculture Field Officer post. Fresh graduates meeting the eligibility criteria are also eligible to apply.
Number of Attempts
There is no restriction on the number of attempts. Candidates can appear for the examination as many times as they wish, provided they satisfy the prescribed age limit and all other eligibility conditions.
