IBPS RRB PO vs IBPS PO, Which one is better?

IBPS RRB PO vs IBPS PO

IBPS RRB PO vs IBPS PO: The RRB PO focuses on rural banking services, while the IBPS PO works in commercial banks. Their differences include job roles, with IBPS POs handling corporate banking and RRB POs assisting rural clients. RRB POs prioritize work-life balance, earn around Rs. 33,000 monthly, and are mainly posted in rural areas, unlike IBPS POs who typically work in urban centers. Additionally, IBPS PO exams are considered harder than those for RRB PO.

IBPS PO Vs IBPS RRB PO – Selection Procedure

The key differences lie in the subjects covered in the Preliminary and Mains exams, as well as the coordinating authority for the interview process.

Note: IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I is a position for the post of Probationary Officer (PO) in the RRBs.

Aspect	IBPS PO	IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I
Phases	Three phases: Preliminary, Mains and Interview	Three phases: Preliminary, Mains and Interview
Preliminary Exam	Consists of three subjects: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability	Consists of two subjects: Reasoning and Numerical Ability
Mains Exam	Consists of five subjects: Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, and Computer Knowledge	Candidates can opt for Hindi or English as a subject along with the other subjects
Interview	Common interview conducted by participating organizations and coordinated by the Bank	Interview coordinated by the Nodal Regional Rural Banks with the help of NABARD and IBPS

IBPS PO Vs IBPS RRB PO – Job Profile

The main differences lie in the versatility, geographical scope, operational areas, specialization opportunities, and learning curve, with IBPS POs having a more diverse and enriching job profile compared to IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I.

Aspect	IBPS PO	IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I
Versatility	More versatile job profile	Less versatile job profile
Area of Operation	Not limited to geographical region	Limited to state or district
Operational Scope	Wide range of work avenues like corporate loans, treasury, forex, managing HNIs, etc. apart from routine banking work	Restricted to providing credit and facilities to small and marginal farmers, agricultural laborers, artisans, and small entrepreneurs in rural areas
Specialization	Many areas of specialization like corporate finance, merchant banking, consultancy services, etc.	Limited specialization opportunities
Learning Curve	Higher learning curve	Lacks the learning curve of POs in PSBs

IBPS PO Vs IBPS RRB PO – Salary and Perks

The table highlights the basic salary for IBPS PO, the in-hand salary range for both roles, and the dependence of HRA on the city of posting for IBPS PO. It also mentions the additional perks provided to IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I and directs readers to the respective resources for more detailed information on salaries and perks.

Aspect	IBPS PO	IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I
In-hand Salary	Rs. 42,000/- to Rs. 44,000/- (including HRA)	Rs. 40,000/- to Rs. 42,000/-
HRA	Depends on city of posting	–
Other Perks	–	Lease accommodation, travelling allowance, medical benefits, newspaper reimbursement, etc.

IBPS PO Vs IBPS RRB PO – Posting Locations

The table highlights the key differences in posting locations for IBPS POs and IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I. IBPS POs can be posted in rural or urban areas and are subject to frequent transfers, while IBPS RRB officers are mainly posted in rural and semi-urban areas within the state/region of the respective RRB, offering better chances of being posted in their hometowns in a shorter time span.

Aspect	IBPS PO	IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I
Posting Areas	Can be posted in rural or urban areas	Mostly posted in rural areas, some in semi-urban areas
Posting in Hometown	Less likely to be posted in hometown initially	Better chances of being posted in hometown in minimum time span
Geographical Limitation	No geographical limitation	Posting limited to the state/region of the RRB (e.g., Haryana for Sarv Haryana Grameen Bank)

IBPS PO Vs IBPS RRB PO – Career Growth

The table clearly highlights the significant difference in career growth opportunities between IBPS POs and IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I. IBPS POs have tremendous promotion prospects, including the potential to reach top posts like Executive Director, Chief Managing Director in commercial banks, and even Deputy Governor in RBI.

Aspect	IBPS PO	IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I
Promotion Opportunities	Tremendous promotion opportunities	Limited promotion opportunities
Top Posts	Can reach Executive Director, Chief Managing Director positions in commercial banks	Can typically reach Chief Manager level after 35 years of service
Examples	SS Mundra (former Deputy Governor, RBI) started as a Probationary Officer	Head of RRB is typically nominated from the ranks of Assistant General Manager of the sponsored commercial bank

IBPS PO and IBPS RRB PO – Mains Exam

The main differences in the Mains exam lie in the subjects covered and the difficulty level. While IBPS PO has five specific subjects, IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I allows candidates to choose between Hindi or English as a subject. The difficulty level of the IBPS PO exam is higher than that of the IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I exam, although the exam pattern and syllabus are largely similar. Candidates preparing for IBPS PO don’t need to prepare separately for the IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I exam.

Aspect	IBPS PO	IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I
Subjects	Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, and Computer Knowledge	Candidates can opt for either Hindi or English as a subject, along with other subjects
Exam Pattern	No major difference in exam pattern and syllabus	No major difference in exam pattern and syllabus
Difficulty Level	Higher difficulty level	Lower difficulty level compared to IBPS PO

IBPS PO and IBPS RRB PO – Preliminary Exam

The table clearly shows the difference in the subjects covered in the Preliminary Exam for IBPS PO and IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I. The IBPS PO Preliminary Exam consists of three subjects like English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability, while the IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I Preliminary Exam includes only two subjects like Reasoning and Numerical Ability.

Exam	IBPS PO	IBPS RRB Officer Scale-I
Subjects	English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability	Reasoning, Numerical Ability
Number of Subjects	3	2

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IBPS RRB PO vs IBPS PO – FAQs