The IBPS SO Law Officer (Scale I) examination is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) for law graduates seeking recruitment as Specialist Officers in participating public sector banks. The exam tests candidates on aptitude, banking awareness and professional legal knowledge, along with descriptive writing skills in the Mains examination.
IBPS SO Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026
The IBPS SO Law Officer selection process consists of Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Interview. Candidates need to qualify the required stages of the examination to proceed to the next stage, with the exam pattern covering both general aptitude and professional knowledge.
IBPS SO Law Officer Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The Preliminary Examination consists of four objective sections with separate sectional time limits. The Professional Knowledge section carries 50 marks, while English Language, Reasoning and General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry carry 25 marks each.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 125 | 80 Minutes |
IBPS SO Law Officer Mains Exam Pattern 2026
The Mains Examination includes objective sections along with a Descriptive Paper in English. The Professional Knowledge section carries the highest marks in the objective test, while the Descriptive Paper assesses candidates’ ability to present legal opinions, arguments and other written responses clearly.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 50 | 100 | 45 Minutes |
| Subtotal | 150 | 200 | 125 Minutes |
| Descriptive Paper (English) | 2 | 25 | 30 Minutes |
| Total | 152 | 225 | 155 Minutes |
IBPS SO Law Officer Syllabus 2026
The IBPS SO Law Officer syllabus covers aptitude subjects such as English, Reasoning and General Awareness along with Professional Knowledge in Law. The Mains syllabus further focuses on banking-related laws, constitutional and administrative law, commercial laws, property laws, criminal law, evidence and regulatory laws, along with descriptive legal writing.
| Section | Important Topics |
| English Language | Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Detection, Sentence Improvement, Para Jumbles, Fill in the Blanks, Vocabulary, Phrase Replacement, Word Usage |
| Reasoning Ability | Seating Arrangement, Puzzles, Blood Relations, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Direction Sense, Inequalities, Order & Ranking, Data Sufficiency, Logical Reasoning, Input-Output |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | Current Affairs, Banking Terminology, History and Evolution of Banking in India, Monetary Policy, RBI Functions, Financial Institutions, Government Schemes, Budget and Economic Survey, Awards, Summits and Important Days |
| Professional Knowledge (Law) | Constitution of India, Indian Contract Act, Negotiable Instruments Act, Indian Evidence Act, Banking Regulation Act, RBI Act, Companies Act, Limitation Act, Transfer of Property Act, Sale of Goods Act, Criminal Law, Legal Terminology and Maxims |
IBPS SO Law Officer Mains Syllabus 2026
The Mains syllabus gives greater emphasis to professional legal knowledge and application of laws relevant to banking operations. Candidates should cover banking laws, constitutional and administrative law, commercial and property laws, criminal and evidence law, consumer and regulatory laws, as well as the Descriptive Paper.
| Area | Important Topics |
| Banking Related Laws | Banking Regulation Act, RBI Act, SARFAESI Act, Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, Negotiable Instruments Act, Banking Ombudsman Scheme, KYC/AML Guidelines |
| Constitutional and Administrative Law | Fundamental Rights and Duties, Directive Principles of State Policy, Writs, Judicial Review, Union and State Legislature, Administrative Tribunals |
| Contract and Commercial Law | Indian Contract Act, Sale of Goods Act, Indian Partnership Act, Companies Act, Limited Liability Partnership Act, Arbitration and Conciliation Act |
| Property and Security Laws | Transfer of Property Act, Registration Act, Indian Stamp Act, Mortgage, Pledge, Hypothecation, Lien, Guarantee and Indemnity |
| Criminal and Evidence Law | Indian Penal Code/Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Criminal Procedure Code/Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, Indian Evidence Act |
| Consumer and Regulatory Law | Consumer Protection Act, RTI Act, FEMA, PMLA, Information Technology Act |
| Descriptive Paper | Legal Drafting, Notices, Agreements, Legal Opinions, Précis Writing, Essay Writing, Case Analysis and Reasoned Answers |
| Miscellaneous Topics | Alternative Dispute Resolution, RTI in Banking, Digital Banking, Data Protection Law, Legal Maxims and Latin Terms |
Most Important Topics for IBPS SO Law Officer 2026
Candidates should give particular attention to professional knowledge topics that are directly relevant to banking operations and frequently form an important part of Law Officer preparation. Banking laws, contract and commercial laws, property and security laws, and regulatory laws should be revised thoroughly along with the aptitude sections.
| Priority Area | Most Important Topics |
| Banking Laws | Banking Regulation Act, RBI Act, SARFAESI Act, IBC, Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy Act, Negotiable Instruments Act |
| Contract & Commercial Laws | Indian Contract Act, Sale of Goods Act, Companies Act, Partnership Act, LLP Act, Arbitration and Conciliation Act |
| Property & Security Laws | Transfer of Property Act, Mortgage, Pledge, Hypothecation, Lien, Guarantee and Indemnity |
| Constitutional Law | Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Writs, Judicial Review |
| Criminal & Evidence Law | BNS, BNSS, Indian Evidence Act, Cheating, Forgery and Criminal Breach of Trust |
| Regulatory Laws | PMLA, FEMA, Consumer Protection Act, RTI Act, IT Act and KYC/AML Guidelines |
| Descriptive Writing | Legal Notices, Agreements, Legal Opinions, Précis, Essays and Case Analysis |
FAQs
Q1: What is the exam pattern for IBPS SO Law Officer 2026?
A1: The IBPS SO Law Officer Prelims consists of English Language, Reasoning, General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry, and Professional Knowledge. The Mains includes objective sections and a Descriptive Paper in English.
Q2: What subjects are included in the IBPS SO Law Officer syllabus?
A2: The syllabus includes English Language, Reasoning Ability, General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry, and Professional Knowledge in Law.
Q3: Which topics are important for IBPS SO Law Officer Professional Knowledge?
A3: Important areas include the Constitution, Indian Contract Act, Banking Regulation Act, RBI Act, SARFAESI Act, IBC, Negotiable Instruments Act, Companies Act, Transfer of Property Act, PMLA, FEMA and other banking-related laws.
Q4: Is there a Descriptive Paper in the IBPS SO Law Officer Mains exam?
A4: Yes. The Mains includes a 25-mark Descriptive Paper in English covering areas such as legal drafting, précis writing, essay writing and case analysis.
Q5: How should I prepare for the IBPS SO Law Officer exam?
A5: Candidates should build strong concepts in professional law subjects, regularly practise aptitude questions, stay updated with banking awareness and current affairs, and practise legal drafting and descriptive writing for Mains.
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