The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) will conduct the IBPS SO 2026 recruitment to fill Specialist Officer (SO) vacancies in various public sector banks. As per the latest schedule, the IBPS SO Prelims Exam will be held on 29th August 2026, and the Mains Exam is scheduled for 1st November 2026. Candidates aspiring for posts like IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari must meet the prescribed eligibility criteria and prepare according to the latest exam pattern and syllabus.
IBPS SO Notification 2026
The IBPS SO Notification 2026 will be released on the official website of IBPS. It will include all the important details related to the recruitment process such as vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, and application process. Candidates are advised to carefully go through the notification before applying.
Download IBPS SO Notification PDF
IBPS SO Schedule 2026
The IBPS SO Exam Dates 2026 have been announced as part of the official IBPS Exam Calendar. Candidates should be aware of these dates to plan their preparation effectively.
| Sr. No. | Activity | IBPS SO 2026 Dates |
|---|
| 1 | Online Examination – Preliminary | 29th August 2026 |
| 2 | Online Examination – Main | 1st November 2026 |
IBPS SO 2026 Exam Overview
The IBPS SO Exam is a national-level competitive examination conducted by IBPS to recruit Specialist Officers in participating public sector banks. Candidates are selected through a three-stage process involving Prelims, Mains, and Interview.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|
| Exam Name | IBPS Specialist Officer (SO) |
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Posts | IT Officer, AFO, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer |
| Exam Mode | Online (CBT) |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains & Interview |
| Official Website | www.ibps.in |
Attempt Free IBPS SO Mock Test
IBPS SO Vacancy 2026
Last year, 1007 Specialist Officer (SO) vacancies were announced in the IBPS SO Notification, covering posts such as IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, Law Officer, Marketing Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari. Check the post wise IBPS SO Vacancy below.
IBPS SO Vacancy Post Wise
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released a total of 1007 vacancies for the recruitment of Specialist Officers (SO) under the CRP SPL-XV drive. These vacancies are distributed across six key posts: IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, Law Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari, all in Scale I. The vacancies are allocated category-wise and post-wise across various participating Public Sector Banks. Below is a detailed breakdown of vacancies for each role:
| Post Name | Tentative Vacancies |
|---|
| IT Officer (Scale-I) | 203 |
| Agricultural Field Officer (AFO) | 310 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari | 78 |
| Law Officer | 56 |
| HR/Personnel Officer | 10 |
| Marketing Officer | 350 |
| Total | 1007 |
Previous Year IBPS AFO Vacancy
The Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) post has a total of 310 vacancies, making it one of the highest among all SO posts. The majority of these vacancies are offered by Punjab National Bank (150), followed by Bank of Maharashtra (80) and Indian Overseas Bank (80).
| Participating Banks | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | General | Total |
|---|
| Bank of Maharashtra | 12 | 06 | 21 | 08 | 33 | 80 |
| Canara Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Indian Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Indian Overseas Bank | 12 | 06 | 21 | 08 | 33 | 80 |
| Punjab National Bank | 21 | 11 | 40 | 15 | 62 | 150 |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| UCO Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Union Bank of India | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Total | 46 | 23 | 82 | 31 | 128 | 310 |
Previous Year IBPS HR/Personnel Officer Scale I Vacancy
The HR/Personnel Officer role has the lowest number of vacancies, with only 10 positions available. All these vacancies are in Bank of Baroda, making it a highly limited but specialized opportunity.
| Participating Banks | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | General | Total |
|---|
| Bank of Baroda | 01 | -- | 02 | 01 | 06 | 10 |
| Canara Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Indian Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| UCO Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Union Bank of India | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Total | 01 | -- | 02 | 01 | 06 | 10 |
Previous Year IBPS IT Officer Scale I Vacancy
A total of 203 vacancies have been announced for the IT Officer post. The key recruiters include Punjab National Bank (100), Bank of Maharashtra (80), and Indian Overseas Bank (20), targeting candidates with a background in information technology and related fields.
| Participating Banks | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | General | Total |
|---|
| Bank of India | -- | -- | -- | -- | 03 | 03 |
| Bank of Maharashtra | 12 | 06 | 21 | 08 | 33 | 80 |
| Canara Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Indian Overseas Bank | 03 | 01 | 05 | 02 | 09 | 20 |
| Indian Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Punjab National Bank | 15 | 07 | 27 | 10 | 41 | 100 |
| UCO Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Union Bank of India | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Total | 30 | 14 | 53 | 20 | 86 | 203 |
Previous Year IBPS Law Officer Scale I Vacancy
There are 56 vacancies for the Law Officer post. These positions are mainly offered by Bank of Maharashtra (30) and Central Bank of India (25), intended for candidates with a professional degree in law.
| Participating Banks | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | General | Total |
|---|
| Bank of Maharashtra | 04 | 02 | 08 | 03 | 13 | 30 |
| Canara Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Central Bank of India | 03 | 01 | 06 | 02 | 13 | 25 |
| Indian Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| UCO Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Union Bank of India | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Total | 07 | 03 | 14 | 05 | 27 | 56 |
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Previous Year IBPS Marketing Officer Scale I Vacancy
The Marketing Officer post offers the highest number of vacancies, with 350 positions, all released by Punjab National Bank. This role is ideal for candidates with marketing qualifications and experience in business promotion.
| Participating Banks | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | General | Total |
|---|
| Canara Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Indian Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Punjab National Bank | 52 | 26 | 94 | 35 | 143 | 350 |
| UCO Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Union Bank of India | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Total | 52 | 26 | 94 | 35 | 143 | 350 |
Previous Year IBPS Rajbhasha Adhikari Scale I
A total of 78 vacancies are available for the Rajbhasha Adhikari post. The positions are spread across various banks, with major contributions from Bank of Baroda (23), Central Bank of India (20), and Indian Overseas Bank (14). This role is suited for candidates with qualifications in Hindi and translation.
| Participating Banks | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | General | Total |
|---|
| Bank of Baroda | 03 | 01 | 06 | 02 | 11 | 23 |
| Bank of India | -- | -- | 01 | -- | -- | 01 |
| Bank of Maharashtra | 01 | -- | 02 | 01 | 06 | 10 |
| Canara Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Central Bank of India | 03 | 01 | 05 | 02 | 09 | 20 |
| Indian Overseas Bank | 02 | 01 | 03 | 01 | 07 | 14 |
| Indian Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Punjab National Bank | 01 | -- | 02 | 01 | 06 | 10 |
| UCO Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Union Bank of India | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Total | 30 | 14 | 53 | 20 | 86 | 203 |
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What is the eligibility criteria for IBPS SO?
The IBPS SO Eligibility Criteria includes nationality, age limit, and educational qualification. Only those candidates who meet the criteria as of the date mentioned in the notification will be eligible to apply.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen or as specified in the notification |
| Age Limit | 20 to 30 years |
| Educational Qualification | Varies as per the post (Graduation/PG/Professional Degree in relevant field), for example:
IT Officer: B.Tech/BE in CS/ IT or equivalent Law Officer: LLB Degree HR/Marketing Officer: MBA in HR/Marketing |
What is the selection process for IBPS SO?
The IBPS SO selection process consists of three stages – Preliminary Examination, Mains Examination, and Interview. Only those candidates who qualify each stage will be shortlisted for final appointment.
| Stage | Description |
|---|
| Prelims | Online objective test (Post-specific sections) |
| Mains | Online test to evaluate professional knowledge |
| Interview | Conducted by participating banks with IBPS |
What is the exam pattern for IBPS SO Exam?
The IBPS SO Exam Pattern is different for Law Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, and other Specialist Officers. Prelims consist of objective questions, while Mains focus on subject knowledge. The Prelims Exam Pattern for IT Officer, HR, Marketing, AFO:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 mins |
| Reasoning Ability | 50 | 50 | 40 mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 mins |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 mins |
The Prelims Exam Pattern for Law Officer & Rajbhasha Adhikari:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 mins |
| Reasoning Ability | 50 | 50 | 40 mins |
| General Awareness (Banking) | 50 | 50 | 40 mins |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 mins |
The Main Exam Pattern for Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer
| Name of the Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Duration |
|---|
| Professional Knowledge | 60 | 60 | English & Hindi | 45 minutes |
The Main Exam Pattern for the Post of Rajbhasha Adhikari
| Name of the Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Duration |
|---|
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 45 | 60 | English & Hindi | 30 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Descriptive) | 2 | English & Hindi | 30 minutes |
Syllabus for IBPS SO Exam
The IBPS SO Syllabus includes three main sections in Prelims and a specialized professional knowledge test in Mains. The syllabus differs according to the post. Check the IBPS SO Syllabus below for prelims and mains -
IBPS SO Prelims Syllabus
Candidates appearing for the IBPS SO Preliminary Examination will be tested on subjects such as Reasoning Ability, English Language, and Quantitative Aptitude or General Awareness, depending on the post applied for. Below is the detailed topic-wise syllabus for these sections:
| Reasoning Ability | English Language | Quantitative Aptitude | General Awareness |
|---|
| Seating Arrangements | Cloze Test | Number Series | Current Affairs |
| Puzzles | Reading Comprehension | Data Interpretation | Banking Awareness |
| Inequalities | Spotting Errors | Simplification/Approximation | GK Updates |
| Syllogism | Sentence Improvement | Quadratic Equation | Currencies |
| Input-Output | Sentence Correction | Data Sufficiency | Important Places |
| Data Sufficiency | Para Jumbles | Mensuration | Books and Authors |
| Blood Relations | Fill in the Blanks | Average | Awards |
| Order and Ranking | Para/Sentence Completion | Profit and Loss | Headquarters |
| Alphanumeric Series | Ratio and Proportion | Prime Minister Schemes |
| Distance and Direction | Work, Time and Energy | Important Days |
| Verbal Reasoning | Time and Distance |
| Probability |
| Relations |
| Simple and Compound Interest |
| Permutation and Combination |
IBPS SO Professional Knowledge (Post-wise) Syllabus
Apart from the preliminary subjects, candidates must prepare for the Professional Knowledge section in the IBPS SO Mains exam. This section is based on the specific domain chosen by the candidate such as IT, Agriculture, Marketing, HR, or Law. Here's the post-wise detailed syllabus:
| Post | Professional Knowledge Topics |
|---|
| IT Officer (Scale-I) | Database Management System, Data Communication and Networking, Operating System, Software Engineering, Data Structure, Computer Organization, OOPs, Microprocessor |
| Agricultural Field Officer | Crop Production, Horticulture, Seed Science, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Soil Resources, Animal Husbandry, Agroforestry, Government Schemes, Ecology |
| Marketing Officer (Scale-I) | Marketing Management, Brand Management, Advertising, Public Relations, Sales, Retail, Business Ethics, Market Segmentation, CSR, Product Life Cycle, Marketing Strategies |
| Law Officer (Scale-I) | Banking Regulations, Legal Compliance, Negotiable Instruments, Foreign Exchange Laws, Money-laundering Act, Limitation Act, SARFAESI, DRT Act, Consumer Protection Act |
| HR/Personnel Officer (Scale-I) | HR Development, Strategic Analysis, Training and Development, Recruitment, Rewards, Industrial Relations, Grievance Management, Performance Appraisal |
IBPS SO Exam Cut Off 2026
The IBPS SO Cut-Off will be released post-exam and will depend on several factors such as difficulty level, number of vacancies, and overall performance of candidates. Separate cut-offs will be released for each stage and category.
| Stage | Type of Cut-Off |
|---|
| Prelims | Sectional & Overall |
| Mains | Professional Knowledge |
| Final | Combined Mains + Interview |
