IBPS SO 2026 Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Selection Process Guide

Preparing for the upcoming IBPS SO 2026 examination requires a thorough understanding of the exam structure, syllabus, and selection methodology. Participation includes 11 public sector banks, making it one of the premier banking recruitment drives for specialist officers across various domains. Whether you are aiming for IT Officer Scale I, AFO, Marketing Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Law Officer, or Rajbhasha Adhikari, staying updated with the latest changes is vital.

IBPS SO 2026 Overview & Important Dates

The examination timeline has been officially announced. Candidates should mark their calendars for the IBPS SO Prelims Exam Date scheduled for 29th August 2026. Following qualification, the mains exam will take place on 1st November 2026. Keep track of updates and ensure you download your IBPS SO Admit Card 2026 Out - Click to Download once available to avoid last-minute hassle.

What's New in IBPS SO Exam Pattern?

• Pattern for both prelims and mains has been changed
• Number of Questions in Prelims are reduced to 100 and time duration is now 80 minutes.
• Professional Knowledge subject added in prelims exam.
• Number of Questions increased in Mains Exam. Now 150 Objective and 2 descriptive questions will be asked for 225 marks in total.
• Duration of mains exam is revised to 155 minutes.

IBPS SO 2026 Selection Process

The selection process consists of three phases: Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview. Review the breakdown below:

• Preliminary Exam – Qualifying round only — score not counted in final merit
• Mains Exam — Professional Knowledge — score counted in final merit
• Interview – Final stage — combined with Mains for selection

Exam Pattern for Prelims and Mains

IBPS SO Prelims exam duration is 80 minutes for 100 questions (125 marks total). Negative marking is 1/4th (0.25) of the marks for both Prelims and Mains. Preliminary Exam is qualifying in nature and its score is not counted in the final merit list. Reasoning and English Language are common subjects in all 6 posts for Prelims.

IT Officer Scale I, AFO, Marketing Officer (Scale I), and HR/Personnel Officer have Quantitative Aptitude in Prelims, whereas Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari have General Awareness with special reference to the Banking Industry instead.

The IBPS SO Mains exam consists of 152 questions assessing professional knowledge and other sections, totaling 225 marks in 155 minutes. Mains exam for general posts includes 150 objective questions and 2 descriptive questions for 225 marks in total, lasting 155 minutes. Final Merit List ratio is 80:20 (Mains: Interview).

Syllabus Overlap & Subject Breakdown

• Reasoning & English Language is common is All 6 posts (Prelims)
• 4 posts (IT Officer Scale I, AFO, Marketing Officer (Scale I), HR/Personnel Officer) get Quant in Prelims; while Law Officer & Rajbhasha get General Awareness instead
• Mains Professional Knowledge syllabus is different for all posts.

Reasoning Ability Syllabus

• Seating Arrangements
• Puzzles
• Inequalities
• Syllogism
• Input-Output
• Data Sufficiency
• Blood Relations
• Order and Ranking
• Alphanumeric Series
• Distance and Direction
• Verbal Reasoning

English Language Syllabus

• Cloze Test
• Reading Comprehension
• Spotting Errors
• Sentence Improvement
• Sentence Correction
• Para Jumbles
• Fill in the Blanks
• Para/Sentence Completion
• Column Based
• Sentence Rearrangement
• Word Swap
• Sentence-Based Error
• Spelling Errors
• Connectors

Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

• Number Series
• Data Interpretation
• Simplification/ Approximation
• Quadratic Equation
• Data Sufficiency
• Mensuration
• Average
• Profit and Loss Ratio
• Proportion Work,
• Time and Energy
• Time and Distance
• Probability
• Relations
• Simple and Compound Interest
• Permutation and Combination

General Awareness Syllabus

• Current Affairs
• GK Updates
• Currencies
• Important Places
• Books and Authors
• Headquarters
• Prime Minister Schemes
• Centre Government Schemes
• Important Days
• RBI Circulars
• Static Banking

Professional Knowledge Syllabus by Post

IBPS SO IT Officer (Scale-I) Syllabus

• Database Management System
• Data Communication and Networking
• Operating System
• Software Engineering
• Data Structure
• Computer Organization and Microprocessor
• Object Oriented Programming

IBPS AFO Syllabus (Agricultural Field Officer Scale-I)

Click to Check Detailed IBPS AFO Syllabus 2026

• Basics of Crop Production
• Horticulture
• Seed Science
• Agronomy and Irrigation
• Agricultural Economies
• Agricultural Practices
• Soil resources
• Animal Husbandry
• Agroforestry
• Ecology
• Government Schemes

IBPS SO Marketing Officer (Scale-I) Syllabus

• Basics of Marketing Management
• Brand Management
• Advertising
• PR
• Sales
• Retail
• Business Ethics
• Market Segmentation
• Market research and forecasting demand
• Product Life Cycle
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Service Marketing
• Marketing Strategies

IBPS SO Law Officer (Scale-I) Syllabus

Click to Check Detailed IBPS Law Officer Syllabus 2026

• Banking Regulations
• Compliance and Legal Aspects
• Relevant Law and Orders related to negotiable instruments, securities, and foreign exchange
• Prevention of Money-laundering, Limitation Act
• Consumer Protection Act
• SARFAES
• Banking Ombudsman Scheme
• Laws and Actions with a direct link to the Banking Sector
• Bankers Book Evidence Act
• DRT Act

IBPS SO HR/Personnel Officer (Scale-I) Syllabus

• Human Resource Development
• Business policy and strategic analysis
• Transnational Analysis
• Training and Development
• Recruitment and Selection
• Rewards and Recognition
• Industrial Relations
• Business Policy and Strategic Analysis
• Grievance and Conflict Management
• Performance Management and Appraisal

Interview Process Guidelines

• Only Mains-qualified candidates are called for interview.
• The final merit list is based on Mains score + Interview score combined.
• Document verification is conducted during or after the interview process.
• Candidates must carry all original certificates to the interview.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is IBPS SO prelims score counted in final merit?

No. The IBPS SO Preliminary Exam score is NOT counted in the final merit list. It is only a qualifying stage. Final selection is based on Mains Exam score and Interview performance only.

Is IBPS SO Mains Syllabus same for all posts?

No, the IBPS SO Mains syllabus is not the same for all posts.

What is the selection process for IBPS SO Exam 2026?

The selection process for IBPS SO Exam is Prelims, Main Exams, Interview.

What is the negative marking in IBPS SO?

There is a negative marking of ¼ mark (0.25 marks) deducted for every wrong answer in the IBPS SO exam — applicable to both Prelims and Mains examinations.

How many questions are in IBPS SO Prelims?

The IBPS SO Prelims consists of 100 multiple-choice questions carrying 125 marks in 120 minutes. Each of the three sections (Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude/General Awareness) has 50 questions and a separate 40-minute time limit.

What is the IBPS SO IT Officer mains syllabus?

The IBPS SO IT Officer Mains syllabus covers: Database Management System, Data Communication and Networking, Operating System, Software Engineering, Data Structure, Computer Organization and Microprocessor, and Object Oriented Programming.