IBPS Recruitment 2025 – Complete Guide to PO, Clerk, SO & RRB Exams
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Established in 1975, it conducts recruitment for various public sector banks (except SBI). It ensures fair, transparent, and efficient selection through online exams and interviews.
Each year, lakhs of aspirants compete in IBPS exams for posts such as:
Probationary Officer (PO)
Clerk
Specialist Officer (SO)
RRB Officer Scale I, II, III
RRB Office Assistant (Multipurpose)
IBPS Exam Calendar 2025 (Tentative)
| Exam Name | Prelims Exam Date | Mains Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| IBPS RRB Office Assistant | Aug 2025 | Oct 2025 |
| IBPS RRB Officer Scale I | Aug 2025 | Oct 2025 |
| IBPS Clerk | Aug–Sept 2025 | Oct 2025 |
| IBPS PO | Oct 2025 | Nov 2025 |
| IBPS SO | Dec 2025 | Jan 2026 |
✅ The official IBPS calendar will be published on ibps.in. Candidates are advised to check regularly.
IBPS Posts & Departments
| Exam | Department/Post |
|---|---|
| IBPS PO | Probationary Officer (Junior Management) |
| IBPS Clerk | Clerical Cadre |
| IBPS SO | IT, HR, Marketing, Law, Agriculture, Rajbhasha Adhikari |
| IBPS RRB Officer Scale I | Assistant Manager |
| IBPS RRB Officer Scale II & III | Manager & Senior Manager |
| IBPS RRB Office Assistant | Clerical-level post in rural banks |
IBPS Eligibility Criteria
📅 Age Limit (as on notification date)
| Post | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Clerk | 20–28 years |
| PO | 20–30 years |
| SO | 20–30 years |
| RRB Office Assistant | 18–28 years |
| RRB Officer Scale I | 18–30 years |
| RRB Officer Scale II | 21–32 years |
| RRB Officer Scale III | 21–40 years |
Age relaxation available for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/Ex-Servicemen categories as per government rules.
🎓 Educational Qualification
Clerk/PO: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
SO: Degree in a specific domain like B.Tech, MBA, LLB, or MA (Hindi).
RRB: Graduation + knowledge of the local language.
🌐 Computer Literacy
Basic computer knowledge is required for most posts.
Certificate/diploma in computer operation/language is a plus.
IBPS Selection Process
IBPS PO & Clerk:
Prelims Exam (qualifying)
Mains Exam
Interview (Only for PO)
Final Merit & Provisional Allotment
IBPS SO:
Prelims
Mains (Professional Knowledge)
Interview
IBPS RRB:
Office Assistant: Prelims + Mains
Officer Scale I: Prelims + Mains + Interview
Officer Scale II & III: Single exam + Interview
IBPS Exam Pattern
IBPS PO & Clerk – Prelims
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | 30 | 30 | 20 mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 mins |
IBPS PO & Clerk – Mains
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 mins |
| General/Economic Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 mins |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 mins |
| Data Interpretation & Analysis | 35 | 60 | 45 mins |
| Total | 155 + Descriptive (Essay & Letter) | 200 + 25 | 3.5 hrs |
Penalty of 0.25 marks for wrong answers.
IBPS Syllabus 2025 (Overview)
Quantitative Aptitude:
Simplification
Number Series
Profit & Loss
Percentage, SI & CI
Data Interpretation
Time & Work
Reasoning Ability:
Puzzles & Seating Arrangements
Blood Relations
Syllogism
Coding-Decoding
Direction Sense
English:
Cloze Test
Reading Comprehension
Sentence Improvement
Para Jumbles
Grammar & Vocabulary
General Awareness:
Current Affairs (last 6 months)
Banking & Financial Awareness
Static GK
Computer Knowledge:
Basics of Computers
Internet & Networking
MS Office
Operating Systems
IBPS Application Process
Follow these steps to apply online:
Visit ibps.in
Choose the appropriate IBPS exam link
Register using mobile/email
Upload:
Photograph
Signature
Handwritten declaration
Thumb impression
Pay the application fee online
Download confirmation page for reference
💸 Application Fees
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC | ₹850 |
| SC / ST / PwD | ₹175 |
How to Prepare for IBPS Exams
📚 Start early: Begin 5–6 months in advance.
🧠 Focus on speed & accuracy with mock tests.
📖 Use quality books: Arihant, Disha, Kiran, Adda247.
📰 Read newspapers for current affairs.
🧪 Solve PYQs to understand exam trends.
Best Books for IBPS
| Section | Books |
|---|---|
| Quant | RS Aggarwal, Fast Track Objective (Arihant) |
| Reasoning | MK Pandey, R.S. Aggarwal |
| English | SP Bakshi, Plinth to Paramount |
| GA | Banking Awareness by Arihant, Lucent GK |
| Computer | Arihant Computer Knowledge |