IBPS Clerk

The IBPS Clerk exam is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) for the recruitment of candidates to the position of Clerks in various public sector banks across India. This is one of the most popular banking exams, and it offers candidates a chance to secure a job in some of the largest public sector banks in the country.

Here’s a comprehensive overview of the IBPS Clerk exam:

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1. Overview of IBPS Clerk

• Position: Clerk (also known as Office Assistant)
• Conducting Authority: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
• Purpose: To recruit candidates for the clerical positions in various public sector banks in India.
• Job Location: Across India, with postings in different branches of the participating banks.
• Exam Frequency: Annually
• Mode of Exam: Online (Computer-based)
• Selection Process: Two-stage process: Preliminary Exam and Main Exam.

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2. Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the IBPS Clerk exam, candidates must meet certain criteria:

• Nationality:
  • The candidate must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal, or a subject of Bhutan.
  • A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, East African countries (Uganda, Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, Vietnam) with the intention of settling permanently in India, are also eligible.
• Age Limit:
  • Minimum Age: 20 years
  • Maximum Age: 28 years
  • Age relaxation is provided for candidates from reserved categories:
    • SC/ST: 5 years
    • OBC: 3 years
    • PWD: 10 years (SC/ST), 13 years (OBC), 15 years (PWD candidates belonging to SC/ST)
  • Ex-Servicemen: 5 years
• Educational Qualification:
  • Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Government of India.
  • Proficiency in the local language of the state/UT is necessary.
  • Candidates should also possess basic computer knowledge (i.e., knowledge of MS Office, Internet, etc.).
• Other Requirements:
  • The candidate should be able to read, write, and speak the local language of the state for which they are applying.

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3. Exam Pattern

The IBPS Clerk exam consists of two stages:

• Preliminary Exam:
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Total Marks: 100
  • Subjects:
    1. English Language (30 questions, 30 marks)
    2. Reasoning Ability (35 questions, 35 marks)
    3. Quantitative Aptitude (35 questions, 35 marks)
  • Negative Marking: 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.
• Main Exam:
  • Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes
  • Total Marks: 200
  • Subjects:
    1. Reasoning Ability (50 questions, 60 marks)
    2. Quantitative Aptitude (50 questions, 50 marks)
    3. English Language (40 questions, 40 marks)
    4. General/Financial Awareness (50 questions, 50 marks)
  • Negative Marking: 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.

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4. Application Process

• Registration: Candidates need to apply online through the official IBPS website (https://www.ibps.in).
• Application Fee:
  • SC/ST/PWBD/EXSM candidates: ₹175
  • General and OBC candidates: ₹850
• Documents Required:
  • Recent passport-size photograph
  • Scanned signature
  • Proof of age (Birth certificate/10th class mark sheet)
  • Educational qualification certificates
  • Caste certificate (if applicable)
  • Identity proof (e.g., Aadhar, PAN card, voter ID, etc.)

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5. Syllabus

The syllabus for both the Preliminary Exam and Main Exam is extensive and covers a variety of topics.

• Preliminary Exam:
  1. English Language: Reading comprehension, error spotting, fill in the blanks, sentence rearrangement, grammar, vocabulary, etc.
  2. Reasoning Ability: Puzzles, seating arrangement, coding-decoding, inequality, blood relations, direction sense, syllogism, input-output, etc.
  3. Quantitative Aptitude: Simplification, percentage, average, time and work, time and distance, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, number series, etc.
• Main Exam:
  1. Reasoning Ability: Higher-level puzzles, logical reasoning, data sufficiency, blood relations, coding-decoding, etc.
  2. Quantitative Aptitude: Advanced problems on number series, data interpretation, percentages, averages, time and work, etc.
  3. English Language: Reading comprehension, cloze test, sentence correction, vocabulary, para-jumbles, etc.
  4. General/Financial Awareness: Current affairs, banking awareness, financial institutions, economic and financial reports, RBI guidelines, government schemes, etc.

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6. Admit Card and Results

• Admit Card: Candidates can download their admit cards for the IBPS Clerk exam from the official IBPS website. It is typically available 10-15 days before the exam date.
• Results: IBPS will release the results of the Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and the final result (after interview, if applicable) on its official website.

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7. Salary and Perks

• Basic Pay: The starting basic pay for IBPS Clerk is around ₹19,900 per month.
• Additional Allowances:
  • Dearness Allowance (DA)
  • House Rent Allowance (HRA)
  • Special Allowance
  • Transport Allowance
  • Medical Allowance
• The total salary can range from ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 per month depending on the location and allowances.

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8. Job Profile and Responsibilities

The job profile of an IBPS Clerk includes a variety of clerical tasks:

• Customer Service: Interacting with customers and addressing their queries.
• Account Management: Managing bank accounts and ensuring accurate data entry.
• Cash Handling: Handling cash transactions and maintaining records.
• Record Keeping: Managing and maintaining important bank documents.
• Clearing and Settlement: Processing payments, clearing cheques, and managing settlement.

Career Growth:

• Promotion in the clerical cadre can lead to a position as an Officer (PO), after fulfilling the required eligibility criteria and passing internal exams.
• Career progression can also lead to higher roles like Branch Manager or Assistant Manager.

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9. Important Dates (General Timeline)

• Notification Release: Typically in August/September
• Online Application: Usually starts in September and lasts for 15-20 days
• Prelims Exam Date: November/December
• Main Exam Date: January
• Final Result: February/March

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10. Preparation Tips

• Know the Syllabus: Understand the full syllabus and make a study plan accordingly.
• Time Management: Develop strategies for time management, as both the Preliminary and Main exams have time constraints.
• Mock Tests: Practice regularly with mock tests to improve speed and accuracy.
• Stay Updated: Keep yourself informed about current affairs and financial awareness.
• Revise Regularly: Regular revision is crucial to retain key concepts and formulas.