IBPS RRB Clerk Exam Syllabus 2026 (Prelims + Mains), Exam Pattern & Past Year Analysis

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts a prelims and a mains exam to recruit eligible candidates for the Clerk (Office Assistant) post. To start preparing for the exam, candidates must first understand the IBPS RRB Clerk Syllabus 2026 and the exam pattern. Preparing with the syllabus and exam pattern helps candidates to focus on the relevant topics rather than wasting their time on irrelevant topics and to prioritise important topics.

In this article, we have discussed the complete exam pattern and syllabus, including the subject-wise topics for both the prelims and mains exam. Candidates must check all the topics and must prepare accordingly for the exam.

IBPS RRB Clerk Exam Pattern 2026

The IBPS RRB Clerk 2026 Exam is conducted in two stages, i.e., Prelims and Mains, with different sections, weightage, and time limits. Understanding the exam pattern outlines the subject-wise questions, marks, duration, and more for the exam.

IBPS RRB Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

The exam comprises two sections, i.e., Reasoning Ability and Quantitative Aptitude. Each section consists of 40 questions, carrying 40 marks, making a total of 80 marks for the exam.

A total time duration of 45 minutes is allocated, with a sectional time limit for each part.
A negative marking system is in place, deducting 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.

Section	Number of Questions	Marks	Duration
Reasoning Ability	40	40	25 Minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	40	40	20 Minutes
Total	80	80	45 Minutes

IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026

The mains exam consists of five sections, i.e., Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, English/Hindi Language, and Computer Knowledge.
The total number of questions asked will be 200 for a maximum of 200 marks.
The exam has sectional timing, i.e., 30 minutes each for Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude & Language sections and 15 minutes each for General Awareness & Computer Knowledge (120 minutes: Total Duration)
There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer

Sections	Number of Questions	Marks	Duration
Reasoning Ability	40	50	30 Minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	40	50	30 Minutes
General Awareness	40	40	15 Minutes
English/Hindi Language	40	40	30 Minutes
Computer Knowledge	40	20	15 Minutes
Total	200	200	2 Hours

IBPS RRB Clerk Prelims Syllabus 2026

The IBPS RRB Clerk (Office Assistant) Prelims Exam 2026 is the first stage of selection that includes questions from Reasoning Ability and Numerical Ability subjects for which topics have been discussed below.

Reasoning Ability Syllabus

Alphabet/Number/Symbol Series: Identifying patterns and sequences involving alphabets, numbers, and symbols.
Inequality: Solving equations to determine relationships between given elements.
Syllogism: Analysing deductive reasoning involving two or more premises and a conclusion.
Order & Ranking: Arranging elements based on given criteria like height, weight, rank, etc.
Coding-Decoding: Deciphering codes based on given rules or patterns.
Direction sense: Determining directions (e.g., north, south, east, west) based on given information or clues.
Blood Relation: Understanding family relationships and blood ties between individuals.
Circular/Triangular/Rectangular/Square Seating Arrangement: Arranging elements in a circular, triangular, rectangular, or square formation based on given conditions.
Linear Seating Arrangement: Arranging elements in a linear formation (e.g., in a row) based on given conditions.
Box-Based Puzzle: Solving puzzles where elements are placed in boxes according to given conditions.
Floor- or Floor-flat-Based Puzzles: Solving puzzles where elements are placed on different floors of a building according to given conditions.
Day/Month/Year-Based Puzzle: Solving puzzles involving arranging elements based on specific days, months, or years.
Comparison/Categorised/Uncertain Puzzles Miscellaneous: Solving miscellaneous puzzles involving the comparison of elements, categorisation, or dealing with uncertain information.

Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

Simplification & Approximation: Applying rules of BODMAS, simplifying square & cube roots, indices, fractions, percentages, etc.
Number Series: Identifying patterns in sequences of numbers, solving missing or wrong number series.
Inequality: Solving linear and quadratic equations and comparing quantities.
Arithmetic: Performing arithmetic operations including ratio and proportion, percentage, number systems, HCF and LCM, averages, age-related problems, partnership, mixture and alligations, simple interest, compound interest, time and work, pipe and cistern, profit & loss, discount, speed time distance, boat and stream problems, train problems, mensuration (2D and 3D), probability, permutation and combination, etc.
Data Interpretation: Analysing and interpreting data presented in various forms, including tables, pie charts, line graphs, bar graphs, mixed data sets, and caselets.

IBPS RRB Clerk Prelims Topic-wise Priority

Topic	Priority	What to Prepare First
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement	Very High	Linear, circular, floor, box and scheduling puzzles
Inequality	High	Direct and coded inequalities
Syllogism	High	Basic + possibility-based questions
Coding-Decoding	High	New-pattern and letter/number coding
Direction & Distance	Moderate	Short calculation-based questions
Blood Relation	Moderate	Family-tree based questions
Alphanumeric Series	High	Position, pair and arrangement questions
Simplification/Approximation	Very High	Calculation speed
Number Series	Very High	Missing/wrong number patterns
Arithmetic	Very High	Percentage, ratio, average, profit & loss, time-work
Data Interpretation	Very High	Table, bar, line, caselet and mixed DI
Quadratic Equation	High	Comparison of roots
Data Sufficiency	Moderate	Statement-based questions

Expected Question Range

Prelims Topic	Expected Questions	Priority
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement	15–20	Very High
Simplification/Approximation	10–15	Very High
Arithmetic	8–12	Very High
Data Interpretation	5–10	Very High
Number Series	5–6	High
Alphanumeric/Coding	4–6	High
Inequality/Syllogism	3–5	High
Quadratic Equation	5	High

IBPS RRB Clerk Mains Syllabus 2026

The IBPS RRB Clerk Syllabus for Mains exam includes the Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, English/Hindi Language, and Computer Knowledge subjects.

Subject	Topics
Reasoning Ability	Reasoning Ability, Direction/Coded-Direction Inequality/Coded-Inequality Data Sufficiency (Two or Three statements) Circular/Triangular/Rectangular/Square Seating Arrangement – Linear or Direction with Linear Seating Arrangement Statement and Assumptions Cause and Effect, Strength of Argument Blood Relation/Coded-Blood-Relation Coding-Decoding/Coded-Coding-Decoding – Resultant and Coded Series Input-Output or Coded-Input-Output Box-Based Puzzles – Floor or Floor-Flat Based Puzzles – Comparison/Categorised/Uncertain/Blood-Relation-Based Puzzles, Day/Month/Year/Age-Based Puzzle Statement and Inference Course of Action Statement and Conclusion
Quantitative Aptitude	Approximation: BODMAS, square & cube, square & cube root, indices, fraction, percentage, etc. Inequality: Quadratic Equation, Quantity Comparison, Statement-Based Quadratic Equation, Probability, Mensuration (2D and 3D). Number Series: Missing Number Series, Wrong Number Series, Double Pattern Series, Statement Data Interpretation: Table DI, Missing Table DI, Pie Chart DI, Line Chart DI, Bar Chart DI, Mixed DI, Caselet, Radar DI, Arithmetic DI. Data Sufficiency: Two Statements and Three Statements, Permutation and Combination, Algebra, Arithmetic: Ratio and Proportion, Percentage, Number System and HCF and LCM, Average, Age, Partnership, Mixture and Alligation, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Profit & Loss and Discount, Time and Work, Pipe and Cistern, Speed, Time and Distance, Boat and Stream
General Awareness	Current Affairs International Current Affairs Economy Financial Awareness Ranks and Reports Science News Static Awareness State Current Affairs Banking Awareness Sports News Govt. Schemes/ Apps Defence News Obituaries
English	Reading Comprehension: Conventional and comprehensive Phrase rearrangement Word swap: 3-word swap, 4-word swap, word rearrangement Match the column: 2 columns, 3 columns, Connectors, Starters Fillers: Double Sentence Blanks, Single Blanks, Double Blanks Word usage: Sentence-based Error: Find the correct one, find the incorrect one Phrase replacement Spelling error: Error correction. Idioms and phrases: Idioms and phrases usage, idioms and phrases fillers. Cloze test: Fillers, replacement, sentence. Rearrangement: One fixed, conventional, one-word inference
Hindi	अपठित गद्यांश समानार्थक और विलोम शब्द रिक्त स्थान गद्यांश में रिक्त स्थानों की पूर्ति वाक्य में त्रुटि शब्द त्रुटी या वर्तनी त्रुटी वाक्यांश के लिए एक शब्द मुहावरे – लोकोक्तियाँ
Computer Knowledge	Fundamentals of Computer: History, Types, etc. Generation of Computer Hardware & Software: Operating System, Types of Software, Compiler, Interpreter, etc. Input & Output Device Memory Number System [Binary Number, Conversion, etc.] Computer Language, Computer Network [TCP & OSI Model, Protocol, Topology, Methods of Communication, Networking Devices and Components] Introduction of Internet – Internet’s Keywords – Use of Internet [Internet Protocol E-mail, chatting, e-commerce, Internet browser & its shortcut key, etc. Network & Data Security [Firewall, Virus, Worm, Malware, Trojan Horse, Keylogger, Spyware, Hacking, Phishing, Sniffing, Internet Security, Antivirus, User: Identification, Authentication, Biometrics, etc.] Cyber Crime & Cyber Security, Multimedia – its components & uses[audio, video, streaming, animation, Adobe Flash, etc.] , Introduction of MS Window, MS Office & its applications [MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel – Uses & shortcut keys], Computer shortcut keys Computer Abbreviations

RRB Clerk Mains Topic Priority

Subject	High-Priority Areas
Reasoning	Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Logical Reasoning, Coding-Decoding
Quantitative Aptitude	DI, Arithmetic, Number Series, Data Sufficiency
General Awareness	Current Affairs + Banking Awareness
English/Hindi	Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Detection, Vocabulary
Computer Knowledge	Fundamentals, Internet, MS Office, Networking, Cyber Security

High-Scoring vs Time-Consuming Topics

Category	Topics	Strategy
High scoring + less time	Simplification, Inequality, Syllogism	Complete early
High scoring + moderate time	Number Series, Quadratic Equation	Daily practice
High scoring + time-consuming	Arithmetic, DI	Build gradually
High scoring + difficult	Puzzles & Seating Arrangement	Practice multiple formats
Easy but lower contribution	Blood Relation, Direction	Use as quick-score topics

IBPS RRB Clerk Exam: Overview

The IBPS RRB Clerk 2026 Prelims Syllabus includes two sections, i.e., Reasoning Ability and Numerical Ability, and the Mains Syllabus includes Reasoning Ability, Quantitative Aptitude, English/Hindi Language, and Computer Knowledge subjects.

IBPS RRB Clerk Exam 2026- Overview
Mode of Exam	Online
Type of Questions	MCQ Based
Number of Questions	Prelims: 80 Mains: 200
Marks	Prelims: 80 Mains: 200
Total Duration	Prelims: 45 Minutes Mains: 2 Hours
Negative Marking	0.25 mark
Prelims Subjects	Reasoning Ability and Numerical Ability
Mains Subjects	Reasoning Ability, Numerical Ability, English/Hindi Language, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge
Selection Process	Prelims Exam and Mains Exam