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IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026, Prelims & Mains Exam Pattern & Syllabus PDF

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  • IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026

If you are preparing for IBPS Clerk 2026, the very first thing you need is a clear picture of the syllabus and exam pattern. The good news — the syllabus has not changed dramatically this year, but there are a few key updates you must know about before you start your preparation.

This year, there is also a final Language Proficiency Test (LPT) after Mains, something many candidates miss in their preparation planning.

IBPS Clerk Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026

A candidate must look into the IBPS Clerk Syllabus and Exam Pattern and practice with IBPS Clerk Previous Years’ Papers to know the weightage of the sub-topics asked in each section of both the preliminary and mains exams of IBPS Clerk Exam 2026.

IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026- Overview
Exam NameIBPS Clerk 2026
No. of QuestionsPrelims- 100
Mains- 150
Maximum MarksPrelims- 100
Mains- 200
DurationPrelims- 60 minutes
Mains- 160 minutes
Negative Marking0.25 marks
Merit List Prepared onMains Marks
Exam DatesPrelims- 10th & 11th October 2026
Mains- 27th December 2026

IBPS Clerk Selection Process 2026

The selection criteria for IBPS Clerk posts will be 3 tier i.e. the online examination will be held in three phases, Online Preliminary, Online Main and Language Proficiency Test. The details for each stage is discussed below. 

StagesDetailsNature
Stage 1: Prelims100 questions | 100 marks | 60 minutes | Sections: English, Reasoning, Numerical Ability | Sectional timing: 20 min each | Negative marking: 0.25Qualifying only – marks NOT counted in final merit
Stage 2: Mains155 questions | 200 marks | 120 minutes | Sections: Reasoning & Computer, English, Quantitative Aptitude, General/Financial Awareness | Negative marking: 0.25Merit-based – final selection is 100% based on Mains marks
Stage 3: Language Proficiency Test (LPT) [NEW]Conducted by the allotted bank | Tests reading, writing, and comprehension in the regional language of the state applied forQualifying only – failing LPT leads to disqualification even after clearing Prelims and Mains

Important: There is no interview in IBPS Clerk. 100% weightage is given to Mains marks for final merit list preparation. However, you must clear the LPT to confirm your appointment.

IBPS Clerk Prelims Syllabus 2026

  • The Prelims exam is conducted online and is qualifying in nature.
  • There is sectional timing and cut off marks in Prelims exam.
  • Marks scored in Prelims are not counted in the final merit list.
  • Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer. 0 marks for unattempted questions.

IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

Name of Tests (Objective)No. of QuestionsMaximum MarksDuration
English Language303020 minutes
Numerical Ability353520 minutes
Reasoning Ability353520 minutes
Total10010060 minutes/1 Hour

English Language Syllabus

IBPS Clerk English Language  Syllabus
VocabularyGrammarReading Comprehension
  1. Homonyms
  2. Antonyms
  3. Synonyms
  4. Word Formation
  5. Spelling
  1. Spotting Errors
  2. Phrases and idioms
  3. Direct and Indirect speech
  4. Active/ Passive voice
  1. Theme Detection
  2. Passage completion
  3. Topic rearrangement of passage
  4. Deriving Conclusion

Reasoning Syllabus

IBPS Clerk  Reasoning Ability Syllabus
Verbal ReasoningNon-Verbal Reasoning
  1. Analogy
  2. Classification
  3. Word formation
  4. Statement and conclusions Syllogism
  5. Statement and assumptions
  6. Statement and arguments
  7. Coding-Decoding
  8. Blood Relations
  9. Passage and conclusions
  10. Alphabet test
  11. Series Test
  12. Number, Ranking and time sequence
  13. Direction sense Test
  14. Decision-making test
  15. Figure series
  16. Input/output
  17. Assertion and reasoning
  18. Sitting Arrangement
  1. Series test
  2. Odd figure Out
  3. Analogy
  4. Miscellaneous Test

Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

IBPS Clerk Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
  1. Ratio and proportion
  2. Averages
  3. Time and work
  4. Speed
  5. Distance and time
  6. Mixture and allegation
  7. Stocks and shares
  8. Percentages
  9. Partnership
  10. Clocks
  11. Volume and surface Area
  12. Bar & Graphs
  13. Line charts
  14. Tables
  15. Height and Distances
  16. Logarithms
  17. Permutation and combinations
  18. Simple and compound interest
  19. Equations, Probability
  20. Trigonometry
  21. Profit
  22. Loss and Discount
  23. Mensuration
  24. Elements of Algebra
  25. Data Interpretation
  26. Pie charts

IBPS Clerk Mains Syllabus 2026

  • IBPS Clerk Mains Exam will now consist of 155 questions for 200 marks that need to be completed in a time frame of 120 minutes.
  • Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer.
  • Exam is bilingual (English + Hindi) except the English Language section.

IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026

Name of Tests (Objective)No. of QuestionsMaximum MarksDuration
Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude406035 minutes
English Language404035 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude355030 minutes
General/Financial Awareness405020 minutes
Total155200120 minutes

English Language & Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

The syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude and English Language is the same as of the Prelims exam. 

Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude

  • Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
  • Syllogism
  • Coding–Decoding
  • Blood Relations
  • Direction Sense
  • Inequalities
  • Alphanumeric Series
  • Ranking & Order
  • Input–Output
  • Statement & Conclusions
  • Statement & Assumptions
  • Decision Making
  • Data Sufficiency
  • Series Test
  • Odd Figure Out
  • Analogy
  • Figure Classification
  • Mirror & Water Images
  • Miscellaneous
  • Basics of Computer Hardware
  • Software & OS
  • Internet & Networking
  • MS-Office (Word, Excel, PPT)
  • Database Basics
  • Security & Viruses

General/ Financial Awareness Syllabus

The General Awareness section of the IBPS Clerk exam primarily focuses on current events and general knowledge. The topics included in this section are as follows- 

IBPS Clerk General Awareness Syllabus
Current AffairsBanking 
  1. Current affairs related to national and international issues of last 6 months,
  2. Overview of Indian Financial System,
  3. History of the Indian banking system
  4. Recent credit and monetary policies
  1. Introduction to National financial institutions like RBI, SEBI, IRDA, FSDC etc and of International organizations like IMF, World Bank, ADB, UN etc,
  2. Abbreviations and Economic terminologies
  3. Banking Terms,
  4. Important Government Schemes on capital & money market

IBPS Clerk LPT (Language Proficiency Test)

LPT is the final stage of IBPS Clerk selection, conducted by the allotted bank. It tests your proficiency in reading, writing, and comprehension in the official language of the state you applied to. Failing LPT leads to disqualification even after clearing Prelims and Mains.

Topic-wise Weightage – Prelims & Mains

Based on the analysis of IBPS Clerk previous year question papers, here is the expected number of questions from each topic. Use this to prioritise your study time smartly.

Reasoning Ability – Expected Weightage 

TopicsExpected Questions (Prelims)Expected Questions (Mains)
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement10-1515-20
Syllogism3-53-5
Inequalities3-53-5
Coding–Decoding3-53-5
Blood Relations2-32-3
Direction Sense1-31-2
Alphanumeric Series / Order & Ranking2-32-3
Input–Output0-33-5
Data Sufficiency0-22-3
Computer Aptitude--5-10

Numerical Ability – Expected Weightage

TopicsExpected Questions (Prelims)Expected Questions (Mains)
Simplification & Approximation10-155-8
Number Series55
Data Interpretation (DI)5-1015-20
Quadratic Equations55
Arithmetic (SI, CI, P&L, Time-Work, etc.)5-108-12
Data Sufficiency0-33-5
Miscellaneous (Probability, Mensuration, etc.)2-53-5

English Language – Expected Weightage

TopicsExpected Questions (Prelims)Expected Questions (Mains)
Reading Comprehension1010-15
Cloze Test5-75-10
Error Detection / Spotting55
Para Jumbles / Sentence Rearrangement3-55
Fill in the Blanks3-53-5
Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms, etc.)2-53-5

General Awareness – Expected Weightage

TopicsExpected Questions (Mains)
Banking & Financial Awareness20-25
Current Affairs (last 6 months)10-15
Static GK5-8
Government Schemes & Policies3-5
RBI, SEBI, IRDAI – Regulatory Bodies3-8
Budget & Economic Survey2-4
International Organizations (IMF, World Bank)2-3
Books, Awards, Sports2-3
Related Links
IBPS Clerk Salary, Promotion, Perks & AllowancesIBPS Clerk Previous Year Question Paper
IBPS Clerk Cut OffIBPS Calendar 2026
Upcoming Bank ExamsIBPS Clerk Exam Centre List 2026
FAQs

Check the detailed IBPS Clerk Prelims & Mains Syllabus from the article.

Ans. There are 2 stages- Prelims & Mains in IBPS Clerk 2026.

There will be a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer in Prelims and Mains.

Yes, if prepared properly with updated IBPS Clerk Syllabus and Exam Pattern, a candidate can appear in IBPS Clerk exam and crack it with good marks.

No, the selection of the candidates will be done through Prelims and Mains Exam only.

Each of the three Prelims sections has a fixed sectional time limit of 20 minutes.

LPT is the final stage of IBPS Clerk selection.

There are 3 stages: (1) Prelims – qualifying in nature, (2) Mains – 100% merit-based, and (3) Language Proficiency Test (LPT) – qualifying test in the regional language of the applied state.

No. There is no interview in IBPS Clerk. The final selection is based 100% on Mains marks, followed by the Language Proficiency Test (LPT).

IBPS Clerk Prelims is generally of easy to moderate difficulty. Simplification, Number Series, and basic Reasoning topics are easy. A well-prepared candidate can attempt 80–90 questions with 90%+ accuracy.

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