IBPS PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026 (Prelims, Mains, Interview)
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- IBPS PO Syllabus
The IBPS PO syllabus covers 3 sections: English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning in the prelims exam. The IBPS PO Mains syllabus consists of Data Analysis & Interpretation, Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, English, General/Economy/Banking/Financial Awareness, and a Descriptive English paper. The interview tests clarity, confidence, and understanding of the banking role.
The selection for IBPS Probationary Officer is conducted in three stages—Prelims, Mains, and the interview. The candidate has to qualify in every stage to get shortlisted for the vacancies. To crack the IBPS PO exam, candidates need to know the exam pattern and detailed syllabus.
IBPS PO Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026
The officials have released the IBPS PO Syllabus & Exam Pattern for the IBPS PO exam. There is separate sectional timing for each section in the preliminary exam. The IBPS PO 2026 Prelims and Mains exams will be conducted through online mode as a computer-based test.
| IBPS PO Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026: Overview | |
|---|---|
| Posts | Probationary Officer |
| Exam Name | IBPS PO 2026 |
| Selection Process | Prelims. Mains and Interview |
| IBPS PO Exam Date 2026 | Prelims- 22nd and 23rd August 2026 Mains- 4th October 2026 |
| Mode of Exam | Online |
| Total Questions | Prelims- 100 Mains- 170 + 2 |
| Total Marks | Prelims- 100 Mains- 200 + 25 |
| Duration of Exam | Prelims- 60 minutes Mains- 190 minutes |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks |
IBPS PO Prelims Admit Card 2026 Out- Click to Download
IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2026
The IBPS PO Prelims exam syllabus is divided into three sections:
- English Language
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Reasoning Ability
| Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus | Reasoning Syllabus | English Language Syllabus |
|---|---|---|
| Simplification | Logical Reasoning | Reading Comprehension |
| Profit & Loss | Alphanumeric Series | Cloze Test |
| Mixtures & Allegations | Ranking / Direction / Alphabet Test | Para Jumbles |
| Simple Interest & Compound Interest | Data Sufficiency | Word Usage & Word Swap |
| Surds & Indices | Inequalities | Fill in the Blanks |
| Work & Time | Puzzle & Seating Arrangement | Error Detection & Error Spotting |
| Time & Distance | Pair Formation | Paragraph Completion |
| Mensuration—Cylinder, Cone, Sphere | Tabulation | One Word Substitution |
| Data Interpretation (DI) | Syllogism | Synonyms and Antonyms |
| Ratio & Proportion, Percentage | Blood Relations | Single & Double Filler |
| Number Systems | Input-Output | |
| Sequence & Series | Coding-Decoding | |
| Permutation, Combination & Probability | Missing Series | |
| Quadratic Equation | Odd One Out |
Q. What type of DI questions are asked in the IBPS PO 2026 exam?
Ans: Data Interpretation (DI) questions can be asked from Table DI, Bar DI, caselet DI & Pie Chart.
Q. What Type Seating Arrangement & Puzzles questions are asked in IBPS PO exam?
- Circle Seating Arrangement
- Linear seating Arrangement
- Designation Based puzzle
- Floor-Based Puzzle
- Box-Based Puzzle
- Parallel row seating arrangement
- Square/Rectangular Arrangement
- Floor & Flat Puzzle
- Day/Date/Month Puzzle
- Year/Age Puzzle
IBPS PO Mains Syllabus 2026
The main examination of IBPS PO consists of 4 + 1 sections: Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude & General Awareness. IBPS has introduced a descriptive paper in its mains exam for the selection of candidates for the post of probationary officer.
Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Data Interpretation (DI)
- Caselet DI
- Missing DI
- Simplification
- Average
- Percentage
- Ratio & Proportion
- Mixture & Allegations
- Quadratic Equations
- Interest (SI & CI)
- Problems of Ages
- Profit & Loss
- Number Series
- Speed, Distance & Time
- Time & Work
- Mensuration & Geometry
- Number System
- Data Sufficiency
- Linear Equations
- Permutation, Combination & Probability
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
- Complex Puzzles
- Circular Seating Arrangement
- Linear Seating Arrangement
- Double Lineup
- Scheduling
- Syllogism
- Input-Output
- Code Inequalities
- Blood Relations
- Directions & Distances
- Ordering & Ranking
- Data Sufficiency
- Verbal Reasoning
- Coding-Decoding
- Computer Fundamentals
- Operating Systems
- MS Office
- Computer Hardware & Software
- Networking Basics
- Internet & Keyboard Shortcuts
- Computer Abbreviations
- Memory
General/Economy/Banking Awareness (incl. Digital & Financial Awareness + RBI Circulars)
| Banking Awareness Syllabus | |
| Banking Awareness | Banking Reforms & History RBI Functions & Reports Monetary Policy (Repo, CRR, SLR, Reverse Repo) RBI Circulars & Guidelines NABARD, SEBI, SIDBI, NHB Financial Institutions (IMF, World Bank, ADB) Digital Banking (UPI, NEFT, RTGS, IMPS) Insurance Basics (IRDA, LIC, GIC) Banking Abbreviations & Terminologies Important Committees & Reports |
| Economy & Finance | Budget & Economic Survey GDP, GNP, Inflation, Deflation Fiscal Policy & Taxation Capital Markets & Money Markets Government Schemes & Initiatives Financial Products (Bonds, Mutual Funds) International Reports & Indices FinTech & Digital Payment Systems |
| Current Affairs & Static GK | National & International Current Affairs Sports, Awards, Books & Authors Summits & Conferences National Parks & Sanctuaries Countries, Capitals & Currencies Important Days & Events Appointments & Resignations Science & Technology News |
Tip: The GA section carries 50 marks in Mains. Focus on the last 6 months of banking/financial current affairs, RBI circulars, and government schemes. This section can be your score booster, as it requires no calculation.
English Language
- Reading Comprehension (RC)
- Vocabulary (Contextual)
- Grammar
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles
- Fill in the Blanks
- Error Detection
- Sentence Improvement
- Word Swap
- Column-Based Questions
- Sentence Connectors
- Phrase Replacement
- Idioms & Phrases
- Para Completion
- One Word Substitution
IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2026
This year, IBPS has made changes to the IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern. Earlier, there were 145 questions (objective), which have now been increased to 170 in the main exam. However, the total marks remained the same, i.e., 200. Candidates who are going to appear for IBPS PO 2026 must know the exam pattern to prepare in the right direction.
IBPS PO Preliminary Exam Pattern 2026
- The IBPS PO preliminary examination will be conducted online and candidates are allocated a total duration of 1 hour to complete the preliminary exam.
- It consists of 3 sections with a total of 100 questions and a maximum score of 100 marks.
- There is negative marking in IBPS PO preliminary exam, and 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer attempted by a candidate.
- It is necessary to clear the cut-off in all 3 sections to qualify for the IBPS PO Main exam.
| SNo. | Name of Tests (Objective) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes | |
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026 (NEW)
The Mains Exam carries maximum weightage in the final selection. The main exam consists of MCQs and a descriptive paper. There are 172 questions for 225 marks. Check all details below.
- Descriptive Paper: Essay + Comprehension (25 marks, 30 minutes)
- Total objective duration: 160 minutes
- Total exam duration (including descriptive): 190 minutes (3 hrs 10 min)
- Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies to the objective test only
- There will be a penalty of 0.25 marks for wrong answers marked in the Objective Tests.
| Name of test | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Time Allotted | Medium of Exam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes | English & Hindi |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes | English only |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes | English & Hindi |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness/Digital/ Financial Awareness, including RBI circulars | 50 | 60 | 25 minutes | English & Hindi |
| Total | 170 | 200 | 160 minutes | |
| English Language (Letter Writing & Essay) | 02 | 25 | 30 minutes | English |
IBPS PO Descriptive Test
A descriptive paper has been introduced in the IBPS PO 2026 mains exam, similar to SBI PO. Candidates must score the minimum cutoff in the descriptive section for it to count in merit.
| Particular | Details |
| Type | Essay + Comprehension/Letter Writing |
| No. of Questions | 2 |
| Total Marks | 25 |
| Duration | 30 minutes |
| Medium | English Only |
| Topics | Economic & Social Issues, Emerging Trends in Banking, Technology, Current Events, Ethics |
IBPS PO 2026 Interview Process
Candidates who qualify for the Mains Exam are finally called for the interview process by IBPS. The interview process will consist of 100 marks, and the minimum marks for qualifying this round will be 40%, which is reduced to 35% for candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/PWD categories.
Penalty for Wrong Answers:
0.25 marks will be deducted for every question attempted wrong by a candidate in both the IBPS PO 2026 Preliminary Exam and the IBPS PO Mains Exam. There will be no deduction of marks for a question left blank/unattempted by a candidate.
Final Selection
The final selection of the candidate for the post of probationary officer will be made by taking into consideration the cumulative score of the Mains Exam and the interview process.
The weightage of both these phases of examination will be in the ratio 80:20, respectively. A merit list will be generated after the interview process of the IBPS PO 2026 exam has been conducted. Candidates who make it to the list will thus be offered the joining letter by the bank of their choice.
Final Score Calculation for IBPS PO Exam
The final score for the IBPS PO exam is calculated keeping the following points in mind:
- Marks obtained in the Preliminary Exam (Tier-1) will not be considered in the final score and are only for qualifying for the mains exam (Tier-2).
- Candidates must qualify for Phase-2 and the Interview separately to be eligible for the final merit.
- The weightage (ratio) of the IBPS PO Main exam and interview for the final merit list will be 80:20, respectively.
- The aggregate score out of 100 is used for the final merit list for each category. Candidates with the top merit rank in each category are finally selected.
Attempt IBPS PO Mock Test to Maximise Your Scores
| Related Articles | |
| IBPS PO Exam Pattern | IBPS PO Revised Salary Structure |
| IBPS PO Previous Year Question Papers | IBPS PO Previous Year Cut-Off |
| IBPS PO Live Classes | IBPS PO Mock Test |