IBPS SO Syllabus 2026 and New Exam Pattern for Prelims & Mains Exam

IBPS SO Syllabus for the prelims exam includes questions from the Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness subjects. The exam duration for IBPS SO Prelims is 100 minutes for 125 questions. The main exam consists of 152 questions that assess the professional knowledge of the candidates.

As already notified through the annual calendar, the Prelims exam is scheduled for 29th August 2026 and the Mains for 1st November 2026. Candidates must start their preparation with a proper strategy, which should begin with the detailed IBPS SO syllabus. 

IBPS SO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026 (New)

The IBPS SO 2026 exam will be conducted in three phases — Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview. Every applicant must clear all stages to be selected as a Specialist Officer in one of the 11 participating public sector banks.

IBPS SO 2026 Notification Out for 745 Posts- Click to Check

What's New in IBPS SO Exam Pattern?

• Pattern for both prelims and mains has been changed
• Number of Questions in Prelims are reduced to 100 and time duration is now 80 minutes.
• Professional Knowledge subject added in prelims exam.
• Number of Questions increased in Mains Exam. Now 150 Objective and 2 descriptive questions will be asked for 225 marks in total.
• Duration of mains exam is revised to 155 minutes.

IBPS SO 2026 Selection Process

The selection of candidates for IBPS Specialist Officer posts is based on performance across three stages. Candidates who clear all stages will be recruited to specialist officer posts in participating public sector banks.

1. Preliminary Exam – Qualifying round only — score not counted in final merit
2. Mains Exam — Professional Knowledge — score counted in final merit
3. Interview – Final stage — combined with Mains for selection

How Much Syllabus Overlaps Across Posts?

• Reasoning & English Language is common is All 6 posts (Prelims)
• 4 posts (IT Officer Scale I, AFO, Marketing Officer (Scale I), HR/Personnel Officer) get Quant in Prelims; while Law Officer & Rajbhasha get General Awareness instead
• Mains Professional Knowledge syllabus is different for all posts.

IBPS SO Prelims Syllabus 2026

The IBPS SO Prelims exam is conducted online and consists of 100 MCQs for 125 marks, to be completed in 80 minutes with separate 20-minute sectional time limits.

IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern for Law Officer & Rajbhasha Adhikari

IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern For IT Officer Scale I, AFO, Marketing Officer (Scale I), HR/Personnel Officer

Q. Is IBPS SO prelims score counted in final merit?
Ans.- No. The IBPS SO Preliminary Exam score is NOT counted in the final merit list. It is only a qualifying stage. Final selection is based on Mains Exam score and Interview performance only.

Reasoning Ability Syllabus

1. Seating Arrangements
2. Puzzles
3. Inequalities
4. Syllogism
5. Input-Output
6. Data Sufficiency
7. Blood Relations
8. Order and Ranking
9. Alphanumeric Series
10. Distance and Direction
11. Verbal Reasoning

English Language Syllabus

1. Cloze Test
2. Reading Comprehension
3. Spotting Errors
4. Sentence Improvement
5. Sentence Correction
6. Para Jumbles
7. Fill in the Blanks
8. Para/Sentence Completion
9. Column Based
10. Sentence Rearrangement
11. Word Swap
12. Sentence-Based Error
13. Spelling Errors
14. Connectors

Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

1. Number Series
2. Data Interpretation
3. Simplification/ Approximation
4. Quadratic Equation
5. Data Sufficiency
6. Mensuration
7. Average
8. Profit and Loss Ratio
9. Proportion Work,
10. Time and Energy
11. Time and Distance
12. Probability
13. Relations
14. Simple and Compound Interest
15. Permutation and Combination

General Awareness Syllabus

1. Current Affairs
2. Banking Awareness
3. GK Updates
4. Currencies
5. Important Places
6. Books and Authors
7. Awards
8. Headquarters
9. Prime Minister Schemes
10. Centre Government Schemes
11. Important Days
12. RBI Circulars
13. Static Banking

IBPS SO Mains Syllabus 2026

For the Post of IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer:

For the Post of Rajbhasha Adhikari

For the Post of Law Officer

IBPS AFO IT Officer (Scale-I) Syllabus

1. Database Management System
2. Data Communication and Networking
3. Operating System
4. Software Engineering
5. Data Structure
6. Computer Organization and Microprocessor
7. Object Oriented Programming

IBPS AFO Syllabus (Agricultural Field Officer  Scale-I)

1. Basics of Crop Production
2. Horticulture
3. Seed Science
4. Agronomy and Irrigation
5. Agricultural Economies
6. Agricultural Practices
7. Soil resources
8. Animal Husbandry
9. Agroforestry
10. Ecology
11. Government Schemes

Click to Check Detailed IBPS AFO Syllabus 2026

IBPS AFO Marketing Officer (Scale-I) Syllabus

1. Basics of Marketing Management
2. Brand Management
3. Advertising
4. PR
5. Sales
6. Retail
7. Business Ethics
8. Market Segmentation
9. Market research and forecasting demand
10. Product Life Cycle
11. Corporate Social Responsibility
12. Service Marketing
13. Marketing Strategies

IBPS AFO Law Officer (Scale-I) Syllabus

1. Banking Regulations
2. Compliance and Legal Aspects
3. Relevant Law and Orders related to negotiable instruments, securities, and foreign exchange
4. Prevention of Money-laundering, Limitation Act
5. Consumer Protection Act
6. SARFAES
7. Banking Ombudsman Scheme
8. Laws and Actions with a direct link to the Banking Sector
9. Bankers Book Evidence Act
10. DRT Act

Click to Check Detailed IBPS Law Officer Syllabus 2026

IBPS AFO HR/Personnel Officer (Scale-I) Syllabus

1. Human Resource Development
2. Business policy and strategic analysis
3. Transnational Analysis
4. Training and Development
5. Recruitment and Selection
6. Rewards and Recognition
7. Industrial Relations
8. Business Policy and Strategic Analysis
9. Grievance and Conflict Management
10. Performance Management and Appraisal

IBPS SO 2026 Interview Process

IBPS conducts the interview process for candidates who qualify for the Mains Exam. The final selection is based on the combined performance in the main exam and interview. The interview assesses candidates' subject knowledge, communication skills, and suitability for banking roles.

• Only Mains-qualified candidates are called for interview.
• The final merit list is based on Mains score + Interview score combined.
• Document verification is conducted during or after the interview process.
• Candidates must carry all original certificates to the interview.