The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection issued the IBPS SO Notification 2026 on June 30, 2026, via its official website, ibps.in. Candidates who want to work as a Specialist Officer in public sector banks can apply online for 745 positions in HR, IT, Law, Agriculture, Marketing, and Rajbhasha. Application forms start from July 1 to July 21, 2026. For check the complete information about the exam check the complete article.
IBPS SO Notification 2026
The IBPS SO Notification 2026 was released on the IBPS official website, aiming to select candidates for Specialist Officer positions in various Public Sector Banks. IBPS Specialist Officer SO Recruitment 2026 Application process was started from 1st to 21st July 2026. The IBPS SO Exam 2026 Pre will be conducted in August 2026, and the Mains Exam Date will be conducted in November 2026. Candidates can access information on eligibility, age limit, selection procedure, and syllabus from the official notification PDF. The previous year’s IBPS SO Notification 2025 is also available for reference.
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026: Overview
The IBPS SO exam 2026 details are provided for government job candidates, with an overview table providing all the highlights.
| Organization | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Post | Specialist Officer (SO) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Participating Banks | 11 |
| Vacancy | 745 |
| Registration Dates | 1st July 2026 |
| Last Date for Apply Online | 21st July 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| IBPS SO Recruitment Process | Prelims, Main Exams, Interview |
| Educational Qualification | Graduates or relevant degree |
| Age Limit | 20 years to 28 years |
| Application Fee | General / OBC / EWS: 850/- SC / ST / PH: 175/- |
| Best Books for Bank Exams | View |
| IBPS Official Website | www.ibps.in |
IBPS SO Important Dates 2026
Important dates for the IBPS SO Notification 2026 and the IBPS Specialist Officer recruitment drive have been updated in the table. Check out all the important dates before applying for the IBPS SO Recruitment 2026.
| Event | IBPS SO 2026 Dates | IBPS SO 2025 Dates |
| IBPS SO Notification | 30 June 2026 | 30th June 2025 |
| Online Registration Start | 01 July 2026 | 1st July 2025 |
| Last Date for Apply Online | 21 July 2026 | 1st July 2025 |
| Last Date Fee Payment | 21 July 2026 | 21st July 2025 |
| Prelim Exam Admit Card Available | Before the Exam | August |
| IBPS SO Preliminary Exam Date | August 2026 | 30th August 2025 |
| Prelim Exam Result | Oct 2026 | 17 October 2025 |
| IBPS SO Mains Exam Date | November 2026 | 9th November 2025 |
| Admit Card Available | Before the Exam | Before Exam |
| Main Results Available | – | 10 December 2025 |
| Final Result & Provisional Allotment | – | 15 January 2026 |
| Reserve List Release | – | 15 May 2026 |
IBPS SO Vacancy 2026
The IBPS SO Vacancy 2026 was announced, focusing on Specialist Officer positions like IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer. The exam is designed for highly skilled individuals with a strong will and dedication. A total of 745 vacancies have been released for the IBPS Specialist Officer recruitment. Previously, there were 1007 vacancies, but this year, according to the official IBPS notification 2026, the number has decreased to 745.
| Post Name (Scale-I) | Total | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | UR | HI* | OC* | VI* | ID* |
| IT Officer | 301 | 46 | 23 | 82 | 28 | 122 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Agricultural Field Officer | 190 | 28 | 13 | 51 | 19 | 79 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Law Officer | 105 | 14 | 6 | 26 | 10 | 49 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari | 89 | 11 | 6 | 21 | 8 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| HR/Personnel Officer | 60 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Marketing Officer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Vacancies | 745 | 107 | 51 | 195 | 71 | 321 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 4 |
IBPS SO Salary 2026
The basic salary for IBPS SO is: ₹ 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920 varies depending on the position and grade level. The following table shows the IBPS SO Salary scale:
| Allowances | Values |
| In hand Salary | ₹55,000 and ₹60,000 |
| Pay Scale | ₹48,480-₹85,920 |
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 Application Fee
A candidate must pay Rs. 850/- (General and OBC) as an application fee for the IBPS SO 2026 exam. The same amount is reduced to Rs. 175/- for candidates from the SC/ST/PWD categories.
| S No. | Category | Application Fee |
| 1 | SC/ST/PWD | Rs. 175/- (Intimation Charges only) |
| 2 | General and Others | Rs. 850/- (App. Fee including intimation charges) |
How to apply online for IBPS SO 2026?
The steps to apply online for IBPS SO are given below:
- Step 1: Firstly, visit the official website https://www.ibps.in/ , On the top right corner of the home page, click the NEW REGISTRATION button.
- Step 2: Start your application process by providing basic information such as your name, contact number, email address, and so on, and then click the save and next button.
- Step 3: Upload your photo and signature in the appropriate format. The maximum permissible size of the photograph is 4.5 cm * 3.5 cm, and it must be passport size. The photograph and signature must both be clear and legible. The photograph must have a minimum file size of 20 KB and a maximum file size of 50 KB, and the signature must have a minimum file size of 10 KB and a maximum file size of 20 KB.
- Step 4: Enter your academic information and professional qualifications. After filling in the details, click the save and next buttons.
- Step 5: Review your application form one last time because you will not be able to make any changes. After previewing your Application Form, click the save and next buttons.
- Step 6: Pay your application fee using an online payment option, such as a credit card, debit card, or net banking.
- Step 7: Press the Final Submit Button. Your application form has been successfully submitted. IBPS will send you an email and a text message with your registration ID and password to enable you to access the official website.
Check also the IBPS PO Recruitment 2026
IBPS SO Recruitment Exam 2026: Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria are different for all posts. There are three parameters (citizenship, age limit, and educational qualification) that a candidate needs to fulfill to be eligible for the IBPS SO Exam 2026.
IBPS SO 2026: Citizenship
• A resident of India
• A subject of Nepal
• Tibetan refugees who came to India before 1st January 1962 and have planned to settle in India permanently
• A subject of Indian Origin migrated from Burma, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Uganda, Kenya,
United Republic of Tanzania, Namibia, Ethiopia, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire and Vietnam
IBPS SO 2026: Age Limit
To be eligible for the IBPS SO exam, candidates must check the age limit given below.
- The maximum age is 20 years old.
- The maximum age is 30 years old.
| S. No. | Category | Age Relaxation |
| 1. | Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) | 5 years |
| 2. | Other Backward Class (OBC) | 3 years |
| 3. | Person with Disability (PWD) | 10 years |
| 4. | Ex-Servicemen/Commissioned Officers including ECOS (Emergency Commissioned Officers)/ SSCOs (Short Service Commissioned Officers) who have rendered at least 5 years military service and have been released on completion of Assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within 1 year from last date of receipt of application) otherwise than by the way of dismissal/discharge on the account of misconduct/inefficiency/physical disability attributable to military service | 5 years |
| 5. | Person ordinarily domiciled in the Jammu and Kashmir province during the period 1.01.1980 and 31.12.1989 | 5 years |
| 6. | Person affected by 1984 riots | 5 years |
IBPS SO Exam 2026 Education Qualification
| S No. | Name of the Post | Educational Qualification |
| 1. | I.T. Officer (Scale I) | Bachelor’s Degree with B Level Certificate or Engineering Degree Computer Science/ Computer Applications/ Information Technology / Electronics / Electronics & Telecommunications/Electronics & Communication/ Electronics & Instrumentation or Master’s Degree. |
| 2. | Agricultural Field Officer (Scale-I) | Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering with Agriculture or Equivalent Subject. |
| 3. | Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) | Master’s Degree in Hindi with English as a Subject in Degree Level or Master’s Degree in Sanskrit with Hindi and English as a Subject in Degree Level. |
| 4. | Law Office (Scale I) | Bachelor’s Degree in Law 3 Year or 5 Year. Enrolled with Bar Council. |
| 5. | HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I) | Master’s Degree / PG Diploma in Personnel Management / Industrial Relations/ HR / HRD/ Social Work / Labour Law. |
| 6. | Marketing Officer (Scale I) | Master’s Degree / PG Diploma in Marketing / PGDBA / PGDBM/ PGPM/ PGDM |
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 Selection Process
The IBPS SO 2026 selection procedure comprises two stages: the preliminary exam conducted by IBPS, followed by the main exam.
- Online Preliminary Exam
- Online Mains Exam
- Interview Process
The IBPS SO Prelims exam is a qualifying test, with marks from both the main exam and interview added for final selection performance in both exams and interviews is crucial for final selection.
IBPS SO 2026 Exam Pattern
Before applying to IBPS SO 2026, candidates must know the exam pattern of Selection Officers:
- The exam will be conducted in three phases: Preliminary, Mains, and Interview Process. IBPS has introduced separate sectional timing for each section in the prelims exam.
- The IBPS SO preliminary examination has a total duration of 2 Hours and 40 minutes for each section.
- A candidate must appear for the Prelims first and the selected students after the Preliminary Exam will be eligible to take the Mains Exam.
- The Preliminary Exam score will not be considered for final allotment. The main exam and the Interview process will be used to make the final decision
- There will be a penalty of 0.5 marks for wrong answers.
IBPS SO 2026 Prelims Exam Pattern
The post-wise preliminary exam pattern is mentioned below:
For the posts of IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer:
| Name of Tests | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 minutes |
For the post of Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari:
| Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time Given |
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 minutes |
Candidates have to qualify in each of the three tests by securing minimum cut-off marks to be decided by IBPS. An adequate number of candidates in each category, as decided by IBPS, depending upon requirements, will be shortlisted for the Online Main Examination.
IBPS SO Mains Exam Pattern 2026
The post-wise mains exam pattern is mentioned below:
For the post of IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer:
| Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Language | Time Given |
| Professional Knowledge | 60 | 60 | English & Hindi | 45 minutes |
For the post of Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari:
| Name of Test | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Medium of Exam | Duration |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 45 | 60 | English & Hindi | 30 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Descriptive) | 2 | 60 | English & Hindi | 30 minutes |
IBPS SO Exam Syllabus 2026
The IBPS SO 2026 Preliminary Exam has three major sections: Reasoning, English Language, and Quantitative Aptitude / General Awareness with Special Reference to the Banking Industry (For the post of Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari).
Reasoning Syllabus
- Seating Arrangements
- Puzzles
- Inequalities
- Syllogism
- Input-Output
- Data Sufficiency
- Blood Relations
- Order and Ranking
- Alphanumeric Series
- Distance and Direction
- Verbal Reasoning
English Language Syllabus
- Cloze Test
- Reading Comprehension
- Spotting Errors
- Sentence Improvement
- Sentence Correction
- Para Jumbles
- Fill in the Blanks
- Para/Sentence Completion
Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
- Number Series
- Data Interpretation
- Simplification/Approximation
- Quadratic Equation
- Data Sufficiency
- Mensuration
- Average
- Profit and Loss
- Ratio and Proportion
- Work, Time, and Energy
- Time and Distance
- Probability
- Relations
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Permutation and Combination
General Knowledge Syllabus
- Current Affairs
- Banking Awareness
- GK Updates
- Currencies
- Important Places
- Books and Authors
- Awards
- Headquarters
- Prime Minister Schemes
- Important Days
IBPS SO Mains Exam Syllabus 2026
Apart from the subjective knowledge, candidates should have professional knowledge in their respective fields. The post-wise syllabus is given below:
IT Officer (Scale-I)
- Database Management System
- Data Communication and Networking
- Operating System
- Software Engineering
- Data Structure
- Computer Organization and Microprocessor
- Object-Oriented Programming
Agricultural Field Officer (Scale-I)
- Basics of Crop Production
- Horticulture
- Seed Science
- Agronomy and Irrigation
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Practices
- Soil resources
- Animal Husbandry
- Agroforestry
- Ecology
- Government Schemes
Marketing Officer (Scale-I)
- Basics of Marketing Management
- Brand Management
- Advertising
- PR
- Sales
- Retail
- Business Ethics
- Market Segmentation
- Market research and forecasting demand
- Product Life Cycle
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Service Marketing
- Marketing Strategies
Law Officer (Scale-I)
- Banking Regulations
- Compliance and Legal Aspects
- Relevant Laws and Orders related to negotiable instruments, securities, foreign exchange
- Prevention of Money-Laundering, Limitation Act
- Consumer Protection Act
- SURFACES
- Banking Ombudsman Scheme
- Laws and Actions in the Direct Link to Banking Sector
- Bankers’ Book Evidence Act
- DRT Act
HR/Personnel Officer (Scale-I)
- Human Resource Development
- Business policy and strategic analysis
- Transnational Analysis
- Training and Development
- Recruitment and Selection
- Rewards and Recognition
- Industrial Relations
- Business Policy and Strategic Analysis
- Grievance and Conflict Management
- Performance Management and Appraisal
IBPS SO Prelims Cutoff 2025 (Previous year)
The cut-off for IBPS SO will be released after the result for the same stage has been announced by IBPS. The Cut-Off for Preliminary Exam will be declared first, followed by the cut-off for Mains Exam. Check out the previous year’s IBPS SO cutoff from below.
| IBPS SO Prelims Cutoff 2025 | |||||||||
| Posts | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | UR | HI | OC | VI | ID |
| I.T. OFFICER | 58.25 | 48.63 | 58.25 | 55 | 58.25 | 21.63 | 46.38 | 42.63 | 36.13 |
| AGRICULTURAL FIELD OFFICER | 50.13 | 45.63 | 50.13 | 50.13 | 50.13 | 25.88 | 37.75 | 39.63 | 23.88 |
| HR/PERSONNEL | 62.63 | 62.63 | 62.63 | 62.63 | 62.63 | 31.38 | 19.75 | 25.13 | NA |
| MARKETING OFFICER | 21.75 | 17.25 | 18.13 | 27.63 | 27.63 | 21.75 | 20.50 | 23.38 | 35.18 |
| RAJBHASHA ADHIKARI | 16.63 | 11 | 16.63 | 16.63 | 16.63 | 25.75 | 18.88 | 42.25 | 13.75 |
| LAW OFFICER | 42.63 | 34.75 | 43.25 | 44.63 | 46.88 | 20.25 | 25 | 23.13 | 23 |
IBPS SO Mains Cutoff 2025 Category-wise (Previous year)
| Category | Cut Off Marks |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 14.75 |
| Schedule Tribe (ST) | 15.25 |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC NCL) | 21.50 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 21.00 |
| General (Gen) | 23.25 |
| (HI) | 13.50 |
| Orthopaedically Challenged (OC) | 14.00 |
| Visually Impaired (VI) | 27.25 |
| Intellectual Disability (ID) | 30.50 |
IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 Interview
According to the IBPS SO 2026, the IBPS invites candidates who will pass the mains exam to the Interview process. Candidates must perform well in the Interview process because a candidate’s final selection is based on how well Male or Female performs in this final round of the IBPS SO Recruitment Process. Candidates will able to check their interview letter from below.
IBPS SO Final Result 2026
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) will officially release the IBPS SO Final Result 2026 on its official website. Candidates will be able to download their IBPS SO Final Result PDF by the link given below. The IBPS SO Pre exam will be conducted in August 2026 and the mains exam will be conducted in November 2026. the results will be accessible on the official website after the exam.
Best Books for IBPS SO 2026
| Subject Name | Book Type | Book Link (In Hindi) | Book Link (In English) |
| Complete General English For All Government & Competitive Exams | Textbook | – | View Book |
| Competitive Reasoning Shortcut Secrets book for All Government Exams (NRA CET, SSC, Bank, Railway, Defence, Police, and all other exams) | Textbook | View Book | View Book |
| Sankhyatmak Abhiyogyata (Quantitative Aptitude) book for all Government Exams | Textbook | View Book | View Book |
| Static GK book by Varun Awasthi Sir for (SSC, Bank, Railway, Police, Defence, TET, State PCS) Exams | Textbook | View Book | View Book |
IBPS SO 2026 Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. The eligibility of IBPS SO is I.T. Officer Scale I. 4-year Engineering Degree in Computer Science/ Computer Applications/ Information Technology/ Electronics/ Electronics & Telecommunications/ Electronics & Communication/ Electronics & Instrumentation.
Ans. Yes, IBPS SO is a government job. Applicants who will be selected in the IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 will get perks and various allowances.
Ans. The basic pay of an IBPS Specialist Officer ranges ₹48,480-2000/7-₹62,480-2340/2-₹67,160-2680/7-₹85,920-. This salary varies for the specialization and the scale of the Officer.
Ans. The application fee for IBPS SO is Rs. 850/- for the general category.
Ans. The direct link to download the IBPS SO Notification 2026 PDF will be provided in the article.
Ans. The IBPS SO Online application form will start from 1st July 2026 and will end on 21st July 2026.
