IBPS PO Syllabus 2026
IBPS PO recruits Probationary Officers/Management Trainees for public-sector banks (except SBI). Prelims shortlists for mains, which is followed by an interview; final merit combines mains and interview scores.
Selection Process
1Preliminary Exam (shortlisting)
2Mains Exam (merit)
3Interview (100 marks)
4Provisional Allotment
Exam Pattern & Detailed Syllabus
Preliminary Examination
📝 100 questions🎯 100 marks⏱️ 60 minutes (20 minutes per section)➖ 0.25 mark deducted per wrong answer.
Mode: Computer Based, objective, sectional timers
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
English LanguageReading comprehension, error spotting, fill in the blanks, para jumbles, vocabulary, sentence improvement.
Quantitative AptitudeSimplification, number series, data interpretation, arithmetic (percentage, ratio, SI-CI, time-work, probability).
Reasoning AbilityPuzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, data sufficiency.
Prelims marks are not counted in final merit — only for shortlisting to mains.
Mains Examination
📝 155 objective + 2 descriptive questions🎯 200 + 25 marks⏱️ 3 hours 30 minutes total➖ 0.25 mark deducted per wrong answer in objective sections.
Mode: Computer Based, objective + descriptive, sectional timers
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 |
| General / Economy / Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 |
| English Language | 35 | 40 |
| English Descriptive (Letter + Essay) | 2 | 25 |
Reasoning & Computer AptitudeHigh-level puzzles, input-output, coded inequalities, computer fundamentals, networking, DBMS basics.
General / Economy / Banking AwarenessCurrent affairs (banking focus), RBI policies, budget, economy, financial awareness.
Data Analysis & InterpretationAdvanced DI sets, data sufficiency, quantitative comparison, probability, mensuration.
English LanguageComprehension, precise writing, vocabulary, grammar at mains difficulty.
English Descriptive (Letter + Essay)Letter writing and essay on banking/economic topics, typed on computer.
Final merit = mains (80% weightage) + interview (20% weightage).
📋 Source: Pattern as per the official IBPS CRP PO/MT notifications on ibps.in. Sectional timing and question counts are notified each cycle. Official website: https://ibps.in
Previous Year Papers — Year-wise
IBPS does not release official question papers publicly. Practice relies on memory-based papers compiled from candidate feedback.
| Year | Exam | Status |
|---|
| 2024 | CRP PO/MT-XIV | Verification pending
IBPS does not publish official papers — memory-based papers only, unverified |
| 2023 | CRP PO/MT-XIII | Verification pending
IBPS does not publish official papers — memory-based papers only, unverified |
| 2022 | CRP PO/MT-XII | Verification pending
IBPS does not publish official papers — memory-based papers only, unverified |
Get papers from the official portal: https://ibps.in. NaukriRoz never links unverified Telegram / Drive / blog PDFs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do prelims marks count in IBPS PO final selection?A: No. Prelims is only for shortlisting. Final selection uses mains and interview in an 80:20 ratio.
Q: Is there a descriptive paper in IBPS PO mains?A: Yes — one essay and one letter, 25 marks, typed on the computer.
Q: What is the negative marking in IBPS PO?A: 0.25 mark per wrong answer in both prelims and mains objective sections.