IBPS PO Syllabus 2026 is available on the official IBPS website for candidates preparing for the Probationary Officer examination. The syllabus covers three major sections in the Prelims stage: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. The Mains curriculum expands to include Computer Aptitude, Banking Awareness, and Data Analysis.
The recruitment process involves three stages: the Preliminary examination (qualifying), the Main examination (objective and descriptive), and a personal interview. Candidates meeting the sectional and overall cut-off marks in the Mains exam are shortlisted for the interview. For the official syllabus PDF, visit https://ibps.in.
IBPS PO Exam Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | IBPS PO Exam 2026 |
| Conducting Organization | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Post Name | Probationary Officer (PO) |
| Exam Mode | Online (Computer-Based) |
| Exam Type | Objective (MCQ) + Descriptive |
| Total Questions | Prelims: 100 |
| Total Marks | Prelims: 100 |
| Exam Duration | Prelims: 1 Hour |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer |
| Exam Language | English and Hindi |
| Official Website | https://ibps.in |
Selection Process
The IBPS PO selection process consists of three stages:
- Preliminary Examination (Online): An objective test with 100 questions across three sections with sectional timing. This is a qualifying round.
- Main Examination (Online): Comprises an objective section (145 questions across four tests) and a descriptive English paper (2 questions). Candidates must qualify in both components.
- Interview (Personal): Candidates clearing the Mains cut-off are invited for a personal interview. The final merit ranking is determined using an 80% weightage from the Mains and a 20% weightage from the interview.
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
Each question carries 1 mark. Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies to incorrect responses. The Prelims exam is a qualifying stage; candidates must meet both sectional and overall cut-offs to advance.
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026
Objective Tests (200 Marks)
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| General / Economy / Banking / Financial Awareness | 35 | 50 | 25 minutes |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 145 | 200 | 160 minutes |
Descriptive Test (25 Marks)
| Test | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language (Letter/Email, Essay) | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
Negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer applies to the objective section. Descriptive answers are typed on screen. Candidates must qualify section-wise and overall to proceed to the interview.
IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2026
English Language
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Error Spotting / Error Detection
- Para Jumbles / Sentence Rearrangement
- Fill in the Blanks
- Vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms, word usage)
Quantitative Aptitude
- Number Series
- Simplification / Approximation
- Percentage, Ratio & Proportion
- Profit & Loss
- Simple & Compound Interest
- Time & Work, Pipes & Cisterns
- Time, Speed & Distance
- Average
- Data Interpretation (tables, bar graphs, line charts, pie charts, caselets)
Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles & Seating Arrangement (linear, circular, box)
- Inequalities
- Syllogism
- Coding-Decoding
- Blood Relations
- Direction Sense
- Order & Ranking
- Miscellaneous logical reasoning questions
IBPS PO Mains Syllabus 2026
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
- Puzzles & Seating Arrangement (high-level)
- Input-Output
- Logical Reasoning (cause-effect, statement-assumption, course of action, conclusions)
- Syllogism and Inequalities
- Data Sufficiency (reasoning-based)
- Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Coding-Decoding
- Basics of Computers (hardware, software, operating systems)
- Internet and networking basics
- MS Office and keyboard shortcuts
- Basics of cybersecurity and digital banking concepts
Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Table, bar, line, and pie-chart-based data interpretation
- Caselet data interpretation
- Missing data interpretation
- Data Sufficiency (quantitative-based)
- Comparison, ratio, percentage, and average-based sets
General / Economy / Banking / Financial Awareness
- Current Affairs (last 4-6 months, covering national and international events)
- Indian Economy and Budget highlights
- Banking awareness (RBI, monetary policy, banking terms, NPA, Priority Sector Lending)
- Financial awareness (markets, financial instruments, government schemes)
- Static General Knowledge (important days, countries, and capitals)
English Language (Mains)
- Advanced Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test (moderate to high difficulty)
- Para Jumbles
- Error Detection / Sentence Improvement
- Fill in the Blanks (double fillers, phrase replacement)
- Vocabulary (high-frequency banking exam words)
Descriptive English
- Essay writing on banking, finance, socio-economic, and current issues topics
- Letter/Email composition and formal communication tasks
Preparation Strategy
Preparing for IBPS PO 2026 demands a methodical approach across all sections. Prioritize Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability, as these carry high weightage. Dedicate regular time to essay and formal letter writing for the descriptive English component. Implement strict time management during mock tests, adhering to the sectional time limits (20 minutes per section in Prelims, 45-50 minutes per test in Mains). Read a financial newspaper daily and compile notes on RBI policy changes, economic data, and major financial sector developments to strengthen the General Awareness section.
Important Links
| Particulars | Link |
|---|---|
| Official Website | Official Website |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Where can I find the official IBPS PO Syllabus 2026 PDF?
Ans. You can download the complete syllabus PDF directly from the official IBPS website at https://ibps.in. The site also hosts all exam notifications and updates.
Q2. What sections make up the IBPS PO Prelims?
Ans. The Preliminary exam includes three sections: English Language (30 questions), Quantitative Aptitude (35 questions), and Reasoning Ability (35 questions). You will have exactly 20 minutes to complete each section.
Q3. Is there negative marking in the IBPS PO exam?
Ans. Yes, both the Prelims and Mains objective tests have a negative marking penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer. The descriptive paper does not have negative marking.
Q4. Does the Mains syllabus differ from the Prelims?
Ans. Yes. The Mains phase covers advanced topics, introducing Computer Aptitude, Banking Awareness, Financial Awareness, and complex Data Analysis. Additionally, the English section includes higher-level comprehension and a descriptive writing component.
Q5. How is the final IBPS PO merit list calculated?
Ans. The final selection relies on an 80:20 ratio. Your score in the Mains exam contributes 80% weightage, while the personal interview accounts for the remaining 20%.
Q6. What topics should I study for Banking and Financial Awareness?
Ans. Focus on recent Current Affairs, the Indian Economy, Union Budget highlights, RBI monetary policies, and core banking regulations. You should also review financial markets and relevant static General Knowledge.
Q7. Is the IBPS PO exam available in Hindi?
Ans. Yes, the majority of the exam sections are bilingual (English and Hindi). The only exception is the English Language section, which must be taken in English.
