The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection has released the CRP PO/MT-XVI notification for 6,715 Probationary Officer and Management Trainee vacancies across 11 public sector banks.
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The figure is approximately 29% higher than the 2025 cycle, and three participating banks had not reported their numbers at the time of release — so the final count may rise further.
Applications close on 21 July 2026.
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The 2026 cycle also carries the most substantial structural changes in years: a new Personality Test before the Interview, a Mains paper expanded from 145 to 170 questions, a revised descriptive paper, and DigiLocker-based document verification.
This guide sets out the eligibility, the revised pattern, the salary, and what actually determines selection.
Overview
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Examination | CRP PO/MT-XVI — the 16th edition |
| Vacancies | 6,715 indicative — up approximately 29% from 2025 |
| Banks | 11 public sector banks (SBI conducts its own separate PO exam) |
| Qualification | Graduation in any discipline — no minimum percentage |
| Age | 20 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026 |
| Application window | 1 July to 21 July 2026 |
| Prelims | August 2026 — widely reported as 22–23 August |
| Mains | October 2026 — widely reported as 4 October |
| Stages | Prelims → Mains → Personality Test → Interview → Provisional Allotment |
| Final merit | Mains : Interview = 80 : 20 |
| Basic pay | ₹48,480 |
| In-hand | Approximately ₹74,000 – ₹76,000 |
| Portal | ibps.in |
1. The Vacancy Position
| Cycle | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| 2026 (CRP-XVI) | 6,715 |
| 2025 | 5,208 |
| 2024 | 4,455 |
| 2023 | 3,049 |
The trend here runs opposite to most recruitment covered in this series. Where RRB NTPC and UPSC CSE vacancy counts have contracted, IBPS PO has more than doubled since 2023.
Two qualifications on the figure. The 6,715 is indicative, not a promise of final appointments — banks may revise manpower requirements during the cycle, and provisional allotment depends on merit, reservation norms, candidate preferences and actual vacancies reported. Three participating banks had not reported numbers at release, so the final count may increase.
Note also: the 2026 recruitment is for vacancies of 2027–28.
The 11 Participating Banks
Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Punjab National Bank, UCO Bank and Union Bank of India.
SBI is not among them. The State Bank of India conducts its own separate PO examination.
| Aspect | IBPS PO | SBI PO |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | 11 public sector banks | SBI only |
| Additional stage | Interview only | Interview plus Group Exercise (GD) |
| Competitiveness | High | Generally regarded as slightly more competitive |
| Salary | ₹48,480 basic | Marginally higher |
2. Eligibility
| Criterion | Detail |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university, or equivalent |
| Minimum percentage | None prescribed. Candidates must enter the correct aggregate percentage in the form |
| Result deadline | The final result must have been declared on or before 21 July 2026 |
| Age | 20 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026 — born between 2 July 1996 and 1 July 2006 |
| Relaxation | Category-wise, per the notification |
| Computer proficiency | Basic proficiency is essential — the examination is online and banking operations are computer-based |
Engineering, Commerce, Arts and Science graduates are all eligible. There is no stream restriction and no percentage bar.
The result deadline is the condition that catches candidates. A final-year student whose result is declared after 21 July 2026 is not eligible for this cycle, regardless of when the degree is awarded. The result must be declared on or before the last date of application, and proof must be producible when required.
3. What Changed in 2026
The 2026 notification introduces the most significant revisions in several cycles.
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| Personality Test | Newly introduced, before the Interview |
| Mains pattern | Questions increased from 145 to 170, with revised marks distribution |
| Descriptive paper | Now Essay and Comprehension — previously Essay and Letter Writing |
| General Awareness | RBI Circulars specifically included |
| Mains emphasis | Digital and Financial Awareness receives greater weight |
| Registration | Live Photograph Capture during online application |
| Verification | DigiLocker integration for document verification |
| Edit window | Two-day edit window after the application process closes |
| Authentication | Enhanced biometric verification and Aadhaar-based provisions |
| Data protection | Compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 |
Two of these matter for preparation directly.
The descriptive paper changed. Candidates preparing Letter Writing are preparing the wrong paper — it is now Essay and Comprehension.
General Awareness now specifically includes RBI Circulars, with greater emphasis on Digital and Financial Awareness. This is a narrower, more current-affairs-dependent syllabus than candidates working from older material will expect.
And one matters for application: the two-day edit window after the window closes is a genuine safeguard, but it is short. Do not rely on it in place of checking the form before submission.
4. The Selection Process
| Stage | Nature | Counts toward merit? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Preliminary Examination | Qualifying only | No |
| 2. Main Examination | Objective + Descriptive | Yes — 80% |
| 3. Personality Test | Mandatory but non-qualifying | No |
| 4. Common Interview | Conducted by participating banks | Yes — 20% |
| 5. Provisional Allotment | On merit, category, preference and vacancies | — |
The final combined score is Mains : Interview in an 80 : 20 ratio.
Candidates must qualify separately in the Main Examination and the Interview.
The Point That Governs Preparation
Prelims marks are not included in the final merit list. The Preliminary Examination is used only to shortlist candidates for the Mains.
As with RRB NTPC, this should reallocate effort. A candidate scoring 85 in Prelims gains nothing over one scoring 65, provided both clear the cut-off. The Mains is the examination.
The New Personality Test
The Personality Test is mandatory but non-qualifying. Appearing in it is a condition of eligibility for the Interview, and the candidate’s personality profile is placed before the Interview panel.
So it carries no marks — but it shapes the room in which 20% of your final score is decided. It should not be treated as a formality.
5. Examination Pattern
Preliminary Examination
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 100 objective |
| Marks | 100 |
| Duration | 60 minutes total |
| Sections | English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability |
| Sectional timing | Each section separately timed — 20 minutes each |
| Negative marking | 0.25 marks (one-fourth) per wrong answer |
| Unattempted | No penalty |
| Cut-offs | Sectional and overall — both must be cleared |
Sectional timing is the operative constraint. A candidate cannot carry time from a strong section into a weak one. Twenty minutes per section, and the section closes.
This makes the weakest section decisive. Combined with sectional cut-offs, a candidate who is exceptional at Quantitative Aptitude but cannot clear the English cut-off in its own 20 minutes does not qualify.
Main Examination
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Objective questions | 170 — increased from 145 |
| Objective marks | 200 |
| Descriptive | 25 marks — Essay and Comprehension |
| Total | 225 marks — the Mains cut-off is calculated out of 225 |
| Sections | Reasoning, General / Economy / Banking Awareness, English Language, Data Analysis & Interpretation |
| Negative marking | 0.25 marks per wrong answer |
| Cut-offs | Sectional and overall |
On negative marking generally: at 0.25 across both papers with no penalty for unattempted questions, accuracy matters more than attempt count — particularly in the Prelims, where the section closes regardless.
6. Salary
| Component | Detail |
|---|---|
| Basic pay | ₹48,480 per month — JMG Scale-I, under the 12th Bipartite Settlement |
| Pay scale | ₹48,480 – 2000/7 – 62,480 – 2340/2 – 67,160 – 2680/7 – 85,920 |
| Dearness Allowance | Approximately 25% |
| House Rent Allowance | 7 to 9.9%, by city |
| Other | Special Allowance, CCA |
| Gross | Approximately ₹80,000 – ₹83,000 per month |
| In-hand | Approximately ₹74,000 – ₹76,000 in metro cities, after NPS and tax |
Read the pay scale carefully. It runs ₹48,480 to ₹85,920 through defined increment stages — seven increments of ₹2,000, then two of ₹2,340, then seven of ₹2,680.
Context: an entry basic of ₹48,480 places IBPS PO above SSC CGL Inspector grades and well above every post covered in the 10th and 12th pass tiers of this series. It is among the highest graduate entry salaries available without a professional degree.
Some listings quote an in-hand of ₹52,000 – ₹55,000. The more recent and widely reported figure, following the 12th Bipartite Settlement, is ₹74,000 – ₹76,000 in metro cities against a gross of ₹80,000 – ₹83,000. Verify against the current settlement.
7. Application Procedure
- Register online at ibps.in between 1 July and 21 July 2026.
- Complete the application with accurate particulars — enter the correct aggregate graduation percentage.
- Upload:
- Photograph
- Signature
- Thumb impression
- Handwritten declaration
- Live photograph capture — new for 2026
- Complete bank preferences carefully. Final allocation depends on merit, category, vacancies and administrative requirements.
- Pay the application fee — ₹850 for UR candidates, inclusive of GST — online by debit card, credit card, UPI or net banking. Bank transaction charges, where applicable, are payable separately.
- Submit, download the e-receipt and save the final application PDF.
- Use the two-day edit window if a correction is needed after the window closes.
- Keep your mobile number and email address active throughout the cycle.
On the fee: once submitted, the application fee or intimation charge is not normally refunded or adjusted against another examination.
Admit Card
Issued online to candidates who successfully submit the application, approximately 7 to 15 days before each examination. Download using the Registration Number / Roll Number and Password / Date of Birth.
Carry a printed copy of the admit card and a valid photo ID to the centre.
Treat the date, reporting time and centre printed on your call letter as final — not the dates circulating in secondary listings.
Pre-exam training is available to candidates of specified categories, usually conducted a few days before the Prelims.
8. A Note on the Reported Dates
The Prelims is widely reported as 22–23 August 2026 and the Mains as 4 October 2026.
However, at least one source reviewing the notification states that the notification itself places the Prelims in “August 2026” and the Mains in “October 2026” without specifying those exact dates, and describes the schedule as tentative.
The position to take: treat August and October as the confirmed windows, treat the specific dates as reported rather than confirmed, and rely on the call letter and the official portal — checking ibps.in through August and September rather than acting on screenshots or social media.
9. Documents Checklist
- ☐ Graduation degree — certificate and mark sheets, with result declared on or before 21 July 2026
- ☐ Class 10 certificate — age proof
- ☐ Caste / category certificate
- ☐ EWS certificate, where applicable
- ☐ PwBD certificate, where applicable
- ☐ Photograph, signature, thumb impression, handwritten declaration
- ☐ Aadhaar — for authentication and DigiLocker
- ☐ e-receipt and saved application PDF
- ☐ Printed admit card and valid photo ID
10. Assessment
IBPS PO is the strongest graduate opportunity in this series on pay and volume simultaneously.
In favour:
- 6,715 vacancies, up 29% on 2025 and more than double 2023 — a rising trend against a contracting one elsewhere
- Any graduation discipline, no minimum percentage
- ₹48,480 basic, ₹74,000 – ₹76,000 in-hand — the highest entry salary covered in this series
- 11 banks in a single application
- No stream restriction — Engineering, Commerce, Arts and Science all eligible
Against:
- Age 20 to 30 — narrower than State PSC’s 40 or 42
- Sectional timing and sectional cut-offs in both papers — the weakest section decides
- The 2026 pattern is revised, so older preparation material is partly stale
- Fee ₹850, non-refundable
- The graduation result must be declared by 21 July 2026
Recommendations: apply before 21 July — the window is short and the fee is not refundable if you miss it. Direct preparation at the Mains, since Prelims marks do not count. Prepare Essay and Comprehension, not Letter Writing. Add RBI Circulars and Digital and Financial Awareness to General Awareness. And in the Prelims, treat accuracy within a 20-minute section as the constraint rather than attempt count.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the eligibility for IBPS PO 2026? Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university, with no minimum percentage prescribed. Age 20 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026 — born between 2 July 1996 and 1 July 2006. The graduation result must have been declared on or before 21 July 2026.
Q2. What is the IBPS PO salary? Basic pay ₹48,480 (JMG Scale-I), on a scale running to ₹85,920. With DA at approximately 25%, HRA, Special Allowance and CCA, gross is approximately ₹80,000 – ₹83,000, and in-hand approximately ₹74,000 – ₹76,000 in metro cities.
Q3. How many vacancies are there? 6,715 indicative vacancies across 11 public sector banks — approximately 29% more than 2025’s 5,208. Three banks had not reported at release, so the figure may rise. The count is indicative, not a guarantee of final appointments.
Q4. Do Prelims marks count in the final merit? No. The Preliminary Examination is qualifying only and is used to shortlist for the Mains. Final merit is Mains and Interview in an 80 : 20 ratio.
Q5. What is the new Personality Test? A stage introduced in 2026, held before the Interview. It is mandatory but non-qualifying — appearing is a condition of Interview eligibility, and the personality profile is placed before the Interview panel.
Q6. What changed in the Mains pattern? Objective questions increased from 145 to 170, with revised marks distribution. The descriptive paper is now Essay and Comprehension. RBI Circulars are specifically included in General Awareness, and Digital and Financial Awareness carries greater emphasis.
Q7. Is there negative marking? Yes — 0.25 marks (one-fourth) for every wrong answer in the objective tests of both Prelims and Mains. No penalty for unattempted questions.
Q8. How does IBPS PO differ from SBI PO? IBPS PO recruits for 11 public sector banks excluding SBI; SBI PO recruits only for the State Bank of India. SBI PO includes a Group Exercise in addition to the Interview; IBPS PO has only an Interview. SBI PO is generally regarded as slightly more competitive, with a marginally higher salary.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Vacancy numbers are indicative and may be revised by participating banks; final allotment depends on merit, reservation norms, preferences and actual vacancies. Eligibility, age limits, examination pattern, fees, salary and dates are set by the official IBPS notification and are revised each cycle. Secondary sources conflict on the exact Prelims and Mains dates and on the in-hand salary figure. Candidates must read the official notification on ibps.in before applying, treat the call letter as final for date, time and centre, and treat the notification as the final authority.