IBPS SO Exam 2026

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection — Specialist Officer

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)NationalOnline (Computer-Based Test)Exam: December 2026

Recruitment of Specialist Officers (IT, HR, Marketing, Law, Agriculture, Rajbhasha) in public-sector banks.

IBPS SO — Exam Highlights

Conducting Body

IBPS

Level

National

Posts

IT, AFO, HR, Marketing, Law, Rajbhasha Officer (Scale I)

Stages

Prelims + Mains + Interview

Negative Marking

Yes

Mode

Online (CBT)

IBPS SO Important Dates & Schedule

NotificationNovember 2026

Prelims ExamDecember 2026

Mains ExamJanuary 2027

InterviewFebruary 2027

Dates are indicative — verify on the official website.

IBPS SO — Overview

IBPS SO (Specialist Officer) is a national exam conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection to recruit specialist officers in participating public-sector banks. Unlike the generalist PO exam, IBPS SO hires domain experts as IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, Law Officer and Rajbhasha Officer (Scale I). It is ideal for graduates and professionals who want to use their specialisation within the stable, well-paid banking sector.

IBPS SO Eligibility Criteria

Graduation/professional qualification in the relevant specialisation (e.g. engineering in IT/CS for IT Officer, B.Sc Agriculture for AFO, LLB for Law Officer, MBA/PGDM in HR or Marketing for those posts).

IBPS SO Exam Pattern & Format

Marks, duration, number of questions and marking scheme.

Preliminary CBT (Reasoning, English, and Quantitative Aptitude or relevant subject) → Main CBT (professional knowledge of the chosen specialisation) → Interview. Negative marking applies in objective tests.

IBPS SO Syllabus & Topics

Subject-wise topics covered in the exam.

Prelims — Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude/General Awareness (post-dependent). Mains — Professional Knowledge specific to the specialist post (IT, Agriculture, HR, Marketing, Law or Rajbhasha).

IBPS SO Selection Process

Stage-by-stage selection.

Prelims → Mains (Professional Knowledge) → Interview → Final merit (Mains + Interview).

How to Prepare for IBPS SO — Strategy & Tips

A focused, time-tested approach to crack IBPS SO.

- Build strong professional knowledge of your specialisation — the Mains is decisive. - Clear the prelims sectional cut-offs in reasoning, English and aptitude. - Practice previous-year professional-knowledge questions for your post. - Prepare for the interview with current banking and domain awareness.

IBPS SO — Frequently Asked Questions

Which posts are offered under IBPS SO?

IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, Law Officer and Rajbhasha Officer (all Scale I).

Is IBPS SO different from IBPS PO?

Yes. PO is a generalist officer role; SO recruits domain specialists who need a relevant professional qualification.

What is the IBPS SO exam?

IBPS SO is a national-level government recruitment exam conducted by Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) in the Banking Exams category. Recruitment of Specialist Officers (IT, HR, Marketing, Law, Agriculture, Rajbhasha) in public-sector banks.

Who is eligible for IBPS SO?

What is the IBPS SO exam pattern?

What is the selection process for IBPS SO?

Prelims → Mains (Professional Knowledge) → Interview → Final merit (Mains + Interview).

When is the IBPS SO exam conducted?

The IBPS SO exam is held December 2026. Exact dates are announced in the official notification — always verify on https://www.ibps.in.

Is IBPS SO information on MyInternships.in free?

Yes. All exam information is completely free and compiled from official government sources, with a reminder to verify details on the official website.