The IBPS PO Notification 2026 has been released for the Common Recruitment Process, CRP PO/MT-XVI. It gives graduates an opportunity to compete for Probationary Officer and Management Trainee roles in participating public sector banks. The recruitment process is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).
Use the official notification as the primary source for dates, eligibility, fees, vacancies and examination rules. Final allotment depends on actual vacancies reported by participating banks.
IBPS PO Notification 2026: Key Highlights
The IBPS PO Notification 2026 is issued under CRP PO/MT-XVI for Probationary Officer and Management Trainee posts. It carries 6,715 indicative vacancies across 11 public sector banks. Eligible candidates must apply online through the official IBPS portal within the notified registration period.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Recruitment Cycle | CRP PO/MT-XVI |
| Post | Probationary Officer / Management Trainee |
| Indicative Vacancies | 6,715 |
| Participating Banks | 11 Public Sector Banks |
| Registration Dates | 1 July 2026 to 21 July 2026 |
| Age Limit | 20 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026 |
| Qualification | Graduation in any discipline |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains, Personality Test, Interview and Provisional Allotment |
| Official Website | Official IBPS Website |
The notification places the Preliminary Examination in August 2026 and the Main Examination in October 2026. Candidates should treat the date, reporting time and centre printed on their call letter as final.
Important Dates in the IBPS PO Notification 2026
| Event | Tentative Schedule |
|---|---|
| Online Registration and Fee Payment | 1 July 2026 to 21 July 2026 |
| Application Modification Window | Two days after registration closes |
| Pre-Examination Training | August 2026 |
| Preliminary Call Letter and Exam | August 2026 |
| Preliminary Result | September 2026 |
| Main Call Letter | September 2026 |
| Main Examination | October 2026 |
| Main Result and Personality Test | November 2026 |
| Interview | November/December 2026 |
| Provisional Allotment | January 2027 |
The IBPS PO Notification 2026 calls this a tentative schedule. Candidates should check the official IBPS portal regularly, especially during August and September, instead of relying only on screenshots or social-media posts.
IBPS PO 2026 Vacancies and Participating Banks
IBPS has published 6,715 indicative vacancies. These are not a promise of final appointment numbers. Banks may revise manpower requirements during the recruitment cycle, and provisional allotment depends on merit, reservation norms, candidate preferences and actual vacancies.
The 11 participating banks are Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, UCO Bank and Union Bank of India.
The vacancy number creates opportunity, but IBPS PO remains highly competitive. Use it as motivation to prepare consistently, not as a prediction of the cut-off.
IBPS PO Eligibility Criteria 2026
Applicants must meet every condition in the IBPS PO Notification 2026. Wrong information in the form, missing documents or an ineligible degree status can lead to cancellation even after an examination is cleared.
Educational Qualification
Candidates need a graduation degree in any discipline from a university recognised by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. The final graduation result must be declared on or before 21 July 2026. Applicants should possess a valid mark sheet or degree certificate when registering.
No minimum graduation percentage is prescribed. However, candidates must enter their aggregate percentage accurately. Those awarded CGPA or OGPA should convert it according to their university’s official rules and keep documentary proof ready for verification.
Age Limit and Relaxation
The basic age limit is 20 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026. Applicants must have been born between 2 July 1996 and 1 July 2006, both dates included.
Eligible SC and ST candidates can claim up to five years’ relaxation, OBC candidates in the non-creamy layer up to three years, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities up to ten years. Candidates seeking relaxation should hold a valid certificate in the prescribed format.
Nationality
Indian citizens are eligible. The notification also permits certain specified categories, subject to the required eligibility certificate. Read the detailed nationality clause before applying.
Application Fee, Documents and How to Apply
The application fee is ₹175, including GST, for SC, ST and PwBD candidates. For all other candidates, it is ₹850, including GST. Any transaction charge imposed by the bank is additional.
Keep a recent photograph, signature, left thumb impression, handwritten declaration, graduation details, identity proof and applicable category certificates ready. A live photograph may also be required.
To apply, visit the official IBPS website and open the CRP PO/MT-XVI application link. Select “New Registration,” enter basic details and save the provisional registration number and password. Complete personal, educational and category information, upload documents in the required size and format, and preview every field before final submission.
Pay the fee online, download the e-receipt and save the final application PDF. Keep your mobile number and email address active. Complete bank preferences carefully; final allocation depends on merit, category, vacancies and administrative requirements.
IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2026
The IBPS PO selection process includes the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, Personality Test, Common Interview and Provisional Allotment. Prelims are qualifying in nature. Their marks are used for shortlisting and are not added to final merit.
IBPS PO Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination has 100 objective questions for 100 marks and a total duration of 60 minutes. Each section has a separate 20-minute time limit.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes |
Candidates must clear the sectional and overall cut-offs decided by IBPS. One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for every wrong answer. No penalty applies to unanswered questions.
IBPS PO Main Examination
The Main Examination includes an objective test and a descriptive paper. The objective test has 170 questions for 200 marks in 160 minutes. The descriptive paper has two questions for 25 marks and a 30-minute time limit.
| Main Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
| General, Economy, Banking, Digital and Financial Awareness | 50 | 60 | 35 Minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 35 Minutes |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 40 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
| Descriptive Paper | 2 | 25 | 30 Minutes |
The descriptive paper tests concise, professional writing through essay and comprehension. Practise topics linked to banking, the economy, technology, social issues and current affairs.
Personality Test, Interview and Final Merit
A notable update in the IBPS PO Notification 2026 is the Personality Test after the Main Examination. It is non-qualifying, but shortlisted candidates must appear for it to become eligible for the interview. The candidate’s personality profile is shared with the interview panel.
The Common Interview carries 100 marks and evaluates communication, banking awareness, confidence, judgement, customer orientation and awareness of the officer’s role. Final merit gives 80% weightage to the Main Examination and 20% to the Interview. Prelims marks do not contribute to the final score.
This is why aspirants should not leave banking awareness, current affairs or interview preparation until after Prelims. A balanced approach from day one is more effective.
How to Prepare After the IBPS PO Notification 2026
Start with one full-length mock test to identify weak areas. Build a weekly plan that balances speed, accuracy and revision. For Prelims, strengthen simplification, number series, arithmetic, reading comprehension, syllogism, inequality and basic puzzles. Improve accuracy first; attempts will rise naturally with practice.
For Mains, practise high-level puzzles, data interpretation, banking awareness, RBI updates, financial news and descriptive writing. Revise current-affairs notes weekly.
Solve previous-year papers. Analyse each mock to identify concept gaps, slow calculation, poor question selection or weak time management.
Create a final-month notebook with formulas, vocabulary, banking terms, major RBI updates and recurring mistakes. It makes revision faster and prevents unnecessary switching between books, notes and videos.
Final Words on IBPS PO Notification 2026
The IBPS PO Notification 2026 gives eligible graduates a structured path towards officer-level opportunities in public sector banking. Apply early, verify every document and prepare for all stages of the revised selection process. Above all, follow official IBPS updates because the schedule and indicative vacancies may change.
Regular mocks and focused Main Examination preparation can help candidates compete with confidence.
FAQs on IBPS PO Notification 2026
Is the IBPS PO Notification 2026 released?
Yes. The CRP PO/MT-XVI notification has been released, and online registration runs from 1 July 2026 to 21 July 2026.
How many vacancies are available through IBPS PO 2026?
The notification lists 6,715 indicative vacancies. The final figure may change according to the participating banks’ requirements.
What is the age limit for IBPS PO 2026?
Applicants must be 20 to 30 years old as on 1 July 2026. Eligible reserved-category candidates can claim upper-age relaxation under the notification.
Can final-year students apply for IBPS PO 2026?
They can apply only when their graduation result is declared on or before 21 July 2026 and they can submit proof when required.
Is there a minimum percentage requirement for IBPS PO?
No minimum graduation percentage is prescribed. Candidates need a recognised graduation degree and must enter the correct aggregate percentage in the form.
What is the IBPS PO 2026 selection process?
The process includes Prelims, Mains, Personality Test, Common Interview and Provisional Allotment. Prelims are qualifying, while final merit is prepared from Mains and Interview scores.
Are Prelims marks included in the final merit list?
No. They are used only to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination.
When will the IBPS PO 2026 exam be conducted?
The notification places Prelims in August 2026 and Mains in October 2026. Check the official call letter for the exact date, shift and exam centre.