IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026: Quick Answer
The IBPS Clerk syllabus 2026 (CRP CSA-XVI, Customer Service Associate) has a Prelims of English Language (30 questions), Numerical Ability (35) and Reasoning Ability (35), 100 marks in 60 minutes, and a Mains of General/Financial Awareness (40), General English (40), Reasoning Ability (40) and Quantitative Aptitude (40), 160 questions for 200 marks in 125 minutes. Selection is on Mains marks, followed by a qualifying Local Language Proficiency Test; there is no interview.
Key takeaway (official IBPS notification dated 01.08.2026): the Mains is shorter and faster this year: 160 questions in 125 minutes (earlier cycles had 190 questions in 160 minutes). General/Financial Awareness now gives 50 marks in just 20 minutes, and Reasoning carries 60 marks for 40 questions. You must clear the sectional cut-off in every test of both Prelims and Mains.
Also writing SBI Clerk? Compare with our SBI Clerk syllabus and exam pattern note; SBI has no sectional cut-off.
IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern 2026 at a Glance
| Stage | Questions / Marks | Time | Cut-off | Counts in final merit? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims (objective) | 100 Q / 100 marks | 60 min (20 per section) | Each section | No |
| Mains (objective) | 160 Q / 200 marks | 125 min (sectional timing) | Each test + total, state-wise | Yes, only this |
| Local Language Proficiency Test | Marks-based | — | Qualifying | No |
- Negative marking: 0.25 of the marks assigned to a question for each wrong answer (Prelims and Mains).
- Normalisation: scores from different sessions are normalised by the equi-percentile method, up to two decimals.
- Medium: English test only in English; the other tests in English, Hindi and the regional language(s) listed for your State/UT.
IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min |
Unlike IBPS PO, the Clerk Prelims keeps 1 mark per question in every section. Candidates must clear each section's cut-off, and IBPS then shortlists an adequate number per category for Mains.
IBPS Clerk Prelims Syllabus 2026: English Language
| Topic | Usual questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 7–10 |
| Cloze Test | 5–6 |
| Fillers | 3–5 |
| Error Detection / Sentence Improvement | 4–5 |
| Para Jumbles / Sentence Rearrangement | 4–5 |
| Word Swap, Phrase Replacement, Connectors | 2–5 |
IBPS Clerk Prelims Syllabus 2026: Numerical Ability
| Topic | Usual questions |
|---|---|
| Simplification / Approximation | 10–15 |
| Number Series (missing / wrong) | 5 |
| Data Interpretation (table, bar, pie, line, caselet) | 5–10 |
| Quadratic Equations / Quantity Comparison | 0–5 |
| Arithmetic (percentage, profit and loss, SI & CI, ratio, average, ages, mixture, partnership, time and work, speed-distance, boats-streams, mensuration, probability) | 8–12 |
IBPS Clerk Prelims Syllabus 2026: Reasoning Ability
| Topic | Usual questions |
|---|---|
| Puzzles and Seating Arrangement | 12–20 |
| Inequality (direct / coded) | 3–5 |
| Syllogism | 3–5 |
| Coding-Decoding | 3–5 |
| Blood Relation, Direction, Order & Ranking | 3–6 |
| Alphanumeric Series, Pair Formation | 2–5 |
The ranges reflect candidate feedback on recent IBPS Clerk shifts (IBPS does not publish topic weightage), so use them to plan, not as a promise.
IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Date 2026
| Event (CRP CSA-XVI) | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | 10 and 11 October 2026 | IBPS tentative calendar 2026-27 |
| Prelims result | November 2026 | IBPS notification (01.08.2026) |
| Mains call letter | November 2026 | IBPS notification (01.08.2026) |
| Mains exam | 27 December 2026 (tentative) | IBPS tentative calendar 2026-27, dated 16.01.2026 |
The detailed CRP CSA-XVI notification lists the Mains only as "December, 2026"; the exact date of 27 December comes from IBPS's calendar, which IBPS says may change. Confirm on the Mains call letter.
IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026 (Revised)
| Test (not by sequence) | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 40 | 50 | 20 min |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | 60 | 35 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 50 | 35 min |
| Total | 160 | 200 | 125 min |
What the revised marks mean (per question)
| Test | Marks per question | Penalty per wrong answer | Seconds per question |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 1.25 | 0.3125 | 30 |
| General English | 1.00 | 0.25 | 52.5 |
| Reasoning Ability | 1.50 | 0.375 | 52.5 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 1.25 | 0.3125 | 52.5 |
So GA is the highest marks-per-minute test (2.5 marks a minute) and Reasoning gives the highest marks per question. Both deserve the most preparation time.
Solved example: a candidate attempts 34 GA questions with 28 right, 6 wrong. GA score = 28 × 1.25 − 6 × 0.3125 = 35 − 1.875 = 33.125 out of 50.
IBPS Clerk Mains Syllabus 2026: General / Financial Awareness
- Banking: RBI and policy rates, types of banks and accounts, cheques, payment systems (NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, UPI), KYC, NPAs, financial inclusion schemes, banking acts and committees
- Financial awareness: budget, inflation, GDP, government schemes, insurance and capital-market basics
- Current affairs of the last 4–6 months, plus static GK (bank HQs, national parks, important days)
IBPS Clerk Mains Syllabus 2026: General English
- Reading comprehension, cloze test, error detection, para jumbles, fillers, word usage, sentence connectors, phrase replacement
IBPS Clerk Mains Syllabus 2026: Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles and seating (higher level), input–output, coded inequality, syllogism, data sufficiency, blood relation, direction, logical reasoning
- The 2026 notification names this test "Reasoning Ability" only; computer aptitude is no longer listed separately, but basic computer awareness can still show up inside GA.
IBPS Clerk Mains Syllabus 2026: Quantitative Aptitude
- DI (all types, including caselet and missing DI), arithmetic, number series, quadratic equations, quantity comparison, data sufficiency, approximation
IBPS Clerk Language Test (LLPT) and Final Selection
- Final merit is prepared State/UT-wise on Mains marks only; Prelims marks are not added.
- You must know the specified local language of the State/UT you apply for (reading, writing, speaking, understanding).
- A Class 10 or higher mark sheet showing that language exempts you from the LLPT. Others take the test after Mains / provisional allotment and before joining. It is marks-based and qualifying; failing it means no appointment.
IBPS Clerk Eligibility and Vacancies 2026
| Item | Official rule (CRP CSA-XVI) |
|---|---|
| Age | 20 to 28 years as on 01.08.2026 (born between 02.08.1998 and 01.08.2006) |
| Qualification | Graduation in any discipline, result declared on or before 21.08.2026 |
| Fee | ₹850 (others); ₹175 for SC/ST/PwBD/ESM/DESM (GST included) |
| Participating banks | 11: 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, Union Bank of India |
| Pay scale | Basic ₹24,050-1340/3-28070-1650/3-33020-2000/4-41020-2340/7-57400-4400/1-61800-2680/1-64480 plus allowances |
| Vacancies (vacancies of 2027-28) | 11,403 in the notification; 11,663 after the 29.09.2026 vacancy update (indicative) |
| 2026 schedule | Prelims 10–11 October 2026; Mains 27 December 2026; provisional allotment March 2027 (tentative) |
IBPS Clerk vs SBI Clerk 2026: What Is Different?
| Point | IBPS Clerk 2026 | SBI Clerk 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims | 30-35-35, sectional cut-off | 30-35-35, no cut-off prescribed |
| Mains | 160 Q, 200 marks, 125 min | 190 Q, 200 marks, 160 min |
| Mains cut-off | Every test + total | Aggregate only |
| Age (upper) | 28 years as on 01.08.2026 | 28 years as on 01.04.2026 |
| Posting | Any of 11 PSBs (allotted) | SBI only |
How to Prepare for the IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026
- Never leave a section weak. Sectional cut-offs in both stages mean a low English or GA score can stop you.
- Drill speed for Mains GA. 40 questions in 20 minutes is 30 seconds each. Read questions, mark what you know, and move on.
- Make Reasoning your scoring test. 1.5 marks a question; practise 3 puzzle sets daily and revise syllogism possibility rules and coded inequality tricks.
- Calculation is half of Prelims Quant. Daily 15 minutes of simplification and approximation.
- Mock under real timers: 20-20-20 for Prelims; 20-35-35-35 for Mains.
IBPS Clerk Syllabus Practice Questions with Answers
Q1. (Simplification) √1764 + 15² − 12 × 8 = ? (a) 161 (b) 171 (c) 181 (d) 191 Answer: (b). 42 + 225 − 96 = 171.
Q2. (Missing Series) 7, 10, 16, 25, 37, ? (a) 50 (b) 51 (c) 52 (d) 54 Answer: (c). Differences +3, +6, +9, +12, +15; 37 + 15 = 52.
Q3. (Simple Interest) Simple interest on ₹6,000 at 8% per annum for 3 years is: (a) ₹1,240 (b) ₹1,440 (c) ₹1,480 (d) ₹1,560 Answer: (b). 6,000 × 8 × 3 ÷ 100 = ₹1,440.
Q4. (Time and Work) A finishes a job in 12 days and B in 18 days. Working together they finish it in: (a) 7 days (b) 7.2 days (c) 7.5 days (d) 8 days Answer: (b). 1/12 + 1/18 = 5/36, so 36 ÷ 5 = 7.2 days.
Q5. (Ratio and Ages) The present ages of P and Q are in the ratio 3 : 5 and their sum is 64. What will be the ratio of their ages after 8 years? (a) 2 : 3 (b) 3 : 4 (c) 4 : 5 (d) 5 : 7 Answer: (a). Ages 24 and 40; after 8 years 32 : 48 = 2 : 3.
Q6. (Inequality) M < N ≤ O = P > Q. Conclusions: I. P > M, II. O > Q. (a) Only I (b) Only II (c) Both (d) Neither Answer: (c). M < N ≤ O = P gives P > M; O = P > Q gives O > Q.
Q7. (Alphabet Series) Which letter is 7th to the right of the 15th letter from the left in the English alphabet? (a) U (b) V (c) W (d) T Answer: (b). 15 + 7 = 22nd letter = V.
Q8. (Syllogism) Statements: All coins are notes. All notes are cheques. Conclusions: I. All coins are cheques. II. Some cheques are coins. (a) Only I (b) Only II (c) Both (d) Neither Answer: (c). Coins sit inside notes, which sit inside cheques, so all coins are cheques, and therefore some cheques are coins.
Q9. (Mains GA) What is the Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR) in October 2026? (a) 16% (b) 18% (c) 19.5% (d) 20% Answer: (b). SLR has been 18% of NDTL since April 2020. Details in CRR and SLR rate 2026.
Q10. (English, Spelling) Choose the correctly spelt word. (a) Accomodation (b) Accommodation (c) Acommodation (d) Accommadation Answer: (b). Double "c" and double "m".
IBPS Clerk Syllabus and Exam Pattern FAQs
What is the IBPS Clerk syllabus 2026 for prelims?
English Language (30 questions), Numerical Ability (35) and Reasoning Ability (35), 20 minutes each, 1 mark per question. Key topics: RC, cloze, fillers; simplification, series, DI, arithmetic; puzzles, inequality, syllogism, coding.
Has the IBPS Clerk Mains exam pattern changed in 2026?
Yes. The 2026 Mains has 160 questions in 125 minutes: GA 40 questions (50 marks, 20 min), English 40 (40 marks, 35 min), Reasoning 40 (60 marks, 35 min) and Quant 40 (50 marks, 35 min).
Is there an interview in IBPS Clerk?
No. Selection is on Mains marks, subject to the local language test and document verification.
Is there a sectional cut-off in IBPS Clerk?
Yes, in both Prelims and Mains. Mains also has a minimum total score, fixed State/UT-wise.
What is the age limit for IBPS Clerk 2026?
20 to 28 years as on 1 August 2026, with category relaxations.
How many vacancies are there in IBPS Clerk 2026?
11,663 indicative vacancies after IBPS updated the table on 29 September 2026 (11,403 in the original notification).
Practice Next
- Full mocks: IBPS Clerk Prelims Full Mock Test 13 and the real IBPS Clerk 2025 Prelims memory-based paper (4 October, Shift 1).
- Mains: IBPS Clerk Mains General Awareness Mock Test 02, IBPS Clerk Mains Reasoning Sectional Mock Test 02, IBPS Clerk Mains Quant Sectional Mock Test 04.
- Sectionals: IBPS Clerk Puzzle and Seating Mock Test 07, IBPS Clerk English Sectional Mock Test 11.
- Related notes: SBI Clerk syllabus and exam pattern, IBPS PO syllabus and exam pattern, wrong number series, fillers for bank exams.
- Browse all study notes.