IBPS PO Syllabus 2026: Quick Answer
The IBPS PO syllabus 2026 (CRP PO/MT-XVI) covers English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability in Prelims (100 questions, 60 minutes), and Reasoning, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking/Digital/Financial Awareness and English in Mains (170 questions, 200 marks, 160 minutes) plus a 25-mark descriptive paper (essay and comprehension). Candidates who clear Mains take a new personality test and then a 100-mark interview; final merit is Mains : Interview = 80 : 20.
Key takeaway (official, IBPS notification dated 30.06.2026): Prelims still has 30 English, 35 Quant and 35 Reasoning questions, but the marks are now 30, 30 and 40, so each Reasoning question is worth more than each Quant question. Mains has 170 questions for 200 marks (Data Analysis alone has 40), and a self-report personality test is mandatory before the interview. You must clear the cut-off in each section of Prelims.
Writing SBI PO too? See our SBI PO syllabus and exam pattern note; SBI uses a 40-30-30 Prelims with no sectional cut-off.
IBPS PO Exam Pattern 2026 at a Glance
| Stage | Questions / Marks | Time | Sectional cut-off | In final merit? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims (objective) | 100 Q / 100 marks | 60 min (20 per section) | Yes, every section | No |
| Mains (objective) | 170 Q / 200 marks | 160 min (sectional timing) | Yes, every test + total | Yes |
| Mains (descriptive) | 2 Q / 25 marks | 30 min | — | Yes |
| Personality Test (self-report) | Non-qualifying | As decided by IBPS | — | No, but compulsory |
| Interview | 100 marks | — | 40% (35% SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) | Yes |
Negative marking: 0.25 of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer in Prelims and Mains objective tests. Blank answers carry no penalty.
Total exam-day time: IBPS says the Main exam lasts 3 hours 10 minutes (160 minutes objective + 30 minutes descriptive).
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min | English |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 min | English & Hindi |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 min | English & Hindi |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min |
What the new marks mean: each English question is worth 1 mark, each Quant question about 0.857 mark (30 ÷ 35) and each Reasoning question about 1.143 marks (40 ÷ 35). A wrong Reasoning answer therefore costs about 0.286 mark, while a wrong Quant answer costs about 0.214 mark. Reasoning has become the section where accuracy pays most.
Solved example: a candidate gets English 22 right / 4 wrong, Quant 20 right / 5 wrong, Reasoning 26 right / 3 wrong.
- English = 22 − 4 × 0.25 = 21.00
- Quant = (20 − 5 × 0.25) × 30 ÷ 35 = 18.75 × 0.857… = 16.07
- Reasoning = (26 − 3 × 0.25) × 40 ÷ 35 = 25.25 × 1.142… = 28.86
- Total ≈ 65.93 out of 100 (IBPS may also apply normalisation across shifts).
IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2026: English Language
- Reading comprehension (1–2 passages), cloze test, para jumbles, fillers (single/double)
- Error spotting, phrase replacement, word swap, sentence connectors, odd sentence out
IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2026: Quantitative Aptitude
- Data Interpretation: table, bar, line, pie, caselet and missing DI
- Arithmetic: percentage, profit and loss, SI & CI, ratio, average, ages, partnership, mixture and alligation, time and work, pipes and cisterns, speed-time-distance, boats and streams, mensuration, probability
- Quadratic equations, number series (missing/wrong), simplification and approximation, quantity comparison, data sufficiency
IBPS PO Prelims Syllabus 2026: Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles and seating arrangement (parallel row, circular, floor-flat, box, scheduling, comparison) — the biggest block
- Inequality (direct/coded), syllogism, blood relation, direction sense, order and ranking, coding-decoding, alphanumeric series
Candidate feedback from the 22–23 August 2026 shifts reported 3–4 puzzle sets in Reasoning (for example a 14-person parallel row and a 9-person selection puzzle in one shift) alongside 3–5 small topics.
IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026
| Test (not in sequence) | Questions | Marks | Time | Medium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 | 45 min | English & Hindi |
| General / Economy / Banking Awareness / Digital / Financial Awareness including RBI circulars | 50 | 60 | 35 min | English & Hindi |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 35 min | English |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 | 45 min | English & Hindi |
| Objective total | 170 | 200 | 160 min | |
| Descriptive Paper (Essay and Comprehension) | 2 | 25 | 30 min | English |
The descriptive paper "may be broadly based on economic and social issues, emerging trends in banking and technology, current events, ethics etc." IBPS also says it may be scored by an automated system that checks writing proficiency, so grammar, structure and relevance matter more than length.
Who gets shortlisted: you need a minimum score in each Mains test and a minimum total. Only Mains marks decide shortlisting for the personality test and interview, and Mains marks also feed the final merit. Prelims marks never count.
IBPS PO Mains Syllabus 2026: Reasoning
- High-level puzzles and seating arrangements, input–output, data sufficiency, coded inequality, syllogism (including possibility and "only a few"), blood relation, direction, ranking
- Logical reasoning: statement–assumption, course of action, cause–effect, strengthening and weakening arguments, inference
The 2026 notification names this test just "Reasoning". Computer awareness topics now fit more naturally into the Digital Awareness part of the GA test.
IBPS PO Mains Syllabus 2026: Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Mixed, radar, line-bar and caselet DI; missing-value DI; arithmetic DI
- Data sufficiency, quantity comparison, probability, permutation and combination, advanced arithmetic
IBPS PO Mains Syllabus 2026: General / Economy / Banking / Digital / Financial Awareness
- RBI circulars and policy: repo, SDF, MSF, CRR, SLR, new directions and payment-system rules
- Banking: types of banks, NPA norms, Basel III, financial inclusion, priority sector lending, banking acts and committees
- Digital awareness: UPI, digital lending, cyber security, CBDC (e-rupee), fintech terms
- Economy: GDP, inflation, budget, fiscal and monetary policy, government schemes
- Current affairs of the last 4–6 months
IBPS PO Mains Syllabus 2026: English Language
- Long RCs, para jumbles, sentence connectors, paragraph completion, error detection, word usage, cloze test
IBPS PO Personality Test, Interview and Final Selection
- Personality test (new in 2026): a self-report test. It is non-qualifying, but you must appear to be eligible for the interview. Your profile is placed before the interview panel.
- Interview: 100 marks; minimum 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD).
- Final merit: Mains (out of 225: 200 objective + 25 descriptive) and interview in the ratio 80 : 20.
Solved example: Mains 135/225, interview 60/100. Final score = 135 ÷ 225 × 80 + 60 ÷ 100 × 20 = 48 + 12 = 60 out of 100.
IBPS PO Eligibility and Vacancies 2026
| Item | Official rule (CRP PO/MT-XVI) |
|---|---|
| Age | 20 to 30 years as on 01.07.2026 (born between 02.07.1996 and 01.07.2006) |
| Relaxation | SC/ST 5 yrs, OBC (NCL) 3 yrs, PwBD 10 yrs, ex-servicemen 5 yrs |
| Qualification | Graduation in any discipline, completed on the day of registration |
| Fee | ₹850 (General/OBC/EWS), ₹175 (SC/ST/PwBD), 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 |
| Vacancies (vacancies of 2027-28) | 6,715 in the notification; raised by IBPS corrigenda, latest dated 27.08.2026 (widely reported total 7,565) |
| 2026 schedule | Prelims 22–23 Aug 2026, Mains 4 Oct 2026, personality test and interviews Nov–Dec 2026, provisional allotment Jan 2027 (tentative) |
IBPS PO vs SBI PO Exam Pattern: Key Differences
| Point | IBPS PO 2026 | SBI PO 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Prelims split | English 30, Quant 35, Reasoning 35 (marks 30/30/40) | English 40, Quant 30, Reasoning 30 |
| Prelims sectional cut-off | Yes | No |
| Mains objective | 170 Q, 200 marks, 160 min | 170 Q, 200 marks, 180 min |
| Descriptive | 2 Q, 25 marks | 3 Q, 30 marks |
| Final stage | Personality test + 100-mark interview | Psychometric test + group exercise (20) + interview (30) |
| Final weightage | Mains 80 : Interview 20 | Mains 75 : Phase III 25 |
How to Prepare for the IBPS PO Syllabus 2026
- Protect every section in Prelims. With sectional cut-offs, a weak English score can end your attempt even with a high total.
- Push Reasoning accuracy. Reasoning carries 40 marks for 35 questions; aim for 4 puzzle sets in 15 minutes during practice.
- Build a Mains DI habit. DI has 40 questions in 45 minutes (about 67 seconds each). Practise one mixed DI set every day.
- Read RBI circulars weekly. The GA test explicitly names RBI circulars and digital/financial awareness.
- Type, don't write. Practise a 250-word essay and a comprehension summary on a keyboard in 30 minutes.
IBPS PO Syllabus Practice Questions with Answers
Q1. (Quant, Series) 4, 6, 12, 30, 90, ? (a) 270 (b) 300 (c) 315 (d) 360 Answer: (c). Multipliers ×1.5, ×2, ×2.5, ×3, ×3.5; 90 × 3.5 = 315.
Q2. (Quant, Quadratic) I. x² + 5x + 6 = 0, II. y² + 7y + 12 = 0. (a) x > y (b) x ≥ y (c) x < y (d) No relation Answer: (b). x = −2, −3; y = −3, −4. The only equal pair is −3 = −3, so x ≥ y.
Q3. (Quant, Percentage) A's salary is 25% more than B's. By what percent is B's salary less than A's? (a) 25% (b) 20% (c) 22.5% (d) 18% Answer: (b). 25 ÷ 125 × 100 = 20%.
Q4. (Quant, Speed) A 300 m train crosses a pole in 15 seconds. Its speed is: (a) 60 km/h (b) 66 km/h (c) 72 km/h (d) 80 km/h Answer: (c). 300 ÷ 15 = 20 m/s = 20 × 18 ÷ 5 = 72 km/h.
Q5. (Quant, Mixture) 60 litres of a mixture has milk and water in the ratio 3 : 1. How much water must be added to make the ratio 3 : 2? (a) 10 L (b) 12 L (c) 15 L (d) 20 L Answer: (c). Milk 45 L, water 15 L. For 3 : 2, water must be 30 L, so add 15 L.
Q6. (Reasoning, Inequality) A ≥ B > C ≤ D = E. Conclusions: I. A > C, II. E ≥ C. (a) Only I (b) Only II (c) Both (d) Neither Answer: (c). A ≥ B > C gives A > C. C ≤ D = E gives E ≥ C.
Q7. (Reasoning, Blood Relation) Pointing to a man, Riya says, "He is the son of my grandfather's only son." How is the man related to Riya? (a) Father (b) Brother (c) Cousin (d) Uncle Answer: (b). Grandfather's only son is Riya's father; his son is Riya's brother.
Q8. (Reasoning, Direction) Aman walks 5 km north, turns right and walks 3 km, then turns right and walks 9 km. How far is he from the start? (a) 4 km (b) 5 km (c) 6 km (d) 7 km Answer: (b). Net 4 km south and 3 km east; √(4² + 3²) = 5 km.
Q9. (Mains GA) What is the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate after the RBI policy of 7 October 2026? (a) 5.00% (b) 5.25% (c) 5.50% (d) 5.75% Answer: (b). Repo 5.50% − 0.25 = 5.25%. Revise our monetary policy tools of RBI.
Q10. (English, Filler) The committee's report was so ______ that even its critics praised it. (a) thorough (b) shallow (c) vague (d) hasty Answer: (a). Only a positive word fits "even its critics praised it".
IBPS PO Syllabus and Exam Pattern FAQs
What is the IBPS PO syllabus 2026 for prelims?
English Language (30 questions, 30 marks), Quantitative Aptitude (35 questions, 30 marks) and Reasoning Ability (35 questions, 40 marks), 20 minutes each. Main topics: RC, cloze, para jumbles; DI, arithmetic, quadratic equations, series; puzzles, seating, inequality and syllogism.
Is the IBPS PO exam pattern changed in 2026?
Yes, compared with earlier cycles. Prelims marks are now 30/30/40 (earlier each section's marks equalled its questions), the Mains objective paper is 170 questions in 160 minutes, the descriptive paper is "Essay and Comprehension" for 25 marks, and a mandatory self-report personality test now comes before the interview.
Is there a sectional cut-off in IBPS PO prelims?
Yes. You must clear the minimum cut-off in each of the three sections, as stated in the official notification.
How many marks is the IBPS PO interview?
100 marks, with a minimum of 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD). Mains and interview are combined 80 : 20.
What is the age limit for IBPS PO 2026?
20 to 30 years as on 1 July 2026.
Is computer aptitude in the IBPS PO 2026 syllabus?
The 2026 Mains lists "Reasoning" without computer aptitude, but the GA test now includes digital awareness, so computer and cyber-security basics are still worth revising.
Practice Next
- Full mocks: IBPS PO Prelims Full Mock Test 13 and the real IBPS PO 2025 Prelims memory-based paper (23 August, Shift 1).
- Mains sectionals: IBPS PO Mains Reasoning Mock Test 06, IBPS PO Mains DI Sectional Mock Test 06, IBPS PO Mains Banking Awareness Mock Test 04.
- Topic tests: IBPS PO Puzzle and Seating Mock Test 08, IBPS PO Quadratic Equation Mock Test 05.
- Related notes: SBI PO syllabus and exam pattern, IBPS Clerk syllabus and exam pattern, data sufficiency, input-output reasoning, repo rate history.
- Browse all study notes.