IBPS SO Syllabus 2026

IBPS SO Syllabus 2026

IBPS SO Syllabus 2026 and Revised Exam Pattern for Prelims & Mains

Candidates planning to appear for the IBPS Specialist Officer examination must become familiar with the latest syllabus and examination structure. A clear understanding of the subjects, important topics, marking scheme, and time allotted to each section can make exam preparation more organised.

The IBPS SO recruitment process is conducted for several Specialist Officer posts, including IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari.

The IBPS SO Syllabus 2026 covers subjects such as English Language, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude or Banking Awareness, and Professional Knowledge. The subjects included in the examination vary according to the post selected by the candidate.

This article provides a detailed overview of the IBPS SO 2026 syllabus and revised Prelims & Mains exam pattern.

IBPS SO Syllabus 2026

The syllabus for the IBPS SO examination is different for various Specialist Officer posts. Candidates applying for IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer are required to prepare Quantitative Aptitude along with English Language, Reasoning, and Professional Knowledge.

For Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari posts, General Awareness with special reference on the banking sector is included instead of Quantitative Aptitude.

IBPS SO 2026 Exam Highlights

Particulars	Details
Mode of Examination	Online
Selection Stages	Prelims, Mains and Interview
Prelims Duration	80 Minutes
Mains Duration	155 Minutes
Negative Marking	1/4th mark
Type of Questions	Prelims: Objective Mains: Objective & Descriptive
Examination Level	National Level
Official Website	ibps.in

 

IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2026

The IBPS SO exam pattern helps candidates understand the number of questions, maximum marks, sectional timing, and subjects included in each stage of the recruitment examination.

The examination pattern for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari differs from the structure followed for IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer.

Candidates should also note that the final merit is prepared on the basis of performance in the Mains examination and Interview. The weightage of Mains and Interview is generally considered in the ratio of 80:20.

 

IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

The IBPS SO Prelims consists of sections such as Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and General Awareness, with special reference on the banking sector.

The IBPS SO Preliminary Examination is conducted online. A total of 100 questions are asked for 125 marks.

 

Prelims Exam Pattern for IT Officer, AFO, HR/Personnel and Marketing Officer

Sr. No.	Test Name	Questions	Maximum Marks	Exam Medium	Duration
1	English Language	25	25	English	20 Minutes
2	Reasoning	25	25	English and Hindi	20 Minutes
3	Quantitative Aptitude	25	25	English and Hindi	20 Minutes
4	Professional Knowledge	25	50	English and Hindi	20 Minutes
	Total	100	125	—	80 Minutes

Candidates preparing for these posts need to focus on aptitude subjects as well as their specialised professional field.

 

Prelims Exam Pattern for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari

Sr. No.	Test Name	Questions	Maximum Marks	Exam Medium	Duration
1	English Language	25	25	English	20 Minutes
2	Reasoning	25	25	English and Hindi	20 Minutes
3	General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry	25	25	English and Hindi	20 Minutes
4	Professional Knowledge	25	50	English and Hindi	20 Minutes
	Total	100	125	—	80 Minutes

For Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari, candidates should give additional attention to banking-related awareness and recent developments in the financial sector.

 IBPS SO Mains Exam Pattern 2026

Candidates who qualify in the Preliminary Examination become eligible to appear for the Mains stage. The Mains examination evaluates candidates on aptitude subjects and their professional knowledge.

The examination structure varies depending on the Specialist Officer post.

Mains Pattern for IT Officer, AFO, HR/Personnel and Marketing Officer

Sr. No.	Test Name	Questions	Maximum Marks	Exam Medium	Duration
1	English Language	30	30	English	25 Minutes
2	Reasoning	40	40	English and Hindi	35 Minutes
3	Quantitative Aptitude	30	30	English and Hindi	25 Minutes
4	Professional Knowledge (Objective)	50	100	English and Hindi	40 Minutes
	Objective Test Total	150	200	—	125 Minutes
5	Descriptive Paper (English)	2	25	English	30 Minutes
	Grand Total		225	—	155 Minutes

The Professional Knowledge section carries significant marks in the Mains examination. Therefore, candidates should build a strong understanding of the core subjects related to their chosen post.

 

Mains Exam Pattern for Rajbhasha Adhikari

Sr. No.	Test Name	Questions	Maximum Marks	Exam Medium	Duration
1	English Language	30	30	English	25 Minutes
2	Reasoning	40	40	English and Hindi	35 Minutes
3	General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry	30	30	English and Hindi	20 Minutes
4	Professional Knowledge (Objective)	50	100	English and Hindi	45 Minutes
	Objective Test Total	150	200	—	125 Minutes
5	Professional Knowledge Descriptive Paper	2	25	English and Hindi	30 Minutes
	Grand Total		225	—	155 Minutes

The descriptive section for Rajbhasha Adhikari is related to Professional Knowledge and examines a candidate’s language and translation abilities.

 Mains Exam Pattern for Law Officer

Sr. No.	Test Name	Questions	Maximum Marks	Exam Medium	Duration
1	English Language	30	30	English	25 Minutes
2	Reasoning	40	40	English and Hindi	35 Minutes
3	General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry	30	30	English and Hindi	20 Minutes
4	Professional Knowledge (Objective)	50	100	English and Hindi	45 Minutes
	Objective Test Total	150	200	—	125 Minutes
5	Descriptive Paper (English)	2	25	English	30 Minutes
	Grand Total		225	—	155 Minutes

Law Officer candidates are expected to have knowledge of legal concepts, particularly laws and regulations connected with banking and financial institutions.

 IBPS SO Prelims Syllabus 2026

The subjects included in the IBPS SO Prelims examination depend on the post for which a candidate has applied.

Candidates appearing for Rajbhasha Adhikari and Law Officer generally need to prepare English Language, Reasoning, General Awareness with special reference to the banking industry, and Professional Knowledge.

Candidates applying for IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, Marketing Officer, and HR/Personnel Officer are required to prepare English Language, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and Professional Knowledge.

The subject-wise important topics are provided below.

 IBPS SO Reasoning Syllabus

The Reasoning section checks a candidate’s logical thinking, analytical skills, and ability to solve problems within a limited time.

Important areas to prepare include:

• Seating Arrangement
• Logical Puzzles
• Inequality Questions
• Syllogism
• Input and Output
• Data Sufficiency
• Blood Relation
• Order and Ranking
• Alphanumeric Series
• Direction and Distance
• Verbal Reasoning

Candidates should regularly practice puzzles and seating arrangement questions, as these topics may require more time during the examination.

 IBPS SO English Language Syllabus

The English Language section evaluates reading ability, grammar knowledge, vocabulary, and sentence understanding.

Candidates should prepare the following topics:

• Cloze Test
• Reading Comprehension
• Error Spotting
• Sentence Improvement
• Sentence Correction
• Para Jumbles
• Fill in the Blanks
• Paragraph Completion
• Sentence Completion

Reading newspapers, editorials, and informative articles can help candidates improve vocabulary and comprehension skills.

 IBPS SO Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

Quantitative Aptitude tests numerical ability and problem-solving skills. Candidates should understand basic mathematical concepts and work on calculation speed.

Major topics include:

• Number Series
• Data Interpretation
• Simplification and Approximation
• Quadratic Equations
• Data Sufficiency
• Mensuration
• Average
• Profit and Loss
• Ratio and Proportion
• Time and Work
• Time and Distance
• Probability
• Simple Interest
• Compound Interest
• Permutation and Combination

Data Interpretation is an important area of preparation. Candidates should practice questions based on tables, charts, and different forms of numerical data.

 IBPS SO General Awareness Syllabus

General Awareness is important for candidates appearing for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari posts. The section mainly focuses on current events and developments related to banking and finance.

Important topics include:

• Current Affairs
• Banking Awareness
• General Knowledge Updates
• National and International Currencies
• Important Places
• Books and Authors
• Awards and Honours
• Headquarters of Important Organisations
• Government Schemes
• Important National and International Days

Candidates should follow recent banking news, RBI-related updates, government schemes, and major national and international developments.

 

IBPS SO Mains Syllabus 2026

Professional Knowledge forms a major part of the IBPS SO Mains examination. The syllabus differs for each Specialist Officer post because the questions are designed to evaluate subject-specific knowledge.

The post-wise IBPS SO Professional Knowledge syllabus is discussed below.

 IBPS SO Mains Syllabus 2026: IT Officer

Candidates preparing for the IT Officer post should have a strong understanding of computer science, information technology, programming concepts, databases, and computer networks.

Important subjects include:

• Database Management Systems
• Data Communication and Computer Networks
• Operating Systems
• Software Engineering
• Data Structures
• Computer Organisation
• Microprocessors
• Object-Oriented Programming

Candidates should revise fundamental concepts of DBMS, networking protocols, operating systems, programming principles, and data structures.

IBPS SO Mains Syllabus 2026: Agriculture Field Officer

The Agriculture Field Officer Professional Knowledge section focuses on agricultural science, farming practices, soil management, and agricultural development.

Candidates should study the following topics:

• Fundamentals of Crop Production
• Horticulture
• Seed Science
• Agronomy
• Irrigation
• Agricultural Economics
• Modern Agricultural Practices
• Soil Resources and Management
• Animal Husbandry
• Agroforestry
• Ecology
• Agriculture-related Government Schemes

Candidates should also remain familiar with recent government programmes and initiatives introduced for farmers and the agriculture sector.

 IBPS SO Mains Syllabus 2026: Marketing Officer

The Marketing Officer syllabus covers fundamental and advanced concepts of marketing, sales, customer management, and business strategy.

Important topics include:

• Fundamentals of Marketing Management
• Brand Management
• Advertising Management
• Public Relations
• Sales Management
• Retail Management
• Business Ethics
• Market Segmentation
• Marketing Research
• Demand Forecasting
• Product Life Cycle
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Services Marketing
• Marketing Strategies

Candidates should understand the practical application of marketing concepts. Topics such as segmentation, branding, consumer-focused strategies, and product management require conceptual clarity.

 IBPS SO Mains Syllabus 2026: Law Officer

The Professional Knowledge syllabus for the Law Officer post mainly includes legal provisions associated with banks, financial transactions, regulatory compliance, and consumer rights.

Major topics include:

• Banking Regulations
• Legal and Compliance Aspects
• Negotiable Instruments-related Laws
• Laws Related to Securities
• Foreign Exchange Regulations
• Prevention of Money Laundering
• Limitation Act
• Consumer Protection Act
• SARFAESI Act
• Banking Ombudsman Scheme
• Laws Directly Connected with the Banking Sector
• Bankers’ Books Evidence Act
• Debt Recovery Tribunal-related Laws

Candidates should understand the practical relevance of important banking laws and legal procedures rather than depending only on theoretical definitions.

 

IBPS SO Mains Syllabus 2026: HR/Personnel Officer

The HR/Personnel Officer examination assesses a candidate’s understanding of human resource management, employee development, organisational policies, and workplace relations.

Important topics include:

• Human Resource Development
• Business Policy
• Strategic Analysis
• Transactional Analysis
• Training and Development
• Recruitment and Selection
• Rewards and Recognition
• Industrial Relations
• Grievance Management
• Conflict Management
• Performance Management
• Performance Appraisal

Candidates should focus on basic HR principles as well as the practical implementation of human resource policies in organisations.

 

IBPS SO Mains Syllabus 2026: Rajbhasha Adhikari

A detailed topic-wise syllabus for the Rajbhasha Adhikari Professional Knowledge section may not always be specified separately. However, the nature of previous examinations indicates that candidates should have strong command over Hindi and English, translation, grammar, and official language-related provisions.

The major areas of preparation are given below.

Topic	Important Areas
Translation	English to Hindi Translation and Hindi to English Translation
Hindi Language	Grammar, Vocabulary, Idioms and Phrases, Sentence Formation and Comprehension
English Language	Grammar, Vocabulary, Error Detection, Comprehension and Language Usage
Official Language	Official Languages Act, Official Language Rules and Constitutional Provisions Related to Hindi
Writing Skills	Essay Writing, Precis Writing and Official Letter Writing

Regular translation practice is important for Rajbhasha Adhikari candidates. They should also work on formal language usage and understand terminology commonly used in official and banking communication.

 IBPS SO Interview 2026

Candidates who qualify the required stages of the examination are called for the IBPS SO Interview. The interview is an important part of the final selection process and evaluates the candidate’s professional knowledge, communication skills, confidence, and suitability for the selected Specialist Officer role.

Questions during the interview may be related to the candidate’s educational background, professional subject, banking awareness, current affairs, and responsibilities associated with the post.

For example, an IT Officer candidate may be asked questions related to computer networks, databases, cybersecurity, operating systems, and the use of technology in banking. Similarly, a Law Officer candidate may face questions on banking laws and legal compliance.

Candidates should revise their core subjects and stay informed about recent developments in the banking industry before appearing for the interview.

 

The IBPS SO Syllabus 2026 provides candidates with a clear framework for preparing for the Specialist Officer examination. Since the subjects and Professional Knowledge topics vary according to the selected post, candidates should follow a post-specific study plan.

A balanced preparation strategy that includes conceptual learning, regular practice, mock tests, and revision can help candidates improve their performance. Aspirants should pay special attention to Professional Knowledge while also maintaining accuracy and speed in the other sections of the examination.

FAQs

Q1. Is the IBPS SO Exam conducted online or offline?
The IBPS SO Exam is conducted in online mode. Candidates have to appear for the computer-based examination at the allotted exam centre.

Q2. What are the selection stages for IBPS SO 2026?
The IBPS SO selection process includes three stages: Preliminary Examination, Mains Examination, and Interview. Candidates must qualify for the required stages to be considered for final selection.

Q3. What subjects are covered in the IBPS SO Exam?
The IBPS SO Exam includes English Language, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude or General Awareness, and Professional Knowledge. The subjects may differ depending on the Specialist Officer post selected by the candidate.

Q4. What is the IBPS SO Syllabus 2026?
The IBPS SO syllabus covers topics from Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Aptitude or Banking Awareness, and post-specific Professional Knowledge. The Professional Knowledge syllabus varies for IT Officer, AFO, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari.

Q5. Is there negative marking in the IBPS SO Exam?
Yes, negative marking is applicable in the IBPS SO objective examination. One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each incorrect answer.