The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the Probationary Officer (PO) exam every year to recruit officers for various public sector banks in India. This exam is highly competitive and attracts thousands of aspirants who dream of securing a prestigious and stable banking job. If you are considering appearing for the exam, this guide will provide you with all the essential information you need, from eligibility criteria and exam patterns to preparation tips and career prospects.
What is IBPS PO?
This exam is conducted annually to select Probationary Officers (POs) for participating public sector banks. A Probationary Officer is an entry-level managerial position in a bank, responsible for various banking activities such as customer service, loans, credit management, and overall branch operations.
IBPS PO officers have job security, a decent salary package, and numerous growth opportunities, making it one of the most sought-after exams in India’s banking sector.
Also Read: IAS Exam Syllabus
Exam Highlights
- Conducting Body: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
- Post: Probationary Officer (PO)
- Participating Banks: 11+ Public Sector Banks
- Exam Mode: Online
- Stages: Prelims, Mains, Interview
- Official Website: www.ibps.in
Eligibility Criteria
Before applying for the IBPS PO exam, candidates must ensure they meet the eligibility requirements. The main criteria include:
- Nationality
Candidates must be:
- A citizen of India OR
- A subject of Nepal, Bhutan OR
- A Tibetan refugee who migrated to India before January 1, 1962
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, East African countries, etc.
- Educational Qualification
- Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
- No minimum percentage is required, but the degree must be completed before the deadline.
- Age Limit
- Minimum age: 20 years
- Maximum age: 30 years
- Age relaxation applies to certain categories (SC/ST- Y years, OBC- 3 years, PwD – 10 years, etc).
Selection Process
The IBPS PO selection process consists of three stages:
- Preliminary Exam
- Mains Exam
- Interview
Prelims Exam Pattern
- Total number of questions – 100
- Maximum Marks – 100
- Duration – 60 minutes
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer.
- Candidates must clear sectional and overall cutoffs.
Mains Exam Pattern
- Total number of questions – 155+2
- Maximum marks – 200+25
- Duration – 3.5 hours
- Negative marking- 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.
- The descriptive test is evaluated only if a candidate clears the objective test.
Interview
- Conducted for candidates who qualify for the Mains exam
- Total marks: 100 ( Minimum qualifying marks – 40% for general, 35% for others)
- The final selection is based on the Mains + Interview score (80:20 weightage).
Syllabus
The IBPS PO syllabus covers multiple topics across Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English, and General Awareness. Here are some key areas to focus on:
- Quantitative Aptitude:
- Number series
- Simplification
- Data Interpretation
- Profit & Loss
- Time & Work
- Probability & Permutation
- Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
- Syllogism
- Blood Relations
- Coding-Decoding
- Logical Reasoning
- English Language
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Sentence Rearrangement
- Error spotting
- General Awareness (Banking & Economy)
- Current affairs
- Banking terms
- Government schemes
- RBI and Monetary Policies
- Computer Aptitude
- Basics of computers
- Operating systems
- Networking
- MS Office
How to Prepare for IBPS PO?
- Understand the syllabus and exam pattern.
Go through the syllabus and analyze the previous year’s papers to understand the weightage of different topics.
- Make a study plan
- Allocate dedicated time for each section
- Revise daily and take mock tests regularly
- Use quality study materials
- Books:
– Quantitative aptitude- R.S. Aggarwal
– Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning – R.S. Aggarwal
– Objective English – S.P. Bakshi
– Banking Awareness – Arihant
- Attempt Mock Tests & analyze performance
Regularly take mock tests to improve speed and accuracy
- Stay updated with current affairs
Read newspapers (The Hindu, Indian Express) and follow banking news regularly.
Salary and Career Growth
Salary Structure
The basic pay of an IBPS PO is Rs 36,000 – Rs 42,000 per month. With allowances, the gross salary can be Rs 52,000 – Rs 55,000 per month.
Career Growth
IBPS POs have significant growth opportunities:
- Assistant Manager -> Branch Manager -> AGM -> GM -> Director
- Promotions occur via internal exams and performance-based evaluations.
Conclusion
The IBPS PO exam is one of the best opportunities for those aspiring to work in India’s public banking industry. With thorough preparation, smart time management, and consistent practice, you can secure a position as a Probationary Officer and enjoy a rewarding banking career.
FAQs
The age limit of IBPS PO exam is 20 to 30 years old.
The required qualification for the IBPS PO exam is that the candidates should be graduates in any stream.
The different stages of the IBPS PO selection process involves the prelims exam, mains exam followed by interview.
The key subjects tested in the IBPS PO exam are reasoning, quantitative aptitude, and english language.
There is no limit on the number of attempts, but the candidate must fall within the age limit.
