The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released its Specialist Officer recruitment notification for this year, offering a wide range of professional banking careers under the Common Recruitment Process (CRP SPL-XVI). The IBPS SO XVI Online Form 2026 was originally released on 30 June 2026 for 745 vacancies, and following a revised notice issued on 20 July 2026, the total vacancy count has now been increased to 1035 posts across six Specialist Officer profiles in Public Sector Banks.
The online application process began on 1 July 2026, and today, 21 July 2026, is the last date to register and pay the fee. Candidates who are yet to apply should complete their submission today, since the portal will close at the end of the day. This recruitment is meant to fill vacancies expected to arise during the financial year 2027-28 and covers professional roles such as IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, and Marketing Officer.
Selection for these Scale-I posts involves a three-stage process consisting of a Preliminary Examination, a Main Examination, and a Common Interview, with final merit based primarily on Main Exam and Interview scores. Below is a complete overview of important dates, application fee, age limit, revised post-wise vacancy details, eligibility, exam pattern, and the step-by-step application procedure, along with official links.
IBPS SO XVI 2026: Short Details
IBPS conducts this Common Recruitment Process annually to select Specialist Officers for 11 participating public sector banks across India, including institutions such as Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, and Canara Bank. Since each Specialist Officer post carries a distinct educational qualification requirement, candidates should choose the post that matches their professional background, keeping in mind that only one post can be applied for under this recruitment.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 30 June 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 01 July 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 21 July 2026 (Today) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 21 July 2026 (Today) |
| Revised Vacancy Notice (1035 Posts) | 20 July 2026 |
| Application Edit Window | Two days after registration closes |
| Prelims Exam Date | 29 August 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 01 November 2026 |
| Result Date | To be announced on the official website |
Important: Today is the final day to apply. Candidates should complete their application and fee payment before the portal closes to avoid missing this opportunity.
Application Fee
| Category | Fee Amount |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs. 850/- |
| SC / ST / PwBD | Rs. 175/- |
Payment can be made online only, through debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.
Age Limit
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Reckoned As On | 01 July 2026 |
| Minimum Age | 20 Years |
| Maximum Age | 30 Years |
| Age Relaxation | Applicable for SC/ST, OBC, PwBD, and Ex-Servicemen categories as per IBPS rules |
Revised Vacancy Details (Total 1035 Posts)
| Post Name | Number of Posts (Revised) |
|---|---|
| IT Officer (Scale I) | 376 |
| Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I) | 370 |
| Law Officer (Scale I) | 125 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) | 94 |
| HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I) | 60 |
| Marketing Officer (Scale I) | 10 |
These figures reflect the revised Annexure-I released on 20 July 2026, which added 290 additional vacancies to the originally announced 745 posts. Vacancies remain indicative and may change further based on actual requirements reported by participating banks.
Eligibility Criteria
- IT Officer: 4-year Engineering/Technology degree in Computer Science, Computer Applications, Information Technology, Electronics, or related disciplines, or a Postgraduate degree in the same fields, or a DOEACC ‘B’ Level certificate.
- Agricultural Field Officer: 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Dairy Science, Fishery Science, Pisciculture, Agri-Business Management, or related fields.
- Law Officer: Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) from a recognized university, along with enrollment as an advocate with the Bar Council.
- Rajbhasha Adhikari: Postgraduate degree in Hindi with English as a subject at the degree level, or a Postgraduate degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects at the degree level.
- HR/Personnel Officer: Postgraduate degree or a 2-year full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resources, Personnel Management, Industrial Relations, Social Work, or Labour Law.
- Marketing Officer: MBA/PGDM with specialization in Marketing, or equivalent qualification from a recognized institution.
- Candidates must meet the prescribed age limit of 20 to 30 years, as on 1 July 2026, with relaxation applicable for reserved categories.
- Candidates can apply for only one Specialist Officer post; multiple applications for different posts will be rejected.
Exam Pattern
| Stage | Pattern |
|---|---|
| Preliminary Examination | 100 questions for 125 marks, covering English Language, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude/General Awareness, and Professional Knowledge, to be completed in 80 minutes with sectional timing |
| Main Examination | Post-specific pattern testing Professional Knowledge along with other sections; all sections except Professional Knowledge are qualifying in nature |
| Interview | Common Interview conducted after the Main Examination |
Negative marking of 0.25 marks is applicable for each incorrect answer in the Preliminary Examination. The final merit list is prepared based on Main Examination and Interview scores in an 80:20 ratio, with the Professional Knowledge section carrying the primary weightage within the Main Exam.
Selection Process
- Online Preliminary Examination
- Online Main Examination
- Common Interview
Salary Details
Selected candidates will be placed at Scale I with a starting basic pay of Rs. 48,480/- per month, following the pay scale structure of Rs. 48,480–2000/7–62,480–2340/2–67,160–2680/7–85,920, along with allowances and perquisites as per the rules of the concerned participating bank.
Documents Required for Application
- Educational qualification certificates and mark sheets relevant to the applied post
- Recent photograph and scanned signature in the prescribed format
- Left Hand Thumb Impression (LTI) and a handwritten declaration, as per the specified format
- Valid ID proof, such as Aadhaar card
- Category certificate, where applicable
How to Apply for IBPS SO XVI Online Form 2026
- Visit the official IBPS website at ibps.in.
- Click on the CRP Specialist Officers (CRP-SPL XVI) recruitment link.
- Click on “New Registration” and register using your basic details to generate a Registration Number and Password.
- Log in and fill in the application form with your personal, educational, communication, and work experience details carefully.
- Upload the required documents, photograph, signature, LTI, and declaration in the prescribed format.
- Preview the application form and verify all the details carefully before final submission, since post, category, email ID, and mobile number cannot be changed later.
- Pay the applicable application fee online and download the payment receipt.
- Submit the form and print the final confirmation page for your records.
Important Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| IBPS Official Website | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the last date to apply for IBPS SO XVI Recruitment 2026?
The last date to submit the online application and pay the fee is 21 July 2026 (today).
2. How many vacancies are there under this recruitment?
The recruitment was originally announced for 745 vacancies, but following a revised notice on 20 July 2026, the total has increased to 1035 posts across six Specialist Officer profiles.
3. Which posts are covered under IBPS SO XVI 2026?
The recruitment covers IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Law Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer, all at Scale I.
4. What is the age limit for IBPS SO XVI Recruitment 2026?
The minimum age is 20 years and the maximum age is 30 years, calculated as on 1 July 2026, with relaxation applicable for reserved categories.
5. What is the application fee for this recruitment?
The fee is Rs. 850/- for General, OBC, and EWS candidates, and Rs. 175/- for SC, ST, and PwBD candidates.
6. What is the selection process for IBPS SO XVI 2026?
Selection involves an Online Preliminary Examination, an Online Main Examination, and a Common Interview, with final merit based on Main Exam and Interview scores in an 80:20 ratio.
7. When are the IBPS SO Prelims and Mains exams scheduled?
The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 29 August 2026, and the Main Examination is scheduled for 1 November 2026.
8. Can candidates apply for more than one Specialist Officer post?
No, candidates can apply for only one Specialist Officer post under this recruitment. Multiple applications for different posts will be rejected.
9. What salary can selected candidates expect?
Selected candidates will be placed at Scale I with a starting basic pay of Rs. 48,480/- per month, along with allowances as per the rules of the participating bank.
10. What is the official website to apply for IBPS SO XVI Recruitment 2026?
Candidates can apply through the official IBPS website at ibps.in.