IBPS Clerk Exam 2026: Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus & Complete Guide

Published By

College Dakhla

Aug 20, 2026
IBPS Clerk Exam 2026: Exam Date, Eligibility, Syllabus & Complete Guide

Are you preparing for the IBPS Clerk exam 2026? The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the notification for the recruitment of Customer Service Associates (CSA) under CRP CSA-XVI.

A total of 11,403 vacancies have been announced for participating public sector banks. The application process is open from 1 August to 21 August 2026.

The IBPS Clerk prelims is scheduled for 10 and 11 October 2026, while the Main examination will be held on 27 December 2026.

This blog covers the notification, important dates, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, selection process, and preparation tips.

IBPS Clerk Exam 2026

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	IBPS Clerk / Customer Service Associate (CSA)
Conducting Body	Institute of Banking Personnel Selection
Recruitment	CRP CSA-XVI
Vacancies	11,403
Application Dates	1 to 21 August 2026
Prelims Exam Date	10 and 11 October 2026
Mains Exam Date	27 December 2026
Selection Process	Prelims, Mains and Local Language Proficiency Test
Mode of Exam	Online
Age Limit	20 to 28 years
Qualification	Graduation in any discipline
Official Website	https://www.ibps.in/

IBPS Clerk Notification 2026

IBPS released the CRP CSA-XVI notification on 1 August 2026. The notification contains details about vacancies, eligibility, application process, examination pattern, syllabus, fees and selection process.

The online application window is open from 1 August to 21 August 2026. Candidates should complete the application before the deadline and carefully check all details before submitting the form.

IBPS Clerk Exam Date

The official IBPS calendar schedules the IBPS Clerk prelims on 10 and 11 October 2026 and the Main examination on 27 December 2026.

Event	Date
Notification	1 August 2026
Online Registration	1-21 August 2026
Pre-Examination Training	September 2026
Prelims Admit Card	September 2026
IBPS Clerk Prelims	10-11 October 2026
Prelims Result	November 2026
Mains Admit Card	November 2026
IBPS Clerk Mains	27 December 2026
Provisional Allotment	March 2027

IBPS Clerk Vacancy

A total of 11,403 indicative vacancies have been announced under CRP CSA-XVI. Vacancies are distributed across different States and Union Territories and include category-wise allocations. The final number may change depending on the vacancies reported by participating banks.

Some states with higher vacancy numbers include:

Uttar Pradesh - 1,731
Karnataka - 1,414
Maharashtra - 1,051
West Bengal - 946
Gujarat - 698
Tamil Nadu - 675
Madhya Pradesh - 570
Bihar - 491
Punjab - 481

Candidates should check the official notification for the complete state-wise and category-wise vacancy details.

IBPS Clerk Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must meet the prescribed age, educational, computer and language requirements.

Educational Qualification

Candidates must have a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.

The graduation result must have been declared by 21 August 2026. Candidates must also provide their graduation percentage while completing the application.

Age Limit

The age limit is 20 to 28 years as on 1 August 2026. Candidates should have been born between 2 August 1998 and 1 August 2006, both dates inclusive.

Category	Upper Age Relaxation
SC/ST	5 years
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	3 years
PwBD	10 years
Ex-Servicemen	As per IBPS rules
Eligible widows/divorced women	As per category and notification

Computer Literacy

Candidates must have working knowledge of computers. This can be supported through a certificate, diploma or degree in computer operations or by studying Computer/Information Technology as a subject.

Local Language Proficiency

Candidates must be able to read, write, speak and understand the specified or opted local language of the State/UT selected in the application.

Candidates who have studied the required local language up to Class 10 or above can generally use their marksheet or certificate as proof instead of appearing for a separate language test.

IBPS Clerk Application Fee

Candidates must pay the application fee while submitting the IBPS Clerk application form. The fee varies based on the candidate’s category and is non-refundable.

Category	Fee
SC/ST/PwBD/ESM/DESM	₹175
All other candidates	₹850

The fee must be paid online between 1 and 21 August 2026.

IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern

The IBPS Clerk exam has two online examination stages: Prelims and Mains. Prelims is used to shortlist candidates for Mains, while the Main examination marks are considered for final merit. There is no interview for the post.

IBPS Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern

The prelims examination has three sections with a total of 100 questions for 100 marks.

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
English Language	30	30	20 minutes
Numerical Ability	35	35	20 minutes
Reasoning Ability	35	35	20 minutes
Total	100	100	60 minutes

Each section has a separate time limit. Candidates must qualify the required sectional and overall cut-offs to move to the Main examination.

IBPS Clerk Mains Exam Pattern

The 2026 Main examination pattern has been revised. It contains 160 questions for 200 marks, with a total duration of 125 minutes.

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
General/Financial Awareness	40	50	20 minutes
General English	40	40	35 minutes
Reasoning Ability	40	60	35 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	40	50	35 minutes
Total	160	200	125 minutes

There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer in the objective examinations.

IBPS Clerk Syllabus

The syllabus covers English, numerical ability, reasoning, computer aptitude and general or financial awareness.

1. English Language

Important topics include:

Reading comprehension
Cloze test
Error detection
Fill in the blanks
Sentence improvement
Para jumbles
Vocabulary
Synonyms and antonyms
Grammar
Sentence rearrangement

2. Numerical Ability and Quantitative Aptitude

Candidates should prepare topics such as:

Simplification and approximation
Number series
Quadratic equations
Percentage
Ratio and proportion
Average
Profit and loss
Simple and compound interest
Time and work
Time, speed and distance
Data interpretation
Mensuration
Probability and basic arithmetic

3. Reasoning Ability

Major topics include:

Puzzles
Seating arrangement
Syllogism
Coding-decoding
Inequality
Blood relations
Direction sense
Order and ranking
Alphanumeric series
Input-output
Data sufficiency

4. Computer Aptitude

For the Main examination, candidates should understand basic computer concepts, including:

Computer fundamentals
Hardware and software
Operating systems
Internet
Networking
MS Office
Keyboard shortcuts
Computer security
Basic database concepts

5. General and Financial Awareness

This section focuses on current affairs and banking-related knowledge. Candidates should cover:

Current national and international events
Banking awareness
RBI and monetary policy
Financial terms
Government schemes
Budget and economic updates
Banking and financial institutions
Important appointments and awards
Static general knowledge

IBPS Clerk Selection Process

The selection process mainly involves the following stages:

Online Preliminary Examination
Online Main Examination
Local Language Proficiency Test, where applicable
Provisional allotment

Prelims marks are not included in the final merit list. The final merit and provisional bank allotment are based on Main examination performance, subject to other eligibility requirements. There is no interview for IBPS Clerk recruitment.

How to Prepare for IBPS Clerk Exam

A regular study plan can help you cover the syllabus and improve your speed and accuracy.

Focus on the Basics: Understand the basic concepts of English, reasoning and mathematics before solving difficult questions.
Practise with a Timer: Solve questions within the given time to improve speed and manage sectional timing.
Solve Previous Year Papers: Practise previous year papers to understand the exam pattern and important topics.
Take Regular Mock Tests: Attempt mock tests regularly and review your mistakes to improve weak areas.
Read Current Affairs Daily: Follow daily current affairs, especially banking, finance and national events, for the Mains exam.
Improve Accuracy: Avoid unnecessary guessing and focus on answering questions correctly to reduce negative marking.

Conclusion

The IBPS Clerk exam 2026 is a major opportunity for graduates who want to start a career in public sector banking. With 11,403 vacancies, the competition is expected to be strong. Candidates should first check their eligibility, choose their preferred State/UT carefully and understand the revised exam pattern.

With focused preparation, regular mock tests, current affairs revision and strong time management, candidates can prepare effectively for both the IBPS Clerk prelims and Mains examinations.

Always check the official IBPS website for the latest admit card, result and recruitment updates.