The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the Common Recruitment Process for Specialist Officers CRP SPL-XVI under its official notification dated 30 June 2026 for 1,035 Specialist Officer (Scale-I) vacancies across 11 Participating Public Sector Banks. The online application and correction window have now closed. The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 29 August 2026 and the Main Examination for 1 November 2026. CRP SPL-XVI has introduced a significantly revised exam pattern – Professional Knowledge is now tested in the Preliminary Examination itself, not just at the Main stage. Candidates who have registered must focus their preparation on the revised pattern covered in this article.
Important Notice: The online application window for IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI has closed (last date was 26 July 2026, with a correction window on 29-30 July 2026). This article is for registered candidates preparing for the Prelims on 29 August 2026 and the Mains on 1 November 2026. The total vacancy was revised from 745 to 1,035 on 20 July 2026 through a corrigendum from IBPS. The 1,035 vacancies cover the financial year 2027-28. Vacancies are indicative and final allotment depends on actual requirements reported by participating banks.
IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI 2026 – Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| CRP Name | Common Recruitment Process for Specialist Officers – CRP SPL-XVI |
| Notification Date | 30 June 2026 |
| Post | Specialist Officer (Scale-I) |
| Posts Covered | IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer (AFO), HR/Personnel Officer, Law Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Marketing Officer |
| Revised Total Vacancies | 1,035 (revised on 20 July 2026) |
| Vacancy Cycle | Financial Year 2027-28 |
| Participating Banks | 11 Public Sector Banks |
| Application Status | Closed (last date was 26 July 2026) |
| Correction Window | 29-30 July 2026 (closed) |
| Preliminary Examination | 29 August 2026 (Saturday) |
| Main Examination | 1 November 2026 (Sunday) |
| Official Website | ibps.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 30 June 2026 |
| Online registration opened | 1 July 2026 |
| Original last date | 21 July 2026 |
| Extended last date | 26 July 2026 |
| Revised vacancy notice | 20 July 2026 |
| Application correction window | 29-30 July 2026 (closed) |
| Preliminary Examination | 29 August 2026 (Saturday) |
| Prelims result | To be announced |
| Main Examination | 1 November 2026 (Sunday) |
| Interview | To be announced |
| Provisional allotment | To be announced |
Revised Vacancy Details – Post-wise (Updated 20 July 2026)
| Post | Revised Vacancies | Original Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| IT Officer (Scale-I) | 376 | 301 |
| Agricultural Field Officer (AFO) (Scale-I) | 370 | 190 |
| Law Officer (Scale-I) | 125 | 105 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale-I) | 94 | 89 |
| HR/Personnel Officer (Scale-I) | 60 | 60 |
| Marketing Officer (Scale-I) | 10 | 0 |
| Total | 1,035 | 745 |
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 and Sind Bank, UCO Bank, Union Bank of India.
Vacancy figures are indicative. Final provisional allotment depends on actual vacancies reported by participating banks during the financial year. Some banks have reported “NR” (Not Reported) for certain posts – these may be updated further.
Eligibility Criteria – Post-wise Educational Qualification
| Post | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| IT Officer (Scale-I) | 4-year Engineering/Technology Degree in Computer Science/Computer Applications/Information Technology/Electronics/Electronics and Telecommunications/Electronics and Communication/Electronics and Instrumentation, OR Post-Graduate Degree in Electronics/Electronics and Telecommunication/Electronics and Communication/Electronics and Instrumentation/Computer Science/Information Technology/Computer Applications, OR Graduate Degree in any stream with Post-Graduate Diploma in Computers |
| Agricultural Field Officer (AFO) (Scale-I) | 4-year Degree (graduation level) in Agriculture/Horticulture/Animal Husbandry/Veterinary Science/Dairy Science/Fishery Science/Pisciculture/Agricultural Marketing and Cooperation/Cooperation and Banking/Agro-Forestry/Forestry/Agricultural Biotechnology/Food Science/Agriculture Business Management/Food Technology/Dairy Technology/Agricultural Engineering |
| Law Officer (Scale-I) | Degree in Law (LLB) and enrolled as an Advocate with Bar Council |
| HR/Personnel Officer (Scale-I) | Graduate Degree with full-time Post-Graduate Degree or Post-Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management/Industrial Relations/HRM/HRD/Social Work/Labour Law |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale-I) | Post-Graduate Degree in Hindi with English as a subject at Degree level; OR Post-Graduate Degree in Sanskrit with Hindi and English as subjects at Degree level |
| Marketing Officer (Scale-I) | Graduate Degree with full-time MBA in Marketing/full-time Post-Graduate Diploma in Marketing |
All qualifications must be from a recognized University or Institution. Final year result awaited candidates must verify eligibility conditions from the official notification at ibps.in.
Age Limit
Age is calculated as on 01 July 2026.
| Condition | Age |
|---|---|
| All candidates | Minimum 20 years, Maximum 30 years |
| Date of birth range | Born on or after 02.07.1996 and on or before 01.07.2006 |
Age Relaxation:
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years (up to 35 years) |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years (up to 33 years) |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen/Commissioned Officers | Period of service + 3 years (minimum 6 months’ service) |
| Widows/Divorced/Judicially separated women (not remarried) | 9 years |
| Persons domiciled in J&K (01.01.1980 to 31.12.1989) | 5 years |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| SC/ST/PwBD candidates | Rs. 175 (inclusive of GST) |
| All other candidates (General/OBC/EWS) | Rs. 850 (inclusive of GST) |
Fee is non-refundable.
Salary and Career Progression
| Level | Post |
|---|---|
| Scale-I | Specialist Officer (starting level) |
| Scale-II | Manager |
| Scale-III | Senior Manager |
| Scale-IV | Chief Manager |
| Scale-V | Assistant General Manager |
| Scale-VI | Deputy General Manager |
| Scale-VII | General Manager |
Starting salary for Scale-I: Approximately Rs. 36,000 to Rs. 63,840 per month (Basic Pay Rs. 36,000 plus allowances as per IBA standards – DA, HRA, CCA and other admissible perks depending on posting location).
Revised Exam Pattern for CRP SPL-XVI 2026
IMPORTANT CHANGE: CRP SPL-XVI has introduced a revised exam pattern. Professional Knowledge is now tested in the Preliminary Examination itself – this is a significant departure from the previous pattern where Professional Knowledge appeared only in Mains.
Preliminary Examination (29 August 2026) – Revised Pattern:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | Composite 80 minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | Composite 80 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (post-specific) | 50 | 75 | Composite 80 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 125 | 80 minutes |
- Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer in objective sections
- The Preliminary Examination is qualifying in nature for shortlisting to Mains – Prelims marks do NOT count in the final merit
Main Examination (1 November 2026) – Revised Pattern:
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning (objective) | 45 | 60 | Composite 155 minutes |
| English Language (objective) | 45 | 60 | Composite 155 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (objective) | 60 | 60 | Composite 155 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (descriptive) | 2 questions | 45 | Composite 155 minutes |
| Total | 225 | 155 minutes |
- Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer in objective sections
- Descriptive Professional Knowledge paper is typed on computer
Final Merit Calculation:
| Component | Weightage |
|---|---|
| Main Examination | 80% |
| Interview | 20% |
| Prelims marks | Not counted in final merit |
Selection Process
Stage 1 – Preliminary Examination (29 August 2026):
Online examination covering English Language, Reasoning and Professional Knowledge. Qualifying in nature only. Candidates shortlisted on the basis of Prelims performance are called for the Main Examination. Shortlisting criteria and cut-offs are decided by IBPS.
Stage 2 – Main Examination (1 November 2026):
Online examination in objective and descriptive format covering Reasoning, English Language and Professional Knowledge. Marks from this stage (80% weightage) form part of the final merit.
Stage 3 – Interview:
Shortlisted candidates from Main Examination are called for an Interview conducted by the Participating Banks, co-ordinated by the Nodal Bank. Interview carries 20% weightage in the final merit.
Stage 4 – Provisional Allotment:
Based on aggregate marks (Mains 80% + Interview 20%), merit order, post preference, reservation policy and actual vacancies reported by participating banks, candidates are provisionally allotted to one of the 11 participating banks for the FY 2027-28. Allotment is to ONE bank only.
Important: A candidate can apply for only ONE post under CRP SPL-XVI. Multiple applications for different posts or duplicate applications for the same post lead to rejection of all applications.
Key Preparation Points for Prelims (29 August 2026)
English Language (25 marks):
Reading Comprehension, Error Detection, Sentence Improvement, Fill in the Blanks, Cloze Test. Standard banking exam English – moderate difficulty.
Reasoning (25 marks):
Puzzles and Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Sense, Inequality, Input-Output. Focus on puzzles and seating arrangement as they dominate bank exam reasoning sections.
Professional Knowledge (75 marks – post-specific):
This is the most critical section and carries 75 of the 125 Prelims marks. Prepare deeply in your specific domain:
- IT Officer: Computer Networks, Database Management, Data Structures, Operating Systems, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, Cloud Computing
- AFO: Soil Science, Crop Production, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Marketing, Government Agricultural Schemes
- Law Officer: Indian Contract Act, Banking Regulation Act, Negotiable Instruments Act, SARFAESI Act, IBC 2016, DRT Act, Transfer of Property Act, CPC
- HR/Personnel Officer: Labour Laws, Industrial Relations, HRM concepts, Performance Management, Compensation Management
- Rajbhasha Adhikari: Official Language Policy, Hindi grammar, translation, official correspondence in Hindi, Rajbhasha rules and regulations
- Marketing Officer: Marketing Management, Consumer Behaviour, Digital Marketing, Banking products and services marketing, CRM
With 75 marks at stake in Professional Knowledge versus only 50 marks in English + Reasoning combined, Prelims merit will be largely determined by domain depth.
Important Instructions for Registered Candidates
- Only ONE application per CRP SPL-XVI cycle per candidate. If you applied for one post you cannot appear for another.
- The Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 29 August 2026. Admit cards will be available on ibps.in before the exam – check regularly.
- Negative marking of 0.25 applies in both Prelims and Mains. Avoid guessing in Professional Knowledge where wrong answers are especially costly.
- Candidates applied under any reserved category must ensure their certificates are valid and match the details submitted.
- The provisional allotment is to one participating bank for FY 2027-28 – candidates cannot choose their bank after allotment.
- Law Officer candidates must be enrolled with the Bar Council and must produce proof of Bar Council enrolment at Document Verification.
- IBPS’s decision on all matters relating to CRP SPL-XVI is final.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Admit Card (when released) | Click Here |
| IBPS Official Website | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions – IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI 2026
Q1. What is IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI 2026?
✅ It is the 16th Common Recruitment Process for Specialist Officers conducted by IBPS for recruitment of 1,035 Specialist Officer (Scale-I) vacancies across IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari and Marketing Officer posts in 11 Participating Public Sector Banks for the financial year 2027-28.
Q2. How many vacancies are there in IBPS SO 2026?
✅ 1,035 vacancies in total (revised from the original 745 on 20 July 2026) – IT Officer 376, AFO 370, Law Officer 125, Rajbhasha Adhikari 94, HR/Personnel Officer 60, Marketing Officer 10. Vacancies are indicative and subject to revision.
Q3. When is the IBPS SO Prelims 2026 exam?
✅ 29 August 2026 (Saturday). The exam has 100 questions for 125 marks in 80 minutes, with a revised pattern that now includes Professional Knowledge (50 questions, 75 marks) in the Prelims itself.
Q4. What is the biggest change in IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI exam pattern?
✅ Professional Knowledge is now tested in the Preliminary Examination (50 questions, 75 marks) – a major revision from previous cycles where Professional Knowledge appeared only in the Main Examination. This means domain preparation is now essential from the very first stage.
Q5. How is the final merit calculated for IBPS SO 2026?
✅ Prelims marks are NOT counted in the final merit. Final merit = Main Examination marks (80% weightage) + Interview marks (20% weightage). Prelims is used only for shortlisting to Mains.
Q6. What is the age limit for IBPS SO 2026?
✅ Minimum 20 years and maximum 30 years as on 01 July 2026. SC/ST get 5 years relaxation, OBC-NCL get 3 years, PwBD get 10 years.
Q7. Can I apply for more than one post in IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI?
✅ No. Only one application for one post per candidate is permitted. Submitting multiple applications for different posts or duplicate applications for the same post results in rejection of all applications.
Q8. Which 11 banks are participating in IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI 2026?
✅ Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank of India, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, Punjab and Sind Bank, UCO Bank and Union Bank of India.
Q9. What is the salary for IBPS SO Scale-I posts?
✅ Approximately Rs. 36,000 to Rs. 63,840 per month (Basic Pay Rs. 36,000 at Scale-I, plus DA, HRA, CCA and other IBA allowances depending on location). Scale-I officers progress through Scale-II (Manager) to Scale-VII (General Manager) over their career.
Q10. What is the application fee for IBPS SO 2026?
✅ Rs. 175 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates and Rs. 850 for all other candidates (General/OBC/EWS), inclusive of GST. The application window is now closed.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the official IBPS CRP SPL-XVI notification dated 30 June 2026, the revised vacancy notice dated 20 July 2026, and official IBPS exam schedule updates. The total of 1,035 vacancies is based on the revised notice dated 20 July 2026 and is indicative – final provisional allotment depends on actual requirements reported by participating banks for FY 2027-28. The application and correction windows are now closed. All exam dates, admit card release and further process updates will be published on ibps.in. Candidates must refer to the official notification and ibps.in for the most current information. JobShouter.com is not associated with IBPS in any manner.
