The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the answer key and individual response sheet for the Probationary Officer/Management Trainee (PO/MT) Preliminary Examination 2026 (CRP PO/MT XVI) on 29 September 2026. The Prelims exam was held on 22 and 23 August 2026 in online mode. The Prelims result and scorecard were released on 24 September 2026. The IBPS PO Mains exam is scheduled for 4 October 2026. Candidates who appeared in the Prelims can log in at ibpsreg.ibps.in with their registration number and password or date of birth to access and download the answer key and their personal response sheet.
Important Note: Three things every candidate must do immediately. First, the Mains exam is on 4 October 2026 – just 3 days away. Candidates shortlisted for Mains should prioritise downloading their Mains call letter and confirm exam centre details rather than spending too much time on the Prelims answer key. Second, download both the answer key and your personal response sheet. The response sheet shows your actual recorded answers, not what you think you marked. Compare them carefully. Third, if you notice a discrepancy, check ibps.in for any objection process. The source does not confirm a formal objection window for this answer key.
IBPS PO Answer Key 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Exam | CRP PO/MT XVI (Probationary Officer/Management Trainee) 2026 |
| Stage | Preliminary Examination |
| Prelims Exam Dates | 22 and 23 August 2026 |
| Answer Key Released | 29 September 2026 |
| Prelims Result and Scorecard Released | 24 September 2026 |
| Scoring | +1 for correct answer, -0.25 for wrong answer |
| Login Credentials | Registration Number + Password or Date of Birth |
| Login Portal | ibpsreg.ibps.in |
| Official Website | ibps.in |
IBPS PO Answer Key 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| IBPS PO Prelims Exam | 22 and 23 August 2026 |
| IBPS PO Prelims Result and Scorecard | 24 September 2026 |
| Scorecard Link Active Till | 30 September 2026 |
| IBPS PO Prelims Answer Key Released | 29 September 2026 |
| IBPS PO Mains Exam | 4 October 2026 |
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Scoring: +1 mark for each correct answer. -0.25 mark for each wrong answer. Unattempted questions: 0 marks. Sectional time limits apply.
How to Download the IBPS PO Answer Key and Response Sheet 2026
- Visit the official IBPS website at ibps.in.
- Go to the CRP PO/MT section on the homepage.
- Click the IBPS PO 2026 Answer Key / Response Sheet link.
- You will be directed to the login page at ibpsreg.ibps.in.
- Enter your Registration Number and Password or Date of Birth.
- Submit the details. Your response sheet and the official answer key will appear.
- Download both documents and save them as PDFs.
- Take a printout for future reference.
Alternatively, use the direct login link in the Important Links section below.
How to Calculate Your IBPS PO Prelims Score
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open your response sheet – this shows your actual marked answers |
| 2 | Open the official answer key |
| 3 | Compare each answer in your response sheet with the official key |
| 4 | Count correct answers – add 1 mark per correct answer |
| 5 | Count wrong answers – deduct 0.25 marks per wrong answer |
| 6 | Unattempted questions carry 0 marks |
| 7 | Calculate section-wise and total expected score |
Formula: Expected Score = (Number of Correct Answers x 1) – (Number of Wrong Answers x 0.25)
Important Instructions for Candidates
- Download both the answer key and your personal response sheet. The response sheet is your actual record – it may differ from what you remember marking.
- Keep Registration Number and login credentials safe. Do not share them with anyone.
- Do not rely on unofficial answer keys circulated on social media or coaching websites for score calculation. Only the official key on ibps.in is authentic.
- Save and print both the answer key and response sheet for future reference throughout the selection process.
- If the scorecard link is active only till 30 September 2026, download your scorecard immediately if you have not already done so.
- The IBPS PO Mains exam is on 4 October 2026. Candidates shortlisted for Mains should download the Mains call letter from ibps.in and confirm exam centre, date and reporting time.
- Monitor ibps.in for any announcement regarding objections to the answer key.
IBPS PO Answer Key 2026: Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Download IBPS PO Answer Key 2026 (Login) | Click Here |
| IBPS Official Website | Click Here |
IBPS PO Answer Key 2026: FAQs
Q1. Has the IBPS PO Answer Key 2026 been released?
Yes. IBPS released the Prelims answer key and response sheet for CRP PO/MT XVI on 29 September 2026. Candidates can access it by logging in at ibpsreg.ibps.in.
Q2. When was the IBPS PO Prelims exam held?
The Preliminary Examination was held on 22 and 23 August 2026.
Q3. How do I log in to download the IBPS PO answer key?
Visit ibpsreg.ibps.in or ibps.in, go to the CRP PO/MT section, find the answer key link and log in with your Registration Number and Password or Date of Birth.
Q4. How is the IBPS PO Prelims scored?
+1 mark per correct answer, -0.25 mark per wrong answer. Unattempted questions carry 0 marks.
Q5. When is the IBPS PO Mains exam?
The IBPS PO Mains examination is scheduled for 4 October 2026.
Q6. When was the IBPS PO Prelims result released?
The Prelims result and scorecard were released on 24 September 2026. The scorecard link is reported to be active till 30 September 2026.
Q7. Is there a formal objection process for the IBPS PO answer key?
The current source does not confirm a formal objection window. Monitor ibps.in for any official announcement regarding objections.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is based on available reports about the IBPS PO (CRP PO/MT XVI) Prelims Answer Key 2026. The answer key release date (29 September 2026), Prelims result date (24 September 2026), scorecard availability (till 30 September 2026) and Mains exam date (4 October 2026) are based on secondary sources. Candidates must verify all dates and access the answer key and scorecard only through the official IBPS website at ibps.in. JobShouter is not associated with IBPS. This article is for informational purposes only.
