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IBPS Specialist Officer (SO) Recruitment 2025: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) invites applications for Common Recruitment Process (CRP SPL-XV) for recruitment of Specialist Officers in Participating Banks for 2026-27 vacancies. Therefore, it is a good opportunity for candidates who are interested in banking jobs. There are a total of 1,007 posts. Online application for IBPS SO Recruitment 2025 has already started from 1st July and will continue till 21st July. Eligible and interested candidates are advised to fill out the form within this period.
We have provided all the important details regarding this recruitment, such as exam pattern, important dates, selection process, fee structure, etc., so candidates do not need to search elsewhere for information. Therefore, Candidates must read the full article before applying for this post.
IBPS Specialist Officer (SO) Recruitment 2025
Important Dates for IBPS SO Exam
The IBPS SO notification has been released along with all the important dates related to this recruitment, such as the application start and end dates, preliminary and mains exam dates, etc. These dates are important because candidates will know when their preliminary or mains exams are scheduled, and they can prepare accordingly. We have provided all the important dates of the IBPS Specialist Officer exam below.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Start Date | 01 July 2025 |
| Online Registration End Date | 21 July 2025 |
| Payment of Application Fees | 01 July 2025 to 21 July 2025 |
| Preliminary Exam Call Letter Download | August 2025 |
| Preliminary Exam Date | August 2025 |
| Preliminary Exam Result | September 2025 |
| Main Exam Call Letter Download | September/October 2025 |
| Main Exam Date | November 2025 |
| Main Exam Result | November 2025 |
| Interview Dates | December 2025/January 2026 |
| Provisional Allotment | January/February 2026 |
IBPS SO Vacancy 2025
There are a total of 1,007 posts available in the IBPS SO Recruitment. We have provided the post-wise vacancy details in this article. The detailed vacancy information—including bank-wise, post-wise, and category-wise distribution—has been given in the official notification. Therefore, candidates should read the official notification carefully before applying for this post.
| Post Name | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|
| IT Officer (Scale I) | 203 |
| Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I) | 310 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) | 78 |
| Law Officer (Scale I) | 56 |
| HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I) | 10 |
| Marketing Officer (Scale I) | 350 |
Participating Banks
- Bank of Baroda
- Bank of India
- Bank of Maharashtra
- Canara Bank
- Central Bank of India
- Indian Bank
- Indian Overseas Bank
- Punjab National Bank
- Punjab & Sind Bank
- UCO Bank
- Union Bank of India
Eligibility Criteria for IBPS SO
Eligibility for the IBPS SO exam can be divided in terms of nationality, age limits, and educational qualifications. The minimum age for the IBPS SO exam is 20 years, and the maximum age is 30 years. Age relaxation will also be available as per government norms. We have provided all the detailed information in this article. Candidates should read the full article before applying for IBPS SO posts.
Nationality/Citizenship
A candidate must be either:
- Citizen of India
- Subject of Nepal
- Subject of Bhutan
- Tibetan Refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962
- Person of Indian origin migrated from specified countries
Age Limit (as on 01.07.2025)
Minimum: 20 years
Maximum: 30 years
(A candidate must have been born not earlier than 02.07.1995 and not later than 01.07.2005)
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe | 5 years |
| Other Backward Classes (Non-creamy layer) | 3 years |
| Persons With Benchmark Disability | 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | 5 years |
Educational Qualifications (as on 21.07.2025)
| Post | Qualification |
|---|---|
| IT Officer (Scale I) | 4 year Engineering/Technology Degree in Computer Science/IT/Electronics OR Post Graduate Degree in Electronics/Computer Science/IT OR Graduate with DOEACC 'B' level |
| Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I) | 4 year Degree in Agriculture/Horticulture/Animal Husbandry/Veterinary Science/Dairy Science/Fishery Science/Agri. Marketing & Cooperation/Forestry/Agricultural Biotechnology/Food Science/Agricultural Engineering etc. |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) | Post Graduate Degree in Hindi with English at graduation level OR Post graduate degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi at graduation level |
| Law Officer (Scale I) | Bachelor Degree in Law (LL.B) and enrolled as advocate with Bar Council |
| HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I) | Graduate and Two Years Full time Post Graduate degree or diploma in Personnel Management/Industrial Relations/HR/HRD/Social Work/Labour Law |
| Marketing Officer (Scale I) | Graduate and Two Years Full time MMS (Marketing)/MBA (Marketing)/PGDBA/PGDBM/PGPM/PGDM with specialization in Marketing |
Application Fee for IBPS SO Exam
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| SC/ST/PwBD candidates | ₹175/- (inclusive of GST) |
| All others | ₹850/- (inclusive of GST) |
IBPS SO Selection Process
Interested and eligible candidates have to go through a three-level selection process as mentioned in the notification. The IBPS SO Preliminary and Mains exams will be conducted in online mode. After clearing both of these exams, candidates will have to appear for the personality test, i.e., the interview. Upon successfully clearing the interview, candidates will receive provisional allotment.
- Online Preliminary Examination
- Online Main Examination
- Interview
- Provisional Allotment
IBPS SO Exam Pattern
In the IBPS SO selection process, candidates have to pass both the Preliminary and Mains exams. Both exams will be conducted in online mode. However, the marks of the Preliminary exam will not be counted in the final result, as it is qualifying in nature. Candidates must clear the cutoff of the IBPS Preliminary exam to appear in the IBPS Mains exam. The final result will be declared based on the marks obtained in the Mains exam and the Interview.
Preliminary Examination
For Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari:
| Test | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 2 Hours |
For IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer:
| Test | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 2 Hours |
Main Examination
For Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer:
| Test | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Knowledge | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
For Rajbhasha Adhikari:
| Test | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 45 | 60 | 30 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Descriptive) | 2 | - | 30 minutes |
How to Apply
- Visit official IBPS website: www.ibps.in
- Click on "CRP SPL" and then "CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE FOR CRP- SPECIALIST OFFICERS (CRP SPL-XV)"
- Click on "CLICK HERE FOR NEW REGISTRATION" and enter basic information
- Upload required documents (Photograph, Signature, Left thumb impression, Hand written declaration, SSC/SSLC certificate)
- Pay application fee through online mode (Debit Cards/Credit Cards/Internet Banking/IMPS/Cash Cards/Mobile Wallets/UPI)
- Submit the application and take printout for future reference
Important Links
| Link Title | Action |
|---|---|
| IBPS SO Official Website | Visit |
| IBPS SO Apply Online | Click |
| IBPS SO Official Notification 2025 | Download |
Additional Details
- Candidates must bring valid photo ID proof and call letter to exam center
- Penalty for wrong answers: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
- Final selection based on 80% weightage for Main Exam and 20% for Interview
- Minimum qualifying marks in interview: 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates)
FAQs – IBPS SO Recruitment 2025
Who is eligible for IBPS SO exam?
To be eligible for IBPS SO exam, candidates must: (1) Be 20-30 years old (with age relaxations for reserved categories), (2) Possess the required educational qualification for the specific post (like Engineering degree for IT Officer, Law degree for Law Officer etc.), and (3) Be an Indian citizen or fulfill other nationality criteria mentioned in the notification.
What is IBPS SO salary?
The pay scale for IBPS Specialist Officer (Scale I) is ₹48,480-1,990/7-62,480-2,340/2-67,160-2,680/7-85,920 plus allowances and perks as per the rules of the allotted bank. The initial in-hand salary typically ranges between ₹52,000-55,000 per month.
Which is higher, PO or SO?
Both Probationary Officers (PO) and Specialist Officers (SO) start at the same Scale I level with similar pay scales. However, SOs have specialized roles in specific domains (IT, Law, Agriculture etc.) while POs have general banking roles. Career progression depends on performance, but SOs often have better growth prospects in their specialized fields.
Is IBPS SO a permanent job?
Yes, IBPS SO is a permanent job in public sector banks after successful completion of probation period (typically 2 years). Selected candidates are appointed as permanent employees of the allotted bank.
Is IBPS SO has interview?
Yes, IBPS SO selection process includes an interview (100 marks) after the Main examination. The final merit list is prepared with 80% weightage for Main exam score and 20% for interview performance. Minimum qualifying marks are 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates).
How many attempts for IBPS SO?
IBPS has not specified any limit on the number of attempts for SO exam, as long as candidates meet the age criteria. General category candidates can attempt until age 30, while reserved categories have age relaxations (SC/ST: 35 years, OBC: 33 years, PwBD: 40 years).
Is there negative marking in IBPS SO?
Yes, there is negative marking of 0.25 marks (1/4th) for each wrong answer in both Preliminary and Main examinations. No marks are deducted for unanswered questions.
