IBPS SO Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for Specialist Officer CRP SPL-XVI

Quick Highlights of IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI Recruitment 2026

• Organization: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
• Recruitment Name: CRP SPL-XVI (Common Recruitment Process for Specialist Officers)
• Post Name: Specialist Officer (IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer)
• Total Vacancies: 745 posts (indicative, Scale I)
• Application Mode: Online only
• Last Date to Apply: 21 July 2026 for IBPS SO Online Form 2026
• Job Location: Anywhere in India (All India cadre)

IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 Notification Overview

This Common Recruitment Process covers hiring for Specialist Officers Scale I in eleven participating banks, namely 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. The examination will be conducted in two tiers, an Online Preliminary Examination followed by an Online Main Examination. Candidates who qualify both stages will be called for a Common Interview, after which a provisional allotment will be made to one of the participating banks based on merit-cum-preference.

IBPS SO Important Dates 2026

Candidates must keep track of every activity date related to the CRP SPL-XVI Online Form 2026 to avoid missing any stage of the process.

IBPS SO Application Fee 2026

The application fee and intimation charges must be paid online between 01 July 2026 and 21 July 2026. No other mode of payment is accepted.

Bank transaction charges for online payment have to be borne by the candidate separately. Payment can be made using debit cards, credit cards, internet banking, IMPS or UPI.

IBPS SO Vacancy Details 2026 (745 Posts)

The vacancies given below are indicative and category-wise, as reported by the participating banks for the CRP SPL-XVI Specialist Officer Vacancy 2026. NR means vacancy not reported by that particular bank for the given post.

IT Officer (Scale I) - Category Wise Vacancy

Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I) - Category Wise Vacancy

Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) - Category Wise Vacancy

Law Officer (Scale I) - Category Wise Vacancy

HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I) - Category Wise Vacancy

Marketing Officer (Scale I) - Category Wise Vacancy

No vacancy has been reported for the post of Marketing Officer in this recruitment cycle. Candidates are advised to check the official notification for updates on this post.

Persons with disabilities have also been given identified vacancies across posts under HI, OC, VI and ID categories as per the detailed notification. Since vacancies are indicative and depend on the actual business needs of participating banks, candidates should not treat these numbers as final for provisional allotment.

Eligibility Criteria for IBPS SO Recruitment 2026

Before submitting the IBPS SO Online Form 2026, applicants must confirm they meet the basic eligibility criteria listed below.

Nationality

A candidate must be a citizen of India, or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Educational Qualification for IBPS SO 2026

The educational qualification must be obtained from a University, Institution or Board recognised by the Government of India, and the final result should be declared on or before 21 July 2026.

IBPS SO Age Limit 2026

The age limit for IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 is calculated as on 01 July 2026.

• Minimum Age: 20 years
• Maximum Age: 30 years
• Candidates must be born not earlier than 02 July 1996 and not later than 01 July 2006 (both dates inclusive)

Age Relaxation

IBPS SO Pay Scale 2026

Selected candidates for Specialist Officer Scale I will draw a basic pay of Rupees 48480 in the scale of 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920, along with allowances and perquisites as applicable in the respective participating bank.

IBPS SO Selection Process 2026

The IBPS Specialist Officer selection process consists of three stages.

• Online Preliminary Examination
• Online Main Examination
• Common Interview conducted by participating banks

Candidates have to qualify each test in the Preliminary Exam by securing minimum cut-off marks. Only marks scored in the Main Examination are considered for final merit listing and interview shortlisting. The relative weightage of the Main Examination and Interview is 80:20. The minimum qualifying marks in the interview are 40 percent, and 35 percent for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates.

IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2026 and Syllabus Structure

Understanding the IBPS Specialist Officer Syllabus and Exam Pattern is essential for exam preparation.

Preliminary Exam Pattern - IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer

Preliminary Exam Pattern - Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari

Main Exam Pattern - IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer

Main Exam Pattern - Rajbhasha Adhikari and Law Officer

For Rajbhasha Adhikari and Law Officer, the objective section covers English Language, Reasoning, General Awareness with reference to Banking and Professional Knowledge, totalling 150 questions for 200 marks in 125 minutes, followed by a Descriptive/Professional Knowledge Paper of 2 questions for 25 marks in 30 minutes, taking the overall total to 225 marks in 155 minutes.

There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in the objective tests. No penalty is applicable for unattempted questions. In the Main Examination, all tests except Professional Knowledge are qualifying in nature, and the final merit list is prepared based on Professional Knowledge scores.

How To Apply Online for IBPS SO 2026

Candidates can apply online only through the official IBPS website for the IBPS SO Online Form 2026. Follow the steps below to complete the Registration and submission process.

1. Visit the official IBPS website and open the CRP SPL link on the home page.
2. Click on the option for new registration and enter basic details to generate a provisional registration number and password.
3. Log in using the provisional registration number and password to complete the online application form.
4. Upload scanned photograph, signature, left thumb impression and hand written declaration as per the specified format and size.
5. Upload the SSC/SSLC/10th standard certificate and any other applicable certificate in PDF format.
6. Capture a live photograph using webcam or mobile phone as part of the Registration process.
7. Carefully verify all details filled in the application form using the save and next option before final submission.
8. Pay the application fee or intimation charge online using debit card, credit card, internet banking or UPI.
9. Take a printout of the completed application form and the fee payment e-receipt for future reference.

Candidates are advised to apply well before the last date to avoid last minute technical issues or website traffic on the IBPS Login portal.

Documents Required for IBPS SO Recruitment 2026

• Valid Call Letter and system generated online application printout
• Proof of Date of Birth (Birth Certificate or Std X Certificate with DOB)
• Photo Identity Proof such as PAN Card, Passport, Aadhaar Card or Voter ID
• Mark sheets and certificates for educational qualification
• Caste Certificate for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates in the prescribed format
• Income and Asset Certificate for EWS category candidates
• Disability Certificate for Persons with Benchmark Disability category
• Ex-Serviceman documents including Service or Discharge Book, wherever applicable
• No Objection Certificate for candidates already employed in Government or Public Sector Undertakings

General Rules for IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI 2026

• A candidate can apply for only one post. Multiple applications will be summarily rejected.
• No change of category, name, email ID or mobile number is permitted after final submission, except within the specified Edit Window.
• Any request for change of exam date, time, venue or centre will not be entertained.
• Candidates must possess a valid Aadhaar card, as online verification may be conducted at various stages.
• Provisional allotment does not guarantee employment. It is subject to eligibility verification by the concerned participating bank.
• Any dispute arising from this recruitment process is subject to the sole jurisdiction of the Courts situated at Mumbai.

Frequently Asked Questions on IBPS SO Recruitment 2026

Q1. What is IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 CRP SPL-XVI?

IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 CRP SPL-XVI is the Common Recruitment Process conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection to fill Specialist Officer Scale I posts in eleven participating public sector banks for vacancies of the year 2027-28.

Q2. How many vacancies are there in IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI 2026?

There are 745 indicative vacancies across the posts of IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer and HR/Personnel Officer. No vacancy has been reported for Marketing Officer in this cycle.

Q3. What is the last date to apply for IBPS SO Recruitment 2026?

The last date to submit the IBPS SO Online Form 2026 and pay the application fee is 21 July 2026.

Q4. What is the application fee for IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI?

The application fee is Rs 175 for SC, ST and PwBD candidates and Rs 850 for all other candidates, payable only through online mode.

Q5. What is the age limit for IBPS SO Recruitment 2026?

The minimum age is 20 years and the maximum age is 30 years as on 01 July 2026, with age relaxation applicable to reserved categories as per government norms.

Q6. What is the selection process for IBPS Specialist Officer posts?

The selection process includes an Online Preliminary Examination, an Online Main Examination and a Common Interview, with final merit prepared on the basis of Main Examination and Interview scores in the ratio of 80:20.

Q7. What is the salary of IBPS Specialist Officer Scale I?

The Specialist Officer Scale I post carries a basic pay of Rs 48480 in the scale of 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920, along with other allowances as per bank rules.

Q8. Where can candidates download the IBPS SO admit card?

Candidates can download their Preliminary and Main Examination call letters, along with the Interview call letter, from the official IBPS website using their registration number and password or date of birth.

Source

This article is based on the official detailed notification for CRP SPL-XVI released by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection on 01 July 2026. Candidates are advised to cross check all details from the official IBPS website before applying.

Disclaimer

The information in this article has been compiled from the official IBPS notification for reader convenience. Vacancy figures are indicative and subject to change as per actual requirements reported by participating banks. Readers are advised to verify all details, especially dates, fee and eligibility, from the official notification before taking any action.