IBPS PO Notification 2026 — CRP PO/MT-XVI
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the Common Recruitment Process notification for Probationary Officers / Management Trainees (CRP PO/MT-XVI) for vacancies of 2027-28 in 11 Participating Public Sector Banks. Read the complete breakdown of dates, eligibility, exam pattern, vacancies and application process below.
Notification Snapshot
- Post Probationary Officer / MT
- Registration Starts 01-07-2026
- Registration Ends 21-07-2026
- Prelim Exam August 2026
- Main Exam October 2026
- Age Limit 20 - 30 years
- Qualification Graduation (Any Stream)
What is CRP PO/MT-XVI?
Applications have been invited from eligible candidates aspiring to join as Probationary Officer / Management Trainee in any of the Participating Public Sector Banks for the Common Recruitment Process (CRP-PO/MT-XVI) against vacancies for the year 2027-28. The selection process is a two-tier online examination consisting of a Preliminary and a Main examination, followed by a Personality Test and a Common Interview coordinated by the Nodal Bank. Based on business needs reported to IBPS, shortlisted candidates will be provisionally allotted to one of the Participating Banks as per merit-cum-preference, keeping in view the Government reservation policy and administrative requirements.
Important Dates
The tentative schedule announced by IBPS for CRP PO/MT-XVI is given below.
Participating Banks & Compensation
The following 11 Public Sector Banks are participating in CRP PO/MT-XVI:
| # | Bank | # | Bank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bank of Baroda | 7 | Indian Overseas Bank |
| 2 | Bank of India | 8 | Punjab National Bank |
| 3 | Bank of Maharashtra | 9 | Punjab & Sind Bank |
| 4 | Canara Bank | 10 | UCO Bank |
| 5 | Central Bank of India | 11 | Union Bank of India |
| 6 | Indian Bank |
Scale of Pay
Eligibility Criteria
1. Nationality / Citizenship
A candidate must be a Citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with intent to settle permanently, or a person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire), Ethiopia or Vietnam with intent to permanently settle in India (eligibility certificate required for the latter categories).
2. Age Limit (as on 01.07.2026)
Minimum 20 years - Maximum 30 years i.e. born not earlier than 02.07.1996 and not later than 01.07.2006 (both dates inclusive).
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe | 5 years |
| Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| Persons With Benchmark Disabilities | 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen / Commissioned Officers (ECOs/SSCOs) | 5 years |
Age relaxation for SC/ST/OBC is available cumulatively with only one other applicable relaxation category. There is no reservation for Ex-Servicemen in the Officers' Cadre.
3. Educational Qualification (as on 21.07.2026)
A Degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a University recognised by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. Candidates must hold a valid mark-sheet / degree certificate on the date of registration and indicate the percentage of marks obtained (calculated to the nearest two decimals; CGPA/OGPA must be converted to percentage as per the University's own norms).
Application Fee / Intimation Charges
Payable online only from 01-07-2026 to 21-07-2026 (both dates inclusive):
SC / ST / PwBD Candidates
Rs. 175/- (inclusive of GST)
All Other Candidates
Rs. 850/- (inclusive of GST)
Bank transaction charges for online payment shall be borne by the candidate. Fee once paid is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted against any other examination.
Structure of Examination
a) Preliminary Examination (Objective Test)
| Test | Questions | Marks | Medium | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | English | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | English & Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | English & Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | - | 60 minutes |
Candidates must qualify in each of the three tests by securing IBPS-decided minimum cut-off marks to be shortlisted for the Main Examination.
b) Main Examination (Objective + Descriptive)
| Test | Questions | Marks | Medium | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 | English & Hindi | 45 minutes |
| General / Economy / Banking / Digital / Financial Awareness incl. RBI circulars | 50 | 60 | English & Hindi | 35 minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | English | 35 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 | English & Hindi | 45 minutes |
| Objective Total | 170 | 200 | - | 160 minutes |
| Descriptive Paper (Essay & Comprehension) | 02 | 25 | English | 30 minutes |
The Descriptive Paper may broadly cover Economic and Social issues, emerging trends in Banking and Technology, current events and ethics, and may be evaluated through a validated automated scoring mechanism.
c) Personality Test & Penalty for Wrong Answers
Candidates who qualify the Main Examination are called for a non-qualifying Personality Test (self-report); appearing is mandatory to be eligible for the interview. For every wrong answer marked in the objective tests, 0.25 marks (one-fourth) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty. No penalty applies to unattempted questions.
Indicative Vacancy Details (2027-28)
| Bank | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | UR | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Baroda | 285 | 142 | 513 | 190 | 770 | 1900 |
| Bank of India | 75 | 37 | 135 | 50 | 203 | 500 |
| Bank of Maharashtra | 165 | 82 | 297 | 110 | 446 | 1100 |
| Canara Bank | 225 | 112 | 405 | 150 | 608 | 1500 |
| Central Bank of India | 75 | 37 | 135 | 50 | 203 | 500 |
| Indian Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Indian Overseas Bank | 84 | 41 | 148 | 54 | 223 | 550 |
| Punjab National Bank | 76 | 38 | 136 | 50 | 204 | 504 |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | 24 | 13 | 47 | 15 | 62 | 161 |
| UCO Bank | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Union Bank of India | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Total | 1009 | 502 | 1816 | 669 | 2719 | 6715 |
NR = Not Reported. Vacancies are indicative and may include backlog vacancies for some banks; actual allotment will be based on real-time vacancies reported by Participating Banks. Out of the total, PwBD reserved vacancies stand at 73 (HI), 70 (OC), 67 (VI) and 77 (ID) across banks.
Reservation for Persons With Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
Under Section 34 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, candidates with the following benchmark disabilities (minimum 40% disability) are eligible for reservation:
Visual Impairment (VI)
Blindness or Low Vision as defined under best-corrected visual acuity / field of vision limits.
Hearing Impaired (HI)
Deaf (70 dB loss) or Hard of Hearing (60-70 dB loss) in speech frequencies, both ears.
Locomotor Disability (OC/LD)
Includes Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Muscular Dystrophy, Acid Attack Victims, Spinal Deformity/Injury.
Intellectual Disability (ID)
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Specific Learning Disability, or Mental Illness.
Multiple Disabilities
Any combination of the above categories A to D.
Compensatory Time
20 minutes per hour of examination (or pro-rata) for eligible PwBD/scribe-using candidates.
Economically Weaker Section (EWS)
Candidates not covered under SC/ST/OBC reservation, whose family's gross annual income is below Rs. 8 lakh and who do not own specified categories of land/property, may claim EWS reservation on production of a valid Income & Asset Certificate (valid for year 2026-27, financial year 2025-26).
Interview, Merit & Provisional Allotment
Interview Marks & Weightage
Total interview marks: 100. Minimum qualifying marks: 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD). Weightage of Main Exam : Interview is 80:20.
Final Merit
Combined score is derived from the Online Main Examination and Interview scores. Candidates must qualify both the Main Exam and Interview, and rank sufficiently high in merit for provisional allotment.
Provisional Allotment
Allotment to one Participating Bank is made on merit-cum-preference basis, based on actual vacancies reported by banks. Allotment is final and binding; no request for change is entertained.
Reserve List
A reserve list of approximately 20% of vacancies per category may be maintained, valid for one year from the date of provisional allotment or until a fresh allotment is made, whichever is earlier.
Documents Required at Interview / Verification
Candidates must carry the following documents in original with self-attested photocopies:
Printout of valid Interview Call Letter and system-generated application form
Proof of Date of Birth (Birth Certificate / SSLC or Std. X Certificate with DOB)
Valid photo identity proof matching the name on the call letter (PAN, Passport, Driving Licence, Voter ID, Aadhaar, etc.)
Mark-sheets / Degree certificate for Graduation, with result declared on or before 21.07.2026
Caste Certificate (SC/ST/OBC-NCL) in the prescribed Government of India format, where applicable
Income & Asset Certificate for EWS candidates, and Disability Certificate for PwBD candidates, where applicable
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online only; no other mode is accepted. The broad steps are as follows:
New Registration
Register with basic details to generate a Provisional Registration Number and Password (also sent by SMS/Email).
Upload Documents
Upload photograph, signature, left thumb impression, hand-written declaration and 10th standard certificate as per prescribed specifications.
Fill Application Form
Carefully complete all fields using "Save and Next"; several fields cannot be edited after final submission.
Pay Application Fee
Pay online via Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking, IMPS, Wallets or UPI, and generate the e-receipt.
Print Application
Take a printout of the completed application form and retain it along with the Registration Number and Password.
Edit Window
A 2-day edit window is provided after the closing date to correct the application once, on payment of Rs. 200 correction fee.
Key General Instructions
Call letters, Information Handout and other communication are issued only through the candidate's registered login on the official IBPS portal — no hard copies are sent by post.
Candidates using a scribe must indicate this clearly at the time of application; requests made afterward may not be entertained.
Mobile phones, smart watches, calculators, and any communication or storage devices are strictly prohibited inside the examination hall.
Multiple registrations, impersonation, or use of unfair means will lead to disqualification, debarment, and possible criminal prosecution under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
IBPS may analyse candidate response patterns to detect collusion or impersonation and reserves the right to cancel candidature without notice in such cases.
Any dispute arising from this notification is subject to the sole jurisdiction of the Courts situated at Mumbai.
Examination Centres
The Preliminary and Main examinations will be held online across a wide network of centres covering every State and Union Territory of India. IBPS reserves the right to cancel, add, or reallot examination centres based on response and administrative feasibility, and no request for change of centre is entertained. Candidates appear for the examination at their own risk and expense.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the age limit for IBPS PO 2026?
Candidates must be between 20 and 30 years of age as on 01.07.2026, i.e. born between 02.07.1996 and 01.07.2006 (both dates inclusive), with age relaxation applicable to reserved categories.
How many vacancies are there in IBPS PO CRP-XVI?
A total of 6,715 vacancies (indicative) have been reported across 8 Participating Banks so far, with 3 banks yet to report their numbers; actual vacancies may vary at the time of provisional allotment.
What is the selection process for IBPS PO?
The process has four stages: Online Preliminary Examination, Online Main Examination (including a Descriptive Paper), a Personality Test, and a Common Interview conducted by the Participating Banks.
What is the application fee for IBPS PO 2026?
Rs. 175/- for SC/ST/PwBD candidates and Rs. 850/- for all other candidates, payable online between 01.07.2026 and 21.07.2026.
Is there a penalty for wrong answers?
Yes, 0.25 marks (one-fourth) of the marks assigned to a question are deducted for every wrong answer in the objective tests. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.
Where can I get structured coaching for IBPS PO?
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