What Do You Need for IBPS Clerk?
IBPS Clerk 2026 at a Glance
The Customer Service Associate exam (CRP CSA-XVI) recruits graduates as clerks in public sector banks, state by state.
Fee: ₹850 for General, OBC and EWS; ₹175 for SC, ST and PwBD. Always confirm details on ibps.in.
Participating Banks
Vacancies are announced state-wise; you apply for one state and are allotted a bank in it.
State-wise and bank-wise vacancies are on ibps.in.
Who Is Eligible for IBPS Clerk 2026?
1. Age
20–28 years as on 1 August 2026 (born 2 August 1998 to 1 August 2006).
2. Qualification
A graduation degree in any subject, by the date in the notification.
3. Local language
Able to read, write, speak and understand the official language of the state applied for.
4. Computer literacy
Working knowledge of computers is expected, as per the notification.
Age relaxation: 5 years SC/ST, 3 years OBC (non-creamy layer), 10 years PwBD, and others as per rules.
Selection Process
No interview. Final merit is based on mains marks.
Prelims
Qualifying — 100 questions in 60 minutes with sectional cut-offs.
Mains
160 questions, 200 marks. Your score decides the merit list.
Language test
Local language proficiency test, unless you studied the language up to Class 10.
Provisional allotment
Banks allotted by merit and preference, expected around March 2027.
Prelims Pattern Qualifying
Each section has its own 20-minute timer. 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer.
| Section | Qs | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min |
Candidates must clear sectional and overall cut-offs to reach mains.
Mains Pattern
Each section has its own timer. 0.25 of a question’s marks is deducted for each wrong answer.
| Section | Qs | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 40 | 50 | 20 min |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | 60 | 35 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 50 | 35 min |
| Total | 160 | 200 | 125 min |
Pattern as reported for 2026; check the official notification for any change.
IBPS Clerk Syllabus
Mains adds General/Financial Awareness. Tap a subject to see its topics.
Reasoning AbilityPrelims · Mains
- Puzzles and seating arrangement
- Syllogism and inequalities
- Blood relations and directions
- Order and ranking
- Coding-decoding and alphanumeric series
- Input-output and data sufficiency (mains)
Numerical / Quantitative AptitudePrelims · Mains
- Simplification and approximation
- Number series and quadratic equations
- Data interpretation — tables and charts
- Percentage, ratio, averages
- Profit and loss, simple and compound interest
- Time and work, speed and distance, mixtures
English LanguagePrelims · Mains
- Reading comprehension
- Cloze test and fillers
- Error detection
- Sentence improvement and para jumbles
- Vocabulary and word usage
General / Financial AwarenessMains
- Current affairs — last six months
- Banking and financial terms
- RBI and monetary policy
- Government schemes
- Static GK — organisations, headquarters, currencies
Free IBPS Clerk Study Material
Notes, practice questions and monthly current affairs.
These resources are being added subject by subject. Pages marked “Coming soon” are not published yet.
Reasoning
Puzzles, seating and inequalities.
Coming soon →Numerical Ability
Simplification, series and DI.
Coming soon →English Language
RC, cloze and error detection.
Coming soon →Financial Awareness
Monthly banking and current affairs.
Coming soon →IBPS PO Page
The officer-level exam with interview.
Explore →IBPS Clerk Mock Tests
Full-length tests with sectional timers and negative marking.
Under development. The mock tests below are planned and will open here when ready.
Prelims Full Mock
Mains Full Mock
Sectional Tests
Financial Awareness Quiz
IBPS Clerk Previous-Year Papers
Memory-based prelims and mains papers with solutions.
Coming soon.
How to Prepare for IBPS Clerk Mains
Prelims is done — about ten weeks remain until mains on 27 December.
Build GA early
Financial Awareness carries 50 marks in just 20 minutes — revise six months of news.
Level up reasoning
Reasoning carries 60 marks — practise harder puzzles and data sufficiency.
Practise DI daily
Quant in mains leans on data interpretation and arithmetic.
Read English daily
Editorials improve comprehension and vocabulary together.
Take weekly mains mocks
Practise all four sectional timers in one sitting.
Keep documents ready
Degree, category certificates and Class 10 marksheet showing the local language.
IBPS Clerk 2026 Dates
Applications ran from 1 to 21 August 2026. Prelims was held on 10–11 October 2026. Mains is scheduled for 27 December 2026, with provisional allotment around March 2027. Always check the official website.
IBPS Clerk FAQs
What is IBPS Clerk?
IBPS Clerk (Customer Service Associate) is a common recruitment exam held by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection for clerical posts in public sector banks. Official information is on ibps.in.
What is the age limit for IBPS Clerk 2026?
20–28 years as on 1 August 2026 (born between 2 August 1998 and 1 August 2006), as reported. Relaxation: 5 years SC/ST, 3 years OBC (non-creamy layer), 10 years PwBD, and others as per rules.
Can I apply for more than one state?
No. You can apply for vacancies in only one state or UT, and you must know that state’s official language.
Is there an interview?
No. Final selection is based on mains marks, subject to the local language test.
What is the salary of an IBPS Clerk?
The starting basic pay is about ₹24,050, plus DA, HRA and other allowances, which vary by bank and posting city.
Is there negative marking?
Yes. 0.25 of a question’s marks is deducted for each wrong answer in both prelims and mains.