The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has officially released the detailed notification for the Common Recruitment Process for Specialist Officers (CRP SPL-XVI) for the vacancies of 2027-28 in Participating Banks. Eligible and aspiring candidates looking for a prestigious career as a Specialist Officer (Scale I) in major Public Sector Banks can now apply online.
This ultimate recruitment guide covers every important detail regarding the IBPS SO 2026 Recruitment (CRP SPL-XVI), including the number of vacancies, important dates, eligibility criteria, application fee, and exact syllabus and exam pattern.
Table of Contents
1. IBPS SO Recruitment 2026 (CRP SPL-XVI): Overview
| Recruitment Authority | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | CRP SPL-XVI (Specialist Officers) |
| Posts Offered | IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer (Scale-I) |
| Total Vacancies | 745 (Tentative across all posts) |
| Salary / Pay Scale | Scale I Basic: ₹ 48,480 - 85,920/- |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | www.ibps.in |
2. Important Dates & Tentative Schedule
Note: Candidates are strictly advised to complete their registration and fee payment within the stipulated dates to avoid last-minute server congestion.
| Event | Tentative Schedule |
|---|---|
| Opening Date of Online Registration & Modification | 01st July 2026 |
| Closing Date for Submission & Fee Payment | 21st July 2026 |
| Download Call Letters for Preliminary Exam | August 2026 |
| Online Examination – Preliminary | August 2026 |
| Online Examination – Main | November 2026 |
| Conduct of Interview | November / December 2026 |
| Provisional Allotment | January 2027 |
3. Application Fees & Intimation Charges
The application fee must be paid online only between 01.07.2026 to 21.07.2026. Bank transaction charges for online payment will have to be borne by the candidate.
| Candidate Category | Fee Amount (Inclusive of GST) |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / PwBD | ₹ 175/- |
| All Others (UR / OBC / EWS) | ₹ 850/- |
4. Category-Wise Vacancy Details
Disclaimer: The vacancies mentioned below are indicative and anticipated as communicated by the Participating Banks. The actual numbers may vary based on business needs.
| Post Name (Scale-I) | UR | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT Officer | 122 | 46 | 23 | 82 | 28 | 301 |
| Agricultural Field Officer | 79 | 28 | 13 | 51 | 19 | 190 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari | 43 | 11 | 6 | 21 | 8 | 89 |
| Law Officer | 49 | 14 | 6 | 26 | 10 | 105 |
| HR / Personnel Officer | 28 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 60 |
| Marketing Officer | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GRAND TOTAL | 321 | 107 | 51 | 195 | 71 | 745 |
5. Eligibility Criteria
A. Age Limit (As on 01.07.2026)
- Minimum Age: 20 years
- Maximum Age: 30 years
(i.e. A candidate must have been born not earlier than 02.07.1996 and not later than 01.07.2006, both dates inclusive). Age Relaxation applies as per government norms (e.g., 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC NCL, 10 years for PwBD).
B. Educational Qualification (As on 21.07.2026)
- IT Officer: 4-year Engineering Degree OR Post Graduate Degree in Computer Science / IT / Electronics / Telecommunication / Applications OR DOEACC ‘B’ level.
- Agricultural Field Officer: 4-year Degree (graduation) in Agriculture / Horticulture / Animal Husbandry / Veterinary Science / Dairy Science / Fishery Science / Agri. Marketing / Forestry / Biotechnology / Food Technology, etc.
- Rajbhasha Adhikari: Post Graduate Degree in Hindi with English as a subject at the graduation level OR PG in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects at graduation.
- Law Officer: A Bachelor Degree in Law (LL.B) and enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council.
- HR / Personnel Officer: Graduate and Two Years Full-time Post Graduate degree or PG diploma in Personnel Management / Industrial Relations / HR / HRD / Social Work / Labour Law.
- Marketing Officer: Graduate and Two Years Full-time MMS (Marketing) / MBA (Marketing) / PGDBA / PGDBM / PGPM / PGDM with specialization in Marketing.
6. Selection Process & Exam Pattern
The IBPS SO recruitment process involves a three-tier system:
- Online Preliminary Examination
- Online Main Examination
- Common Interview
*Note: There is a negative marking of 1/4th (0.25) marks for every incorrect answer in the objective tests.
7. Quick Apply Links & Syllabus
| Apply Online (Registration & Login) | Click Here to Apply |
| Download Official Notification PDF | Download Notification |
| Detailed Syllabus & Exam Pattern | View Detailed Syllabus |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A: The closing date for submitting the online application and payment of fees is 21st July 2026.
A: A total of 745 tentative vacancies have been announced across various posts like IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Law Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, and HR Officer.
A: The minimum age is 20 years and the maximum age is 30 years as on 01.07.2026. Age relaxations apply for reserved categories.
A: Yes, there is a penalty for wrong answers. 0.25 marks will be deducted for every incorrect response in the objective tests.