IBPS SO Notification 2025:The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the Specialist Officer (SO) examination annually to recruit candidates for specialized roles in public sector banks across India. The IBPS SO Notification 2025, released on June 30, 2025, has announced 1,007 vacancies for various Specialist Officer posts, offering a golden opportunity for professionals in fields like IT, Agriculture, Law, Marketing, HR, and Rajbhasha Adhikari. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the IBPS SO 2025 exam, including the syllabus, exam pattern, vacancies, exam dates, selection process, interview, and document verification process. Designed to be search engine optimized and user-friendly, this article provides all the essential details to help aspirants prepare effectively and achieve success.
Overview of IBPS SO 2025 Notification
The IBPS SO 2025 recruitment drive, officially termed as CRP SPL-XV, aims to fill 1,007 Specialist Officer vacancies in 11 participating public sector banks for the financial year 2026–27. The notification, available on the official IBPS website (www.ibps.in), outlines critical details such as eligibility criteria, exam dates, application process, exam pattern, and syllabus. The recruitment process consists of three stages: Preliminary Exam, Mains Exam, and Interview. Candidates must clear each stage to secure a position as a Specialist Officer in roles such as IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari.
The application window for IBPS SO 2025 was open from July 1 to July 28, 2025, with a correction window available from July 31 to August 1, 2025. The Preliminary Exam is scheduled for August 30, 2025, and the Mains Exam for November 9, 2025. This article delves into each aspect of the IBPS SO 2025 recruitment process, ensuring aspirants have a clear roadmap for preparation.
IBPS SO 2025 Vacancies: Post-Wise and Category-Wise Breakdown
The IBPS SO 2025 notification announced a total of 1,007 vacancies across various Specialist Officer posts. The distribution of vacancies is as follows:
- IT Officer (Scale I): 300 vacancies
- Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I): 400 vacancies
- Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I): 50 vacancies
- Law Officer (Scale I): 100 vacancies
- HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I): 75 vacancies
- Marketing Officer (Scale I): 82 vacancies
These vacancies are spread across 11 participating public sector banks, including Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, and Union Bank of India, among others. However, some banks, such as Canara Bank and Union Bank of India, have reported no vacancies for certain roles, which may influence candidates’ bank preferences during the application process. The vacancies are further categorized based on reservation criteria (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, and PwD), ensuring inclusivity as per government guidelines. Candidates are advised to check the official notification PDF for bank-wise and category-wise vacancy details to make informed choices during the application process.
IBPS SO 2025 Exam Dates and Important Deadlines
The IBPS SO 2025 exam dates have been revised and announced as part of the IBPS Calendar 2025-26. Key dates include:
- Notification Release: June 30, 2025
- Online Application Start Date: July 1, 2025
- Online Application Last Date: July 28, 2025 (extended from July 21)
- Application Correction Window: July 31 to August 1, 2025
- Preliminary Exam: August 30, 2025
- Mains Exam: November 9, 2025
- Interview: January/February 2026 (tentative)
- Provisional Allotment: April 2026 (tentative)
Admit cards for the Preliminary and Mains exams will be released 10 to 15 days before the respective exam dates on the official IBPS website. Candidates should regularly check www.ibps.in for updates on admit card release, result announcements, and interview schedules.
IBPS SO 2025 Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the IBPS SO 2025 exam, candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria related to nationality, age, and educational qualifications.
Nationality
Eligible candidates must be:
- A citizen of India, or
- A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanent settlement, or
- A person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, or specified East African countries with the intention of permanent settlement.
Age Limit
Candidates must be between 20 and 30 years old as of July 1, 2025 (born between July 2, 1995, and July 1, 2005). Age relaxations are provided as follows:
- SC/ST: 5 years
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years
- PwD: 10 years
- Ex-Servicemen: 5 years
- Persons affected by 1984 riots: 5 years
Educational Qualifications
The educational requirements vary by post:
- IT Officer: 4-year Engineering/Technology Degree in Computer Science, IT, Electronics, or related fields, or a postgraduate degree in these disciplines.
- Agricultural Field Officer: 4-year Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, or allied fields.
- Rajbhasha Adhikari: Postgraduate Degree in Hindi with English as a subject at the degree level, or a postgraduate degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects.
- Law Officer: Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) and enrollment as an advocate with the Bar Council.
- HR/Personnel Officer: Graduate and a full-time Postgraduate Degree/Diploma in HR, Personnel Management, Industrial Relations, or Labour Law.
- Marketing Officer: Graduate and a full-time MBA (Marketing), PGDBA, or equivalent with a specialization in Marketing.
Candidates in their final year of study can apply, provided they produce proof of graduation by the specified date in the notification. Detailed eligibility criteria are available in the IBPS SO 2025 notification PDF.
IBPS SO 2025 Selection Process
The IBPS SO 2025 selection process comprises three stages:
- Preliminary Exam
- Mains Exam
- Interview
Each stage is eliminatory, and candidates must qualify in all three to be considered for final selection. The final merit list is prepared based on the combined scores of the Mains Exam (80% weightage) and Interview (20% weightage), subject to document verification and medical fitness.
Stage 1: Preliminary Exam
The Preliminary Exam is a qualifying round designed to screen candidates for the Mains Exam. It is conducted online and consists of objective-type questions. The exam pattern varies slightly depending on the post applied for.
Stage 2: Mains Exam
The Mains Exam focuses on Professional Knowledge specific to the candidate’s chosen post. It is also conducted online and is crucial for final selection, as its scores contribute significantly to the merit list.
Stage 3: Interview
Candidates who qualify in the Mains Exam are called for a personal interview, conducted by participating banks and coordinated by IBPS. The interview assesses candidates’ professional knowledge, communication skills, and suitability for the Specialist Officer role. The total marks for the interview are 100, with a minimum qualifying score of 40% for General/EWS candidates and 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates.
IBPS SO 2025 Exam Pattern
The IBPS SO 2025 exam pattern is structured to evaluate candidates’ general aptitude and domain-specific knowledge. Below is a detailed breakdown of the exam pattern for both Preliminary and Mains exams.
Preliminary Exam Pattern
The Preliminary Exam is divided into two patterns based on the post applied for:
For IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer
- Sections:
- English Language: 50 questions, 25 marks, 40 minutesReasoning Ability: 50 questions, 50 marks, 40 minutes
- Quantitative Aptitude: 50 questions, 50 marks, 40 minutes
- Total: 150 questions, 125 marks, 120 minutes
- Medium: English and Hindi (except English Language section)
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect answer
For Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari
- Sections:
- English Language: 50 questions, 25 marks, 40 minutesReasoning Ability: 50 questions, 50 marks, 40 minutes
- General Awareness (with special reference to Banking): 50 questions, 50 marks, 40 minutes
- Total: 150 questions, 125 marks, 120 minutes
- Medium: English and Hindi (except English Language section)
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect answer
The Preliminary Exam is qualifying in nature, and its scores are not considered for the final merit list. Candidates must clear sectional and overall cut-offs to proceed to the Mains Exam.
Mains Exam Pattern
The Mains Exam focuses exclusively on Professional Knowledge and varies by post:
For IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer
- Section: Professional Knowledge
- Questions: 60 questions
- Marks: 60 marks
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Medium: English and Hindi
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each incorrect answer
For Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari
- Section: Professional Knowledge
- Objective: 45 questions, 30 marks, 30 minutes
- Descriptive: 2 questions, 30 marks, 30 minutes
- Total: 60 marks, 60 minutes
- Medium: English and Hindi
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks for incorrect answers in the objective section
The Mains Exam is critical, as its scores contribute 80% to the final merit list. Candidates must focus on their domain-specific knowledge to excel in this stage.
IBPS SO 2025 Syllabus: Detailed Topic-Wise Breakdown
The IBPS SO 2025 syllabus is divided into Prelims and Mains, with the Prelims covering general aptitude and the Mains focusing on Professional Knowledge. Below is a detailed syllabus for each stage.
Preliminary Exam Syllabus
The Prelims syllabus includes three sections (four for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari):
- English Language:
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Fill in the Blanks
- Para Jumbles
- Spotting Errors
- Sentence Improvement
- Vocabulary (Synonyms, Antonyms)
- Reasoning Ability:
- Puzzles and Seating Arrangement
- Syllogism
- Blood Relations
- Coding-Decoding
- Inequalities
- Direction Sense
- Data Sufficiency
- Order and Ranking
- Quantitative Aptitude (for IT, Agricultural, HR, and Marketing Officer):
- Number Series
- Simplification/Approximation
- Data Interpretation
- Quadratic Equations
- Time and Work
- Speed, Distance, and Time
- Profit and Loss
- Ratio and Proportion
- Percentage
- Mensuration
- General Awareness (with special reference to Banking) (for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari):
- Banking and Financial Awareness
- Current Affairs (last 6 months)
- Static General Knowledge
- Government Schemes
- RBI and Monetary Policies
Mains Exam Syllabus (Professional Knowledge)
The Mains syllabus focuses on domain-specific knowledge for each post:
- IT Officer:
- Database Management Systems Operating Systems Computer Networks Software Engineering Data Structures Web Technologies Cloud Computing (Service Models, Deployment Models, Virtualization)
- Programming Concepts
- Agricultural Field Officer:
- Agricultural Practices Soil Science Horticulture Animal Husbandry Agricultural Economics Irrigation and Water Management
- Crop Production
- Raj bhasha Adhikari:
- Hindi Language and Grammar Translation (Hindi to English and vice versa)Official Language Policies
- Vocabulary and Comprehension
- Law Officer:
- Banking Laws Constitutional Law Contract Law Negotiable Instruments Act Company Law
- Consumer Protection Act
- HR/Personnel Officer:
- Human Resource Management Industrial Relations Labour Laws Performance Appraisal
- Training and Development
- Marketing Officer:
- Marketing Management Brand Management Market Research Consumer Behavior Digital Marketing
- Sales Management
Candidates should refer to the official IBPS SO Syllabus 2025 PDF for a comprehensive topic-wise breakdown and prioritize high-weightage topics during preparation.
IBPS SO 2025 Application Process
The IBPS SO 2025 application process is conducted online through the official website (www.ibps.in). The steps to apply are as follows:
- Registration: Visit www.ibps.in, click on “New Registration,” and enter basic details like name, email ID, and contact number.
- Upload Documents: Upload a passport-sized photograph (4.5 cm x 3.5 cm), signature, thumb impression, and a handwritten declaration in the specified format.
- Fill Application Form: Enter personal, educational, and professional details, and select preferred banks.
- Pay Application Fee: Pay online via credit/debit card or net banking. The fee is INR 850 for General/OBC and INR 175 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
- Submit and Save: Review the form, submit it, and save the registration ID and password sent via email/SMS.
Candidates should ensure all details are accurate, as only limited fields can be edited during the correction window (July 31 to August 1, 2025). A correction fee of INR 200 per field applies.
IBPS SO 2025 Interview Process
The Interview is the final stage of the IBPS SO 2025 selection process, conducted by participating banks and coordinated by IBPS. Shortlisted candidates from the Mains Exam are called for a personal interview, typically held in January or February 2026. The interview panel, consisting of 11 members, evaluates candidates on:
- Professional knowledge in their respective domains
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving abilities
- Suitability for the Specialist Officer role
The interview carries 100 marks, with a minimum qualifying score of 40% for General/EWS and 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates. Questions are primarily based on the candidate’s field of expertise, current affairs related to banking, and situational scenarios. Candidates should prepare thoroughly, focusing on their professional knowledge and staying updated with banking and economic trends.
IBPS SO 2025 Document Verification Process
After the interview, candidates who make it to the provisional merit list undergo document verification to confirm their eligibility. The document verification process includes:
- Identity Verification: Aadhaar card, PAN card, or other government-issued ID.
- Educational Qualifications: Degree certificates, mark sheets, and proof of graduation (for final-year students).
- Category Certificates: SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD certificates, if applicable.
- Age Relaxation Documents: Ex-Servicemen certificates, 1984 riot-affected person certificates, etc.
- Work Experience: Relevant experience certificates for specific posts, if required.
- Handwritten Declaration: A declaration in the candidate’s handwriting, as specified in the notification.
- Biometric Verification: Thumb impression and photograph may be taken for identity confirmation.
Candidates must carry original documents and photocopies to the verification process. Failure to produce valid documents or discrepancies may lead to disqualification. Post-verification, candidates undergo a medical fitness test before final allotment.
IBPS SO 2025 Salary and Job Profile
The salary for IBPS SO 2025 Scale I officers is attractive, with a starting basic pay of INR 48,480, as per the 12th Bipartite Settlement. The pay scale is structured as INR 48,480–2000/7–62,480–2340/2–67,160–2680/7–85,920, with increments at specified intervals. Additional allowances include:
- Dearness Allowance (DA)
- House Rent Allowance (HRA)
- Special Allowance
- Medical Allowance
- Travel Allowance
The in-hand salary ranges from INR 52,000 to INR 55,000 per month, depending on the posting location and allowances. Specialist Officers are posted across India, and hometown postings are rare. The job profiles vary by post:
- IT Officer: Managing IT infrastructure, software development, and cybersecurity.
- Agricultural Field Officer: Promoting agricultural banking and rural development.
- Rajbhasha Adhikari: Handling official language implementation and translation.
- Law Officer: Managing legal compliance and documentation.
- HR/Personnel Officer: Overseeing recruitment, training, and employee relations.
- Marketing Officer: Developing marketing strategies and promoting banking products.
These roles offer significant opportunities for career growth and professional development in the banking sector.
Preparation Tips for IBPS SO 2025
To excel in the IBPS SO 2025 exam, candidates should adopt a strategic preparation plan:
- Understand the Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Familiarize yourself with the detailed syllabus and exam pattern for both Prelims and Mains.
- Focus on Professional Knowledge: Since the Mains Exam focuses heavily on domain-specific knowledge, prioritize studying topics relevant to your post.
- Practice Mock Tests: Regularly take mock tests to improve speed, accuracy, and time management. Online test series from platforms like Practice Mock and Adda247 are highly recommended.
- Revise Current Affairs: Stay updated with banking and economic news, especially for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari posts.
- Strengthen Weak Areas: Analyze mock test results to identify and improve weak sections.
- Read Standard Books: Use books like “IBPS SO Complete Guide” by Disha Experts and “IBPS Specialist Officers’ CWE” by Kiran Prakashan for comprehensive preparation.
- Time Management: Practice sectional timing to handle the 40-minute limits in the Prelims Exam effectively.
Conclusion
The IBPS SO 2025 recruitment offers a prestigious opportunity for professionals to join public sector banks as Specialist Officers. With 1,007 vacancies across various posts, the competition is intense, requiring thorough preparation and a clear understanding of the syllabus, exam pattern, and selection process. By following the guidelines in this article, candidates can create a focused study plan, excel in the Prelims and Mains exams, and confidently navigate the interview and document verification stages. Stay updated with the official IBPS website for the latest notifications and start your preparation early to secure a rewarding career in banking.
FAQ’s About IBPS SO Notification 2025
The last date to apply online for IBPS SO 2025 is July 28, 2025.
No, there is no limit on attempts, provided candidates meet the age and eligibility criteria.
The application fee is INR 850 for General/OBC and INR 175 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for each incorrect answer in both Prelims and Mains exams.
Yes, final-year students can apply, provided they submit proof of graduation by the specified date.