(IBPS) Bank PO Selection Process

Having a job in India’s banking sector is already a perk in itself, as you get the opportunity to understand the economy at its core. If you secure the post of Probationary Officers (Bank PO) in any of the banks of India, then you will get first-hand experience in banking operations. 

In recent years, PO comes out as the most sought-after career option. Why? Because of numerous reasons like handsome salary, additional perks, and good work-life balance. If you want to start your career as a bank specialist, nothing is better than a PO profile that offers diverse opportunities in banking operations. 

IBPS is the primary recruitment agency for all PSU banks (Total 11 PSU Banks) and recommends suitable candidates to the banks after the grueling three-stage process of Preliminary Examination, Mains Examination, and Personal Interview. After successfully completing all these three stages, final merit is made that decides your recruitment. The detailed selection process is given below:

IBPS PO Exam Pattern

As discussed above, the PO exam consists of three stages, i.e., pre. Mains, and interview. The first stage is the online-based preliminary test which again consists of 3 sections with 100 questions that counts to 100 marks. There is also a provision of negative for each wrong answer, i.e., 0.25 mark will be deducted for an incorrect answer. You can refer to the table below for preliminary examination:

The mains examination for IBPS PO is designed differently. It is the opposite of prelims, where your basic understanding of various subjects is evaluated, but in-depth knowledge is required to qualify for the mains examination. This stage is designed in a 4+1 pattern where four sections are of the online-based test, but the 5th section is of the descriptive type where candidates will be given an Essay and Letter to write, which is 25 marks total. You can refer to the table below to understand the pattern easily:

After successfully clearing the pre and mains, it is time for the final and most crucial part of the whole process, a Personal Interview. The personal interview is also of 100 marks, with a minimum of 40% marks (35% for reserved categories) required to be considered qualified. The interview duration depends on the interviewer, but generally, the ideal period lasts 25 to 30 minutes. 

The final merit list is made as per the marks obtained in the mains and interview with the ratio of 80:20.  

Posts and Salaries for IBPS PO exam

When you clear the IBPS PO exam, you will be absorbed by the banks as per your merit and available vacancies. Initially, you will work as a Probationary Officer (PO) or a Management Trainee (MT), which is a Junior Management Grade Scale-I post. 

While working as a PO or MT, you are entitled to get a salary between 45,000 to 55,000 per month after all deductions. You will also get additional perks like medical allowance, travel allowance, and child school fees with a handsome salary. 

Eligibility for IBPS PO 

IBPS has laid down some mandatory conditions for all the aspirants applying for the PO examination.

Age limit: 

20-30 Years (Age relaxation of upper age limit of 5 years for SC, ST, Persons affected by 1984 Riots and Ex-army personnel and 3 years for OBC non-creamy layer and 10 years for PwD (Persons with Disabilities is also proposed allotted by the IBPS.) 

Nationality: 

1. A Citizen of India or
2. A Subject of Nepal or
3. A Subject of Bhutan or
4. A Tibetan Refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, to permanently settle in India or a person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, and Vietnam to permanently settle in India.

Note: Candidates from the 2, 3, and 4th categories must produce an eligibility certificate issued by the government of India whenever asked by the IBPS. 

Educational Qualification: 

Graduation is a must in any stream from a UGC-recognized university. (Fractions of percentage will be ignored, e.g., 49.99 will be considered as less than 50% and not the actual 50%).

Things to keep in mind while applying for IBPS PO

• Just like the prelims, the 0.25 mark will be deducted for mains as well if you mark a wrong answer. 
• The preliminary examination is a qualifying paper, i.e., marks obtained in this section will not be included in the final merit list. 
• Candidates should qualify for stage 2 ( Mains) and 3 (interview) separately for the final merit list. 
• Application fee of 850 is applicable for General and OBC category applicants, whereas, for SC/ST/PwD candidates, it is 175 rupees. 
• There is a provision for pre-exam training sessions for SC/ST and minority applicants where expert guidance is provided to minimize the exam mistakes, and it is free of cost. Still, candidates have to bear the other expenses like travel, food, and accommodation. You can opt for the training while filling up the form. 

Also Read: Top 30 General Science Questions Asked in Bank Exam

 FAQs

Question: Who conducts IBPS Bank PO?

Answer:    IBPS (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection) conducts the PO exam every year with the help of 11 PSU banks.

Question: Who is eligible for IBPS?

Answer:     Any graduate applicant who completes the age of 20 and is a resident of India is eligible for IBPS PO.

Question: What is the eligibility for IBPS Exam?

Answer:     The candidate must be 20 years old at the time of writing the exam. They must possess a graduate degree from a UGC-recognized university and be under 30 years of age.

Question: How many attempts do you get to clear IBPS?

Answer:     There is no limit for the attempts. You can write this examination as many times as you want until you hit the upper age limit. 

Question: Can anyone apply for IBPS?

Answer:     Yes, anyone with a recognized graduate degree and a government-approved ID can apply for the IBPS PO exam.