SarkariResultHome.comIBPS Probationary Officer (PO) Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern
Written by Kalyani on 10 Oct 2026 · Organisation: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection · State: All India
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the syllabus and exam pattern for Probationary Officer (PO) on its official website. This page explains how to use it for your preparation.
The exam date given is 04 Oct 2026. The stages are Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Interview. The direct links are in the Important Links table below.
You can also see more IBPS updates on the IBPS Recruitment page, all syllabus and the home page.
IBPS Probationary Officer (PO) Syllabus 2026: Exam Date & Pattern
| Important Dates | Key Details |
|---|---|
|
|
IBPS Probationary Officer (PO) Selection Process & Exam Details
The stages, in the order they usually take place:
- Preliminary Exam
- Main Exam
- Interview
| Exam schedule | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam date | 04 Oct 2026 |
Probationary Officer (PO): What This Page Covers
Here you get the exam overview of Probationary Officer (PO), followed by the exam pattern, the syllabus, the topic lists and the selection stages, all in one place.
- First comes the exam overview: who conducts the exam, its level, mode, language and marking.
- Next are the pattern and subject-wise syllabus tables, with the marks, subject names and figures exactly as the source gives them.
- At the end you will find a preparation plan and the questions students ask most.
Probationary Officer (PO): PO Exam 2026- Highlights Syllabus
The table below gives the po exam 2026- highlights syllabus of Probationary Officer (PO), as it is given in the source.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, IBPS |
| Name of Exam | IBPS PO |
| Post | Probationary Officer (PO) |
| Total Marks | Prelims: 100 Marks Mains: 200 Marks + Descriptive Test: 25 Marks Interview: 100 Marks |
| Duration of Exam | Prelims: 1 Hour Mains: 3 Hours + 10 Min |
| Marking scheme | 1 mark each for every correct answer in the Online Test |
| Negative marking | 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question in the MCQ |
| Mode of Examination | Online For Prelims & Mains |
| Language of examination | English OR Hindi The English Language paper has to be attempted in English. |
| Prelims Exam Date | 22 and 23 August 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 4 October 2026 |
Probationary Officer (PO): Prelims (Revised)
Check the prelims (revised) for Probationary Officer (PO) in the table below.
In short: mode: Online For Prelims & Mains; time: 20 minutes; negative marking: 0.25 marks.
| IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern (New) |
|---|
| Sr. No. |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3 |
| Total |
Probationary Officer (PO): Mains (Revised)
The table below gives the mains (revised) of Probationary Officer (PO), as it is given in the source.
In short: mode: Online For Prelims & Mains; time: 20 minutes; negative marking: 0.25 marks.
| IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026 (Objective) (Latest) |
|---|
| Sr. No. |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| Total |
| IBPS PO Descriptive Paper 2026 |
| Paper |
| Descriptive Paper |
Probationary Officer (PO): PO Mains Descriptive Test
PO Mains Descriptive Test of Probationary Officer (PO):
| Expected Essay topics: |
|---|
| Economic and Social Issues (poverty, unemployment, financial inclusion, rural economy) Banking & Financial Sector (digital banking, RBI policies, banking reform |
Probationary Officer (PO): Some Previous Year Essay Topics asked
The list below is for Probationary Officer (PO).
- Demonetisation and its impact on the Indian Economy
- Financial Inclusion in Rural India
- Role of Technology in Banking
- Impact of Social Media on Youth
- Women Empowerment and Economic Growth
- Digital India Initiative
- Cryptocurrency and its Future in India
Probationary Officer (PO): Exam Overview
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, IBPS is the organisation behind Probationary Officer (PO).
The paper is taken in Online For Prelims & Mains mode.
Negative marking: 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question in the MCQ.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam name | IBPS PO |
| Conducted by | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, IBPS |
| Post / course | Probationary Officer (PO) |
| Mode of exam | Online For Prelims & Mains |
| Marks | Prelims: 100 Marks; Mains: 200 Marks + Descriptive Test: 25 Marks; Interview: 100 Marks |
| Time allowed | Prelims: 1 Hour; Mains: 3 Hours + 10 Min |
| Marking scheme | 1 mark each for every correct answer in the Online Test |
| Negative marking | 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question in the MCQ |
| Language of examination | English OR Hindi; The English Language paper has to be attempted in English. |
| Prelims Exam Date | 22 and 23 August 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 4 October 2026 |
Probationary Officer (PO): PO Process 2026
The table below gives the po process 2026 of Probationary Officer (PO), as it is given in the source.
| Stage | Exam Pattern |
|---|---|
| Prelims Exam | Objective Test; Total Marks: 100 |
| Mains Exam | Objective + Descriptive Test; Total Marks: 225 (200 Objective + 25 Descriptive) |
| Interview | Candidates shortlisted based on the Mains score; Minimum qualifying marks set by IBPS |
Probationary Officer (PO): PO Prelims (New)
The table below gives the po prelims (new) of Probationary Officer (PO), as it is given in the source.
In short: mode: Online For Prelims & Mains; time: 20 minutes; negative marking: 0.25 marks.
| Sr. No. | Name of Tests | No. of Questions | Marks | Medium of Exam | Time Allotted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | English | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | English and Hindi | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes (1 Hour) |
Probationary Officer (PO): PO Mains 2026 (Objective) (Latest)
PO Mains 2026 (Objective) (Latest) of Probationary Officer (PO):
In short: mode: Online For Prelims & Mains; time: 20 minutes; negative marking: 0.25 marks.
| Sr. No. | Name of Test | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Medium | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reasoning | 40 | 60 | English & Hindi | 45 Minutes |
| 2 | General/Economy/Banking Awareness/Digital/Financial Awareness (including RBI Circulars) | 50 | 60 | English & Hindi | 35 Minutes |
| 3 | English Language | 40 | 20 | English | 35 Minutes |
| 4 | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 | English & Hindi | 45 Minutes |
| Total | Objective Test | 170 | 200 | – | 160 Min. |
| IBPS PO Descriptive Paper 2026 | |||||
| Paper | Topics | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Medium | Duration |
| Descriptive Paper | Essay and Comprehension | 2 | 25 | English | 30 Minute |
Probationary Officer (PO): PO Prelims 2026 Syllabus
PO Prelims 2026 Syllabus of Probationary Officer (PO):
| Reasoning Syllabus | English Language Syllabus | Quantitative Ability Syllabus |
|---|---|---|
| Logical Reasoning | Reading Comprehension | Simplification |
| Alphanumeric Series | Cloze Test | Profit & Loss |
| Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test | Para jumbles | Mixtures & Allegations |
| Data Sufficiency | Word Usage, Word-Swap | Simple Interest & Compound Interest & Surds & Indices |
| Inequalities | Fill in the blanks | Work & Time |
| Seating Arrangement | Error Detection, Error Spotting | Time & Distance |
| Puzzle | Paragraph Completion | Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere |
| Tabulation | One word Substitution | Data Interpretation |
| Syllogism | Miscellaneous | Ratio & Proportion, Percentage |
| Blood Relations | – | Number Systems |
| Input-Output | – | Sequence & Series |
| Coding-Decoding | – | Permutation, Combination &Probability |
Probationary Officer (PO): PO Mains Descriptive Test
The table below gives the po mains descriptive test of Probationary Officer (PO), as it is given in the source.
| Expected Essay topics: |
|---|
| Economic and Social Issues (poverty, unemployment, financial inclusion, rural economy); Banking & Financial Sector (digital banking, RBI policies, banking reforms, fintech); Technology & Society (AI in banking, cybersecurity, digital payments, data privacy); Current Events (national and international developments of significance); Ethics & Governance (corruption, accountability, public policy); Environment & Sustainability |
Probationary Officer (PO): High-Weightage Topics in PO
Check the high-weightage topics in po for Probationary Officer (PO) in the table below.
In short: mode: Online For Prelims & Mains; time: 20 minutes; negative marking: 0.25 marks.
| Subject | High-Weightage Topics (Range from 5-10 Questions) |
|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | Puzzles & Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Inequality, Blood Relations, Direction Sense |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Data Interpretation (DI), Simplification/Approximation, Number Series, Quadratic Equations |
| English Language | Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Fillers, Vocabulary & Word Swap |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness (Mains) | Current Affairs (Last 4–6 Months), Banking & Financial Awareness, RBI Updates, Government Schemes, Budget & Economic Survey, Banking Terms, Reports & Indices |
| Descriptive Test (Mains) | Essay Writing (Current Affairs, Banking, Economy, Social Issues), Letter Writing (Formal & Informal) |
Probationary Officer (PO): Subjects That Carry the Highest Marks
Looking at the pattern table (IBPS PO Prelims Exam Pattern (New)), Reasoning Ability (40) carry the highest marks.
Looking at the pattern table (IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026 (Objective) (Latest)), Objective Test (200) carry the highest marks.
Marks differ from paper to paper, so check the table of your own paper.
Probationary Officer (PO): How to Use the Pattern and Syllabus
- Read the exam overview above first, so you know who conducts the exam, its mode, language and marking before you study.
- This page has more than one pattern table, one for each paper or post group. Read the table that matches your own post or paper first.
- Negative marking is given as 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question in the MCQ. So avoid wild guesses and mark only the answers you are sure about.
- The exam is in Online For Prelims & Mains mode, so take your mock tests in the same way.
- Copy the subject-wise topics into a notebook or sheet and tick each topic as read, revised and tested.
Probationary Officer (PO): Step-by-Step Preparation Plan
- Read the exam overview and the pattern table carefully and note the points that matter for your paper.
- Turn the subject-wise syllabus into a checklist of topics.
- Give the subjects that carry more marks (see the section above) more time, and study them first.
- Solve previous papers every week and keep a small notebook of the mistakes you made.
- Take mock tests in the real time limit of Prelims: 1 Hour; Mains: 3 Hours + 10 Min, so the clock does not surprise you on exam day.
- Open the official notice once a month, because the board can change the syllabus or the pattern.
About IBPS
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, better known as IBPS, was set up in 1975 and is headquartered in Mumbai. It runs common Sarkari Naukri processes so that a candidate can appear in one exam and be considered by many participating public sector banks and Regional Rural Banks.
Read more on the IBPS company page or visit the official website at ibps.in.
Earlier IBPS Notifications
Earlier IBPS notifications we have tracked, for comparison. Tap a title to open it, or see all IBPS updates.
| Update | Type | Posts | Key date |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBPS PO For Prelims and Mains Syllabus 2026 | Syllabus | — | 27 Oct 2026 |
| IBPS SO Law Officer Prelims Mains Guide Syllabus 2026: Topic-wise Details | Syllabus | — | 16 Oct 2026 |
| IBPS SO IT Officer Subject-wise Topics Prep Strategy Syllabus 2026 | Syllabus | — | 15 Oct 2026 |
| IBPS Clerk Prelims Mains Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern | Syllabus | — | 12 Oct 2026 |
| IBPS SO Detailed Prelims Mains and Selection Process Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern | Syllabus | — | 01 Nov 2026 |
IBPS Probationary Officer (PO) Syllabus: Important Links
| Link | Open |
|---|---|
| Official website | ibps.in |
| All IBPS updates | Open IBPS Recruitment |
| IBPS latest jobs | View jobs |
| IBPS admit cards | View admit cards |
| IBPS results | View results |
Complete IBPS Exam Timeline
Every stage of this government job we have covered, from application to Sarkari Result:
| Stage | Post | Key date |
|---|---|---|
| Syllabus | IBPS Probationary Officer (PO) Syllabus 2026 & Exam Pattern | 04 Oct 2026 |
| Sarkari Result | IBPS Probationary Officer (PO) 16th Pre Score Card 2026 Declared – Sarkari Result | 23 Sep 2026 |
IBPS Probationary Officer (PO) Syllabus: Frequently Asked Questions
Who conducts Probationary Officer (PO)?
Probationary Officer (PO) is conducted by Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, IBPS.
What is the mode of the Probationary Officer (PO) exam?
The exam mode is Online For Prelims & Mains.
How much time is given in Probationary Officer (PO)?
The time allowed is Prelims: 1 Hour; Mains: 3 Hours + 10 Min.
Is there negative marking in Probationary Officer (PO)?
Negative marking: 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question in the MCQ.
What are the total marks of Probationary Officer (PO)?
Marks: Prelims: 100 Marks; Mains: 200 Marks + Descriptive Test: 25 Marks; Interview: 100 Marks.
Where can I download the official Probationary Officer (PO) syllabus or notice?
Use the official link in the Important Links table of this page or open the website of IBPS. The official document is the final word if anything changes.
Can the Probationary Officer (PO) syllabus or pattern change?
Yes. The conducting body may revise the syllabus or the pattern in a new notice, so check the official notice before you start and again before the exam.
Where can I get the latest Sarkari Result updates of IBPS?
SarkariResultHome.com posts every new update of IBPS as soon as it is published. Bookmark the site and open it directly to see the newest jobs, admit cards, Sarkari Results and answer keys.
Source and Credit
The facts on this page come from the syllabus and exam pattern notice published by Institute of Banking Personnel Selection on its official website ibps.in. We have put the information in our own words and layout. The official website is the final word, so please check it before you apply, pay a fee or travel.
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