EXAM SYLLABUS

Syllabus for IBPS Specialist officer Mains is given below:

Total Questions: 60

Total Marks: 60

Duration: 45 minutes

Negative Marking: 0.25 marks

Final selection: Mains + Interview

EXAM SYLLABUS

Syllabus for IBPS Specialist officer Mains is given below:

Total Questions: 60

Total Marks: 60

Duration: 45 minutes

Negative Marking: 0.25 marks

Final selection: Mains + Interview

EXAM PATTERN

IBPS SO Preliminary Examination is an Objective type Computer Based Examination. The preliminary Examination of IBPS SO contains three sections with a total of 150 Questions and total of 125 Marks. The time duration allotted for each section is 40 minutes (overall 120 Minutes).

The section-wise distribution of Questions and Marks for the post of Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari is given below:

The section-wise distribution of Questions and Marks for the post of IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR /Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer is given below:

Note

1- Candidates have to qualify in each of the three tests by securing minimum cut-off marks to be decided by IBPS. 

2- Adequate number of candidates in each category as decided by IBPS depending upon requirements will be shortlisted for Online Main Examination.

Mode Of Examination

IBPS SO Examination shall be held as a Computer Based Test. Questions shall be based on Multiple Choice Objective Type.

Medium Of Examination

1. Questions from the Quantitative Aptitude & Reasoning Ability section shall be available in both English & Hindi Languages.

2. Questions from the English Language section shall be available in English only. 

3. Candidates need to choose the language of the question paper they want to attempt before the commencement of the exam.

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EXAM PATTERN

IBPS SO Preliminary Examination is an Objective type Computer Based Examination. The preliminary Examination of IBPS SO contains three sections with a total of 150 Questions and total of 125 Marks. The time duration allotted for each section is 40 minutes (overall 120 Minutes).

The section-wise distribution of Questions and Marks for the post of Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari is given below:

The section-wise distribution of Questions and Marks for the post of IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR /Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer is given below:

Note

1- Candidates have to qualify in each of the three tests by securing minimum cut-off marks to be decided by IBPS. 

2- Adequate number of candidates in each category as decided by IBPS depending upon requirements will be shortlisted for Online Main Examination.

Mode Of Examination

IBPS SO Examination shall be held as a Computer Based Test. Questions shall be based on Multiple Choice Objective Type.

Medium Of Examination

1. Questions from the Quantitative Aptitude & Reasoning Ability section shall be available in both English & Hindi Languages.

2. Questions from the English Language section shall be available in English only. 

3. Candidates need to choose the language of the question paper they want to attempt before the commencement of the exam.

4. However, candidates will be allowed to change the language of the particular question also.

Marking Scheme

Sections of the test are:

1. English Language

2. Reasoning

3. General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry

IBPS SO Mains Examination

Mode: Online (Computer Based Test)
Type: Objective (For most posts)
Total Marks: 60
Duration: 45 minutes
Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer

For the Posts of Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer

For the Post of Rajbhasha Adhikari

Important: There is no sectional timing in Mains. Entire 45 minutes is for the single section. 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Candidates willing to apply for IBPS SO Examination are required to fulfil certain conditions to be eligible for it. The candidate who does not satisfy the Eligibility criteria like Age, Minimum educational qualification etc., their candidature shall be rejected by the authorities.
The criteria for eligibility IBPS SO Examination (CRP SPL-XI) are decided by the conduction body itself.

The candidate’s eligibility for IBPS SO Examination (CRP SPL-XI) Examination is based on the fulfilment of the following conditions :

1. Nationality

2. Age Limit & Relaxations 

3. Educational Qualifications

Nationality

A candidate must be either -

 A Citizen of India or

A subject of Nepal or

A subject of Bhutan or

A Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or

A person of Indian origin who has 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 with the intention of permanently settling in India, Provided that a candidate belonging to categorise (2), (3), (4) & (5) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.

Age Limit

The Age of a candidate shall be minimum 20 years and maximum 30 Years.

Relaxations of Upper Age Limit

Educational Qualifications

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Candidates willing to apply for IBPS SO Examination are required to fulfil certain conditions to be eligible for it. The candidate who does not satisfy the Eligibility criteria like Age, Minimum educational qualification etc., their candidature shall be rejected by the authorities.
The criteria for eligibility IBPS SO Examination (CRP SPL-XI) are decided by the conduction body itself.

The candidate’s eligibility for IBPS SO Examination (CRP SPL-XI) Examination is based on the fulfilment of the following conditions :

1. Nationality

2. Age Limit & Relaxations 

3. Educational Qualifications

Nationality

A candidate must be either -

 A Citizen of India or

A subject of Nepal or

A subject of Bhutan or

A Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or

A person of Indian origin who has 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 with the intention of permanently settling in India, Provided that a candidate belonging to categorise (2), (3), (4) & (5) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.

Age Limit

The Age of a candidate shall be minimum 20 years and maximum 30 Years.

Relaxations of Upper Age Limit

Educational Qualifications

Note

1. Qualification should be  from a University recognised by the Govt. of India or any equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government.

2. The candidate must possess a valid Mark-sheet / Degree Certificate that he/ she is a graduate on the day he/she registers and indicate the percentage of marks obtained in Graduation while registering online. The fraction of percentage so arrived will be ignored i.e. 59.99% will be treated as less than 60% and 54.99% will be treated as less than 55%.

3. Candidates can apply for only one post. Multiple applications will be summarily rejected. 

Eligibility Highlights

1. The candidate shall be minimum 20 years and maximum 30 years of age.

2. A candidate must possess relevant qualification from a recognised University as per the post.???????

IMPORTANT DATES

The IBPS SO Notification 2025 has been officially released by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection for the recruitment of eligible candidates for Specialist Officer positions in participating Public Sector Banks. According to the notification, there are a total of 1007 vacancies available across various posts. The application correction window is now open at ibps.in, allowing candidates to edit or modify their application forms from 31st July to 1st August 2025. The IBPS SO Prelims Exam 2025 (CRP SPL-XV) is scheduled to take place on 30th August 2025.

ANALYSIS

The IBPS SO Mains exam is typically of moderate to difficult difficulty, requiring a solid understanding of concepts and the ability to apply them under time constraints. It tests candidates' professional knowledge in their respective fields, such as IT, HR, Marketing, or Agriculture. Effective time management is crucial, as the questions can be lengthy and demand careful reading and precise calculations.

Examination Analysis 2022

The Post wise important questions that were asked in the IBPS SO Mains 2022 exams are as follows: 

Rajbhasha Adhikari

1- Hindi to English & English to Hindi Translation blogs 

2- Rajbhasha Adhiniyam 

3- Vakya mein truti (Error Detection) 

4- Unseen Passage 

5- Cloze Test 

5- Miscellaneous 

IT Officer

1- Networking 

2- Data Structure 

3- Operating Systems 

4- Data Communication 

5- DBMS 

6- Computer Architecture 

7- Computer Security 

8- Logic Gates 

9- C Language 

10- Software Engineering 

11- Discrete Mathematics 

12- Half Adder 

Marketing Officer

1- Segmentation 

2- Strategic Planning 

3- Finance 

4- Abbreviations 

5- Brand Equity 

6- Product vertical integration

7- Strategic Units 

Law Officer

1- Code of Criminal Procedure commonly called Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)

2- Code of Civil Procedure, and Indian Penal Code. 

3- Citizenship Amendment Act

4- Money Laundering

5- Competition Act.

6- Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

7- Arbitration

8- Banking regulation.

9- Stamp Act

10- Partnership act

11- Logical Legal Reasoning 

Agriculture Field Officer

1- PM Fasal Bima Yojana 

2- Agriculture Engg implements subsidies

3- Greenhouse Gas Classification 

4- Nutrient related 

5- MSP of Wheat and Rice 

6- Plant pathology 

7- Production Data on Horticulture 

8- Question associated with NABARD 

9- Critical Irrigation Stages 

10- Water sensitive crops 

Overall Analysis

IBPS Specialist Officer Mains Analysis 2020-2021

IBPS Specialist Officer Prelims Exam has been conducted on January 24, 2021.

IT Officer

The level of the exam was Moderate to Difficult. The Questions asked from the topics are given below:

ANALYSIS

The IBPS SO Mains exam is typically of moderate to difficult difficulty, requiring a solid understanding of concepts and the ability to apply them under time constraints. It tests candidates' professional knowledge in their respective fields, such as IT, HR, Marketing, or Agriculture. Effective time management is crucial, as the questions can be lengthy and demand careful reading and precise calculations.

Examination Analysis 2022

The Post wise important questions that were asked in the IBPS SO Mains 2022 exams are as follows: 

Rajbhasha Adhikari

1- Hindi to English & English to Hindi Translation blogs 

2- Rajbhasha Adhiniyam 

3- Vakya mein truti (Error Detection) 

4- Unseen Passage 

5- Cloze Test 

5- Miscellaneous 

IT Officer

1- Networking 

2- Data Structure 

3- Operating Systems 

4- Data Communication 

5- DBMS 

6- Computer Architecture 

7- Computer Security 

8- Logic Gates 

9- C Language 

10- Software Engineering 

11- Discrete Mathematics 

12- Half Adder 

Marketing Officer

1- Segmentation 

2- Strategic Planning 

3- Finance 

4- Abbreviations 

5- Brand Equity 

6- Product vertical integration

7- Strategic Units 

Law Officer

1- Code of Criminal Procedure commonly called Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC)

2- Code of Civil Procedure, and Indian Penal Code. 

3- Citizenship Amendment Act

4- Money Laundering

5- Competition Act.

6- Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

7- Arbitration

8- Banking regulation.

9- Stamp Act

10- Partnership act

11- Logical Legal Reasoning 

Agriculture Field Officer

1- PM Fasal Bima Yojana 

2- Agriculture Engg implements subsidies

3- Greenhouse Gas Classification 

4- Nutrient related 

5- MSP of Wheat and Rice 

6- Plant pathology 

7- Production Data on Horticulture 

8- Question associated with NABARD 

9- Critical Irrigation Stages 

10- Water sensitive crops 

Overall Analysis

IBPS Specialist Officer Mains Analysis 2020-2021

IBPS Specialist Officer Prelims Exam has been conducted on January 24, 2021.

IT Officer

The level of the exam was Moderate to Difficult. The Questions asked from the topics are given below:

Marketing Officer

1. The level of the exam was Moderate.

2. The overall good attempts are 40-45.

The Topics from which questions are asked for the mains exam is given below:

Agriculture Field Officer

The level of the exam of Agricultural Field Officer was Easy to Moderate. The questions were mainly asked from the following areas:

1. Horticulture

2. Entomology

3. Livestock and Breeds

4. Sericulture

5. Bee Keeping

Law Officer

The level of the exam was Moderate to Difficult. Topics from which questions are asked for the mains exam is given below:

Rajbhasha Adhikari

The level of the exam was moderate. Topics from which questions are asked for the mains exam is given below:

IBPS SO Final Cut-Off 2020-21

STUDY TIPS

Preparing for the IBPS SO 2025 exam requires a focused strategy, as the exam tests both general aptitude and specialized knowledge. To crack this competitive exam, candidates must balance their time between core subjects like Reasoning, Quant, English, and their Professional Knowledge section. With the right approach and smart planning, scoring well becomes much more achievable.

1. It is recommended that you read all notices thoroughly before beginning your preparation such as Important dates, exam events.

2. Prepare an effective exam study strategy, ensuring that all subjects are given equal priority. Spare some time for rest and leisure activities in between your preparations.

3. The traditional method of learning and studying might become tedious, and you may lose interest in your studies. Other learning approaches such as flashcards, flowcharts, and other visual aids are recommended.

4. When it comes to examinations, it is best to avoid procrastination and worry. Overthinking can lead to overly high levels of dread and anxiety, which can sabotage your preparedness.

5. It is advisable to attempt mini mock tests on a daily basis for every topic studied so to be thorough with the topic.

IBPS SO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

FAQ Related To Exam Background

FAQ Related To Exam Duration And Pattern

FAQ Related To Exam Result

STUDY TIPS

Preparing for the IBPS SO 2025 exam requires a focused strategy, as the exam tests both general aptitude and specialized knowledge. To crack this competitive exam, candidates must balance their time between core subjects like Reasoning, Quant, English, and their Professional Knowledge section. With the right approach and smart planning, scoring well becomes much more achievable.

1. It is recommended that you read all notices thoroughly before beginning your preparation such as Important dates, exam events.

2. Prepare an effective exam study strategy, ensuring that all subjects are given equal priority. Spare some time for rest and leisure activities in between your preparations.

3. The traditional method of learning and studying might become tedious, and you may lose interest in your studies. Other learning approaches such as flashcards, flowcharts, and other visual aids are recommended.

4. When it comes to examinations, it is best to avoid procrastination and worry. Overthinking can lead to overly high levels of dread and anxiety, which can sabotage your preparedness.

5. It is advisable to attempt mini mock tests on a daily basis for every topic studied so to be thorough with the topic.

IBPS SO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

FAQ Related To Exam Background

FAQ Related To Exam Duration And Pattern

FAQ Related To Exam Result

OVERVIEW

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts IBPS SO exam to recruit Specialist Officers in various public sector banks. The exam provides a great opportunity for those who want to be a part of leading public sector banks. Candidates selected through IBPS SO exam are recruited to the various posts, such as Agriculture Field Officer, Marketing Officer, HR/ Personnel Officer, IT Officer, Law Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari.

EXAM PATTERN

The main exam pattern for the IBPS SO is different for every post as mentioned below.

For the Post of Raj Bhasha Adhikari:

For the Post of Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR /Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer is given below:

For the post of Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer there will be only 60 questions which will be of multiple type of question (MCQ) of related professional knowledge and there will be no Descriptive type of questions.

OVERVIEW

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts IBPS SO exam to recruit Specialist Officers in various public sector banks. The exam provides a great opportunity for those who want to be a part of leading public sector banks. Candidates selected through IBPS SO exam are recruited to the various posts, such as Agriculture Field Officer, Marketing Officer, HR/ Personnel Officer, IT Officer, Law Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari.

EXAM PATTERN

The main exam pattern for the IBPS SO is different for every post as mentioned below.

For the Post of Raj Bhasha Adhikari:

For the Post of Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR /Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer is given below:

For the post of Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer there will be only 60 questions which will be of multiple type of question (MCQ) of related professional knowledge and there will be no Descriptive type of questions.

1. Both Objective type and Descriptive Type Test will be held as a Computer Based Test.

2. Both the exams will be in Hindi & English Languages.

3. For each objective type question for which a wrong answer has been given by the candidate one fourth or 0.25 of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty.

4. If a question is left blank, i.e. no answer is marked by the candidate, there will be no penalty for that question.

SYLLABUS

The IBPS SO (Specialist Officer) 2025 syllabus is designed to test candidates on both general aptitude and specialized knowledge in their chosen fields. The syllabus is divided into different sections for both the Preliminary Exam and the Main Exam, along with the Professional Knowledge section specific to each post.

Syllabus for IBPS Specialist officer Mains is given below:

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The IBPS SO eligibility criteria vary for each position under the IBPS SO 2025 Exam. Candidates must meet three key parameters—citizenship, age limit, and educational qualification—to be eligible for the IBPS SO Recruitment 2025.

Nationality

A candidate must be either -

A Citizen of India or

A subject of Nepal or

A subject of Bhutan or

A Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India or

A person of Indian origin who has 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 with the intention of permanently settling in India, 

Provided that a candidate belonging to categories (2), (3), (4) & (5) above shall be a person in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued by the Government of India.

Age Limit

The Age of a candidate shall be a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of 30 Years.

Relaxations of Upper age limit

Note: The relaxation in the upper age limit to SC/ST/OBC candidates is allowed on a cumulative basis with only one of the remaining categories for which age relaxation is permitted as mentioned above in Point No. (3) to (5).

Education Qualification

Note:

1. Qualification should be  from a University recognised by the Govt. of India or any equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government.

2. The candidate must possess a valid Mark-sheet / Degree Certificate that he/ she is a graduate on the day he/she registers and indicate the percentage of marks obtained in Graduation while registering online. The fraction of percentage so arrived will be ignored i.e. 59.99% will be treated as less than 60% and 54.99% will be treated as less than 55%.

3. Candidates can apply for only one post. Multiple applications will be summarily rejected. 

MODE OF SELECTION

The selection process for the IBPS SO (Specialist Officer) exam follows a multi-stage procedure, including the Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Interview (for certain posts). Here's a detailed breakdown:

Preliminary Exam

The preliminary selection of the exam will be done through the online written examination. The prelims stage is the first step in the IBPS SO selection process. The candidates who will be able to perform extraordinarily in the first stage will advance to the next step of the selection process smoothly.

Mains Exam

1. For the Post of Rajbhasha Adhikari, there will be both objective and descriptive types of papers on Professional Knowledge. 45 objective-type questions and 2 descriptive-type questions will be asked. The total weightage will be 60 marks. 30 minutes will be given for 45 objective-type questions and 30 minutes for 2 descriptive-type questions.

2. For the Post of Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer, there will be 60 questions from the Professional Knowledge section carrying 60 marks with a duration of 45 minutes.

Interview

1. There will be a penalty for incorrectly marked answers in the Objective Tests. One-fourth of the marks allotted to each question for which the candidate provided an incorrect answer will be deducted as a penalty. There is no penalty if a question is left blank, i.e. no answer is marked by the candidate.

2. The total number of marks allotted for the interview is 100. The minimum qualifying marks for the interview will be 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PWBD candidates). The weightage of the online main examination and the interview will be 80:20. The combined final score of candidates will be calculated using the total scores received by the candidates in the Online Main Examination and Interview. The interview score of candidates who do not meet the minimum qualifying marks or who is otherwise disqualified from the interview or subsequent process will not be released.

3. A candidate must pass both the Online Main Examination and the interview in order to be shortlisted for the subsequent provisional allotment process, the details of which will be made available later on the authorized IBPS website.

Provisional Allotment

1. The candidates who will be able to get through all the stages of the selection process will be provisionally recruited for the job. 

2. Candidates will be provisionally allotted to one of the participating organizations of IBPS based on the available vacancies and merit-cum-preference basis.

3. In case 2 or more candidates obtain the same score in the exam, the merit would be decided based on the date of birth of the candidate, i.e. the candidate higher in age would be placed above the one junior candidate).???????