IBPS PO exam is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) every year for the selection of candidates for the post of Probationary officers in different banks. This exam started in 2011 and has continued every year since then. In 2021, IBPS PO exam notification is expected to be released by August 2021.
Do you want to clear this exam? Well, here is everything you need to know about this exam from eligibility criteria to dates.
IBPS- Institute of Banking Personnel Selection
The IBPS is an autonomous body organized to evolve and implement a world-class selection and assessment process for its various client organizations. This foundation is based on Speed, Accuracy and Confidentiality and achieves its goal through a perfect blend of modern technology and academic expertise.
What is IBPS PO?
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection PO exam is conducted every year to select and recruit candidates for various posts of PO/MT in different public sector banks of India.
This recruitment process consists of three states including Preliminary, Mains and Interview. It is a popular choice among candidates owing to its career growth and Institute of Banking Personnel Selection PO salary options. Every year around 7- 8 lakhs candidates apply for this exam.
Note: IBPS PO exam syllabus is broad. To prepare for this exam you can take this course by UPSC Pathshala: Single Course.
Highlights of IBPS PO
| Exam Name | Recruitment of PO/Management Trainees in Participating Organisations |
| Abbreviated Form | IBPS PO |
| Authority | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection |
| Exam Level | National |
| Frequency | Every Year |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Number of vacancies | 4977 (In 2020) |
| Phases | Prelims, Mains and Interview |
| Exam Duration | Prelims: One hour (60 minutes)
Mains: 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Language | English and Hindi |
| Objective | Selection of candidates for various posts |
| Exam Helpdesk No. | 1800 222 366, 1800 103 4566 |
| Official Website | https://www.ibps.in/ |
IBPS PO Exam Date 2021
| IBPS PO Events | IBPS PO Dates |
| Notification | August 2021 |
| Application form | August 2021 |
| Last date to apply | August 2021 |
| Editing of application | August 2021 |
| Prelims admit card | September 2021 |
| Preliminary exam | 9,10,16,17 October 2021 |
| Prelims result | October/November 2021 |
| Prelims scorecard | November 2021 |
| Mains admit card | The first week of November 2021 |
| Mains exam | 27-Nov-2021 |
| Mains result | December 2021 |
| Mains scorecard | December 2021 |
| Interview call letter | January 2021 |
| Provisional allotment | April 2022 |
IBPS RRB PO Exam Dates 2021
| Activity | Dates |
| Notification | June 7, 2021 |
| Online Application Starts on | June 8, 2021 |
| Online Applications will end on | June 28, 2021 |
| Pre-Exam Training Schedule | Cancelled |
| Call Letters for PO Prelims Exam | July 17, 2021 |
| Call Letters for Clerk Prelims Exam | July 22, 2021 |
| RRB Preliminary Examination
(Officer Scale-I & Office Assistant) |
1st, 7th, 8th and 14th August 2021 |
| RRB PO Prelims Result | 24th August 2021 |
| RRB Clerk Prelims Result | September 2021 |
| RRB Mains Admit Card | September 2021 |
| Single Officers (II & III) Main Exam | 25th September 2021 |
| Officer Scale I Mains Exam | 25th September 2021 |
| Office Assistant Mains Exam | 3rd October 2021 |
| Interview (For Officers Scale I, II and III) | October/November 2021 |
| Final Result (Provisional Allotment) | January 2022 |
IBPS PO Eligibility Criteria
IBPS has set up some eligibility criteria for its candidates for IBPS PO including educational qualification, nationality, etc.
Nationality
| Nationality (Any Candidate who is) |
| A Citizen of India |
| A Subject of Nepal/Bhutan |
| A Tibetan Refugees and came to India before 1 January 1962 |
| A Person migrated from Pakistan/Burma/Sri Lanka/Kenya/Uganda/the United Republic of Tanzania/Zambia/Malawi/Zaire/Vietnam/Ethiopia |
Age
A candidate must be around 20 to 30 years old.
| Category | Age relaxation |
| General Candidates | 0 years |
| Scheduled Caste | 5 years |
| Scheduled Tribe | 5 years |
| OBC NCL | 3 years |
| Persons with Disability | 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen, Commissioned Officers who served more than 5 years and resigned on the conclusion of the assigned project. | 5 years |
| Persons ordinarily domiciled in the J&K from (Jan 1st,1980 to Dec 31, 1989) | 5 years |
| Candidates affected by the 1984 riots | 5 years |
Educational Qualification
A candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a recognized and affiliated university or institution.
List of Banks Participating in IBPS PO
| Bank of Baroda | Canara Bank |
| Indian Overseas Bank | UCO Bank |
| Bank of India | Central Bank of India |
| Punjab National Bank | Union Bank of India |
| Bank of Maharashtra | Indian Bank |
| Punjab & Sind Bank | – |
Application for IBPS PO
The candidates can start applying for this exam as soon as IBPS declares the notification of the exam. The candidates can apply for PO online from the official website of IBPS.
Step1: First, candidates have to register themselves from the official website.
Step2: Login through the given credentials and fill carefully other relevant details such as education qualifications, religion, etc.
Step3: Then candidates have to upload their photo and signature.
Step 4: Candidates also have to upload their left-thumb impression and handwritten declaration.
Example of handwritten declaration
| “I, _______ (Name), hereby declare that all the information submitted by me in the application form is correct and valid. I will present the supporting documents whenever required”. |
Step 5: Last but not least, complete their application by paying the fees.
Application Fees
| Category | Application Fee |
| SC/ST/PWD | Rs 175 (Intimation Charges only) |
| General and Others | Rs 850 (App. Fee including intimation charges) |
IBPS PO Vacancy
| Year | Number of Vacancies |
| 2020-2021 | 3517 |
| 2019-2020 | 4336 |
| 2018-2019 | 4252 |
IBPS PO Exam Pattern
The Bank PO is conducted in three phases:
# Preliminary examination
# Mains examination
# Interview examination
Phase 1: Preliminary Examination
PO Pre Exam is an objective type of paper that includes quantitative aptitude, reasoning, general awareness and English language.
| Sections | Total questions | Total marks | Duration (In minutes) |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 |
Phase 2: Mains Examination
The Mains exam consists of both objective and descriptive types of questions. Essay and letter writing are descriptive and the rest of all are objective type.
| Sections | Total questions | Duration (in minutes) | Total marks |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 |
| Data Interpretation and Analysis | 35 | 45 | 60 |
| Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 |
| General Awareness | 40 | 35 | 40 |
| English (Essay and Letter Writing) | 2 | 30 minutes | 25 |
Phase 3: Interview
The Interview phase consists of 100 marks. This interview aims to assess the candidate’s personality and mental alertness.
IBPS PO Cutoff (Expected 2021)
| Category | Cut off marks |
| Gen | 58.75 |
| OBC | 58.50 |
| EWS | 57.75 |
| SC | 51.00 |
| ST | 43.50 |
| HI | 19.75 |
| OC | 46.00 |
| VI | 54.25 |
| ID | 21.75 |
Section-wise Cutoff
| Subjects | General/EWS | SC/ST/OBC/PWD |
| English Language | 11.00 | 7.75 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 9.25 | 6.00 |
| Reasoning Ability | 8.00 | 4.25 |
Conclusion
Bank PO is one of the popular choices among candidates who want to pursue their careers in the banking industry. With proper strategy and guidance, anyone can easily crack this examination.
Here in UPSC Pathshala, there are numerous courses that you can take to boost your preparation. Moreover, for preparations for other such exams visit the UPSC Pathshandwrittenala website now.
