The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) is an autonomous agency in India responsible for recruiting personnel for various public sector banks (except SBI), regional rural banks (RRBs), and other financial institutions. It conducts a series of standardized exams to recruit candidates for various positions such as Probationary Officers (PO), Clerks, and Specialist Officers (SO).

Key Aspects of IBPS:

1. Conducting Body: IBPS is an independent organization that administers recruitment exams on behalf of public sector banks and other financial institutions.
2. Purpose: The primary goal of IBPS is to conduct recruitment exams to fill vacancies in:
   • Public Sector Banks (PSBs) (except SBI, which conducts its own recruitment exams)
   • Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
   • Cooperative Banks
   • Insurance Companies and other financial institutions.
3. Exams Conducted by IBPS: IBPS conducts several recruitment exams for different posts in the banking sector:
   • IBPS PO (Probationary Officer): For the recruitment of probationary officers/management trainees in PSBs.
   • IBPS Clerk: For the recruitment of clerical cadre staff in PSBs.
   • IBPS SO (Specialist Officer): For the recruitment of specialist officers in various domains such as IT, Marketing, HR, Law, and Agriculture.
   • IBPS RRB (Regional Rural Banks): For recruitment in rural banks for both officers and office assistants.
   • IBPS AFO (Agricultural Field Officer): For recruitment of officers in agriculture-related roles in banks.
4. Eligibility:
   • Educational Qualification: Candidates need a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university for most positions. Some specialist posts (like IT or Law) require specific degrees related to the job.
   • Age Criteria:
     • IBPS PO: 20–30 years
     • IBPS Clerk: 20–28 years
     • IBPS SO: 20–30 years
     • Age Relaxation: There are relaxations for reserved categories (SC/ST, OBC, PwD, etc.).
   • Nationality: The candidate must be an Indian citizen or satisfy certain nationality requirements (for Nepal, Bhutan, etc.).
5. Exam Structure: The IBPS recruitment process typically follows a three-tier structure:
   1. Preliminary Exam: This is the first stage, which screens candidates for the Mains exam. It includes sections like English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability.
   2. Mains Exam: Those who qualify in the prelims appear for the Mains. The Mains exam tests more advanced topics and also includes sections like General Awareness, Computer Knowledge, and English Language.
   3. Interview: Candidates who qualify for the Mains are called for an interview (only for IBPS PO and SO; there is no interview for Clerks).
   • Final Merit: The final merit list is based on the cumulative performance in the Mains exam and the interview (where applicable).
6. IBPS PO:
   • The Probationary Officer (PO) exam is one of the most popular exams for bank officer posts in public sector banks.
   • Preliminary Exam: 100 questions (English, Quant, Reasoning) to be completed in 1 hour.
   • Mains Exam: 200 questions across 4–5 sections (Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, English Language, Data Analysis & Interpretation) plus a descriptive test (Essay/Letter Writing).
   • Interview: The interview carries 100 marks and is conducted by the participating banks.
7. IBPS Clerk:
   • The Clerk exam is for recruitment into the clerical cadre of public sector banks.
   • Preliminary Exam: 100 questions (English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning) to be completed in 1 hour.
   • Mains Exam: 190 questions in sections like General Awareness, Quant, Reasoning, Computer Knowledge, and English.
   • No Interview: The final selection is based on the performance in the Mains exam.
8. IBPS SO:
   • The Specialist Officer (SO) exam recruits candidates for specialist roles such as IT Officer, Agricultural Officer, Law Officer, Marketing Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari.
   • Preliminary Exam: Varies by post (Law, IT, etc.), but generally tests English, Reasoning, and a section relevant to the specific domain.
   • Mains Exam: Focuses on professional knowledge in the respective field (IT, Law, HR, etc.).
   • Interview: Conducted for candidates who qualify for the Mains.
9. IBPS RRB:
   • Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) exam is conducted for positions such as Officer Scale I, II, III, and Office Assistants (Multipurpose).
   • Officer Scale I (similar to PO): Preliminary, Mains, and Interview.
   • Office Assistant: Preliminary and Mains (no interview).
   • Officer Scale II & III: Single online exam followed by an interview (for more experienced candidates).
10. Exam Pattern and Syllabus:
    • The IBPS exam pattern usually includes sections on:
      • English Language: Grammar, comprehension, and vocabulary.
      • Reasoning Ability: Logical and analytical reasoning, puzzles, seating arrangements, etc.
      • Quantitative Aptitude: Arithmetic, data interpretation, algebra, and geometry.
      • General Awareness: Current affairs, banking awareness, financial knowledge, and economic terms.
      • Computer Aptitude: Basic computer knowledge and banking software awareness.
    • The difficulty level ranges from moderate to tough, and candidates are tested on speed and accuracy.
11. Application Process:
    • Online Application: Candidates must apply online through the official IBPS website.
    • Application Fee: Typically, candidates need to pay a fee (differentiated by category) during the application process.
    • Admit Card & Exam Centers: Admit cards are released for each stage of the exam, and exams are conducted at various centers across India.
12. Selection Process:
    • IBPS PO and SO: The final selection is based on the combined score of the Mains exam and Interview.
    • IBPS Clerk: The final selection is purely based on the Mains exam performance.
    • For all exams, the selection process follows a merit-based system where candidates with the highest scores are shortlisted for jobs in participating banks.
13. Preparation Tips:
    • Understand the Exam Pattern: Familiarize yourself with the syllabus and format of each section.
    • Focus on Speed & Accuracy: Practice mock tests regularly to improve both speed and accuracy, as these are key to clearing IBPS exams.
    • Stay Updated: For sections like General Awareness and Banking, stay updated with current affairs and financial news.
    • Practice Reasoning & Quant: Regular practice of puzzles, seating arrangements, and quantitative questions is crucial for success in IBPS exams.
14. Important Points to Remember:
    • Negative Marking: There is negative marking of 0.25 for each wrong answer.
    • Cut-offs: Each exam has sectional and overall cut-offs that candidates must clear to progress to the next stage.
    • Language Preference: Exams are conducted in both English and Hindi, except for the English language section.