Short Information
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the IBPS Specialist Officer SO 16th Admit Card 2026 for the Online Preliminary Examination under CRP SPL-XVI. Candidates who successfully registered for Specialist Officer Scale-I posts can download their Preliminary Examination Call Letter through the official IBPS portal.
The IBPS SO Prelims Exam will be held on 29 August 2026. The recruitment is being conducted for 1,035 revised Specialist Officer vacancies in participating Public Sector Banks. Candidates should check their exam centre, reporting time, shift and other examination instructions carefully after downloading the admit card.
- Notification Date: 01 July 2026
- Online Application Start: 01 July 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 21 July 2026
- Last Date for Fee Payment: 21 July 2026
- Updated Vacancy Corrigendum: 20 July 2026
- Prelims Admit Card: August 2026 – Released
- Prelims Exam: 29 August 2026
- Prelims Result: September / October 2026
- Main Exam: 01 November 2026
- Interview: November / December 2026
- Provisional Allotment: January 2027
- SC / ST / PwBD: ₹175/-
- All Other Candidates: ₹850/-
- GST: Included in prescribed fee
- Bank Transaction Charges: Extra as applicable
- Payment Mode: Online
IBPS SO 16th Age Limit 2026
The age limit for CRP SPL-XVI is calculated as on 01 July 2026.
| Particulars | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 20 Years |
| Maximum Age | 30 Years |
| Eligible Date of Birth | 02 July 1996 to 01 July 2006 |
| SC / ST Relaxation | 5 Years |
| OBC-NCL Relaxation | 3 Years |
| PwBD Relaxation | 10 Years |
IBPS Specialist Officer Educational Qualification
| Post Name | Educational Qualification |
|---|---|
| IT Officer Scale-I | 4-year Engineering / Technology Degree in Computer Science, Computer Applications, Information Technology, Electronics or prescribed related streams; OR prescribed Post Graduate qualification; OR Graduate having passed DOEACC ‘B’ Level. |
| Agricultural Field Officer Scale-I | 4-year Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Dairy Science, Fishery Science, Agriculture Engineering, Forestry, Agricultural Biotechnology or other disciplines prescribed by IBPS. |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari Scale-I | Post Graduate Degree in Hindi with English as a subject at Graduation level OR Post Graduate Degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects at Graduation level. |
| Law Officer Scale-I | Bachelor Degree in Law (LLB) and enrolled as an Advocate with Bar Council. |
| HR / Personnel Officer Scale-I | Graduate with prescribed two-year full-time Post Graduate Degree / Diploma in Personnel Management, Industrial Relations, HR, HRD, Social Work or Labour Law. |
| Marketing Officer Scale-I | Graduate with prescribed two-year full-time MMS / MBA / PGDBA / PGDBM / PGPM / PGDM with specialization in Marketing. |
IBPS SO Vacancy 2026
IBPS initially notified indicative Specialist Officer vacancies and later issued an official vacancy update dated 20 July 2026. The revised total is 1,035 posts.
| Post Name | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | UR | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT Officer Scale-I | 57 | 29 | 104 | 34 | 152 | 376 |
| Agricultural Field Officer Scale-I | 55 | 27 | 100 | 36 | 152 | 370 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari Scale-I | 12 | 07 | 21 | 08 | 46 | 94 |
| Law Officer Scale-I | 16 | 07 | 32 | 11 | 59 | 125 |
| HR / Personnel Officer Scale-I | 08 | 03 | 15 | 06 | 28 | 60 |
| Marketing Officer Scale-I | 03 | 01 | 01 | 00 | 05 | 10 |
| Grand Total | 151 | 74 | 273 | 95 | 442 | 1,035 |
IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, HR & Marketing Officer
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 125 | 80 Minutes |
Law Officer & Rajbhasha Adhikari
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry | 25 | 25 | 20 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 125 | 80 Minutes |
IBPS Specialist Officer Salary
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Post Level | Specialist Officer Scale-I |
| Starting Basic Pay | ₹48,480/- |
| Pay Scale | ₹48,480-2000/7-62,480-2340/2-67,160-2680/7-85,920 |
| Allowances | Applicable according to rules of the allotted Participating Bank |
IBPS SO Selection Process 2026
- Online Preliminary Examination
- Online Main Examination
- Common Interview
- Document and eligibility verification
- Provisional allotment to a participating bank
Documents Required for IBPS SO Prelims Exam
- Printed copy of the IBPS SO Prelims Call Letter.
- Original valid Photo Identity Proof.
- Photocopy of the same Photo Identity Proof.
- One additional photograph, same as the photograph pasted on the call letter.
- PwBD / Scribe Declaration Form and related documents, where applicable.
How to Download IBPS Specialist Officer SO 16th Admit Card 2026
- Visit the official IBPS Specialist Officers XVI page.
- Open the link for Online Preliminary Examination Call Letter for CRP SPL-XVI.
- Enter your Registration Number / Roll Number.
- Enter your Password / Date of Birth.
- Enter the security code displayed on the login screen.
- Click on Login.
- Open the IBPS SO Prelims Call Letter.
- Check your exam date, shift, reporting time and examination venue.
- Download the call letter and take a clear printout.
IBPS SO Admit Card Important Instructions
- IBPS SO Preliminary Examination will be held on 29 August 2026.
- Check the exact reporting time and examination venue printed on your call letter.
- Reach the examination centre before the reporting / gate-closing time.
- Carry the printed call letter, valid original Photo ID and its photocopy.
- Paste the prescribed photograph on the call letter and carry one additional matching photograph.
- Preserve the authenticated Preliminary Call Letter after the examination.
- Professional Knowledge is part of the CRP SPL-XVI Preliminary Examination.
- Each Prelims section has a separate 20-minute timer.
- Candidates must qualify each test according to the cut-offs decided by IBPS.
- The Main Examination is scheduled for 01 November 2026.
- Follow the latest official Call Letter and Information Handout instructions on examination day.
IBPS Specialist Officer SO 16th Important Links
| Download IBPS SO 16th Prelims Admit Card 2026 | Click Here |
| CRP SPL-XVI Official Updates | Click Here |
| Download Updated Vacancy Annexure | Click Here |
| Download Vacancy Corrigendum | Click Here |
| Download CRP SPL-XVI Detailed Notification | Click Here |
| Download IBPS Exam Calendar 2026-27 | Click Here |
| Official IBPS Website | Click Here |
| Join Result Bharats WhatsApp Channel | Click Here |
| Join Result Bharats Telegram | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IBPS Specialist Officer SO 16th Admit Card 2026 released?
Yes. The IBPS Specialist Officer SO 16th Preliminary Examination Call Letter is available for CRP SPL-XVI candidates.
What is the IBPS SO Prelims Exam Date 2026?
The IBPS Specialist Officer CRP SPL-XVI Preliminary Examination is scheduled for 29 August 2026.
How can I download IBPS SO 16th Admit Card 2026?
Candidates can open the Specialist Officers XVI section on the official IBPS website and use their Registration Number / Roll Number and Password / Date of Birth to download the call letter.
How many vacancies are there in IBPS SO XVI 2026?
The latest official updated vacancy annexure contains 1,035 Specialist Officer Scale-I vacancies.
What is the IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026?
CRP SPL-XVI Prelims contains 100 questions for 125 marks with a total duration of 80 minutes. Each of the four sections has 20 minutes.
Is Professional Knowledge included in IBPS SO Prelims 2026?
Yes. Professional Knowledge is included in the new CRP SPL-XVI Preliminary Examination and carries 50 marks.
Is there negative marking in IBPS SO Prelims?
Yes. One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each incorrect answer. No penalty applies to unanswered questions.
What documents are required for IBPS SO Prelims?
Candidates should carry their printed Preliminary Call Letter, original valid Photo ID, photocopy of the same ID and the additional photograph prescribed by IBPS.
Should I keep my IBPS SO Prelims Admit Card after the exam?
Yes. The Preliminary Call Letter is authenticated at the examination venue. Candidates shortlisted for Mains may need to carry the authenticated Prelims Call Letter along with their Main Examination Call Letter.
When is the IBPS SO Main Exam 2026?
The IBPS SO CRP SPL-XVI Main Examination is scheduled for 01 November 2026.