Those who were eagerly looking forward to a chance to work for a lucrative banking job in the public sector have much to celebrate. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has just released the highly anticipated IBPS PO & SO 2024 Exam Notifications. The opportunity offers a new career pathway in the banking sector for anyone eager for a job in the public sector. The release of the notification has opened a myriad of opportunities within the Insititute of Banking Personnel Selection. Through this blog, we hope to provide you with all the essential details you need to know about the IBPS PO and SO exams. That way, you will be quite well-prepared for the upcoming IBPS exams.
By now, you would be aware that IBPS is responsible for recruiting candidates for various positions across banks. Out of them, the IBPS PO and SO exams are among the most sought-after recruitments in this sector. The IBPS PO exam is geared towards selecting Probationary Officers, while the IBPS SO exam targets Specialist Officers in various fields like IT, Marketing, Law, and HR.
We will be telling you everything you need to know about the IBPS Exams so that you can begin your preparation. Read this blog to know all the important details you needed to know about the IBPS notification, including the eligibility criteria, important notification details and exam related information. Doing so will help you prepare for the exam easily.
IBPS PO & SO Exam Notification 2024
As mentioned earlier, the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the notification for the Probationary Officers (PO) and Specialist Officers for the year 2024. The notification was released in late July 2024, outlining the details for the upcoming exams. The registration process has begun on the same day. For the IBPS PO Exam 2024, the deadline begins on August 01, 2024 and will end on August 21, 2024. As per the notification, there are 4455 vacancies for different posts. The Preliminary exam is expected in October 2024, followed by the Mains in November 2024. The final interview has been scheduled for January 2025 according to the recent notification. Aspirants expect that the accurate IBPS PO Exam Dates will be released some days before the actual exam. Given below is a table that gives you an idea of the important exam related dates
| Recruitment Process | Exam Dates / Other Details |
| Online Registration Start Date | August 1, 2024 |
| Online Registration End Date | August 21, 2024 |
| Preliminary Exam Date | October 2024 |
| Main Exam Date | November 2024 |
| Interview Date | January 2025 |
| Number of Vacancies | 4455 |
Along with the IBPS PO, the notification for the IBPS SO 2024 exam was also released at the same time. The notification was also released in late July 2024, and it had some of the important details of the upcoming exams like the IBPS SO Exam Date. The registration process has begun on the same day. The deadline for applying for the IBPS SO Exam 2024, begins on August 01, 2024 and will end on August 21, 2024. There are 896 vacancies for different streams under the IBPS SO. The Preliminary exam is expected on November 09, 2024, followed by the Mains on December 14, 2024. The final interview has been scheduled for February or March 2025 according to the notification. While these dates are tentative, aspirants need to begin their preparation quickly if they hope to clear the exam. We have provided you with a table that highlights the important dates of the exam.
| Recruitment Process | Exam Dates / Relevant Details |
| Online Registration Start Date | August 1, 2024 |
| Online Registration End Date | August 21, 2024 |
| Preliminary Exam Date | November 09, 2024 (Tentative) |
| Main Exam Date | December 14, 2024 (Tentative) |
| Interview Date | February or March 2025 |
| Number of Vacancies | 896 for different streams |
IBPS SO and PO Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the IBPS SO and PO exams, aspirants must meet the criteria outlined by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). The IBPS SO and PO criteria for various posts ensure that the aspirants have the education, age diversity and applicable experience for working in this area . The eligibility criteria ensure that aspirants have the necessary educational qualifications, age diversity, and relevant experience.
One thing you need to be aware about the eligibility criteria for both IBPS PO and IBPS SO is that aspirants should have a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university or at least an equivalent recognized by the Central Government. Additionally, they also should be between 20 and 30 years of age, with certain age relaxations applicable for reserved categories as per Government norms. You have an advantage if you are an expert in computer operations and have a working knowledge of computer systems . Aspirants need to be proficient in the official language of the state or union territory they are applying for and should be able to read, write, and speak the language. Furthermore, applicants should ensure they meet the criteria for nationality, which includes being a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India. You can get all the important details about the eligibility criteria from the table below:
| Post (Both SO and PO) | Eligibility Criteria | Age Criteria |
| General (for PO) | Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized University or College | 20 to 30 years (with age relaxations for different categories as per Indian Government Norms) |
| IT Officer (For SO) | 4-year Engineering/Technology degree in Computer Science, IT, or related fields, or Postgraduate degree in Electronics, Computer Science, or IT | |
| Agricultural Field Officer (For SO) | 4-year degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Veterinary Science, or related fields | |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (For SO) | Postgraduate degree in Hindi or Sanskrit with English at the graduation level | |
| Law Officer | Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) and enrolled with the Bar Council | |
| HR/Personnel (For SO) | Graduate degree with a two-year full-time Postgraduate degree or diploma in Personnel Management, HR, or related fields | |
| Marketing Officer (For SO) | Graduate degree with a two-year full-time MMS, MBA, PGDBA, PGDBM, PGPM, or PGDM specializing in Marketing |
IBPS SO and PO Exam Pattern & Syllabus
Now that you have a basic understanding regarding the IBPS SO and PO exam’s basic nuances, it’s time to understand the basic exam related information which will help you begin preparing for the exam. The IBPS PO and IBPS SO exam pattern and syllabus is another important factor we shall be discussing in detail. Rather than confuse you, let’s talk about the exam pattern for both IBPS SO and PO first.
IBPS PO and SO Exam Pattern
The IBPS PO exam consists of two stages: Prelims and Mains. The Prelims exam has three sections: English Language (30 questions, 30 marks, 20 minutes, in English), Quantitative Aptitude (35 questions, 35 marks, 20 minutes, in English & Hindi), and Reasoning Ability (35 questions, 35 marks, 20 minutes, in English & Hindi), totaling 100 questions and 100 marks in 60 minutes. The Mains exam includes Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (45 questions, 60 marks, 60 minutes, in English & Hindi), General/Economy/Banking Awareness (40 questions, 40 marks, 35 minutes, in English & Hindi), English Language (35 questions, 40 marks, 40 minutes, in English), and Data Analysis & Interpretation (35 questions, 60 marks, 45 minutes, in English & Hindi), totaling 155 questions and 200 marks in 3 hours. Additionally, there is an English Language (Letter Writing & Essay) section with 2 questions, 25 marks, and 30 minutes.
The IBPS SO exam pattern for Prelims varies by position. For Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari, it includes English Language (50 questions, 25 marks, 40 minutes, in English), Reasoning (50 questions, 50 marks, 40 minutes, in English & Hindi), and General Awareness with a special reference to Banking Industry (50 questions, 50 marks, 40 minutes, in English & Hindi), totaling 150 questions and 125 marks in 2 hours.
For IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer, it includes English Language (50 questions, 25 marks, 40 minutes, in English), Reasoning (50 questions, 50 marks, 40 minutes, in English & Hindi), and Quantitative Aptitude (50 questions, 50 marks, 40 minutes, in English & Hindi), also totaling 150 questions and 125 marks in 2 hours.
The Mains exam features a Professional Knowledge test with 45 objective questions (60 marks, 30 minutes, in English & Hindi) and 2 descriptive questions (30 minutes) or 60 questions (60 marks, 45 minutes, in English & Hindi). We have drawn a very precise table that talks about the exam pattern for both exams in detail:
| Exam | Phase | Details | Marks | Duration |
| IBPS PO | Phase 1 (Preliminary Exam) | 100 questions | 100 Marks | 1 Hour |
| Phase 2 (Mains Exam) | Objective | 200 Marks | 3 hours | |
| Descriptive | 25 Marks | 30 minutes | ||
| IBPS SO (All Streams) | Phase 1 (Preliminary Exam) | 150 questions | NA | 2 hours |
| Phase 2 (Mains Exam) | Professional Knowledge (Law, IT, AFO, HR/ Personnel) | 60 questions | NA | |
| Professional Knowledge Rajbhasha (Objective + Descriptive) | 45 + 2 questions | NA |
IBPS SO and PO Exam Syllabus
The IBPS SO and PO Exam 2024 syllabus includes a range of subjects. For the IBPS PO, the syllabus covers English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability for the Preliminary Exam. The Mains Exam adds General/Economy/Banking Awareness and Data Analysis & Interpretation. For the IBPS SO, the syllabus includes Professional Knowledge related to specific fields such as Law, IT, Agriculture, HR, and Rajbhasha. The Preliminary Exam includes English Language, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. The Mains Exam focuses on Professional Knowledge specific to the candidate’s chosen field, with an additional descriptive test for Rajbhasha Adhikari candidates. The table below will give you a brief overview of the topics in focus for the exam. You can get more details on the exam from the recently released notification.
| Exam | Phase | Topics |
| IBPS PO | Prelims Exam (Phase 1) | English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability |
| Mains Exam (Phase 2) | General/Economy/Banking Awareness, Data Analysis & Interpretation, English Language, Reasoning Ability, Descriptive Test (Essay & Letter Writing) | |
| IBPS SO | Prelims Exam (Phase 1) | English Language, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude |
| Mains Exam (Phase 2) | Professional Knowledge (Law, IT, Agriculture, HR, Marketing), Rajbhasha (Objective + Descriptive) |
IBPS PO & SO Preparation Tips
With the IBPS PO & SO Exam Notifications out, aspirants would be eager to begin preparing for either of the exams depending on which they are preparing for. Now that you have a clear-cut picture of the IBPS PO and SO exam pattern, eligibility criteria and other important details, it’s time to look at some of the important tips that will help you prepare for the exam. Have a look at these tips below:
- Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus: This is a simple step that will help you prepare for the exam well. You need to read and analyze the notification in detail so that you can prepare for the exam carefully and understand all the aspects of the exam pattern and syllabus. This is especially true if you are preparing for the Specialist Officer exams which have various streams. Each stream will have different syllabus and topics.
- Make a Study Plan and Stick to It: You also need to create a realistic study plan that will help you prepare for the exam. The key is to ensure that you follow the plan diligently and avoid getting distracted. You can make use of plenty of study notes, online resources like ixamBee’s IBPS PO and SO Online Courses. These courses have been created to help students clear the exams easily.
- Practice with Previous Years’ Question Papers and Mock Tests: Regular practice will help you understand the types of questions asked and improve your speed and accuracy. IBPS SO and PO Previous Year Papers from ixamBee are a key factor in helping you prepare for the exam. You can also use IBPS SO and PO Mock Tests to help you prepare for the exam.
- Stay Updated with Current Affairs: You also need to ensure that you are up to date when it comes to current affairs. This is especially needed for topics that are related to Banking and Finance. Since current affairs have a key role in the exam, you need to read everything related to current affairs. You can use ixamBee’s BeePedia platform along with researching topics like Economic Survey and Union Budget too.
Summing Up
Now that you have the IBPS PO and SO notification, you need to begin preparing so that you can score well in the exam. If you have a have a strategic exam preparation technique along with the right study material, you can prepare for the exam. The first steps are to understand the IBPS Notifications well. Once you do that, you need to make sure you apply for the exam within the specified deadline and that your exam application is error free.
To help you prepare 50% faster for competitive exams, ixamBee provides a free Mock Test Series and all the Current Affairs in English and Current Affairs in Hindi in the BeePedia capsules for GA Preparation. You can also get the latest updates for Bank PO, Bank Clerk, SSC, RBI Grade B, NABARD, and Other Government Jobs.
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