IBPS SO Recruitment 2025: The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has rolled out the IBPS SO Recruitment 2025, offering a promising opportunity for professionals aiming to secure specialized roles in public sector banks across India. This recruitment drive, part of the Common Recruitment Process (CRP SPL-XV), targets 1,007 Specialist Officer (SO) vacancies for the 2026–27 financial year. This article provides a comprehensive guide to the recruitment process, covering key details such as eligibility, exam dates, application process, and more to help aspirants prepare effectively.
IBPS SO Recruitment 2025 Overview
The IBPS SO 2025 recruitment is a national-level examination conducted to fill Specialist Officer positions in 11 participating public sector banks. These roles cater to specific domains such as Information Technology, Agriculture, Law, Marketing, Human Resources, and Language Translation (Rajbhasha). The recruitment process is structured in three phases: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Interview, designed to assess candidates’ aptitude and professional knowledge. With 1,007 vacancies announced, this is a significant opportunity for graduates and professionals to build a rewarding career in the banking sector.
IBPS SO Recruitment 2025
| IBPS SO 2025- Important Dates | |
| Activity | Dates |
| IBPS SO Notification 2025 | 30th June 2025 |
| Online Registration Starts | 1st July 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 21st July 2025 |
| Last Date to Pay Fee | 21st July 2025 |
| IBPS SO Admit Card 2025 | August |
| IBPS SO Preliminary Exam Date 2025 | 30th August 2025 |
| IBPS SO Mains Exam Date 2025 | 9th November 2025 |
Important Dates – IBPS SO 2025 Calendar
The IBPS SO 2025 schedule has been outlined in the official notification released on June 30, 2025. Below are the key dates to note:
| Notification Release | June 30, 2025 |
| Online Application Window | July 1, 2025 – July 21, 2025 |
| Preliminary Exam | August 30, 2025 |
| Main Exam | November 9, 2025 |
| Interview | November/December 2025 (tentative) |
| Provisional Allotment | To be announced |
Candidates are advised to regularly check the official IBPS website (www.ibps.in) for updates and ensure timely preparation.
IBPS SO 2025 Vacancy & Post Details
The IBPS SO 2025 recruitment drive offers 1,007 vacancies across various Specialist Officer roles. The post-wise distribution is as follows:
| Agricultural Field Officer (AFO) | 310 vacancies |
| Marketing Officer | 350 vacancies |
| IT Officer | 203 vacancies |
| Law Officer | 56 vacancies |
| HR/Personnel Officer | 10 vacancies |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari | 78 vacancies |
These vacancies are distributed across 11 public sector banks, including Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, and Union Bank of India, among others. Candidates can refer to the official notification for bank-wise and category-wise vacancy details.
IBPS SO 2025 Eligibility Criteria
To apply for IBPS SO 2025, candidates must meet specific eligibility conditions in terms of nationality, age, and educational qualifications.
Educational Qualification:
The educational requirements vary by post:
- IT Officer: 4-year Engineering/Technology degree in Computer Science, IT, Electronics, or related fields, or a postgraduate degree in these disciplines, or DOEACC ‘B’ Level certification.
- Agricultural Field Officer: 4-year degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, or allied fields.
- Rajbhasha Adhikari: Postgraduate degree in Hindi with English as a subject or vice versa, or a postgraduate degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi.
- Law Officer: Bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) and enrollment as an advocate with the Bar Council.
- HR/Personnel Officer: Graduate degree with a postgraduate degree or diploma in HR, Personnel Management, Industrial Relations, or Labour Law.
- Marketing Officer: Graduate degree with an MBA (Marketing), PGDBA, PGDBM, or equivalent postgraduate degree in Marketing.
Age Limit (as on 01 July 2025):
Candidates must be between 20 and 30 years old (born between July 2, 1995, and July 1, 2005, inclusive).
Age Relaxation:
Age relaxations are provided as per government norms:
- SC/ST: 5 years
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years
- PwD: 10 years
- Ex-Servicemen: 5 years
- Persons affected by 1984 riots: 5 years
Candidates must provide valid certificates to avail of age relaxation. Non-Indian citizens, such as Tibetan refugees or persons of Indian origin from specified countries, are eligible if they hold a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
IBPS SO 2025 Application Fee
The application fee for IBPS SO 2025 is non-refundable and must be paid online:
- General/OBC/EWS: ₹850
- SC/ST/PwD: ₹175
Payment can be made via debit/credit cards, net banking, or UPI. Candidates should ensure accurate payment to avoid application rejection.
IBPS SO 2025 Selection Process
The IBPS SO 2025 selection process comprises three stages:
- Preliminary Exam: A qualifying exam with objective-type questions to shortlist candidates for the Main Exam.
- Main Exam: Focuses on professional knowledge specific to the applied post. Scores from this exam contribute to the final merit list.
- Interview: Conducted by participating banks, coordinated by a nodal bank, with a maximum of 100 marks. Candidates need a minimum of 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD) to qualify.
The final merit list is based on the combined scores of the Main Exam and Interview in an 80:20 ratio. In case of a tie, candidates are ranked by date of birth (older candidates preferred).
IBPS SO 2025 Exam Pattern
The IBPS SO 2025 exam pattern varies by post and stage:
Preliminary Exam
- Duration: 2 hours (40 minutes per section)
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer
- Structure:
- For IT, Agricultural, HR/Personnel, and Marketing Officer:
- English Language: 50 marks, 50 questions
- Reasoning Ability: 50 marks, 50 questions
- Quantitative Aptitude: 50 marks, 50 questions
- For Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari:
- English Language: 50 marks, 50 questions
- Reasoning Ability: 50 marks, 50 questions
- General Awareness (with Banking focus): 50 marks, 50 questions
- For IT, Agricultural, HR/Personnel, and Marketing Officer:
- The Prelims is qualifying in nature, and scores are not considered for final selection.
Main Exam
- For IT, Agricultural, HR/Personnel, and Marketing Officer:
- Professional Knowledge: 60 marks, 45 questions, 45 minutes
- For Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari:
- Professional Knowledge (Objective): 60 marks, 45 questions, 30 minutes
- Professional Knowledge (Descriptive): 60 marks, 2 questions, 30 minutes
- Negative Marking: 0.25 marks for incorrect answers in objective tests.
Candidates must secure the minimum cut-off marks, decided by IBPS, to qualify for each stage.
How to Apply for IBPS SO Recruitment 2025?
Follow these steps to apply for IBPS SO 2025:
- Visit the official IBPS website (www.ibps.in).
- Click on “CRP Specialist Officers” and select “New Registration.”
- Enter personal, academic, and contact details.
- Upload scanned documents: photograph, signature, thumb impression, handwritten declaration, and relevant certificates.
- Pay the application fee online.
- Review and submit the form. Download and save the application for future reference.
Candidates should apply before July 21, 2025, to avoid technical issues. Only one post can be applied for, and no changes are allowed post-submission.
IBPS SO Recruitment 2025 Important Links
| IBPS SO Recruitment 2025 notification | Click Here |
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Join Whatsapp Group | Click Here |
| Homepage | Click Here |
IBPS SO Recruitment 2025 FAQs
A: A total of 1,007 vacancies have been announced across various Specialist Officer posts.
A: Yes, the IBPS SO exam is held every year to recruit Specialist Officers for public sector banks.
A: No, candidates can apply for only one post. Separate applications and fees are required for each post if eligible.
A: Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for each incorrect answer in both Prelims and Main exams.
A: The basic pay scale ranges from ₹48,480 to ₹85,920, with additional allowances like DA, HRA, and others, depending on the post and service duration.
A: No, all IBPS SO posts are entry-level (Scale I) and do not require prior work experience.