The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection conducts the Common Recruitment Process (CRP) to hire candidates for clerical cadre posts in participating public sector banks across India. Cracking the examination requires a clear understanding of both the Preliminary and Main stages, their sectional weightage, and the complete topic-wise breakdown.
IBPS Clerk 2026: Exam Overview
| Exam Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Post Name | Clerk / Customer Support Associates (CSA) |
| Selection Stages | Two-Tier: Preliminary & Main Examination (No Interview) |
| Mode of Exam | Online Objective Multiple-Choice Test (CBT) |
| Prelims Structure | 100 Questions | 100 Marks | 60 Minutes (Sectional Timing) |
| Mains Structure | 160 Questions | 200 Marks | 125 Minutes |
| Negative Marking | 0.25 marks penalty per wrong answer |
| Final Merit List | Calculated strictly on IBPS Clerk Mains normalized scores |
IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern 2026
1. Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary examination is qualifying in nature and consists of three subjects tested across separate 20-minute windows:
| Section | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Allotted Time |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes |
2. Main Examination
The Main exam tests advanced comprehension, quantitative problem-solving, and banking awareness:
| Section | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Allotted Time |
| General / Financial Awareness | 40 | 50 | 35 Minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 50 | 45 Minutes |
| Total | 160 | 200 | 125 Minutes |
Subject-Wise IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026
Here is the detailed subject-wise syllabus for the IBPS Clerk 2026 examination, broken down into a comprehensive table format for easy reference.
IBPS Clerk 2026: Detailed Section-Wise Syllabus
| Subject / Section | Examination Stage | Detailed Topics to Cover |
| English Language | Prelims & Mains | Reading Comprehension: Fact-based, inference-based, and vocabulary-based questions.
Grammar: Error Spotting, Sentence Improvement, Phrase Replacement, Subject-Verb Agreement. Vocabulary: Cloze Test, Fill in the Blanks (Single/Double), Word Swap, Spell Check, Idioms & Phrases. Verbal Ability: Para Jumbles, Sentence Rearrangement, Column Matching, Paragraph Completion. |
| Reasoning Ability | Prelims & Mains | Puzzles & Seating: Linear/Circular Arrangement, Square/Rectangle Arrangement, Floor & Flat Puzzles, Box Puzzles, Scheduling/Day-based Puzzles.
Logical Reasoning: Syllogism (Only/Only a few concepts), Inequalities (Direct and Coded), Blood Relations, Direction & Distance, Order & Ranking. Alphanumeric Series: Number series, Alphabet series, Mixed series. Advanced (Mains): Machine Input-Output, Coded Direction/Blood Relation, Data Sufficiency, Critical Reasoning (Statement & Assumption, Course of Action, Inference). |
| Numerical Ability / Quantitative Aptitude | Prelims & Mains | Basic Calculations: Simplification, Approximation, Number Series (Missing and Wrong), Quadratic Equations.
Arithmetic (Word Problems): Percentages, Profit, Loss & Discount, Simple & Compound Interest, Ratio & Proportion, Partnership, Mixtures & Alligations, Problems on Ages, Averages, Time & Work, Pipes & Cisterns, Speed, Time & Distance, Boats & Streams, Mensuration (2D & 3D), Permutation, Combination & Probability. Data Interpretation (DI): Tabular DI, Bar Graph, Line Graph, Pie Chart, Caselet DI, Missing DI, Radar DI (mostly Mains). Advanced (Mains): Data Sufficiency, Quantity 1 vs Quantity 2 (Q1 & Q2) comparison questions. |
| General / Financial Awareness | Mains Only | Current Affairs: National and International news of the last 6 months, Government Schemes & Policies, Important Days & Themes, Summits, Books & Authors, Awards & Honours, Sports, Appointments & Resignations, Defense Exercises.
Banking & Financial Awareness: History of Indian Banking, RBI & its functions, Monetary Policy, BASEL Norms, NPA, Types of Accounts, Negotiable Instruments, Digital Banking, UPI, SEBI, Financial Institutions (NABARD, SIDBI, etc.), Budget & Economic Survey. Static GK: National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Dams, Thermal Power Plants, Currencies & Capitals, Headquarters of International Organizations. |
| Computer Aptitude | Mains Only | Fundamentals: Basics of Computers, Hardware & Software, Generations of Computers.
Operating Systems: Basics of Windows & OS concepts. MS Office: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and important Keyboard Shortcuts. Networking & Internet: LAN, WAN, MAN, Internet concepts, Web Browsers, Search Engines. Computer Security: Cyber Security fundamentals, Viruses, Malware, Hacking, and Network Security. Miscellaneous: Computer Abbreviations, Database Management Systems (DBMS), Memory Units. |
Prelims centers on quick decision-making, mental calculation, and foundational grammar. For the Mains exam, daily coverage of current financial news alongside continuous practice with multi-condition puzzles and data sets provides the edge needed to clear sectional and overall cutoffs.
