Full Form of IBPS SO is Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Specialist Officer. All Public-Sector Banks, State Bank of India and its Associate Banks, Reserve Bank of India, National Housing Bank, Small Industries Development Bank of India, Life Insurance Corporation of India, and Insurance Companies are eligible to use IBPS’s services. For the selection of persons in Specialist Officers cadre posts, IBPS launched the Common Recruitment Process (CRP) in 2011 and now accepts online applications through its website.
All of the public sector banks that participate in the IBPS SO Exam each year hire new Specialist officers from the pool of applicants. It is an online exam given at various centres across India.
For the Specialist Officer Scale I Posts of Information Technology Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer, IBPS annually administers the IBPS SO Recruitment exam.
Overview of IBPS SO Exam 2022
| Particulars | Details |
| Organization | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Post | Specialist Officer (SO) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Vacancy | 710 |
| Participating Banks | 11 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| IBPS SO Recruitment Process | Prelims, Main Exams, Interview |
| Education Qualification | Graduates or relevant degree |
| Age Limit | 20 years to 30 years |
| Application Fee | SC/ST/PWD- Rs.175General and Others- Rs. 850 |
| IBPS SO Salary | Rs. 38000- 39000/- |
| IBPS Official Website | ibps.in |
Important dates for IBPS SO 2022
| Events | Tentative Date |
| On-line registration including Edit/Modification of Application by candidates | 01.11.2022- 21.11.2022 |
| Payment of Application Fees/Intimation Charges (Online) | 01.11.2022- 21.11.2022 |
| Download of call letters for Online examination – Preliminary | December 2022 |
| Online Examination – Preliminary | 24.12.2022/ 31.12.2022 |
| Result of Online exam – Preliminary | January 2023 |
| Download of Call letter for Online exam – Main | January 2023 |
| Online Examination – Main | 29 January 2023 |
| Declaration of Result of Online Main Examination | February 2023 |
| Download of call letters for interview | February 2023 |
| Conduct of interview | February/March 2023 |
| Provisional Allotment | April 2023 |
Fee structure for IBPS SO
Listed below is the IBPS SO exam fee structure by category. The application fees must be paid online.
| Category | Application Fee |
| SC/ST & PWBD | INR 175 |
| Others | INR 850 |
What are the eligibility criteria for IBPS SO?
- To apply for the IBPS SO Exam, a candidate must be an Indian citizen.
- Age Criteria (As on 1 November 2022)
Minimum: 20 years
Maximum: 30 years
Educational Qualification (As of 23.11.2022):
The applicant needs to be a college graduate with a degree in any field from a recognised institution.
| 1 | I.T. Officer (Scale I) | 1)Four years engineering/Technology degree in Computer Science/IT/Computer Application/Electronics and Communication Engineering/Electronics and Telecommunication/ Electronics and Instrumentation OR2) Post Graduate Degree in Computer Science/IT/Computer Application/Electronics and Communication Engineering/Electronics and Telecommunication/ Electronics and Instrumentation ORGraduates having passed DOEACC ‘B’ level exam |
| 2 | Agricultural Field Officer (Scale-I) | 4 years graduation degree in agriculture/ Horticulture/ Animal Husbandry/ Veterinary Science/ dairy Science/ Agricultural engineering/ Fishery Science/ Pisciculture/ Agri Marketing and cooperation/ Co-Operation and Banking/ Agro-Forestry |
| 3 | Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) | Post Graduate in Hindi with English as a subject at the graduation or degree level OR Post Graduate Degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as a subject at graduation level |
| 4 | Law Office (Scale I) | A bachelor’s degree in Law and enrolled as an advocate with Bar Council |
| 5 | HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I) | Graduate and Full Time Post Graduate Degree or Full time Diploma in Personnel Management/ Industrial Relation/ HR/ HRD/ Social Work/ Labour Law |
| 6 | Marketing Officer (Scale I) | Graduate and Full-Time MMS (Marketing)/ MBA (Marketing)/Full time PGDBA/ PGDBM with specialization in Marketing |
IBPS SO Vacancies 2022
| POSTS | Tentative Vacancies |
| IT Officer (Scale-I) | 44 |
| Agriculture Officer (Scale-I) | 516 |
| Marketing Office (Scale-I) | 100 |
| Law Officer (Scale-I) | 10 |
| HR/Personnel Officer (Scale-I) | 15 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale-I) | 25 |
| Total | 710 |
There are three levels of selection for IBPS Specialist Officer candidates.
Online Prelims Exam
In order to move on to the next round of selection, candidates must score well in the prelims exam.
Online Mains Exam
Once the candidate has already passed the prelims exam, they will be able to move on to the main exam.
Interview
Only those who do well on the main exam will be invited to an interview. Those who do well in the interview will be hired by participating banks as Specialist Officers.
Exam Pattern of IBPS SO 2022
- Examination Mode: The exam takes place in online mode, i.e., Computer Based Test (CBT)
- Questions are asked in the form of MCQs, or multiple-choice questions.
- The time for the exam is 120 minutes.
- Exams can be taken in either Hindi or English.
- Each incorrect response will result in a reduction of 0.25 from the candidate’s total score.
IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern
For the Post of Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari
| Sections | No. of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Reasoning | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 minutes |
For the Post of IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer.
| Sections | No. Of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 Minutes |
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 Minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 minutes |
IBPS SO Mains Exam Pattern
For the Posts of Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer.
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Examination Language | Duration |
| Professional Knowledge | 60 | 60 | English and Hindi | 45 min |
For the Post of Rajbhasha Adhikari
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Language | Duration |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 45 | 60 | English & Hindi | 30 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Descriptive) | 2 | – | English & Hindi | 30 minutes |
Penalties for Wrong Answers (Applicable to both – Online Preliminary and Online Main examinations)
If you mark a wrong answer on one of the Objective Tests, you will get a penalty. For each question where the candidate gave the wrong answer, one fourth, or 0.25 of the points for that question, will be taken away as a penalty. This is done to get a corrected score. If a candidate doesn’t answer a question, or leaves it blank, there will be no penalty for that question.
The people who are chosen could be sent anywhere in India. Candidates who are qualified and interested need to sign up on the IBPS website.
IBPS SO Syllabus
IBPS SO Prelims Syllabus
English – Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para jumbles, Fill in the blanks, Paragraph Completion, Multiple Meaning/Error Spotting, Paragraph Completion, Idioms and Phrases
Reasoning – Verbal Reasoning, Syllogism, Circular Seating Arrangement, Linear Seating Arrangement, Double Line-up, Scheduling, Input-Output, Blood Relations, Directions and Distances, Ordering and Ranking, Data Sufficiency, Coding and Decoding, Coded Inequalities, etc.
Quantitative Aptitude – Simplification, Average, Percentage, Ratio and Percentage, Data Interpretation, Mensuration and Geometry, Quadratic Equation, Interest, Problems of Ages, Profit and Loss, Number Series, Speed, Distance and Time, Time and Work, Number System, Data Sufficiency, Linear Equation, Permutation and Combination and Probability, Mixture and Allegations, etc.
General Awareness – Current Affairs– National & International, Budget, Awards and Honours, Important Financial & Economic News, Banking Terms, Basic Economics, Important Days, International & National Organizations, Sports, Books and Authors, Science – Inventions & Discoveries, Countries & Capitals etc.
IBPS SO Mains Syllabus
Agricultural Field Officer (Scale-I) Professional Knowledge Paper
Basics of Crop Production, Horticulture, Seed Science, Agronomy and Irrigation, Agricultural Economies, Agricultural Practices, Soil resources, Animal Husbandry, Agroforestry, Ecology, Government Schemes, etc.
IT Officer (Scale-I) Professional Knowledge Paper
Database Management System, Data Communication and Networking, Operating Systems, Software Engineering, Data Structure, Computer Organization and Microprocessor, Object-Oriented Programming, etc.
Marketing Officer (Scale-I) Professional Knowledge Paper
Basics of Marketing Management, Brand Management, Advertising, PR, Sales, Retail, Business Ethics, Market Segmentation, Market research and forecasting demand, Product Life Cycle, Corporate Social Responsibility, Service Marketing, Marketing Strategies, etc
Law Officer (Scale-I) Professional Knowledge Paper
Banking Regulations, Compliance and Legal Aspects, Relevant Law and Orders related to negotiable instruments, securities, foreign exchange, Prevention of Money-laundering, Limitation Act, Consumer Protection Act, SARFAESI ACT, Banking Ombudsman Scheme, Laws and Actions with direct link to Banking Sector, Bankers Book Evidence Act, DRT Act, etc.
HR/Personnel Officer (Scale-I) Professional Knowledge Paper
Human Resource Development, Business policy and strategic analysis, Transnational Analysis, Training and Development, Recruitment and Selection, Rewards and Recognition, Industrial Relations, Business Policy and Strategic Analysis, Grievance and Conflict Management, Performance Management and Appraisal, etc.
Application process for IBPS SO Exam?
The form is available at ibps.in. The steps for filling out the application form are listed below. Only online filling is allowed.
Step 1: IBPS SO Registration
- Visit the official website
- On the IBPS homepage, look for the link labelled “New Registration,” and click on it.
- Fill in your details, including your name, phone number, email address, and security code.
- Following the completion of a successful registration, a provisional registration number and password will be generated.
- In addition, the provisional registration number and password are emailed to the address that was used to register for the account.
Step 2: Upload Photo and Signature
- Post-registration, candidates need to upload the photograph, signature, left thumb impression, and handwritten declaration.
- It is not acceptable to sign your name using all capital letters.
- It is important that the impression made by the left thumb be clear.
- Only the English language should be used for the handwritten declaration.
Step 3: Fill the detailed application form
- Candidates are required to provide the following information in the Basic details section of the application: category, nationality, personal information, exam centres, date of birth, gender, name of father or mother, address, etc.
- Candidates must write down why they want to work in the bank where they are applying. SC/ST/Minority candidates can choose to get training before the test in this section.
- The final step in the application process is for the applicant to read and accept the terms and conditions before submitting their application.
Step 4: IBPS SO fee payment
- The payment modes use Debit/ Credit Cards, Internet Banking, IMPS, and Cash Cards/ Mobile Wallets by providing information.
- After the transaction is complete, an e-receipt will be made.
- Candidates should print both the online application form and the e-receipt showing that they have paid the application cost.
When filling out your IBPS SO application, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.
- Scanned photograph and signature
- Left thumb impression
- Bank statement
- Marksheet of graduation details
- Valid email ID and contact number
- A handwritten declaration
How Can I Download the IBPS SO Admit Card?
- The first step for candidates is to go to the official website of IBPS.
- Next, click the “IBPS SO Admit Card” option on the homepage.
- Candidates must now enter their Registration Number/Roll Number and Birth Date/Password into the corresponding spaces.
- You can now see your IBPS SO 2022 admit card.
- Finally, you need to take a printout of the admit card that you downloaded.
How to Check the IBPS SO Exam Result?
- Candidates first need to visit the official IBPS website.
- Now, the candidate clicks on the result link.
- After you have completed the steps listed above, the system will ask you to log in by providing a registration/roll number, date of birth, and password.
- The candidate will be able to view the result on the screen as soon as they have entered all of their login credentials and have clicked the “submit” button.
- Now, you can download and take a printout.
How to Check the IBPS SO Exam Cutoff?
- Visit IBPS website.
- Click on the cut off (cut off link should be available on notification bar of IBPS website if not click on IBPS SO section)
- The IBPS SO cut off pdf will show on the screen as soon as you click the the cut off link.
- You are able to check the cut-off as well as download and save the file.