Latest update — 6 October 2026
The PO/MT-XVI calendar placed Main on 4 October 2026. The detailed notice tentatively places Main results and the personality test in November, with allotment in January 2027. Check the official CRP updates for the actual stage announcement.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiter | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection |
| Post | Probationary Officer / Management Trainee in participating public-sector banks |
| Cycle | CRP PO/MT-XVI; participating-bank vacancies of 2027–28 |
| Registration | Original notification window: 1–21 July 2026; closed |
| Main calendar date | 4 October 2026; date has passed |
| Next notification stages | Main result and personality test: November; interviews: November–December; provisional allotment: January 2027. These are tentative windows. |
What is new in the current notification?
Use the XVI Main structure: 170 objective questions for 200 marks in 160 minutes, followed by the 25-mark descriptive paper. A self-report personality test is mandatory for interview eligibility although it is non-qualifying. The detailed notice describes the recruitment as being for participating-bank vacancies of 2027–28; that vacancy year is separate from the 2026 examination year.
Notification PDF
Download the official CRP PO/MT-XVI detailed notification. Read later corrigenda through IBPS CRP updates.
Important dates
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration/payment in base notice | 1–21 July 2026 |
| Prelims in annual calendar | 22–23 August 2026 |
| Main in annual calendar | 4 October 2026 |
| Main result / personality test | November 2026, tentative |
| Interview | November–December 2026, tentative |
| Allotment | January 2027, tentative |
A scheduled date is not proof that a result has been declared. Use the specific result entry and your roll/registration details when IBPS publishes it.
Vacancies and posts
The notification includes bank-wise and category-wise indicative PO/MT vacancies in Annexure I. Read any later vacancy amendment alongside it; the latest bank-reported positions govern allotment. PwBD figures shown within categories must not be counted twice. Open Annexure I in the official notice.
Eligibility: age, education and nationality
The ordinary age range is 20–30 as on 1 July 2026, with inclusive birth dates 2 July 1996–1 July 2006 before permitted relaxation. A recognised graduation degree or equivalent is required; the candidate must possess the prescribed documentary proof by 21 July 2026. Nationality/citizenship and reservation documents must satisfy the notification. SC/ST, OBC non-creamy-layer, PwBD and other eligible groups have the specific relaxations given in the notice.
Application process and fees
The notified registration period is over. Retain your submitted form, payment receipt, photo identity and qualification/category evidence. The notice specifies ₹175 including GST for SC/ST/PwBD candidates and ₹850 for others, with transaction charges additional. For a later cycle, start through IBPS, register, complete the correct examination form, upload the required documents, pay the applicable fee and save the final acknowledgement. A preliminary or Main call-letter link does not reopen registration.
Exam pattern
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General/Economy/Banking/Digital/Financial Awareness including RBI circulars | 50 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 35 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Objective total | 170 | 200 | 160 minutes |
| Essay and Comprehension | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
Each objective wrong answer loses one-quarter of the marks assigned to that question; an unanswered question has no penalty. Section cut-offs and the aggregate competitive threshold are separate requirements.
Syllabus and preparation
The official test subjects are listed in the pattern. For preparation, cover arithmetic and data interpretation, logical reasoning, reading comprehension and grammar, and banking/economy awareness including relevant RBI developments. Practise essay and comprehension responses under the 30-minute limit. These topic priorities are editorial study guidance, not a claim that IBPS publishes fixed chapter-wise weightage.
Selection process, result and cut-off
The process includes preliminary screening, Main examination, the mandatory personality test and interview. Main and interview have an 80:20 relative weight. Interview carries 100 marks, with the stated minimum 40% or 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates. Clearing that minimum alone does not secure allotment. Read the stage, category and CRP number on the scorecard; do not use a reserve result from an earlier CRP as the XVI result.
Salary and posts
The notification’s basic-pay scale begins at ₹48,480. Allowances, deductions, probation and service terms depend on the participating bank. Basic pay is not a guaranteed take-home amount.
Preparation resources and previous cut-off
Use the IBPS 2026–27 calendar to plan later stages. For previous cut-offs, compare the same stage and category in an official IBPS scorecard; no unverified current cut-off is supplied here. Review mistakes from timed practice before adding more mocks.
Official sources
Checked on 6 October 2026. Later official amendments take precedence. Preparation plans are GovtAdhikari editorial guidance.
Frequently asked questions
How many objective questions are in PO XVI Main?
170, carrying 200 marks in 160 minutes. The descriptive paper adds two questions, 25 marks and 30 minutes.
Is the personality test optional?
No. It is non-qualifying, but appearance is mandatory to proceed to interview.
Is the 2027–28 vacancy year a different exam?
The XVI notice uses that vacancy year for this recruitment. Keep the CRP identifier with the examination dates.