IBPS Clerk Selection Process 2026
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection: Customer Service Associate (Clerk)
How selection works
Prelims is a qualifying shortlisting stage. Only Main Examination marks are used for final merit listing, followed by the local-language requirement and provisional allotment.
Stage-by-stage process
Online Preliminary Examination
Candidates take three separately timed objective sections. IBPS decides the qualifying cut-offs, and Prelims marks do not count toward final merit.
Online Main Examination
Candidates shortlisted from Prelims take the Main Examination. The Main score is the scored examination used for the final merit listing.
Local Language Proficiency Test
Candidates must satisfy the local-language proficiency requirement for the State or Union Territory to which they applied, according to the notification.
Provisional allotment
IBPS makes provisional allotment to a Participating Bank on merit-cum-preference, subject to the Government's reservation policy and the other eligibility conditions in the notification.
Main Examination pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 40 | 50 | 20 minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| Total | 160 | 200 | 125 minutes |
These section totals are from the verified CRP CSA-XVI notification extraction.
Official source
Source: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, CRP CSA-XVI notification for vacancies of 2027-28. The notification governs cut-offs, local-language requirements and provisional allotment. View the official IBPS CRP CSA-XVI notification.