Specialist Officer (SO) Scale I - CRP SPL-XVI
IBPS (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection) has released the Specialist Officer (SO) XVI - CRP SPL-XVI recruitment for 745 Scale I officer posts in public sector banks. Online registration is open from 01 July 2026 to 21 July 2026. Apply online using the official link below, and download the official notification PDF from this page - it is our fast copy of the official document.
| Notification Released | 30 June 2026 |
| Online Registration Starts | 01 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply & Pay Fee | 21 July 2026 |
| Application Edit Window | For 2 days after registration closes |
| Preliminary Exam Call Letter | August 2026 (to be notified) |
| Preliminary Exam Date | August 2026 (to be notified) |
| Main Exam Date | November 2026 (to be notified) |
| General / OBC / EWS / All Others | Rs. 850/- (incl. GST) |
| SC / ST / PwBD | Rs. 175/- (incl. GST) |
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- 6 Jul 2026 Recruitment published
Overview
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) is a government-owned body that conducts common exams for public sector (government) banks. It has opened its Common Recruitment Process for Specialist Officers, sixteenth cycle (CRP SPL-XVI). Through this single exam, IBPS fills Specialist Officer (Scale I) posts across many public sector banks. These vacancies are for the financial year 2027-28.
A Specialist Officer is an officer hired for a specific role such as computers, law, farming, Hindi language, or human resources, unlike a general banking officer. There are 745 posts in this cycle. Online registration is open from 01 July 2026 to 21 July 2026. You can apply for only one post, so choose carefully.
Vacancy Details (745 Posts)
The 745 vacancies are shared across five Specialist Officer posts. All are Scale I (junior management) officer posts.
| Post Name | Number of Posts |
|---|---|
| IT Officer (Scale I) | 301 |
| Agriculture Field Officer / AFO (Scale I) | 190 |
| Law Officer (Scale I) | 105 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari / Official Language Officer (Scale I) | 89 |
| HR / Personnel Officer (Scale I) | 60 |
| Total | 745 |
IBPS calls these numbers indicative. The final number of jobs given to each bank can change based on the actual vacancies the banks report at allotment time.
Eligibility (Educational Qualification)
Every candidate must hold a valid degree from a recognised university or institution, with the final result declared on or before 21 July 2026. The needed degree is different for each post, as shown below.
| Post | Qualification (in short) |
|---|---|
| IT Officer | A 4-year Engineering / Technology degree in Computer Science, Computer Applications, IT, Electronics or related field; OR a Post Graduate degree in these subjects; OR a graduate who has passed DOEACC 'B' level. |
| Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) | A 4-year degree (graduation) in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Dairy Science, Fishery Science, Forestry, Food Technology or a related agriculture field. |
| Law Officer | A Bachelor's degree in Law (LL.B) and enrolment as an advocate with the Bar Council. |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari | A Post Graduate degree in Hindi with English as a subject at graduation level; OR a Post Graduate degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects at graduation level. |
| HR / Personnel Officer | Graduate plus a 2-year full-time Post Graduate degree or diploma in Personnel Management, Industrial Relations, HR, HRD, Social Work or Labour Law. |
Please read the full eligibility text in the official notice before you apply, because there are extra conditions for percentage of marks and computer knowledge. This page shows the qualification in short only.
Age Limit
As on 01 July 2026, you must be between 20 and 30 years of age. This means you must have been born no earlier than 02 July 1996 and no later than 01 July 2006 (both dates included). Candidates from reserved groups such as SC, ST, OBC and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) get upper age relaxation as per government rules. There is no age relaxation for the Ex-servicemen category in the officers' cadre.
Selection Process
The selection has three stages:
- Online Preliminary Examination - a first screening test held online.
- Online Main Examination - only candidates who clear the Preliminary exam appear for this.
- Common Interview - candidates who clear the Main exam are called for an interview conducted by the participating banks. The interview carries 100 marks, and the minimum qualifying mark is 40% (35% for SC / ST / OBC / PwBD candidates).
The final merit is made from the Main exam marks and the interview marks together. Based on merit and your bank preference, IBPS gives a provisional allotment to one of the participating banks.
Salary (Pay Scale)
Specialist Officers are recruited in the Junior Management Grade Scale I. The official basic pay scale is given below. On top of basic pay, officers get Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA) and other allowances as per bank rules, so the total pay is higher than the basic pay alone.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grade | Scale I (Junior Management) |
| Starting Basic Pay | Rs. 48,480 per month |
| Pay Scale | Rs. 48,480 - 2000/7 - 62,480 - 2340/2 - 67,160 - 2680/7 - 85,920 |
How to Apply
Follow these simple steps to apply online:
- Open the online registration link given in the Important Links table above.
- Complete the new registration with your basic details and note down the registration number and password.
- Fill in the full application form. Choose only one post.
- Upload your photo, signature, thumb impression and handwritten declaration in the correct size.
- Pay the application fee online by debit card, credit card, net banking, UPI or wallet.
- Submit the form and save or print the final confirmation page.
The registration and fee payment window is open from 01 July 2026 to 21 July 2026. IBPS also gives a short edit window for two days after registration closes, so you can correct some fields. To download the full official rules, get the notification PDF from the Important Links above - it is our fast copy of the official document. Always cross-check the official notice for the final word, as we are not a government body.
Important Note on Dates
In the official notice, IBPS has given the Preliminary exam and its call letter as "August 2026" and the Main exam as "November 2026" (month only). The exact exam day and the call-letter release date will be told later on the official IBPS website. We will update this page as soon as IBPS confirms the exact dates.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacancies are there in IBPS SO XVI 2026?
There are 745 Specialist Officer (Scale I) posts. The split is IT Officer 301, Agriculture Field Officer 190, Law Officer 105, Rajbhasha Adhikari 89, and HR / Personnel Officer 60.
What is the last date to apply for IBPS SO XVI 2026?
The last date to register online and pay the fee is 21 July 2026. The application window opened on 01 July 2026.
What is the age limit for IBPS SO XVI 2026?
You must be between 20 and 30 years of age as on 01 July 2026. This means you must have been born between 02 July 1996 and 01 July 2006 (both dates included). Reserved category candidates get upper age relaxation as per government rules.
What is the application fee for IBPS SO XVI 2026?
The fee is Rs. 850 for General, OBC, EWS and all other candidates, and Rs. 175 for SC, ST and PwBD candidates. Both amounts include GST. You pay it online during registration.
Can I apply for more than one post in IBPS SO XVI 2026?
No. You can apply for only one Specialist Officer post. If you send more than one application, IBPS will reject them. So pick your post carefully before you fill the form.
What is the starting salary of an IBPS Specialist Officer?
The starting basic pay is Rs. 48,480 per month in Scale I. The pay scale is Rs. 48,480 - 2000/7 - 62,480 - 2340/2 - 67,160 - 2680/7 - 85,920. On top of basic pay, officers get DA, HRA and other allowances, so the total monthly pay is higher.
When will the IBPS SO XVI 2026 exam be held?
The official notice gives the Preliminary exam in August 2026 and the Main exam in November 2026 (month only). The exact exam day and call-letter date will be announced later on the official IBPS website, and we will update this page when they are confirmed.