The IBPS Clerk examination is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection to retain pastoral skeleton staff in public sector banks across India. It’s one of the most popular banking examinations for graduates seeking a stable government job. The selection process consists of two stages primary test and Main test. The Prelims tests campaigners on English Language, Numerical Capability, and logic Capability. Those who qualify move to the Mains, which includes General/ Financial mindfulness, General English, logic & Computer Aptitude, and Quantitative Aptitude.
The IBPS Clerk (also known as Customer Service Associate – CSA) exam is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) for recruitment of clerical staff in participating public sector banks across India.
IBPS Clerk 2026 – Selection Process
The selection process typically involves two stages:
1.Preliminary Exam (Prelims)
2.Main Exam (Mains)
No interview is conducted; the final merit list is based on mains performance
IBPS Clerk – Exam Pattern (2026)
Preliminary Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 mins |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 mins |
| Negative marking: 0.25 per wrong answer |
Main Exam Pattern (Revised 2025)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General/Financial Awareness | 40 | 50 | 20 mins |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 mins |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | 60 | 35 mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 50 | 30 mins |
| Total | 155 | 200 | 120 mins |
| Negative marking: 0.25 per wrong answer |
IBPS PO Syllabus PDF
IBPS Clerk Syllabus 2026
Below is the breakdown of topics you must cover for both Prelims and Mains.
1. English Language (Prelims & Mains)
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Reading Comprehension
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Cloze Test / Fill in the Blanks
-
Error Spotting / Sentence Correction
-
Para Jumbles
-
Vocabulary
-
Odd Sentences Out
-
Grammar (Prepositions, Voice, Tenses)
2. Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles & Seating Arrangements
- Coding-Decoding
- Syllogism
- Blood Relations
- Direction Sense & Distance
- Inequalities
- Order & Ranking
- Series (Alpha/Numeric)
- Data Sufficiency & Miscellaneous Reasoning
- Puzzles & Seating
- Coding-DecodingInequality
- Blood Relation
- Direction Sense
- Assertion and reasoning
- Passage and conclusion
- Number,Ranking and time sequence
- Statement and arguments
- Figure series
- Alphabet test
3. Numerical Ability / Quantitative Aptitude
- Simplification / Approximation
- Number Series
- Ratio & Proportion
- Percentage
- Profit & Loss
- Time, Speed & Distance
- Time & Work
- Data Interpretation (DI)
- Average / Interest / Mensuration
- Permutation & Combination & Probability
- Bar & Graphics
- Line Charts
- Logarithms
- Equations and Probability
- Partnership
- Clocks
- Heights and Distances
4. General / Financial Awareness (Mains Only)
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Current Affairs (last 6 months)
-
Banking & Financial Terms
-
Indian Financial System
-
Economic Indicators
-
Government Schemes
-
Static GK related to India
5. Computer Awareness / Aptitude (Mains)
Some patterns of the mains include basic computer knowledge covering:
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Hardware & Software
-
Operating Systems
-
Internet & Networking
-
MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
-
Computer Fundamentals
-
Abbreviations & Basics
IBPS Clerk Topic-Wise Weightage (Prelims & Mains)
(Based on analysis of previous years’ papers – expected/approximate)
IBPS Clerk Prelims – Topic-Wise Weightage
English Language (30 Questions)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 7 – 10 |
| Cloze Test | 5 |
| Error Spotting | 4 – 5 |
| Fill in the Blanks | 3 – 5 |
| Para Jumbles | 4 – 5 |
| Vocabulary / Misc. | 2 – 4 |
High-weightage: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test
Reasoning Ability (35 Questions)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 15 – 20 |
| Coding–Decoding | 4 – 6 |
| Inequality | 3 – 5 |
| Syllogism | 3 – 5 |
| Blood Relations | 2 – 4 |
| Direction Sense | 2 – 3 |
| Order & Ranking / Series | 1 – 3 |
High-weightage: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test
Numerical Ability (35 Questions)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Simplification / Approximation | 10 – 15 |
| Data Interpretation | 5 – 10 |
| Number Series | 3 – 5 |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | 8 – 12 |
Arithmetic Topics include: Percentage, Ratio, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, SI/CI, Average, Speed & Distance
High-weightage: Simplification + Arithmetic
IBPS Clerk Mains – Topic-Wise Weightage
General / Financial Awareness (40 Questions)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Current Affairs (Last 6 Months) | 15 – 20 |
| Banking Awareness | 10 – 15 |
| Static GK | 5 – 8 |
| Economy & Government Schemes | 5 – 7 |
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 10 – 15 |
| Cloze Test | 5 |
| Para Jumbles | 5 |
| Error Spotting / Sentence Correction | 5 – 7 |
| Vocabulary / Fill in Blanks | 5 – 8 |
High-weightage: Reading Comprehension
Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude (40 Questions)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 18 – 22 |
| Logical Reasoning | 5 – 8 |
| Data Sufficiency | 3 – 5 |
| Coding–Decoding | 3 – 5 |
| Computer Awareness | 5 – 8 |
High-weightage: Puzzles + Computer Basics
Quantitative Aptitude (35 Questions)
| Topic | Expected Questions |
|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | 12 – 15 |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | 10 – 12 |
| Simplification / Approximation | 5 – 7 |
| Number Series / Misc. | 3 – 5 |
High-weightage: Data Interpretation + Arithmetic
Understanding the test pattern and syllabus weighted motifs is critical to cracking the IBPS Clerk test. Use the PDF syllabus and the section-wise breakdown above to plan your medication strategically. Good luck!
IBPS CLERK FAQs
1.What is the IBPS Clerk exam and who conducts it?
Ans: The IBPS Clerk exam is a national-level banking examination conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) to recruit Clerks (Customer Service Associates) in public sector banks across India.
2. What is the selection process for IBPS Clerk?
Ans: The IBPS Clerk selection process has two stages:
1.Preliminary Exam
2.Main Exam
There is no interview, and the final selection is based on marks scored in the Mains examination.
3. What subjects are asked in the IBPS Clerk exam?
Ans: The IBPS Clerk exam mainly includes:
-
English Language
-
Reasoning Ability
-
Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability
-
General / Financial Awareness
-
Computer Aptitude