The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) recruits candidates for various specialist roles in public sector banks across India. The IBPS SO Exam 2025 is a wonderful opportunity for aspirants to secure specialist positions like IT Officer, Agricultural Officer, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer, and Rajbhasha Adhikari.
The exam tests a candidate’s professional knowledge as well as evaluates their analytical skills, problem solving and their overall aptitude. Candidates must use a strategic approach in order to prepare well and crack the exam.
In this blog, we will discuss more about the IBPS SO exam 2025, the eligibility criteria for the exam, the syllabus, exam pattern as well as the selection process involved.
A Brief on IBPS SO Exam 2025
The IBPS conducts the exam for Specialist Officers (SO) with a frequency of once a year. Below are some important details that candidates should remember while preparing for the IBPS SO exam.
| Name of the Exam | IBPS SO Exam 2025 |
| Type of Exam | National Level |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Mode of Counseling | Online |
| Exam Frequency | Yearly Once |
| Application Fee | ₹850 |
| Stages of Selection | Prelims, Mains and Interview |
| Age Limit | 20-30 years |
Important Dates for IBPS SO Exam 2025
Candidates who are planning to write the IBPS SO exam for 2025 should be aware of the important exam dates by checking the official IBPS website. Here are a few relevant dates that are important for the IBPS SO exam.
| Events | Dates (tentative) |
| Notification for IBPS SO Exam 2025 | June 2025 |
| Prelims for IBPS SO | November 2025 |
| Mains for IBPS SO | December 2025 |
Eligibility Criteria for IBPS SO Exam
Those who wish to attempt the 2025 IBPS SO exam must find out if they meet the eligibility criteria for the same. This can help them move forward confidently with their application process. Following is the eligibility criteria for the exam.
| Eligibility Criteria | |
| Nationality | Should be a citizen of India;A subject of Nepal or Bhutan;People of Indian origin who migrated from Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Uganda, Kenya, etc., with the desire for permanent settlement in the country. |
| Educational Qualification | A graduate degree from a recognised institution |
| Age | Minimum age limit is 20 years;Maximum age limit is 30 years;Age relaxation from 3 years to 10 years |
Syllabus for IBPS SO Exam
Aspirants must have a clear understanding of the syllabus for IBPS SO exam before starting their preparation. The following tables provide detailed information about the syllabus for the exam, including the topics for specialised roles.
| Subject | Topics |
| Reasoning | Numerical OperationsSymbolic OperationsSymbolic/ Number AnalogyFigural AnalogySemantic AnalogyTrendsSpace OrientationSemantic ClassificationFigural ClassificationVenn DiagramsSymbolic/ Number ClassificationDrawing inferencesPunched HolePattern Folding & UnfoldingSemantic SeriesNumber SeriesFigural SeriesFigural Pattern Folding & CompletionEmbedded figuresWord BuildingCoding and Decoding |
| English Language | Fill in the BlanksSynonyms/HomonymsAntonymsSpot the ErrorSpellingsIdioms & PhrasesOne Word SubstitutionImprovement of SentencesActive/Passive VoiceConversion into Direct/Indirect NarrationComprehension PassageShuffling of Sentence PartsShuffling of Sentences in a PassageCloze Test |
| General Awareness | CultureEconomicsHistoryGeographyGeneral Policy & Scientific Research |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number SystemsRelationship Between NumbersRatio & ProportionPercentagesSquare RootsSimple Interest & Compound InterestAveragesProfit & LossDiscountTime & DistancePartnership BusinessMixture & AlligationTime & WorkAlgebraGraphs |
| Syllabus Based On Specific Roles | |
| Subject | Topics |
| IT | MS OfficeWindows OSC Programming BasicsOperating System FunctionNetwork SecurityWeb TechnologiesSoftware EngineeringBasic Hardware KnowledgeProgrammingData Communication & NetworkingDatabase Management System |
| Agricultural Science | Agriculture Current EventsHerbicides & PesticidesAgriculture small industriesWomen & Child Development SchemesRural Welfare Activities in IndiaCrop Horticulture VegetablesSpacing Time of Sowing Seed RateVarious Diseases & CausesDifferent Varieties of AnimalsPreservation of Fruits & VegetablesTypes of Cropping SystemsAgriculture EconomicsIndian SoilSoil ResourcesGreen ManuresAnimal Husbandry & TechnologySeed Technology |
| Subjects related to Law | Consumer Protection ActRTI ActForeign ExchangeBanking Ombudsman SchemeOffences & PenaltiesContract ActsConstitutionInformation Technology ActPrevention of Money LaunderingRBIPartnershipsSecuritiesCompaniesFirmsLaw & Acts related to the Banking SectorNegotiable Instruments |
| Subjects for Rajbhasha Adhikari | Arrangement in Constitution: Use of HindiOfficial Translation of Central ActPower of Making RulesArticle 343: Official Language of UnionPurpose of Official Act 1976Official LanguageDifference between National Language and Official LanguageImplementation CommitteesProseHindi GrammarTranslationLanguage of UnionLanguages of StatesLanguage of Supreme Court & High CourtKnowledge of Administrative Hindi & English |
| Subjects related to HR/Personnel | Performance AppraisalPromotion, Transfer & DemotionsInterviewMotivationPlacementStaffingCompensationInformation Technology-Concepts & IssuesFactories ActGratuity ActTraining & DevelopmentIndustrial RelationsHR IntroductionStrategic Role of Information in HRMPrinciples of ManagementHR PlanningJob AnalysisJob DesignJob EvaluationLeadership StylesProvident Fund ActIndustrial Relations ActWage & Salary Administration |
| Subjects related to Marketing | Marketing Process and Marketing PlanningAdvertisementDistributionSales ManagementSocial Responsibility and Business EthicsConsumer/Buyer BehaviourInternational MarketingRural MarketingMarketing ManagementMarketing ResearchMarketing EnvironmentMarketing OrganizationMarketing Decision-MakingMarket SegmentationWholesale & Retail TradeBranding, Packaging, & LabelingPricing DecisionsSales ForecastingConsumer Protection |
Exam Pattern for IBPS SO 2025
Below is the preliminary and mains exam pattern for IBPS SO 2025.
IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern
- For Law Officers & Rajbhasha Adhikari, there will be a preliminary exam consisting of Reasoning, English Language and General Awareness.
- The Reasoning part will be having 50 questions for a total of 25 marks and the duration is 2 hours.
- The English Language part will consist of 50 questions for a total of 50 marks.
- In General Awareness, it will be more focused on the Banking industry with 50 marks for 50 questions.
- For Agricultural, HR/Personnel, IT and Marketing Officer, there will be a preliminary exam consisting of Reasoning, English Language and Quantitative Aptitude.
- Reasoning will be for 25 marks comprising 50 questions for a duration of 2 hours.
- English Language will have 50 questions for 50 marks.
- The Quantitative Aptitude part consists of 50 questions for 50 marks total.
IBPS SO Mains Exam Pattern
- For Law Officers & Rajbhasha Adhikari, there will be a mains exam with a duration of 45 minutes, consisting of Professional Knowledge part with 60 questions for 60 marks.
- For Agricultural, IT, HR/Personnel and Marketing Officer, there will be a mains exam comprising Professional Knowledge part having 45 questions for 60 marks with a duration of 30 minutes.
Selection Process for IBPS SO 2025
According to the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection, the selection process for IBPS SO includes three stages. It consists of the preliminary exam and mains exam followed by the interview rounds. The recruitment to various banks depends on clearing each stage in the selection process.
Candidates must clear the prelims first, which includes English Language, Reasoning and General/Banking Awareness. Those who successfully pass the prelims progress to the mains, which includes Professional Knowledge related to the specialised roles. After clearing the mains, aspirants are then invited for an interview round to assess their communication skills and knowledge relevant to the post applied for.
Preparation Tips for IBPS SO Exam
To effectively prepare for the IBPS SO exam, candidates must adopt a strategic approach and study the syllabus topics thoroughly. Below are some tips to help you prepare well and ace this exam.
- Candidates must make sure to study all the topics thoroughly, focusing on general as well as specialised sections related to the specific roles.
- You must be well-versed with the types of questions and the exam structure for both the Prelims and the Mains exams.
- Keep track of current affairs and recent developments in your specialised field, along with general knowledge of banking.
- Ensure to solve previous four years’ question papers and take mock tests from time to time in order to improve your speed during the exam.
- Do regular review and revision to solidify key concepts in your mind so that it becomes easier to remember while writing the exam.
Conclusion
The IBPS SO Exam 2025 is an excellent opportunity for candidates seeking to specialise in various roles within the banking sector. By understanding the important dates related to the exam, eligibility criteria, the syllabus, the exam pattern and the selection process, you can succeed in clearing the exam.
With perseverance and dedication, aspirants can not only crack the IBPS SO exam but also secure a rewarding and fulfilling career in the public sector banking field.
Learn On-Line trains and prepares aspiring students for various banking exams, including IBPS SO exam. We conduct classes in both Kannada and English and help aspirants get a chance to work in the various banks that are in partnership with IBPS. Want to know more about the training we provide? Reach out to us.
