About IBPS RRB
IBPS RRB is the Common Recruitment Process (CRP) that the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) runs once a year to fill jobs in Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). RRBs are banks that serve villages and small towns, and each works in one state or a group of districts. One online process fills posts for many RRBs together.
The process covers two groups of posts. Group "A" is Officers in Scale I (Assistant Manager), Scale II (Manager, General Banking Officer and specialist officers) and Scale III (Senior Manager). Group "B" is Office Assistants (Multipurpose). IBPS conducts the online exams. The interview for officers is coordinated by the nodal RRBs with the help of NABARD and IBPS.
The exam is popular with graduates of any subject, because most posts do not ask for a banking degree. A candidate can apply for Office Assistant and also for one officer post, but only one of Scale I, II or III.
IBPS RRB at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Level | National, for Regional Rural Banks |
| Posts | Office Assistant (Multipurpose); Officer Scale I, II and III |
| Qualification | Bachelor's degree (post-wise rules in the eligibility section) |
| Age limit (general) | Office Assistant 18–28; Scale I 18–30; Scale II 21–32; Scale III 21–40 |
| Stages | Office Assistant: Prelims + Main. Scale I: Prelims + Main + Interview. Scale II and III: Single exam + Interview |
| Mode | Online, objective type |
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Official website | www.ibps.in |
Eligibility
Nationality
You must be a citizen of India. Subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who came before 1 January 1962 to settle in India, and persons of Indian origin who migrated from certain listed countries to settle in India can also apply, but they need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.
Educational qualification
- Office Assistant and Officer Scale I: a bachelor's degree in any subject from a recognised university. Proficiency in the local language of the state is required (having studied it in class 8 or above counts). Working knowledge of computers is desirable. For Scale I, a degree in agriculture, law, economics, management, IT, accountancy and similar subjects gets preference.
- Officer Scale II (General Banking Officer): a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks and two years of experience as an officer in a bank or financial institution.
- Officer Scale II (specialist posts): a degree in the relevant field (for example IT, law, agriculture, chartered accountancy, treasury or marketing) with the experience set for that post.
- Officer Scale III: a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks and five years of experience as an officer in a bank or financial institution.
The result of the degree must be declared on or before the last date of online registration.
Age limit and relaxation
The limits below apply to General and EWS candidates. Age is counted on a date fixed in the notification, so check that date each year.
| Post | Age limit (general) |
|---|---|
| Office Assistant (Multipurpose) | 18 to 28 years |
| Officer Scale I | Above 18 and below 30 years |
| Officer Scale II | Above 21 and below 32 years |
| Officer Scale III | Above 21 and below 40 years |
| Category | Relaxation in upper age |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (non-creamy layer) | 3 years |
| Person with benchmark disability (PwBD) | 10 years |
| Ex-servicemen / disabled ex-servicemen | Actual service period plus 3 years (8 years for disabled ex-servicemen of SC/ST), up to a maximum age of 50 |
| Widows, divorced women and women legally separated, not remarried (Office Assistant only) | Age concession up to 35 years (General/EWS), 38 years (OBC), 40 years (SC/ST) |
The SC/ST/OBC relaxation can be combined with only one of the other relaxation categories.
Selection process
- Office Assistant: online Preliminary exam, then online Main exam. Allotment to an RRB is made on the Main exam marks and the vacancies in the state you chose. There is no interview.
- Officer Scale I: online Preliminary exam, online Main exam, then an interview.
- Officer Scale II and III: one single online exam, then an interview.
The Preliminary exam is only a qualifier: you must score the minimum mark in each test, and enough candidates are picked for the Main exam. Only the Main (or single) exam marks count for the final merit. Documents are checked at the interview for officers, and at the time of joining for Office Assistants.
The officer interview carries 100 marks. The minimum qualifying marks are 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD). The online exam and the interview are weighted 80:20. Candidates called for interview are up to three times the declared vacancies.
Exam pattern
All tests are objective. Each wrong answer costs one fourth (0.25) of the marks of that question; a blank answer carries no penalty. Scores of different sessions, if more than one is held, are normalised.
Preliminary exam (Office Assistant and Officer Scale I)
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 25 minutes |
| Numerical Ability (Office Assistant) / Quantitative Aptitude (Scale I) | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 80 | 80 | 45 minutes |
Main exam (Office Assistant and Officer Scale I)
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 20 | 15 minutes |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 | 15 minutes |
| English or Hindi Language (choose one) | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| Numerical Ability (Office Assistant) / Quantitative Aptitude (Scale I) | 40 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Single exam (Officer Scale II and III)
The General Banking Officer (Scale II) and Scale III papers have 200 questions for 200 marks in 120 minutes. The tests are Reasoning, Computer Knowledge, Financial Awareness, English or Hindi Language, and Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation. The Scale II Specialist Officer paper adds a Professional Knowledge test, has a longer time (150 minutes) and its own marks split; check the exact table in the notification.
The tests are offered in English and Hindi, and for Office Assistant and Scale I also in the regional languages of the state you choose.
Syllabus
The notification names the tests but does not list the topics. IBPS gives the topic details in the Information Handout released with the call letter, so read it every year. The tests are:
- Reasoning: the reasoning ability test in every stage.
- Numerical Ability / Quantitative Aptitude: number-based problem solving; Scale II and III add Data Interpretation.
- English or Hindi Language: your choice of language test in the Main or single exam.
- General Awareness / Financial Awareness: general awareness for Office Assistant and Scale I; financial awareness for Scale II and III.
- Computer Knowledge: a short computer test in the Main and single exams.
- Professional Knowledge: only for Scale II specialist posts, matching the post.
Salary and posts
The recruitment notification does not give the pay for each post, so this guide does not quote figures. The posts are Office Assistant (Multipurpose), Assistant Manager (Scale I), Manager (Scale II) and Senior Manager (Scale III), in the Regional Rural Bank that you are allotted to. Pay and allowances are decided by the bank, so check the terms of your allotted RRB when you join.
How to apply
- Go to www.ibps.in and open the current CRP RRBs notification.
- Register with your name, mobile number and email, then fill in the application form, including your preferred state and medium.
- Upload your photo, signature and other documents as per the size rules in the notification.
- Pay the fee online and submit. Keep a print of the form.
- Use the short edit window after the closing date to fix mistakes.
Fee rule: ₹175 for SC/ST/PwBD candidates (ex-servicemen are also included for Office Assistant) and ₹850 for all others, including GST. You pay separately for each post. These amounts come from the latest notification, so check them every year.
Exam calendar
The usual order is: notification and online registration, Preliminary exam, Preliminary result, Main or single exam, result, interview for officers, then provisional allotment. In the latest cycle, registration ran in September, Prelims were planned for November–December, Main for December–January, interviews for January–February and allotment for February–March. The month of the notification has changed from year to year. This is the usual pattern and may change.
Preparation tips
- Start with Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude, because the Prelims has only these two tests.
- Check the local language rule for the state you plan to choose.
- Practise timed sectional tests: each test has its own minimum score, so you cannot skip a weak subject.
- Read daily news and banking and finance headlines for the awareness tests.
- Avoid blind guessing because of the 0.25 negative marking.
- Take mock tests on a computer, as the exam is online.
- If you aim for an officer post, prepare for the interview alongside: banking basics, the rural economy and your own background.
FAQs
What is the age limit for IBPS RRB?
For general category candidates it is 18–28 years for Office Assistant, 18–30 for Scale I, 21–32 for Scale II and 21–40 for Scale III. Reserved categories get relaxation.
What qualification is needed for IBPS RRB?
A bachelor's degree in any subject for Office Assistant and Scale I. Scale II and III need 50% marks and bank experience, and specialist posts need a degree in the related field.
How many stages are there?
Office Assistant has two (Prelims and Main). Scale I has three (Prelims, Main and Interview). Scale II and III have two (Single exam and Interview).
Is there negative marking?
Yes. One fourth of the marks of a question is deducted for each wrong answer. Blank answers carry no penalty.
Is there an interview for Office Assistant?
No. Office Assistants are allotted on the Main exam marks and the vacancies in the chosen state.
Can I apply for both Office Assistant and an officer post?
Yes, but you apply and pay the fee separately for each post. In the officer cadre you can apply for only one of Scale I, II or III.
Is there a limit on attempts?
The notification does not set a limit on the number of attempts; only the age limit applies.
Always confirm the details in the official notification of the year you apply for.
IBPS RRB: all notifications on this site
| Recruitment | Posts | Last date | Admit card / result |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBPS RRB Officer & Office Assistant Recruitment 2026 (CRP RRBs XV) | – | 27 Sep 2026 | Admit Card |
| IBPS RRB 2025 Notification (10000+ Vacancies) | 10,000+ job openings | 30 Jun 2025 | Result |