IBPS Clerk

Overview

IBPS Clerk is the Common Recruitment Process for Customer Service Associates (CSA) — the clerical cadre — in participating public sector banks, conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). The current cycle, CRP CSA-XVI, is for vacancies expected to arise in the 2027–28 financial year at these banks; IBPS notifies actual, indicative State-wise and category-wise vacancy numbers separately, and provisional allotment is based on vacancies later reported by the participating banks rather than the indicative figures.

Who can apply

For CRP CSA-XVI, the age limit is 20 to 28 years as on 1 August 2026 (born between 2 August 1998 and 1 August 2006), with relaxation available for reserved categories as listed in the notification. Candidates need a Bachelor's degree (graduation) in any discipline from a university recognised by the Government of India, and must have completed graduation on or before the day they register online. Nationality is restricted to Indian citizens, subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, Tibetan refugees settled in India before 1 January 1962, or persons of Indian origin who migrated from certain specified countries with the intention of settling in India permanently.

Selection process

The process has two online objective stages — a Preliminary Examination and a Main Examination — with no interview for the clerical cadre; final selection is based on the Main Examination score alone.

Exam pattern

Preliminary Examination (100 marks, 60 minutes total, each section separately timed)

Main Examination (200 marks, 125 minutes total, each section separately timed)

Candidates must clear cutoffs in each Preliminary section to be shortlisted for the Main exam. Main exam language versions vary by the State/UT applied for, offering English alongside Hindi and, in many States, a regional language.

Marking

There is negative marking of 0.25 (one-fourth) of the marks assigned to a question for each wrong answer, in both the Preliminary and Main examinations. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.

Important dates

For CRP CSA-XVI, online registration and fee payment ran from 1 to 21 August 2026, with an edit window for 2 days after registration closed. Pre-Examination Training and Preliminary call letters were scheduled for September 2026, the Preliminary exam for October 2026, and the Main exam call letters and exam for November 2026, with provisional allotment expected around March 2027. IBPS describes this schedule as tentative.

Fees

The fee for CRP CSA-XVI is Rs 175 (inclusive of GST) for SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-servicemen/Dependents of Ex-servicemen candidates, and Rs 850 (inclusive of GST) for all other candidates, plus any bank transaction charges.

How to apply

Applications are submitted online at ibps.in, under the CRP CSA link, where candidates register, fill in personal and academic details, upload documents, and pay the fee during the notified window.

After selection

Provisionally allotted candidates join as Customer Service Associates (Clerks) in one of the participating public sector banks. Allotment depends on the actual vacancies reported by each bank for the State/UT the candidate applied under, which can differ from the indicative vacancies published with the notification.

Preparation tips

Since there is no interview stage, the Main Examination score alone decides selection, so treat sectional cutoffs in both Preliminary and Main as equally important rather than focusing only on the overall score. Because each section is separately timed, practising full sections within their allotted minutes (rather than the full test as one block) mirrors the actual exam structure more closely.