IBPS SO Recruitment 2025: Overview
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has officially released the most awaited notification for the IBPS SO Recruitment 2025 (CRP SPL-XV). This is a golden opportunity for candidates aspiring to secure a prestigious Specialist Officer (SO) position in public sector banks across India. The notification announces a substantial number of vacancies, tentatively over 1007, for various Scale-I specialist roles including IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer. Successful candidates will be placed in a lucrative pay scale of ₹48480 to ₹85920, complemented by a host of attractive allowances and benefits as per banking industry norms. The online application window is open from July 1, 2025, to July 21, 2025.
IBPS SO 2025: Key Recruitment Details
This recruitment drive is a gateway to a stable and rewarding career in India’s leading public sector banks. Here are the key details about the hiring organization and the posts.
- Hiring Organization: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
- Name of Posts: Specialist Officer (Scale-I)
- Participating Banks:
- Bank of Baroda
- Bank of India
- Bank of Maharashtra
- Canara Bank
- Central Bank of India
- Indian Bank
- Indian Overseas Bank
- Punjab National Bank
- Punjab & Sind Bank
- UCO Bank
- Union Bank of India
- Job Location: All India (Candidates may be posted anywhere in India)
IBPS SO Vacancy 2025: Post-Wise Breakdown (1007+ Vacancies)
The recruitment aims to fill vacancies for the year 2026-27. The vacancies announced are indicative and may change based on the final requirements of the participating banks. Below is the post-wise tentative vacancy distribution based on the notification.
| Post Name | Number of Vacancies (Indicative) |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Field Officer (Scale-I) | 310 |
| Marketing Officer (Scale-I) | 350 |
| I.T. Officer (Scale-I) | 203 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale-I) | 78 |
| Law Officer (Scale-I) | 56 |
| HR/Personnel Officer (Scale-I) | 10 |
| Total | 1007+ |
Note: Some banks have not yet reported their vacancies (NR). The final number of vacancies is expected to increase.
IBPS SO Eligibility Criteria 2025: Age Limit & Educational Qualification
Candidates must ensure they meet the specified eligibility criteria as of the dates mentioned in the notification. The eligibility is determined based on nationality, age, and educational qualifications.
Nationality/Citizenship
A candidate must be a Citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or a Tibetan Refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962.
Age Limit (as on 01.07.2025)
- Minimum Age: 20 Years
- Maximum Age: 30 Years
- A candidate must have been born not earlier than 02.07.1995 and not later than 01.07.2005 (both dates inclusive).
Age Relaxation: Upper age limit is relaxed for reserved categories as per government norms:
- SC/ST: 5 years
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years
- Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD): 10 years
- Ex-Servicemen: 5 years
Educational Qualifications (as on 21.07.2025)
Candidates must possess the following qualifications from a recognized university or institution.
- IT Officer (Scale I):
- 4-year Engineering/Technology Degree in Computer Science/ IT/ Computer Applications/ Electronics/ Electronics & Telecommunications/ Electronics & Communication/ Electronics & Instrumentation.
- OR Post Graduate Degree in the above-mentioned streams.
- OR Graduate having passed DOEACC ‘B’ level.
- Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I):
- 4-year Degree (Graduation) in Agriculture/ Horticulture/ Animal Husbandry/ Veterinary Science/ Dairy Science/ Fishery Science/ Pisciculture/ Agri. Marketing & Cooperation/ Co-operation & Banking/ Agro-Forestry/ Forestry/ Agricultural Biotechnology/ Food Science/ Agriculture Business Management/ Food Technology/ Dairy Technology/ Agricultural Engineering/ Sericulture/ Fisheries Engineering.
- Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I):
- Post Graduate Degree in Hindi with English as a subject at the degree (graduation) level.
- OR Post Graduate degree in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects at the degree (graduation) level.
- Law Officer (Scale I):
- A Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) and must be enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council.
- HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I):
- Graduate and Two Years Full-time Post Graduate degree or Two Years Full-time Post Graduate diploma in Personnel Management / Industrial Relations/ HR / HRD/ Social Work / Labour Law.
- Marketing Officer (Scale I):
- Graduate and Two Years Full-time MMS (Marketing)/ Two Years Full-time MBA (Marketing)/ Two Years Full-time PGDBA / PGDBM/ PGPM/ PGDM with specialization in Marketing.
IBPS SO 2025 Exam Dates & Schedule
Staying updated with the timeline is crucial for aspirants. Here is the tentative schedule for the entire recruitment process.
| Activity | Tentative Dates |
|---|---|
| Online Registration & Application Dates | 01.07.2025 to 21.07.2025 |
| Payment of Application Fees (Online) | 01.07.2025 to 21.07.2025 |
| Download Prelims Call Letter | August 2025 |
| Online Preliminary Examination | August 2025 |
| Prelims Result Declaration | September 2025 |
| Download Mains Call Letter | September/October 2025 |
| Online Main Examination | November 2025 |
| Mains Result Declaration | November 2025 |
| Conduct of Interview | December 2025 / January 2026 |
| Provisional Allotment | January / February 2026 |
IBPS SO Salary 2025: In-Hand Pay, Perks, and Allowances
A career as a Specialist Officer in a public sector bank is not only prestigious but also financially rewarding. The salary structure is governed by the Bipartite Settlement for bank employees, ensuring a competitive package. The detailed salary structure and benefits make it one of the most sought-after jobs, with high-value keywords that attract significant search interest.
The official pay scale for a Scale-I Specialist Officer is ₹ 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920. Let’s break this down:
- Initial Basic Pay: ₹48,480
- Annual Increments: An increment of ₹2,000 per year for the first 7 years.
- After 7 years, the basic pay will be ₹62,480, followed by an increment of ₹2,340 for the next 2 years, and so on.
Allowances and Perks
The in-hand salary is significantly higher than the basic pay due to numerous allowances.
- Dearness Allowance (DA): This is a cost-of-living adjustment allowance and is revised every quarter based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). It constitutes a major portion of the salary.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA): This depends on the city of posting. It is typically 9%, 8%, or 7% of the basic pay, depending on whether the posting is in a metro, a city with a population over 5 lakhs, or other locations. Many banks offer Leased Accommodation facility up to a certain limit, which is a highly attractive perk.
- City Compensatory Allowance (CCA): This is paid to employees in major cities to compensate for the higher cost of living, ranging from 3% to 4% of the basic pay.
- Special Allowance: A significant component, currently at 16.40% of the basic pay, is provided to officers.
Other Benefits:
- National Pension System (NPS): Banks contribute 14% of the Basic Pay + DA to the employee’s pension fund, ensuring long-term financial security.
- Medical Aid: Comprehensive medical benefits for the employee and their dependent family members. The reimbursement for medical expenses is substantial.
- Leave Travel Concession (LTC): Officers are eligible for LTC to travel to their hometown or other parts of India, as per the bank’s rules.
- Other Allowances: These include newspaper allowance, entertainment allowance, fuel allowance (petrol), and more, depending on the specific bank’s policies.
Considering all components, the gross monthly salary for a newly joined IBPS SO can be estimated to be between ₹75,000 to ₹85,000, depending on the city of posting and the prevailing DA rates. This attractive package, combined with job security and career growth prospects, makes the IBPS SO role highly desirable.
IBPS SO Selection Process 2025: Prelims, Mains & Interview Stages
The selection process for IBPS SO is a three-tiered process designed to select the most competent candidates.
- Phase I: Preliminary Examination: This is a qualifying exam. Marks obtained here are not considered for the final merit list.
- For Law Officer & Rajbhasha Adhikari:
- English Language (50 Qs, 25 Marks)
- Reasoning (50 Qs, 50 Marks)
- General Awareness with Special Reference to Banking Industry (50 Qs, 50 Marks)
- Total: 150 Questions, 125 Marks. Duration: 120 minutes (40 mins per section).
- For IT, Agri, HR/Personnel, and Marketing Officer:
- English Language (50 Qs, 25 Marks)
- Reasoning (50 Qs, 50 Marks)
- Quantitative Aptitude (50 Qs, 50 Marks)
- Total: 150 Questions, 125 Marks. Duration: 120 minutes (40 mins per section).
- For Law Officer & Rajbhasha Adhikari:
- Phase II: Main Examination: The marks from this exam are crucial for both interview shortlisting and final merit.
- For Law, IT, Agri, HR/Personnel, and Marketing Officer:
- Professional Knowledge (60 Qs, 60 Marks). Duration: 45 minutes.
- For Rajbhasha Adhikari:
- Professional Knowledge (Objective – 45 Qs, 60 Marks)
- Professional Knowledge (Descriptive – 2 Qs). Duration: 60 minutes total.
- For Law, IT, Agri, HR/Personnel, and Marketing Officer:
- Phase III: Interview:
- Candidates who clear the Main Examination will be called for a personal interview.
- The interview carries a total of 100 marks.
- The minimum qualifying marks are 40% (35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates).
- The final merit list is prepared based on the combined scores of the Main Examination and Interview, with a weightage ratio of 80:20.
IBPS SO 2025 Application Fee
The application fee must be paid online during the application process.
- SC/ST/PwBD Candidates: ₹ 175/- (inclusive of GST)
- All Other Candidates: ₹ 850/- (inclusive of GST)
How to Apply Online for IBPS SO 2025: Step-by-Step Guide
Candidates must apply online through the official IBPS website. Follow these steps carefully:
- Visit the Official Website: Go to the official website of IBPS.
- Navigate to the SO Section: On the homepage, click on the link “CRP Specialist Officers”.
- Start New Registration: Click on “CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE FOR CRP-SPECIALIST OFFICERS (CRP SPL-XV)”. Then, click on “CLICK HERE FOR NEW REGISTRATION”.
- Fill Basic Information: Enter your basic details to generate a provisional Registration Number and Password. Note these down carefully.
- Upload Documents: Scan and upload your:
- Recent Photograph
- Signature (not in capital letters)
- Left Thumb Impression
- A hand-written declaration. The text for the declaration is: “I, _______ (Name of the candidate), hereby declare that all the information submitted by me in the application form is correct, true and valid. I will present the supporting documents as and when required.”
- Fill the Application Form: Complete the form with your personal, educational, and other details.
- Pay the Fee: Proceed to the payment gateway and pay the application fee using a Debit Card, Credit Card, or Internet Banking.
- Final Submission: After verifying all details, click on the final submit button.
- Print Application: Take a printout of the final submitted application form and the e-receipt for your records.
IBPS SO Recruitment 2025: Important Links
- Notification PDF Link: Download Here
- Online Application Link: Apply Here
- Official Website Link: Visit Here