IBPS SO Recruitment 2026: Apply Online for 745 Specialist Officer Posts (CRP SPL-XVI)

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has officially released the notification for the Common Recruitment Process (CRP SPL-XVI) to recruit 745 Specialist Officers (SO) across participating public sector banks for the 2027-28 recruitment cycle.

The online application process began on July 1, 2026, and will remain open until July 21, 2026.

IBPS SO 2026: Recruitment Overview

Feature	Details
Recruitment Body	Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
CRP Code	CRP SPL-XVI
Total Vacancies	745
Post Name	Specialist Officer (Scale I)
Application Mode	Online
Registration Dates	1 July 2026 – 21 July 2026
Official Website	ibps.in

Post-Wise Vacancy Distribution

The 745 vacancies are distributed among the following specialist cadres:

• IT Officer (Scale I): 301 posts
• Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I): 190 posts
• Law Officer (Scale I): 105 posts
• Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I): 89 posts
• HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I): 60 posts

(Note: Marketing Officer vacancies were not listed in the initial notification.)

Important Dates

• Online Registration: 01/07/2026 to 21/07/2026
• Application Fee Payment: 01/07/2026 to 21/07/2026
• Preliminary Examination: August 2026
• Main Examination: November 2026
• Interview: November/December 2026
• Provisional Allotment: January 2027

Eligibility Criteria

1. Age Limit

• Range: 20 to 30 years as of July 1, 2026.
• Relaxation: Provided for SC/ST (5 years), OBC-NCL (3 years), and PwBD (10 years) candidates according to government guidelines.

2. Educational Qualification

Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a discipline relevant to the specific post (e.g., B.E./B.Tech in CS/IT for IT Officer, LLB for Law Officer, MBA/PG Diploma in HRM for HR Officer). Refer to the official PDF for specific degree requirements per post.

Selection Process

1. Online Preliminary Examination: A qualifying test.
2. Online Main Examination: A technical paper testing subject-specific knowledge.
3. Interview: Conducted for candidates who qualify in the Main Exam.
4. Provisional Allotment: Based on the final merit list (Main Exam + Interview).

How to Apply

1. Visit the official website: ibps.in.
2. Click on the link for “CRP Specialist Officers (CRP SPL-XVI).”
3. Select “New Registration” and enter your basic details (Name, Email, Mobile).
4. Use the generated registration number and password to log in.
5. Fill in your personal, educational, and professional details.
6. Upload your photograph, signature, and other required documents.
7. Pay the application fee (₹850 for General/OBC; ₹175 for SC/ST/PwBD).
8. Submit the form and download the confirmation page.

Click Here to Apply Online for CRP SPL-XVI

Download Official Notification PDF

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can I apply for more than one post?

A: No, you are permitted to apply for only one post under CRP SPL-XVI. Multiple applications will lead to the rejection of your candidature.

Q2: Is there negative marking?

A: Yes, there is a penalty of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer in the objective tests.

Q3: Is there an “Edit Window” for corrections?

A: Yes, an edit/modification window will be available for two days after the registration process closes on July 21, 2026.