IBPS PO Notification and Exam Dates
The cycle runs on a broadly predictable calendar every year: notification in the monsoon, prelims in the festive season, joining by spring.
IBPS PO runs on an annual cycle with a broadly stable calendar: the notification is released around July or August, applications run through August and September, prelims falls in October-November, mains in November-December, interviews in January-February, and allotment to a bank by March-April. One full cycle, notification to joining, spans about nine months.
The exact dates change every year and are fixed only by the official notification on ibps.in. What stays stable is the shape of the calendar, and that shape is what you should plan around.
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The Typical IBPS PO Calendar
Month ranges reflect recent cycles; the official notification sets the actual dates each year.
| Stage | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Notification release | July-August |
| Application window | August-September |
| Prelims exam | October-November |
| Mains exam | November-December |
| Interview | January-February (following year) |
| Allotment / joining | March-April |
What the Calendar Means for Your Preparation
Two gaps in this calendar do the most damage to unprepared candidates. The first is the short window between prelims and mains, often just weeks, which is not enough time to build Banking Awareness from zero. The second is the gap between the notification and prelims, roughly two to three months, which is tight for a first-time aspirant starting cold.
The practical conclusion: serious preparation starts before the notification, not after it. Candidates who begin around April or May meet the notification with their prelims sections already solid and spend the final stretch on mains depth.
The cycle rewards people who begin early. Free, no signup.
What to Do at Each Stage
- 1
Before the notification (roughly April to July)
Build the prelims base: English, Quant, and Reasoning fundamentals, plus the daily Banking Awareness habit that mains will demand.
- 2
When the notification lands
Read it in full, confirm your eligibility against that year's conditions, and apply early in the window rather than near the deadline.
- 3
Application to prelims
Shift to timed sectional practice and full prelims mocks. Sectional cut-offs apply, so no section can be left to strength elsewhere.
- 4
Prelims to mains
The short gap goes to DI volume, Banking Awareness revision, and descriptive-paper drafts, deepening what you built earlier rather than starting anything new.
- 5
Mains to interview
Prepare your background story, recent RBI policy changes, and banking-sector current affairs. The interview is 100 marks and 20% of final merit.
Dates Are Set Only by the Official Notification
The month ranges on this page describe the typical cycle, not this year's dates. IBPS publishes the actual calendar in the official notification on ibps.in, and dates can shift between cycles. Verify there before planning leave, travel, or application deadlines.
FAQs
When is the IBPS PO notification released?expand_more
Typically around July or August each year, with the application window running through August and September. The exact dates are fixed by the official notification on ibps.in.
When is the IBPS PO exam held?expand_more
In recent cycles, prelims falls in October-November and mains in November-December, with interviews in January-February and allotment by March-April of the following year.
How long is the full IBPS PO selection cycle?expand_more
About nine months from notification to joining: notification in the July-August window, and allotment to a participating bank around March-April.
When should I start preparing relative to the notification?expand_more
Before it. The gap from notification to prelims is roughly two to three months, which is tight for starting cold. Beginning a few months earlier lets you meet the notification with prelims sections already in shape.
Next steps
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