Build a career as a IBPS SO
Use your professional expertise in banking - IT, Law, HR, Marketing, and Agriculture Specialist roles.
Know the IBPS SO before you start
IT, Law, HR, Marketing, Agriculture
Posts Available
11
Participating Banks
3 (Prelims + Mains + Interview)
Exam Phases
₹36,000 basic pay
Starting Salary
Roles & salary as you grow
The IBPS SO opens an entry role that promotes upward — here's the ladder and what each rung pays.
Stage 1
IT Officer Scale-I
₹36,000 – ₹63,840 basic + allowances
Technology management, system administration, and cybersecurity in the bank's IT department.
Stage 2
Law Officer Scale-I
₹36,000 – ₹63,840 basic + allowances
Legal advisory, loan recovery, documentation review, and regulatory compliance.
Stage 3
Agriculture Field Officer Scale-I
₹36,000 – ₹63,840 basic + allowances
Agricultural loan assessment, Kisan Credit Card, and rural banking operations.
*Indicative ranges from public data; actual pay varies by employer, city and cycle.
Are you eligible?
Education
Varies by post: B.E./B.Tech (IT), LLB (Law), MBA (HR/Marketing), B.Sc Agriculture (AFO)
Age
20–30 years (SC/ST: +5 years, OBC: +3 years)
Nationality
Citizen of India
How the IBPS SO is structured
IBPS SO has Prelims (1 hour) + Mains (professional knowledge test, 45 min) + Interview. Prelims covers Reasoning, English, and Quantitative Aptitude for most posts. Mains is a professional knowledge paper specific to your post.
Preliminary Examination
Main Examination - Professional Knowledge
What you'll study
menu_bookIT Officer
menu_bookLaw Officer
menu_bookAgriculture Field Officer (AFO)
menu_bookHR/Personnel Officer
How to crack the IBPS SO
Professional Knowledge is 60 marks - start here
The Mains professional knowledge paper is the hardest part. IT Officers: focus on OS, Networks, DBMS. Law Officers: Banking Laws (NI Act, SARFAESI, RDDBFI) are 60% of the paper. Start with your core subjects.
Prelims is standard banking exam pattern
IBPS SO Prelims is identical in format to IBPS PO Prelims. Standard preparation for Reasoning, Quant, and English applies here.
Interview: align your specialist knowledge with banking
Interview tests both professional knowledge (banking application) and personality. For IT Officers, expect questions on banking technology (CBS, SWIFT, UPI architecture). For Law Officers, be ready for case-law discussions.
The IBPS SO cycle
November–December
November–December
December–January
January–February
March–April
Prep for IBPS SO with PrepClever
Launching 2026. Join the waitlist for early access, free mock tests, and a personalised study plan.
See the full IBPS SO guide arrow_forwardIBPS SO — common questions
Which IBPS SO post is the best?
IT Officer is considered the most lucrative - high demand in banks for digital transformation. Law Officer has strong job security. AFO is excellent for candidates from agricultural backgrounds.
Can a non-engineer apply for IBPS IT Officer?
No. IBPS IT Officer requires a B.E./B.Tech/B.Sc (IT/CS) or equivalent degree. MCA graduates are also eligible.
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