The IBPS PO (Probationary Officer) exam is one of the most prestigious and highly competitive banking exams in India, conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). This exam is held for the recruitment of Probationary Officers (POs) in various public sector banks (PSBs) across the country.

Key Highlights of IBPS PO Exam:

1. Eligibility Criteria:

   • Educational Qualification: The candidate must have a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
   • Age Limit: The age of the candidate must be between 20 to 30 years. Age relaxation is provided for candidates from reserved categories:
     • OBC: 3 years
     • SC/ST: 5 years
     • PwD: 10 years

2. Exam Stages: The IBPS PO exam is conducted in three stages:

   • Preliminary Exam (Prelims)
   • Main Exam (Mains)
   • Interview

3. IBPS PO Exam Pattern:

   • Preliminary Exam (Prelims): The preliminary exam is an online objective test that consists of three sections:

     1. Reasoning Ability – 35 questions (35 marks)

     2. Quantitative Aptitude – 35 questions (35 marks)

     3. English Language – 30 questions (30 marks)

     • Total: 100 questions (100 marks)
     • Duration: 1 hour
     • There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.

   • Main Exam (Mains): The main exam is more detailed and consists of both objective-type and descriptive-type questions:

     1. Objective Section:

        • Reasoning & Computer Aptitude: 45 questions (60 marks)

        • General Awareness: 40 questions (40 marks)

        • English Language: 35 questions (40 marks)

        • Data Analysis & Interpretation: 35 questions (60 marks)

        • Total: 155 questions (200 marks)

        • Duration: 3 hours

     2. Descriptive Section:

        • Letter Writing and Essay Writing (2 questions, 25 marks)

        • Duration: 30 minutes

     • There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer in the objective section. The descriptive section is evaluated only for candidates who clear the objective part.

   • Interview:

     • Candidates who qualify the Mains exam are shortlisted for the personal interview round.
     • The interview carries 100 marks, and the minimum qualifying score is usually 40% (for general category candidates) and 35% (for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates).
     • The final selection is made based on the combined score of the Mains exam and the Interview.

4. Syllabus for IBPS PO Exam:

   • Preliminary Exam (Prelims):
     • Reasoning Ability: Puzzles, seating arrangements, coding-decoding, logical reasoning, inequalities, etc.
     • Quantitative Aptitude: Number series, simplification, data interpretation, time and work, percentages, etc.
     • English Language: Reading comprehension, error detection, sentence correction, vocabulary, etc.
   • Main Exam (Mains):
     • Reasoning & Computer Aptitude: Syllogisms, puzzles, coding-decoding, machine input-output, data sufficiency, computer awareness.
     • General Awareness: Current affairs, banking awareness, economic news, government schemes, etc.
     • Data Analysis & Interpretation: Data interpretation, tables, bar graphs, pie charts, etc.
     • English Language: Reading comprehension, cloze test, sentence correction, para jumbles, etc.
   • Descriptive Paper:
     • Letter Writing and Essay Writing on current topics.

5. Salary and Benefits:

   • The starting salary for a Probationary Officer in public sector banks typically ranges between ₹35,000 to ₹45,000 per month, depending on the bank and location.
   • In addition to the basic salary, POs are entitled to other allowances such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Special Allowance (SA), Medical Allowance, Leave Encashment, and more.

6. Application Process:

   • The application for the IBPS PO exam is available online through the official IBPS website.
   • The application form is usually released in August or September, and candidates can apply until September/October.
   • The application fee for general category candidates is typically ₹850, while it is ₹175 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

7. Important Dates (for IBPS PO 2024):

   • Notification Release: Likely in July 2024
   • Application Period: Typically from August to September 2024
   • Preliminary Exam: Likely held in October 2024
   • Main Exam: Likely held in November 2024
   • Interview: Likely in January 2025

8. Final Selection: The final selection for IBPS PO is based on:

   • Marks obtained in the Main Exam
   • Marks obtained in the Interview
   • Final combined score

9. Cut-Off Marks:

   • The IBPS PO exam has cut-off marks at various stages (Prelims, Mains, and Interview). These cut-offs are determined by factors such as the number of vacancies, difficulty level of the exam, and the number of candidates who appeared.

Final Remarks:

The IBPS PO exam provides a lucrative opportunity for candidates seeking a career in the banking sector. The exam is competitive, but with focused preparation and understanding of the exam pattern and syllabus, candidates can increase their chances of selection. The position of Probationary Officer comes with a good salary, job security, and opportunities for career growth.

For more detailed information and updates, candidates are advised to visit the official IBPS website: www.ibps.in.