IBPS Clerk Exam

The IBPS Clerk exam is one of the most popular banking exams conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) for the recruitment of Clerks in various public sector banks across India. The Clerks are responsible for handling day-to-day operations in the banks, such as customer service, cash handling, maintaining records, and other administrative tasks.

Key Highlights of the IBPS Clerk Exam:

1. Eligibility Criteria:

   • Educational Qualification: Candidates must have a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university or any equivalent qualification.
   • Age Limit: The age limit for candidates applying for the IBPS Clerk exam is usually between 20 to 28 years. There is age relaxation for reserved categories:
     • OBC: 3 years
     • SC/ST: 5 years
     • PwD: 10 years

2. Exam Stages: The IBPS Clerk exam is conducted in two stages:

   • Preliminary Exam (Prelims): A qualifying exam.
   • Main Exam (Mains): The final selection is based on the Mains exam performance.

3. IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern:

   • Preliminary Exam (Prelims): The Prelims exam consists of 3 sections:

     1. Reasoning Ability – 35 questions (35 marks)

     2. Numerical Ability – 35 questions (35 marks)

     3. English Language – 30 questions (30 marks)

     • Total: 100 questions (100 marks)
     • Duration: 1 hour
     • Negative Marking: 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
   • Main Exam (Mains): The Main exam consists of 4 sections:

     1. General/Financial Awareness – 50 questions (50 marks)

     2. General English – 40 questions (40 marks)

     3. Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude – 50 questions (60 marks)

     4. Quantitative Aptitude – 50 questions (50 marks)

     • Total: 190 questions (200 marks)
     • Duration: 2 hours 40 minutes
     • Negative Marking: 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.

4. Syllabus for IBPS Clerk Exam:

   • Prelims:
     • Reasoning Ability: Puzzles, seating arrangement, blood relations, inequalities, syllogisms, etc.
     • Numerical Ability: Number series, simplifications, percentage, ratio and proportion, data interpretation, etc.
     • English Language: Reading comprehension, error spotting, sentence completion, vocabulary, etc.
   • Mains:
     • General/Financial Awareness: Current affairs, banking awareness, financial knowledge, government schemes, etc.
     • General English: Reading comprehension, grammar, sentence correction, vocabulary, etc.
     • Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude: Puzzles, coding-decoding, data sufficiency, computer knowledge, etc.
     • Quantitative Aptitude: Data interpretation, simplification, time and work, profit and loss, etc.

5. Salary and Benefits:

   • The starting salary for an IBPS Clerk is generally between ₹19,000 to ₹22,000 per month, depending on the bank and the location of posting.
   • In addition to the basic salary, clerks are entitled to various allowances such as Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Special Allowance (SA), and others.

6. Application Process:

   • The IBPS Clerk application is done online through the official IBPS website.
   • The application period typically begins in July and ends in August every year.
   • The application fee is generally ₹850 for General/OBC candidates and ₹175 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.

7. Important Dates (for IBPS Clerk 2024):

   • Notification Release: Likely in July 2024
   • Application Start Date: Likely in July 2024
   • Application End Date: Likely in August 2024
   • Preliminary Exam: Likely in November 2024
   • Main Exam: Likely in December 2024

8. Final Selection:

   • The final selection for IBPS Clerk is based on the combined marks obtained in the Main Exam.
   • The Prelims exam is just a qualifying exam and is not considered for final selection.

9. Cut-Off Marks:

   • Cut-off marks are released after both the Preliminary and Main exams. Candidates must score above the cut-off to qualify for the next stage of the selection process.

Final Remarks:

The IBPS Clerk exam provides an excellent opportunity for graduates to begin their careers in the banking sector. The job offers job security, a decent salary, and a range of benefits. With focused preparation and a clear understanding of the exam pattern and syllabus, candidates can increase their chances of securing a job as an IBPS Clerk.

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