The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the IBPS SO Exam to recruit qualified candidates for Specialist Officer (SO) positions in Public Sector Banks. To succeed in the IBPS SO 2025 Exam, it is essential for candidates to thoroughly understand the exam pattern and detailed syllabus. Familiarity with these components enables strategic and focused preparation. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the IBPS SO syllabus, tailored for banking aspirants aiming to secure a position as a Specialist Cadre Officer.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Conducting Authority | Institute of Banking & Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Exam Name | IBPS SO 2025 |
| Examination Mode | Online |
| IBPS SO Exam Date 2025 | Prelims – 30th August 2025 Mains – 9th November 2025 |
| Duration | Prelims – 120 minutes Mains – 45 or 60 minutes |
| Selection Process | Prelims → Mains → Interview |
| Negative Marking | ¼ mark per wrong answer |
| Official Website | ibps.in |
This article will discuss the IBPS SO syllabus for the prelims and main examinations.
The IBPS SO exam is conducted for six different positions. Let’s look at the positions.
There has been no official information regarding changes in the IBPS SO syllabus and exam pattern. The last change was announced in 2019. Let’s look at the last updates announced.
Let’s look at the IBPS SO syllabus for the prelims.
| Reasoning Ability | Banking Awareness | English | General Knowledge |
| Alphanumeric Series | Profit and Loss | Close Test | Mixtures & Allegations |
| Directions | Simplification & Approximation | Reading Comprehension | Financial Knowledge |
| Logical Reasoning | General Knowledge of different financial institutions | Tense rules | Basic Economics |
| Alphabet combination | Simple & Compound Interest | Idioms & phrases | Current events of national and international importance |
| Ranking & Order | Work & Time | Paragraph jumbles | National & International importance |
| Data Sufficiency | Surds & Indices | Error detection | Measures of Central Tendency and Variation |
| Reasoning Inequalities | Speed, time & distance | Paragraph completion | |
| Seating Arrangements | Mensuration | Multiple meanings | |
| Picture series | Data Interpretation | ||
| Syllogism | Percentages | ||
| Tabulation | Ratio & Ptoportion | ||
| Input/Output | Number Systems | ||
| Coding and Decoding | Series & sequences | ||
| Relationships | Permutation & combination | ||
| Word formation | Probability | ||
| Assertion & Reason | Measures of Central Tendency and Variation | ||
| Statement, Argument, and Assumption |
The IBPS SO main syllabus is different for the six different positions. The candidates need to thoroughly understand the IBPS SO main syllabus to prepare well for the Mains exam. Let’s look at the syllabus of each position.
| Agronomy, Irrigation & seed science |
| Basics of Crop Production & Horticulture |
| Agricultural Economics and Practices |
| Soil Resources |
| Animal Husbandry |
| Ecology |
| Agroforestry |
| Government Schemes related to Agriculture |
| Prevention of money-laundering & Limitation Act |
| Banking regulations |
| Prevention of money-laundering & Limitation Act |
| Law & order related to securities, financial assets, and foreign exchange |
| Consumer protection act |
| Banking Ombudsman |
| SURFACES |
| Bankers Book Evidence Act |
| Laws & actions related to the banking sector |
| Debt recovery Tribunals act |
| Data Communication & networking |
| Database management systems |
| Operating systems |
| Software engineering |
| Data Structures |
| Computer organization |
| Embedded systems & microprocessors |
| Embedded systems & microprocessors |
| Brand Management |
| Basics of marketing management |
| Retail business |
| Advertising, public relations, and sales |
| Market segmentation |
| Business ethics |
| Product Life cycle management |
| Market research & forecasting |
| Corporate Social Responsibility |
| Marketing strategies and services marketing |
| Business policy & strategic analysis |
| Training & development |
| Rewards & Recognition |
| Transnational analysis |
| Rewards & Recognition |
| Recruitment & selection |
| Business policy & strategic analysis |
| Grievance & conflict management |
| Performance management & appraisals |
| Error correction |
| Grammar |
| Fill in the blanks |
| Reading comprehension |
| Letter writing |
| Essay writing |
The IBPS SO prelims exam is an online MCQ-based exam. Let’s look at the exam patterns in detail.
| Subjects | No. of questions | Total marks | Duration |
| English | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 minutes |
| Subject | No. of questions | Total marks | Duration |
| English | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| General Knowledge | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 minutes |
| Subject | No. of questions | Total marks | Duration |
| Professional Knowledge | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Subjects | No. of questions | Total marks | Duration |
| Professional Knowledge(Objective) | 45 | 60 | 30 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge(Descriptive | 2 | 60 | 30 minutes |
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) is conducting all three stages of the selection process to fill 1007 Specialist Officer (SO) vacancies. Candidates who clear all phases—Prelims, Mains, and Interview—will be shortlisted for final appointment. The result for each stage is released individually on the official website www.ibps.in, indicating candidates’ qualification status for the next round. Refer to the table below for all the key details related to the IBPS SO 2025 Result.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruitment Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Posts | Specialist Officer (SO) |
| Vacancies | 1007 |
| Category | Result |
| Status | Will be Released after exams |
| IBPS SO Interview | To be Announced |
| IBPS SO Final Result | To be Announced |
| IBPS SO Final Score Card | To be Announced |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Main Exams, Interview |
| Official Website | www.ibps.in |
Candidates can check their IBPS SO Prelims Result using the direct link available on the official IBPS website. To access the result, candidates need their Username/Registration Number and Password/Date of Birth.
Download the IBPS SO Prelims Result: Click here
Understanding the IBPS SO syllabus is crucial for effective preparation. The exam covers Reasoning, English, Quantitative Aptitude, General Awareness, and Professional Knowledge, depending on the specialization. A strategic study plan, regular practice, and time management are key to success. Staying updated with the latest syllabus and exam pattern will help candidates maximize their scores and secure a position as a Specialist Officer in the banking sector.
Recommended Reads:
The IBPS SO syllabus is the list of topics to be covered for the prelims and mains exams to get recruited for six different positions in different nationalized banks.
Yes, several candidates from all over India attend the exam every year. The seats are limited. So, the exam is tough.
It is not easy to prepare for the IBPS SO exam. There are many topics to cover, and sufficient time is required to solve different papers. So, one month is not enough.
The basic pay of an IBPS SO officer is between Rs 36,300 – Rs 64,600. The salary differs according to the position.
The PO earns more than the SO. Both the job roles are different, so there is a difference in salaries.
Both are recruited for different responsibilities. Their mode of recruitment is also different. So, there is no comparison between them.
Authored by, Nidhi Kukreja
Exam Prep Advisor
Nidhi is a passionate writer who specializes in long-form, research-backed content that delivers real value. Whether she’s writing blog articles or creating educational modules, she focuses on making complex topics clear, detailed, and easy to understand. Her content is designed to build knowledge and credibility, helping readers gain deeper insights with every piece.
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