Applications closed · prelims 10 and 11 October 2026
IBPS Clerk 2026 — Prelims in Two Weeks for 11,403 Posts
IBPS is recruiting 11,403 Clerical Cadre posts under CRP CSA-XVI. Applications have closed. The Preliminary examination falls on 10 and 11 October 2026, run in four shifts each day, with the Main examination on 27 December 2026.
If you applied, your call letter is the next thing to watch for. It typically appears about a week before the exam.
Schedule
| Recruitment | CRP CSA-XVI, Clerical Cadre |
|---|---|
| Total vacancies | 11,403 |
| Applications | Closed |
| Preliminary examination | 10 and 11 October 2026, four shifts per day |
| Main examination | 27 December 2026 |
| Interview | None — clerical posts have no interview stage |
| Official portal | ibps.in |
Eligibility, and the condition people miss
Three requirements, and the third is the one that ends applications at verification:
- A graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
- Computer literacy — a certificate, diploma or degree in computer operations, or computer studied as a subject during your education.
- Proficiency in the official language of the state or union territory you applied to.
Age is 20 to 28 years, with candidates born between 2 July 1998 and 1 July 2006 eligible, plus the standard relaxations against a valid certificate.
The local language rule applies to clerical posts as much as to regional rural banks. It is usually evidenced by having studied that language at Class 10 level, and it is verified at the document stage rather than at application. Candidates who moved states for work and applied where they now live, rather than where they were schooled, lose the post after clearing both exams. Check what you can actually produce.
Vacancies are allocated by state, not nationally
The 11,403 posts are distributed bank-wise, state-wise and category-wise. Your competition is the pool that applied for your state and category, not the national field — which is also why cut-offs differ sharply between states.
A state with a large vacancy allocation and a smaller applicant base is a materially different proposition from a popular one. That allocation was fixed when you chose your state on the application, so there is nothing to do about it now except calibrate expectations.
What prelims actually tests
Preliminary is English, quantitative aptitude and reasoning, under tight sectional time limits. The demand is speed rather than depth. A candidate who can solve a question in ninety seconds but not in forty will not clear it regardless of accuracy — which is the biggest adjustment for anyone arriving from SSC preparation, where time pressure is real but less severe.
Prelims is qualifying. It decides who sits the mains and contributes nothing to your final merit. The mains carries the selection.
Before exam day
- Download the call letter as soon as it appears. IBPS takes these offline after the exam window.
- Check your photograph and signature on it. Anything unclear needs raising with IBPS immediately, not on exam morning.
- Carry a printed call letter and one original photo identity document. Photocopies are refused at the gate.
- Note your shift timing — four shifts a day means reporting times vary considerably between candidates on the same date.
Official links
| IBPS official portal | Open ibps.in |
| How banking recruitment works | Read the guide |
Questions
When is the IBPS Clerk 2026 prelims?
10 and 11 October 2026, in four shifts each day. The mains follows on 27 December 2026.
Can I still apply?
No. The application window has closed. See currently open vacancies for graduate-level forms still accepting applications.
Is there an interview?
No. IBPS clerical selection is prelims, mains and document verification only.
Does the prelims score count towards selection?
No. Prelims is qualifying. Merit is decided on the mains.
How many vacancies are there?
11,403 clerical cadre posts, distributed bank-wise, state-wise and category-wise.
Source. Compiled from the IBPS CRP CSA-XVI notification and the IBPS annual calendar, cross-checked on 28 September 2026. The vacancy count of 11,403 and the prelims dates of 10 and 11 October are consistent across sources.
Not confirmed here: the exact call letter release date, which IBPS announces separately. Watch ibps.in rather than a forwarded link.
Spotted an error? Report it here.