IBPS Clerk (Customer Service Associate) recruits clerical staff for public sector banks. It is a graduate-level exam with two online stages and no interview, so every mark in Mains counts directly towards selection.
Below is the complete IBPS Clerk syllabus for 2026, based on the official notification (CRP CSA-XVI), including the new Mains pattern.
IBPS Clerk 2026 at a glance
| Stage | Questions | Marks | Time | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes | Qualifying |
| Mains | 160 | 200 | 125 minutes | Decides merit |
| Local Language Proficiency Test | – | – | – | Qualifying |
Wrong answers cost one-fourth of the question's marks in both stages.
IBPS Clerk Prelims exam pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
IBPS Clerk Mains exam pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 40 | 50 | 20 minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| Total | 160 | 200 | 125 minutes |
The 2026 Mains is shorter than in earlier cycles: 125 minutes instead of 160, with 40 questions in every section. General Awareness gives only 20 minutes for 40 questions, so you either know the answer or move on.
IBPS Clerk syllabus, subject by subject
Reasoning Ability
- Puzzles and seating arrangement (linear, circular, floor, box)
- Syllogism, inequalities, coding-decoding
- Blood relations, direction sense, order and ranking, alphanumeric series
- Mains: input-output, data sufficiency and logical reasoning
Numerical Ability and Quantitative Aptitude
- Simplification and approximation (a big, fast-scoring block in Prelims)
- Number series, quadratic equations
- Arithmetic: percentage, ratio, average, profit and loss, interest, time and work, speed and distance, mixtures, partnership
- Data interpretation: tables, bar graphs, pie charts, caselets
English Language
- Reading comprehension
- Cloze test, error detection, fillers, sentence improvement
- Para jumbles, word swap, phrase replacement
General / Financial Awareness (Mains only)
- Current affairs of the last 6 months
- Banking awareness: RBI, types of accounts, banking terms, digital payments
- Economy and government schemes
- Static GK: capitals and currencies, national parks, important days, headquarters
Work through each topic on its own with IBPS Clerk topic-wise practice.
Local Language Proficiency Test
After Mains, provisionally allotted candidates must show that they can read, write and speak the official language of the state they applied for. The test is qualifying. Candidates who studied that language in Class 10 or 12 can be exempted on showing proof, as described in the notification.
What to focus on first
- Simplification and approximation. They are the quickest marks in Prelims Numerical Ability.
- Puzzles. Reasoning carries 60 marks in Mains, the most of any section.
- Daily current affairs and banking awareness. 40 questions in 20 minutes rewards fast recall.
- Timed mocks. With only 125 minutes for Mains, take full IBPS Clerk mock tests under real time limits.
Many Prelims questions mirror IBPS PO Prelims, so our IBPS PO Prelims section-wise strategy works for Clerk too.
Always confirm the final pattern in the official IBPS notification on ibps.in.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an interview in IBPS Clerk?
No. IBPS Clerk has no interview. Final selection is based only on Mains marks, provided you also qualify the Local Language Proficiency Test.
What changed in the IBPS Clerk 2026 Mains?
The 2026 notification (CRP CSA-XVI) sets Mains at 160 questions, 200 marks and 125 minutes, with 40 questions in each section. It is shorter than earlier cycles, so speed matters more.
What is the negative marking in IBPS Clerk?
One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer, in both Prelims and Mains.
What is the Local Language Proficiency Test?
It checks that you can read, write and speak the official language of the state you apply for. It is qualifying. Candidates who studied that language in Class 10 or 12 may be exempt, as per the notification.
Do IBPS Clerk Prelims marks count in the final merit?
No. Prelims is a qualifying stage. Only Mains marks are used for the final merit list.
