IBPS SO 2019– IBPS rolls out an online application for the post of ‘Specialist Officers’ Posts on the official website, ibps.in. The IBPS SO Preliminary examination is planned for December 28 and 29, 2019. The IBPS SO Application Form will be only available online. IBPS has rolled out the application for the Scale 1 posts like I.T. Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, and more. For smooth processing of the candidates, the IBPS has designed a two-phase selection process- Common Recruitment Process (CRP) and Common Interview. This article will help you understand more about the recruitment process for IBPS SO 2019.
IBPS SO 2019
To identify the required skill set and knowledge, the IBPs has integrated the Common Recruitment Process (CRP SPL- IX) with two phases. In the first phase, the candidates need to clear IBPS SO Prelims Exam. Candidates that qualify the preliminary exam are called for IBPS SO main exam. CRP is followed by the Common Interview round, where document verification and interview take place. For the final merit list, scores from the interview round and main exam are considered. Here are some important dates for IBPS SO examination:
| IBPS SO 2019 | Date: |
| IBPS SO Online Application Form | Nov 2019 |
| Payment of application fees/intimation charges | Nov 2019 |
| IBPS SO Preliminary Examination Call Letter | Dec 2019 |
| Preliminary Examination of IBPS SO | 28 and 29 Dec 2019 |
| IBPS SO Preliminary Exam Result | Jan 2020 |
| IBPS SO Main Examination Call letter | Jan 2020 |
| IBPS SO Main Examination | 25 Jan 2020 |
| Main Examination Result of IBPS SO | Feb 2020 |
| Call Letter for IBPS SO Interview | Feb 2020 |
| IBPS SO Interview | Feb 2020 |
| Provisional Allotment | April 2020 |
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IBPS SO 2019 Exam Pattern
Exam plays a vital part in the IBPS SO Examination. One needs to have a clear understanding of the exam pattern to start the preparation::
Phase 1: Common Recruitment Process (CRP)
Candidates appear for Common Recruitment Process or CRP in two phases. CRP is outlined differently for every position:
Part 1: IBPS SO Preliminary Examination for Various Positions
The preliminary examination of IBPS SO is of 120 minutes. IBPS has allocated 40 minutes to every subject. this 150-question exam bears 125 marks. The exam is conducted online in English / Hindi medium.
a. Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari
| IBPS SO Prelim Subjects | Questions / Marks | Time Allotted to Subjects |
| English Language | 50 / 25 | 40 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 50 / 50 | 40 Minutes |
| General Awareness with Special Reference for Banking Industry | 50 / 50 | 40 Minutes |
b. IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer
| IBPS SO Prelim Subjects | Questions / Marks | Time Allotted to Subjects |
| English Language | 50 / 25 | 40 Minutes |
| Reasoning | 50 / 50 | 40 Minutes |
| Quantitive Aptitude | 50 / 50 | 40 Minutes |
Part 2: IBPS SO Main Examination
Prelim-qualifying candidates appear for the IBPS SO main exam. The 60 marks exam is conducted in English / Hindi medium.
a. Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale – 1)
| IBPS SO Mains Subjects | Questions | Time Allotted to Subjects |
| Professional Knowledge (Objective) | 45 | 30 Minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Descriptive) | 2 | 30 Minutes |
b. Law Officer, IT Officer, Agriculture Field Officer, HR/Personnel Officer and Marketing Officer (Scale – 1)
| IBPS SO Mains Subjects | Questions / Markes | Time Allotted to Subjects |
| Professional Knowledge | 60 / 60 | 45 Minutes |
IBPS SO 2019 Syllabus
Start preparing the right way as the exam dates for IBPS SO are out. Here is an exam-wise list of subjects and syllabus:
Part 1: IBPS SO Preliminary Exam Syllabus
| Subjects | IBPS SO 2019 Syllabus |
| English Language | – Reading Comprehension – Vocabulary – Grammar – Identification of Errors – Para Substitution – Spelling Check – Para Jumble – Passages – Synonyms/ Antonyms – Sentence completion – Passage Completion – Choosing the appropriate word |
| Reasoning Ability | – Alphabet and Numbers – Series Test and Mathematical Operations – Syllogism and Analogies / Decision Making – Classification & Coding/ Decoding – Blood Relations & Odd One Out – Number, Ranking, Time Sequence Test0 – Assumptions & course of action – Assertion and Reason – Statement and Courses of Action – Analytical Reasoning – Cause and Effect – Directions/Distance sense test – Input and Output Arrangement – Seating Arrangements – Coded Inequalities – Decision Making – Statement and conclusion |
| Quantitative Aptitude | – Number system and simplification – Number series & Problem based on numbers – Decimal Fraction & simplification – Ratio and Proportion – Percentage – Partnership – Mensuration (2 dimensions) – Speed and distance – Permutation and combination – Probability – Data Interpretation and sufficiency – Simple interest & compound interest – Time, work and Distance |
| General Awareness (Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari) | – Banking awareness – Current affairs of past 6 months – Books & Authors – Currencies – Important Places – Awards – Sports – Folk dances – Rivers – Cabinet Ministers – Person in news – Capitals – Abbreviations – Wildlife centuries/National park, – Important Days – Headquarters – Prime Ministers Schemes |
Part 2: IBPS SO Main Exam Syllabus
| Subjects | IBPS SO 2019 Syllabus |
| HR/Personnel Officer | Human Resource Development Business Policy and Strategic Analysis Transitional Analysis Training and Development Recruitment and Selection Rewards and Recognition Industrial Relations Business Policy and Strategic Analysis Grievance and Conflict Management Performance Management and Appraisal |
| Law Officer | Banking Regulations Compliance and Legal Aspects Relevant Law and Orders related to negotiable instruments securities foreign exchange Prevention of Money laundering Limitation Act Consumer Protection Act SARFAES Banking Ombudsman Scheme Laws and Actions with direct link to Banking Sector Bankers Book Evidence Act DRT Act |
| Marketing Officer | Basics of Marketing Management Brand Management Advertising PR Sales Retail Business Ethics Market Segmentation Market research and forecasting demand Product Life Cycle Corporate Social Responsibility Service Marketing Marketing Strategies |
| Agricultural Field Officer | Basics of Crop production Horticulture Seed Science Agronomy and Irrigation Agricultural Economics Agricultural Practices Soil resources Animal Husbandry Agroforestry Ecology Government Schemes |
| IT Officer (Scale-I) | Database Management System Data Communication and Networking Operating System Software Engineering Data Structure Computer Organization and Microprocessor Object-Oriented Programming |
Books for IBPS SO 2019
Following is the list of books for clearing IBPS SO 2019:
| IBPS SO 2019 | Books |
| Reasoning Ability | Modern Approach to Verbal and Non –Verbal Reasoning by R S Aggarwal and Analytical Reasoning (BSC publication) by M K Pandey |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Fast track by Rajesh Verma and Quantitative Aptitude by R S Aggarwal |
| English Language | Objective General English by S P Bakshi and Mirror of Common Error by Ashok Kumar Singh |
How to Prepare for IBPS SO 2019 Exam
Strategy to prepare for IBPS SO 2019 Exam is as follows:
- Basics need to be clear: Make sure to clear basics before moving on to the advanced topics
- Plan out: To cover everything on time, create a time management system
- Updates matter: Make sure to develop a habit of reading a newspaper
- Practice as much as possible: Appear for as many practice sessions or online mock tests. Attempt last year’s sets.
- Create notes: For everything difficult, create notes.
- Paln your topics: After clearing the basics, start working on subjects that you find difficult.
IBPS SO Eligibility 2019
Check the eligibility criteria defined by IBPS SO exam:
- Nationality/Citizenship
To fill the online application for IBPS SO, one needs to be a citizen of India. Subjects of Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibetan Refugees (who arrived in India before 1st January 1962) can also apply. Person of Indian origin that wishes to migrate back to India permanently can also apply.
- Age (as on 01.11.2019)
A candidate needs to be between 20-28 years age to appear for IBPS SO exam.
Upper Age Limit Relaxation:
| IBPS SO 2019 | Age Relaxation |
| Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe | 5 years |
| Other Backward Classes | 3 years |
| Persons With Disabilities | 10 years |
| Ex-Servicemen / Disabled Ex-Servicemen | 5 Years |
| Domicile from State of Jammu & Kashmir (01.01.1980 to 31.12.1989) | 5 years |
| Persons affected by 1984 riots | 5 years |
- Candidates with Benchmark Disability
Under ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016’, the candidates with benchmark disability can also apply for IBPS SO recruitment process
- Educational Qualifications & Experience
Educational qualification for IBPS SO is different for all posts. A person should possess a degree from a university / institute that is recognized by the government of India.
| IBPS SO 2019 Posts | Educational Qualifications |
| I.T. Officer (Scale-I) | Computer Science / Computer Applications / Information Technology / Electronics / Electronics & Telecommunications / Electronics & Communication / Electronics & Instrumentation subjects – Engineering / Technology Degree (4 Years) or Electronics / Electronics & Tele Communication / Electronics & Communication/ Electronics & Instrumentation / Computer Science / Information Technology / Computer Applications – Post Graduate Degree or DOEACC ‘B’ level passed graduates |
| Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I) | Agriculture / Horticulture / Animal Husbandry / Veterinary Science / Dairy Science / Fishery Science / Pisciculture / Agri. Marketing & Cooperation / Co-operation & Banking / Agro-Forestry / Forestry / Agricultural Biotechnology / Food Science / Agriculture Business Management / Food Technology / Dairy Technology / Agricultural Engineering / Sericulture – 4 year Degree (graduation) |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) | Post Graduate in Hindi with English as a subject at the graduation level or Post Graduate in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects at the graduation level |
| Law Officer (Scale I) | Bachelor Degree in Law (LLB) Advocate with Bar Council (Enrolled) |
| HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I) | Specialization in Personnel Management / Industrial Relations / HR / HRD / Social Work / Labour Law – Graduate and Post Graduate Degree (2 years) / Post Graduate Diploma (2 years) |
| Marketing Officer (Scale I) | Specialization in Marketing – Graduate and Full-time MMS (2 years) / MBA (2 years) / PGDBA or PGDBM or PGPM or PGDM (2 years) |
IBPS SO Application Form 2019
Following is the process for applying for IBPS SO examination:
Step 1: Register Online
On the official website, scroll down and click on ‘CRP Specialist Officers’. Click on ‘Common Recruitment Process for VIII‘ on the new page. On the next page, click on ‘Click here for New Registration‘. To generate Registration Number and Password, fill up basic details.
Step 2: Upload Signature, Thumb Impression, Photo, and Declaration Impression
Candidates must upload scanned documents (in a pre-defined format) to advance to the main section of the IBPS SO application form.
Step 3: Application Form
Candidates need to fill in educational and personal qualification, experience, and more.
Step 4: Preview
Ensure to check the preview page to make sure every information is correct.
Step 5: Payment
Final submission of the online application is only possible after the submission of fee online.
IBPS SO Fees 2019 Details
Candidates can only apply for IBPS SO online. Same stands true for the application fee submission. IBPS official website offers various options to make payment online. Candidate can pay using a debit card, credit card, internet banking, IMPS, cash cards, or a mobile wallet. Following are the fees details:
| Category | Application Fees |
| SC/ST/PWD/EXSM | 100/- |
| General/others | 600/- |
Selection Process for IBPS SO 2019
IBPS SO selection process starts with a candidate attempting and qualifying exams of Common Recruitment Process. Based on the scores from IBPS SO main exam (CRP), the candidate is called for the IBPS SO Common Interview round. The interview round is carried out by Participating Banks in the association with Nodal Banks and IBPS. Final merit list is created on the score obtained in IBPS SO Main examination and Interview. Based on the Final merit list, a participating bank releases a provisional allotment list.
IBPS SO 2019 Salary
In-hand salary for the position of IBPS PO ranges between Rs. 23,700/- to 42,020/-. Salary of a Scale-1 officer also includes allowances. The SO is entitled to a Leased Accommodation, Traveling Allowance, Newspaper Reimbursement, and Medical Aid. the break-up of the salary is as follows:
- Basic Pay: Rs. 23,700
- Dearness Allowance (DA): Rs. 7,986 (33.7% of the Basic Pay. Revised quarterly.)
- House Rent Allowance (HRA): Rs. 1,659 (7-9% of the Basic Pay. Varies according to the area.)
- Special Allowance: Rs. 1836.75 (7.75% of Basic Pay)
- City Compensatory Allowance (CCA For Metro Cities): Rs. 600 – 870 (3-4% of Basic Pay)
- DA on Special Allowance: Rs. 618.98 (33.7% of Special Allowance)
Admit Card of IBPS SO 2019
Admit card of IBPS SO is one of the most important documents. Candidates are requested to download, print, and preserve the same. IBPS rolls out admit cards in 3 phases for IBPS SO. Candidates can only download the admit card online. IBPS will not post a hard copy of the admit card to the candidate’s address. On the day of admit card issuance, IBPS will send auto-generated intimation through an email or msgs.
Result of IBPS SO 2019
IBPS rolls out IBPS SO result in 3 phases for different exam and interview rounds. The admit card of IBPS SO can only be accessed on the official website. Candidates need to check the result and take a print of the same. IBPS result process with issuance of IBPS SO Prelims exam result. Release of Final Merit List is the last mile in the result release marathon by IBPS.
IBPS SO 2019 Cutoff
Cutoff of IBPS SO is defined on the basis of the vacancies and number of candidates appearing for the examination. It also depends on the difficulty levels of the exams conducted in different shifts. Candidates are expected to obtain a minimum or more score in the IBPS SO entrance. Cutoff for IBPS SO is released on the day of result announcement.
IBPS SO Interview 2019
Interview process of IBPS SO is conducted by particiapating banks in association with Nodal Banks and IBPS. Call letters for SO Interview are issued by IBPS a few days before the interview round. Scores of the interview round are considered before IBPS SO Final Merit list. On the day of the interview, a candidate needs to carry important documents for verification. Carry following documents on the day of interview:
- Copy of the system-generated online application form
- Interview call letter
- Mark sheets
- Graduation degree
- Caste Certificate
- Disability Certificate
IBPS SO Exam Centers 2019
Exam centers for the IBPS SO examination are decided on the basis of participating banks. The Exam Centers are as follows:
| State Code | State /UT / NCR | Preliminary Examination Centre | Main Examination |
| 11 | Andaman & Nicobar | Port Blair | Port Blair |
| 12 | Andhra Pradesh | Chirala, Chittoor, Eluru, Guntur, Kadapa, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Ongole, Rajahmundry, Srikakulam, Tirupati, Vijaywada, Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagaram | Guntur, Kurnool, Vijaywada, Vishakhapatnam |
| 13 | Arunachal Pradesh | Naharlagun | Naharlagun |
| 14 | Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur | Guwahati, Silchar |
| 15 | Bihar | Arrah, Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea | Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Muzzafarpur, Patna |
| 16 | Chandigarh | Chandigarh/Mohali | Chandigarh/Mohali |
| 17 | Chhattisgarh | Bhilai Nagar, Bilaspur, Raipur | Raipur |
| 18 | Dadra & Nagar Haveli | Surat, Jamnagar | Surat |
| 19 | Daman & Diu | Surat, Jamnagar | Surat |
| 20 | Delhi | Delhi/New Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurugram | Delhi/New Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida, Gurugram |
| 21 | Goa | Panaji | Panaji |
| 22 | Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Anand, Gandhinagar, Himatnagar, Jamnagar, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara | Ahmedabad, Vadodra |
| 23 | Haryana | Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Hissar, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Panipat, Yamuna Nagar | Ambala, Hissar |
| 24 | Himachal Pradesh | Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, Una | Hamirpur, Shimla |
| 25 | Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu, Samba, Srinagar | Jammu, Srinagar |
| 26 | Jharkhand | Bokaro Steel City, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi | Dhanbad, Jamshedpur, Ranchi |
| 27 | Karnataka | Bengaluru, Belgaum, Bidar, Davangere, Dharwad, Gulbarga, Hassan, Hubli, Mandya, Mangalore, Mysore, Shimoga, Udupi | Bengaluru, Hubli, Mangalore |
| 28 | Kerala | Alappuzha, Kannur, Kochi, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrichur | Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 29 | Lakshadweep | Kavarrati | Kavaratti |
| 30 | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar, Satna, Ujjain | Bhopal, Indore |
| 31 | Maharashtra | Amravati, Aurangabad, Chandrapur, Dhule, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai/ Thane/ Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Ratnagiri, Solapur | Aurangabad, Mumbai / Thane/ Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune |
| 32 | Manipur | Imphal | Imphal |
| 33 | Meghalaya | Shillong | Shillong |
| 34 | Mizoram | Aizawl | Aizawl |
| 35 | Nagaland | Kohima | Kohima |
| 36 | Odisha | Balasore, Berhampur(Ganjam), Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sambalpur | Bhubaneshwar |
| 37 | Puducherry | Puducherry | Puducherry |
| 38 | Punjab | Amritsar, Bhatinda, Fategarh Sahib, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Pathankot, Patiala, Sangrur | Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Patiala |
| 39 | Rajasthan | Ajmer, Alwar, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur | Jaipur, Udaipur |
| 40 | Sikkim | Bardang/ Gangtok | Bardang/ Gangtok |
| 41 | Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Nagercoil, Salem, Thanjavur, Thiruchirapalli, Tirunelvelli, Vellore, Virudhunagar | Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli |
| 42 | Telangana | Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal | Hyderabad |
| 43 | Tripura | Agartala | Agartala |
| 44 | Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Aligarh, Allahabad, Banda, Bareilly, Faizabad, Ghaziabad, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Noida/ Greater Noida, Sitapur, Varanasi | Allahabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Varanasi |
| 45 | Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee | Dehradun |
| 46 | West Bengal | Asansol, Durgapur, Greater Kolkata, Hooghly, Kalyani, Siliguri | Asansol, Greater Kolkata, Kalyani, Siliguri |
