The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection establishes standardized eligibility requirements that apply uniformly across all 11 participating Public Sector Banks.
Before submitting an online application, candidates must verify that their educational credentials, age benchmarks, and category certificates meet the prescribed standards as of the official cut-off date.
Educational Qualifications & Graduation Norms
1. Basic Degree Requirement
- Candidates must hold a Graduation Degree in any discipline from a University recognized by the Government of India or UGC.
- Degrees from recognized correspondence and distance education institutions (such as IGNOU or state open universities) are fully accepted.
- Candidates with professional qualifications such as B.E./B.Tech, CA, ICWA, CS, LLB, or MBBS are equally eligible.
2. Is There a Minimum Percentage Requirement?
- NO minimum percentage is required. Candidates with third-class or pass-division degrees can apply without restriction.
- You must indicate the exact aggregate percentage obtained in graduation calculated to two decimal places (e.g., 54.99% cannot be rounded up to 55%).
3. Final Year Candidates Rule
- Unlike SBI PO which sometimes permits final semester students to apply provisionally, IBPS strictly mandates that the candidate's graduation result must have been declared on or before the registration closing date.
- If your university results are declared even one day after the registration deadline, you are not eligible for that exam cycle.
Age Limits & Category-Wise Relaxations
Applicants must be between 20 and 30 years of age as of the reference date specified in the official notification:
- Minimum Age: 20 Years
- Maximum Age: 30 Years
| Social / Community Category | Age Relaxation | Effective Upper Age Ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) / EWS | Nil | 30 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years | 33 Years |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) / Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 5 Years | 35 Years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) | 10 Years | 40 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen / Commissioned Officers | 5 Years | 35 Years |
| Persons Affected by 1984 Riots | 5 Years | 35 Years |
Number of Attempts in IBPS PO
A common point of confusion among banking aspirants is the attempt limit:
- IBPS PO has NO limit on the number of attempts.
- As long as you remain within the permissible age boundaries for your category, you may appear for the IBPS PO examination every year without restriction.
- (Contrast this with SBI PO, which enforces a strict 4-attempt limit for General candidates).
Computer Literacy & Language Requirements
- Operating Knowledge: Candidates should have working knowledge of computer systems. A certificate, diploma, or degree in computer operations/language, or having studied Computer Science/Information Technology as a subject in High School or College, is mandatory.
- Language Proficiency: Because IBPS PO is an All-India Cadre position, candidates are not required to take a Local Language Test at the time of recruitment, though learning the regional language of your assigned state is expected during probation.
Credit Score & Financial Integrity
Participating Public Sector Banks evaluate financial credibility before issuing appointment letters:
- Candidates must maintain a healthy CIBIL Score of 650 or higher.
- If a candidate has never used a credit card or taken a formal bank loan, their score displays as "-1" or "0", which is fully permissible.
- Candidates with willful loan defaults, compromised settlements, or active negative remarks from credit bureaus must regularize their status before joining.
Explore our guides on What is IBPS PO and IBPS PO Salary & Job Profile.