The IBPS SO (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection - Specialist Officer) exam is conducted annually to recruit Specialist Officers in various public sector banks in India. It is one of the most competitive banking exams for specialized roles.

1. Posts and Roles

• The IBPS SO exam is conducted for the following positions:
• IT Officer (Scale I) - Handles software, hardware, and security systems.
• Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I) - Works in agriculture finance and rural development.
• Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I) - Promotes Hindi as an official language in banks.
• Law Officer (Scale I) - Manages legal matters and ensures compliance with laws.
• HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I) - Handles human resources and recruitment.
• Marketing Officer (Scale I) - Plans marketing strategies for bank products and services.

Selection Process

• Preliminary Exam – Qualifying in nature.
• Main Exam – Evaluates professional knowledge.
• Interview – Final selection is based on combined scores (Main + Interview).

Career Growth Path of an IBPS PO

An IBPS PO can rise to top executive positions in the bank through a mix of seniority, performance, and internal exams.

Typical Promotion Hierarchy

Stage             Designation

1                     Assistant Manager (PO – Scale I)

2                     Deputy Manager (Scale II)

3                     Manager (Scale III)

4                     Senior Manager (Scale IV)

5                     Assistant General Manager (Scale V)

6                     Deputy General Manager (Scale VI)

7                     General Manager (Scale VII)

8                     Executive Director, CMD, MD (Top)

Important Dates

• Notification Release: Usually in August/September.
• Preliminary Exam: December.
• Mains Exam: January.
• Interviews: February/March.

Salary Structure

• Basic Pay (Scale I): ₹23,700 – ₹42,020.
• Perks: DA, HRA, medical benefits, and allowances.