IBPS PO Eligibility 2026: Educational Qualification, Age Limit & Relaxation

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By Smartkeeda
29 Dec 2025

IBPS conducts the IBPS PO exam every year to recruit Probationary Officers in public sector banks. Candidates from all around the country appear for this exam to secure a well-paying job in the government banking sector. To apply for this exam, candidates have to meet the eligibility standards laid down by IBPS. The IBPS PO eligibility criteria include parameters such as ibps po age limit, educational qualification, and nationality. Candidates must meet these conditions to be considered eligible. In this article, we will discuss the IBPS PO eligibility criteria in detail. Stay tuned!

IBPS PO 2025 Notification

IBPS PO Eligibility 2026: Overview

Here is a quick summary of the IBPS PO Eligibility Criteria is given in the table below. Candidates are advised to go through this table and keep a note of the important details.

Eligibility Component

Details

Exam Conducting Body

Institute of Banking and Personnel Selection

Post Name 

Probationary Officer 

Nationality

An Indian citizen or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee settled in India before 1962

Educational Qualification

A graduate in any discipline from a recognised university by 21st July 2026

Age Limit

Minimum 20 years and Maximum 30 years (as on 1st July 2026)

Valid Documents Required

Degree certificate, photo ID, and category proof (if applicable)

Credit History

A clean credit history is required at the time of joining participating banks

Official Website https://www.ibps.in

 

IBPS PO Age limit 2026

The IBPS PO age limit requires candidate to be between 20 to 30 years old to be eligible for the IBPS PO Exam. However, age relaxation is given to the candidates who belong to certain reserved categories.

IBPS PO Age Relaxation 2026

Candidates belonging to the reserved categories can make use of the benefits of age relaxation as per the rules of the Government of India.

Here is the category-wise age relaxation provided to each category:

Category

Age Relaxation

SC/ST candidates

5 years

OBC category from the non-creamy layer

3 years

Persons With Disabilities

10 years

Ex-Servicemen

5 years

Domiciled in Jammu and Kashmir between 1-01-1980 and 31-12-1989

5 years

Victims of the 1984 Riot

5 years

 

IBPS PO 2026 Qualification

Candidates are advised to thoroughly check the eligibility criteria before applying for the IBPS PO post. If any candidate fails to meet any of these conditions, they will not be allowed to continue with the recruitment process.

IBPS PO Educational Qualification

1. Educational Qualification: A Bachelor's degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a recognised university or any equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. 

2. Documents: Candidates must have their degree certificate or mark sheet at the time of application, clearly stating the percentage of marks. 

3. Computer Literacy: Basic computer knowledge is required 

4. Language Proficiency: Candidates are required to know the official language of the state/UT they are applying for, including the ability to read, write, and speak the language. 

 

IBPS PO Work Experience

As per the official notification, prior work experience is not mandatory to apply for the IBPS PO exam. IBPS PO is an entry-level managerial position, and all fresh graduates are eligible to appear for the examination

IBPS PO 2026 Visual and Medical Standards

Candidates have to appear for a basic medical test after clearing the prelims, mains and interview rounds. The details of this examination are given below:

IBPS PO Visual Standards

Unlike strict and mandatory standards in defence or police, IBPS PO Eligibility doesn’t include any universal, specific vision standards for candidates. IBPS adheres to general fitness expectations, and most candidates with common vision problems (myopia, hyperopia, etc.) that are corrected by spectacles are eligible to apply. However, IBPS provides specific guidelines for visually impaired persons under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category.

IBPS PO Medical Standards

A basic medical test will be conducted by the allotted bank before joining to ensure the candidates are healthy and fit for service. These are some of the important aspects of this medical test:

  • Candidates must be mentally and physically fit to perform regular banking duties.
  • Should not suffer from any chronic or contagious disease that affects work performance.
  • Vision should be adequate, with or without corrective lenses.
  • Colour blindness is not permitted.
  • Normal hearing ability is required for effective communication.
  • Medical examination may include height and weight measurement.
  • Blood tests such as CBC, blood sugar, cholesterol, urea, creatinine and HIV may be conducted.
  • Urine and stool tests are part of routine medical checks.
  • Diagnostic tests like chest X-ray, ECG and ultrasonography may be included.
  • Final assessment focuses on whether the candidate can perform banking duties without physical limitations.

Credit History Criteria for IBPS PO Eligibility

For the selected candidates, it is mandatory to have a healthy credit history at the time of joining. This means they should have a credit score equal to or higher than the minimum score set by the IBPS.

Here are some things to note:

  • Candidates don’t need a specific CIBIL score to apply for the exam
  • A good CIBIL score is required (650+ is the common benchmark.)
  • Candidates should get a No Objection Certificate (NOCs) in case they have poor credit or pending dues
  • If the candidate fails to resolve the issue, they will lose the provisional offer.

 

IBPS PO 2026 Reservation Criteria

IBPS provides reservations for specific categories, according to the guidelines issued by the Government of India. Only the eligible candidates can benefit from these reservation criteria. Candidates claiming these reservation benefits will have to produce valid certificates during document verification.

Reservation Criteria for Persons with Disabilities (PWD)

Persons with Benchmark Disabilities are provided with reservations under Section 34 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Candidates who fall under the benchmark disability category are eligible for these reservations as per government norms.

The eligible disability categories include.

  • Blindness and low vision
  • Deaf and hard of hearing
  • Intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, mental illness and specific learning disabilities
  • Locomotor disabilities, including cerebral palsy, leprosy-cured cases, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy and acid attack survivors

Reservation Criteria for Economically Weaker Section (EWS)

Candidates who do not fall under SC, ST or OBC categories and have a gross annual family income below Rs 8 lakh are classified under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS). Eligible EWS candidates are provided 10% reservation in IBPS PO recruitment.

However, only the candidates with the following assets, irrespective of income, will be considered for the reservation:

  • Agricultural land of 5 acres or more
  • Residential flats of 1000 square feet or above
  • Residential plots of 100 square yards or more in notified towns

IBPS PO Eligibility Skills Required

Apart from the basic eligibility criteria that candidates have to meet, there are some other tests as well that the candidates have to appear for to secure this position.

Language Proficiency Requirements

For the candidates who lack proof of studying the state’s chosen local language, the IBPS conducts a Language Proficiency Test. It is mandatory for the students who do not possess a certificate in the local language. This test evaluates the candidate’s reading, writing and comprehension skills in that language.

Here are some things to note:

  • This test is only for the candidates who have cleared the Prelims and Mains exams
  • Candidates who already have proof of studying the local language in their 10th or 12th classes do not have to appear for this test

Computer Literacy Requirements

Candidate is required to have a basic working knowledge of computers. It is mandatory to either have a certificate/degree in computer operations or have IT/Computer Science as one of the subjects in college or school.