IBPS RRB
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection — Regional Rural Banks
IBPS RRB – Common Recruitment Process for Regional Rural Banks
The IBPS RRB (Common Recruitment Process for Regional Rural Banks) is a national-level banking examination conducted every year by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) on behalf of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and NABARD. It is the single gateway for recruitment to Office Assistant (Multipurpose), Officer Scale I, Officer Scale II and Officer Scale III posts. The exam is held once a year under the CRP-RRBs series; the most recent cycle, CRP-RRBs-XIV (2025-26), was notified on 31 August 2025 with a revised vacancy count of 13,316 posts as on 27 September 2025. The next cycle (CRP-RRBs-XV) is expected to open in the coming months; details will be published on the official IBPS website.
Overview / Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Exam Name | IBPS RRB / CRP-RRBs |
| Posts Covered | Office Assistant (Multipurpose), Officer Scale I, Officer Scale II (General and Specialist), Officer Scale III |
| Exam Level | National level, held annually |
| Mode of Exam | Online (computer based test, CBT), except the interview |
| Medium of Exam | English and Hindi (except the English/Hindi language paper itself) |
| Selection Stages | Prelims, Mains, Interview (post-wise, see below) |
| Negative Marking | Yes – 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer in objective tests |
| Language Proficiency | Local language proficiency of the state of the RRB is required for Office Assistant and Officer Scale I |
| Official Website | https://www.ibps.in |
Selection Process
The selection process differs by post:
- Office Assistant (Multipurpose): Preliminary Examination (qualifying only) → Main Examination (merit) → Provisional Allotment → Document Verification. No interview.
- Officer Scale I: Preliminary Examination (qualifying only) → Main Examination (merit) → Interview (qualifying) → Provisional Allotment → Document Verification.
- Officer Scale II and Scale III: Single Online Examination (merit) → Interview (qualifying) → Provisional Allotment → Document Verification.
Preliminary exam scores for Office Assistant and Officer Scale I are only qualifying in nature and are not counted towards the final merit list. For Officer Scale I, II and III the final provisional allotment is based on the combined score of the online examination (80% weightage) and the interview (20% weightage). The interview carries 100 marks and is qualifying, with minimum qualifying marks of 40% for General/EWS and 35% for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD categories.
Exam Pattern
Office Assistant (Multipurpose) – Preliminary Exam
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 |
| Numerical Ability | 40 | 40 |
| Total | 80 | 80 |
Duration: 45 minutes. Negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. This paper is only qualifying; the score does not carry weight in the final merit.
Office Assistant (Multipurpose) – Main Exam
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 50 |
| Numerical Ability | 40 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| English Language or Hindi Language | 40 | 40 |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 20 |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
Duration: 2 hours (120 minutes). Candidates choose English or Hindi as the language paper. The Main exam score determines the provisional allotment for Office Assistant.
Officer Scale I – Preliminary Exam
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 40 |
| Total | 80 | 80 |
Duration: 45 minutes. Qualifying in nature only.
Officer Scale I – Main Exam
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 50 |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| English Language or Hindi Language | 40 | 40 |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 20 |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
Duration: 2 hours. The Main exam score (with interview) decides provisional allotment.
Officer Scale II (General Banking Officer) and Officer Scale III – Single Online Exam
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation | 40 | 50 |
| Financial Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| English Language or Hindi Language | 40 | 40 |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 20 |
| Total | 200 | 200 |
Duration: 2 hours. For Officer Scale II specialist disciplines (IT, Chartered Accountant, Law, Treasury Manager, Marketing, Agriculture), the Computer Knowledge section is replaced by a Professional Knowledge paper based on the candidate's discipline. This is the only online stage; the interview follows for shortlisted candidates.
Detailed Syllabus
Reasoning
- Alphanumeric and letter series
- Seating arrangements (linear, circular and rectangular)
- Puzzles – floor, scheduling, box and blood relation based puzzles
- Syllogism (categorical and reverse syllogism)
- Blood relations and coded blood relations
- Direction sense and distance tests
- Ordering and ranking, coded inequalities
- Data sufficiency (Mains)
- Input-output (Mains, machine coding and decoding)
- Analogy, classification, odd one out and logical reasoning (statement-conclusion, statement-assumption)
Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability
- Simplification and approximation, missing and wrong number series
- Percentages, profit and loss, discount and successive percentage
- Simple interest and compound interest
- Ratio and proportion, partnership, mixtures and alligations
- Averages, ages, time and work, pipes and cisterns
- Time, speed and distance, boats and streams, trains
- Mensuration (2D and 3D) and probability
- Permutation and combination
- Quadratic equations and linear equations
- Data interpretation – tables, bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts and caselet DI (Mains)
- Data sufficiency and quantity comparison (Mains)
General / Financial Awareness
- Banking in India – history, structure, RRBs, NABARD and RBI functions
- Latest monetary policy, CRR, SLR, repo rate, reverse repo rate and inflation targets
- Current affairs of the last 6 months – national and international
- Government schemes – PMJDY, PMAY, Kisan Credit Card, Mudra, PM-Kisan and financial inclusion schemes
- Static general knowledge – capital cities, currencies, important days and abbreviations
- Important banking terms – CASA, NPA, gross and net NPA, provisioning
- Financial institutions – IMF, World Bank, ADB and their reports
- Budget, Economic Survey and fiscal policy basics
- Sports, awards, appointments, books and authors (recent)
- Digital payment systems – UPI, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS and AePS
English Language
- Reading comprehension – factual and inference based passages
- Cloze test and sentence completion
- Error spotting and sentence correction
- Para jumbles and para completion
- Fill in the blanks – single and double fillers
- Phrase replacement and vocabulary based questions
- Synonyms, antonyms and word usage
- Idioms and phrases, commonly confused words
- Word arrangement and odd sentence out (Mains)
- Descriptive questions – letter and essay writing (Mains, Officer Scale I and above)
Hindi Language
- Comprehension passage based on unseen passages (Gadhyansh)
- Cloze test (Rikt sthaan) and sentence completion
- Error spotting and sentence correction (Vakya shuddhi)
- Fill in the blanks and connectors
- Synonyms and antonyms (Paryayvachi and Vilom shabd)
- Idioms and phrases (Muhavare aur Lokoktiyan)
- One word substitution and word usage
- Para jumbles and para completion
- Grammar – Sandhi, Samas, Kriya and Kaal based questions
- Essay and letter writing (Mains, Officer Scale I and above)
Computer Knowledge
- Basics of computers – hardware, software, input and output devices
- Operating systems – Windows, types of software, system software vs application software
- MS Office – Word, Excel, PowerPoint basics
- Internet, WWW, browsers, email and search engines
- Networking – LAN, WAN, MAN, IP address, routers and modems
- Database concepts – DBMS, RDBMS, tables and keys
- Computer viruses, malware, firewall and cybersecurity basics
- Banking technology – UPI, NEFT, RTGS, IMPS, e-wallets and net banking
- Shortcut keys and abbreviations in computing
- Recent trends – cloud computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain and fintech
Professional Knowledge (Officer Scale II Specialist Posts)
- Chartered Accountant: accounting standards, tax laws, company audit, treasury and risk management
- IT Officer: networking, operating systems, database management, web technologies and security
- Law Officer: banking regulation, negotiable instruments, SARFAESI, recovery and company law
- Agriculture Officer: crop production, soil science, irrigation, agricultural credit and insurance
- Marketing Officer: marketing management, rural marketing, digital marketing and branding
- Treasury Manager: financial markets, forex, money market and investment management
Marking Scheme
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Marks per question | 1 mark per question in most sections; 1 mark for General Awareness; Computer Knowledge sections carry 0.5 marks per question in the Main/Single exams |
| Negative marking | 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer in all objective tests |
| Unanswered questions | No marks deducted (no penalty) |
| Prelims | Qualifying only – score not added to merit |
| Mains / Single exam | Merit forming for provisional allotment |
| Interview | 100 marks, qualifying; minimum 40% (General/EWS) and 35% (reserved categories) |
| Final weightage | Online exam 80% + Interview 20% for Officer Scale I, II and III |
| Cut-off factors | Category-wise cut-offs, vacancies, difficulty of the paper and qualifying standards |
Note: Sectional marks for Computer Knowledge in the Main/Single examination are 20 marks for 40 questions (0.5 mark per question). These figures follow the official CRP-RRBs pattern of recent cycles and are tentative for the next cycle.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Office Assistant (Multipurpose): Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university or equivalent.
- Officer Scale I: Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university or equivalent.
- Officer Scale II (General Banking Officer): Degree in any discipline plus at least 2 years of experience in a bank/financial institution.
- Officer Scale II (Specialist): Relevant professional qualification (CA, law degree, MBA in Marketing, MCA or B.Tech in IT, degree in Agriculture, etc.) with the required experience.
- Officer Scale III: Degree in any discipline plus at least 5 years of experience in a bank/financial institution.
- Candidates must also possess proficiency in the local language of the RRB's state (for Office Assistant and Officer Scale I).
Age Limits (as on a reference date given in the notification)
| Post | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| Office Assistant (Multipurpose) | 18 years | 28 years |
| Officer Scale I | 18 years | 30 years |
| Officer Scale II | 21 years | 32 years |
| Officer Scale III | 21 years | 32 years |
Age Relaxation
- SC/ST: 5 years
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years
- PwBD: 10 years (15 years for SC/ST PwBD, 13 years for OBC PwBD)
- Ex-Servicemen, persons affected by 1984 riots and J&K domiciled candidates: as per government guidelines
Number of Attempts
There is no limit on the number of attempts for IBPS RRB. Candidates may appear every year as long as they meet the age limit and other eligibility conditions of the respective cycle.
Application Process and Fees
Applications are accepted only online through the official IBPS registration portal. Candidates must first register with basic details, then upload the photograph, signature, left thumb impression and a hand-written declaration, and finally pay the application fee online (credit card, debit card, net banking, IMPS, UPI or cash at CSC). After submission, an application correction window is provided to edit certain fields.
| Event (CRP-RRBs-XIV, latest cycle) | Dates |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 31 August 2025 |
| Online application started | 1 September 2025 |
| Last date to apply | 28 September 2025 |
| Last date for fee payment | 28 September 2025 |
| Application correction window | 6 to 7 October 2025 |
| Office Assistant Prelims | 6, 7, 13, 14 December 2025 |
| Officer Scale I Prelims | 22 and 23 November 2025 |
| Office Assistant Mains | 1 February 2026 |
| Officer Scale I Mains | 28 December 2025 |
| Officer Scale II and III Single Exam | 28 December 2025 |
| Category | Application Fee (including intimation charges) |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs. 850 |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen | Rs. 175 |
Note: Fee structure and dates above are from CRP-RRBs-XIV and may change for the next cycle; always refer to the current official notification.
Salary and Pay Scale
Pay is governed by the pay scales applicable to RRB employees under the 7th Pay Commission, revised from time to time. Indicative basic pay scales (before allowances) and approximate in-hand salaries, which vary from bank to bank and with posting location, are:
| Post | Basic Pay Scale | Approx. In-Hand Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Office Assistant (Multipurpose) | Rs. 7,200 – 19,300 (with Grade Pay Rs. 1,400) | Rs. 20,000 – 25,000 |
| Officer Scale I | Rs. 29,000 – 51,000 | Rs. 33,000 – 38,000 |
| Officer Scale II | Rs. 33,000 – 60,000 | Rs. 45,000 – 50,000 |
| Officer Scale III | Rs. 38,000 – 65,000 | Rs. 50,000 – 58,000 |
In addition, employees receive Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, city compensatory allowance, special allowance and other benefits like medical facilities, provident fund, gratuity and pension as per the rules of the respective RRB. Figures above are indicative and based on previous cycles; the exact amount depends on the bank and the date of joining.
Official Links and PDFs
- Official IBPS website: https://www.ibps.in
- CRP-RRBs official section: https://www.ibps.in/index.php/regional-rural-bank/
- CRP-RRBs-XIV official page: https://www.ibps.in/index.php/rural-bank-xiv/
- Official Notification PDF (CRP-RRBs-XIV, updated vacancies as on 27.09.2025): Download CRP-RRBs-XIV Notification PDF
- Official apply/registration portal: https://ibpsreg.ibps.in/rrbxivaug25/
- Official IBPS mock test portal: IBPS Mock Tests
For the next cycle, check the CRP-RRBs section of the IBPS website for the fresh notification and syllabus details.
Preparation Tips and Strategy
- Learn the exact exam pattern and marking scheme first, then prepare a topic-wise timetable giving more time to weak areas.
- Master simplification and number series with daily practice; these are the easiest marks in the quantitative section.
- Practice puzzles and seating arrangement questions of all difficulty levels every day, as they dominate the Reasoning section.
- Build speed and accuracy with sectional timed tests, then progress to full-length mock tests under strict 45-minute and 2-hour limits.
- For General/Financial Awareness, read the banking and economy news of the last 6 months along with monthly current affairs compilations.
- Attempt the official IBPS mock tests on the IBPS website to get used to the real test interface and timer.
- Analyze every mock test – note the questions skipped, the errors made and the time spent per question – and fix weak topics.
- For Officer posts, practise descriptive writing – essays and letters – since the Mains/Single exam includes a descriptive paper.
- Prepare for the interview with general banking knowledge, your own application details, and current affairs; interviews are qualifying so clear the minimum marks comfortably.
- Keep your documents, degree certificates and category certificates ready early, as they are needed at the time of document verification.
FAQs
Q: Is the IBPS RRB exam conducted every year?
A: Yes. IBPS conducts the CRP-RRBs examination every year for recruitment in Regional Rural Banks, most recently as CRP-RRBs-XIV (2025-26).
Q: How many times can a candidate appear for the IBPS RRB exam?
A: There is no restriction on the number of attempts. A candidate can apply every year as long as they are within the maximum age limit and meet other eligibility conditions.
Q: Is there an interview for the Office Assistant (Clerk) post?
A: No. Office Assistant selection is based purely on the Main examination score followed by provisional allotment and document verification. The interview is applicable only for Officer Scale I, II and III.
Q: Can the exam be attempted in Hindi medium?
A: Yes. All IBPS RRB objective papers can be attempted in either English or Hindi, except the language paper itself, which is attempted in the language of the candidate's choice (English or Hindi).
Q: What is the negative marking scheme?
A: In all objective tests, 0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer. Questions left unanswered attract no penalty.
Q: Are final-year students eligible to apply?
A: Candidates who are yet to complete their degree can apply only if they can produce the required degree certificate by the date specified in the notification. In CRP-RRBs-XIV, candidates who completed their degree or were in their final year by the specified date could apply provisionally.
Keep checking the official IBPS website for the latest CRP-RRBs notifications, syllabus and schedule updates.