IBPS CRP CSA XVI Clerk Syllabus 2026 – Prelims & Mains Complete Exam Pattern, Section-wise Marks, Timing, Age Limit | Official Notification
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
Delhi - Pan India (participating public sector banks)
Salary
Pay scale as per the pay bands and CTC approved by the participating banks for Customer Service Associate / Junior Associate posts, as notified by IBPS.
⚠ Please verify all details (dates, eligibility, vacancies) from the official notification before applying. Rojgarpulse is an information aggregator and not a government body.
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Important Dates 2026
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Application Fee 2026
Application fee as per the official notification for CRP-CSA-XVI (general and reserved categories, plus late-intimation charges where applicable).
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Age Limit 2026
Minimum Age
20 Years
Maximum Age
28 Years
Age relaxation applicable as per govt rules for SC/ST/OBC/PwD/Ex-Servicemen.
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Eligibility Criteria 2026
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Qualification / Education
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Job Details & Overview
IBPS CRP-CSA-XVI (Clerk / Customer Service Associate) 2026 – Complete Exam Pattern
Compiled from the official IBPS Notification for Common Recruitment Process for CRP-CSA-XVI for vacancies of 2027-28 in participating public sector banks. Every section, question count, mark allocation, sectional timer and age limit below is taken from the notification, which states that the topic-wise syllabus is published separately in the Information Handout issued with the call letters.
Overview
| Conducting body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
|---|---|
| Process | Common Recruitment Process (CRP) – Clerical Cadre, CRP CSA XVI |
| Post | Customer Service Associate (Clerk) / Junior Associate in participating public sector banks |
| Vacancy year | 2027-28 |
| Official notification | Notification for Common Recruitment Process for CRP-CSA-XVI, dated 01 Aug 2026 |
| Official source link | Notification_CRP_CSA_XVI-Final.pdf |
| Structure | Two stages – Online Preliminary Examination (Objective Test) followed by Online Main Examination (Objective Test) |
| Shortlisting | Candidates must secure the cut-off in each of the three Preliminary tests; IBPS then shortlists adequate candidates per category as per requirement. |
| Topic-wise syllabus | Published in the Information Handout, downloadable from the IBPS website along with the call letters – not reproduced in the notification itself. |
| State/UT restriction | A candidate can apply for vacancies in any one State/UT only. The medium of examination varies by State/UT. |
Preliminary Examination (Objective Test)
Each test is separately timed. Total 100 questions / 100 marks in 60 minutes.
| # | Test | Medium | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English Language | English | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Numerical Ability * | State/UT language | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability * | State/UT language | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
* Medium as per the version of tests applicable to the State/UT applied for. Any change in the structure of the examination will be intimated through the official IBPS website.
Main Examination (Objective Test)
Tests are not by sequence and each is separately timed. Total 160 questions / 200 marks in 125 minutes.
| # | Test (not by sequence) | Medium | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General / Financial Awareness * | State/UT language | 40 | 50 | 20 minutes |
| 2 | General English | English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability * | State/UT language | 40 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| 4 | Quantitative Aptitude * | State/UT language | 40 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| Total | 160 | 200 | 125 minutes |
Subject Weighting at a Glance
| Subject | Prelims Q | Prelims Marks | Mains Q | Mains Marks | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language / General English | 30 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 70 |
| Numerical Ability / Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 40 | 50 | 85 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 40 | 60 | 95 |
| General / Financial Awareness | – | – | 40 | 50 | 50 |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 160 | 200 | 300 |
Reasoning Ability is the highest-weighted subject at 95 marks across both stages, followed by Quantitative Aptitude / Numerical Ability at 85. General Awareness appears only in the Main Examination.
Eligibility
| Age limit | Minimum 20 years, Maximum 28 years. The maximum age limit as specified applies to General Category candidates and is relaxable for SC/ST and other categories as per Government of India rules – the notification carries the full relaxation table. |
|---|---|
| Educational qualification | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university as prescribed in the notification. The notification also carries the state/UT-wise relaxation in minimum qualification for certain candidates. |
| State/UT choice | Applications may be submitted for vacancies in one State/UT only, with the State/UT determining the medium of examination. |
| Cut-off | Candidates must qualify each Preliminary test by securing the cut-off marks decided by IBPS. Final merit is based on the Main Examination score. |
Medium of Examination by State/UT
The notification publishes a State/UT-wise table of test versions. Examples include Andhra Pradesh (English, Hindi and Telugu), Assam (English, Hindi and Assamese), Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Bihar and others (English and Hindi), with further State/UT-specific combinations listed in the official document.
Preparation Guidance
Derived strictly from the weightings and timings in the official notification:
- Practise to the sectional timer, not the total. Preliminary has three 20-minute blocks; Main has 20 / 35 / 35 / 35. Uniform pacing across 60 or 125 minutes will cost you marks in the shorter blocks.
- Reasoning Ability carries the most weight (95 marks). It appears in both stages – 35 questions in Prelims and 40 questions for 60 marks in Mains, the single largest block in the Main Examination.
- Quant is the second-heaviest at 85 marks, and it changes name between stages – Numerical Ability in Prelims, Quantitative Aptitude in Mains.
- General Awareness is Mains-only. It does not appear in the Preliminary Examination at all, so those 50 marks are entirely a second-stage preparation task.
- English is 70 marks across both stages and is the only subject held in English in both, so it is the one area unaffected by the State/UT medium.
- Main Examination tests are ‘not by sequence’. The notification states this explicitly, so you may be given any order – do not build a fixed test sequence into your practice schedule.
- Choose your State/UT carefully. It fixes both the medium of three of the four Main tests and the only State/UT you may apply to.
Official Source Links
- Official CRP-CSA-XVI Notification (01 Aug 2026): https://www.ibps.in/wp-content/uploads/Notification_CRP_CSA_XVI-Final.pdf
- Corrigendum dated 29.09.2026: https://www.ibps.in/wp-content/uploads/Corrigendum-CRP-CSA_XVI_29.09.2026.pdf
- Updated vacancies as on 29.09.2026: https://www.ibps.in/wp-content/uploads/Annexure_Corrigendum_29.09.2026.pdf
- IBPS CRP Clerical Cadre page: https://www.ibps.in/index.php/clerical-cadre-xvi/
- IBPS homepage: https://www.ibps.in
FAQ
1. What is the exam pattern for IBPS CRP CSA XVI?
Two stages. Preliminary Examination: 100 questions / 100 marks / 60 minutes – English Language (30Q/30M/20 min), Numerical Ability (35Q/35M/20 min), Reasoning Ability (35Q/35M/20 min). Main Examination: 160 questions / 200 marks / 125 minutes – General/Financial Awareness (40Q/50M/20 min), General English (40Q/40M/35 min), Reasoning Ability (40Q/60M/35 min), Quantitative Aptitude (40Q/50M/35 min). Every test is separately timed.
2. Which subject carries the most marks in the IBPS Clerk exam?
Reasoning Ability, with 95 marks total – 35 in Prelims plus 60 in Mains. Quantitative Aptitude/Numerical Ability follows at 85 marks, English at 70, and General/Financial Awareness at 50 (Mains only).
3. Is there negative marking in the IBPS Clerk exam?
The CRP-CSA-XVI notification sets out section-wise marks and sectional timers but does not publish a separate negative-marking value in the structure of examination table. Candidates should treat the official Information Handout issued with the call letters as authoritative on marking and penalty.
4. What is the age limit for CRP CSA XVI?
Minimum 20 years and maximum 28 years. The maximum as specified applies to General Category candidates, with relaxation for SC/ST and other categories per Government of India rules.
5. Does the main examination have a descriptive paper?
No. The CRP-CSA-XVI Main Examination is a four-section Objective Test totalling 160 questions and 200 marks in 125 minutes. A separately marked descriptive or English-writing paper is not part of this notification’s structure.
6. Where is the topic-wise syllabus published?
In the Information Handout. The notification states that other detailed information regarding the examination will be given in an Information Handout made available for download from the IBPS website along with the call letters.
7. Can I apply for more than one State or UT?
No. Candidates can apply for vacancies in any one State/UT only, and that choice also determines the medium of examination for the tests marked with an asterisk.
8. Are the Main Examination tests in a fixed order?
No. The notification explicitly labels the Main Examination tests as ‘NOT BY SEQUENCE’, so the order may vary. Each test is separately timed regardless.
9. How many vacancies are there?
The notification publishes indicative and anticipated State-wise and category-wise vacancies for 2027-28, drawn from the participating banks. The notification states these are subject to change based on actual vacancies reported, and publishes updated vacancy annexures by corrigendum – the latest as on 29.09.2026.
10. How is the medium of examination decided?
By the State/UT for which you apply. The notification contains a State/UT-wise table of test versions – for example Andhra Pradesh is English, Hindi and Telugu, Assam is English, Hindi and Assamese, while several State/UTs use English and Hindi.
All content on this page is derived from the official IBPS notification and its corrigenda, linked above.
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What is IBPS CRP CSA XVI Clerk Syllabus 2026 – Prelims & Mains Complete Exam Pattern, Section-wise Marks, Timing, Age Limit | Official Notification?
IBPS CRP CSA XVI Clerk Syllabus 2026 – Prelims & Mains Complete Exam Pattern, Section-wise Marks, Timing, Age Limit | Official Notification is a government recruitment notification published by Institute of Banking Personnel Selection. Apply before the last date to be considered for the post.
When do applications open for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Recruitment 2026?
Online applications for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Recruitment 2026 start on 01 August 2026.
What is the application fee for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Recruitment 2026?
Application fee as per the official notification for CRP-CSA-XVI (general and reserved categories, plus late-intimation charges where applicable).
What is the age limit for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Recruitment 2026?
Maximum age limit for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Recruitment 2026 is 28 years as on the cutoff date, subject to applicable relaxations.
What is the qualification required for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Recruitment 2026?
Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university, as prescribed in the official CRP-CSA-XVI notification. The notification provides state/UT-wise relaxation in the minimum educational qualification for certain candidates, and requires all other eligibility clauses (age, relaxation, candidature conditions and cut-off) to be met.
How to apply for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Recruitment 2026?
Apply online through the official application link or official website listed above for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Recruitment 2026. Always verify all details from the official notification before applying.