IBPS PO 2020 Selection Process- Prelims, Main Exam and Interview
Updated On -
Jun 2, 2020
Content Curator
IBPS PO 2020 Selection Procedure comprises three stages– Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Interview Round. There is a single IBPS PO Application Form for all the three stages, however, separate admit cards are released for each exam.
- Candidates who will qualify Preliminary exam will appear in the main exam.
- Similarly, candidates who qualify the Main exam will have to appear in the Interview round.
- Finally, Interview qualifiers will be recruited as Probationary Officers in participating banks.
- On the basis of IBPS PO 2020 Cutoff, candidates will be promoted to the next stages.
- Preliminary Exam Scores are not taken into account while making the final merit list.
- Main Exam and Interview scores, in the ratio 80:20, will determine the final selection of candidates.
IBPS PO 2020 Selection Procedure
There are three phases in IBPS PO 2020 Selection Procedure namely Prelims, Main, and Interview. Candidates have to appear and qualify all the 3 phases to be eligible for Provisional Allotment. Characteristics of each stage of the selection procedure are provided below:
IBPS PO 2020 Preliminary Exam
The Preliminary Examination for IBPS PO 2020 is scheduled for October 3, 4, and 10, 2020. This is the first stage in the IBPS PO Selection Process. It includes an online test consisting of 3 sections- English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability.
- Exam Duration: 60 minutes (20 minutes for each section)
- Total Questions: 100 (Quantitative Aptitude – 35 + Reasoning Ability – 35 + English Language – 30)
- Total Marks: 100 marks (1 mark per question)
- Question Type: MCQs (Multiple Type Questions)
Candidates will have to score sectional as well as an overall cutoff in order to clear the Preliminary exam.
IBPS PO 2020 Main Exam
IBPS PO Main Exam is conducted in both online and offline mode. It has an objective paper and a descriptive paper. IBPS PO Main Exam is scheduled for November 28, 2020. There are 4 sections in the exam- English Language, Data Interpretation and Analysis, Reasoning and Computer Awareness, General/ Banking and Economy Awareness. Descriptive Paper has only 2 questions i.e. Essay and Letter Writing. It will carry 25 marks and 30 minutes to attempt the section. Read How to Prepare for Descriptive Paper?
- Exam Duration: 210 minutes (Objective Paper- 180, Descriptive Paper- 30)
- Total Questions: 157 (Objective Paper-155, Descriptive Paper-2)
- Total Marks: 225 marks (Objective Paper-200, Descriptive Paper- 25)
- Questions Type: (Objective Paper-MCQs, Descriptive Paper- Written)
The Descriptive Paper will only be examined if the candidate clears the objective paper.
IBPS PO 2020 Interview
The Interview Round for IBPS PO 2020 is the final step in the Selection Procedure.
- Interview Round will be of 100 marks.
- It will be a face to face interaction conducted in offline mode only.
- Interviews will be organized by the participating and nodal banks in each state.
- Candidates’ personal traits and communication skills are tested in the interview.
- The candidates must attain 40% (35% for reserved category) to finally qualify for IBPS PO.
Check IBPS PO 2020 Exam Pattern
Documents Required for IBPS PO 2020 Interview
Candidates must produce the following documents in original and their self attested photocopies in support of their eligibility for IBPS PO 2020
- IBPS PO Interview Call Letter
- IBPS PO Online Application Form
- Date of Birth Proof
- Photo Identify Proof
- Graduation Mark-sheets/ Degree/ Certificates or equivalent qualification result dated on or before August 28, 2020
- Caste Certificate issued by the competent authority in the prescribed format as stipulated by the Government of India. The caste certificate of the OBC category must indicate that they belong to the non-creamy layer.
- Income and Asset Certificate issued by competent authorities of Government of India in the prescribed format for EWS category candidates.
- Disability certificate in the prescribed format issued by the District Medical Board for PWD category
- In case the candidate has used the services of a Scribe then duly filled in details of the scribe in the prescribed format has to be produced.
- Ex-serviceman candidates have to produce a copy of the Service or Discharge book along with pension payment order and documentary proof of rank held.
- Candidates presently serving in defence have to submit a certificate from a competent authority that they will be relieved from the services on or before August 27, 2020.
- Candidates serving in Government/ quasi govt offices/ Public Sector Undertakings/ Nationalised Banks and Financial Institutions are required to produce a “No Objection Certificate” from their employer.
- Persons eligible for age relaxation as Jammu and Kashmir domiciled must produce the domicile certificate
- Persons eligible for age relaxation as 1984 riots affected must produce a certificate from the District Magistrate certifying the same.
- Experience Letters (Optional)
- Any other relevant documents in support of eligibility
Read How to Prepare for IBPS PO Interview Round?
Issuing Authorities for Reserved Category Candidates
The candidates applying and seeking relaxation under various reserved categories such as SC/SC/OBC/PwD are required to obtain the requisite certificates from the authorities designated by Govt. of India.
Certificates issued by any other authority would not be considered valid. The competent authorities for issuance of documents are listed in the table below.
| Category | Required Documents | Issuing Authorities |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes/ Other Backward Classes | SC/ST caste certificate, OBC-NCL Certificate | District Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, Collector, Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Collector, First Class Stipendiary Magistrate, City Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (not below the rank of First Class Stipendiary Magistrate), Taluk Magistrate, Executive Magistrate, Extra Assistant Commissioner |
| Chief Presidency Magistrate, Additional Chief Presidency Magistrate, Presidency Magistrate | ||
| Revenue Officer (not below the rank of Tehsildar) | ||
| Sub-divisional officer of the Area where the candidate or his family resides | ||
| Persons With Disabilities (PwD) | Disability Certificate I / Disability Certificate II / Disability Certificate III | Medical Board at the District level consisting of Chief Medical Officer, Sub-Divisional Medical Officer in the District and an Orthopaedic / Ophthalmic / ENT Surgeon |
IBPS PO 2020 Provisional Allotment
Candidates qualifying all the stages of the recruitment and fulfilling the eligibility criteria in all aspects will be provisionally allotted in participating banks.
- Shortlisted candidates will be provisionally allotted based on merit-cum-preference for the vacancies reported by participating organisations.
- Tie Breaking: In case two or more candidates obtain the same score then the candidate elder in age will be ranked above the candidate younger in age.
- Government of India guidelines on reservation policy and other rules and regulations, administrative exigency, etc will be followed while making the allotment.
- The provisional allotment is subject to the candidate’s fulfilling the criteria for Participating Organisation and identity verification to the satisfaction of the allotted organisation.
- Since the provisional allotment is made to participating organisations on merit cum preference basis, no request for change will be entertained.
- Further, if a candidate who is provisionally allotted does not avail the offer of appointment from the Participating Organisation, his candidature will be cancelled.
- Issuance of offer of appointment including terms and conditions, formalities for verification, joining etc. is solely the decision of the Participating Organisations and shall be final and binding.
- A reserve list of up to 10 percent of the vacancies under each category may be made depending on the availability of candidates.
- In case, Participating Organisations provides further vacancies during April 2020-March 2021, provisional allotment will be carried out for the candidates from that reserve list.
- The reserve list will expire automatically on March 31, 2021 without any notice.
- The decision of IBPS in provisional allotment of Organisations will be final and binding upon the selected candidates.
- However, IBPS reserves the right to cancel, reallot Organisation-wise allocation or change the process depending upon exigencies or otherwise.
- IBPS PO Recruitment is an All India cadre and provisionally allotted candidates may be posted anywhere in India/ outside India as per discretion of the participating organisation.
Read about IBPS PO Vacancies and Salary
IBPS PO Selection Process Faqs
Q1) What is the selection process for IBPS PO?
Ans. Selection Process for IBPS PO involves 3 steps. First step is the Preliminary Exam, which is followed by the Main Exam. Candidates who clear the Main exam have to appear for Interview, which is the last stage of selection process.
Q2) When will the exams be held?
Ans. The Preliminary round will be conducted on October 12, 13,19 and 20, 2020. The Main exam will be held on November 30, 2020.
Q3) Are the exams online?
Ans. Yes, both preliminary and main exam are Computer Based Exam i.e. Online exams.
Q4) Will I need to fill a separate form for the Main exam?
Ans. No, only a single form would suffice. If you clear the Preliminary exam, you will get the call letter (or admit card) for main exam, without filling any separate form.
Q5) How will I receive the call letter?
Ans. Call letters or Admit Cards will not be sent by post. You will have to download your admit card from the official website. You may get notified about availability of admit cards for selection, but it is advisable to keep on checking the website.
Q6) What is the age limit for applying for IBPS PO?
Ans. The minimum age for applying for IBPS PO is 20 years and maximum is 30 years as on August 1, 2020.
Q7) I belong to OBC (Non-Creamy) Category; will I get any age relaxation for the exam?
Ans. Yes, NC OBC candidates will get relaxation of 3 years on upper age limit, which means that maximum age for them is 33 years. Similarly, SC, ST, Ex-servicemen, ECOs, SSCOs (subject to conditions), Persons affected by 1984 riots and J&K Domiciles (between 1st January 1980 to 31st December 1989) will get a relaxation of 5 years. Persons will benchmark disability will get a relaxation of 10 years.
Q9) What is the minimum percentage required in graduation for applying for IBPS PO?
Ans. There is no minimum percentage criteria provided in the notification. You just need to be a graduate to apply for the exam.
Q10)Where can I apply for IBPS PO?
Ans. One can apply for the exam on the official website of IBPS, which is ibps.in.
Q11)Do I need to produce a caste certificate during the selection process?
Ans. For a candidate who does not belong to General Category, Caste Certificate is necessary. It is not needed while filling the form, but it is necessary in the later stages.
Q12) Which subjects will I need to study for Preliminary Examination?
Ans. For this, one should be aware of the examination pattern for the preliminary exams. The exam comprises of 100 multiple choice questions, which are to be completed in 1 hour. 30 questions will be from English Language, 35 from Reasoning and 35 from Quantitative Ability. This way, you will need to study English, Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude.
Q13) What is the examination pattern for Main Examination?
Ans. Main examination consists of 2 parts, objective and descriptive. The objective test consists of 155 questions which are to be completed in 3 hours. The descriptive test consists of 2 questions, to be completed in 30 minutes.
Q14) Is there any sectional cut off for selection?
Ans. Yes, you will have to clear the sectional cutoffs for each and every section, along with the overall cutoff.
Q16) Can I appear for the exams in Hindi Medium?
Ans. Yes, Hindi Medium is allowed for IBPS PO. However, the language section (English Language) will still be in English. Rest of the sections like Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, Banking Awareness etc will be in Hindi.
Q17) Can I attempt the descriptive test in Hindi?
Ans. No, the descriptive test can only be attempted in English.
Q18) When will the interviews take place?
Ans. Interviews will tentatively take place in the month of January and February of 2020.
Q19) If I clear the exam, by what time will I be allotted a bank?
Ans. Provision allotments will be done by April, 2020.
Q20) Which all banks participate in the selection process of IBPS PO?
Ans. A total of 20 banks participate in the process. These are –Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Central Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Dena Bank, IDBI Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab National Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Allahabad Bank, Andhra Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Syndicate Bank, UCO Bank, Union Bank of India, United Bank of India and Vijaya Bank. However, the number of participating banks can also increase or decrease.
Q21) How many people get selected for job?
Ans. A total number of 4336 vacancies have been notified in IBPS PO Notification 2020.
Q22) What is the cost of applying for IBPS PO?
Ans. The application fee for SC, ST and PWD candidates is INR 100. The fee for rest of the candidates is INR 600.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.