IBPS SO Study Material 2026: Download Study Notes PDF for Prelims & Mains
IBPS SO 2026 is held in three stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview with final selection in an 80:20 ratio of Mains and Interview marks. Under the revised CRP SPL-XVI pattern, Prelims has 100 questions for 125 marks (including Professional Knowledge for the first time) and Mains carries 225 marks focused on the post specific PK paper. Compiled section-wise IBPS SO notes for all the sections are available for download below.
IBPS SO Study Notes PDFs for English Section
IBPS SO English Language section in Prelims carries 25 questions for 25 marks in a 20 minute sectional window. It is a high scoring section because most questions test either comprehension speed or fixed grammar rules that improve sharply with practice. The study notes below cover every topic of the IBPS SO syllabus for faster revision.
| IBPS SO English Topic | IBPS SO Study Material PDF |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Reading Comprehension |
| Cloze Test | Cloze Test |
| Fill in the Blanks | Fill in the Blanks (single & double) |
| Para Jumbles & Sentence Rearrangement | Para Jumbles / Sentence Rearrangement |
| Paragraph Completion & Sentence Connectors | Paragraph Completion; Sentence Connectors |
| Error Spotting, Sentence Correction & Phrase Replacement | Error Spotting; Sentence Improvement / Correction; Phrase Replacement |
| Word Substitution | Word Usage / Word Swap |
| Synonyms & Antonyms | Synonyms & Antonyms |
| Idioms, Phrases & One Word Substitution | Idioms & Phrases; One Word Substitution |
| Grammar - Tenses & Subject-Verb Agreement | Tenses; Subject-Verb Agreement |
| Grammar - Nouns | Kinds of Noun, Types of Noun, Rules for Singular and Plural Nouns |
| Grammar - Pronouns | Meaning, Types of Pronouns, Practice Questions |
| Grammar - Adverbs | Meaning, What do Adverbs modify?, Rules |
| Grammar - Adjectives | Meaning, Degrees of Adjectives, Forming Comparative and Superlatives of Irregular Adjectives |
| Grammar - Articles | A, An, The, Rules, Examples |
| Grammar - Prepositions | Meaning, Uses, Prepositions, or conjunctions? |
| Grammar - Conjunctions | Coordinating Conjunctions, Correlative Conjunctions, Subordinating Conjunctions |
| Grammar - Active/Passive Voice | Active/Passive Voice |
| Grammar - Direct/Indirect Speech | Direct/Indirect Speech |
IBPS SO Study Notes PDFs for Reasoning Ability Section
IBPS SO Reasoning Ability section has 25 questions worth 25 marks and must be attempted within a 20 minute sectional limit. It is often the section that decides whether a candidate clears the IBPS SO Prelims cutoff. Most of the paper comes from puzzles and seating arrangements, with the rest made up of shorter topics such as Syllogism, Inequality, Coding-Decoding, and Blood Relations. The topic-wise notes for this section are listed below.
| IBPS SO Reasoning Ability Topic | IBPS SO Study Material PDF |
|---|---|
| Syllogism & Inequality | Syllogism (basic, possibility, reverse); Inequality (basic & coded) |
| Coding-Decoding | Coding-Decoding (old & new pattern) |
| Blood Relations | Blood Relations |
| Direction & Distance | Direction & Distance |
| Order & Ranking | Order & Ranking |
| Series & Alphabet Test | Alphanumeric Series; Alphabet Test; Number Series (reasoning-based) |
| Seating Arrangement Puzzles (Linear, Circular & Square) | Linear Seating; Circular / Square Seating |
| Complex Puzzles (Floor, Box, Scheduling & Comparison) | Floor-based; Box-based; Day/Month/Year Scheduling; Categorised / Comparison |
| Data Sufficiency & Input-Output | Data Sufficiency; Input-Output |
| Analogy, Classification & Venn Diagrams | Analogy & Classification; Venn Diagrams |
| Logical Reasoning - Statement & Conclusion + Statement & Assumption | Statement & Conclusion; Statement & Assumption |
| Logical Reasoning - Cause & Effect + Course of Action | Cause & Effect; Course of Action |
IBPS SO Study Notes PDFs for Quantitative Aptitude Section
The Quantitative Aptitude section carries 25 questions for 25 marks in Prelims and applies to IT Officer, AFO, HR, and Marketing Officer posts (Law Officer and Rajbhasha candidates get General Awareness instead). The paper is split between arithmetic word problems, Number Series, Quadratic Equations, and 2–3 Data Interpretation sets. The topic-wise study material is compiled below in grouped clusters for faster preparation.
| IBPS SO Quantitative Aptitude Topic | IBPS SO Study Material PDF |
|---|---|
| Simplification & Approximation | Simplification; Approximation |
| Number System, LCM & HCF | Number System; LCM & HCF |
| Number Series (Quant) | Number Series (missing & wrong term) |
| Quadratic & Algebraic Equations | Quadratic Equations / Algebraic Equations |
| Percentage, Ratio & Proportion | Percentage; Ratio & Proportion |
| Average, Ages & Partnership | Average; Ages; Partnership |
| Profit, Loss, Discount & Interest | Profit, Loss & Discount; Simple Interest & Compound Interest |
| Mixture & Alligation | Mixture & Alligation |
| Time, Work & Pipes-Cisterns | Time & Work; Pipes & Cisterns |
| Time, Speed, Distance, Trains, Boats & Streams | Time, Speed & Distance; Problems on Trains; Boats & Streams |
| Mensuration + Permutation, Combination & Probability | Mensuration (2D & 3D); Permutation, Combination & Probability |
| Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency | DI - Tabular; DI - Bar/Line/Pie; DI - Caselet; DI - Missing DI; Data Sufficiency (quant) |
IBPS SO Study Notes PDFs for Professional Knowledge Section
Professional Knowledge is the most important section in IBPS SO because the Mains merit list is prepared only on the basis of PK marks, while the other Mains sections are just qualifying. From 2026, PK is also part of Prelims, with 25 questions for 50 marks in 20 minutes, so candidates need to start post-specific preparation early. The syllabus is different for each of the six posts, and the post-wise topics and notes are given below.
| IBPS SO Post-wise Topics | IBPS SO Study Material PDF |
|---|---|
| IT Officer | 1. Database Management Systems (DBMS) 2. Data Structures 3. Computer Networks 4. Operating Systems 5. Software Engineering & SDLC 6. Programming (C, OOPs concepts) 7. Web Technologies (HTML, XML, protocols) 8. Data Communication 9. Computer Organization & Architecture 10. Information Security & Cryptography 11. Cloud Computing & Emerging Tech |
| Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) | 1. Agronomy & Field Crops 2. Soil Science & Soil Fertility 3. Horticulture 4. Plant Protection (Pests, Diseases, Weeds) 5. Agricultural Economics 6. Animal Husbandry & Dairy 7. Agricultural Engineering & Irrigation 8. Seed Science & Technology 9. Agri Extension & Rural Development 10. Government Schemes for Agriculture 11. Agri Finance & Agri Insurance |
| HR / Personnel Officer | 1. Human Resource Management (basics) 2. Human Resource Development 3. Industrial Relations 4. Labour Laws (Factories Act, ID Act, Payment of Wages, etc.) 5. Recruitment & Selection 6. Training & Development 7. Performance Appraisal 8. Compensation Management 9. Organisational Behaviour 10. Business Policy & Strategic Management 11. Grievance & Discipline Management |
| Marketing Officer | 1. Marketing Basics & Marketing Mix (4Ps/7Ps) 2. Product Life Cycle & Product Management 3. Pricing Strategies 4. Distribution / Place 5. Promotion & Advertising 6. Consumer Behaviour 7. Market Segmentation, Targeting & Positioning 8. Brand Management 9. Retail Management 10. Services Marketing 11. Digital & Social Media Marketing 12. Sales Management & CRM 13. Marketing Research |
| Law Officer | 1. Banking Regulation Act & RBI Act 2. Negotiable Instruments Act 3. SARFAESI Act & DRT 4. Consumer Protection Act 5. Contract Act & Indian Partnership Act 6. Companies Act (basics) 7. Transfer of Property Act 8. Limitation Act & Registration Act 9. IPC / CrPC / Evidence Act (basics) 10. Constitution of India (fundamental rights, writs) 11. Cyber Law & IT Act 12. Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 13. Consumer & Banking Ombudsman Scheme |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari | 1. Hindi Grammar (Sandhi, Samas, Alankar, Ras, etc.) 2. Hindi Vocabulary & Word Formation 3. Translation — English to Hindi 4. Translation — Hindi to English 5. Hindi Literature (major writers & works) 6. Official Language Policy & Rajbhasha Adhiniyam 1963 7. Rajbhasha Niyam 1976 8. Constitutional Provisions on Official Language (Art. 343–351) 9. Banking Terminology in Hindi 10. Noting & Drafting in Hindi 11. Essay Writing (Hindi) 12. Paribhashik Shabdavali (technical terms) |
Best Books for IBPS SO 2026 Preparation
Along with topic-wise notes, candidates should refer to standard reference books for concept building and exam-level practice. For common subjects, one theory book plus one practice book is usually enough; for Professional Knowledge, a post-specific guide should be paired with a standard graduation level textbook. The most widely recommended books for IBPS SO 2026 are listed below.
| Section / Post | Recommended Books |
|---|---|
| English Language | Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi (Arihant); Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis; High School English Grammar & Composition by Wren & Martin |
| Reasoning Ability | A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal; Analytical Reasoning by M.K. Pandey; Puzzle & Seating Arrangement by Adda247 Publications |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal; Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Rajesh Verma (Arihant); Magical Book on Quicker Maths by M. Tyra |
| IT Officer (PK) | Objective Computer Awareness by Arihant Experts; IBPS SO IT Officer Professional Knowledge by Kiran Publications |
| AFO (PK) | Agriculture at a Glance by R.K. Sharma; IBPS SO AFO Professional Knowledge by Arihant |
| HR Officer (PK) | Human Resource Management by K. Aswathappa; IBPS SO HR Officer Guide by Kiran / Adda247 |
| Marketing Officer (PK) | Marketing Management by Philip Kotler; IBPS SO Marketing Officer Guide by Arihant |
| Law Officer (PK) | IBPS SO Law Officer Professional Knowledge by Arihant; Banking Law & Practice in India by M.L. Tannan |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (PK) | IBPS SO Rajbhasha Adhikari Guide by Kiran Publications; Samanya Hindi by Lucent |
Candidates preparing for IBPS SO 2026 should divide their study plan into two parts, a common track covering English, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude for Prelims, and a parallel post-specific track for Professional Knowledge that runs through both Prelims and Mains. Use the topic-wise notes above for concept clarity, back them up with previous year papers and sectional mocks tests, and revise weak areas repeatedly instead of leaving them for the end.
IBPS SO Study Material 2026 FAQs
Ques: Which section carries the highest weightage in IBPS SO 2026?
Ans: Professional Knowledge, it carries 50 marks in Prelims and is the only section that counts for Mains merit; all others are qualifying.
Ques: Is NCERT reading enough for IBPS SO Professional Knowledge?
Ans: No. NCERTs give basics, but PK is graduation level, so you need a post specific IBPS SO guide plus a standard subject textbook.
Ques: Can I switch my post after starting IBPS SO preparation?
Ans: Switching is risky because Professional Knowledge syllabi are completely different across the six posts and take 4-5 months to master.
Ques: How many mock tests should I attempt before IBPS SO Prelims?
Ans: At least 25-30 full length Prelims mocks and 15-20 PK sectional mocks, along with the last 5 years of previous year papers.
Ques: Is there sectional cutoff in IBPS SO Prelims and Mains?
Ans: Yes. Candidates must clear the minimum cutoff for each section individually, in addition to the overall cutoff, at both stages.
Ques: Does IBPS SO have a descriptive paper?
Ans: Yes, but only for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari, a 25 mark descriptive paper in Mains with 2 questions in 30 minutes.
Ques: Are current affairs important for IBPS SO?
Ans: Yes for Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari (through GA) and for the Interview stage across all posts, covering the last 4-6 months.
Ques: What is the ideal 3 month preparation plan for IBPS SO?
Ans: Month 1 for concepts (PK + common subjects), Month 2 for sectional practice and PYQs, Month 3 for full length mocks and revision.
Download the PREPP App and attempt FREE IBPS SO Mock Tests and get complete study material!
Full Test - 05 : IBPS SO (Mains) LO (Law Officer)
Full Test - 04 : IBPS SO (Mains) LO (Law Officer)
IBPS SO (Agri. & IT Officer) (Prelims) Memory Based Paper (28-Dec-2019)
IBPS SO 2019 (Agriculture and IT Officer) Prelims Memory Based Paper (28-Dec-2019)
17 February 2025 | The Hindu Must Read Articles | Current Affairs
16 February 2026 | The Hindu Must Read Articles | Current Affairs
13 February 2026 | The Hindu Must Read Articles | Current Affairs
Comments