The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) organizes the banking clerk (Customer Service Associate) exam every year to select candidates for clerical posts in different Public Sector Banks in India. This exam is a platform for those who want to join the banking industry and work towards customer service and banking operations. IBPS Clerk exam is a part of the Common Recruitment Process (CRP) and is now officially referred to as CRP-CSA (Common Recruitment Process for Recruitment of Customer Service Associates).

The upcoming IBPS Clerk exam for the year 2025-2026 is named CRP CSA-XV, marking its 15th edition.

Tentative Dates for IBPS CRP CSA-XV

Preliminary Examination: 06 December 2025, 07 December 2025, 13 December 2025, and 14 December 2025

Mains Exam: 01 February 2026

The selection process is carefully designed by IBPS, consisting of a preliminary exam and a mains exam. Candidates need to clear both phases successfully to be eligible for the much-desired job. This exhaustive guide is intended to give aspirants a thorough insight into the IBPS Clerk exam, covering every aspect of it.

Process of Registration for IBPS CRP CSA-XV: The registration process will be online mode only and there will be a single registration for both Preliminary and Main examinations, wherever applicable.

Also Read: What is the Role of IBPS in Bank Recruitment?

Understanding the IBPS Clerk CSA Exam

IBPS Clerk examination is a competitive exam aimed at testing applicants on several parameters, ranging from knowledge to aptitude and reasoning skills. The examination is held online and consists of objective-type questions. The recruitment process is transparent and merit-oriented, ensuring that the most deserving people are hired.

Major highlights of the IBPS Clerk Exam:

• Conducting Body: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
• Exam Name: IBPS Clerk (CRP-CSA)
• Objective: Recruitment of Clerical Cadre in Public Sector Banks
• Stages: Preliminary Exam and Mains Exam
• Participating Banks: Different Public Sector Banks in India
• Frequency: Yearly

Exam Structure

The IBPS Clerk exam is conducted in two phases:

• Preliminary Exam (Prelims)
• Mains Exam

Aspirants need to pass both exams to be selected for clerical positions in Public Sector Banks. Interestingly, there is no interview round, and 100% weightage is assigned to the Mains exam score.

Let’s delve deeper into the exam structure.

1. Preliminary Exam (Prelims)

Preliminary Exam serves as the initial screening process. It is designed to assess a candidate’s basic understanding of English Language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability. Candidates have to complete the question paper within 20 minutes per section. The overall mark of the paper is 100 and the passing marks is determined by IBPS that will probably change annually based upon the difficulty level of the test. Candidates must pass in all the three tests with minimum cut-off marks to be determined by IBPS. Sufficient number of candidates in each category as determined by IBPS based on requirement will be shortlisted for Online Main Examination.

Sectional Time Allocation:

• Duration: 60 minutes (1 hour)
• Total Questions: 100
• Total Marks: 100
• Negative Marking: 0.25 marks per incorrect answer

2. Mains Exam

Candidates who successfully clear the Preliminary Exam are qualified to sit for Mains Exam. Mains Exam is more comprehensive and assesses candidates on a wider range of subjects, such as Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude, Quantitative Aptitude, English Language and General/Financial Awareness.  In the past, both Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude sections used to be separately carried out. Both these sections were merged in IBPS’s most recent update to form one combined section now termed as Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude. This new section will comprise 50 questions, and candidates would have 45 minutes in order to resolve them.

• Duration: 160 minutes (2 hours 40 minutes)
• Total Questions: 190
• Total Marks: 200
• Negative Marking: 0.25 marks per incorrect answer

Sectional Time Allocation:

Penalty for Incorrect Answers:

There is a penalty for wrong answers for both Preliminary and Mains examinations. One-fourth of the marks allocated to the question will be deducted for every incorrect answer. No penalty will be imposed for blank or left-out questions.

Final Score Calculation for IBPS Clerk Exam:

Final score is determined based on the following:

• Marks obtained in the Preliminary Exam (Phase-1) are not used for final selection.
• Applicants should clear Phase 2 (Mains Exam) to become eligible for the final merit list.
• The final merit list depends on the overall score of 100, where candidates at the top of their respective categories are shortlisted.
• This revised version retains the most important details in the same context but frames them in a more effective way.

IBPS Clerk Exam Language Options:

Preliminary Exam as well as Mains Exam will be held in 13 regional languages as well as in English and Hindi to suit candidates from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Following is the list of states and their respective language options for the exam.

Candidates can apply for the posts in a single State/UT and are required to sit for the exam at a centre in that region. But subject to availability, the candidates might be allotted a centre outside their selected State/UT. The re-allotment is temporary and only for the exam, not for the applied State/UT.

IBPS Clerk Exam Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the IBPS Clerk Exam, a candidate should fulfill the following criteria:

1. Age Limit:

• Minimum Age: 20 years
• Maximum Age: 28 years

2. Relaxation of Upper Age Limit:

Age relaxation is provided to candidates belonging to some categories as follows:

3. Educational Qualification:

• Minimum Qualification: Graduation in any field from a recognized university or equivalent qualification approved by the Central Government.
• The candidate should have a valid mark sheet/degree certificate to ascertain that the candidate has passed the qualifying examination.
• The candidate should indicate the percentage of marks scored in graduation during registration.

4. Computer Literacy:

Candidates should have operating and working knowledge of computer systems. This means the candidate should:

• Have a Certificate/Diploma/Degree in computer operations/language, or
• Have a study of Computer/Information Technology as one of the subjects in high school/college/institute.

5. Ex-Servicemen lacking the requisite civil examination qualifications should be matriculate Ex-Servicemen who have secured Army Special Certificate of Education, or a similar certificate issued by Navy or Air Force, upon completion of a minimum of 15 years of service in the Union Armed Forces as of 21.07.2024. Certificate should be issued on or before this date.

6. Official Language Proficiency:

Candidates must be well-versed in the official language of the state/UT for which they are appearing. That is, the candidate must be able to read, write, and speak the official language of the state/UT.

7. Nationality/Citizenship:

A candidate must be either:

• A Citizen of India, or
• A Subject of Nepal, or
• A Subject of Bhutan, or
• A Tibetan Refugee who migrated to India prior to 1st January 1962 with the intent of settling down permanently in India, or
• A Person of Indian Origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, Vietnam) with the intent of settling down permanently in India.

These are the eligibility requirements a candidate must fulfill in order to apply for the IBPS Clerk Exam.

Credit History

(i) Prospective candidates must maintain a clean credit record while joining the participating banks, with the minimum credit score determined by the bank’s policy, which may be updated from time to time.

(ii) Applicants whose CIBIL status is not updated at the time of joining have to update their CIBIL status or submit No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from lenders that there are no dues pending on accounts with negative CIBIL reports. Otherwise, the offer may be withdrawn or cancelled. Final decision is at the discretion of the allotted bank.

Note: Candidates without a bank account are exempted from furnishing a CIBIL status, and a CIBIL score is not essential for submission.

Application Fees & Intimation Charges

• Rs. 175/- (inclusive of GST) for SC/ST/PwBD/ESM/DESM candidates.
• Rs. 850/- (inclusive of GST) for all other candidates.

For online payments, candidates will be required to bear bank transaction charges.

Cut-Offs and Results

IBPS declares state-wise and category-wise cut-offs subsequent to the results. Candidates need to meet minimum score in each test and the aggregate score to be eligible for further procedures. Only scores of Main Exam are taken into account for the final merit list. Cut-off differs state-wise and category-wise and IBPS’s decision regarding shortlisting and allotment is final. Candidates can compare their scores with the corresponding cut-offs to evaluate their performance.

• Normalization of Scores: Scores will be normalized using the equi-percentile method and rounded to two decimal points.

Please find the cut-offs for IBPS Clerk Prelims exam in 2024:

Process to Apply for IBPS Clerk Exam

1. Online Application: Go to the IBPS website (www.ibps.in) and click on “CRP Clerks” to get the link for application. Click “CLICK HERE FOR NEW REGISTRATION” and provide basic details to create a provisional registration number and password.

2. Document Upload: Candidates are required to upload mandatory documents like photograph, signature, left thumb impression, handwritten declaration and relevant certificates (if any). Applicants are also required to take and upload their photograph using webcam or cellular phone.

3. Check for Details: Apply the “SAVE AND NEXT” function to verify the application. Once the application is submitted, no changes are allowed.

4. State Selection: Select the state for provisional allotment, which is final upon exercise.

Call Letters

• Call letters for Preliminary and Main exams can be downloaded from IBPS website. No hard copy will be dispatched.
• Candidates opting for a scribe need to fill in scribe’s information and download the scribe declaration form and call letter.
• Candidates will receive email and SMS alerts. Check the IBPS website and email regularly.
• Candidates are required to hold a stamped copy of the Online Preliminary Exam call letter and ID proof in hand for later use. Take the same along with Main Exam call letter and other necessary documents to Main Exam.
• Carry extra photographs (same as on the call letter) to the examination center.

Items Not Allowed in the Examination Centre:

Stationery, mobile phones, communication devices, bags, watches, ornaments, eatables and any other items that may be used for unfair means.

Reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities

• Visual Impairment (VI): Blind or partially blind candidates (visual acuity between 6/18 and 3/60).
• Hearing Impairment (HI): Candidates who are Deaf (70 DB hearing loss) or hard of hearing (60-70 DB hearing loss).
• Orthopedically Challenged/Locomotor Disability (OC/LD): Such as cerebral palsy, leprosy-cured individuals, muscular dystrophy and acid attack survivors.
• Intellectual Disability (ID): Applicants with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) and Mental Illness (MI).
• Multiple Disabilities: Applicants having more than one disability from the above categories.

Eligibility Criteria: The candidate should have a minimum of 40% disability, as certified by the competent authority. Disability certificate is necessary and verification can be done at any point in the selection process.

Scribe Facility Guidelines and Instructions

1. Scribe Arrangement & Eligibility: Candidates should arrange their own scribe at their expense, whose qualifications are one step below the candidate. Scribe should not be an exam candidate. Both should sign an eligibility undertaking; giving false information will result in disqualification.

2. Scribe Conduct: Only one candidate may be helped by a scribe. If the scribe responds or provide cues, both of them will be disqualified and become ineligible for future tests.

3. Medical Certificate & Compensatory Time: Candidates have to upload a medical certificate proving the requirement for a scribe. Scribe users are entitled to 20 minutes compensatory time per hour. Visually impaired candidates employing magnified fonts will not receive compensatory time.

4. Verification & Multiple Applications: Aadhaar verification online can be done for both candidate and scribe. Consideration will only be given for the latest valid application; fees for others will be forfeited.

General Instructions for IBPS Clerk Exam

1. Candidate needs to carry the original call letter, photo identity proof and an authenticated/stamped call letter from the Preliminary Exam (if appearing in the Main Exam). Candidates reaching late will not be permitted to take the test.

2. Pre-Exam Training: SC/ST/Religious Minority candidates can choose pre-exam training at centers identified, at their own expense. No hard copies of call letters will be issued.

3. Identity Verification:

• Documents to Carry: A valid photo ID (e.g., PAN Card, Passport, Aadhar Card) should be similar to the name on the call letter. Photocopy is also needed.
• Biometric Verification: Biometric information (thumbprint or other prints) will be taken. Hands should be clean and dry. Refusal to take part can lead to disqualification.
• Aadhaar Verification: Online Aadhaar verification can be carried out at different levels.

4. At the Exam Centre: Call letter will be signed/authenticated/stamped but not taken. A passport-sized photograph, which is similar to the one on the call letter, should be carried along. Faulty or missing photographs will be debarred from entry.

6. Signature and Photograph: Make sure the signature in the call letter and all other correspondence is the same and not in upper case. Photograph has to be recent, identifiable and uploaded as per specification.

7. Confirmation of Candidature: Entry to exams is provisional. Release of call letters is not a guarantee of final selection. IBPS can reject candidates at any time if they are not eligible or give false information.

8. Communication: Candidates should have a valid personal email ID throughout the process. IBPS will send intimation for call letters, results and other updates through email and/or SMS. Contact details should be correct.

9. Re-examination: In case of problems during the exam, IBPS can take corrective action, such as a re-exam. Instructions must be followed by candidates.

10. Bank Preferences: Applicants should also state their preference order of Participating Banks while applying online. Subsequent requests for change will not be accepted.

We shall be updating you with the IBPS CRP CSA-XV 2025-2026 Notification, Application form, Eligibility Criteria, Selection Process, Syllabus, Previous year question papers, sample question papers, and more. Stay content with the Skill School Team!