Bank Exam Eligibility 2026: Qualification, Percentage, Age Limit & Other Criteria
Bank Exam Eligibility 2026 covers the minimum educational qualification, percentage requirement, age limit, and other eligibility criteria for major banking exams like IBPS PO, SBI PO, RBI Grade B, and NABARD Grade A.
Eligibility criteria vary across exams. While IBPS PO and SBI PO accept graduates without a minimum percentage, RBI Grade B and NABARD Grade A have specific percentage requirements. Compare the latest eligibility rules to identify the exams you can apply for.
Bank Exam Eligibility 2026 Overview
The table below provides a quick overview of the Bank Exam Eligibility 2026 for major banking exams, including IBPS PO, SBI PO, RBI Grade B, and NABARD Grade A. Compare the minimum educational qualification, percentage requirement, and age limit from here:
|
Exam |
Minimum Educational Qualification |
Minimum Percentage Required? |
Age Limit (General) |
|
IBPS PO 2026 |
Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university |
No minimum percentage required |
20–30 years |
|
SBI PO 2026 |
Graduation in any discipline; CA, Engineering, Medical, and other professional degree holders also eligible |
No minimum percentage specified |
21–30 years |
|
RBI Grade B 2026 |
Graduation in any discipline (General stream) |
Yes — 60% in Graduation and 60% in 12th and 60% in 10th (50% for SC/ST/PwBD) |
21–30 years |
|
NABARD Grade A 2026 |
Graduation in any discipline or Postgraduate/MBA |
Yes, 60% in Graduation or 55% in PG (SC/ST/PwBD: 55%/50%) |
21–30 years |
IBPS PO Eligibility 2026
IBPS PO Eligibility 2026 includes requirements related to age limit, educational qualification, nationality, and category-wise relaxation.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Educational Qualification |
Graduation (Bachelor's degree) in any discipline from a university recognized by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government |
|
Minimum Percentage |
None; any passing graduate is eligible, regardless of marks scored |
|
Final-Year Candidates |
Can apply provisionally, but must produce proof of passing before the specified cut-off date |
|
Subjects Accepted |
All streams accepted, Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, Medicine, etc. (BA, BCom, BSc, BTech, BE, MBBS, and more) |
|
Age Limit |
20 to 30 years, as on the notified cut-off date |
|
Nationality |
Indian citizen (with limited exceptions for Nepal/Bhutan subjects and certain PIOs) |
SBI PO Eligibility 2026
Candidates must fulfil all SBI PO Eligibility conditions mentioned in the official SBI PO notification before submitting the application form.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Educational Qualification |
Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university, or equivalent qualification |
|
Minimum Percentage |
Not specified, no minimum marks requirement in graduation |
|
Special Categories Eligible |
Candidates with Integrated Dual Degree (IDD), Chartered Accountant (CA), Cost Accountant, Medical (MBBS), and Engineering degrees are also eligible |
|
Final-Year Candidates |
Eligible to apply provisionally, but must produce proof of having passed by the specified date |
|
Age Limit |
21 to 30 years, as on the notified date |
|
Nationality |
Indian citizen (as per SBI's standard nationality clause) |
RBI Grade B Eligibility 2026
Unlike IBPS PO and SBI PO, RBI Grade B eligibility has the toughest percentage requirement among all major bank exams.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Educational Qualification (General Stream) |
Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university |
|
Minimum Percentage (General/OBC/EWS) |
60% in Graduation AND 60% in Class 12th AND 60% in Class 10th (all three required together) |
|
Minimum Percentage (SC/ST/PwBD) |
50% in Graduation (relaxed norms apply for 10th/12th requirement) |
|
Alternate Route (Postgraduate) |
Master's degree with 55% marks (General) / passing marks (SC/ST/PwBD) is also accepted for the General stream |
|
Specialist Streams (DEPR/DSIM) |
Require specific postgraduate qualifications in Economics, Statistics, or related fields with defined minimum percentages |
|
Age Limit |
21 to 30 years, with category-wise relaxation |
NABARD Grade A Eligibility 2026
NABARD Grade A eligibility sits between the relaxed IBPS/SBI PO rules and the strict RBI Grade B rule.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Educational Qualification (General/RDBS stream) |
Bachelor's degree in any discipline, OR Postgraduate degree/MBA/PGDM, OR CA/CS/ICWA/Ph.D |
|
Minimum Percentage in Graduation |
60% for General/OBC/EWS; 55% for SC/ST/PwBD |
|
Minimum Percentage in Postgraduate |
55% for General/OBC/EWS; 50% for SC/ST/PwBD |
|
Specialist Disciplines |
Each discipline (Agriculture, Forestry, IT, Statistics, Civil Engineering, etc.) has its own subject-specific degree requirement with similar percentage slabs |
|
Final-Year Candidates |
Generally not eligible unless results are declared before the cut-off date specified in the notification |
|
Age Limit |
21 to 30 years for RDBS/Legal posts, with category-wise relaxation |
Remember: NABARD Grade A requires either 60% in Graduation or 55% in Post-Graduation, with a 5% relaxation for SC/ST/PwBD candidates in both routes.
Bank Exam Eligibility 2026: Subject-Wise Qualification Comparison
The table below compares whether candidates from any graduation stream are eligible for major bank exams and highlights any subject-specific qualification requirements for specialist posts.
|
Exam |
Any Graduation Stream Accepted? |
Specific Subject Restriction? |
|
IBPS PO |
Yes |
None |
|
SBI PO |
Yes (plus CA/IDD/Engineering/Medical) |
None |
|
RBI Grade B (General) |
Yes |
None (specialist DEPR/DSIM streams need specific PG subjects) |
|
NABARD Grade A (General/RDBS) |
Yes |
None (specialist disciplines like Agriculture, IT, Forestry need matching subject background) |
Minimum Percentage Required for Bank Exams
The table below compares the minimum percentage required for major bank exams across different categories, helping candidates quickly check their eligibility before applying.
|
Exam |
Minimum % Needed (General/OBC/EWS) |
Minimum % Needed (SC/ST/PwBD) |
|
IBPS PO |
None |
None |
|
SBI PO |
None |
None |
|
RBI Grade B |
60% (Graduation + 12th + 10th) |
50% (Graduation); relaxed 10th/12th norms |
|
NABARD Grade A |
60% (Graduation) or 55% (PG) |
55% (Graduation) or 50% (PG) |
Common Eligibility Conditions Across All Bank Exams
Apart from graduation and percentage rules, these conditions generally apply across IBPS PO, SBI PO, RBI Grade B, and NABARD Grade A:
-
Nationality: Must be an Indian citizen, or a subject of Nepal/Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee settled in India before 1 January 1962, or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO) from specified countries.
-
Final-Year Candidates: Most exams allow final-year students to apply provisionally, but they must submit proof of passing by a specific cut-off date (this date varies by exam and category, so always check the latest notification).
-
CGPA Conversion: If your university uses a CGPA/OGPA system instead of percentage, it must be converted using the official formula provided by your university/institution, along with supporting documents.
-
Computer Literacy: Basic computer knowledge is generally required since most bank exams are conducted online.
-
Age Relaxation: All exams provide category-wise age relaxation (OBC, SC/ST, PwBD, Ex-servicemen, etc.) as per Government of India norms.
Which Bank Exam Can You Apply for Based on Your Qualification?
Choosing the right bank exam based on your educational qualification and academic performance can help you focus your preparation on exams for which you meet the eligibility criteria. The table below provides a quick comparison to help you identify suitable banking exams.
|
Qualification |
Suitable Bank Exams |
|
Graduation (Any Percentage) |
IBPS PO, SBI PO |
|
Graduation (60% or Above) |
RBI Grade B (General), NABARD Grade A* |
|
Master's Degree (with required percentage) |
RBI Grade B (General), NABARD Grade A |
|
Agriculture, IT, Engineering, Forestry, Statistics, Civil Engineering, or other relevant professional degrees |
NABARD Grade A Specialist Posts (subject to discipline-specific eligibility) |
Bank Exam Eligibility FAQs
Is there a minimum percentage required for IBPS PO 2026?
Is there a minimum percentage required for SBI PO 2026?
Which bank exam has the strictest eligibility criteria?
What is the minimum percentage required for NABARD Grade A?
Do I need a specific subject in graduation for IBPS PO or SBI PO?
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