The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has scheduled the IBPS PO/MT-XVI Main Examination for October 4, 2026. The exam is part of the recruitment process for Probationary Officers/Management Trainees in participating public sector banks. The IBPS calendar lists October 4, 2026 for the Main Examination.
Candidates who have appeared for the Preliminary Examination should now focus on the Mains stage. The sections covered in the Mains examination require a different preparation approach, particularly because the paper includes Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, English Language and General/Economy/Banking Awareness, along with a descriptive component.
As per the official IBPS calendar, the IBPS PO Mains Exam Date 2026 is October 4, 2026. The date is for CRP PO/MT-XVI. The Preliminary Examination was conducted on August 22 and 23, 2026.
Candidates should regularly check the official IBPS website for the release of the Mains call letter and any changes to the examination schedule.
The IBPS PO Mains Exam 2026 Date and Time will be mentioned on the candidate's admit card/call letter. The examination reporting time and shift details should be checked carefully before appearing for the exam.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | IBPS PO/MT-XVI |
| Exam Stage | Main Examination |
| IBPS PO Mains Exam Date 2026 | October 4, 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Exam Centre | As allotted by IBPS |
| Reporting Time | Mentioned on Admit Card |
| Exam Time | Mentioned on Admit Card |
| Admit Card | To be Released |
Note: Candidates should follow the reporting time mentioned on their individual call letter rather than relying on unofficial timings.
The IBPS PO Mains Admit Card 2026 will be released online by IBPS. Candidates who qualify for the Mains stage will be able to download their call letters using their registration/roll number and password/date of birth, as applicable.
The admit card is an important document for appearing in the examination. It generally contains details such as:
Candidate's name and roll number
Exam date
Reporting time
Exam centre and address
Photograph and other candidate details
Examination-day instructions
Candidates should download the admit card as soon as it is released and check all details carefully.
Candidates can follow these steps to download the IBPS PO Mains Admit Card 2026:
Visit the official IBPS website.
Go to the CRP PO/MT section.
Click on the link for the IBPS PO Mains call letter.
Enter the required login credentials.
Submit the details.
The admit card will appear on the screen.
Download and print the call letter for future reference.
The IBPS PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026 includes objective and descriptive tests. The objective test covers Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, English Language and Data Analysis & Interpretation.
As per the recruitment pattern, the objective examination carries 200 marks, while the descriptive test carries 25 marks. The objective test has a total duration of 160 minutes, while the descriptive test is conducted for 30 minutes.
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time |
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| English Language | 50 | 20 | 35 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 40 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 60 | 35 minutes |
| Descriptive Paper | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 170 + 2 | 200 + 25 | 160 + 30 minutes |
Candidates should note that the pattern and marking scheme should be checked against the latest detailed notification/call letter issued by IBPS.
The IBPS PO Mains Exam Centre 2026 will be allotted to candidates by IBPS. The exact venue and address will be mentioned on the Mains admit card.
Candidates should:
Check the centre address in advance.
Plan their travel route before the examination.
Reach the venue well before the reporting time.
Carry the required documents and admit card.
Follow all instructions mentioned in the call letter.
The exam will be conducted in online mode at designated centres across India.
Candidates preparing for the IBPS PO Mains Preparation Strategy 2026 should focus on improving accuracy, speed and question selection. Since the Mains exam includes several sections, candidates should maintain a balanced preparation schedule.
Solve questions from Reasoning, Data Analysis & Interpretation, English and Banking Awareness regularly.
Practising the IBPS PO Mains Previous Year Question Paper helps candidates understand the types of questions asked, difficulty level and recurring topics.
Attempting Mains-level mock tests can help improve time management and identify weak areas.
Revise recent banking, financial, economic, national and international developments.
After every mock test, analyse incorrect and unattempted questions instead of only checking the score.
Candidates should practise writing essays and letters within the prescribed time limit to improve speed and structure.
The IBPS PO Mains Previous Year Question Paper is useful for understanding the examination level and question trends. Candidates should solve papers in a timed environment and analyse their performance afterwards.
Previous year papers can help candidates identify:
Frequently asked topics
Section-wise difficulty
Question types
Time-consuming areas
Accuracy requirements
Important concepts for revision
Candidates can also use memory-based papers and mock tests for additional practice.
The IBPS PO Mains Cut Off 2026 will be released by IBPS after the examination and result process. The cut off may vary based on factors such as:
Number of vacancies
Number of candidates appearing
Difficulty level of the examination
Candidate performance
Category
Section-wise performance
Candidates should not consider unofficial expected cut-offs as final. The official cut-off will be available with the result/scorecard when released.
The IBPS PO Mains Result 2026 will be released on the official IBPS website after the Mains examination. Candidates will be able to check their qualifying status using their login credentials.
Candidates who qualify the Mains stage will proceed to the subsequent selection stage as prescribed by IBPS. The final allotment will depend on the applicable selection process, merit, vacancies and other conditions specified by IBPS.