IBPS Clerk (Customer Service Associate) Recruitment 2026
Status: Official Notification Released / Apply Portal Active
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the national-level CRP CSA-XVI Examination to recruit Clerks / Customer Service Associates (CSA) across 11 major Public Sector Banks including Punjab National Bank, Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, and Union Bank of India.
IBPS Clerk Recruitment Key Summary
| Exam Name | IBPS CRP CSA-XVI (Clerk) Examination 2026 |
| Exam Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Posts Offered | Customer Service Associate (Clerk) |
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor's Degree in any discipline + Computer Literacy |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Exam -> Mains Exam -> Local Language Test & Document Verification |
| Pay Scale | Basic Pay ₹19,900/- (In-hand Approx. ₹30,000 - ₹34,000 including DA & HRA) |
| Age Limit | 20 to 28 Years (Category relaxations applicable) |
| Application Fee | General / OBC / EWS: ₹850 | SC / ST / PwBD / ESM: ₹175 |
List of 11 Participating Public Sector Banks
The recruitment is conducted centrally for the following state-owned public sector banks:
- Bank of Baroda
- Bank of India
- Bank of Maharashtra
- Canara Bank
- Central Bank of India
- Indian Bank
- Indian Overseas Bank
- Punjab National Bank
- Punjab & Sind Bank
- UCO Bank
- Union Bank of India
IBPS Clerk Exam Pattern Comparison (Prelims vs Mains)
The exam is conducted online in two stages with sectional timing for each component:
| Stage & Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I: Preliminary Online Exam (Screening) | |||
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Numerical Ability (Maths) | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| Prelims Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes |
| Phase II: Mains Online Exam (Final Selection Basis) | |||
| General / Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 Minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 Minutes |
| Mains Total | 190 | 200 | 160 Minutes |
* Negative Marking: 0.25 marks penalty for incorrect answers. Prelims score is qualifying in nature; final merit is prepared based solely on Mains examination marks.
How to Apply Online for IBPS Clerk Recruitment
- Visit the official IBPS portal at ibps.in.
- Click on CRP Clerical and select the active link for Apply Online for CRP-CSA-XVI.
- Click on Click here for New Registration and enter basic details (Name, Mobile, Email ID).
- Note down the generated Registration Number and Password received via SMS/Email.
- Upload scanned passport photograph, signature, left thumb impression, and hand-written declaration.
- Fill in academic qualification, state/UT preference, and bank preference order carefully.
- Pay the application fee (₹850 for General/OBC/EWS or ₹175 for SC/ST/PwBD) via Net Banking, UPI, or Credit/Debit Card.
- Submit the form and download the PDF printout of the application summary for future reference.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the educational qualification required for IBPS Clerk 2026?
Ans: Candidates must hold a Bachelor's Degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a Govt. recognized university. Additionally, candidates should have basic computer knowledge (certificate/diploma or IT studied in school/college) and be proficient in the official local language of the applied State/UT.
Q2: What is the age limit for IBPS Clerk Examination 2026?
Ans: The standard age limit is 20 to 28 years for General/EWS candidates. Age relaxations apply: 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), and 10 years for PwBD candidates.
Q3: Is there any interview round in IBPS Clerk Recruitment?
Ans: No, there is NO interview for Clerical/Customer Service Associate posts in public sector banks. Final selection is based solely on the marks scored in the Mains Online Examination followed by Document Verification and Local Language Proficiency Test.
Q4: What is the negative marking ratio in IBPS Clerk Prelims and Mains exams?
Ans: A penalty of 1/4th (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted for every wrong answer in both Prelims and Mains online exams.
Q5: Are final year graduation students eligible to apply for IBPS Clerk 2026?
Ans: Final year students can apply ONLY if their final graduation results are officially declared on or before the specified cut-off date mentioned in the official notification. Proof of passing must be presented during document verification.