IBPS Clerk 2026 — Eligibility Criteria
Age limit, educational qualification, age relaxation, reservation and domicile — everything you need to confirm before you apply.
Age limit
20–28 yrs
Qualification
Graduation in any discipline (as on 21.08.2026)
Age as on
1 August 2026
Eligibility is reckoned as on 01.08.2026 for age and as on 21.08.2026 for educational qualification. IBPS stresses that meeting these criteria is only the basic requirement for applying — the ultimate authority for recruitment is the participating bank, which may reject a candidature at its own discretion.
Age
Age limit
Minimum age
20yrs
Maximum age
28yrs
Age is calculated as on 1 August 2026. Upper age limit is before category relaxation.
Relaxation
Age relaxation by category
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe | +5 yrs |
| Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) | +3 yrs |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | +10 yrs |
| Ex-Servicemen / Disabled Ex-Servicemen | +3 yrs |
Qualification
Educational qualification
- A Degree (Graduation) in any discipline from a University recognised by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government.
- The final result must have been declared on or before 21.08.2026, and proof of that must be produced at joining.
- The candidate must hold a valid mark-sheet or degree certificate on the day of registering, and must state the graduation percentage to two decimals. CGPA/OGPA must be converted per the university's own criteria, with documentary proof at verification.
- Computer literacy is mandatory — a certificate, diploma or degree in computer operations, or Computer / Information Technology studied as a subject at school or college.
- Proficiency in reading, writing, speaking and understanding the specified local language of the State/UT applied for (Annexure III of the notification).
- Ex-Servicemen without the above civil qualification must be matriculate Ex-Servicemen holding the Army Special Certificate of Education or its Navy/Air Force equivalent, after at least 15 years of service as on 21.08.2026.
Nationality
A candidate must be a citizen of India; or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan; or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 intending to settle permanently; or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam intending to settle permanently in India. Candidates in the last four groups must hold a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
Domicile
Recruitment is State/UT-wise. A candidate may apply for vacancies in one State/UT only and must be proficient in that State's specified local language. The choice is irrevocable once the application is submitted. IBPS may allot an examination centre outside the chosen State/UT for administrative reasons; this affects only where the exam is sat, not which State's vacancies the candidate is considered for.
Reservation
Reservation details
| Category | Reservation |
|---|---|
| Persons with Benchmark DisabilitiesReserved under Section 34 of the RPwD Act, 2016. The post is identified suitable for OC/Locomotor disability, VI (blindness, low vision), HI (deaf, hard of hearing) and ID & others (ASD-mild, SLD, MI, multiple disabilities, intellectual disability). Percentages are as prescribed by the Act and per actual vacancies reported by the banks — the notification gives no fixed percentage. Certificates marked 'likely to improve' under temporary disability do not qualify for reservation. | 0% |
| Economically Weaker SectionFamily gross annual income below ₹8 lakh and no disqualifying asset holding — 5 acres of agricultural land or more, a residential flat of 1000 sq ft or more, a residential plot of 100 sq yards or more in a notified municipality, or 200 sq yards or more elsewhere. Certificate must be valid for 2026-2027 (FY 2025-26). EWS vacancies are tentative and subject to Government of India directives. | 0% |
| Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer)The OBC certificate must carry the non-creamy-layer clause and be issued on or after 01.04.2026. Candidates in the creamy layer, or whose caste is absent from the Central List, are not entitled to OBC reservation and must apply as General. | 0% |
Figures show each category's share of total vacancies. Women's reservation is horizontal — it applies within each category, not as a separate row.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
What is the age limit for IBPS Clerk 2026?
Minimum 20 years and maximum 28 years as on 01.08.2026 — that is, born not earlier than 02.08.1998 and not later than 01.08.2006, both dates inclusive. Upper age relaxation is 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) and 10 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities.
Can I apply for more than one State in IBPS Clerk?
No. Clerical cadre recruitment in public sector banks is done State/UT-wise, so a candidate may apply for vacancies in one State or UT only, and must be proficient in that State's specified local language. The option once exercised in the application form is irrevocable. IBPS may allot an exam centre outside your chosen State for administrative reasons, but you remain considered only for the State you applied for.
What is the Local Language Proficiency Test?
The LLPT checks reading, writing, speaking and understanding of the State/UT's specified local language. It is held after the Main Examination or provisional allotment but before joining the bank, is marks-based and qualifying in nature. Candidates who produce a 10th standard or higher mark sheet showing they studied that language are exempt. Failing the LLPT means no appointment.
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