IBPS Specialist Officer (SO) — CRP SPL-XVI, conducted by IBPS. Current stage: exam awaited. IBPS Specialist Officers work in specialized bank verticals: IT Officers manage banking software and cybersecurity; Agriculture Field Officers assess rural credit; Law Officers handle legal documentation.

VI and PwBD vacancies

Suitable for Visually Impaired candidates. 9 vacancies reserved for Visually Impaired category. For more details, ask Suomoto AI. Total posts: 1,043 posts (Scale I Specialist Officers, indicative). For more details, ask Suomoto AI.

Scribe and compensatory time

From the IBPS CRP SPL-XVI notification and the Mains scribe guidelines (22.10.2026): candidate-arranged scribe at own cost, opted for in the online application. The scribe 'may be' from an academic stream different from the post (one general instruction in the notification says 'should be' — choose a different-stream scribe to be safe). The one-step-below-qualification rule applies only to candidates under the 10.08.2022 OM (less than 40% disability with writing difficulty, Appendix I certificate). 20 minutes per hour compensatory time only if registered for it in the online application. VI candidates (40%+) may opt for magnified font instead of a scribe, not both. Before Mains: fill the online scribe declaration form (scribe.ibps.in), upload the scribe's 10th/12th/degree certificate, and bring the printout; the scribe brings the original certificate; carry your UDID card or disability certificate; both of you carry Aadhaar. Post-wise VI/PwBD suitability varies — check Annexure I and the PwBD clarification notice.

Key dates and deadlines

Notification released: 1 July 2026. Online registration opens: 1 July 2026. Online registration closes: 21 July 2026. Fee payment closes: 21 July 2026. Prelims exam: 29 August 2026. Prelims result status released: 15 October 2026. Prelims scores released: 22 October 2026. Main call letter: 22 October 2026. Main exam: 1 November 2026. Main result: November 2026 (tentative). Interview: November/December 2026 (tentative). Provisional allotment: January 2027 (tentative).

Step by step: what to do now

SCRIBE ELIGIBILITY & RULES (from the IBPS CRP SPL-XVI notification dated 01.07.2026 and the Guidelines for Scribe for the Mains exam, 22.10.2026): 1. Scribe Source: The candidate arranges their own scribe at their own cost, and must have opted for a scribe in the online application. 2. Academic Stream: The scribe 'may be from an academic stream different from that stipulated for the post' (scribe guidelines). One general instruction in the notification says the scribe 'should be from a different academic stream from the candidate and the post applied for' — the notification is inconsistent, so choosing a different-stream scribe is the safe course. 3. Qualification Limit: Only for candidates using a scribe under OM dated 10.08.2022 (less than 40% disability with difficulty in writing): the scribe must be one step below the candidate's qualification, with the Appendix I medical certificate and Appendix II undertaking produced at the exam. No qualification limit is stated for other scribe users. 4. Non-Candidate Rule: The scribe must not be a candidate in CRP SPL-XVI, and must not have been a scribe for, or be, a candidate debarred in CRP examinations. 5. One Scribe, One Candidate: A scribe can act for only one candidate in CRP SPL-XVI. 6. Extra Time: 20 minutes per hour, only for candidates who registered for compensatory time in the online application — it is system-based and cannot be granted at the centre. 7. Magnified Font (VI): Visually Impaired candidates (40%+) may view the test in magnified font with 20 minutes per hour; not available to those using a scribe. 8. Online Scribe Declaration (Mains): Fill the online scribe declaration form (link on ibps.in, scribe.ibps.in, and in the exam intimation e-mail), upload the scribe's class 10th/12th/degree certificate, download it and bring a printout on exam day. The scribe brings the original certificate; you carry your UDID card or disability certificate; both carry Aadhaar for biometric verification. 9. Misconduct: If the scribe answers independently or prompts answers, the session is terminated and candidature cancelled; candidate and scribe may be debarred. 10. Post Suitability: Check bank/post-wise VI, HI, OC, ID vacancy counts in Annexure I and the IBPS PwBD clarification notice — many specialist posts suit only some sub-categories (e.g. low vision only, not blindness).

Official source and verification

Source: IBPS CRP SPL-XVI Official Notice. Status of these dates: official. Verified by the SuoMoto team on 2026-10-23.

exam awaitedVI: SuitablePreparation guide

IBPS SO 2026 (CRP SPL-XVI — Specialist Officers) — Application Closed

Source: IBPS CRP SPL-XVI Official Notice. Last verified: 2026-10-23.

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1. Exam Overview
IBPS Specialist Officers work in specialized bank verticals: IT Officers manage banking software and cybersecurity; Agriculture Field Officers assess rural credit; Law Officers handle legal documentation.
2. Posts and What They Involve
IT Officer (Scale I)
Accessibility: Suitable
Public Sector Banks (via IBPS) · JMGS-I officer
Manages bank IT systems, applications and security. The most VI-accessible specialist post — fully computer-based.
Accessibility & Quota note: Computer-based office work; scribe and 20-minutes-per-hour compensatory time.
Law Officer / HR / Marketing / Rajbhasha Officer (Scale I)
Accessibility: Suitable
Public Sector Banks (via IBPS) · JMGS-I officer
Professional specialist roles requiring the relevant qualification. Office-based and broadly accessible.
Agriculture Field Officer (Scale I)
Accessibility: Limited
Public Sector Banks (via IBPS) · JMGS-I officer
Supports agricultural lending and rural branches — includes field visits to farms and borrowers.
Accessibility & Quota note: Significant field component; suitability for VI candidates is limited — consider IT or other office-based SO posts instead.
3. Vacancies — Total & Reserved Quotas
Total: 1,043 posts (Scale I Specialist Officers, indicative). For more details, ask Suomoto AI.
Reserved / PwBD: 9 vacancies reserved for Visually Impaired category. For more details, ask Suomoto AI.
4. Exam Structure and Pattern
Prelims
Online objective CBT (qualifying)
Duration: 120 minutes; with compensatory time added
- Reasoning50 Q · 50 marks
- English Language25 Q · 25 marks
- Quantitative Aptitude / General Awareness (post-specific)50 Q · 50 marks
Total: 125 marks · Minus 0.25 per wrong answer
Section mix varies slightly by post (Law/Rajbhasha use General Awareness instead of Quant).
Mains
Online — Professional Knowledge of the chosen specialism
Duration: 45 minutes; with compensatory time added
- Professional Knowledge60 Q · 60 marks
Total: 60 marks · Minus 0.25 per wrong answer
Tests the subject of your specialism (IT, Law, HR, Marketing, Agriculture, Rajbhasha).
Interview
Personal interview
Duration: As scheduled
Total: 100 marks · Not applicable
Final merit: Mains plus interview.
5. Important Dates
1. 1 July 2026Notification released
2. 1 July 2026Online registration opens
3. 21 July 2026Online registration closes
4. 21 July 2026Fee payment closes
5. 29 August 2026Prelims exam
6. 15 October 2026Prelims result status released
7. 22 October 2026Prelims scores released
8. 22 October 2026Main call letter
9. 1 November 2026Main exam
10. November 2026 (tentative)Main result
11. November/December 2026 (tentative)Interview
12. January 2027 (tentative)Provisional allotment

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How to use this page

1. Exam Overview

2. Posts and What They Involve

3. Vacancies — Total & Reserved Quotas

4. Exam Structure and Pattern

5. Important Dates

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