IBPS Clerk 2026 (CRP CSA-XVI) — Prelims Held 10–11 October, 11,663 Vacancies, Mains on 27 December

Last updated: October 12, 2026

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) released the CRP CSA-XVI notification on 1 August 2026, opening the annual recruitment cycle for Customer Service Associate (CSA) — commonly called Clerk — posts across 11 public sector banks. This is the single largest entry point into PSU bank employment every year, and unlike IBPS PO 2026 (already covered on this site), there is no existing BankersClub guide for the Clerk cycle. The online application window ran from 1 to 28 August 2026 (IBPS extended the original 21 August deadline by a week) and is now closed. Prelims was held across four shifts on each of 10 and 11 October 2026, and the result is expected in November. If you clear the Prelims cut-off, Mains is on 27 December 2026 — roughly six weeks after the likely result date, so start on the Mains-only sections (General/Financial Awareness and Computer Knowledge) now rather than after the result.

IBPS Clerk 2026 — Key Dates

The Prelims and Mains dates are from the IBPS 2026-27 examination calendar; the result and allotment dates remain tentative. IBPS announces the Prelims result on ibps.in only — it is not sent by post or email.

IBPS Clerk 2026 Vacancy Details

The official notification’s Annexure-I lists indicative, state/UT-wise and bank-wise vacancies for the year 2027-28, spread across all States and Union Territories, rather than one single consolidated headline figure inside the notification text itself. The total tracked from that Annexure was 11,403 at notification; an IBPS vacancy update dated 29 September 2026 raised it to 11,663 vacancies, with all 260 additional posts from Bank of Baroda. Treat even the revised figure as indicative — the notification explicitly states that recruitment volumes depend on each bank’s business needs and can change before final allotment, so always check the latest state-wise breakup on ibps.in for your specific State/UT before applying, since you can only apply for vacancies in one State/UT.

The 11 participating banks are 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, and Union Bank of India — the same set of 11 banks that recruit through IBPS PO. SBI, being outside the IBPS umbrella, runs its own separate Clerk (Junior Associate) recruitment.

Eligibility Criteria — IBPS Clerk 2026

Educational Qualification

A degree (graduation) in any discipline from a university recognised by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification, with the result declared on or before 21 August 2026. Basic computer literacy is mandatory — either a certificate/diploma/degree in computer operations, or having studied Computer/Information Technology as a subject in school or college. Candidates must also be proficient in reading, writing, speaking and understanding the local language of the State/UT they are applying for (see the Local Language Proficiency Test section below).

Age Limit (as on 1 August 2026)

Relaxations for SC/ST/OBC combine with only one of the other categories at a time — they are not fully cumulative across every row above. Refer to the official notification PDF for the exact combination rules that apply to your category.

Application Fee

Fees were payable online only, between 1 and 28 August 2026 (after the extension). Bank transaction charges for the online payment are borne separately by the candidate.

IBPS Clerk 2026 Salary

The officially notified basic pay for a Customer Service Associate is ₹24,050 per month, on the scale ₹24,050–1,340/3–28,070–1,650/3–33,020–2,000/4–41,020–2,340/7–57,400–4,400/1–61,800–2,680/1–64,480, rising to a maximum of ₹64,480 over the course of a career. With Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and other allowances as applicable in the participating bank, gross monthly emoluments are commonly reported in the roughly ₹37,000–47,000 per month range for a new joinee, though this varies by posting location and the allowances specific to each bank — treat it as an approximate range, not a fixed figure. DA on top of basic pay moves every quarter; see our DA for Bank Employees 2026 guide → for the current confirmed rate.

IBPS Clerk 2026 Exam Pattern

Prelims Exam Pattern

Prelims is qualifying in nature — candidates must clear sectional and overall cut-offs to be shortlisted for Mains, but the Prelims score itself does not carry forward to the final merit list.

Mains Exam Pattern

Marks obtained in Mains alone determine the final merit list for provisional allotment — there is no separate interview stage for Clerk recruitment, unlike IBPS PO. Both Prelims and Mains carry a penalty of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer; unanswered questions carry no penalty. Scores across different exam sessions are normalised using the equi-percentile method before cut-offs are applied.

Selection Process & Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)

• Prelims — qualifying only; shortlists candidates for Mains.
• Mains — objective test; score is the sole basis for the final merit list and provisional allotment. There is no interview for Clerk cadre recruitment.
• Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) — conducted after Mains/provisional allotment but before joining. Candidates must have opted for one local language at the time of application (from a State/UT-specific list covering languages like Hindi, Telugu, Assamese, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali and others, depending on the State/UT). Candidates who can show a 10th-standard or higher mark sheet proving they studied that language are exempt from sitting the test. Failing the LLPT disqualifies a candidate from appointment even after clearing Mains — this is a distinct feature of Clerk recruitment that doesn’t apply the same way to IBPS PO.

How to Apply for IBPS Clerk 2026 — Step by Step

1. Visit ibps.in and open the CRP CSA-XVI notification link.
2. Register with a valid email ID and mobile number to generate your provisional registration ID and password.
3. Select the one State/UT you wish to apply for — you cannot apply for more than one State/UT in this cycle.
4. Choose your Local Language Proficiency Test language from the list applicable to your chosen State/UT.
5. Fill in personal, educational and category details, and indicate your graduation percentage.
6. Upload photograph, signature and other required scanned documents per the notification’s specifications.
7. Pay the application fee online: ₹850 (General/OBC/EWS) or ₹175 (SC/ST/PwBD/ESM/DESM).
8. Submit the form and download the confirmation page for your records.
9. Use the 2-day post-closure edit window if you need to correct any submitted details — note that some fields cannot be changed during this window, so fill the form carefully the first time.

IBPS Clerk vs IBPS PO 2026 — Quick Comparison

If you’re weighing which to prioritise, see our full IBPS PO 2026 guide → for the officer-track details, and our Clerk to Scale I Promotion Exam guide → for what the career path looks like after you join as a Clerk.

Preparation Tips

Because Mains alone decides the final merit and there’s no interview cushion, accuracy across all four Mains sections matters more than in PO recruitment — Reasoning Ability alone carries 60 of the 200 marks, the single highest-weighted section. Don’t neglect the Local Language Proficiency Test just because it comes after Mains: candidates who studied their opted language up to 10th standard can skip it entirely by producing that mark sheet, which is worth confirming early rather than scrambling for it after provisional allotment. Once you clear IBPS Clerk and join as a CSA, JAIIB becomes your next milestone within a defined service period — see our JAIIB 2026 complete hub → for exam dates, syllabus and strategy.

Related: Other Bank Jobs Open Now

IBPS Clerk is one of several bank recruitments open in 2026. See the full list of curated bank job openings →, including PSU, private bank, NBFC and international banking opportunities.

Disclaimer: Vacancy, date and fee figures in this article are drawn from the official IBPS CRP CSA-XVI notification dated 1 August 2026, cross-checked against multiple exam-prep sources for the consolidated vacancy total. IBPS describes vacancy figures as indicative and subject to change; always confirm exact figures and dates for your State/UT on the official IBPS website before applying. Updated: August 18, 2026.