The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has officially announced the IBPS Specialist Officer Recruitment 2020 under CRP SPL-X. This recruitment drive aims to fill 647 Specialist Officer (SO) vacancies across various public sector banks in India. The IBPS SO exam is one of the most prestigious banking sector exams for professionals in specialized domains like IT, Marketing, HR, Law, Agriculture, and Rajbhasha.
This is an excellent opportunity for qualified candidates to secure a coveted position in the Indian banking sector. Read on to find detailed information about the post-wise vacancy, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, selection process, and how to apply.
🔹 What is IBPS SO?
IBPS SO stands for Institute of Banking Personnel Selection – Specialist Officer. Unlike generalist roles like PO and Clerk, SO roles are function-specific, requiring candidates with subject-matter expertise. Selected candidates are deployed in departments like IT, Legal, HR, Marketing, Agriculture, and Official Language.
The posts under IBPS SO 2020 include:
- IT Officer (Scale I)
- Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I)
- Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I)
- Law Officer (Scale I)
- HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I)
- Marketing Officer (Scale I)
🔸 Overview of IBPS Specialist Officer Recruitment 2020
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of Recruitment | IBPS CRP SPL-X |
| Post Name | Specialist Officer (SO) |
| Total Vacancies | 647 |
| Job Location | All India |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Application Start Date | 2nd November 2020 |
| Application Last Date | 23rd November 2020 |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 26th & 27th December 2020 |
| Mains Exam Date | 24th January 2021 |
| Official Exam Body | IBPS |
🔹 Detailed Post-Wise Vacancy
| Post Title | Total Posts |
|---|---|
| I.T. Officer (Scale-I) | 20 |
| Agricultural Field Officer (Scale-I) | 485 |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale-I) | 25 |
| Law Officer (Scale-I) | 50 |
| HR/Personnel Officer (Scale-I) | 7 |
| Marketing Officer (Scale-I) | 60 |
| Total | 647 |
🔸 Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for IBPS SO varies by post, so it’s essential to match your educational qualifications with the correct profile.
🔹 Educational Qualification (as on 23.11.2020)
- IT Officer (Scale I):
4-year Engineering/Technology degree in CS/IT/ECE/EEE or PG in Computer Science/Applications. - Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I):
4-year Degree in Agriculture/Horticulture/Animal Husbandry/Veterinary Science/Dairy Science/Fishery Science, etc. - Rajbhasha Adhikari (Scale I):
PG in Hindi with English as a subject at the degree level OR PG in Sanskrit with English and Hindi as subjects at degree level. - Law Officer (Scale I):
Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) and enrolled as an advocate with Bar Council. - HR/Personnel Officer (Scale I):
Graduate and full-time PG in Personnel Management / HR / HRD / Labour Law / Industrial Relations, etc. - Marketing Officer (Scale I):
Graduate and full-time MBA (Marketing) / PGDBA / PGDBM / PGPM / PGDM with Marketing specialization.
🔹 Age Limit (as on 01.11.2020)
- Minimum Age: 20 years
- Maximum Age: 30 years
Candidates must be born between 02.11.1990 and 01.11.2000 (both inclusive).
Age Relaxation
- SC/ST: 5 years
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years
- PwBD: 10 years
- Ex-Servicemen: 5 years
🔸 Application Fee
| Category | Fee (INR) |
|---|---|
| General/OBC/EWS | ₹850 |
| SC/ST/PwBD | ₹175 |
Note: Fee payment can be made online through debit card, credit card, net banking, or mobile wallets.
🔹 Selection Process
The IBPS SO selection process involves three key stages:
- Preliminary Exam (Online Objective Test)
- Main Exam (Objective + Descriptive, depending on the post)
- Interview (Conducted by Participating Banks)
Only those who qualify for both prelims and mains will be shortlisted for the interview round.
🔸 IBPS SO 2020 Exam Pattern
✅ Preliminary Exam
For IT Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer:
| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 mins |
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 mins |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 mins |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 mins |
For Rajbhasha Adhikari and Law Officer:
| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 mins |
| Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 mins |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 40 mins |
| Total | 150 | 125 | 120 mins |
✅ Mains Exam
| Post | Type | Details |
|---|---|---|
| IT Officer, AFO, MO, HR | Objective | Professional Knowledge – 60 questions, 60 marks, 45 mins |
| Law Officer, Rajbhasha | Mixed | Objective (45Q) + Descriptive (2Q), Total 60 marks, 60 minutes |
🔹 Interview Process
Candidates who qualify the main examination will be called for a common interview. The interview will be conducted by the participating organizations and coordinated by IBPS.
The final merit list will be prepared based on the performance in the main exam and interview, weighted in the ratio of 80:20.
🔸 How to Apply for IBPS SO 2020
- Visit the official IBPS site and go to the “CRP Specialist Officers” section.
- Register using your basic details like name, phone number, and email ID.
- Fill out the application form with educational, personal, and communication details.
- Upload your scanned documents including photograph, signature, and thumb impression.
- Pay the application fee using online payment modes.
- Submit and save the application form for future reference.
🔹 Tips to Prepare for IBPS SO Exam
- Understand the post-specific syllabus – especially for the professional knowledge section.
- Use standard reference books like Lucent for GA, and RS Aggarwal for Reasoning.
- Take mock tests and previous year papers for time management and accuracy.
- Stay updated with current affairs, especially banking and economic news.
The IBPS SO Recruitment 2020 opens doors to a specialist role in India’s most reputed public sector banks. Whether you are a techie, agriculturist, marketer, lawyer, or HR professional, there is a post tailored for your expertise.
With a total of 647 vacancies and a well-structured selection process, this is a fantastic opportunity to step into a prestigious banking career. Interested and eligible candidates must not delay and complete the application before the last date – 23rd November 2020.
Gear up your preparation, follow a strategic plan, and chase your dream of becoming a Specialist Officer in the Indian banking sector!
Stay confident. Be prepared. The future is waiting!