IBPS RRB Recruitment – Selection Process, Documents, Eligibility & More

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the IBPS RRB recruitment process every year. This selection procedure is held for multiple roles (for various rural regional banks). To get recruited to renowned banks in India, candidates have to go through three distinct recruitments or selection stages.  

IBPS RRB recruitment exams are conducted online. However, in the last stage – the interview is conducted face-to-face. Questions asked in the IBPS RRB exam are MCQ based (Multiple Choice Question), except for the IBPS Specialist Officer exam. No descriptive questions are asked in the IBPS RRB Single or Mains examination. 

The positions for which IBPS RRB recruitment is conducted are:

1. Officer Scale-III (Senior Manager)
2. Officer Scale-II Specialist Officers (IT)
3. Officer Scale-II Specialist Officer (Marketing Officer)
4. Officer Scale-II Specialist Officer (Law Officer)
5. Officer Scale-II Specialist Officer (Agricultural Officer)
6. Officer Scale-II Specialist Officer (Treasury Manager)
7. Officer Scale-II Specialist Officers (CA)
8. Officer Scale-II General Banking Officer (Manager)
9. Officer Scale – I (Assistant Manager)
10. Office Assistant (Multipurpose)

In this article, candidates will find all the necessary information regarding the IBPS RRB recruitment process including important dates and recruitment stages.

IBPS RRB Recruitment – Important Dates

While a majority of important dates have already been released, IBPS will announce the rest in due time. Candidates can find the important events associated with the IBPS RRB recruitment process and their respected dates in the table below:

IBPS RRB Recruitment and Exam Schedule

Exam Events	Important Dates
IBPS RRB Official Notification	30th June 2020
Availability of online application form	1st July 2020
Last date to submit the application form	21st July 2020
Revised Notification	22nd October 2020
Registration link Reopened for Officers Scale I & Office Assistant	26 October 2020 – 9th November 2020
IBPS RRB Prelims admit card	8th September 2020 (Officer Scale I) 5th October 2020 (Officer Scale-II and II)
IBPS RRB Prelims Examination Dates	September 12, 2020 (Officer Scale-I) September 13, 2020 (Officer Scale-I) September 19, 2020 (Office Assistant) September 20, 2020 (Office Assistant) September 26, 2020 (Office Assistant)
IBPS RRB Prelims Re-examination	31st December 2020 (Officers Scale-I) 2nd January or 4th January 2021 (Office Assistant (Multipurpose))
IBPS RRB Single Exam	18th October 2020 (Officers Scale II & III)
IBPS RRB Prelims Result	24th November 2020 (Officers Scale II & III)
Release of Result (Officers Scale II & III)	1st December 2020
IBPS RRB Mains Exam	Officer Scale I – January 30, 2021 Office Assistant – February 20, 2021
IBPS RRB Mains Result	To Be Announced
Provisional Allotment for IBPS RRB Officers Scale I, II and III & Office Assistant	March/April 2021 (expected)

IBPS RRB Notification – Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must fulfil all the eligibility criteria mentioned in the IBPS RRB notification before applying for the exam. There are 3 sections related to the eligibility criteria and are highlighted below:

NATIONALITY

As per IBPS RRB eligibility criteria, a candidate should either be an Indian citizen or citizen of the countries highlighted below. 

The applying candidate must be either a:

1. Citizen of India 
2. OR Subject of Bhutan 
3. OR Tibetan Refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 intending to settle in India permanently 
4. OR Subject of Nepal
5. OR Person of Indian origin who has migrated from:

• Sri Lanka
• East African Countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania ((formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), and Zaire (to settle permanently in India))
• Burma
• Pakistan
• Vietnam 

Note: An eligibility certificate must be issued by the Government favouring the candidates belonging to the category number 2,3,4 and 5. The candidates have to produce a certificate of eligibility duly approved and signed from the Government of India during the IBPS RRB Interview.

AGE LIMIT

Before applying for the different IBPS RRB posts, candidates should fulfil the important age limit eligibility norms as highlighted in the IBPS RRB notification. IBPS has set an upper and lower age limit for candidates who wish to appear for the IBPS RRB exam 2020-21.

Candidates should remember that the age limits of all the posts are different and they should check them carefully before applying for their preferred choices. 

IBPS RRB Recruitment – Minimum and maximum age limit

Office Assistant (Multipurpose)	Age should be between 18 to 28 years (Not born before 2nd July 1992 and later than 1st July 2002.
Officer Scale – I (Assistant Manager)	Age should be between 18 to 30 years (Not born before 3rd July 1990 and later than 31st June 2002.
Officer Scale-II (Manager)	Age should be between 21 to 32 years (Not born before 3rd July 1988 and later than 30th June 1999.
Officer Scale – III (Senior Manager)	Age should be between 21 to 40 years (Not born before 3rd July 1980 and later than 30th June 1999.

IBPS RRB Recruitment Notification – Age Relaxation

Category	Age Limit Relaxation
Persons with  Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) as defined under “The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016” Intellectual or Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Illness Partial or Total Loss of Hearing Partial or Full Blindness Locomotor Disabilities Multiple Concurrent Disabilities	10 years
Applicants affected by 1984’s riots	5 years
Ex-Servicemen Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) who have rendered at least 5 years military service and have been released on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year from the last date of receipt of application otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency or physical disability attributable to military service or invalided  Commissioned Officers including Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs)	5 years (for the post of Officers) The actual period of service rendered in the defence forces + 3 years (8 years for Disabled Ex-servicemen belonging to SC/ST) subject to a maximum age limit of 50 years (for the post of Office Assistant (Multipurpose))
Other Backward Classes*	3 years
Widows, Divorced women and women legally separated from their husbands who have not remarried	9 years (only for the post of Office Assistant (Multipurpose))
Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe	3 years

* Candidates belonging to OBC category but coming under creamy layer are not entitled to OBC reservation

EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION 

Candidates applying for the IBPS RRB recruitment exam 2020-21 must have the minimum educational qualifications from a recognized university board as indicated in the table below.

IBPS RRB Recruitment – IBPS RRB Educational Qualifications for Different Posts (As on 21.07.2020)

IBPS RRB Posts	Educational Qualification	Experience
Officer Scale-III (Senior Manager)	Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university with a minimum of 50% marks aggregate.  Preference will be given to candidates with a degree in Banking, Finance, Marketing, Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Agricultural Engineering, Pisciculture, Agricultural Marketing and Cooperation, Information Technology, Management, Law, Economics and Accountancy	Minimum 5 years’ experience as an Officer in a Bank or Financial Institutions
Officer Scale-II Specialist Officers ( IT)	Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics/Communication/Computer Science/Information Technology with a minimum of 50% marks. Candidates with certification in ASP, PHP, C++, Java, VB, VC, OCP, etc. will be given preference	1 year in the relevant field
Officer Scale-II Specialist Officer (Marketing Officer)	MBA in Marketing from a recognized university	One year in the relevant field
Officer Scale-II Specialist Officer (Law Officer)	Degree in Law from a recognized University in Law or equivalent with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate	2 years as an advocate or should have worked as Law Officer in Banks or Financial Institutions for not less than two years
Officer Scale-II Specialist Officer (Agricultural Officer)	Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal husbandry, Forestry, Veterinary Science, Agricultural Engineering, Pisciculture from a recognized university or it’s with a minimum of 50% marks or aggregate	Two Years in the relevant field
Officer Scale-II Specialist Officer ( Treasury Manager)	Certified Associate (CA) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India or MBA in Finance from a recognized	One year in the relevant field.
Officer Scale-II Specialist Officers ( CA)	Certified Associate (CA) from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India	1 year as a Chartered Accountant
Officer Scale-II General Banking Officer (Manager)	Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised University with minimum 50% marks in aggregate.  Candidates having a degree in Banking, Finance, Marketing, Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Agricultural Engineering, Pisciculture, Agricultural Marketing and Cooperation, Information Technology, Management, Law, Economics or Accountancy will be given preference.	Two years as an officer in a Banking or a Financial Institution
Officer Scale – I (Assistant Manager)	Bachelor’s degree in any discipline Candidates having a degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Agricultural Engineering, Pisciculture, Agricultural Marketing and Cooperation, Information Technology, Management, Law, Economics and Accountancy will be given preference. Proficiency in local languages as prescribed by the participating RRB Working knowledge of computer	Not required
Office Assistant (Multipurpose)	Bachelor’s degree in any discipline. Proficiency in local languages as prescribed by the participating RRB Working knowledge of computer	Not Required

IBPS RRB Recruitment Stages 2020

IBPS conducts the RRB recruitment process via 4 important stages:

1. Online Written Examinations (Prelims, Singles and Mains)
2. Personal Interview
3. Provisional Allotment
4. Final Allotment

IBPS RRB Recruitment – Online Written Examination

1. The IBPS RRB recruitment is based on both the merit and qualification of the candidates. This is the first step of the IBPS RRB exam selection procedure. 
2. There are three kinds of online written exams under IBPS RRB recruitment  – Prelims, Single and Mains. 
3. All the stages of IBPS RRB written examination consist of Objective Type Questions (MCQ).
4. 80 questions are asked in the Prelims, 240 in Singles and 200 in Mains exam. The total time assigned to complete the Prelims Exam is 45 minutes. However, 2 hours is allocated to complete the Single as well as Mains exam.  
5. Candidates qualifying only the Prelims exam will be shortlisted to sit for the Mains exam. 
6. Candidates shortlisted in the Single examination will directly appear for the interview round. 
7. Every correct answer will be awarded +1 mark whereas 1/4th mark will be deducted for negative marking.
8. Cut off marks for all the categories of candidates will be different.

IBPS RRB Exam Pattern for Prelims Re-exam

IBPS had decided to hold on an additional cycle of Preliminary examination for the post of Officer Scale 1 and Office Assistant (Multipurpose). The examination, which was scheduled to be held on 12th and 13th September 2020, was postponed due to “unavoidable circumstances.” Later, the competent authorities released a supplementary advertisement stating the continuation of the IBPS RRB Prelims examination.

Officer Scale-I (Prelims)

Section	No. of Questions	Total Marks	Duration
Reasoning	40	40	45 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	40	40
Total	80	80

Office Assistant (Multipurpose) Prelims

Section	No. of Questions	Total Marks	Duration
Reasoning	40	40	45 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	40	40
Total	80	80

IBPS RRB Exam Pattern for Mains Exam

Officer Scale-I (Mains)

Name	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
Reasoning	40	50	2 hours or 120 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	40	50
General Awareness	40	40
English/ Hindi Language	40	40
Computer Knowledge	40	20
Total	200	200

IBPS RRB Exam Pattern for Single Exam

Candidates applying for Officer Scale-II and III will have to appear for a single online examination. Successful candidates will be shortlisted to appear for Common Interview for final recruitment in various rural regional banks.

Generalist Cadre for Officer Scale-II and III (Single)

Name	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
Reasoning	40	50	2 hours or 120 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	40	50
Financial Awareness	40	40
English Language	40	40
Computer Knowledge	40	20
Total	200	200

Generalist Cadre for Officer Scale-II (Specialist) Single

Name	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
Reasoning	40	40	2.30 hours or 150 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	40	40
Financial Awareness	40	40
English Language	40	20
Professional Knowledge	40	40
Computer Knowledge	40	20
Total	240	200

IBPS RRB Recruitment – Personal Interview

After the online written examination rounds (Prelims, Single and Mains) are completed and candidates are shortlisted, they would be invited for this second phase of IBPS RRB recruitment process – Interview round. 

1. IBPS and the 43 participating banks will have the responsibility of conducting the interview round.
2. The candidate will only receive the call letter for the Interview round if he/she gets shortlisted after the Mains exam (or Single exam in case of Officer Scale-II and III post aspirants).
3. The total marks allotted for the Interview round will be 100.
4. To get shortlisted in the Interview round and move ahead to the provisional allotment, General category candidates need to secure a minimum of 40% marks and SC/ST/OBC and PWD candidates 35% marks.
5. Only those candidates who qualify the interview round will be selected for the Provisional Allotment round.

IBPS RRB Recruitment – Provisional Allotment

1. The allotment will be done based on the preference order of the candidates and more importantly, the merit list.
2. Candidates scoring similar marks will be listed in the merit list as per their Date of Birth. Simply put, as per the prevailing practice, older candidates will be considered first.
3. Depending on exigencies, the recruiting agency has the right to cancel and reallot organisation.
4. Provisional allotments will be performed based on the available vacancies and as per the Government guidelines on reservation policy.
5. As per the direction of IBPS Participating Organizations/Banks, candidates who are provisionally allotted can be posted anywhere in India. 
6. After making a provisional allotment request to the participating bank, no request for change shall be accepted.
7. A reserve list will be carried out for the candidates in case of an extension in the number of vacancies.

IBPS RRB Recruitment – Final Allotment

A Joining or Appointment Letter will be sent to the candidates from the banks where they have been selected. The Appointment Letter will be sent to the selected candidate/s address or via e-mail. The letter will contain the below information:

1. Date of Reporting
2. Date of Training
3. Document Verification
4. Medical Test Details

During the time of Interview and final allotment, identities of candidates are verified. This is done with the help of a biometric verification process. When all the above processes are complete, the candidates can join their allotted banks.

IBPS RRB Recruitment 2020-21 – Documents Required during Interview 

Candidates need to present valid documents for verification on the Interview day. This is the most important step in the selection process. They can find below all the necessary documents that they need to bring with them for the Interview round.

1. Print out of the IBPS RRB call letter
2. IBPS RRB Application Form 
3. Photo identity proof
4. PAN Card 
5. Two Passport-Size Photos
6. Proof of Date of Birth (Class 10th certificate/Birth Certificate issued by Municipal Corporation)
7. Experience certificates (if applicable)
8. Marksheet of qualifications and other related graduation documents. The documents should be dated before September 30, 2020.
9. Disability certificate issued by an authorized medical board 
10. Caste certificates must be produced that will be issued by a competent authority in a prescribed format.
11. Those who are still in Defence service should submit a certificate from a competent authority that they will be relieved from Defence services, on or before September 29, 2020.
12. An Ex-serviceman candidate has to produce a copy of the Service or Discharge book along with pension payment order and documentary proof of rank last/presently held (substantive as well as acting) at the time of interview.
13. For age relaxation, the candidate must produce required documents. Domicile certificate must be produced by the candidates applying in this category and certificate issued by magistrate confirming the 1984 riot-affected persons’ relief.
14. No Objection Certificate if a candidate is working in Government Offices or Public Sector Undertakings.

IBPS RRB Recruitment – FAQs

How many phases are there in IBPS RRB recruitment 2020?

There are 4 phases/stages in IBPS RRB recruitment process-

1. Online Written Examination
2. Personal Interview
3. Provisional Allotment
4. Final Allotment

How many banks have participated in the IBPS RRB exam?

A total of 43 banks have participated in the IBPS RRB recruitment process 2020-21.

What are the educational eligibility criteria for various posts under IBPS RRB recruitment 2020?

The basic education criteria to register for the IBPS RRB recruitment exam is having a graduate degree. Candidates will find the eligibility criteria provided briefly in the article above.

Can final year students apply for IBPS RRB recruitment exam 2020?

Yes. Final year UG students whose results have been declared by 23rd September 2020 from a recognized university can apply for IBPS RRB recruitment exam 2020.

What is the role of IBPS RRB Clerk (Assistant Officer)?

The role of IBPS Clerk revolves around various tasks including handling of receipts, withdrawal activities, and even management of emails and delivery.