IBPS Clerk 2026 — CRP CSA-XVI dates, eligibility, pattern and vacancies

The IBPS calendar dated 16 January 2026 schedules CRP CSA-XVI prelims on 10 and 11 October 2026 and the mains on 27 December 2026. The CSA-XVI page has no later change of those dates. As of 30 October 2026 that page also has no prelims result; the 1 August notification places the result in November 2026 and provisional allotment in March 2027.

The annexure updated as on 29 September 2026 totals 11,663 indicative posts: SC 1,936, ST 962, OBC (NCL) 2,863, EWS 1,024 and UR 4,878. Union Bank of India is marked not reported, so it is outside that total. These figures are indicative. Provisional allotment uses the vacancies the banks actually report. A candidate applies for one State or UT only.

No. The notification selects through the online preliminary exam and the online main exam, and the final merit uses the main exam only. There is a local language proficiency test after the main exam or provisional allotment and before joining, for candidates who do not produce a 10th standard or above certificate showing they studied the opted local language. Failing that test means no appointment.

Age is 20 to 28 years as on 1 August 2026, for candidates born from 2 August 1998 to 1 August 2006, both dates inclusive. SC/ST get 5 years, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) 3 years and persons with benchmark disabilities 10 years, with the category relaxation cumulative with only one other concession. Education is a graduation in any discipline. The candidate must be a graduate on the registration day, and the qualification date in the notification is 21 August 2026.

Prelims are 100 questions for 100 marks in 60 minutes, with each test separately timed: English Language 30 questions and 30 marks, Numerical Ability 35 questions and 35 marks, and Reasoning Ability 35 questions and 35 marks, 20 minutes each. Mains are 160 questions for 200 marks in 125 minutes: General/Financial Awareness 40 questions and 50 marks in 20 minutes, General English 40 questions and 40 marks in 35 minutes, Reasoning Ability 40 questions and 60 marks in 35 minutes, and Quantitative Aptitude 40 questions and 50 marks in 35 minutes. A wrong answer costs one fourth of the marks assigned to that question. A blank answer has no penalty. IBPS has not published a separate topic-wise syllabus; the tests above are the syllabus named in the notification.

The 1 August 2026 notification prints online registration and fee payment from 1 August 2026 to 21 August 2026, both dates inclusive. The 29 September 2026 corrigendum updates vacancies and says every other term is unchanged. The CSA-XVI page does not list an extension to 28 August. The fee is Rs 175 for SC/ST/PwBD/ESM/DESM candidates and Rs 850 for all others. An edit window of two days after registration was to be notified separately, and that date is not on the current page. Pre-examination training is placed in September 2026.