IBPS Clerk 2026: Complete Guide to the Customer Service Associate Exam
Last updated: 2026-11-13 · MockMentor
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) recruits Customer Service Associates (CSA), the clerical post in public sector banks, through the Common Recruitment Process CRP CSA. The 2026 cycle, CRP CSA-XVI, fills vacancies for 2027-28 in 11 public sector banks. After the update of 29 September 2026 it has 11,663 vacancies.
IBPS Clerk 2026 status (13 November 2026): Prelims was held in October 2026. The notification schedules the Prelims result for November 2026, Mains for December 2026 and provisional allotment for March 2027.
IBPS Clerk 2026 at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Post | Customer Service Associate (clerical cadre) |
| Recruitment | CRP CSA-XVI, for 2027-28 vacancies |
| Vacancies | 11,663 (as on 29 September 2026) |
| Banks | 11 public sector banks |
| Age | 20 to 28 years as on 1 August 2026 |
| Qualification | Graduation in any discipline and computer literacy |
| Selection | Prelims (100 marks), Mains (200 marks), Local Language Proficiency Test |
| Final merit | Mains marks only; no interview |
| Starting basic pay | ₹24,050 |
| Application fee | ₹850; ₹175 for SC/ST/PwBD/ex-servicemen |
How selection works
- Prelims: 100 questions in 60 minutes on English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning.
- Mains: 160 questions for 200 marks in 125 minutes.
- Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT): qualifying only; you are exempt if your Class 10 or higher certificate shows you studied the language.
How IBPS Clerk differs from SBI Clerk
| Point | IBPS Clerk | SBI Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Banks | 11 public sector banks | SBI only |
| Prelims cut-off | Sectional cut-off applies | No sectional cut-off |
| Mains | 160 questions, 200 marks, 125 minutes | 190 questions, 200 marks, 160 minutes |
| Starting basic pay | ₹24,050 | ₹26,730 (two advance increments) |
| Transfers | As per bank rules | No inter-State transfer for 5 years |
Read the SBI Clerk guide if you are writing both.
Guide pages
- 2026 notification and exam dates
- Eligibility and age limit
- Syllabus and exam pattern
- Salary
- Vacancy 2026 by bank and State
- Cut-off: previous years and how it is set
Preparing for Mains General Awareness
General and Financial Awareness carries 50 of the 200 Mains marks, and it is the section where steady preparation pays off most. Our fortnightly GA and current affairs MCQ package and the free flagship schemes guide cover the banking and schemes portion.
Source: IBPS: CRP CSA-XVI notification (1 August 2026) and vacancy update of 29 September 2026.
IBPS Clerk: all pages
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