IBPS has thrown open the 16th edition of its clerical recruitment drive - CRP CSA-XVI - with 11,403 indicative vacancies for the Customer Service Associate post (the role most people still call "Clerk") across 11 participating public sector banks. Online registration runs from 1 August to 21 August 2026, covering hiring for the 2027-28 vacancy cycle.
This is a state/UT-wise recruitment, meaning you can apply against vacancies in only one state or union territory, so it's worth checking where the opportunities actually sit before you register.
Important Dates
| Short Notice Released | 27/07/2026 |
| Detailed Notification / Application Begin | 01/08/2026 |
| Last Date for Apply Online | 28/08/2026 |
| Last Date Pay Exam Fee | 28/08/2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | 10 & 11 October 2026 |
| Mains Exam Date | 27 December 2026 |
| Provisional Allotment | March 2027 |
Application Fee
- General / OBC / EWS : 850/- (Inclusive of GST)
- SC / ST / PwBD / ESM : 175/- (Inclusive of GST)
- Fee Is Non-Refundable Once Paid
- Pay Through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking or UPI Only - Bank Transaction Charges, if Any, Are Borne by the Candidate
Age Limit as on 01/08/2026
- Minimum Age : 20 Years
- Maximum Age : 28 Years
- Age Relaxation : SC/ST - 5 Years, OBC-NCL - 3 Years, PwBD - 10 Years, Ex-Servicemen - 5 Years (Cumulative With Only One Other Applicable Category)
Vacancy Details Total : 11403 Post (Indicative)
| Post Name | Total Post | IBPS Clerk (CSA) Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service Associate (Clerk) | 11403 (Indicative, State-Wise) | Graduation Degree in Any Discipline From a Government-Recognised University, Along With Computer Literacy and Proficiency in the Local Language of the Applied State/UT |
State Wise Vacancy Details (Top States)
| State / UT | Total Post |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 1731 |
| Karnataka | 1414 |
| Maharashtra | 1051 |
| West Bengal | 946 |
| Other States / UTs | As per Annexure-I of the Official Notification |
Note: Vacancies for Union Bank of India were not reported at the time this notification was released, so the final all-India total may change once those figures come in.
Selection Process
There's no interview at any stage of this recruitment - selection runs purely on your Prelims and Mains scores, followed by document verification. One thing that trips up a lot of first-time applicants: your Prelims marks don't carry forward into the final merit list. Prelims only decides who gets shortlisted for Mains; the Mains score alone determines your final rank.
- Preliminary Examination - 100 Questions / 100 Marks / 60 Minutes, Split Into English (30Q), Numerical Ability (35Q) and Reasoning Ability (35Q), Each With a 20-Minute Sectional Time Limit
- Main Examination - 160 Questions / 200 Marks / 125 Minutes, Covering General/Financial Awareness (40Q/50M), General English (40Q/40M), Reasoning Ability (40Q/60M) and Quantitative Aptitude (40Q/50M)
- Document Verification for Candidates Provisionally Allotted a Bank
Pay Scale
Basic pay for the Customer Service Associate post starts at Rs. 24,050 and progresses to Rs. 64,480 over the course of increments. With allowances added in, the starting gross salary typically works out to around Rs. 40,000-42,000 a month, though this varies slightly by posting location.
How to Fill IBPS Clerk CRP CSA-XVI Online Form 2026
- Visit ibps.in, Open the CRP CSA-XVI Section and Click "New Registration" to Generate Your Provisional Registration Number and Password.
- Upload Your Photograph, Signature, Left Thumb Impression, Handwritten Declaration and 10th/SSLC Certificate as per the Format Specified in Annexure IV of the Notification.
- Fill the Form Section by Section Using "Save and Next," Since Saving Partway Through Lets You Come Back Without Losing Progress.
- Pay the Fee Within the Same 01-21 August Window - a Saved but Unpaid Form Is Treated as an Invalid Application.
- Double-Check That Your Payment Actually Went Through Before Closing the Tab - This Is a Common Point Where Applications Get Missed.
- Print the Final Application Form and the Payment Receipt for Your Records.
Some Useful Important Links
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Download Notification | Click Here |
| Signature Resizer, PDF Compress, Age Calculator and More Tools | View Tools |
| Official Website | Click Here |
Note: Candidates are advised to always cross-check dates, fee details, and eligibility criteria from the official IBPS website before applying, as the schedule may change based on official updates.
IBPS Clerk CRP CSA-XVI Preparation Tips 2026
- Since Prelims Marks Don't Count Toward the Final Merit, Treat It as a Speed Test - Focus on Clearing Sectional Cutoffs Comfortably Rather Than Maximizing Your Score There.
- Mains Is Where the Real Battle Happens - Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Together Carry 110 of the 200 Marks, So Prioritize Them in Your Daily Practice.
- For General/Financial Awareness, Track Recent RBI Policy Changes, Repo Rate Movements and Major Banking Sector News From the Last 4-6 Months.
- Work on Speed in English - With Only 35 Minutes for 40 Questions in Mains, Reading Comprehension Passages Need to Be Tackled Efficiently, Not Read Word by Word.
- Practice Local Language Basics if It Isn't Your Mother Tongue, Since Proficiency in the State/UT's Local Language Is a Stated Eligibility Requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last date to apply for IBPS Clerk CRP CSA-XVI 2026?
The last date to apply online, along with the fee payment deadline, is 21 August 2026.
How many total vacancies are there in IBPS Clerk 2026?
A total of 11,403 indicative vacancies have been announced across participating states and union territories, though this figure may change once Union Bank of India reports its numbers.
Is there an interview in the IBPS Clerk selection process?
No, there is no interview. Selection is based entirely on the Preliminary and Main Examination scores, followed by document verification.
Do Prelims marks count toward the final selection?
No, Prelims is only a qualifying stage to shortlist candidates for Mains. The final merit list is prepared solely on the basis of Mains marks.
What is the application fee for IBPS Clerk 2026?
General, OBC and EWS candidates need to pay Rs. 850/-, while SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-Servicemen candidates pay Rs. 175/-, both figures inclusive of GST.
Can a candidate apply for vacancies in more than one state?
No, recruitment under CRP CSA-XVI is conducted state/UT-wise, and a candidate can apply for vacancies in only one state or union territory.
What is the age limit for IBPS Clerk CRP CSA-XVI 2026?
Candidates must be between 20 and 28 years of age as on 01 August 2026, with standard age relaxation applicable for reserved categories.
IBPS Clerk CRP CSA-XVI - Practice Questions (Banking Awareness, Quant, Reasoning, English)
25 Objective Questions
Q1. The repo rate, a key tool used by RBI to control inflation, refers to the rate at which:
Q2. Under the Basel III norms, what does 'CRAR' (Capital to Risk-weighted Assets Ratio) primarily measure for a bank?
Q3. If a cheque is post-dated, what does this mean for its validity at the time of presentation?
Q4. Which instrument allows a bank customer to withdraw more money than their account balance, up to a sanctioned limit?
Q5. What is the primary function of the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) that commercial banks must maintain with RBI?
Q6. A trader buys 15 kg of rice at Rs. 42 per kg and 25 kg at Rs. 38 per kg, then sells the entire mixture at Rs. 45 per kg. What is his overall profit?
Q7. Five colleagues P, Q, R, S, T work in a bank across five different shifts (earliest to latest). Q works two shifts after P. R works immediately before S, who is not the last. T works the first shift. If P is not immediately after T, which shift does Q work?
Q8. In a certain code, 'DEPOSIT' is written as 'CDOSRHR' by shifting each letter one step back except the fourth letter, which shifts back by two. How is 'ACCOUNT' likely written using the exact same rule?
Q9. Choose the word that is most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to 'Solvent' (in a financial context):
Q10. Identify the grammatically correct sentence for use in a formal banking communication:
Q11. A sum of Rs. 12,000 is invested at compound interest, compounded annually, and grows to Rs. 13,230 in 2 years. What is the annual rate of interest?
Q12. If in a queue at a bank counter, Meera is 12th from the front and 18th from the back, and 4 more people join the queue behind Meera, what is the new total number of people in the queue?
Q13. What does the term 'NPA' (Non-Performing Asset) specifically indicate about a bank loan?
Q14. Which of these best describes a 'demand draft' as a banking instrument?
Q15. A boat's speed in still water is 15 km/h and the speed of the current is 3 km/h. If it takes 4 hours to travel a certain distance downstream, how long will it take to cover the same distance upstream?
Q16. Eight people sit around a circular table facing the centre, all bankers from different departments. A sits third to the right of B. C sits second to the left of A. D sits opposite B. If E sits immediately between C and D, who sits immediately to the left of E?
Q17. Which of these is the correct expanded form of 'KYC' as used in banking compliance?
Q18. Choose the most appropriate synonym for 'Prudent' as it would be used to describe sound financial decision-making:
Q19. A man deposits Rs. 8,000 in a recurring deposit account at 8% per annum simple interest for 12 months. What is the total interest earned at maturity (using the standard RD interest formula)?
Q20. In a certain banking exam seating arrangement, if the 3rd person from the left in a row of 40 candidates is exactly in the middle when counted from a specific point, what would be the total number of candidates if this pattern held for a row of 60 (using the same relative logic)?
Q21. What is the primary purpose of the 'Statutory Liquidity Ratio' (SLR) that banks must maintain?
Q22. If MONEY is coded numerically based on reverse alphabet position (Z=1, Y=2...A=26) and DEPOSIT needs the same coding, what would be the code for the letter 'D' in DEPOSIT?
Q23. Which of these correctly completes the analogy: 'Cheque is to Bank as Prescription is to ___'?
Q24. A sum is divided between A and B such that A's share, invested at 8% simple interest, and B's share, invested at 10% simple interest, yield equal annual interest. If the total sum is Rs. 9000, what is A's share?
Q25. Which of these best defines 'financial inclusion' as a policy objective often referenced in banking awareness sections?