IBPS Clerk 2026 (CRP CSA-XVI) – Status, Tamil Nadu Vacancies, Eligibility, Exam Pattern, Syllabus
Updated: 03-11-2026 · Shanmugam IAS Academy
IBPS Clerk is the CRP CSA (Common Recruitment Process – Customer Service Associates) conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS). It is the main exam for Customer Service Associate (clerk) posts in public sector banks. The current cycle is CRP CSA-XVI, with two stages – Preliminary and Main. There is no interview.
Participating banks (11): Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Indian Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank. (SBI is not part of it – SBI runs its own recruitment; see below.)
Current status (03-11-2026): applications are closed (last date 28-08-2026). As per the IBPS tentative calendar, the Preliminary exam was scheduled for 10 and 11 October 2026. As on 03-11-2026, no Preliminary result has been published on ibps.in – the notification's tentative schedule shows November 2026 for the result. The Main exam is on 27-12-2026 as per the IBPS tentative calendar. If you wrote the Prelims, start Mains preparation now – final selection depends only on Mains marks.
This page is compiled from the official IBPS CRP CSA-XVI notification and later corrigenda, and is updated whenever IBPS issues a new notice. For final details see ibps.in.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification / online registration opens | 01-08-2026 |
| Last date to apply and pay fee | Originally 21-08-2026; extended to 28-08-2026 |
| Preliminary exam | 10-10-2026 and 11-10-2026 (IBPS tentative calendar 2026-27) |
| Preliminary result | Not yet published on ibps.in (as on 03-11-2026); tentatively November 2026 as per the notification |
| Main exam | 27-12-2026 (IBPS tentative calendar 2026-27) |
| Provisional allotment | March 2027 (tentative) |
Dates for the next cycle (CRP CSA-XVII) have not been announced yet (as on 03-11-2026). We will add them once IBPS publishes its next tentative calendar. See also our exam calendar.
Vacancies
This cycle is for the vacancies of 2027-28. The State-wise indicative vacancies were updated in Annexure I of the corrigendum dated 29-09-2026. As per that table, Tamil Nadu has 698 vacancies:
| State/UT | SC | ST | OBC | EWS | UR | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | 140 | 5 | 216 | 59 | 278 | 698 |
| Puducherry | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 27 |
These numbers are indicative; provisional allotment is made on the basis of the actual vacancies reported by the banks. A candidate can apply for the vacancies of only one State/UT. Full State-wise and bank-wise table: IBPS updated vacancies – 29-09-2026 (PDF).
Eligibility
Educational qualification (as on 21-08-2026)
- A degree (graduation) in any discipline from a university recognised by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification. You must hold a valid mark sheet / degree certificate showing that you are a graduate on the day you register, and enter your graduation percentage while registering online.
- Computer literacy is mandatory – a certificate / diploma / degree in computer operations or language, or computer / information technology studied as a subject in high school, college or institute.
Age limit (as on 01-08-2026)
- 20 to 28 years – born not earlier than 02-08-1998 and not later than 01-08-2006 (both dates inclusive).
- Upper age relaxation: SC/ST – 5 years; OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) – 3 years; persons with benchmark disabilities – 10 years; ex-servicemen – actual service + 3 years (8 years for disabled ex-servicemen from SC/ST), up to a maximum of 50 years.
- Widows, divorced women and women legally separated who have not remarried: up to 35 years (General/EWS), 38 (OBC), 40 (SC/ST).
Local language – Tamil for Tamil Nadu
- You must be able to read, write, speak and understand the official language of the State/UT you apply for – Tamil for Tamil Nadu.
- A Language Proficiency Test is held after the Main exam / provisional allotment and before joining. Candidates who fail it are not offered appointment.
- If you produce a 10th standard (or higher) mark sheet / certificate showing you studied Tamil, you need not take the language test.
Exam Pattern
Both stages are online objective tests. Each test is separately timed (sectional timing).
1. Preliminary exam – qualifying only
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language (English only) | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min |
You must clear the cut-off fixed by IBPS in each of the three tests. Prelims marks are not counted for the final merit.
2. Main exam – decides final selection
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 40 | 50 | 20 min |
| General English (English only) | 40 | 40 | 35 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 40 | 60 | 35 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | 50 | 35 min |
| Total | 160 | 200 | 125 min |
- You need a minimum score in each test and a minimum total.
- Only Main exam marks are used for the final merit list. There is no interview.
Negative marking
For every wrong answer, one-fourth (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question is deducted, in both Prelims and Mains. No penalty for unanswered questions.
Medium of the exam
English Language / General English are in English only. For Tamil Nadu candidates the other tests are available in English, Hindi and Tamil (chosen in the application).
Syllabus Overview
The notification lists only the test names. Our faculty's suggested study areas for each:
- English: reading comprehension, grammar / error spotting, vocabulary, cloze test.
- Numerical Ability / Quantitative Aptitude: simplification, number series, percentage, profit and loss, interest, ratio, time and work, data interpretation.
- Reasoning Ability: puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, inequality, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense.
- General / Financial Awareness (Mains): banking and financial awareness, RBI, government schemes, current affairs, static GK.
Official details: IBPS CRP CSA-XVI notification (PDF).
Fee and How to Apply
- SC / ST / PwBD / ESM / DESM: ₹175 (incl. GST)
- All others: ₹850 (incl. GST); bank transaction charges extra.
- Apply online only at ibps.in. The 2026 application window is closed.
- Online Pre-Examination Training may be given to a limited number of SC / ST / OBC / minority / ex-servicemen / PwBD candidates who opt for it in the application.
Related Bank Exams
- IBPS PO / MT – IBPS's separate exam (CRP PO/MT) for officer posts (Probationary Officer / Management Trainee) in the same public sector banks. Details: ibps.in.
- SBI Clerk (Junior Associates) and SBI PO – conducted by SBI itself, not through IBPS. Details: sbi.bank.in – Careers.
How we help you prepare
- Bank exam coaching – Coimbatore (IBPS Clerk / PO, SBI Clerk / PO) – ₹22,000; Madurai ₹15,000 (Madurai branch). Fees include GST, study materials and test series.
- Free bank exam quiz – English, Quant, Reasoning, Computer, Banking Awareness
- IBPS Clerk books (practice questions with explanations)
- Daily current affairs (English) · Tamil – for Financial Awareness
- Job notifications · Exam calendar · Weekly test
- Fees · Admission
- Talk to us: +91 99941 46662 · WhatsApp
Frequently asked questions
What is the IBPS Clerk exam and which banks does it cover?
It is the CRP CSA (Customer Service Associates) conducted by IBPS to recruit clerks in public sector banks. CRP CSA-XVI covers 11 banks: Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Indian Bank and Punjab & Sind Bank.
What is the current status of IBPS Clerk 2026 (CSA-XVI)?
As per the IBPS tentative calendar, the Preliminary exam was scheduled for 10 and 11 October 2026. As on 03-11-2026 no result has been published on ibps.in (tentatively November 2026 as per the notification). The Main exam is on 27-12-2026 as per the IBPS tentative calendar.
How many IBPS Clerk vacancies are there in Tamil Nadu?
As per Annexure I of the corrigendum dated 29-09-2026, Tamil Nadu has 698 vacancies (SC 140, ST 5, OBC 216, EWS 59, UR 278) and Puducherry 27. These are indicative numbers; the full table is on ibps.in.
What are the age limit and qualification?
20 to 28 years as on 01-08-2026 (born between 02-08-1998 and 01-08-2006, both inclusive), with relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST, 3 for OBC and 10 for PwBD. A degree in any discipline by 21-08-2026 and computer literacy are mandatory.
Is knowledge of Tamil compulsory?
Yes. For Tamil Nadu vacancies you must read, write, speak and understand Tamil. A Language Proficiency Test is held before joining; it is waived if you have a 10th standard (or higher) mark sheet / certificate showing you studied Tamil.
What is the exam pattern? Is there negative marking?
Prelims: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes (English 30, Numerical 35, Reasoning 35; 20 minutes each). Mains: 160 questions, 200 marks, 125 minutes. 0.25 of the question's marks is deducted for each wrong answer. There is no interview; final merit is based only on Mains marks.
Can I write the IBPS Clerk exam in Tamil?
English Language / General English are in English only. For Tamil Nadu candidates the other tests are offered in English, Hindi and Tamil.
Are SBI Clerk and IBPS Clerk the same?
No. IBPS Clerk recruits for 11 public sector banks. SBI Clerk (Junior Associates) and SBI PO are conducted by SBI itself – see the Careers page on sbi.bank.in. IBPS PO is a separate IBPS exam for officer posts in the same banks.
