Syllabus and Exam Pattern of IBPS SO HR exam
Download 2026 Notification for IBPS SO HR exam Download
Since July 2026, the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has made major changes in the exam pattern and syllabus for recruitment to Specialist Officers’ (SO) Cadre posts in participating Public Sector Banks.
The written examination is conducted in the following stages:
Stage 1 – Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination consists of 100 questions carrying 125 marks, to be completed in 80 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 20 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 25 | 50 | 20 minutes |
In the Preliminary Examination, although Professional Knowledge forms only 25% of the questions, it carries 50% weightage in terms of marks.
All four sections will have individual cut-offs, as decided by IBPS. There will be negative marking of one-fourth; for every incorrect answer, 25% of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted.
Stage 2 – Main Examination
The Main Examination consists of 150 objective questions and 2 descriptive questions. The objective paper is to be completed in 125 minutes, while the descriptive paper is to be completed in 30 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge | 50 | 100 | 40 minutes |
| Descriptive Paper - English | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
In the Main Examination, all tests except Professional Knowledge will be qualifying in nature. Merit listing will be done on the basis of the candidate’s score in the Professional Knowledge section.
Therefore, although English, Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude are included in the Main Examination, their scores do not decide the overall merit cut-off. These sections are qualifying in nature only.
Stage 3 – Interview
The Interview carries a total of 100 marks. The final weightage of the written examination and interview is 80:20.
For the purpose of final score calculation, the marks obtained in the Professional Knowledge section of the Main Examination are multiplied by 4.
- Written Examination: 400 marks
- Interview: 100 marks
Syllabus of IBPS SO HR exam
Download 2026 Notification for IBPS SO HR exam Download
Professional Knowledge - Syllabus
Human Resources Management
- Introduction to Human Resource Management (HRM)
- Meaning and Scope of HRM
- Models of HRM
- Objectives of HRM
- Functions of HRM
- Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- Human Resource Planning
- Human Resource Planning Process
- Human Resource Demand Forecasting
- Human Resource Outsourcing
- Job Analysis
- Job Design
- Job Description
- Job Specification
- Job Evaluation
- Succession Planning
- Recruitment and Selection
- Sources of Recruitment
- Selection Process
- Selection Tests
- Reliability and Validity of Selection Tests
- Interview Methods
- International Recruitment and Placement
- Employee Induction and Mobility
- Employee Socialization
- Employee Mobility
- Promotion
- Transfer
- Separation
- Performance Management
- Performance Appraisal Methods
- Biases in Performance Appraisal
- Career Planning and Development
- Career Planning and Career Development
- Talent Management
- Compensation Management
- Compensation Administration
- Incentives and Reward Systems
- Employee Benefits
- Training and Development
- Evaluation of Human Resources
- Human Resource Accounting
- Methods of Human Resource Accounting
- Human Resource Audit
- Human Resource Information System (HRIS)
- HRIS and Digital HR Systems
- Employee Discipline
- Grievance Management
- International Human Resource Management (IHRM)
- Employee Morale and Productivity
- Green Human Resource Management (Green HRM)
- Human Resource Development (HRD)
Organizational Behaviour
- Principles of Management
- Nature and Functions of Management
- Organizational Behaviour
- Management Theories
- Classical Theories of Management
- Neo-Classical Theory
- Modern Management Theories
- Organization Structure and Organization Design
- Organizational Communication
- Decision Making
- Individual Behaviour
- Attitude
- Learning
- Perception
- Values
- Personality
- Transactional Analysis
- Emotions and Emotional Management
- Motivation Theories
- Group Behaviour and Team Dynamics
- Conflict Management
- Negotiation
- Leadership Theories and Styles
- Change Management
- Organizational Development (OD)
- Organizational Culture and Organizational Climate
- Stress Management
- Knowledge Management
- Power, Politics and Authority
Labour Laws
- Introduction to Labour Laws and Regulatory Framework in India
- Constitutional Provisions Relating to Labour Laws
- Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970
- Factories Act, 1948
- Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986
- Unorganised Workers' Social Security Act, 2008
- Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
- Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979
- Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996
- Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Act, 1948
- Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
- Mines Act, 1952
- Payment of Bonus Act, 1965
- Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
- Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act)
- Employees' Compensation Act, 1923
- Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
- Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF & MP) Act, 1952
- Payment of Wages Act, 1936
- Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946
- Minimum Wages Act, 1948
- Trade Unions Act, 1926
- Apprentices Act, 1961
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
New Labour Codes
- Code on Wages, 2019
- Industrial Relations Code, 2020
- Code on Social Security, 2020
- Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020
Industrial Relations
- Introduction to Industrial Relations
- Concepts and Scope of Industrial Relations
- Approaches to Industrial Relations
- Evolution of Industrial Relations in India
- Industrial Conflict and Dispute Resolution
- Collective Bargaining
- Strikes and Lockouts
- Bipartite and Tripartite Machinery
- Indian Labour Conference (ILC)
- Standing Labour Committee (SLC)
- Code of Discipline
- Code of Conduct
- Workers' Participation in Management (WPM)
- Trade Unions
- Labour Administration and Governance in India
- Ministry of Labour and Employment
- Labour Commissions
- Government Initiatives and Labour Reforms
- Employers' Organisations
- International Labour Organization (ILO)
Labour Welfare
- Labour Welfare
- Concepts of Labour Welfare
- Theories of Labour Welfare
- Principles of Labour Welfare
- Labour Welfare Facilities
- Social Security
- Social Security
- Social Insurance
- Social Assistance
- Occupational Health, Safety and Industrial Hygiene
- Occupational Health
- Occupational Safety
- Industrial Hygiene
- Industrial Accidents
- Occupational Diseases
- Labour Economics
- Economics of Labour Market
- Wage Theories and Wage Differentials
- Labour Market in India
- Composition of the Indian Labour Market
- Emerging Issues and New Dynamics of Labour in India
- Directorate General of Employment (DGE)
- National Career Service (NCS)
- Unemployment and Underemployment
Quantitative Aptitude
- Percentage
- Profit, Loss and Discount
- Ratio and Proportion
- Time and Work
- Mixture and Alligation
- Average
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Time, Speed and Distance
- Mensuration (2-Dimensional Figures)
- Mensuration (3-Dimensional Solids)
- Number System
- Number Properties
- Divisibility Rules
- Remainders
- Unit Digit
- Factors and Zeroes
- Highest Common Factor (HCF)
- Least Common Multiple (LCM)
- HCF, LCM and Remainders
- Digit Counting
- Digit Placement
- Permutation and Combination
- Probability
- Simple Linear Equations
- Problems on Ages
- Set Theory
- Venn Diagrams
- Cross Tabulation
- Quadratic Equations
- Simplification
- Surds and Indices
- Fractions
- Square Root
Reasoning Ability
- Number Series
- Letter Series
- Coding-Decoding
- Number Patterns
- Seating Arrangement and Puzzles
- Ranking and Ordering
- Direction Sense Test
- Blood Relations
- Calendar
- Clock
- Cubes and Dice
- Syllogism
- Mathematical Operations
- Classification (Odd One Out)
- Analogy
- Word Arrangement
- Statement, Arguments and Conclusions
- Data Sufficiency
- Counting of Figures
- Cause and Effect
- Non-Verbal Reasoning
- Series
- Analogy
- Analytical Reasoning
- Classification
- Water Images
- Mirror Images
English Language
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test (Cloze Composition)
- Spotting Errors
- Fill in the Blanks
- Sentence Improvement
- Sentence Completion
- Sentence Rearrangement and Para Jumbles
- Jumbled Sentences
- Sentence Rearrangement
- Missing Sentences
- Vocabulary
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- One Word Substitution
- Idioms and Phrases
- Word Meaning
- Usage of Paired Words
- Spelling Correction
- Grammar
- Parts of Speech (Word Classes)
- Articles
- Prepositions
- Determiners
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Comparison of Adjectives
- Correct Usage of Verb Forms
- Question Tags
- Transformation of Sentences
- Active and Passive Voice
- Direct and Indirect Speech (Reported Speech)
Descriptive Paper (English)
- Essay Writing
- Letter Writing
- Formal Letter
- Informal Letter
- Official and Business Correspondence
- Precis Writing
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