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IBPS AFO Notification 2026 Out | 190 Vacancies, New Exam Pattern & Eligibility
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the IBPS AFO Notification 2026 on 30 June 2026 for the recruitment of Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I) posts under CRP SPL-XVI in participating Public Sector Banks.
The IBPS AFO Apply Online 2026 process will remain open from 1 July to 21 July 2026. Candidates can check the notification for complete details on eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, selection process, salary, and other important information.
IBPS AFO 2026 Highlights
The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has officially released the IBPS Specialist Officer (SO) CRP SPL-XVI Notification 2026 for various Scale-I Specialist Officer posts, including Agricultural Field Officer (AFO).
This year’s recruitment has brought two major surprises for Agriculture graduates:
1. Only 190 vacancies have been announced, making it one of the lowest vacancy counts in IBPS AFO recruitment history.2. The exam pattern has changed significantly, with the addition of an English Descriptive Paper in the Main Examination.
If you’re planning to appear for IBPS AFO 2026, here’s everything you need to know.
IBPS AFO 2026 Important Dates:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | July 2026 |
| Online Registration Begins | 1 July 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 21 July 2026 |
| Fee Payment | 1 July – 21 July 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam | August 2026 |
| Preliminary Result | September 2026 |
| Main Exam | November 2026 |
| Interview | December 2026 / January 2027 |
IBPS AFO Vacancy 2026
IBPS has announced a total of 190 vacancies for the Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I) post. Out of these, 100 vacancies are in Bank of Baroda and 90 vacancies are in Bank of Maharashtra. This is one of the lowest vacancy counts in IBPS AFO recruitment, making the competition tougher than previous years.
What's New in IBPS AFO 2026?
The biggest update this year is the revised examination pattern.
Earlier, candidates had to prepare only for objective papers. However, IBPS has introduced an English Descriptive Paper in the Main Examination, requiring candidates to develop writing skills in addition to objective preparation.
New Descriptive Paper
- Number of Questions: 2
- Marks: 25
- Duration: 30 Minutes
- Medium: English
Note: The official notification confirms only the number of questions, marks, and duration. It does not specify the exact question types (such as essay or letter writing).
IBPS AFO Age Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must be:
Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 30 Years
Age will be calculated as per the notification. Relaxation in the upper age limit is applicable for reserved categories according to Government of India rule.
Educational Qualification
Candidates must possess a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university or institution in Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Dairy Science, Fishery Science, Pisciculture, Agricultural Marketing & Cooperation, Co-operation & Banking, Agro-Forestry, Forestry, Agricultural Biotechnology, B.Tech Biotechnology, Food Science, Agriculture Business Management, Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Agricultural Engineering, Sericulture, or Fisheries Engineering.
IBPS AFO Salary 2026
Candidates selected as Agricultural Field Officers (Scale I) will receive a starting basic pay of ₹48,480 under the pay scale of ₹48,480–2,000/7–62,480–2,340/2–67,160–2,680/7–85,920.
IBPS AFO Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| SC/ST/PwBD | ₹175 |
| General/OBC/EWS | ₹850 |
Application fees can be paid online only between 1 July and 21 July 2026.
IBPS AFO Selection Process
The recruitment process consists of:
Stage 1: Preliminary Examination
↓
Stage 2: Main Examination
↓
Stage 3: Interview
↓
Final Merit List
The final selection is based on Main Examination and Interview. The Main Exam carries 80% weightage, while the Interview carries 20% weightage.
IBPS AFO Prelims Exam Pattern
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | 20 min |
| Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 20 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 25 | 20 min |
| Professional Knowledge (Agriculture) | 25 | 50 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 125 | 80 Minutes |
IBPS AFO Mains Exam Pattern (New)
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 min |
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 35 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 min |
| Professional Knowledge | 50 | 100 | 40 min |
| Objective Total | 150 | 200 | 125 Minutes |
| Descriptive English | 2 | 25 | 30 Minutes |
| Grand Total | 152 | 225 | 155 Minutes |
Negative Marking
IBPS has retained the negative marking system.
0.25 marks will be deducted for every incorrect answer in the objective tests.
No penalty is applied for unanswered questions.
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