The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conducts the Common Recruitment Process for Clerical Cadre, now officially titled Customer Service Associate (CSA), to fill clerk-level posts across participating public sector banks. The 2026 cycle, referred to as CRP CSA-XVI, is the upcoming edition for which IBPS has already confirmed the examination dates in its official calendar. As on 30 June 2026 the detailed notification is still awaited and is expected to be released around July-August 2026, so interested aspirants are advised to keep a close watch on the official website.
IBPS Clerk 2026 Overview
| Recruitment Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
|---|---|
| Post Name | Clerk / Customer Service Associate (CSA) |
| Category | Bank Jobs (Clerical Cadre) |
| Total Vacancies | To be announced in the official notification (the previous CRP CSA-XV cycle had close to 15,700 posts after revision) |
| Job Location | All India (state-wise vacancies across participating banks) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | https://www.ibps.in |
Important Dates
Kindly note that while the prelims and mains exam dates for 2026 have been confirmed through the official IBPS calendar, the application start and last dates are tentative until the detailed notification is published.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | Expected July-August 2026 (tentative) |
| Online Application Start | Expected from August 2026 (tentative) |
| Last Date to Apply | Expected late August / early September 2026 (tentative) |
| Preliminary Exam Date | 10 & 11 October 2026 (as per IBPS calendar) |
| Mains Exam Date | 27 December 2026 (as per IBPS calendar) |
Vacancy Details
The exact number of vacancies for CRP CSA-XVI will be confirmed only when the official notification is released, as the figures are decided state-wise and bank-wise based on the requirement of each participating bank. For reference, the immediately preceding CRP CSA-XV cycle was conducted for roughly 15,700 posts after revision, spread across 11 public sector banks, with states such as Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest share of vacancies. Candidates should remember that they have to apply for vacancies of a particular state or Union Territory, and they must possess proficiency in the official language of that state. Aspirants are advised to confirm the final state-wise breakup from the notification once it is uploaded on the official website.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
A candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree (graduation) in any discipline from a University recognised by the Government of India, or an equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government. Candidates should have a valid mark-sheet or degree certificate on the date of registration and should mention the percentage of marks obtained. Basic computer literacy and knowledge of the official language of the state for which the candidate applies are also expected, as per the official notification.
Age Limit
The age limit is generally 20 to 28 years as on the cut-off date specified in the notification. This means the candidate should not be below 20 years and not above 28 years on the reference date. Age relaxation is provided to reserved categories in line with Government of India rules:
- SC / ST: 5 years
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years
- Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD): 10 years
- Ex-Servicemen and other special categories: relaxation as per government norms
Candidates are advised to verify the exact date of birth range from the official notification before applying.
Application Fee
The application fee (including intimation charges) is usually as follows. Final figures will be confirmed in the 2026 notification:
- SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen: Rs. 175/- (intimation charges only)
- General, OBC, EWS and all other candidates: Rs. 850/-
The fee has to be paid online through debit card, credit card, internet banking, IMPS, cash cards or mobile wallet. Kindly note that the fee once paid is non-refundable.
Salary / Pay Scale
In the previous cycle, the basic pay for a newly recruited clerk (Customer Service Associate) started at around Rs. 24,050/- per month, within the applicable clerical pay scale. Along with basic pay, employees are entitled to Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Transport Allowance and other admissible benefits, taking the approximate gross in-hand salary to around Rs. 40,000/- per month depending on the place of posting. The exact pay structure for 2026 will be governed by the latest bipartite settlement and the official notification.
Selection Process
The selection of candidates for the clerical cadre is carried out in two online stages. There is no interview for this post; the final merit is prepared on the basis of the mains examination only.
- Preliminary Examination: An online objective test (English Language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability). This stage is qualifying in nature, and its marks are not added to the final merit list.
- Mains Examination: Candidates who clear the prelims cut-off are called for the mains, which covers General/Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude, and Quantitative Aptitude. The final selection and provisional allotment are based on the marks scored in the mains.
Kindly note that there is negative marking in both stages, with a penalty of one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question for every wrong answer.
How to Apply Online
Once the notification is live, interested aspirants can apply by following these steps:
- Visit the official IBPS website at https://www.ibps.in.
- Open the “CRP Clerks / CRP CSA-XVI” or “Clerical Cadre” recruitment link on the home page.
- Read the detailed notification carefully and ensure you meet the eligibility criteria.
- Click on “Click here for New Registration”, enter your name, contact details and email ID, and note down the provisional registration number and password.
- Fill in the application form with personal, educational and state preference details.
- Upload your scanned photograph, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration in the prescribed format and size.
- Pay the application fee online using any of the available payment modes.
- Submit the form, and download and print a copy of the completed application for future reference.
- For all updates and to apply, always use the official website: https://www.ibps.in.
Important Links
- Official Website / Apply Online: https://www.ibps.in
- Official Notification (CRP Clerks / CSA): https://www.ibps.in
Disclaimer: The details given above, including dates, vacancies, eligibility, fee and salary, are provided for general information based on the latest available updates and previous recruitment cycles. As the IBPS Clerk 2026 (CRP CSA-XVI) detailed notification is yet to be released, some figures are tentative and subject to change. Candidates are strongly advised to read the official notification and verify all information on the official website https://www.ibps.in before applying, as notifications and schedules can change at any time.