There’s great news for young people dreaming of a government job in the banking sector. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has released the official notification for Clerk Recruitment 2026 (CRP CSA XVI). This recruitment process will fill a total of 11,403 vacant Customer Service Associate (CSA) positions in various public sector banks across the country. Eligible and interested candidates can apply online through the official website from August 1, 2026. The application deadline is August 21, 2026.
Major Changes in Exam Pattern: Increased Time and Number of Questions in the Mains Exam
This year, IBPS has made significant changes to the pattern of the Mains Exam for Clerk Recruitment. However, the format of the Preliminary Exam will remain the same.
New Pattern of the Mains Exam: Previously, the Mains exam consisted of 155 questions and had a 120-minute time limit. Following the new changes, a total of 160 questions will be asked, with a time limit of 125 minutes (2 hours and 5 minutes).
Quantitative Aptitude: This section will now have 40 questions instead of 35, and candidates will be allotted 35 minutes to solve them.
Educational Qualification and Age Limit
Educational Qualification: Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in any subject from a recognized university. Basic knowledge of computer operation and knowledge of the local language of the respective state is also mandatory.
Age Limit: The minimum age is 20 years and the maximum age is 28 years. Candidates from reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) will be given relaxation in the upper age limit as per rules.
Important Dates and Exam Schedule
Application Start Date: August 1, 2026
Application and Fee Payment Deadline: August 21, 2026
Prelims Exam (Tentative): October 2026
Prelims Result: November 2026
Mains Exam: December 2026
Provisional Allotment: March 2027
How many positions in which state? (Main States)
Uttar Pradesh: 1,731 posts
Karnataka: 1,414 posts
Maharashtra: 1,051 posts
West Bengal: 946 posts
Gujarat: 698 posts
Tamil Nadu: 675 posts
Madhya Pradesh: 570 posts
Bihar: 491 posts
Punjab: 481 posts
Delhi NCR: 415 posts
Application Fee and Salary Structure
Application Fee: ₹175 for SC/ST/PwBD/ESM categories, while ₹850 for General, OBC, and EWS candidates.
Pay Scale: Selected candidates will receive a starting salary of approximately ₹24,050 to ₹64,480 per month. Various allowances will also be provided as per rules.
Selection Process and Negative Marking
The recruitment process will be conducted in two stages—a preliminary examination (100 marks) and a main examination (200 marks). Negative marking of 1/4 (0.25) marks will apply for incorrect answers in both stages. Candidates can submit their online form along with all the required educational and personal documents by visiting the official IBPS website.