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IBPS SO salary: one pay scale for six specialist posts
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The IBPS Specialist Officer (SO) notification for 2026 (CRP SPL-XVI, 30 June 2026) puts all six specialist posts in Junior Management Grade Scale I (JMGS-I) and prints the same basic pay scale as IBPS PO: ₹48,480-2000/7-62,480-2340/2-67,160-2680/7-85,920. So a Law Officer and an IT Officer have the same scale; what differs is the qualification, the exam and the work.
Pay and posts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Grade | JMGS-I for all six posts |
| Scale of basic pay | ₹48,480-2000/7-62,480-2340/2-67,160-2680/7-85,920 |
| Scale starts at | ₹48,480 |
| Top of scale | ₹85,920 after 16 increments |
| Posts | IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer |
| Age as on 1 July 2026 | 20 to 30 for all posts |
The notification prints the basic scale only. Dearness allowance, house rent and other allowances are paid under the rules of the bank you are allotted, and deductions such as income tax and the retirement-scheme contribution apply. The salary hub explains how to read the scale, and the IBPS PO salary page covers the same scale for generalist officers.
What each post asks for
| Post | Qualification in the 2026 notification |
|---|---|
| IT Officer | 4-year Engineering or Technology degree in computer science, computer applications, IT, electronics, E&TC, E&C or E&I; or a postgraduate degree in those fields; or a graduate with DOEACC "B" level |
| Agricultural Field Officer | 4-year degree in agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, veterinary science, dairy, fishery, forestry and related fields listed in the notification |
| Rajbhasha Adhikari | Postgraduate degree in Hindi with English at graduation, or in Sanskrit with English and Hindi at graduation |
| Law Officer | LL.B. and enrolment as an advocate with the Bar Council |
| HR/Personnel Officer | Graduate plus a 2-year full-time postgraduate degree or diploma in personnel management, industrial relations, HR, social work or labour law |
| Marketing Officer | Graduate plus a 2-year full-time MMS or MBA (Marketing), or a PGDBA, PGDBM, PGPM or PGDM with marketing specialisation |
The notification says no equivalent qualification will be considered. Posts other than IT Officer also ask for a certificate, diploma or degree in computer operations, or computers or IT studied as a subject in school or college.
Growth
As with PO, promotion in public sector banks goes through the bank's scale structure, from Scale I to higher scales, under each bank's promotion policy.
How to get the post
- Prelims: 100 questions for 125 marks in 80 minutes, with sectional cut-offs. English, Reasoning, and either Quantitative Aptitude or General Awareness (banking) carry 25 questions each, and Professional Knowledge carries 25 questions for 50 marks.
- Mains: 150 objective questions for 200 marks in 125 minutes, plus a descriptive test of 25 marks. All tests except Professional Knowledge are qualifying, so merit is decided on Professional Knowledge.
- Interview: 100 marks, with a minimum of 40 per cent (35 per cent for reserved categories). Mains and interview are weighted 80:20.
Older "IBPS SO" articles that describe a 150-question prelims for Law and Rajbhasha, or a Mains made only of Professional Knowledge, are out of date for the 2026 cycle. Read the IBPS SO guide and the bank exam eligibility guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the basic pay of an IBPS SO?
The scale starts at ₹48,480 and runs to ₹85,920, as in the SPL-XVI notification. Allowances come from the allotted bank.
Do IT Officers earn more than Law Officers?
Not on the notified scale: all six SO posts are in JMGS-I and share it. Bank-specific allowances and later promotions can differ.
Why is merit decided only on Professional Knowledge?
Because the notification says all Mains tests except Professional Knowledge are qualifying in nature. You must clear the others, but only your Professional Knowledge score ranks you.
Official sources
- IBPS CRP SPL-XVI detailed notification: posts, pay scale, eligibility and scheme.
- IBPS tentative calendar 2026-27: tentative dates.
IBPS may change details by corrigendum, so confirm everything on ibps.in.
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