How Many Bank Exams are Conducted in a Year

Introduction

In India, there are more than 10 types of bank exams that take place every year. The bank exam recruitment bodies are the State Bank of India (SBI) and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), which conduct the following bank exams:

• SBI PO

• SBI SO

• SBI Clerk

• IBPS PO (CWE PO/MT)

• IBPS SO (CWE SO)

• IBPS Clerk (CWE Clerical)

• IBPS RRB (CWE RRB)

• RBI Officer Grade B

• RBI Officer Grade C

• RBI Assistant

• NABARD

Banking Exams in India

Bank tests are among the most sought-after exams for graduates seeking a career in the country's banking sector. Every year, numerous banks offer job openings for positions such as Bank PO, Bank Clerk, Bank SO, etc. Bank jobs require numerous levels of examination as part of the selection process. Bank employment includes competitive pay, job stability, perks, and allowances (DA, HRA, Medical, Travelling, etc.). Because of all of these advantages, an enormous number of applicants are seeking bank positions. To master the finest bank examinations in India, candidates must prepare thoroughly and diligently.

Candidates who aspire to pursue a career in banking will find that it provides excellent opportunities. Thousands of individuals are recruited in India through several banking exams for positions such as Probationary Officer (PO), Clerk, and Specialist Officer (SO) in various regional and public sector banks. The number of available positions determines the difficulty level of bank exams. Prelims, mains, and interviews are typically used to choose candidates for PO/SO positions at various institutions. Preliminary and main exams are used to select candidates for clerical positions.

SBI PO

Every year, the State Bank of India (SBI) holds the SBI PO exam to select qualified candidates from a large pool of applicants for the position of Probationary Officer. It is one of the most coveted SBI tests in the country.

SBI PO is regarded as one of the most esteemed professions in the banking industry, and millions of applicants from around India apply for this exam to land a dream bank job. Individuals from all around the country fight for a chance to work for the country's largest public sector bank in the SBI Bank PO test, which is held annually.

SBI PO Eligibility Criteria

Before taking the exam, SBI PO candidates must meet the following qualifying requirements:

• SBI PO Age Limit: According to the official announcement, an applicant must be a minimum of 21 years old and no older than 30 years old.

• Educational Qualification: A applicant must be a graduate in any stream from an authorised university or hold an equivalent degree/qualification recognised by the Central Government.

SBI PO Selection Process

The SBI PO Selection Procedure has three stages: Prelims, Main and Interview.

Each round is equally significant; hence, qualification in each round is required to advance to the next stage until final selection.

Stage 1: SBI PO Prelims

• The SBI PO Prelims Exam is the initial basic level that assesses applicants' general aptitude.

• The SBI PO Prelims Exam is an online objective test lasting one hour.

• The examination is divided into three sections: English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude.

• There will be no sectional cut-offs in the SBI PO Prelims Examination.

• However, the bank will counterbalance the overall cut based on the category of the candidates.

• From the top of the aforementioned merit list, candidates totalling 10 times the number of openings (approx.) in each category will be shortlisted for the Main Examination.

Stage 2: SBI PO Mains

• Candidates who pass the SBI PO Pre Exam will be eligible to take the SBI PO Mains Exam.

• The Objective Test and Descriptive Test are both parts of the SBI PO Mains Exam.

• The SBI PO Mains Exam will consist of four objective sections (English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning & Computers, and General/Economy/Banking Awareness).

• The descriptive test is worth 50 points and follows immediately after the objective test.

• A merit list is prepared using the aggregate marks obtained in the Main Examination for each category.

• There will be no sectional severance.

• Candidates from the top of the category-wise merit list will be shortlisted for the Group Exercise & Interview if they score the minimum aggregate qualifying score, which is about three times the number of vacancies.

Stage 3: SBI PO Interview

Psychometric Test- Candidates shortlisted for Phase III may be submitted to a personality profile psychometric test. To acquire a thorough understanding of the candidates, the test results may be provided to the interview panel.

Candidates who pass the SBI Mains Examination will be called to the Interview and Group Exercise. The marks acquired in the SBI Mains and Interview are used to determine the candidate's final selection as an SBI PO.

SBI SO

The State Bank of India administers the SBI SO test to recruit officers in various speciality categories. SBI seeks applications for specialised officer (SO) positions in several departments. Typically, recruitment is for managerial positions; however, notices for senior-level recruitment are also being issued. Several positions are currently being filled. In most circumstances, recruiting is done in two stages: online exam and personal interview. In many circumstances, though, recruitment is accomplished by shortlisting individuals and then conducting personal interviews.

SBI SO Selection Procedure

The SBI SO selection procedure consists of three steps:

• Online Examination: Candidates seeking SBI SO must pass the online exam, which consists of two papers. Candidates who pass the online exam go to the next stage of the SBI SO examination.

• Shortlisting: Shortlisting is the next step for candidates who apply for contractual positions.

• Interview: Candidates who applied for both contractual and regular positions and passed the online assessment must attend the interview stage.

SBI Clerk

SBI Clerk is a national-level banking exam held every year by the State Bank of India to hire candidates for Clerical cadre/Junior Associate positions in various SBI departments across the country. SBI Clerk is a graduate-level test that provides eligible candidates with entry-level clerical positions.

The SBI Clerk exam comprises two stages of selection: Prelims and Mains. The ultimate selection of candidates is based on the results of these exams. Those who pass the Prelims exam will be able to sit for the Mains exam.

The results of the Mains exam will be used to make the final decision. The chosen applicants will be in charge of all client contacts and operations.

SBI Clerk Selection Process

The selection process for all three stages is detailed below.

• Preliminary Exam: The SBI Clerk exam begins with this step. It is a computer-based online exam with three components of 100 points.

• Mains Exam: This is a preliminary exam for the SBI clerk exam. Candidates who pass the preliminary exam are permitted to take the main exam. This exam has four components and a total of 200 points.

• Language Test: This is the final level of the SBI Clerk exam, in which applicants are assessed to see if they are fluent in their native language. Candidates are finally picked for the position of SBI Clerk after passing this test.

IBPS PO

Every year, the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection Probationary Officers (IBPS PO) test is held to select Probationary Officers/Management Trainees (PO/MT) in India's 11 public sector banks. The IBPS CRP PO/MT exam is divided into 3 parts: the preliminary exam, the main exam, and the interview. In 2021-22, a total of 5.74 applicants enrolled for IBPS PO, with 4.37 lakh candidates taking the exam. Job opportunities in the financial business are among the most sought-after in the country. Probationary Officers/Management Trainees (PO/MT) positions in India's public sector banks are in high demand due to professional advancement and competitive compensation.

IBPS PO Selection Process

The IBPS PO selection process consists of three stages that must be completed to be selected. The three steps are listed below, along with pertinent information.

• Prelims- The Prelims are regarded as a qualifying exam. Only those who pass the prelims examination will be eligible for the mains. The marks achieved at this stage will not be added to the marks considered for the final selection.

• Mains- The candidate must obtain minimum cut-off marks to pass this level. Only candidates who pass this round will be invited to the interview stage. The marks acquired at this stage will be considered when determining the final selection marks.

• Interview: The final stage is the interview. This will be a face-to-face interaction in which the candidate will be questioned by a panel of designatory members, and the list of officially selected candidates will be completed based on the marks received in both the mains and the interview.

IBPS SO

Every year, the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection holds the IBPS SO examination. This exam is used to select Specialist Officers (SO) for several Public Sector Banks. The IBPS administers the Common Written Examination (CWE). The institution uses the CWE to hire officers and clerks.

IBPS SO Selection Process

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) administers the Common Recruitment Process (CRP) in different Public Sector Banks for the recruitment of Specialist Officers in various cadres such as IT, Law, Agriculture, Marketing, HR, and Rashtrabhasha Adhikari. The IBPS Specialist officer selection process is detailed here. The IBPS SO selection procedure is divided into 3 stages:

• Prelims

• Mains

• Interview

IBPS Clerk

Every year, the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection holds the IBPS Clerk test. It is the authoritative authority in India in charge of recruiting candidates for Public Sector Banks.

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) holds a Common Recruitment Process (CRP) for Clerical Cadre Posts in 11 Public Sector Banks every year. Candidates for IBPS Clerk are chosen based on their performance in their online exam, which comprises two phases: Prelims and Mains.

IBPS Clerk Selection Process

The selection procedure for IBPS Clerk begins with the announcement of the exam and finishes with bank allotment. The candidates are chosen through an online exam that is broken into two phases:

• Preliminary Examination for IBPS Clerk

• Mains Examination for IBPS Clerk

Candidates who pass both stages will be required to present for document verification and induction into chosen banks.

IBPS RRB

Banking Personnel Selection Institute IBPS conducts the Common Written Examination for Regional Rural Banks, abbreviated as IBPS CWE RRB, for the recruitment of Group "A"-Officers (Scale-I, II, & III) and Group "B"-Office Assistants (Multipurpose) in the following RRBs.

IBPS RRB Selection Process

The IBPS RRB Selection Process is divided into three stages, which are explained below:

• IBPS RRB Preliminary Exam: Candidates will be given 45 minutes to answer 80 questions for 80 points. For the Officer Scale I, there will be 40 questions from Reasoning (common to both postings), 40 from Numerical Ability, and 40 from Quantitative Aptitude.

• IBPS RRB Mains Exam: It is a 200-point exam with five components (English/Hindi, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, General Awareness, Computer Knowledge, Financial Knowledge, and Professional Knowledge), depending on the position for which a candidate is applying.

• IBPS RRB Interview Round: Candidates who pass the RRB main examination are eligible to appear in an interview. The minimum qualifying score for the IBPS RRB interview is 40% (35% for reserved applicants).

RBI Officer Grade B

RBI Grade B is widely considered one of the most challenging banking exams in India, due to its extensive syllabus and limited number of available positions. The Reserve Bank of India, the central bank of India and a highly esteemed institution, conducts the exam annually to select suitable candidates for the common seniority group.

The mere prospect of working for India's central bank, a highly regarded and respected organization, attracts a large number of aspirants to this coveted examination. In addition to the prestige of working for the RBI, the attractive lifestyle of an RBI Grade B officer is a desirable goal for many individuals seeking a successful and fulfilling career in the banking industry.

RBI Officer Grade B Selection Process

The RBI Grade-B selection procedure is divided into three stages. Phases I and II, as well as the interview round Candidates, must pass Phase I to take the Phase II exam. They will be called for the interview round if they pass the Phase II examination.

Candidates are chosen based on their overall performance in both the exams and the interview round.

RBI Officer Grade C

The RBI Grade C exam is held regularly to hire specialists to operate the bank's day-to-day operations. The qualifying criteria, syllabus, and educational qualifications differ depending on the bank's speciality requirements. The RBI Grade C notification is not sent at a specific period of a year.

RBI Officer Grade C Selection Process

You will be chosen for the position of your choice via an online examination.

The online examination will be conducted in three stages:

• Preliminary Exam

• Main Exam

• Interview

RBI Assistant

RBI Assistant is a clerical position in various regional offices of the RBI located in state capitals (mostly). An RBI Assistant's duties include the following: Maintaining files entails collecting receipts, keeping a ledger, balancing the books, and so on. The time necessary to promote an RBI Assistant to Grade B is variable. It is determined by the RBI's internal policies and the number of vacancies available, initially at the Grade A level and later at the Grade B level.

RBI Assistant Selection Process

The steps of the RBI Assistant selection procedure are as follows:

• Prelims

• Mains

• Document Verification

The eligible applicants are chosen among those who apply for the RBI Assistant test. Those who pass the Prelims must sit for the RBI Assistant Mains test. A counselling session is held for applicants who pass the Mains round to give them preferable possibilities for the posting. Finally, they are invited to participate in the Language Proficiency Test and Document Verification phase.

NABARD

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is India's apex regulatory organisation in charge of overseeing regional rural banks and apex cooperative banks. It is governed by the Ministry of Finance of the Government of India. The bank has been tasked with "policy, planning, and operations in the sphere of lending for agricultural and other economic activities in rural India." NABARD is involved in the development and implementation of financial inclusion.

NABARD Selection Process

NABARD hires Assistant Managers (Grade A) via an online application process. The exam is divided into three parts. To be considered for the position of Assistant Manager in the firm, candidates must pass all phases of the NABARD Grade A selection procedure.

• Preliminary Examination: It is a 200-point online objective examination. It is a qualifying statement.

• Main Examination: It is also an online exam; however, it is a combination of MCQs and a descriptive pattern known as Paper I and Paper II.

• Interview: Candidates who perform exceptionally well in the main examination are chosen for interviews.

Conclusion

Every year, applications are solicited for several government banks to fill vacancies in various positions. Every year, bank exams such as SBI Clerk, SBI PO, IBPS SO, IBPS Clerk, and IBPS PO are held. These computer-based examinations are administered in stages to select the best candidates for positions such as clerk, specialist officer, probationary officer, manager, senior manager, and so on.

A large number of individuals take competitive tests and want to work for one of the prominent banks. Aspiring candidates should constantly monitor the official notifications issued by the various organising bodies to receive the most up-to-date information on the upcoming bank exams.