IBPS SO Eligibility 2026, Check Age Limit & Qualifications

IBPS SO Eligibility Criteria 2026 defines the mandatory conditions candidates must fulfill to apply for Specialist Officer posts. It includes nationality rules, an age limit of 20 to 30 years, age relaxation for reserved categories, and post-wise educational qualifications prescribed by IBPS. Applicants must possess the required degree from a recognised university, with results declared within the specified date. Before applying, candidates should carefully review IBPS SO 2026 eligibility norms, as failure to meet age or educational requirements can lead to rejection during document verification.

IBPS SO 2026 Nationality Criteria

IBPS SO 2026 aspirants must fulfill one of the following nationality conditions. Only individuals who meet any of the following categories are eligible to apply:

A candidate must be either:

1. A citizen of India, or
2. A subject of Nepal or
3. A subject of Bhutan or
4. A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962, intending to settle here permanently or
5. A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma (Myanmar), Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Candidates who do not have Indian citizenship must produce a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India at the time of document verification or interview.

IBPS SO 2026 Age Limit and Relaxation

IBPS SO 2026 aspirants must fall within the prescribed age range as on 1st July 2026.

• Minimum Age: 20 years
• Maximum Age: 30 years

This means a candidate must have been born not earlier than 02.07.1996 and not later than 01.07.2006, both dates inclusive.

IBPS SO 2026 Category-wise Age Relaxation

IBPS allows relaxation in the upper age limit for certain reserved and special categories as per government norms:

Note:

• The maximum age limit is applicable to General/EWS category candidates.
• Age relaxation for SC/ST/OBC can be combined with PwBD relaxation, but only one additional category relaxation is permitted as per the rules.
• To claim any relaxation, candidates must produce valid certificates in the prescribed format during the interview/document verification stage.
• Candidates applying under the OBC category must ensure they fall under the non-creamy layer and must have a certificate issued on or after 1st April 2026.

IBPS SO 2026 Educational Qualification (Post-Wise)

IBPS SO 2026 aspirants must meet the minimum educational qualifications mentioned in the notification specific to the post they are applying for. The qualifications must be from a government-recognised university or institution, and the final result should be declared on or before 21st July 2026.

Below is the post-wise educational eligibility in a clear tabular format:

Post-wise Qualification Table

Note:

• The result must be declared on or before 21st July 2026. Candidates awaiting results are not eligible.
• If the degree is awarded in CGPA/OGPA, candidates must submit an official conversion certificate from their university at the time of interview.
• The specialisation in the required subject must be explicitly mentioned in the degree certificate or marksheets.
• Distance learning degrees are accepted only if the program is approved by UGC/AICTE and meets the full-time equivalency standards.
• Candidates failing to produce valid documents supporting their qualification at the interview stage will be disqualified, even if they clear the online exams.

Filling in accurate eligibility details is extremely important because all information will be thoroughly verified during IBPS SO DV 2026. Any discrepancy in age, qualification, or category can lead to disqualification. IBPS matches application details with original documents at the DV stage. Hence, candidates must carefully enter correct information to avoid rejection after qualifying for the exams.