The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) issued the official Preliminary Examination Call Letter for the Specialist Officer (CRP SPL-XVI) recruitment on August 20, 2026. Candidates who submitted online applications for 1,035 Specialist Officer (Scale I) posts can access their admit cards through the centralized portal at ibps.in.

The preliminary exam takes place across national centers on August 29, 2026. Entry to the examination hall requires a printed call letter, valid original identification proof, and a matching self-attested photocopy.

Important Timeline & Event Calendar

Candidates should keep track of the complete selection schedule for CRP SPL-XVI:

How to Download IBPS SO Prelims Admit Card 2026

Downloading the call letter requires active candidate credentials. Follow these step-by-step instructions:

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ HALL TICKET ACCESS FLOWCHART │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 1. Visit Official Portal (ibps.in) │
│ └─► Click on "CRP Specialist Officers" │
│ │
│ 2. Select "CRP SPL-XVI" Link │
│ └─► Click "Download Online Prelims Call Letter" │
│ │
│ 3. Enter Portal Login Credentials │
│ ├─► Registration No. or Roll No. │
│ └─► Password or Date of Birth (DD-MM-YY) │
│ │
│ 4. Verify Security Captcha & Login │
│ └─► View, Download PDF & Print 2-3 Physical Copies │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

1. Access the IBPS Official Portal: Open your browser and navigate to ibps.in.
2. Navigate to Specialist Officer Section: Click on the "CRP Specialist Officers" tab on the left dashboard or home page slider.
3. Open the Active Call Letter Link: Click on "Common Recruitment Process for Specialist Officers XVI", then select "Online Preliminary Exam Call Letter for CRP SPL-XVI".
4. Input Candidate Credentials:
   • Language Selection: Choose Hindi or English for call letter display.
   • Registration Number / Roll Number: Enter the 9-digit registration number generated during form submission.
   • Password / Date of Birth: Enter your password or date of birth in strict DD-MM-YY format (e.g., if born on May 4, 1998, enter 04-05-98).
5. Solve Captcha & Submit: Type the security text displayed on the screen and click "Login".
6. Save & Print: Inspect the document, download the PDF, and print at least two clean copies on standard A4 paper.

Troubleshooting Download & Portal Login Issues

If you encounter errors while accessing your hall ticket, review these operational checks:

• Date of Birth Format Error: Ensure hyphens are placed between digits (DD-MM-YY). Avoid slashes or entering the full four-digit year.
• Server Timeouts / High Traffic: If the page fails to load, clear your browser's cache and cookies or open the page in an Incognito/Private window during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening).
• Incorrect Credentials: Retrieve missing registration numbers by searching for "IBPS Application" in your registered email inbox or SMS history sent during initial registration in July.
• Blank Screen / Missing Photo: Disable ad-blockers and pop-up blockers, or switch browsers (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox updated to their latest versions work best).

Essential Details to Verify on Your Call Letter

Inspect every detail printed on your admit card immediately upon downloading. Contact the IBPS help desk if any discrepancies appear:

• Personal Details: Candidate Full Name, Roll Number, Registration Number, and Category (UR, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwBD).
• Exam Logistics: Assigned Examination Center Address, Center Code, Test Date, Reporting Time, and Assigned Shift.
• Exam Seat Data: Post applied for (e.g., IT Officer Scale-I, AFO Scale-I), Photograph, and Scanned Signature.
• Instruction Section: COVID/Health guidelines, OMR/CBT rules, and mandatory document requirements.

Mandatory Items & Photo ID Checklist for Exam Day

Test centers maintain zero tolerance for missing credentials. Candidates must present the following items at the security checkpoint:

Required Documents

• Hard Copy of Call Letter: A clean, legible printout of the IBPS SO Prelims Admit Card with a recent passport-sized photograph pasted in the designated space.
• Original Photo Identification: One valid, government-issued original photo ID:
  • Aadhaar Card / E-Aadhaar Printout
  • PAN Card
  • Passport
  • Permanent Driving License
  • Voter's Identity Card
  • Bank Passbook with an attested photograph
• Photocopy of Photo ID: One self-attested photocopy of the exact same ID card carried in original. The invigilator will staple this copy to your call letter.
• Additional Passport Photographs: Two recent passport-size color photographs (identical to the photo uploaded during registration) for attendance sheet verification.

Permitted Personal Belongings

• Simple Ballpoint Pen: Blue or black ink pen for rough sheet calculations and signing attendance forms.
• Transparent Water Bottle: Clear, unbranded plastic bottle (up to 500ml).
• Personal Hand Sanitizer: Small transparent bottle (up to 50ml).

Prohibited Items (Strictly Forbidden Inside Venue)

• Electronic items: Smartwatches, Bluetooth earphones, fitness bands, mobile phones, or digital calculators.
• Textual materials: Books, revision notes, loose paper sheets, or geometry boxes.
• Ornaments and metallic items: Heavy jewelry, metallic belts, or keychains.

IBPS SO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026 (Post-Wise Split)

The preliminary test is an online Computer-Based Test (CBT) consisting of 150 objective questions worth 125 total marks. The exam structure differs based on the specialist post applied for.

Pattern A: For IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer (AFO), HR/Personnel Officer, and Marketing Officer

Pattern B: For Law Officer and Rajbhasha Adhikari

Key Marking Rules & Rules

• Sectional Timings: Each section has a strict 40-minute individual timer. Candidates cannot switch between sections until the allocated sectional time expires.
• Negative Marking: A penalty of 1/4th (25% or 0.25) of the marks assigned to a question applies for every wrong answer. Unattempted questions incur no penalty.
• Qualifying Nature: The preliminary exam serves as a screening test. Marks scored in the Prelims are not added to the final merit list (which relies solely on Mains and Interview scores).
• Sectional Cut-Offs: Candidates must clear both individual sectional cut-offs and the overall aggregate cut-off set by IBPS to qualify for the Mains examination.

Exam Day Reporting & Biometric Protocol

1. Arrive On Time: Reach the exam center at least 30 to 45 minutes before the reporting time printed on your call letter. Late arrivals will be denied entry once the exam center doors close.
2. Biometric Data Capture: Candidates undergo thumb impression scanning and digital photograph capture at the registration desk prior to lab assignment. Ensure your fingers are clean, free of ink, henna, or chemical coatings.
3. Call Letter Authentication: The invigilator checks your hall ticket and original ID, cross-verifies your photo, and stamps your call letter.
4. Preserve Authenticated Admit Card: Do not leave your stamped admit card at the exam lab. Candidates who qualify for the Prelims must submit their stamped Prelims call letter along with their Mains admit card during the Mains examination stage.