With several banking exams open to graduates, choosing where to focus your preparation can be confusing. You might be comparing the number of vacancies, wondering which exams have interviews, or trying to fit multiple examination schedules into your study plan. Knowing how IBPS, SBI and RBI recruitment processes differ can help you decide which opportunities deserve your attention.
PW offers dedicated banking preparation batches with live classes, recorded lectures, mock tests and practice questions to help you prepare for banking recruitment. Before choosing your target exams for 2026, compare their vacancies, examination schedules, eligibility requirements and selection processes, and check official notifications for the latest recruitment details.
Banking Exams in India: Overview
From probationary officer recruitment to clerical posts, banking examinations offer different opportunities for graduates. IBPS and SBI conduct recruitment for several banking roles, while RBI Grade B is another option to consider. LIC AAO is a related financial-sector opportunity in insurance rather than conventional banking.
Banking Exams
Compare the eight examinations below to understand their vacancies, candidate numbers, examination months, qualifications and selection stages.
|
Exam name |
Posts |
Candidates appeared |
Prelims |
Mains |
Interview |
Language |
Qualification |
Cycle |
|
IBPS PO |
5,208 |
12 lakh |
August |
October |
Yes |
Bilingual |
Graduation |
Once a year |
|
IBPS Clerk |
10,277 |
12.32 lakh |
October |
November |
No |
Bilingual |
Graduation |
Once a year |
|
IBPS RRB PO |
3,907 |
4.8 lakh |
November |
December |
Yes |
Bilingual |
Graduation |
Once a year |
|
IBPS RRB Clerk |
7,972 |
12 lakh |
December |
February |
No |
Bilingual |
Graduation |
Once a year |
|
SBI PO |
541 |
8.3 lakh |
August |
September |
Yes |
Bilingual |
Graduation |
Once a year |
|
SBI Clerk |
6,589 |
19 lakh |
September |
November |
No |
Bilingual |
Graduation |
Once a year |
|
RBI Grade B |
120 |
2 lakh |
October |
December |
Yes |
Bilingual |
Graduation |
Once a year |
|
LIC AAO |
760 |
5.3 lakh |
October |
November |
Yes |
Bilingual |
Graduation |
Once a year |
The vacancy counts, candidate numbers, examination months and annual frequency above are not confirmed for the 2026 recruitment cycle. Check the relevant official notifications for current details. The selection counts relate to the 2024–25 result column and are separate from 2026 recruitment.
Banking Exams With the Highest Number of Vacancies
If you want to compare recruitment opportunities, start by looking at the number of posts available for each examination. A higher vacancy count can mean more advertised positions, but it does not automatically make an exam easier to clear. Your eligibility, preparation, competition and the selection process also matter.
Here are the examinations with the highest vacancy :
|
Rank by Vacancy Count |
Exam Name |
No. of Posts |
|
1 |
IBPS Clerk |
10,277 |
|
2 |
IBPS RRB Clerk |
7,972 |
|
3 |
SBI Clerk |
6,589 |
|
4 |
IBPS PO |
5,208 |
IBPS Clerk has the highest vacancy figure at 10,277, followed by IBPS RRB Clerk and SBI Clerk. These numbers can help you compare recruitment opportunities, but you should check the current vacancy announcements before deciding which exam to target.
Banking Exam Dates and Schedule
Planning your preparation around examination dates can help you divide your time between syllabus completion, revision and mock tests. Banking exams are conducted at different times of the year. Check the official notifications for the confirmed 2026 schedule.
Prelims Schedule
The examination months to keep in mind when comparing the preliminary stages are:
|
Month |
Exams |
|
August |
IBPS PO, SBI PO |
|
September |
SBI Clerk |
|
October |
IBPS Clerk, RBI Grade B, LIC AAO |
|
November |
IBPS RRB PO |
|
December |
IBPS RRB Clerk |
Mains Schedule
Banking exam mains are held in different months depending on the examination. The schedule below shows the months associated with each exam; check the official notifications for confirmed 2026 dates.
|
Month |
Exams |
|
September |
SBI PO |
|
October |
IBPS PO |
|
November |
IBPS Clerk, SBI Clerk, LIC AAO |
|
December |
IBPS RRB PO, RBI Grade B |
|
February |
IBPS RRB Clerk |
The year associated with each month must be confirmed with the official 2026 examination calendar, and the applicable stages may differ by recruitment.
Banking Exam Eligibility and Qualification
Graduation is the basic educational qualification shown for all eight exams in the table. However, other eligibility conditions vary. However, having a degree does not automatically make you eligible for every banking or financial-sector recruitment. Age limits, nationality requirements and other conditions can differ from one examination to another.
Before applying, check the following:
-
Educational qualification: Confirm the degree requirements and any conditions related to your qualification.
-
Age limit: Check the prescribed age range for the post.
-
Category-related relaxations: Review the applicable relaxations, if any.
-
Nationality: Confirm the nationality conditions in the notification.
-
Additional requirements: Check for any other conditions specified for the post.
Review the eligibility criteria separately for IBPS PO, IBPS Clerk, IBPS RRB PO, IBPS RRB Clerk, SBI PO, SBI Clerk, RBI Grade B and LIC AAO. Do not assume that the same age limit or other eligibility conditions apply to every exam.
Which Banking Exam Should You Prepare For?
The right examination for you depends on the role you want, your eligibility and the selection process you are comfortable preparing for. Comparing vacancies is a useful starting point, but you should also understand the differences between clerical recruitment, officer-level recruitment and opportunities in other financial-sector organisations.
Exams With Higher Vacancy Counts
If you want to compare examinations with higher vacancy figures, start with IBPS Clerk, IBPS RRB Clerk, SBI Clerk and IBPS PO. Their vacancy figures are 10,277, 7,972, 6,589 and 5,208, respectively.
Before choosing among them, check the current recruitment notifications and compare their eligibility requirements and selection stages. A higher vacancy count alone is not enough to determine which exam is the best fit for you.
Officer-Level Options
If you are interested in officer-level recruitment, compare IBPS PO, SBI PO, IBPS RRB PO and RBI Grade B. Their vacancy figures differ, and you should review each examination’s recruitment process separately.
Consider the eligibility requirements, examination stages and role associated with each recruitment before deciding where to focus your preparation. Do not assume that every officer-level examination follows the same selection process.
Related Financial-Sector Option
LIC AAO is an insurance-sector recruitment examination rather than a conventional banking exam. If you are interested in opportunities beyond banks, you can consider it alongside your banking exam preparation after reviewing its eligibility criteria and selection process.
Before applying for LIC AAO, check its latest notification for vacancies, eligibility and selection stages. Check its official notification before making an application decision.
Your banking exam preparation becomes more focused when you choose an examination that matches your qualifications and career goals. Whether you aim for an IBPS or SBI officer or clerk post, an RBI position, or LIC AAO, review the recruitment requirements before deciding where to apply. PW’s banking exam batches offer live classes, recorded lectures and mock tests to support your preparation. Keep checking official notifications for the latest vacancies, application deadlines and examination dates as you plan your next steps.