IBPS SO (Specialist Officer) Complete Guide 2024-25

IBPS SO (Specialist Officer) Complete Guide 2024-25

Total Vacancies

750+
↑ 15% from last year

Specializations

6
IT, Agriculture, Law, HR, Marketing, Rajbhasha

Selection Ratio

1:47
Highly Competitive

Exam Date

--
Preliminary Exam

IBPS SO Exam Pattern 2024-25

Selection Process

1

Preliminary Exam

Online Test - 120 Minutes

English Language: 50 Q | 25 Marks
Reasoning Ability: 50 Q | 50 Marks
General Awareness: 50 Q | 50 Marks
2

Mains Exam

Online Test - 45-60 Minutes

Professional Knowledge: 50 Q | 75-100 Marks
(Varies by specialization)
3

Interview

Face-to-Face - 100 Marks

Technical Knowledge
Banking Awareness
Communication Skills

IBPS SO Specializations


Professional Knowledge Sections

1. IT Officer (Scale I & II)

IT Officer Professional Knowledge

Database Management

  • Relational Database Concepts
  • SQL and PL/SQL
  • Database Normalization
  • NoSQL Databases

Programming Languages

  • C, C++, Java, Python
  • Data Structures & Algorithms
  • Object-Oriented Programming
  • Software Development Life Cycle

Networking & Security

  • OSI and TCP/IP Models
  • Network Protocols
  • Cybersecurity Fundamentals
  • Cryptography & Encryption

Web Technologies

  • HTML, CSS, JavaScript
  • Frontend Frameworks
  • Backend Development
  • Cloud Computing Services

IT Officer Practice Questions

2. Agriculture Field Officer

Agriculture Field Officer Professional Knowledge

Crop Production

  • Cereal Crops (Wheat, Rice, Maize)
  • Pulse and Oilseed Crops
  • Cash Crops (Cotton, Sugarcane)
  • Horticulture and Floriculture

Soil Science

  • Soil Types and Properties
  • Soil Fertility and Nutrients
  • Soil Conservation Methods
  • Organic Farming Practices

Agricultural Finance

  • Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
  • Agricultural Loan Schemes
  • Crop Insurance Schemes
  • Priority Sector Lending

Government Schemes

  • PM Kisan Samman Nidhi
  • Soil Health Card Scheme
  • Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
  • National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)

3. Law Officer

Law Officer Professional Knowledge

Banking Laws

  • Banking Regulation Act, 1949
  • Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
  • Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881
  • Securitisation and Reconstruction Act

Commercial Laws

  • Indian Contract Act, 1872
  • Sale of Goods Act, 1930
  • Companies Act, 2013
  • Consumer Protection Act

Property & Secured Transactions

  • Transfer of Property Act
  • Securitisation and Reconstruction
  • Mortgage and Lien Laws
  • Guarantee Laws

Recent Legal Developments

  • Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code
  • Banking Ombudsman Scheme
  • Anti-Money Laundering Laws
  • Digital Banking Regulations

4. HR/Personnel Officer

HR/Personnel Officer Professional Knowledge

Human Resource Management

  • Recruitment and Selection
  • Training and Development
  • Performance Management
  • Compensation and Benefits

Industrial Relations

  • Trade Union Act
  • Industrial Disputes Act
  • Collective Bargaining
  • Workers' Participation

Labour Laws

  • Factories Act, 1948
  • Shops and Establishments Act
  • Payment of Wages Act
  • Maternity Benefit Act

Organizational Behavior

  • Motivation Theories
  • Leadership Styles
  • Team Dynamics
  • Organizational Culture

5. Marketing Officer

Marketing Officer Professional Knowledge

Marketing Fundamentals

  • Marketing Mix (4Ps & 7Ps)
  • Market Segmentation
  • Consumer Behavior
  • Branding Strategy

Digital Marketing

  • Social Media Marketing
  • Content Marketing
  • SEO and SEM
  • Email Marketing

Banking Products & Services

  • Retail Banking Products
  • Wealth Management Services
  • Digital Banking Products
  • Insurance Products

Sales Management

  • Sales Planning and Forecasting
  • Channel Management
  • Customer Relationship Management
  • After-Sales Service

6. Rajbhasha Adhikari

Rajbhasha Adhikari Professional Knowledge

Official Language Policy

  • Official Languages Act, 1963
  • Official Language Rules
  • Constitutional Provisions
  • Parliamentary Committee on Official Language

Hindi Grammar & Literature

  • Hindi Grammar (Vyakaran)
  • Sandhi and Samas
  • Alankar and Rasa
  • Modern Hindi Literature

Translation Techniques

  • English to Hindi Translation
  • Banking Terminology
  • Technical Translation
  • Legal Document Translation

Banking in Hindi

  • Banking Operations in Hindi
  • Customer Service in Hindi
  • Hindi Computing
  • Hindi Software Tools

Previous Year Analysis

Previous Year Questions Analysis (2020-2023)

Topic Distribution (IT Officer)

Database Management
25%
Programming
30%
Networking
20%
Security
15%
Web Technologies
10%

Success Stories & Tips

Rahul Sharma

IT Officer, SBI Selected in 2023

"Focus on core concepts of DBMS and programming languages. Practice previous year papers thoroughly. Time management during the professional knowledge section is crucial."

Key Tips:
  • Solve at least 20 practice questions daily
  • Revise banking regulations regularly
  • Join online study groups for latest updates

Priya Patel

Agriculture Officer, PNB Selected in 2023

"Stay updated with latest government schemes and agricultural policies. Practical knowledge of farming practices helps in interview."

Key Tips:
  • Follow agricultural news regularly
  • Understand crop insurance schemes deeply
  • Practice soil and fertilizer calculations