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

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Exam Pattern 6 Specializations Professional Knowledge Preparation Strategy Study Materials Mock Tests

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 
<div class="process-step">
    <div class="step-number">2</div>
    <div class="step-content">
        <h3>Mains Exam</h3>
        <p>Online Test - 45-60 Minutes</p>
        <div class="step-details">
            Professional Knowledge: 50 Q | 75-100 Marks<br>
            (Varies by specialization)
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

<div class="process-step">
    <div class="step-number">3</div>
    <div class="step-content">
        <h3>Interview</h3>
        <p>Face-to-Face - 100 Marks</p>
        <div class="step-details">
            Technical Knowledge<br>
            Banking Awareness<br>
            Communication Skills
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

IBPS SO Specializations

Professional Knowledge Sections

1. IT Officer (Scale I & II)

IT Officer Professional Knowledge

<div class="syllabus-coverage">
    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Database Management</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Relational Database Concepts</li>
            <li>SQL and PL/SQL</li>
            <li>Database Normalization</li>
            <li>NoSQL Databases</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Programming Languages</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>C, C++, Java, Python</li>
            <li>Data Structures & Algorithms</li>
            <li>Object-Oriented Programming</li>
            <li>Software Development Life Cycle</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Networking & Security</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>OSI and TCP/IP Models</li>
            <li>Network Protocols</li>
            <li>Cybersecurity Fundamentals</li>
            <li>Cryptography & Encryption</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Web Technologies</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>HTML, CSS, JavaScript</li>
            <li>Frontend Frameworks</li>
            <li>Backend Development</li>
            <li>Cloud Computing Services</li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>

<div class="practice-section">
    <h4>IT Officer Practice Questions</h4>
    <div id="itPracticeQuestions"></div>
</div>

2. Agriculture Field Officer

Agriculture Field Officer Professional Knowledge

<div class="syllabus-coverage">
    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Crop Production</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Cereal Crops (Wheat, Rice, Maize)</li>
            <li>Pulse and Oilseed Crops</li>
            <li>Cash Crops (Cotton, Sugarcane)</li>
            <li>Horticulture and Floriculture</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Soil Science</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Soil Types and Properties</li>
            <li>Soil Fertility and Nutrients</li>
            <li>Soil Conservation Methods</li>
            <li>Organic Farming Practices</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Agricultural Finance</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Kisan Credit Card (KCC)</li>
            <li>Agricultural Loan Schemes</li>
            <li>Crop Insurance Schemes</li>
            <li>Priority Sector Lending</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Government Schemes</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>PM Kisan Samman Nidhi</li>
            <li>Soil Health Card Scheme</li>
            <li>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana</li>
            <li>National Agriculture Market (e-NAM)</li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>

<div class="practice-section">
    <h4>Agriculture Officer Practice Questions</h4>
    <div id="agriculturePracticeQuestions"></div>
</div>

3. Law Officer

Law Officer Professional Knowledge

<div class="syllabus-coverage">
    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Banking Laws</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Banking Regulation Act, 1949</li>
            <li>Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934</li>
            <li>Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881</li>
            <li>Securitisation and Reconstruction Act</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Commercial Laws</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Indian Contract Act, 1872</li>
            <li>Sale of Goods Act, 1930</li>
            <li>Companies Act, 2013</li>
            <li>Consumer Protection Act</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Property & Secured Transactions</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Transfer of Property Act</li>
            <li>Securitisation and Reconstruction</li>
            <li>Mortgage and Lien Laws</li>
            <li>Guarantee Laws</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Recent Legal Developments</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code</li>
            <li>Banking Ombudsman Scheme</li>
            <li>Anti-Money Laundering Laws</li>
            <li>Digital Banking Regulations</li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>

<div class="practice-section">
    <h4>Law Officer Practice Questions</h4>
    <div id="lawPracticeQuestions"></div>
</div>

4. HR/Personnel Officer

HR/Personnel Officer Professional Knowledge

<div class="syllabus-coverage">
    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Human Resource Management</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Recruitment and Selection</li>
            <li>Training and Development</li>
            <li>Performance Management</li>
            <li>Compensation and Benefits</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Industrial Relations</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Trade Union Act</li>
            <li>Industrial Disputes Act</li>
            <li>Collective Bargaining</li>
            <li>Workers' Participation</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Labour Laws</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Factories Act, 1948</li>
            <li>Shops and Establishments Act</li>
            <li>Payment of Wages Act</li>
            <li>Maternity Benefit Act</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Organizational Behavior</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Motivation Theories</li>
            <li>Leadership Styles</li>
            <li>Team Dynamics</li>
            <li>Organizational Culture</li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>

<div class="practice-section">
    <h4>HR Officer Practice Questions</h4>
    <div id="hrPracticeQuestions"></div>
</div>

5. Marketing Officer

Marketing Officer Professional Knowledge

<div class="syllabus-coverage">
    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Marketing Fundamentals</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Marketing Mix (4Ps & 7Ps)</li>
            <li>Market Segmentation</li>
            <li>Consumer Behavior</li>
            <li>Branding Strategy</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Digital Marketing</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Social Media Marketing</li>
            <li>Content Marketing</li>
            <li>SEO and SEM</li>
            <li>Email Marketing</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Banking Products & Services</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Retail Banking Products</li>
            <li>Wealth Management Services</li>
            <li>Digital Banking Products</li>
            <li>Insurance Products</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Sales Management</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Sales Planning and Forecasting</li>
            <li>Channel Management</li>
            <li>Customer Relationship Management</li>
            <li>After-Sales Service</li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>

<div class="practice-section">
    <h4>Marketing Officer Practice Questions</h4>
    <div id="marketingPracticeQuestions"></div>
</div>

6. Rajbhasha Adhikari

Rajbhasha Adhikari Professional Knowledge

<div class="syllabus-coverage">
    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Official Language Policy</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Official Languages Act, 1963</li>
            <li>Official Language Rules</li>
            <li>Constitutional Provisions</li>
            <li>Parliamentary Committee on Official Language</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Hindi Grammar & Literature</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Hindi Grammar (Vyakaran)</li>
            <li>Sandhi and Samas</li>
            <li>Alankar and Rasa</li>
            <li>Modern Hindi Literature</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Translation Techniques</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>English to Hindi Translation</li>
            <li>Banking Terminology</li>
            <li>Technical Translation</li>
            <li>Legal Document Translation</li>
        </ul>
    </div>

    <div class="coverage-item">
        <h4>Banking in Hindi</h4>
        <ul>
            <li>Banking Operations in Hindi</li>
            <li>Customer Service in Hindi</li>
            <li>Hindi Computing</li>
            <li>Hindi Software Tools</li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>

<div class="practice-section">
    <h4>Rajbhasha Adhikari Practice Questions</h4>
    <div id="rajbhashaPracticeQuestions"></div>
</div>

Preparation Strategy by Specialization

<div class="tab-content">
    <div class="tab-pane active" id="it-strategy">
        <h4>IT Officer 3-Month Strategy</h4>
        <div class="strategy-month">
            <h5>Month 1: Foundation Building</h5>
            <ul>
                <li>Week 1-2: Database Management Systems</li>
                <li>Week 3: Programming Languages (C, Java)</li>
                <li>Week 4: Data Structures and Algorithms</li>
            </ul>
        </div>
        <div class="strategy-month">
            <h5>Month 2: Advanced Topics</h5>
            <ul>
                <li>Week 1-2: Networking and Security</li>
                <li>Week 3: Web Technologies</li>
                <li>Week 4: Cloud Computing</li>
            </ul>
        </div>
        <div class="strategy-month">
            <h5>Month 3: Practice & Revision</h5>
            <ul>
                <li>Week 1-2: Mock Tests and Analysis</li>
                <li>Week 3: Previous Year Papers</li>
                <li>Week 4: Revision and Weak Areas</li>
            </ul>
        </div>
    </div>

    <!-- Other strategy tabs will be added dynamically -->
</div>

Standard Books

Professional Knowledge for IT Officers by R. Gupta ⭐ 4.2
Agriculture at a Glance by R.K. Sharma ⭐ 4.5
Banking Law and Practice by M.L. Tannan ⭐ 4.1
Human Resource Management by K. Aswathappa ⭐ 4.0
Marketing Management by Philip Kotler ⭐ 4.6 
<div class="material-category">
    <h4>Online Resources</h4>
    <div class="resource-list">
        <div class="resource-item">
            <span class="resource-name">IBPS Official Website</span>
            <span class="resource-type">Official</span>
            <span class="resource-link">ibps.in</span>
        </div>
        <div class="resource-item">
            <span class="resource-name">Bankers Adda</span>
            <span class="resource-type">Study Portal</span>
            <span class="resource-link">adda247.com</span>
        </div>
        <div class="resource-item">
            <span class="resource-name">Oliveboard</span>
            <span class="resource-type">Mock Tests</span>
            <span class="resource-link">oliveboard.in</span>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

Mock Test Series

Specialization-Wise Mock Tests

Practice with professional knowledge questions specific to your specialization

<div class="test-selection">
    <select id="specializationSelect" class="test-select">
        <option value="all">All Specializations</option>
        <option value="it">IT Officer</option>
        <option value="agri">Agriculture Field Officer</option>
        <option value="law">Law Officer</option>
        <option value="hr">HR/Personnel Officer</option>
        <option value="marketing">Marketing Officer</option>
        <option value="rajbhasha">Rajbhasha Adhikari</option>
    </select>

    <select id="difficultySelect" class="test-select">
        <option value="all">All Difficulty Levels</option>
        <option value="easy">Easy</option>
        <option value="medium">Medium</option>
        <option value="hard">Hard</option>
    </select>

    <button onclick="startMockTest()" class="start-test-btn">Start Mock Test</button>
</div>

<div id="mockTestContainer" class="mock-test-content"></div>

Previous Year Analysis

Previous Year Questions Analysis (2020-2023)

<div class="analysis-tabs">
    <div class="tab-buttons">
        <button class="tab-btn active" onclick="showAnalysis('it')">IT Officer</button>
        <button class="tab-btn" onclick="showAnalysis('agri')">Agriculture</button>
        <button class="tab-btn" onclick="showAnalysis('law')">Law Officer</button>
    </div>

    <div class="tab-content">
        <div class="tab-pane active" id="it-analysis">
            <div class="topic-distribution">
                <h4>Topic Distribution (IT Officer)</h4>
                <div class="distribution-chart">
                    <div class="chart-item">
                        <span class="topic">Database Management</span>
                        <div class="progress-bar">
                            <div class="progress" style="width: 25%"></div>
                        </div>
                        <span class="percentage">25%</span>
                    </div>
                    <div class="chart-item">
                        <span class="topic">Programming</span>
                        <div class="progress-bar">
                            <div class="progress" style="width: 30%"></div>
                        </div>
                        <span class="percentage">30%</span>
                    </div>
                    <div class="chart-item">
                        <span class="topic">Networking</span>
                        <div class="progress-bar">
                            <div class="progress" style="width: 20%"></div>
                        </div>
                        <span class="percentage">20%</span>
                    </div>
                    <div class="chart-item">
                        <span class="topic">Security</span>
                        <div class="progress-bar">
                            <div class="progress" style="width: 15%"></div>
                        </div>
                        <span class="percentage">15%</span>
                    </div>
                    <div class="chart-item">
                        <span class="topic">Web Technologies</span>
                        <div class="progress-bar">
                            <div class="progress" style="width: 10%"></div>
                        </div>
                        <span class="percentage">10%</span>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
</div>

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
<div class="story-card">
    <div class="story-header">
        <h4>Priya Patel</h4>
        <span class="success-role">Agriculture Officer, PNB</span>
        <span class="success-year">Selected in 2023</span>
    </div>
    <div class="story-content">
        <p>"Stay updated with latest government schemes and agricultural policies. Practical knowledge of farming practices helps in interview."</p>
    </div>
    <div class="story-tips">
        <h5>Key Tips:</h5>
        <ul>
            <li>Follow agricultural news regularly</li>
            <li>Understand crop insurance schemes deeply</li>
            <li>Practice soil and fertilizer calculations</li>
        </ul>
    </div>
</div>
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