Overview
This guide provides detailed information about major government job examinations in India, including Banking (IBPS, SBI, RBI), Railway (RRB), and Staff Selection Commission (SSC) exams. Each section includes exam details, posts available, eligibility criteria, and detailed exam patterns.
Government Jobs Exam Calendar
YET TO BE RELEASED
Date of Notification - 2026
Banking Exams
A. INSTITUTE OF BANKING PERSONNEL SELECTION (IBPS)
IBPS conducts recruitment for:
| Exam Category | Posts Available | Approx. Vacancies (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| IBPS PO | Probationary Officer/Management Trainee | 5,000+ |
| IBPS Clerk | Clerk/Clerical Cadre | 6,000+ |
| IBPS SO | IT Officer, Agricultural Field Officer, Rajbhasha Adhikari, Law Officer, HR/Personnel Officer, Marketing Officer | 1,500+ |
| IBPS RRB | Officer Scale I, II, III, Office Assistant | 8,000+ |
IBPS PO 2025-26 Examination Pattern
Notification Released: July 2025
| Stage | Subjects | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | English Language Quantitative Aptitude Reasoning Ability |
30 35 35 |
30 35 35 |
20 min 20 min 20 min |
0.25 0.25 0.25 |
| Total Prelims | 3 Sections | 100 | 100 | 1 hour | Yes |
| Main | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 min | 0.25 |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 min | 0.25 | |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 min | 0.25 | |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 min | 0.25 | |
| Total Mains | 4 Sections | 155 | 200 | 3 hours | Yes |
| Interview | Personal Interview | - | 100 | - | No |
Eligibility:
- Age: 20-30 years (relaxation: OBC-3 years, SC/ST-5 years, PwD-10 years)
- Education: Graduation in any discipline from recognized university
- Nationality: Indian citizen
- Official Notification: IBPS PO Notification 2025
IBPS Clerk 2025-26
| Stage | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min | 0.25 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min | 0.25 | |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min | 0.25 | |
| Total Prelims | 3 Sections | 100 | 100 | 1 hour | Yes |
| Main | General/Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 min | 0.25 |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 min | 0.25 | |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 min | 0.25 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 min | 0.25 | |
| Total | 4 Sections | 190 | 200 | 2.5 hours | Yes |
B. STATE BANK OF INDIA (SBI)
| Exam Category | Posts Available | Grade/Scale |
|---|---|---|
| SBI PO | Probationary Officer | JMGS-I |
| SBI Clerk | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) | - |
| SBI SO | Specialist Officer (IT, Law, Marketing, etc.) | Various scales |
SBI PO 2025 Examination Pattern
| Stage | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 min | 0.25 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 min | 0.25 | |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 min | 0.25 | |
| Total | 3 Sections | 100 | 100 | 1 hour | Yes |
| Main | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 min | 0.25 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 min | 0.25 | |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 min | 0.25 | |
| English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 min | 0.25 | |
| Total | 4 Sections | 155 | 200 | 3 hours | Yes |
| Group Exercises | Group Discussion | - | 20 | 30 min | No |
| Interview | Personal Interview | - | 30 | - | No |
C. RESERVE BANK OF INDIA (RBI)
| Exam Category | Posts Available | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| RBI Grade B | Officer in Grade 'B' (DR) General | Grade B |
| RBI Assistant | Assistant | - |
| RBI Grade C | Legal Officer, Manager, etc. | Grade C |
RBI Grade B 2025 Examination Pattern
| Phase | Paper | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Paper I | General Awareness | 80 | 80 | 25 min |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 25 min | ||
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 25 min | ||
| Reasoning | 60 | 60 | 45 min | ||
| Total Phase I | 4 Sections | 200 | 200 | 2 hours | Yes |
| Phase II | Paper I | Economic & Social Issues | 100 | 90 min | Objective |
| Paper II | English (Writing Skills) | 100 | 90 min | Descriptive | |
| Paper III | Finance & Management | 100 | 90 min | Objective | |
| Total Phase II | 3 Papers | - | 300 | 4.5 hours | Yes |
| Interview | Personal Interview | - | 75 | - | No |
Railway Exams (RRB)
| Exam Category | Posts Available | Technical/Non-Technical |
|---|---|---|
| RRB NTPC | Commercial Apprentice, Traffic Apprentice, Goods Guard, Senior Clerk, Junior Clerk, Accounts Clerk, Station Master | Non-Technical |
| RRB ALP | Assistant Loco Pilot | Technical |
| RRB Technician | Technician Grade I, II, III | Technical |
| RRB JE | Junior Engineer (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, etc.) | Technical |
| RRB Group D | Track Maintainer, Helper, Gateman, Pointsman | Non-Technical |
RRB ALP 2025 (CEN 01/2025) Examination Pattern
| Stage | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Stage CBT | Mathematics | 20 | 20 | 90 min | 1/3 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 25 | 90 min | 1/3 | |
| General Science | 20 | 20 | 90 min | 1/3 | |
| General Awareness | 10 | 10 | 90 min | 1/3 | |
| Total | 4 Sections | 75 | 75 | 90 min | Yes |
| Second Stage CBT | Part A: Mathematics, General Intelligence, Basic Science, General Awareness | 100 | 100 | 90 min | 1/3 |
| Part B: Relevant Trade | 75 | 75 | 60 min | 1/3 | |
| Computer Based Aptitude Test | For ALP only | - | Qualifying | - | No |
| Document Verification | Original documents | - | - | No | |
| Medical Examination | As per standards | - | - | No |
RRB NTPC Examination Pattern
| Stage | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Stage CBT | Mathematics | 30 | 30 | 90 min | 1/3 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 30 | 30 | 90 min | 1/3 | |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 | 90 min | 1/3 | |
| Total | 3 Sections | 100 | 100 | 90 min | Yes |
| Second Stage CBT | Mathematics | 35 | 35 | 90 min | 1/3 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 35 | 35 | 90 min | 1/3 | |
| General Awareness | 50 | 50 | 90 min | 1/3 | |
| Total | 3 Sections | 120 | 120 | 90 min | Yes |
| Typing Skill Test | For clerical posts | Qualifying | - | - | No |
| Computer Based Aptitude Test | For Station Master, Traffic Assistant | Qualifying | - | - | No |
Staff Selection Commission (SSC) Exams
| Exam Category | Posts Available | Ministries/Departments |
|---|---|---|
| SSC CGL | Assistant Audit Officer, Assistant Accounts Officer, Inspector, Sub Inspector, Assistant Section Officer, Junior Statistical Officer | CBDT, CBIC, CAG, Ministries |
| SSC CHSL | Lower Division Clerk, Junior Secretariat Assistant, Postal Assistant, Sorting Assistant, Data Entry Operator | Various Ministries |
| SSC MTS | Multi-Tasking Staff (Peon, Daftary, Jamadar, Chowkidar) | Central Govt Offices |
| SSC JE | Junior Engineer (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Quantity Surveying) | CPWD, MES, Central Water Commission |
| SSC GD | Constable (General Duty) | BSF, CISF, CRPF, SSB, ITBP |
| SSC CPO | Sub-Inspector (SI) | Delhi Police, CAPFs |
SSC CGL 2025-26 Examination Pattern
| Section | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | Analogies, Classification, Series, Coding-Decoding, etc. | 25 | 50 | 60 min | 0.50 |
| General Awareness | Current Affairs, History, Geography, Polity, Economics, etc. | 25 | 50 | 60 min | 0.50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number System, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, etc. | 25 | 50 | 60 min | 0.50 |
| English Comprehension | Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension, etc. | 25 | 50 | 60 min | 0.50 |
| Total | 4 Sections | 100 | 200 | 60 min | Yes |
SSC CGL Tier-II Exam Pattern
| Paper | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Quantitative Abilities | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | 0.50 |
| Paper II | English Language & Comprehension | 200 | 200 | 2 hours | 0.25 |
| Paper III | Statistics | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | 0.50 |
| Paper IV | General Studies (Finance & Economics) | 100 | 200 | 2 hours | 0.50 |
SSC CHSL 2025-26 Examination Pattern
| Tier | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier I | General Intelligence | 25 | 50 | 60 min | 0.50 |
| General Awareness | 25 | 50 | 60 min | 0.50 | |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 25 | 50 | 60 min | 0.50 | |
| English Language | 25 | 50 | 60 min | 0.50 | |
| Total | 4 Sections | 100 | 200 | 60 min | Yes |
| Tier II | Descriptive Paper (English/Hindi) | 2-3 questions | 100 | 60 min | No |
| Tier III | Skill Test/Typing Test | Qualifying | - | - | No |
SSC MTS 2025-26 Examination Pattern
| Paper | Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper I | General English | 25 | 75 | 90 min | 1.00 |
| General Intelligence & Reasoning | 25 | 75 | 90 min | 1.00 | |
| Numerical Aptitude | 25 | 75 | 90 min | 1.00 | |
| General Awareness | 25 | 75 | 90 min | 1.00 | |
| Total | 4 Sections | 100 | 300 | 90 min | Yes |
| Paper II | Short Essay/Letter in English/Hindi | 1 | 50 | 30 min | No |
Comparative Analysis
Eligibility Comparison Across Exams
| Exam | Minimum Age | Maximum Age | Education Required | Attempts Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBPS PO | 20 years | 30 years | Graduation | 6 (General) |
| SBI PO | 21 years | 30 years | Graduation (60%) | 4 (General) |
| RBI Grade B | 21 years | 30 years | Graduation (60%) | 6 (General) |
| RRB ALP | 18 years | 30 years | ITI/Diploma | No limit |
| SSC CGL | 18 years | 32 years | Graduation | Varies by age |
| SSC CHSL | 18 years | 27 years | 10+2 | No limit |
Salary Comparison (Approximate Monthly)
| Post | Starting Basic Pay | Gross Salary (Approx.) | Pay Scale |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBPS/SBI PO | ₹36,000 | ₹42,000 - ₹52,000 | 23700-980(7)-30560-1145(2)-32850-1310(7)-42020 |
| RBI Grade B | ₹55,200 | ₹55,000 - ₹65,000 | 55200-2850(9)-80850-EB-2850(2)-86550-3300(4)-99750 |
| RRB ALP | ₹19,900 | ₹35,000 - ₹40,000 | 19900-63200 |
| SSC CGL (AAO) | ₹47,600 | ₹55,000 - ₹60,000 | 47600-151100 |
| SSC CHSL (LDC) | ₹19,900 | ₹20,000 - ₹25,000 | 19900-63200 |
| SSC MTS | ₹18,000 | ₹18,000 - ₹22,000 | 18000-56900 |
Preparation Strategy
Common Syllabus Areas
| Subject | Topics Covered | Recommended Books | Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Number System, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Data Interpretation | R.S. Aggarwal, Quicker Maths by M. Tyra | 20-35% |
| Reasoning | Verbal & Non-verbal, Analytical, Logical, Puzzles, Seating Arrangement | R.S. Aggarwal, Verbal & Non-verbal Reasoning | 20-35% |
| English | Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension, Error Detection, Para Jumbles | Wren & Martin, Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi | 15-25% |
| General Awareness | Current Affairs, Banking Awareness, Static GK, Awards, Sports | Lucent's General Knowledge, Manorama Yearbook | 15-30% |
| Computer Knowledge | Basics, Internet, MS Office, Networking | Objective Computer Awareness by Arihant | 5-10% |
Preparation Timeline
| Month | Focus Area | Daily Study Hours | Weekly Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1-2 | Concept Building & Basics | 4-5 hours | Topic-wise tests |
| Month 3-4 | Advanced Topics & Practice | 5-6 hours | Sectional tests |
| Month 5 | Mock Tests & Revision | 6-7 hours | Full-length mocks |
| Month 6 | Current Affairs & Final Revision | 4-5 hours | Previous year papers |
Important Websites & Resources
| Organization | Official Website | Notification Section | Application Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| IBPS | www.ibps.in | Careers/Current Openings | ibps.in |
| SBI | www.sbi.co.in/careers | Current Openings | sbi.co.in/careers |
| RBI | www.rbi.org.in | Opportunities@RBI | rbi.org.in |
| RRB | www.rrbcdg.gov.in | Notifications | rrbapply.gov.in |
| SSC | www.ssc.gov.in | Notifications | ssc.nic.in |
Recent Notifications & Updates (December 2025)
| Exam | Notification | Application Status | Exam Dates | Next Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RRB Technician | CEN 02/2025 | Application closed | To be announced | CBT preparation |
| RRB NTPC | Stage II | Application closed | 13th Oct 2025 | Result awaited |
| SSC CHSL 2025 | Released June 2025 | Application closed | Tier I: 12th Nov 2025 | Admit card release |
| IBPS PO 2025 | Released July 2025 | Mains completed | Interview: Dec 2025 | Interview preparation |
| SBI PO 2025 | Released Sept 2025 | Prelims completed | Mains: Dec 2025 | Mains preparation |
Upcoming Notifications (Expected 2026)
| Exam | Expected Notification | Expected Vacancies | Tentative Exam Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| RBI Grade B 2026 | January 2026 | 200+ | Phase I: Feb-Mar 2026 |
| IBPS Clerk 2026 | December 2025 | 6,000+ | Prelims: Oct 2026 |
| SSC CGL 2026 | April 2026 | 10,000+ | Tier I: June-July 2026 |
| RRB Group D 2026 | March 2026 | 1,00,000+ | CBT: Aug-Sept 2026 |
| SSC JE 2026 | January 2026 | 1,500+ | Paper I: March 2026 |
Exam Day Guidelines
Documents Required for Exam
| Document | Purpose | Format | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admit Card | Entry to exam hall | Downloaded copy with photo | Yes |
| Photo ID Proof | Identity verification | Aadhar, PAN, Voter ID, Passport, Driving License | Yes |
| Passport Size Photos | Verification | 2-3 recent color photos | Yes |
| Category Certificate | For reserved categories | SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD certificate | If applicable |
| Educational Certificates | For document verification | Original + photocopies | For later stages |
Exam Center Guidelines
| Item | Allowed | Not Allowed | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Devices | No | Mobile phones, smart watches, calculators | Strictly prohibited |
| Stationery | Black ball pen, admit card, ID proof | Pencils, erasers, scales (unless specified) | Check exam instructions |
| Personal Items | Water bottle (transparent), medicines | Bags, purses, wallets | Keep in designated area |
| Clothing | Simple attire | Heavy jewelry, metallic items | Avoid suspicion |
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer | Important Points |
|---|---|---|
| Can I apply for multiple exams? | Yes, if eligibility criteria met and dates don't clash | Keep track of all exam schedules |
| Is there age relaxation? | Yes: OBC-3y, SC/ST-5y, PwD-10y, Ex-servicemen-additional | Submit valid certificates |
| Validity of exam scores? | Generally 1 year from result declaration | Varies by organization |
| Final year students eligible? | Yes, for most exams | Must complete degree before specified date |
| Negative marking? | Yes, for objective papers | Usually 0.25-0.50 marks per wrong answer |
| Computer literacy required? | For clerical posts: Yes | Basic computer knowledge tested |
Conclusion
Government job exams offer excellent career opportunities with job security, good salaries, and growth prospects. Success requires systematic preparation, understanding of exam patterns, and consistent practice. Use this guide as a reference for your preparation journey.
Key Takeaways:
- Start early with proper planning
- Understand each exam's pattern and syllabus
- Practice regularly with mock tests
- Stay updated with current affairs
- Manage time effectively during preparation and exams
- Verify information from official sources
Remember: Consistency and perseverance are key to cracking competitive exams. All the best for your preparation!
Last Updated: December 2025 Note: All information is based on latest available notifications. Candidates should verify details from official websites before applying.