IBPS RRB Clerk (Office Assistant Multipurpose)
What is the IBPS RRB Clerk (Office Assistant Multipurpose) exam, who can apply, and how do the prelims and mains lead to a clerical job in a Regional Rural Bank of one state?
IBPS RRB Clerk is the Office Assistant (Multipurpose) post, a Group B clerical job in the Regional Rural Banks (Gramin Banks). The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection runs one Common Recruitment Process a year for 28 RRBs, one in each listed state or union territory. You apply for the vacancies of one state, sit an online preliminary exam and an online main exam, and are provisionally allotted to that state's RRB on main exam marks. There is no interview. This page follows IBPS's revised notification for CRP RRBs-XV dated 1 September 2026 and the corrigendum of 21 September 2026 that extended registration to 27 September 2026.
This page may be out of date. It was due for a re-check on 31 March 2027. Confirm every rule with the official source before acting on it.
Registration for CRP RRBs-XV closed on 27 September 2026. The notification gives tentative months for the later stages (prelims November or December 2026, mains December 2026 or January 2027, allotment February or March 2027); check ibps.in for call letters and exact dates.
Exam at a glance
- Conducted by
- Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), for the participating Regional Rural Banks[1]
- Post
- Office Assistant (Multipurpose), Group B, in 28 Regional Rural Banks (one per listed state or UT)[1]
- Education
- A bachelor's degree in any discipline, result declared by 21 September 2026, plus the local language of the state's RRB[1]
- Age limit
- 18 to 28 years on 1 September 2026 (born between 2 September 1998 and 1 September 2008, both dates included)[1]
- Stages
- Online preliminary exam, online main exam, provisional allotment. No interview.[1]
- Application fee
- Rs 850 including GST (Rs 175 for SC, ST, PwBD, ESM and DESM)[1]
- Registration
- 1 to 27 September 2026 (extended from 21 September by the corrigendum of 21.09.2026)[2]
- Vacancies
- Indicative, bank by bank in Annexure I, last updated on 25 September 2026; some banks marked NR (not reported)[3]
Main exam: where the 200 marks are
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 40 | 25 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 80 | 80 | 45 minutes |
You must clear the cut-off in both tests. IBPS then shortlists enough candidates in each category for the mains.[1]
| Test | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning | 40 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Computer Knowledge | 40 | 20 | 15 minutes |
| General Awareness | 40 | 40 | 15 minutes |
| English Language or Hindi Language (you pick one) | 40 | 40 | 30 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 40 | 50 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 120 minutes |
Each test has a minimum score. Only main exam marks count for the final merit list. A wrong answer costs one fourth (0.25) of that question's marks; a blank costs nothing.[1]
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC and ST | 5 years |
| OBC (non-creamy layer) | 3 years |
| Persons with benchmark disabilities | 10 years |
| Ex-servicemen and disabled ex-servicemen | Actual service in the defence forces plus 3 years (8 years for disabled ex-servicemen who are SC or ST), up to age 50 |
| Widows, and divorced or legally separated women who have not remarried | Up to age 35 (General and EWS), 38 (OBC) or 40 (SC and ST) |
SC, ST and OBC relaxation adds to only one of the other relaxations. The base limit of 28 applies to General and EWS candidates.[1]
You need a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university, with the result declared on or before 21 September 2026. You enter your graduation percentage to two decimals in the form; if your university awards a CGPA or OGPA, you convert it by the university's own rule and bring proof of that rule at document verification. Working knowledge of computers is listed as desirable, not essential.
The age band is 18 to 28 years on 1 September 2026. Indian citizens can apply, and so can subjects of Nepal and Bhutan and some other groups the notification lists, who need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India.
You may apply for the Office Assistant post and also for one officer post (Scale I, II or III), with a separate application and fee for each. Only one Office Assistant application is kept: if you register twice, IBPS retains the latest complete one.[1]
Proficiency in the local language prescribed by the state's RRB is an essential qualification for this post. You count as proficient if you studied that language in Class 8 or any higher class at a government-recognised board or school, or hold a certificate for Class 8 or above.
If you do not meet that rule when you are selected, you get six months from joining to acquire the language. The RRB's board can extend this, but not beyond the probation period. Unlike the IBPS Clerk process for public sector banks, the notification sets no separate language test before joining.
The tests themselves come in English and Hindi everywhere, plus a regional version in many states, such as Telugu in Andhra Pradesh, Bengali in West Bengal or Tamil in Tamil Nadu. You choose the version in the online form.[1]
- Preliminary exam: a screening test of two sections. Clear the cut-off in both and rank high enough in your category to be called for the mains.
- Main exam: five tests with a minimum score in each. Its marks alone make the merit list, normalised across sessions by the equi-percentile method.
- Provisional allotment to an RRB of the state you applied for, based on your main exam marks and the vacancies that bank actually reports. Ties go to the older candidate.
- The allotted RRB checks your documents and decides on the offer. Once allotted, you cannot ask for a change of bank.
- A reserve list may be drawn in each category. If RRBs report more vacancies within one year of allotment, IBPS may allot from it three or four times.
Source[1]
- 1 to 27 September 2026: online registration and fee payment (extended from 21 September).
- November 2026: pre-exam training, online, for a limited number of SC, ST, OBC, minority, ex-servicemen and PwBD candidates who opted for it.
- November or December 2026: preliminary exam; result in December 2026 or January 2027.
- December 2026 or January 2027: main exam.
- February or March 2027: provisional allotment.
- All of these later months are tentative in the notification. Call letters and exact dates come on ibps.in.
Source[1]
Tips and tricks
- Work out your graduation percentage the notification's way: total marks in all subjects and all years or semesters, divided by the total maximum, times 100, with fractions ignored. 59.99% counts as less than 60%.[1]
- Find the mark sheet that shows the state's language in Class 8 or later now. It settles the language rule at document verification.[1]
- Keep the stamped prelims call letter. Candidates called for the mains must bring it along with the mains call letter.[1]
- Practise each section to its own clock. General Awareness in the mains gives you 15 minutes for 40 questions, and Computer Knowledge the same.[1]
Questions people ask
What is the age limit for IBPS RRB Clerk?
For CRP RRBs-XV, 18 to 28 years on 1 September 2026, so you must be born between 2 September 1998 and 1 September 2008. SC and ST candidates get 5 more years, OBC (non-creamy layer) 3 and PwBD 10.[1]
Is there an interview for IBPS RRB Office Assistant?
No. Office Assistants are allotted on main exam marks and the vacancies the RRBs report. Only the officer posts have an interview.[1]
Do I need to know the local language for IBPS RRB Clerk?
Yes, it is an essential qualification. Studying the state's language in Class 8 or above counts. If you lack it when selected, you get six months from joining to learn it.[1]
Do prelims marks count in the final IBPS RRB Clerk result?
No. The prelims only shortlist candidates for the mains. Marks from the main exam alone make the final merit list.[1]
Can I apply for both RRB Clerk and RRB PO?
Yes. You can apply for the Office Assistant post and for one officer post (Scale I, II or III), with a separate application and fee for each.[1]
Is there negative marking in IBPS RRB Clerk?
Yes. In the prelims and the mains, a wrong answer loses one fourth (0.25) of the marks for that question. Unanswered questions lose nothing.[1]
Connected pages
- Related · ExamIBPS RRB PO (Officer Scale I)IBPS RRB Officer Scale I (CRP RRBs-XV) from the official notice: the 18-30 age band, prelims and mains pattern, 80:20 interview weight and allotment.
- Related · ExamIBPS Clerk (Customer Service Associate)IBPS Clerk, now Customer Service Associate (CRP CSA-XVI), from IBPS's notification: the 20-28 age band, prelims and mains pattern and state-wise allotment.
- Related · DegreeBA (Bachelor of Arts)How long a BA takes, the honours and research year, majors and minors, the CUET tests that get you in, and the MA through CUET (PG). From UGC and NTA.
- Related · DegreeB.Com (Bachelor of Commerce)How long a B.Com takes, the 4-year honours option, how central universities admit, and the CA, CS and SSC routes after it. From UGC, ICAI, ICSI and NTA.
- Related · ExamSBI Clerk (Junior Associate, Customer Support & Sales)SBI Junior Associate 2026 (CRPD/CR/2026-27/17) from SBI's notice: any degree, age 20-28, one state only, prelims, mains and the local language test.
Official and partner links
Sources
- CRP RRBs XV: Common Recruitment Process for Recruitment of Officers (Scale-I, II & III) and Office Assistants (Multipurpose) in Regional Rural Banks, revised detailed notification dated 01.09.2026, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection. Important dates, Introduction, Table A, sections B.I, B.II, B.VI, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K, and How to Apply note 13 (printed pp. 1-29, 37). Accessed 31 October 2026.
- Corrigendum dated 21.09.2026: extension of online registration for CRP RRBs XV, Institute of Banking Personnel Selection. p. 1. Accessed 31 October 2026.
- Corrigendum dated 25.09.2026 in connection with CRP RRBs XV (indicative vacancies as on 25.09.2026 updated in Annexure I), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection. p. 1. Accessed 31 October 2026.
Found an error or a newer rule? Tell us through the corrections page. Updated 31 October 2026.