Top 10 Bank Exams in India 2026: Eligibility, Salary, Syllabus & Selection Process

Top 10 Bank Exams in India 2026: Eligibility, Salary, Syllabus & Selection Process

In India, banking is one of the most competitive sectors, attracting millions of aspirants every year. For the IBPS Clerk exam alone, nearly 12 lakh candidates registered in 2025. As of now, the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) is the largest banking exam body in India, conducting exams for various posts across the public bank sector. Similarly, SBI, RBI, and NABARD are other organisations that conduct some of the top bank exams in India.

 

IBPS PO, SBI PO, RBI Grade B, and NABARD Grade A/B are some of the most popular government bank exams in India. This blog reveals crucial information about top bank exams in India, such as age limit, eligibility, and average salary. Learn about the bank exams with the highest salary, the registration process, and more.

What are the Bank Exams in India?

Bank exams in India are the national-level tests conducted for recruitment of candidates to various positions across public sector banks. IBPS, SBI, and RBI are some of the major government bodies in India that conduct bank exams for various posts. You can apply for clerical-level, assistant-level, or probationary officer posts in India through banking exams. IBPS PO, RBI Grade B, SBI PO, and SBI Clerk are some of the most popular bank exams in India. Continue reading to explore the top bank exams in India.

Top 10 Bank Exams in India List

The most popular public sector bank exams in India are conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), State Bank of India (SBI), and Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Each exam is conducted for several different roles across various banking organisations in India. Here are the top 10 bank exams in India with the offered job roles:

 

Bank Exams India

Conducting Body

Roles & Positions

IBPS PO

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)

Probationary Officer/ Management Trainee

IBPS Clerk

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)

Junior Associate/ Clerical Cadre

IBPS Specialist Officer (SO)

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)

Officer roles across fields like IT, law, & agriculture

IBPS RRB

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)

Clerk/ Assistant Manager/ Senior Manager in regional rural banks.

SBI PO

State Bank of India (SBI)

Probationary Officer in SBI

SBI Clerk

State Bank of India (SBI)

Clerk/ Junior Associate in SBI

RBI Grade A

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

Assistant Manager at RBI

RBI Assistant

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

Assistant or Supporting Staff at RBI

NABARD Grade A

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

Assistant Manager

NABARD Grade B

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

Manager - Grade B

 

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Top Bank Exams in India by Conducting Bodies

In India, IBPS, SBI (State Bank of India), RBI (Reserve Bank of India), and NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development) are some of the major bodies in India, conducting bank exams. Each of these organisations conducts various exams for different job posts/roles. Let us discuss the top bank exams in India organised by these bodies, with crucial details covered:

IBPS Exams

The full form of IBPS is Institute of Banking Personnel Selection. It is an autonomous body in India that conducts national-level exams for recruitment to various job positions in Indian banks. IBPS Bank exams are conducted to recruit candidates across public sector and regional rural banks in India. Take a look at the top bank exams in India by IBPS:

IBPS PO (Probationary Officer)

Particulars

Details

Posts

Probationary Officer (Scale I Officer)

General Eligibility

Bachelor's degree in any discipline

Age Limit

20-30 Years

Selection Process

Prelims + Mains + Interview

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 72,000 - INR 77,000 per month

IBPS Clerk

Particulars

Details

Posts

Clerk/ Assistant

General Eligibility

Bachelor's degree in any discipline

Age Limit

20-28 Years

Selection Process

Prelims + Mains

(No interview is conducted)

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 37,000 - INR 46,000 per month 

IBPS SO (Specialist Officer)

Particulars

Details

Posts

Scale I Officer (IT Officer, Law Officer, Agricultural Field Officer)

General Eligibility

Varies by roles and streams

Age Limit

20-30 Years

Selection Process

Prelims + Mains + Interview

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 60,000 - INR 75,000 per month (Scale I Posts)

IBPS RRB PO

Particulars

Details

Posts

Scale I Officer Posts (Regional Rural Banks)

General Eligibility

Bachelor's degree in any discipline

Age Limit

18-30 Years

Selection Process

Prelims + Mains + Interview

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 74,000 - INR 77,000 per month

IBPS RRB Clerk

Particulars

Details

Posts

Office Assistant/ Clerk

General Eligibility

Bachelor's degree in any discipline

Age Limit

18-28 Years

Selection Process

Prelims + Mains

(No interview is conducted)

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 32,000 - INR 44,000 per month

SBI Exams

After IBPS, State Bank of India (SBI) is another major body that conducts top bank exams in India at the national level. SBI conducts various exams for the posts of Probationary Officer (PO), Specialist Officer (SO), Clerk, etc. The general examination process for SBI bank exams consists of 5 main stages: Prelims, Mains, Psychometric Test, Group Exercise, and Interview. You may explore the top SBI exams below:

SBI PO (Probationary Officer)

Particulars

Details

Posts

Probationary Officer

General Eligibility

Graduation in any discipline

Age Limit

21-30 Years

Selection Process

Prelims + Mains + Phase III

(Phase III consists of Psychometric Test, Group Exercise, & Personal Interview)

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 80,000 - INR 85,000 per month

SBI Clerk

Particulars

Details

Posts

Clerk/ Junior Associate

General Eligibility

Bachelor's degree in any discipline

Age Limit

20-28 Years

Selection Process

Prelims + Mains

(No interview is conducted)

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 39,000 - INR 42,000 per month

SBI SO (Specialist Officer)

Particulars

Details

Posts

Systems Architect, Law Officer, IT Officer/Specialist

General Eligibility

Bachelor's/Master's degree + relevant work experience for desired post

Age Limit

20-42 Years (varies by role)

Selection Process

Online Written Exam + Interview (may vary by role)

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 60,000 - INR 1,10,000 (varies by posts and levels)

RBI Exams

RBI, or Reserve Bank of India, conducts national-level bank exams every year. RBI bank exams mainly take place for recruitment to posts like Grade B Manager, assistant, and clerical roles across various departments under the Reserve Bank of India. It conducts some of the top bank exams in India. Let us explore the popular RBI bank exams:

RBI Grade B

Particulars

Details

Posts

Manager across 3 streams (DR, DEPR, & DSIM)

General Eligibility

  • Bachelor's degree with 60% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD) OR

  • Post graduation with 55% marks (passing marks for SC/ST/PwBD)

Age Limit

21-30 Years (General category)

Selection Process

Prelims + Mains + Interview

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 1,00,000 - INR 1,50,000 per month

RBI Assistant

Particulars

Details

Posts

Assistant/ Clerical Role

General Eligibility

  • Bachelor's degree with 50% marks (passing marks for SC/ST/PwBD)

  • Basic computer and local language skills may be preferred

Age Limit

20-28 Years (General category)

Selection Process

Prelims + Mains + Language Proficiency Test

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 48,000 - INR 55,000 per month

NABARD Exams

The full form of NABARD is National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. This is an apex development financial institution of India. Every year, NABARD conducts several exams to recruit officers for Grade A and Grade B managerial positions, mainly Grade A Assistant Manager. You may check out the top bank exams in India by NABARD:

NABARD Grade A Exam

Particulars

Details

Posts

Assistant Manager

General Eligibility

  • Bachelor's degree with 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwBD) OR

  • Post-graduation with 55% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD)

Age Limit

21-30 Years (General category)

Selection Process

Prelims + Mains + Interview

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 85,000 - INR 1,30,000 per month

NABARD Grade B Exam

Particulars

Details

Posts

Manager in Grade B

General Eligibility

  • Postgraduate degree with 60% marks (55% for SC/ST/PwBD) OR

  • 60% marks across all academic levels (10th, 12th, graduation & post-graduation).

Age Limit

25-32 Years (General category)

Selection Process

Prelims + Mains + Interview

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 80,000 - INR 1,00,000 per month

SEBI Exams

SEBI stands for the Securities and Exchange Board of India. It is a main government body that regulates and oversees the capital markets and securities in India. The organisation conducts a national-level exam, SEBI Grade A Exam, every year to recruit assistant managers for various operational posts across SEBI offices. While the SEBI Grade A Exam is not particularly a bank exam, qualifying this shall allow you to work in capital markets, stock exchanges, mutual fund supervision, and other related fields.

SEBI Grade A Exam

Particulars

Details

Posts

Assistant Manager

General Eligibility

  • Master's degree in any discipline OR

  • Bachelor's degree in law, engineering or professional qualifications such as CA/CS/CFA/Cost Accountant

Age Limit

Maximum 30 Years (General category)

Selection Process

Phase I + Phase II + Interview

Average In-Hand Salary

INR 1,40,000 - INR 1,80,000 per month

The top government bank exams in India are mainly organised by some of the government organisations/bodies. It includes Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), State Bank of India (SBI), Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). Here is the list of popular government bank exams in India:

 

📝 IBPS Probationary Officer (IBPS PO)

📝 SBI Probationary Officer (SBI PO)

📝 IBPS Clerk

📝 SBI Clerk

📝 RBI Grade A

📝 IBPS Regional Rural Banks (IBPS RRB)

📝 NABARD Exams

Is there any exam for Private banks?

No, there is no particular exam like IBPS that takes place for recruitment to private sector banks. Private banks in India conduct their own aptitude test, screening, and personal interviews to hire suitable candidates for various positions. Generally, banks like HDFC, ICICI, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Axis Bank have collaborations with top institutions across India. They hire most of their staff via direct campus recruitment drives. Moreover, some banks may offer specialised training programmes for candidates wishing to secure jobs within their organisations.

List of Bank Exams in India with Highest Salary Packages

RBI Grade B exam is the highest-paying bank exam in India. Besides RBI Grade B, SBI PO, and IBPS PO are some of the other bank exams with high salary packages in India. Bank exams for probationary officers (PO) and Scale I officers generally offer lucrative salary packages in the Indian public bank sector. Take a look at some of the highest paying bank exams in India:

 

Top Bank Exams in India

Conducting Body

Average In-Hand Salary

RBI Grade B Exam

Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

INR 1,00,000 - INR 1,50,000

NABARD Grade A Exam

NABARD

INR 85,000 - INR 1,30,000

NABARD Grade B Exam

NABARD

INR 80,000 - INR 1,00,000

SBI PO Exam

State Bank of India (SBI)

INR 80,000 - INR 85,000

IBPS RRB PO

IBPS

INR 74,000 - INR 77,000

IBPS PO Exam

IBPS

INR 72,000 - INR 77,000

How to register for the major bank exams conducted in India?

Typically, the bank exams in India follow a 3-stage selection process: prelims, mains, and interview. While the mains and interview phases are scheduled after qualifying the prelims by the authorities, you need to register on your own for the prelims stage.

 

You can register for the bank exams in India online by visiting the official website for your desired exam. It requires you to submit the application form and pay the registration fee to complete your application process. Here are the steps to apply for top bank exams in India:

 

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Step 1: Visit Official Website

Firstly, applicants need to go to the official website for their chosen exam. For example, if you want to apply for the IBPS PO Exam, you have to visit ibps. in to register.

Step 2: Register Yourself

As the second step, you need to click on “New Registration” and register yourself on the website by signing up with your phone number/ mail ID and username. You need to verify with an OTP, and your login credentials will be sent to your registered mobile number via SMS or email ID.

Step 3: Fill Out Application Form

Now, you need to log in to the website with the generated credentials. Click on the available exam link for the application form to open. Then, you have to fill out all the necessary details, from personal to academic and work experience (if any) information.

Step 4: Upload Documents

Once the application form is filled, you will have to upload your documents related to ID proof, nationality, and academics. You also need to upload a passport-size photograph and e-signature in the form.

Step 5: Registration Fee Payment

The final step is to pay the registration fees that vary by exam and category of candidates. Further, you have to pay the registration amount online using digital payment methods such as UPI, credit/debit cards, net banking, etc. After the payment is made successfully, you can download the form to your device.

 

Once the application form is submitted successfully, you can focus on your exam preparation. Admit cards generally become available 3-5 days before the exam. Stay updated with the latest notifications and appear on the exam day, carrying a hard copy of the hall ticket.

Conclusion

The top bank exams in India are conducted by government bodies for public sector banks. Exams for Probationary Officer, assistant-level, Specialist Officer (SO), and clerical roles are the most popular bank exams in India among aspirants. The typical eligibility requirement for these exams is graduation. However, some exams like RBI Grade B may demand specific scores in graduation or post-graduation. Please note that the eligibility requirements and age limit vary for category candidates. Visit the official website for your chosen exam to learn about its rules and regulations in detail.

FAQs

Q1. Which exam is best for banking?

IBPS PO, SBI PO, IBPS RRB PO, RBI Grade B, and NABARD Grade A/B are some of the best banking exams in India with promising salaries for freshers.

Q2. Which are the top bank exams in India for government jobs?

  • IBPS PO: Probationary Officer across public banks in India

  • IBPS RRB PO: Probationary Officer across regional rural banks in India

  • SBI PO: Probationary Officer across the branches of State Bank of India

  • SBI Clerk: Clerical roles in the branches of SBI

  • RBI Grade B: Assistant Manager roles in the operational areas of RBI

Q3. What is the eligibility criteria for major banking sector recruitment tests?

Typically, candidates should have a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised institution. Some bank exams also require 55% - 60% as mandatory scores for general category students (5% relaxation for SC/ST/PwBD). The upper age limit criteria vary by exams, roles, and categories.

Q4. Which is the toughest bank exam in India?

RBI Grade B exam, conducted by the Reserve Bank of India, is widely considered the toughest bank exam in India because of its broad syllabus and low selection rates.

Q5. Which IBPS exam is best?

IBPS PO is generally considered the best banking test among other bank exams conducted by the IBPS due to its promising payrolls and career growth opportunities.

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