Banking & Insurance Exams 2026

Banking recruitment in India runs through several separate bodies. The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection conducts common recruitment processes for public sector banks and Regional Rural Banks. The State Bank of India recruits independently. The Reserve Bank of India, NABARD and SEBI each hold their own examinations, as do the public sector insurance companies.

The standard pattern is a Preliminary test followed by a Main examination. Officer-grade posts add an interview or group exercise; clerical posts usually stop at the Main examination but may include a local language proficiency test. Both stages are computer-based, sectionally timed, and carry negative marking.

Almost every banking post requires a graduate degree in any discipline, with age windows generally starting at 20 or 21. Pay for public sector bank staff is set by the periodic bipartite settlement negotiated with the Indian Banks’ Association, while the Reserve Bank, NABARD and SEBI follow their own separate pay structures.