The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has formally published the notification for the Common Recruitment Process for Specialist Officers (CRP SPL-XVI). For candidates specializing in agricultural sciences, this includes the highly anticipated recruitment for the position of Agricultural Field Officer (AFO) Scale-I. For this position, there are total 190 vacancies.
This document outlines the critical directives, vacancy distribution, eligibility parameters, and structural examination details for the 2026–2027 recruitment cycle to assist candidates in their strategic preparation.
IBPS AFO Examination Schedule
Candidates are advised to follow strictly to the regulatory timeline established by IBPS. Failure to complete registration or fee payment within the stipulated window will result in disqualification.
| Important Event | Key Date / Timeline | Details & Objective |
| Official Notification Publication | June 30, 2026 | Official release of the comprehensive CRP SPL-XVI documentation. |
| Online Registration & Fee Remittance | July 1 – July 21, 2026 | The exclusive window for online application submission, document uploading, and processing fee payment. |
| Preliminary Examination (Tentative) | August 29, 2026 | Phase 1 objective assessment mapping analytical skills (Qualifying criteria). |
| Main Examination (Tentative) | November 1, 2026 | Phase 2 assessment strictly evaluating Professional Knowledge (Agriculture and allied subjects). |
| Interview & Provisional Allotment | November 2026 – January 2027 | Final personal interviews followed by the official bank allotments for successful candidates. |
Vacancy Distribution
For the current recruitment cycle, participating Public Sector Banks have declared a cumulative total of 190 vacancies for the Agricultural Field Officer (Scale-I) designation.
The category-wise allocation of these positions is detailed below:
| Reservation Category | Allocated Vacancies |
| Unreserved (UR) | 79 |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 51 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 28 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 19 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 13 |
Note: Currently, the reported vacancies are strictly from the Bank of Baroda (100) and Bank of Maharashtra (90). This figure may be subject to revision based on subsequent bank requisitions.
IBPS AFO Eligibility Criteria
Aspirants must verify their compliance with both age and academic requirements before initiating the application process.
1. Age Criteria (Calculated as of July 1, 2026)
- Minimum Age: 20 Years
- Maximum Age: 30 Years
- Candidates must possess a recorded date of birth between July 2, 1996, and July 1, 2006 (both dates inclusive).
- Statutory age relaxations apply in accordance with government regulations (e.g., 3 years for OBC Non-Creamy Layer; 5 years for SC/ST classifications).
2. Academic Qualifications
Applicants must hold a 4-year Bachelor’s Degree in one of the following authorized disciplines:
Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Dairy Science, Fishery Science, Pisciculture, Agri. Marketing & Cooperation, Co-operation & Banking, Agro-Forestry, Forestry, Agricultural Biotechnology, Food Science, Agriculture Business Management, Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Agricultural Engineering, Sericulture, or Fisheries Engineering.
IBPS AFO Exam Pattern
The IBPS AFO selection framework operates on a rigorous three-tier structure designed to evaluate analytical aptitude and specialized professional expertise.
Phase I: Preliminary Examination
The preliminary stage serves exclusively as a qualifying screening. Scores obtained in this phase do not contribute to the final merit ranking.
| Subject | Questions | Maximum Marks | Allotted Duration |
| English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 50 | 50 | 40 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 Minutes |
Phase II: Main Examination
The primary determinant for selection, this phase evaluates domain-specific expertise.
- Subject Matter: Professional Knowledge (Agriculture & Allied Disciplines).
- Format: 60 Objective Questions.
- Maximum Marks: 60 Marks.
- Allotted Duration: 45 Minutes.
Penalty Directive: A negative marking penalty of 0.25 marks is uniformly applied for each incorrect response across both Preliminary and Main examinations.
Also Read: Detail Syllabus for IBPS AFO 2026
Phase III: Personal Interview
Candidates achieving the requisite cutoff in the Main Examination will be summoned for a personal interview, holding a weightage of 100 marks. The definitive merit list is calculated by aggregating the standardized scores of the Main Examination and the Interview.
Online Application Process for IBPS AFO 2026
Eligible candidates must complete the procedure via the official portal before the July 21st deadline:
- Navigate to the official IBPS domain: www.ibps.in.
- Select the designated link for “CRP Specialist Officers (CRP SPL-XVI)”.
- Complete initial registration to generate authorized login credentials.
- Input all academic and personal data with strict accuracy to ensure alignment with original documentation.
- Upload standard prerequisites in the specified dimensions: passport photograph, digital signature, left thumb impression, and the standardized handwritten declaration.
- Remit the non-refundable processing fee (₹850 for General/OBC/EWS classifications; ₹175 for SC/ST/PwBD) to finalize the submission.