The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), a division of the Ministry of Finance, was formed to staff the country’s nationalized banks and regional rural banks with competent candidates. In furtherance of its objective, IBPS conducts various exams across multiple categories to ensure staffing in eligible banks. While there are multiple categories of exams such as the Regional Rural Banks (RRB) exam, Specialist Officer exam, Clerk exam, etc. In this blog, we will be focusing on the IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer exam through which the IPBS recruits Specialist Officers in the field of Agriculture.
Particulars | Relevant details |
Conducting body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection |
Frequency of exam | Once a year |
Application process | Online |
Official website | www.ibps.in |
Mode of examination | Online |
Selection Process | Online exam and interview |
Table of Contents
- 1 IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer Exam Dates 2025
- 2 IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer Eligibility Criteria for 2025
- 3 Application Process for the IBPS RRB SO Exam Agriculture Officer
- 4 IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer Exam Pattern
- 5 IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer Exam Syllabus for 2025
- 6 Salary and Benefits for Specialist Officer (Agriculture)
- 7 IBPS RRB SO Exam Agriculture Officer Vacancies for 2025
- 8 Preparation Tips for IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer Exam 2025
- 9 FAQs
IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer Exam Dates 2025
The important dates for the IBPS RRB SO exam 2025 for agriculture officers are yet to be notified. However, based on the data and dates accumulated over the past few years, we have prepared the table below of tentative dates:
Event | Date |
Release of Notification | Expected in May/June 2025 |
Start of Online Application | Expected in June 2025 |
Last Date to Apply | Expected in July 2025 |
Admit Card Release | August/September 2025 (Tentative) |
Single Online Exam Date | 13th September 2025 |
Result Declaration | October 2025 (Tentative) |
Interview (if applicable) | October/November 2025 (Tentative) |
Provisional Allotment | January 2026 (Tentative) |
IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer Eligibility Criteria for 2025
The candidates planning to sit for the IBPS RRB exam or the post of Specialist Officer (Agriculture) must fulfil the following requirements:-
- You must be an Indian citizen or from Nepal, Bhutan, or a Tibetan refugee (settled in India).
- Your age should be between 21 to 32 years as on 1st June 2025.
- You must have a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or related fields.
- Accepted degrees include Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Forestry, Veterinary Science, etc, with a minimum score of fifty (50) percent marks.
- Your degree should be from a recognized university or institution.
- No work experience is required, but it may be helpful.
- Age relaxation is available for SC/ST (5 yrs), OBC (3 yrs), PwD (10 yrs) and other categories.
- You should have proper documents and certificates for education and category.
- Basic computer knowledge is useful, though not compulsory.
- All details must be true and verifiable during the document verification round.
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Application Process for the IBPS RRB SO Exam Agriculture Officer
The application process is completely online for the IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer exam, and candidates need to register for the exam on the IBPS website itself. The four-stage process is mentioned below:
- Visit the official website to create a login ID and password.
- Upload the necessary documents.
- Fill out the application form.
- Make the requisite payment.
IBPS RRB SO Exam Application Fee for 2025
The fee schedule for the exam is stated below:-
Category | Fee |
SC/ST/PWD Candidates | INR 175 |
General and OBC Candidates | INR 850 |
Also Read: SBI Clerk Exam
IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer Exam Pattern
The IBPS RRB Specialist Officer (SO) Agriculture Officer Exam 2025 is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) to recruit Agriculture Field Officers in Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). The selection process comprises three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Interview. Below is the detailed exam pattern for each stage:
1. Preliminary Examination:
The preliminary exam consists of three sections with a total of 150 multiple-choice questions, conducted over 120 minutes. Each section has a specific time allocation of 40 minutes. The medium of the exam is bilingual (English and Hindi), except for the English Language section. There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each incorrect answer.
Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
Reasoning | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
English Language | 50 | 25 | 40 minutes |
Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 40 minutes |
Total | 150 | 125 | 120 minutes |
2. Main Examination:
The main exam focuses on Professional Knowledge relevant to the Agriculture Field Officer role. It comprises 60 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 45 minutes. The exam is conducted bilingually (English and Hindi), and a negative marking of 0.25 marks applies for each incorrect answer.
Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
Professional Knowledge | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
3. Interview:
Candidates who qualify in the main examination are called for the interview, which carries 100 marks. The final selection is based on the combined scores of the main examination and the interview, with a weightage of 80:20 respectively.
IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer Exam Syllabus for 2025
The IBPS RRB Specialist Officer (SO) Agriculture Officer Exam assesses candidates through a structured selection process comprising three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Interview. Below is the detailed syllabus for each stage:
1. Preliminary Exam Syllabus with Weightage
Section | Topics Covered | Approx. Weightage |
Reasoning | Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Direction, etc. | 50 marks |
English Language | Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Detection, Fillers, etc. | 25 marks |
Quant Aptitude | Simplification, Data Interpretation, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, etc. | 50 marks |
Total | 125 marks |
2. Main Exam Syllabus (Professional Knowledge – Agriculture) with Weightage
Topics | Subtopics | Approx. Weightage |
Agriculture in India | Major crops, cropping patterns, agri institutes | 8–10 marks |
Agricultural Practices | Soil preparation, sowing, manures, harvesting | 5–7 marks |
Horticulture | Fruits, vegetables, post-harvest management | 4–5 marks |
Seed Science & Technology | GM crops, hybrid seeds, seed testing | 4–5 marks |
Soil Science | Types of soil, soil fertility, pH, conservation | 4–5 marks |
Animal Husbandry & Dairy | Livestock care, poultry, dairy farming | 6–8 marks |
Agri. Economics & Finance | NABARD, PM-KISAN, KCC, MSP, crop insurance | 8–10 marks |
Agri Engineering | Farm tools, irrigation systems, greenhouse techniques | 4–5 marks |
Plant Pathology & Entomology | Pests, diseases, pest management techniques | 5–6 marks |
Agroforestry & Ecology | Environmental conservation, climate impacts | 3–4 marks |
Current Agri Affairs | Recent govt schemes, updates in agri sector | 2–3 marks |
Total | 60 marks |
3. Interview Stage
Stage | Weightage in Final Selection |
Main Exam | 80% |
Interview | 20% |
Total | 100% |
Also Read: A Guide On How to Prepare for Bank Exams
Salary and Benefits for Specialist Officer (Agriculture)
The IBPS RRB Specialist Officer (Agriculture Officer) position offers a competitive salary and a range of benefits. Here’s a detailed overview:
Component | Details |
Basic Pay | ₹48,170 per month |
Pay Scale | ₹48,170-1,740/1-₹49,910-1,990/10-₹69,810 |
Gross Emoluments | Approximately ₹75,000 to ₹77,000 per month |
In-Hand Salary | Approximately ₹65,000 to ₹67,000 per month after deductions |
Allowances and Benefits
In addition to the basic pay, Agriculture Officers are entitled to various allowances and perks, including:
- Festival Bonus: Additional pay during festive seasons.
- Dearness Allowance (DA): A cost of living adjustment allowance.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA): Assistance with accommodation expenses.
- Special Allowance: Additional pay for specific duties or roles.Bankersadda
- Transport Allowance: Support for commuting expenses.
- Provident Fund (PF): Retirement benefit scheme.
IBPS RRB SO Exam Agriculture Officer Vacancies for 2025
As of April 7, 2025, the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has not yet released the official notification for the IBPS RRB Specialist Officer (Agriculture Officer) vacancies for 2025. The notification is anticipated to be published in June 2025.
For context, in the previous recruitment cycle, there were 70 vacancies for the Officer Scale-II (Agriculture Officer) position . However, the number of vacancies can vary each year based on the requirements of the participating Regional Rural Banks (RRBs).
Preparation Tips for IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer Exam 2025
Here are some simple and effective preparation tips for the IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer Exam 2025 to help you stay focused and confident:
- Understand the exam pattern – Prelims, Mains, and Interview stages.
- Go through the full syllabus and focus more on Agriculture topics.
- Make a daily study timetable and follow it regularly.
- Start with basic NCERT books and one good agriculture reference book.
- Make short notes for quick revision later.
- Practice mock tests 2–3 times a week to improve speed and accuracy.
- Solve previous year question papers to know the exam trend.
- Stay updated with recent agriculture schemes and current affairs.
- Prepare for the interview by practicing common questions.
- Stay consistent, revise regularly, and keep a positive mindset.
IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer Preparation Books for 2025
Given the vast yet defined syllabus, it is imperative that candidates pick the literature best suited to their needs in order to aid their preparation. The recommended books are mentioned below:-
Book Title | Author / Publisher | Why It’s Good |
Agriculture at a Glance | R. K. Sharma | Covers all major agri topics in simple language |
Objective Agriculture | S.R. Kantwa / Jain Brothers | Good for practice MCQs |
General Agriculture | Muniraj Singh Rathore | Best for conceptual clarity |
ICAR UG/PG Notes (or online PDFs) | ICAR & Online Sources | Authentic and exam-relevant material |
Agriculture Question Bank | K. N. Bhatia / Arihant | For last-minute revision and practice |
However, given the vast syllabus, candidates should do their research and pick additional literature best suited for their preparation.
FAQs
Yes. The IBPS RRB exam is an online exam.
A total of fifty-six (56) regional rural banks participate in the recruitment process.
Yes. There is a negative marking of one-fourth for each incorrect answer
All sections in the exam are bilingual, i.e., available in both Hindi and English.
To apply for the IBPS Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) exam, candidates should be 20 to 30 years old and must have completed a four-year graduation degree in a relevant subject such as agriculture, horticulture, or animal husbandry.
To be eligible, you must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, or Veterinary Science.
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For similar updates about the IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer exam 2025, check out the Indian exams page of Leverage Edu.