IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer 2025: Dates, Eligibility, and Syllabus

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IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer

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.

ParticularsRelevant details
Conducting bodyInstitute of Banking Personnel Selection
Frequency of examOnce a year
Application processOnline
Official website www.ibps.in
Mode of examinationOnline 
Selection ProcessOnline exam and interview

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:

EventDate
Release of NotificationExpected in May/June 2025
Start of Online ApplicationExpected in June 2025
Last Date to ApplyExpected in July 2025
Admit Card ReleaseAugust/September 2025 (Tentative)
Single Online Exam Date13th September 2025
Result DeclarationOctober 2025 (Tentative)
Interview (if applicable)October/November 2025 (Tentative)
Provisional AllotmentJanuary 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.

Must Read: SBI Exam

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:-

CategoryFee
SC/ST/PWD CandidatesINR 175
General and OBC CandidatesINR 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.​

SectionNo. of QuestionsMaximum MarksDuration
Reasoning505040 minutes
English Language502540 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude505040 minutes
Total150125120 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.​

SectionNo. of QuestionsMaximum MarksDuration
Professional Knowledge606045 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

SectionTopics CoveredApprox. Weightage
ReasoningPuzzles, Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Coding-Decoding, Direction, etc.50 marks
English LanguageReading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Error Detection, Fillers, etc.25 marks
Quant AptitudeSimplification, Data Interpretation, Profit & Loss, Time & Work, etc.50 marks
Total125 marks

2. Main Exam Syllabus (Professional Knowledge – Agriculture) with Weightage

TopicsSubtopicsApprox. Weightage
Agriculture in IndiaMajor crops, cropping patterns, agri institutes8–10 marks
Agricultural PracticesSoil preparation, sowing, manures, harvesting5–7 marks
HorticultureFruits, vegetables, post-harvest management4–5 marks
Seed Science & TechnologyGM crops, hybrid seeds, seed testing4–5 marks
Soil ScienceTypes of soil, soil fertility, pH, conservation4–5 marks
Animal Husbandry & DairyLivestock care, poultry, dairy farming6–8 marks
Agri. Economics & FinanceNABARD, PM-KISAN, KCC, MSP, crop insurance8–10 marks
Agri EngineeringFarm tools, irrigation systems, greenhouse techniques4–5 marks
Plant Pathology & EntomologyPests, diseases, pest management techniques5–6 marks
Agroforestry & EcologyEnvironmental conservation, climate impacts3–4 marks
Current Agri AffairsRecent govt schemes, updates in agri sector2–3 marks
Total60 marks

3. Interview Stage

StageWeightage in Final Selection
Main Exam80%
Interview20%
Total100%

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:​

ComponentDetails
Basic Pay₹48,170 per month
Pay Scale₹48,170-1,740/1-₹49,910-1,990/10-₹69,810
Gross EmolumentsApproximately ₹75,000 to ₹77,000 per month
In-Hand SalaryApproximately ₹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 TitleAuthor / PublisherWhy It’s Good
Agriculture at a GlanceR. K. SharmaCovers all major agri topics in simple language
Objective AgricultureS.R. Kantwa / Jain BrothersGood for practice MCQs
General AgricultureMuniraj Singh RathoreBest for conceptual clarity
ICAR UG/PG Notes (or online PDFs)ICAR & Online SourcesAuthentic and exam-relevant material
Agriculture Question BankK. N. Bhatia / ArihantFor 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

Is the IBPS RRB exam conducted online?

Yes. The IBPS RRB exam is an online exam.

How many banks participate in the IBPS RRB exam?

A total of fifty-six (56) regional rural banks participate in the recruitment process. 

Is there a negative marking in the IBPS RRB SO Agriculture Officer exam?

Yes. There is a negative marking of one-fourth for each incorrect answer

Is the exam in Hindi or English?

All sections in the exam are bilingual, i.e., available in both Hindi and English.

Who is eligible for IBPS agriculture Officer?

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.

Which degree is best for agriculture officer?

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.

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