Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has announced that the online examination for Generalist and Specialist Officers is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, 31 October 2026. The notice (Ref. No. HRDD/RECT/04B/2026-27) is dated 9 October 2026 and relates to Advertisement No. HRDD/RECT/04/2026-27 for 291 vacancies.
Direct Link to Check IOB Specialist Officer Exam date 2026
Quick Overview - IOB SO Exam Date 2026
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | Indian Overseas Bank |
| Recruitment | Generalist / Specialist Officers in various scales, 2026-27 |
| Advertisement number | HRDD/RECT/04/2026-27 (dated 28.08.2026) |
| Exam date notice | HRDD/RECT/04B/2026-27 (dated 09.10.2026) |
| Exam date | 31 October 2026 (Saturday), tentatively scheduled |
| Exam mode | Online examination |
| Total vacancies | 291 |
| Grades | JMGS I, MMGS II and MMGS III |
| Official website | www.iob.bank.in |
IOB SO Exam Date 2026: Official Announcement
The official notice is short. It states that the online examination is tentatively scheduled for 31.10.2026 (Saturday), that admit cards will be made available for download shortly, and that candidates should visit the bank's website regularly for updates.Because the bank uses the word "tentatively", the date can still change. Treat 31 October 2026 as the planned date and re-check iob.bank.in before you travel.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification released | 28 August 2026 |
| Online registration and fee payment start | 29 August 2026 |
| Last date to apply and pay fee | 15 September 2026 |
| Exam date notice released | 9 October 2026 |
| Online exam | 31 October 2026 (Saturday) |
IOB SO Exam Schedule and Shift Timing
The official notice gives only the date and day. Shift timing, reporting time and gate closing time have not been announced and will be printed on the admit card or call letter.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exam name | IOB Generalist / Specialist Officers online examination |
| Date and day | 31 October 2026, Saturday (tentative) |
| Total duration | 2 hours, with separate timing for each section (per the notification) |
| Exam centres | Allotted through the call letter; see the list below |
IOB SO Exam Centres
The notification lists six examination centre cities. The bank may add or remove centres, may allot a centre different from the one you chose, and does not accept requests for change of centre.
- Delhi / New Delhi / NCR
- Mumbai / Navi Mumbai / MMR / Thane
- Chennai
- Kolkata
- Hyderabad
- Bengaluru
IOB SO Vacancy Details 2026
IOB has advertised 291 vacancies. Post Code 01 is the Generalist Officer post and all other posts are Specialist Officer posts. The bank says vacancy numbers are provisional and may be increased or decreased.
| Post Code | Post Name | Grade | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Manager (Branch Management) | MMGS II | 100 |
| 02 | Manager (IT) | MMGS II | 65 |
| 03 | Manager (Information Security) | MMGS II | 5 |
| 04 | Manager (Information Security Audit) | MMGS II | 5 |
| 05 | Senior Manager (IT) | MMGS III | 10 |
| 06 | Senior Manager (Information Security) | MMGS III | 3 |
| 07 | Senior Manager (Information Security Audit) | MMGS III | 2 |
| 08 | Senior Manager (Database Administrator) | MMGS III | 10 |
| 09 | Senior Manager (Network Administrator) | MMGS III | 5 |
| 10 | Senior Manager (Cyber Security Administrator) | MMGS III | 5 |
| 11 | Manager (Credit) | MMGS II | 35 |
| 12 | Senior Manager (Credit) | MMGS III | 15 |
| 13 | Senior Manager (Risk) | MMGS III | 6 |
| 14 | Assistant Manager (Security) | JMGS I | 25 |
| Total | 291 |
Category-Wise Vacancies
| SC | ST | OBC | EWS | UR (General) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | 21 | 79 | 28 | 117 | 291 |
Out of the total, the notification also shows PwBD vacancies: 4 (Hearing Impaired), 5 (Orthopedically Challenged), 2 (Visually Impaired) and 1 (Intellectual Disability). PwBD reservation is horizontal, so these are counted within the category vacancies above.
IOB SO Eligibility Criteria
Age, qualification and experience are calculated as on 1 August 2026. The table below is a summary. Certification requirements and detailed experience conditions differ by post, so check the full notification for the post you applied for.
| Post | Age | Qualification and experience (summary) |
|---|---|---|
| Manager (Branch Management) | 23 to 33 | Graduation in any discipline. 3 years as an Officer in a scheduled public or private sector bank, including at least 2 years in branch banking |
| Manager (IT) | 25 to 35 | B.E./B.Tech (CS/IT/Electronics and Communication/Electronics and Instrumentation), MCA or M.Sc. (Computer Science/IT). 5 years in IT, including at least 3 years in a banking/BFSI environment |
| Manager (Information Security) | 22 to 32 | B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech in CS, IT, Electronics and Communication, Cyber Security or Information Security. 2 years in at least three listed security testing domains |
| Manager (Information Security Audit) | 22 to 32 | B.E./B.Tech in CS, IT, Electronics and Communication or Cyber Security; or M.E./M.Tech in these disciplines or MCA. 2 years of relevant experience as specified in the notification |
| Senior Manager (IT) | 28 to 38 | Same qualifications as Manager (IT). 8 years in IT, including at least 5 years in banking/BFSI. CISA, CISSP, ISO 27001 LA or OSCP is mandatory |
| Senior Manager (Information Security) | 25 to 35 | B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech in the disciplines listed for Manager (Information Security). 5 years in at least three listed security testing domains |
| Senior Manager (Information Security Audit) | 25 to 35 | B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech/MCA in the listed disciplines. 5 years of relevant experience as specified, including at least 3 years in IS audit or cyber audit in banking/BFSI (or the alternative route in the notification) |
| Senior Manager (Database Administrator) | 28 to 38 | B.E./B.Tech, MCA or M.Sc. in the listed disciplines. 8 years in database administration (5 in production, 3 in banking/BFSI). Oracle OCA or OCP is mandatory |
| Senior Manager (Network Administrator) | 25 to 35 | B.E./B.Tech, M.Tech or MCA in the listed disciplines. 5 years in network operations, including network security with Cisco FTD and Check Point firewalls. CCNA (Routing and Switching or Security) or Check Point CCSE is mandatory |
| Senior Manager (Cyber Security Administrator) | 25 to 35 | B.E./B.Tech or M.E./M.Tech in the listed disciplines. 5 years in any two listed domains |
| Manager (Credit) | 23 to 33 | Bachelor's degree with MBA (Finance), PGDBA, PGDBM or MMS (Finance); or CA; or CMA. 3 years in a bank or financial institution, including at least 2 years in credit |
| Senior Manager (Credit) | 25 to 35 | Same qualifications as Manager (Credit). 6 years in a bank or financial institution, including at least 4 years in credit |
| Senior Manager (Risk) | 25 to 35 | Graduation with MBA/PGDM (Finance) or related finance, mathematics, statistics or economics postgraduate degree; or graduation with GARP or PRMIA risk certification. 5 years in a bank, NBFC or financial institution in risk, credit, forex, treasury or finance |
| Assistant Manager (Security) | 30 to 45 | Graduate with a computer certification course of at least 3 months (or a computer-related subject). Retired JCO (or equivalent) with 5 years in the rank, or equivalent paramilitary or police rank as specified |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation in upper age limit |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| Persons with Benchmark Disabilities | 10 years |
| Persons affected by 1984 riots | 5 years |
| Ex-servicemen and eligible Commissioned Officers (ECOs/SSCOs) | 5 years, subject to government guidelines |
Also Read: India Post GDS Result 2026
IOB SO Exam Pattern 2026
The online exam has 100 objective questions carrying 100 marks, with a total duration of 2 hours and separate timing for each section.
Manager (Branch Management), Scale II
| Section | Questions | Marks | Medium | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | English | 30 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (Banking Law and Practice, Indian Economy and Indian Financial System, Principles and Practices of Banking, Accounting and Financial Management for Bankers) | 75 | 75 | English and Hindi | 90 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 2 hours |
All Other Posts (Scale I, II and III)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Medium | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 25 | 25 | English | 30 minutes |
| General Awareness with special reference to the Banking Industry | 25 | 25 | English | 30 minutes |
| Professional Knowledge (varies post-wise) | 50 | 50 | English | 60 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 2 hours |
Negative Marking and Qualifying Marks
- One-fourth of the marks for a question are deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for an unattempted question.
- Overall minimum qualifying marks in the online exam: 35% for unreserved candidates and 30% for reserved candidates.
- No minimum qualifying marks are prescribed for English Language or General Awareness. Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks in Professional Knowledge.
IOB SO Application Fee
| Category | Fee (inclusive of GST) |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / PwBD (intimation charges only) | Rs. 175 |
| All others, including OBC and EWS | Rs. 1,000 |
Required Documents
For the Online Exam
- Printed call letter / admit card.
- One original photo identity proof from this list: Passport, Aadhaar / e-Aadhaar, PAN Card, Driving Licence, Voter's Card, Bank Passbook with attested photograph, ID card issued by a school or college, or a Gazetted Officer certificate on official letterhead.
- A self-attested photocopy of the same ID, to be submitted with the call letter to the invigilator.
A Ration Card is not accepted as ID. If your identity is in doubt or the photocopy is missing, you may not be allowed to appear.
For the Interview Stage (as applicable)
Originals plus self-attested photocopies of the following are required, and candidates may be refused the interview without them:
- Interview call letter and system-generated printout of the online application.
- Proof of date of birth (birth certificate or SSLC / Std. X certificate with date of birth).
- Photo ID proof.
- Mark sheets and certificates for educational qualifications, and proof of any preferred certifications.
- Work experience proof: experience certificates, appointment and relieving letters, pay slips.
- Category certificates: caste certificate (OBC certificate with non-creamy layer clause, valid on the interview date), EWS income and asset certificate, or PwBD disability certificate, as applicable.
- No Objection Certificate from the employer, for candidates serving in government, quasi-government or public sector organisations, including nationalised banks and financial institutions.
- Any other relevant documents supporting eligibility.
Also Read: PFRDA Grade A Admit Card 2026
How to Apply for IOB SO Recruitment 2026
The application window closed on 15 September 2026. The sources reviewed do not mention any reopening or extension. The steps below are from the official notification, for reference.
- Visit www.iob.bank.in and open the Careers page.
- Open "Recruitment of Generalist / Specialist Officers in Various Scales - 2026 - 27" and select the post.
- Click "Click here to Register Online" and complete registration. A registration number and password are sent by email and SMS.
- Upload the photograph, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration as per the specifications.
- Fill in the application form and click "Complete Registration".
- Pay the application fee online (debit card, credit card, internet banking, BHIM or UPI).
- Take a printout of the application form and e-receipt.
Important Instructions for Candidates
- Follow only the official website, www.iob.bank.in, for announcements. The bank says all further announcements will be published there.
- Check your email regularly. The bank is not responsible for late receipt or non-receipt of communication.
- Your signature at the exam must match the signature uploaded in the application, or you may be disqualified.
- No request for change of exam centre is entertained, and the bank may allot a centre other than your choice.
- You travel to the centre at your own risk and expense.
- Candidates with disabilities who opted for a scribe or compensatory time must have registered for it in the application. Later requests may not be accepted.
- The bank can change, cancel or add to the selection criteria or method. If the English and a translated version differ, the English version prevails.
- For queries, the notification lists the email [email protected].
IOB Specialist Officer Exam Date 2026 - Important Links
| Link | Details |
|---|---|
| IOB SO exam date notice (PDF) | Official notice dated 09.10.2026 |
| IOB Official Website | iob.bank.in |
