IBPS AFO Entrance Exam After Graduation – Complete Guide 2026

(Agricultural Field Officer – Scale I)

1. Introduction to IBPS AFO Exam

IBPS AFO (Agricultural Field Officer) is a specialist officer (SO) exam conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) for recruitment in Public Sector Banks.

An AFO works closely with:

• Farmers & agri-entrepreneurs

• Agricultural loan assessment

• Rural & priority sector lending

• Government agricultural schemes

This exam is ideal for agriculture graduates seeking a banking career with field exposure.

2. IBPS AFO Notification 2026 (Tentative)

📌 IBPS AFO is conducted under the IBPS Specialist Officer (SO) recruitment.

3. IBPS AFO Exam 2026 – Important Details

4. IBPS AFO Eligibility 2026

Educational Qualification (Mandatory)

Candidate must have a Bachelor’s degree (4 years) in any of the following:

• Agriculture

• Horticulture

• Animal Husbandry

• Veterinary Science

• Dairy Science

• Fishery Science

• Forestry

• Agricultural Engineering

• Sericulture

• Agronomy

• Soil Science

❌ Arts, Commerce & General Science graduates are NOT eligible.

Age Limit (as on 1st Aug 2026)

• Minimum Age: 20 years

• Maximum Age: 30 years

Age Relaxation

• OBC: +3 years

• SC/ST: +5 years

• PwBD: As per Govt norms

5. IBPS AFO Exam Pattern 2026

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination

⏱ Duration: 120 minutes
❌ Negative Marking: 0.25 marks

✔ English is qualifying in nature

Stage 2: Mains Examination (Professional Knowledge)

⏱ Duration: 45 minutes
✔ Only Agriculture-based questions

Stage 3: Interview

Final merit = Mains + Interview

6. IBPS AFO Syllabus 2026 – Detailed

A. Professional Knowledge (Core Focus)

Agronomy

• Crop production

• Cropping systems

• Irrigation & drainage

Soil Science

• Soil classification

• Soil fertility

• Nutrient management

Horticulture

• Fruits, vegetables & plantation crops

• Post-harvest management

Animal Husbandry

• Breeds

• Nutrition

• Dairy management

Agricultural Economics

• Farm management

• Agricultural finance

• MSP & price policy

Plant Pathology & Entomology

• Crop diseases

• Pest management

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Agricultural Engineering

• Farm machinery

• Irrigation systems

• Soil & water conservation

B. Preliminary Exam Syllabus

Reasoning Ability

• Puzzles

• Seating Arrangement

• Inequality

• Syllogism

• Coding-Decoding

Quantitative Aptitude

• Percentage

• Profit & Loss

• Simple & Compound Interest

• Data Interpretation

• Time & Work

English Language

• Reading Comprehension

• Cloze Test

• Error Detection

• Vocabulary

7. IBPS AFO Salary & Benefits

Pay Scale (Scale I Officer)

• Basic Pay: ₹36,000 approx

• Gross Salary: ₹55,000 – ₹60,000 per month

Additional Benefits

• DA, HRA, TA

• Medical insurance

• Pension & gratuity

• Loan benefits

8. Job Profile of IBPS AFO

• Agricultural loan processing

• Field visits & crop assessment

• Farmer interaction

• Monitoring agri-schemes

• Priority sector lending

📌 Combination of field work + bank office duties

9. Banks Participating in IBPS AFO

• SBI Associate Banks

• Punjab National Bank

• Bank of Baroda

• Canara Bank

• Union Bank of India

• Indian Bank

• Central Bank of India

10. Preparation Strategy for IBPS AFO 2026

• Strong command over Agriculture optional

• Revise B.Sc Agriculture syllabus thoroughly

• Practice banking-level Reasoning & Maths

• Attempt full-length mock tests

• Focus on Mains Professional Knowledge

11. Who Should Target IBPS AFO?

✔ Agriculture graduates
✔ Candidates interested in banking + agriculture
✔ Those seeking stable PSU bank jobs
✔ Students from rural/agri background

12. IBPS AFO vs Other Agri Exams

13. Conclusion

The IBPS AFO Exam 2026 is one of the best career options for agriculture graduates, offering banking prestige, good salary, and long-term growth. With focused preparation on professional knowledge, candidates can crack this exam in the first attempt.