Home Banking Exams IOB LBO Exam Pattern & Selection Process 2026
Official Notification Based Verified Last Updated: 09 August 2026 7 min read Reviewed by RajDailyTools Editorial Team
📋 Official IOB LBO Recruitment Notification 2026-27

IOB LBO Exam Pattern & Selection Process 2026

Check complete IOB Local Bank Officer (LBO) Exam Pattern 2026 including sections, number of questions, maximum marks, exam duration, negative marking, qualifying marks, Language Proficiency Test, Personal Interview and final merit calculation, based entirely on the Official Indian Overseas Bank Local Bank Officer Recruitment Notification 2026-27 (Advt. No. HRDD/RECT/02/2026-27 dated 07.08.2026).

📝 140 Questions 🎯 200 Marks ⏱️ 3 Hours ➖ 0.25 Negative Marking 🗣️ Interview – 100 Marks
📝
140
Total Questions
🎯
200
Total Marks
⏱️
3 Hrs
Exam Duration
🗣️
80:20
Exam : Interview Weightage

Article Information

Author
RajDailyTools Editorial Team
Reviewer
Banking Exam Research Team
Published
09 August 2026
Updated
09 August 2026
Category
IOB Banking Exams
Difficulty Level
🟢 Beginner Friendly
Official Source
iob.bank.in
Reading Time
7 minutes

Key Takeaways

💻
Exam Mode: IOB LBO Online Examination consists of 140 objective type questions carrying 200 marks.
📑
Sections: 4 sections — Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, Data Analysis & Interpretation and English Knowledge.
⏱️
Exam Duration: Total 3 hours, with separate timing prescribed for each section.
Negative Marking: 0.25 marks (1/4th) deducted per wrong answer; no penalty for unattempted questions.
Qualifying Criteria: No sectional qualifying marks; minimum aggregate 30% (Reserved) / 35% (Unreserved) required.
🗣️
Selection Stages: Online Examination → Language Proficiency Test (wherever applicable) → Personal Interview.
🎤
Interview: Carries 100 marks; qualifying marks are 45% (Reserved) / 50% (Unreserved).
🏆
Final Merit: Combined score based on Online Exam & Interview in 80:20 weightage ratio.
Exam / Recruitment NameRecruitment of Local Bank Officer (LBO) 2026-27
PostLocal Bank Officer (LBO), JMGS-I
Conducting OrganisationIndian Overseas Bank (IOB) – A Govt. of India Undertaking
Exam ModeOnline Examination (Objective Type)
Selection ProcessOnline Examination → Language Proficiency Test (wherever applicable) → Personal Interview
Total Questions140
Total Marks200
Exam Duration3 Hours (with separate timing per section)
Negative Marking0.25 marks (1/4th) deducted per wrong answer
Sectional Qualifying MarksNot applicable — no sectional cut-off in online exam
Minimum Qualifying Marks (Online Exam)30% (Reserved) / 35% (Unreserved) aggregate
Interview Marks100
Minimum Qualifying Marks (Interview)45% (Reserved) / 50% (Unreserved)
Online Exam : Interview Weightage80:20
Final Selection BasisCombined score, merit list prepared state-wise and category-wise
Official Websitewww.iob.bank.in

IOB LBO Exam Pattern & Selection Process 2026 – Overview

Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) has released the Official Notification for the Recruitment of Local Bank Officer (LBO) 2026-27 (Advt. No. HRDD/RECT/02/2026-27, dated 07.08.2026) inviting online applications against 250 vacancies in JMGS-I. Before appearing for the exam, candidates must clearly understand the official exam pattern, marking scheme and complete selection process.

This article explains the IOB LBO Online Examination pattern, number of questions, maximum marks, exam duration, negative marking, qualifying marks, Language Proficiency Test, Personal Interview and final merit calculation, based entirely on the Official IOB LBO Recruitment Notification 2026-27. Wherever the official notification does not specify a particular detail, this article does not assume or add such information.

Online Examination Pattern

Structure of the Online Examination as per the Official IOB LBO Recruitment Notification 2026-27

As per the official notification, selection is made through an Online Examination consisting of 140 objective type questions under 4 sections, carrying a total of 200 marks. The examination is conducted in English and Hindi, except the English Knowledge section which is conducted in English only.

Section / Topic No. of Questions Maximum Marks Medium of Exam Duration
Reasoning and Computer Aptitude3060English & Hindi60 minutes
General / Economy / Banking Awareness4040English & Hindi30 minutes
Data Analysis and Interpretation3060English & Hindi60 minutes
English Knowledge4040English30 minutes
Total1402003 Hours
Important Note: The Bank reserves the right to modify or alter the structure of the online examination, which will be intimated through the Bank's website. Detailed information regarding the examination will be provided in an Information Handout, available for download along with the call letters from www.iob.bank.in.
IOB LBO Marking Scheme 2026

As per the Official IOB LBO Recruitment Notification 2026-27

  • Negative Marking: There will be a penalty for wrong answers. For each question with a wrong answer, 1/4th (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty to arrive at the corrected score.
  • Unattempted Questions: There shall be no penalty for an unattended (unattempted) question.
  • Sectional Scoring: The official notification does not prescribe sectional qualifying marks — there is no sectional cut-off in the online examination.
  • Overall Scoring: Cumulative marks of all 4 topics — Reasoning and Computer Aptitude, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, Data Analysis and Interpretation, and English Knowledge — are reckoned together for drawing the merit list for shortlisting candidates for the further selection process.
Note: The official notification specifies negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer. No other marking-related detail (such as bonus marks or normalisation formula) is mentioned in the notification, and this article does not assume any such detail.
Exam Duration & Timing

As per the Official IOB LBO Recruitment Notification 2026-27

CriteriaDetails
Total Duration3 Hours
Sectional TimingSeparate timing is prescribed for each of the 4 sections (as listed in the Exam Pattern table above)
Total Sections4
Important Note: The official notification states that the objective test duration is 3 hours "with separate timing for each section as detailed above." The notification does not specify additional details regarding movement between sections, and this article does not assume any such rule.
Qualifying Marks & Cut-off Criteria

Official qualifying criteria as per the Official IOB LBO Recruitment Notification 2026-27

StageQualifying Requirement
Sectional Qualifying Marks (Online Exam)Not applicable — no sectional qualifying marks prescribed
Minimum Qualifying Aggregate (Online Exam) – Reserved Candidates30%
Minimum Qualifying Aggregate (Online Exam) – Unreserved Candidates35%
Minimum Qualifying Marks (Personal Interview) – Reserved Candidates45%
Minimum Qualifying Marks (Personal Interview) – Unreserved Candidates50%
Minimum Aggregate (Online Exam + Interview combined) – Reserved Candidates30%
Minimum Aggregate (Online Exam + Interview combined) – Unreserved Candidates35%
Official Qualifying Criteria vs Expected Cut-off: The figures above are the official qualifying percentage criteria as stated in the notification. The Official IOB LBO Notification 2026-27 does not disclose any specific score-based cut-off marks. This article does not create or estimate any "expected cut-off," since that has not been requested and is not supported by the official notification.

Language Proficiency Test (LPT)

As per the official notification, the candidate must have proficiency (reading, writing and speaking) in the Local Language of the State applied for. Candidates shortlisted for the Personal Interview will be required to qualify the Language Proficiency Test, failing which they will not be allowed to appear for the Personal Interview, and their candidature will not be considered for further selection.

  • Candidates who have not studied the local language of the applied State in 10th or 12th standard must appear for the LPT as part of the selection process, prior to the Personal Interview.
  • Candidates who produce a 10th or 12th standard mark sheet / certificate evidencing that they studied the specified local language as one of the subjects are exempted from the LPT.
  • Candidates who fail to qualify the LPT will not be considered for further selection process.
Personal Interview

As per the Official IOB LBO Recruitment Notification 2026-27

A merit list of candidates, based on marks obtained in the online examination, is prepared in descending order for the respective categories, and candidates must have qualified the LPT (wherever applicable). Candidates securing the minimum qualifying marks in the online examination and LPT (wherever applicable) are called for the Personal Interview based on Bank requirements.

CriteriaDetails
Interview Marks100
Minimum Qualifying Marks – Reserved45%
Minimum Qualifying Marks – Unreserved50%
Interview ModePhysical or Online Mode (Video Conference), at any Centre(s) across India as desired by the Bank
Important Note: Requests for change of Personal Interview date, time, centre or venue will NOT be entertained. The Bank reserves the right to change, add or cancel the date, time, centre or venue of the Personal Interview at its discretion.
IOB LBO Selection Process – Step by Step

As per the Official IOB LBO Recruitment Notification 2026-27

1
Online Examination
140 objective type questions, 200 marks, 3 hours, across 4 sections.
2
Language Proficiency Test (LPT)
Required only for candidates who have not studied the local language of the applied State in 10th/12th standard.
3
Personal Interview
100 marks; conducted for candidates who qualify the Online Exam and LPT (wherever applicable).
4
Document Verification
Candidates must produce original and self-attested photocopies of prescribed documents at the time of Personal Interview.
5
Final Selection
Merit list prepared state-wise and category-wise based on combined score (80:20 weightage); appointment subject to medical fitness and character/antecedent verification.

Final Merit List Preparation

As per the official notification, the final selection is calculated as follows:

  • Weightage Ratio: The weightage ratio of Online Examination and Personal Interview is 80:20 respectively.
  • Minimum Aggregate Score: The minimum aggregate score of the online examination and interview combined will be 30% for reserved categories and 35% for unreserved category candidates.
  • Combined Final Score: The combined final score of candidates is arrived at on the basis of scores obtained in the Online Examination and Personal Interview.
  • Merit List: Selection is made from the top-ranked candidates in the merit list, which is prepared state-wise and category-wise.
  • Post-Selection Conditions: Appointment of selected candidates is subject to their being declared medically fit as per Bank requirements, and upon satisfactory verification of character, antecedents and caste certificates (wherever applicable). Till such verification, the appointment remains provisional.

The official notification does not disclose any normalisation formula or tie-breaking rule for candidates with equal scores; this article does not assume or invent such details.

Important Exam Guidelines

Key points every IOB LBO 2026 candidate should keep in mind

🎯
Mind the Negative Marking
0.25 marks are deducted for every wrong answer — attempt only questions you are reasonably confident about.
⏱️
Respect Sectional Timing
Each of the 4 sections has its own prescribed time limit within the total 3-hour duration.
📊
Aggregate Matters Most
Since there are no sectional qualifying marks, cumulative performance across all 4 sections determines the merit list.
🗣️
Prepare for LPT if Needed
If you haven't studied the local language of your applied State in 10th/12th, be ready for the Language Proficiency Test.
📄
Carry All Documents
Original and self-attested photocopies of all prescribed documents are mandatory at the Personal Interview.
🏦
Bank's Decision is Final
The Bank reserves the right to modify the exam structure or selection procedure, with changes announced on the official website.
Frequently Asked Questions

Common IOB LBO Exam Pattern & Selection Process 2026 questions, answered as per the Official IOB LBO Notification

What is the IOB LBO exam pattern 2026?+
As per the Official IOB LBO Recruitment Notification 2026-27, the Online Examination consists of 140 objective type questions across 4 sections — Reasoning and Computer Aptitude, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, Data Analysis and Interpretation, and English Knowledge — carrying a total of 200 marks, to be completed in 3 hours.
How many questions are there in the IOB LBO exam?+
The IOB LBO Online Examination consists of 140 objective type questions in total, distributed across 4 sections as per the official notification.
What is the total marks for the IOB LBO exam?+
The IOB LBO Online Examination carries a total of 200 marks as per the official notification.
What is the IOB LBO exam duration?+
The total duration of the IOB LBO Online Examination is 3 hours, with separate timing prescribed for each of the 4 sections.
Is there negative marking in the IOB LBO exam?+
Yes. As per the official notification, for each question with a wrong answer, 1/4th (0.25) of the marks assigned to that question will be deducted as penalty. There is no penalty for an unattempted question.
What is the IOB LBO selection process 2026?+
As per the official notification, selection is made through an Online Examination, followed by a Language Proficiency Test (LPT) wherever applicable, and a Personal Interview.
Is there an interview in the IOB LBO selection process?+
Yes. Candidates who qualify the Online Examination and LPT (wherever applicable) are called for a Personal Interview carrying 100 marks.
How is the final merit list prepared for IOB LBO 2026?+
As per the official notification, the weightage ratio of Online Examination and Personal Interview is 80:20. The combined final score is arrived at based on scores in both, and the merit list is prepared state-wise and category-wise, with selection made from the top-ranked candidates.
Is there sectional qualifying criteria in the IOB LBO online exam?+
No. As per the official notification, there is no sectional qualifying marks in the online examination. However, the minimum qualifying aggregate marks is 30% for reserved candidates and 35% for unreserved candidates.
What happens after the IOB LBO online examination?+
Candidates qualifying in the online examination are called for a Language Proficiency Test (LPT), if they have not studied the local language of the applied state in 10th or 12th standard, followed by a Personal Interview for those who qualify.
What is the qualifying percentage for the IOB LBO Personal Interview?+
The minimum qualifying marks in the Personal Interview are 45% for reserved candidates and 50% for unreserved candidates, as per the official notification.
Can the Bank change the IOB LBO exam pattern?+
Yes. The official notification states that the Bank reserves the right to modify or alter the structure of the online examination, and any such change will be intimated through the Bank's website.
Fact-Checked Against Official Notification

📄 Official Source

Author: RajDailyTools Editorial Team
Reviewed By: Banking Exam Research Team
Last Updated: 09 August 2026
Fact Checking: Verified against Official IOB LBO Notification 2026-27
📋 Our Editorial Process: Every fact published on this page — including the exam pattern, marking scheme and selection process — is verified directly from the Official IOB Local Bank Officer Recruitment Notification 2026-27 before publication. Whenever IOB releases a corrigendum, addendum or revised notification, this page is updated after complete verification.

Disclaimer: Candidates should always read the latest Official IOB Notification before applying. RajDailyTools publishes recruitment information only after verification from official sources. If any discrepancy is found, the Official IOB Notification shall prevail.

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Disclaimer: This page is based on the Official Indian Overseas Bank Local Bank Officer (LBO) Recruitment Notification 2026-27 and has been prepared only for educational and informational purposes. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, candidates should always verify the latest exam pattern, marking scheme and selection process details from the official IOB website www.iob.bank.in before appearing for the examination. RajDailyTools is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Indian Overseas Bank or any Government authority. In case of any discrepancy, the Official IOB Notification shall prevail.
🏦 Free IOB Banking Resources

Read the Full IOB LBO Notification 2026-27

Explore complete details of the IOB Local Bank Officer Recruitment 2026-27 including vacancies, eligibility, exam pattern, selection process and application fee on the official IOB careers page.