Statistical overview on banking exams

Statistical overview on banking exams

A statistical overview of banking exams in India highlights key aspects such as the number of applicants, success rates, vacancies, and trends over recent years. These statistics provide valuable insights into the competitiveness, popularity, and opportunities offered by the banking sector. Below is a statistical breakdown based on recent data from major banking exams.

1. Number of Applicants

• IBPS Exams (PO, Clerk, SO, RRB):
• Approximately 1.5 to 2 crore candidates apply for IBPS exams each year, covering various roles like PO, Clerk, and Specialist Officer.
• In the 2023 IBPS PO exam, over 8 lakh candidates appeared for the Prelims.
• For the IBPS Clerk 2022 exam, nearly 10 lakh candidates registered.
• IBPS RRB (Regional Rural Banks) exams see participation of around 10 lakh candidates annually.
• SBI Exams (PO, Clerk, SO):
• For SBI PO 2023, over 9 lakh candidates registered for the Prelims.
• For SBI Clerk 2022, more than 15 lakh applicants appeared for the exam.
• RBI Exams (Grade B, Assistant):
• The RBI Grade B 2022 exam saw around 3.5 lakh registrations, while the RBI Assistant exam attracted over 2 lakh applicants.
• NABARD Exams (Grade A, B):
• Approximately 2 lakh candidates apply for NABARD exams each year.

2. Vacancies

• IBPS PO:
• In 2023, IBPS PO had approximately 4,000 vacancies across public sector banks.
• Over the years, vacancies range from 3,000 to 5,000 for IBPS PO positions.
• IBPS Clerk:
• The IBPS Clerk 2023 exam offered around 4,500 vacancies.
• Typically, vacancies fluctuate between 4,000 to 8,000 for clerical positions.
• SBI PO:
• SBI PO 2023 notified around 2,000 vacancies.
• The number of vacancies for SBI PO ranges from 2,000 to 2,500 in most years.
• SBI Clerk:
• SBI Clerk 2022 announced around 5,000 vacancies.
• RBI Grade B:
• The RBI Grade B 2023 recruitment offered around 291 vacancies.
• NABARD Grade A:
• NABARD’s Grade A exam in 2022 had around 170 vacancies.

3. Success Rates

• IBPS PO:
• Given the high number of applicants and limited vacancies, the success rate for IBPS PO is approximately 1% to 2%.
• In 2023, with around 4,000 vacancies and close to 9 lakh candidates, the success rate was around 0.5%.
• SBI PO:
• For SBI PO, the success rate is generally 0.3% to 0.5% due to high competition.
• With 2,000 vacancies and 9 lakh applicants in 2023, the success rate was around 0.22%.
• IBPS Clerk:
• The success rate for IBPS Clerk is slightly higher than PO, around 1% to 2%, given the larger number of vacancies.
• RBI Grade B:
• RBI Grade B is one of the toughest exams, with a success rate of around 0.1% to 0.2%.

4. Gender Representation

• Female Applicants:
• Around 40% to 45% of candidates for banking exams are women.
• Female candidates often perform well, particularly in exams like IBPS Clerk and SBI Clerk, where the number of women hired is relatively high.
• Reservation:
• Around 20% to 25% of vacancies are reserved for various categories like SC, ST, OBC, and economically weaker sections (EWS).

5. Geographical Representation

• Urban vs Rural:
• A significant proportion of candidates, approximately 65%, come from urban areas, given better access to coaching centers and resources.
• RRB exams see a larger rural representation, with around 50% of candidates hailing from rural regions, given the nature of the job roles in regional rural banks.
• State-Wise Representation:
• States like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan contribute the highest number of candidates for banking exams.

6. Cut-Off Trends

• IBPS PO:
• In the IBPS PO 2022 exam, the Prelims cut-off for the General category was around 47-50 marks out of 100.
• Mains cut-off was around 75-85 marks out of 225.
• SBI PO:
• SBI PO 2022 Prelims cut-off for the General category was around 58-62 marks out of 100, while Mains was around 85-95 marks out of 250.

7. Selection Process Timeline

• Prelims to Final Selection:
• Typically, the selection process from the date of notification to final joining takes about 6 to 8 months. This includes Prelims, Mains, Interviews (where applicable), and the final merit list declaration.
• IBPS PO and Clerk:
• The entire process, from Prelims to final joining, takes about 8 months.
• SBI PO:
• SBI PO has a faster recruitment cycle, usually completed in 6 to 7 months.

8. Growth in Digital Applications

• Online Registrations:
• Over the years, there has been a 15% to 20% increase in the number of candidates registering online for banking exams. Digital platforms and mobile applications have made exam preparation and registration more accessible, especially in semi-urban and rural areas.

9. Coaching Industry

• The banking exam coaching industry is a multi-billion rupee sector in India. It is estimated that more than 50 lakh candidates enroll in coaching programs (both online and offline) each year to prepare for banking exams.
• Online Learning: There has been a significant rise in the use of online learning platforms, with 30% to 40% of banking exam aspirants opting for online coaching, test series, and study material in recent years.

Conclusion

Banking exams in India continue to be highly competitive, attracting millions of aspirants every year due to the attractive salary, job security, and growth opportunities. The success rates remain low due to the high number of applicants compared to the limited vacancies, but with diligent preparation, these exams provide a gateway to a stable and rewarding career in the banking sector.