Agricultural Field Officer - Scale I

The AFO (Agricultural Field Officer, Scale I) recruitment is one of the few government banking exams built specifically for agriculture graduates. Because the process runs across a notification, an application window, revised vacancy figures, and a recently changed exam pattern, most of the confusion candidates face isn't about difficulty it's about keeping every detail in one place. This page brings the complete AFO 2026 recruitment together: notification, eligibility, application steps, exam pattern, syllabus, salary, and where to go for deeper preparation resources.

Latest AFO 2026 Updates

• The AFO 2026 notification was released on 1 July 2026 under CRP SPL-XVI.

• The online application window ran from 1 July to 21 July 2026, with the fee payment deadline later extended to 26 July 2026.

• The initial 190 vacancies were revised upward to 370 through an updated Annexure dated 20 July 2026.

• The Preliminary Examination was conducted on 29 August 2026.

• The Main Examination is scheduled for 1 November 2026.

• The exam pattern has been revised for this cycle: Professional Knowledge is now tested in Prelims, and Mains includes a new Descriptive paper.

Since IBPS periodically issues addenda that revise vacancy numbers and dates, always cross-check the latest figures on the official IBPS website before finalising your preparation timeline.

Official Notification and Application Portal

• Official website: www.ibps.in the only source for the authentic notification PDF, addenda, and updates.

• Application and candidate login portal: CRP SPL-XVI Registration Portal used for registration, application status, and post-exam services such as objection reporting.

Always download the notification directly from ibps.in rather than a third-party copy, since IBPS occasionally issues corrigenda that update specific clauses after the initial release.

AFO 2026 Recruitment Overview

AFO Vacancy 2026

IBPS releases vacancy figures bank-wise and category-wise through the notification and subsequent addenda. Vacancy numbers are tentative until the final post-wise breakup is published, and the total has already moved from 190 to 370 during this cycle. For the confirmed, current bank-wise and category-wise split, refer to the official notification and Annexure on ibps.in, since these figures are updated more frequently than most third-party pages reflect.

How to Apply for AFO 2026

1. Visit the official IBPS website, www.ibps.in, and navigate to the active CRP SPL notification.

2. Complete registration with your basic details, or log in if you already have IBPS One-Time Registration (OTR) credentials.

3. Fill in personal, educational, and category details as required in the application form.

4. Upload the specified photograph, signature, and any other documents mentioned in the notification.

5. Select your participating bank preferences where applicable.

6. Pay the application fee online and download the confirmation page for your records.

AFO Application Fee

Exact fee amounts and any category-wise concessions should always be confirmed from the official notification for the current cycle, since these are subject to revision.

AFO Eligibility Criteria 2026

Educational Qualification

Candidates need a 4-year degree recognised by a University or Institution approved by the Government of India, in one of the following disciplines: Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Veterinary Science, Dairy Science, Fishery Science, Agricultural Marketing and Cooperation, Agro-Forestry, Forestry, Agricultural Biotechnology, Food Science, Agricultural Engineering, Agriculture Business Management, Food Technology, Dairy Technology, or Sericulture, among other allied disciplines listed in the official notification.

Computer Literacy

Since this is a non-IT specialist post, candidates must additionally hold a certificate, diploma, or degree in computer operations or a related language, or have studied Computer Science/Information Technology as a subject at the school or college level.

Nationality

Candidates must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal or Bhutan, a Tibetan refugee who arrived in India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanent settlement, or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from specified countries with the intention of permanently settling in India, subject to the eligibility certificate requirements mentioned in the notification.

AFO Selection Process

The selection process runs across three stages:

• Preliminary Examination: Qualifying in nature; used only to shortlist candidates for Mains.

• Main Examination: Consists of an objective paper and a Descriptive paper; the Professional Knowledge score alone determines Mains merit and interview shortlisting.

• Interview: A Common Interview conducted by participating banks, carrying weightage in the final merit list alongside Mains.

AFO Exam Pattern 2026 (Revised)

Preliminary Exam

Main Exam

Both stages carry a negative marking of 0.25 marks per wrong answer in the objective sections. English, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude in Mains are qualifying only; Professional Knowledge (objective plus descriptive) decides the final merit, and the final list combines Mains and Interview scores in an 80:20 ratio.

For a full breakdown of sectional cut-offs, normalisation, and how the merit list is calculated, see our detailed AFO exam pattern guide.

What Changed From the Previous Exam Pattern

AFO Syllabus

At Prelims, English Language, Reasoning Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude follow a standard banking-exam syllabus, while Professional Knowledge tests foundational agriculture concepts. At Mains, Professional Knowledge goes far deeper into core subjects such as Agronomy, Soil Science, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Genetics, Agricultural Economics, and government schemes linked to agricultural banking. Since Professional Knowledge decides the final result, it deserves the largest share of preparation time.

For the complete subject-wise topic list and weightage breakdown, see our full AFO syllabus guide.

AFO Salary and Job Profile

AFO Cut-Off Trends

Sectional cut-offs vary every cycle based on the number of vacancies, applicant pool, and paper difficulty. Because the exam pattern has changed significantly for the current cycle with a restructured Prelims and an expanded Mains cut-off trends from earlier years are only a rough reference point and should not be used as a direct target. The official cut-off for each stage is released by IBPS along with the respective results on ibps.in.

How to Prepare for AFO

• Cover the syllabus once fully before relying on revision, since Professional Knowledge spans several distinct subjects.

• Practise under the current sectional-timing format from early in your preparation, not just in the final weeks.

• Prioritise Agronomy, Soil Science, and Horticulture, which typically carry the highest weightage within Professional Knowledge.

• Solve previous-year papers to understand real question difficulty and style.

• Take regular, pattern-accurate mock tests and review every attempt by section and subject.

For a complete preparation approach, see our guides on the AFO exam pattern, AFO syllabus, and AFO mock test series.

AFO Result

IBPS releases Prelims and Mains results separately on the official website, typically a few weeks after each exam. Candidates should check ibps.in directly for result PDFs and any subsequent document verification schedule, since result timelines can shift from the initially indicated dates.