As most of you are aware that , IBPS has made a change in the recruitment process of Probationary Officers and Clerical Cadres from 2015 onwards. With reference to these changes, many posts and queries can be seen throughout the web. Why IBPS has changed the pattern of its main recruitment exams (i.e IBPS Clerk and IBPS PO)? What are the implications for these changes on an individual's preparation?

Why IBPS had to change its pattern from single Common Written Examination(CWE) into Two written exams? IBPS is envisioned as self-governed academic and research oriented Institute, with a mission of enhancing human-resource development through personnel assessment. In 2011, IBPS announced a Common Written Examination (CWE) for the selection of Officers and Clerks in PSU(Public Sector Undertaking) banks. Whereas, earlier the scenario was completely different. The candidates had to give exams for each bank separately in almost every week or month. Same candidates, used to get selected in all banks and a whole lot of deserving candidates kept on waiting for their turn.

Since the time, IBPS has taken up the task of conducting a combined written exam for all 22 PSU Banks (except SBI and its Associate Banks), the recruitment process is evolving and maturing year after year. Most of the issues, faced in earlier system have been taken care of - including conduct of exams online, overcoming the risk of paper leakage and fast result compilation, no duplicacy of selected candidates in various banks etc.

Besides this, there are still few issues which are being faced by IBPS. One of them is - IMPERSONATION i.e. someone other than the real candidate (who is actually going to join the bank) gives the exams/interview on behalf of real candidates.

So, the changes in the pattern will have following implications:

1. Examination will be conducted in two levels, this will ensure that there is no randomness in the selection process i.e. the person has to qualify both the stages to reach interview stage.

2. Tier I will be an easier examination and more number of candidates can easily qualify this stage. Difficulty level in tier II will be high. So, by including both kind of examinations, it will be ensured that the candidates, who can handle both kinds of situations are qualified. Moreover, there is no chance of any discrepancy.

3. Tier II exam will include bio-metric identification i.e. at the time of entering the examination hall, you will be required to undergo bio-metric identification - i.e. scanning of your thumb impression or finger scanning etc. Same scanning will happen at the time of interview stage and at the time of joining the bank.

4. Tier I exams will be of qualifying nature and its score will not be added while preparing for final merit list. Only Tier II marks and Interview score will be considered for the preparation of final merit list. The whole process will ensure that only the genuine, deserving and best candidates get selected for these posts.

Implications on preparation for bank exams:
There is no implication of the these changes on sincere and hard working candidates, but, the people looking for a backdoor entry should be really worried now. Apart from this, now the process will have two stages - Tier I (the easier one) and Tier II (the tougher one), candidates should study more holistically. Now, only shortcuts will not suffice, candidates need to have in-dept knowledge of all the subjects. So, one should start a serious preparation now. The two stages or levels of examination are just to ensure that the best one gets the job.
ALL THE BEST!