IBPS AFO/SO (Agriculture Field Officer & Specialist Officer) Full Detail Syllabus & Exam Pattern
Prepare for your exam with the latest official syllabus, detailed topic-wise breakdown, and mark distribution.
The IBPS Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) and Specialist Officer (SO) examination is a national-level competitive recruitment process conducted for selecting eligible candidates into public sector banks for specialist roles. Among these, the Agriculture Field Officer post is highly sought after by graduates in Agriculture and allied disciplines. The examination evaluates candidates on reasoning ability, quantitative aptitude, English language, general awareness with special reference to banking, and in-depth professional knowledge related to agriculture. The selection process generally consists of three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Interview. While the prelims test basic aptitude skills, the mains exam focuses heavily on professional knowledge. A thorough understanding of core agricultural subjects such as Agronomy, Horticulture, Soil Science, Plant Pathology, Entomology, Genetics, and Agricultural Economics is essential to qualify.
Exam Overview
| Conducting Body | Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Post Name | Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) & Specialist Officer |
| Mode of Exam | Online (Computer Based Test) |
| Stages | Prelims, Mains, Interview |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture / Allied Discipline |
Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | 50 | 50 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 |
| English Language | 50 | 50 |
| Total | 150 | 150 |
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Knowledge | 60 | 60 |
| Total | 60 | 60 |
Subject-wise Syllabus
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• Reading Comprehension 8-10 Qs
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• Error Spotting 5 Qs
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• Cloze Test 5 Qs
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• Para Jumbles 5 Qs
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• Fill in the Blanks 5 Qs
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• Puzzles & Seating Arrangement 15-20 Qs
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• Syllogism 5 Qs
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• Coding-Decoding 5 Qs
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• Inequality 5 Qs
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• Blood Relation 5 Qs
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• Simplification 10 Qs
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• Number Series 5 Qs
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• Data Interpretation 15 Qs
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• Profit & Loss 5 Qs
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• Time & Work 5 Qs
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• Agronomy 5-6 Qs
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• Soil Science 5-6 Qs
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• Plant Breeding & Genetics 5-6 Qs
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• Horticulture 5-6 Qs
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• Plant Pathology 5-6 Qs
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• Entomology 5-6 Qs
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• Agricultural Economics 4-5 Qs
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• Extension Education 4-5 Qs
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• Animal Husbandry 4-5 Qs
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• Current Developments in Agriculture 4-5 Qs
Mock Test Series
Recommended Books
| Book Name | Author/Publisher | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Objective Agriculture | S.R. Kantwa | High |
| General Agriculture | Raghurami Reddy | High |
| IBPS AFO Guide | Arihant Experts | High |
| Quantitative Aptitude | R.S. Aggarwal | Medium |
| English Language | Wren & Martin | Medium |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer.
Yes, candidates qualifying mains must appear for interview.
Yes, if they produce proof of qualification at joining time.
Professional Knowledge in Mains exam.
Yes, both sectional and overall cutoffs apply.







