IBPS Exam Calendar comes out in the month of January every year with the exam dates details of IBPS RRB Clerk (Prelims & Mains), IBPS RRB PO/Officer Scale I (Prelims & Mains), IBPS RRB Officer Scale II & III (Single Exam), IBPS PO (Prelims & Mains), IBPS Clerk (Prelims & Mains) & IBPS SO (Prelims & Mains). Banking aspirants can easily observe that on the clerical level there are only 2 posts: IBPS RRB Office Assistant (also known as IBPS RRB Clerk or simply RRB Clerk) and IBPS Clerk. Some aspirants have confusion between these 2 profiles which is why we are dedicating this article to clarify the difference between these 2 profiles. Have a look at the multiple comparison factors:
IBPS Clerk 2021 Detailed Notification 2021 has been released just a couple of days back and has been retracted this morning. Read: Is IBPS Clerk 2021 Cancelled by Finance Ministry? IBPS Removes Notification from Website. Talking about IBPS RRB Clerk Detailed Notification, it is published in the name of IBPS RRB notification and also includes the details of RRB PO. IBPS RRB 2021 Detailed Notification has already been released on June 7, 2021.
The number of vacancies for IBPS RRB Office Assistant this year is 6,888 which is more than the 2020 vacancies which were 5,950. Talking about IBPS Clerk 2021 Notification, the number of vacancies this year are 5,830. The number of vacancies in 2020 was 11,463.
This is an important factor as not complying with this may result in the cancellation of your candidature. For RRB Clerk, the required education qualification is a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized University or its equivalent. Also, proficiency in the local language is required as prescribed by the participating RRBs and working knowledge of computer is desirable.
Coming to IBPS Clerk, a degree (graduation) in any discipline from a University recognised by the Govt. Of India or any equivalent qualification recognized as such by the Central Government is required and operating and working knowledge in computer systems is mandatory. Proficiency in the Official Language of the State/UT (candidates should know how to read/ write and speak the Official Language of the State/UT) for which vacancies a candidate wishes to apply is preferable.
For IBPS RRB Clerk, the minimum age limit is 18 years and the maximum age limit is 28 years. This age will be decided as on July 1, 2021. Age relaxation of 5 & 3 years is there for SC/ST & OBC respectively. Coming to IBPS Clerk, the minimum age you should be of 20 years and the maximum age you should have is 28 years. Age relaxation of 5 & 3 years is there for SC/ST & OBC respectively here also. So it can be clearly seen that aspirants can start applying for RRB Clerk 2 years in advance.
The selection procedure of IBPS RRB Office Assistant comprises of Prelims exam and Mains exam. Those who clear Prelims exam get entry to appear for the Mains exam. This is same for IBPS Clerk as well. To clear IBPS Clerk, you need to clear Prelims and Mains exam. Let’s have a look at the details of Prelims & Mains exams of both the profiles:
| S. No. | Section | Medium of Exam | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | Reasoning | * | 40 | 40 | Composite Time of 45 minutes |
| 2 | Numerical Ability | * | 40 | 40 | |
| Total | 80 | 80 |
Note:
| S. No. | Name of Tests | No. of Questions | Max Marks | Time alloted for each test (separately timed) |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 mins |
| 2 | Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 mins |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 mins |
There is a vast difference between the Prelims exam pattern of RRB Clerk & IBPS Clerk. RRB Clerk has only 2 sections whereas IBPS Clerk has the extra section of English Language. Accordingly, the total number of questions and the time alloted are also different. The common factors are:
| S. No. | Section | Medium of Exam | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | Reasoning | * | 40 | 50 | Composite Time of 2 hours |
| 2 | Computer Knowledge | * | 40 | 20 | |
| 3 | General Awareness | * | 40 | 40 | |
| 4 a* | English Language | English | 40 | 40 | |
| 4 b* | Hindi Language | Hindi | 40 | 40 | |
| 5 | Numerical Ability | * | 40 | 50 | |
| Total | 200 | 200 | 2 hours |
Note:
| Sr. No. | Name of Tests (NOT BY SEQUENCE) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time allotted for each test (Separately timed) |
| 1 | General/Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| 2 | General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| 4 | Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 160 minutes |
Like in RRB Clerk Prelims, there is an extra section of Computer Awareness in RRB Clerk Mains exam as well. There is a section called Reasoning and Computer Aptitude in IBPS Clerk but it’s completely different from Computer Awareness. Because of the extra section, RRB Clerk Mains has 200 questions of 200 marks and the time allowed is 120 minutes; on the other hand, IBPS Clerk Mains has 190 questions of 20 marks which need to be answered in 160 minutes. Also, for RRB Clerk Mains, the medium of exam (except English Language/Hindi Language) is dependent on the state from which an aspirant intends to take the test. Whereas in IBPS Clerk Mains, the available medium of exam is only English & Hindi (except the General English section).
The application fee for an RRB Office Assistant is Rs.175/- for SC/ST/PWBD/EXSM candidates and Rs.850/- for all others. When it comes to IBPS Clerk 2021, the application fee is Rs. 175 (inclusive of GST) for SC/ST/PWBD/EXSM candidates & Rs. 850 (inclusive of GST) for others.
Both the exams are conducted for recruitment to different types of organizations. While RRB Office Assistant is for RRBs (Regional Rural Banks), IBPS Clerk is for PSBs (Public Sector Banks). To help you understand it better, we providing a list of the RRBs and PSBs which have participated in the recruitment of RRB Clerk and IBPS Clerk respectively.
| Regional Rural Banks (IBPS RRB Clerk) | Public Sector Banks (IBPS Clerk) |
| Andhra Pradesh Grameena Vikas Bank | BANK OF BARODA |
| Andhra Pragathi Gramin Bank | BANK OF INDIA |
| Arunachal Pradesh Rural Bank | BANK OF MAHARASHTRA |
| Aryavart Bank | CANARA BANK |
| Assam Gramin Vikash Bank | CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA |
| Bangiya Gramin Vikash Bank | INDIAN BANK |
| Baroda Gujarat Gramin Bank | INDIAN OVERSEAS BANK |
| Baroda Rajasthan Kshetriya Gramin Bank | PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK |
| Baroda U P Bank | PUNJAB & SIND BANK |
| Chaitanya Godavari Grameena Bank | UCO BANK |
| Chhattisgarh Rajya Gramin Bank | UNION BANK OF INDIA |
| Dakshin Bihar Gramin Bank | |
| Ellaquai Dehati Bank | |
| Himachal Pradesh Gramin Bank | |
| J & K Grameen Bank | |
| Jharkhand Rajya Gramin Bank | |
| Karnataka Gramin Bank | |
| Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank | |
| Kerala Gramin Bank | |
| Madhya Pradesh Gramin Bank | |
| Madhyanchal Gramin Bank | |
| Maharashtra Gramin Bank | |
| Manipur Rural Bank | |
| Meghalaya Rural Bank | |
| Mizoram Rural Bank | |
| Nagaland Rural Bank | |
| Odisha Gramya Bank | |
| Paschim Banga Gramin Bank | |
| Prathama UP Gramin Bank | |
| Puduvai Bharathiar Grama Bank | |
| Punjab Gramin Bank | |
| Rajasthan Marudhara Gramin Bank | |
| Saptagiri Grameena Bank | |
| Sarva Haryana Gramin Bank | |
| Saurashtra Gramin Bank | |
| Tamil Nadu Grama Bank | |
| Telangana Grameena Bank |
The payscale of IBPS RRB Office Assistant is 7200- 400/3- 8400- 500/3- 9900- 600/4- 12300- 700/7- 17200- 1300/1- 18500- 800/1- 19300. In-hand salary will be around Rs 18,000 – 20,000 including allowances like Dearness allowance (DA), City Compensatory allowance (CCA) and House Rent allowance (HRA) etc.
On the other hand, payscale of an IBPS Clerk is 11765 – 655/3- 13730- 815/3- 16175- 980/4- 20095- 1145/7- 28110- 2120/1- 30230- 1310/1- 31540. In-hand salary will be around Rs 19,000 – 22,000 inclusive of allowances like House Rent Allowance, Dearness Allowance, Medical Allowance, Travel Allowance, Special Allowance & Transport Allowance.
Since both are clerical level jobs, the basic nature of job is almost similar. We are providing some generic responsibilities of both RRB Clerk as well as IBPS Clerk below:
| Responsibilities of an RRB Clerk | Responsibilities of an IBPS Clerk |
| -To manage withdrawals such as paying out cash of withdrawal cheques, forms etc. -Being the first point of contact between the bank and the customers they operate at the bank counters -Responsible for answering customers queries -Responsible for handling documents related with all transactions -To issue new debit cards Some office assistants work in multiple departments depending upon the banks needs.To handle emails on behalf of the bank | -To Verify Banking Documents -To Man Single Window Counter task time to time -To issue Cash Receipts and ESI Stamps at Counters -To attend Government Treasury Work -To update Passbooks -To perform back-office works like a collection of receipts, maintenance of ledger, balance tally etc. -To sanction withdrawals, verify cheques, issue demand drafts (as per request) and other services to the customers. -To keep the bank cash, bank keys, and other valuables in safe custody and others. -To market financial products of the bank such as deposits, loans, and schemes to visitors. |
An RRB Clerk will mostly get posted to rural areas as Regional Rural Banks are located mostly there only. Coming to IBPS Clerk, s/he can be posted anywhere in the country.
To conclude & to decide which is better amongst RRB Clerk & IBPS Clerk, it really depends on you. If your English section is not good, you can opt for RRB Clerk Prelims which doesn’t have any English section. But, be informed that in Mains the English section is there and you need to clear its cut-off to be in the final merit list. On the other hand, if you prefer urban location for your posting & a slightly better salary, you can opt for IBPS Clerk but there are chances that you can get rural posting as well. When it comes to responsibilities, IBPS Clerk might have to do some cross-selling (marketing) as well. So consider all these factors before making a decision.
This is all from us in this article. If you have any feedback/input for us, let us know in the comments section below. Wishing you good luck with your preparation!
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