Institute of Banking personnel Selection (IBPS), an autonomous body which conducts competitive exams for the recruitment of bank officers and clerks for the public sector banks, plans to conduct 5 common exams every year.

The institute proposes that separate exams should be conducted for clerks as well as for officers respectively during a year and one separate exam to judge candidates for the post of specialist officers should be held, said Director, Mr M. Balachandran.

The common tests prepared by IBPS has served the purpose for the banks as they will be able to get the best out of a larger pool of candidates and from the candidates point of view it will spare them from the discomfort of taking a separate exams for every bank.

The scores generated are valid for a period of one year and in that duration a candidate can apply at the banks for which they are eligible. The other benefit of the exam is that it will pace up the recruitment process.