IBPS Conducting Multiple Exams On Same Day, Need to Change Exam Dates

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has scheduled its PO Mains Exam 2024 on 30 November 2024, which coincides with the NICL Assistant Preliminary Examination on the same date. Multiple important exams on the same day, leading to widespread frustration among aspirants. This overlap creates a significant challenge for candidates preparing for various banking roles, who are now forced to choose between exams. The decision has drawn attention due to its impact on candidates’ preparation, logistics and overall in this competitive exam environment.

Multiple Exams On Same Day

According to the current exam calendar, several crucial exams are set to clash on the same day, not only with IBPS-conducted exams but also with other important government recruitment exams. Below is a breakdown of key clashes:

Past instances also show similar scheduling issues:

Candidate Concerns and Demands Regarding Exam Date

The overlapping exam dates have sparked concern among aspirants who have been preparing to secure government jobs. Many candidates often attempt multiple banking or other exams to maximize their chances of success, and this sudden clash is seen as a setback. For instance, a candidate may be preparing for both the IBPS PO Prelims and the NABARD Grade A Mains exams, which are scheduled on the same day (20 October 2024), forcing them to choose between the two.

Impact on Preparation

The clash of exam dates is more than just a scheduling inconvenience—it has a effect on aspirants’ preparation and planning. Different exams, such as IBPS PO and NABARD Grade A, require varied preparation strategies. While the IBPS PO focuses heavily on reasoning, quantitative aptitude and the English language, the NABARD exam emphasizes topics related to agriculture and rural development. A candidate preparing for both exams will struggle to focus on either exam properly if forced to sit for both on the same day.

Call for Action: Reschedule Exams

Candidates are urging IBPS and other government bodies to reconsider their exam schedules and avoid such clashes in the future. While the pressure of conducting multiple large-scale exams is understandable, aspirants ask that the scheduling should take into account the reality that many candidates apply for and prepare for multiple exams at once. A simple rescheduling, such as moving the IBPS PO Mains or NICL Assistant Prelims exam by a week, could resolve this issue and ensure that candidates have a fair opportunity to appear for all exams they’ve prepared for.

The overlapping exam schedules for IBPS and other government recruitment exams are creating a significant problem for aspirants. With multiple critical exams such as IBPS PO, Clerk and SO Prelims, alongside others like NABARD, RBI Grade B and NIACL exams, being scheduled on the same dates, candidates are left in a difficult situation. A prompt decision by IBPS and other recruitment authorities to reschedule these exams could reduce the stress and ensure that candidates do not miss out on any crucial opportunity to secure a job.