Introduction
- Every year, the Institute of Banking Personel Selection (IBPS) issues notification for various job posts for recruitment in different Public Sector Banks.
- The recruitment for the IBPS Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) is done through online registration.
- Candidates who wish to seek the IBPS AFO post must attempt the online computerized exam that shall include two papers, namely; IBPS Preliminary Exam and IBPS AFO Mains Exam.
- Candidates must prepare well for the exam as there is negative marking applicable to the exam. Moreover, the job of AFO is a golden opportunity for those who wish to have a successful career ahead.
IBPS AFO is a Scale 1 Specialist Officer who is responsible for lending and disbursing agricultural loans.
- The candidates who wish to appear in the IBPS Bank Probationary Officer (PO) exam have to compete with millions for the post of Scale 1 officer. The Competition is narrowed down to mere thousands while attempting for IBPS AFO.
- Since the Job Post of IBPS AFO has less Competition, the Cut-off Marks for the Same are also Low.
IBPS AFO Career Progression - Salary Structure :
Pay Scale
- The Basic Pay Salary of an AFO under the Junior Management Grade Scale – I is similar to that of the Probationary Officers. The Basic Salary is INR 23700-980(7) – 30560 – 1145(2) – 32850 – 1310 (7) – 42020.
- Basic pay : Excluding all the Benefits the Basic Salary paid to the Specialist officers IBPS AFO is INR 23700.
- Dearness Allowance (DA): Dearness allowance is the cost of living out of the Basic Salary that an employee receives. The Bank Provides it. Presently, the amount of DA allotted to IBPS AFO is INR 8605.88.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA): House Rent Allowance is the expenses incurred on the Accommodation by the employee. It is provided as per the city of residence of the employee. HRA shall vary at 9 percent, 8 percent, or 7 percent, depending upon the place of posting.
- City Compensation Allowance (CCA): CCA is provided to meet the cost of living for the employees who work in the metropolitan cities. CCA shall vary between 4 percent, 3 percent, or sometimes zero depending upon the place of posting.
- Other allowances: Employees are also entitled to benefits like medical coverage, newspaper, conveyance allowance, travel allowance, furniture allowance, and so on.
At the time of appointment, the Agriculture Field Officer is on the Scale 1 Junior Management Grade. After this, there are a lot of career growth opportunities that AFO’s generally receive in this field.
Hard work can bring AFO’s to achieve the following posts :
Once the candidate is selected as AFO, various opportunities shall help the candidate grow.
- 1. Junior Management Grade Scale – I: Officer
2. Middle Management Grade Scale - II: Manager
3. Middle Management Grade Scale – III: Senior Manager
4. Senior Management Grade Scale – IV: Chief Manager
5. Senior Management Grade Scale – V: Assistant General Manager
6. Top Management Grade Scale – VI: Deputy General Manager
7. Top Management Grade Scale – VII: General Manager
Although there are various posts that AFO's can move on to, growth shall depend upon the different parameters. The parameters that are considered for promotion of IBPS AFO are :
All of the parameters mentioned above shall be considered for promoting any specialist officer to a higher post under the more top management grade.
The banks have different promotional policies as well as channels of promotions that shall depend upon the number of vacancies and the business requirements of the banks.
All of the parameters mentioned above have been stated in general. The banks might consider only some of them or all for promotions
- Merit or performance,
- Length of service,
- Seniority,
- Educational and professional qualification
- Documents required for IBPS AFO Interview, and
- Performance in the promotional process or the written test, group discussion, and the interview (at the time of selection).
List of Abbreviations :
| Short Form | Full Form |
|---|---|
| IBPS | Institute of Banking Personel Selection |
| AFO | Agriculture Field Officer |
| PO | Probationary Officer |
| INR | Indian Rupees |
| DA | Dearness Allowance |
| HRA | House Rent Allowance |
| CCA | City Compensation Allowance |