Introduction:
The IBPS PO Exam is conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) to recruit probationary officers in various banks across India. The exam is highly competitive, and candidates are categorized into two groups - General category and Reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC/PwD).

Difference in Cutoff:
The cutoff marks for the IBPS PO Exam differ for the General category and Reserved categories. The cutoff marks are the minimum marks required by a candidate to qualify for the next stage of the selection process, such as the mains exam and interview. The cutoff marks are determined based on various factors, including the number of vacancies, the difficulty level of the exam, and the performance of the candidates.

Higher Cutoff for General Category:
In general, the cutoff marks for the General category are higher compared to the Reserved categories in the IBPS PO Exam. This is because the General category has a larger pool of candidates competing for a limited number of vacancies. Therefore, the competition is tougher, and candidates need to score higher marks to secure a place in the merit list.

Reservation Policy:
The Reserved categories in the IBPS PO Exam include Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Persons with Disabilities (PwD). These categories have certain reservations in terms of the number of vacancies available. The purpose of reservation is to provide equal opportunities to candidates from marginalized sections of society.

Normalization Process:
To ensure fairness in the selection process, the IBPS follows a normalization process while calculating the cutoff marks. This process takes into account the difficulty level of the exam across different shifts and ensures that candidates are not disadvantaged due to the variation in the difficulty level.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the cutoff marks for the General category are generally higher compared to the Reserved categories in the IBPS PO Exam. This is due to the higher competition in the General category, where a larger number of candidates compete for a limited number of vacancies. However, it is important to note that the cutoff marks may vary from year to year depending on various factors.