Banking

SBI PO 2026

State Bank of India Probationary Officer

SBI PO is one of the most sought-after banking exams in India, conducted by SBI for recruitment of Probationary Officers. Selection is through a three-stage process: Prelims, Mains, and Interview.

Official Website

Age Limit

21-30 years (relaxation: SC/ST +5, OBC +3, PwD +10)

Fee

₹750

Salary Range

₹41,960 - ₹63,840

SBI PO Prelims 2026 (Expected) in

101days

14hrs

50min

Pay Level

JMGS-I

Salary Range (Monthly)

₹41,960 - ₹63,840

Key Posts

Probationary Officer in State Bank of India branches across India

National-level recruitment examination for Probationary Officer posts in State Bank of India

Pay Levels & Salary

Pay Level	Monthly Range
JMGS-I (Junior Management Grade Scale-I)	₹₹48,480 - ₹₹85,920

Application Fee

₹750

General/OBC

Free

SC/ST/Women

Free

PwBD/ESM

Tie-Breaking Rules

Candidate with higher marks in Phase-II (Mains — Objective + Descriptive)
Candidate with higher marks in Phase-II (Mains — Objective only)
Candidate older in age

Start Free Mock Test

Eligibility

Educational Qualification

Bachelor's degree from a recognized university. Final year students can apply.

Age Limit

21-30 years (relaxation: SC/ST +5, OBC +3, PwD +10)

Age Relaxation by Category

Category	Relaxation
General	No relaxation
SC/ST	+5 years
OBC (NCL)	+3 years
PwD	+10 years
Ex-Servicemen	+5 years

Application Fee

Category	Fee
General / OBC / EWS (Male)	₹750
SC / ST / PwD / Ex-Servicemen	Free

Exam Pattern

Prelims

100 Questions60 minsTotal Marks: 100-0.25 per wrong

Section	Questions	Max Marks	Duration
English Language	30	30	20 min
Quantitative Aptitude	35	35	20 min
Reasoning Ability	35	35	20 min

Mains

170 Questions180 minsTotal Marks: 200-0.25 per wrong

Section	Questions	Max Marks	Duration
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	45	60	60 min
Data Analysis & Interpretation	35	60	45 min
General/Economy/Banking Awareness	40	40	35 min
English Language	35	40	40 min

Syllabus

Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
Syllogisms
Coding-Decoding
Blood Relations
Inequality
Data Sufficiency
Direction Sense
Order & Ranking
Input-Output
Statement & Assumption

Posts & Pay Levels

Vacancies

541

Tentative Total

Nationality & Citizenship

✓Citizen of India
✓Subject of Nepal
✓Subject of Bhutan
✓Person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with intention of permanently settling in India

Certificate of Eligibility Required For

• Subject of Nepal
• Subject of Bhutan
• Person of Indian origin from listed countries

Educational Qualification

All Posts (General)

Graduation in any discipline from a recognised University or any equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.

Must possess qualification by: As specified in the notification (typically the last date of registration)

⚠ Candidates must produce valid marks sheet/degree certificate at the time of interview.

Age Limits & Relaxation

Age cutoff date: 2025-04-01

Age Relaxation by Category

Category	Relaxation
SC/ST	5 years (up to 35 years)
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	3 years (up to 33 years)
PwBD (Unreserved)	10 years (up to 40 years)
PwBD (OBC)	13 years (up to 43 years)
PwBD (SC/ST)	15 years (up to 45 years)
Ex-Servicemen / Commissioned Officers (including ECOs/SSCOs)	5 years
Persons ordinarily domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir during 01-01-1980 to 31-12-1989	5 years
Persons affected by 1984 riots	5 years
Widows, Divorced Women and Women judicially separated who are not remarried	Up to 35 years (up to 40 for SC/ST)

Date of birth as recorded in 10th/SSC/Matriculation certificate will be accepted.

Ex-Servicemen (ESM) Rules

Sons/Daughters/DependentsNot eligible

Non-Graduate ESM for Group BNot eligible

Category Certificate Rules

Crucial DateClosing date of online registration

EWS CertificateIncome and Assets certificate issued by competent authority valid for the financial year of the exam.

OBC Creamy LayerOBC certificate must clearly state that the candidate does not belong to the creamy layer.

⚠ Candidature will be cancelled and services terminated if already joined.

How to Apply

Apply viaOnline at https://sbi.co.in/careers

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Application Fee

₹750

General

₹undefined

Women

Free

SC/ST

Free

PwBD

₹undefined

ESM

Payment: Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI

Non-refundable

Correction Window

Opens

Closes

₹

1st Correction

₹

2nd Correction

Max corrections allowed. Latest corrected application treated as valid.

Admission Certificate & Exam Day

PrintoutRequired

Accepted Photo IDs

Aadhaar Card / E-Aadhaar (with photograph)Voter's ID CardDriving LicensePAN CardPassportPhoto ID issued by Gazetted Officer on official letterheadID Card issued by a recognized College/University (with photograph)Employee ID Card (with photograph)Bank Passbook with photograph

Phase-I (Prelims) — Preliminary Examination (Online)

100 Questions100 Marks60 min (80 min with scribe)

+1 per correct−0.25 per wrongSectional timingObjective, Multiple ChoiceEnglish and Hindi

Section	Questions	Marks	Per Q
English Language	40	40	1
Quantitative Aptitude	30	30	1
Reasoning Ability	30	30	1
Total	100	100	1

Phase-II (Mains — Objective) — Main Examination — Objective Test (Online)

170 Questions200 Marks180 min (220 min with scribe)

−0.25 per wrongSectional timingObjective, Multiple ChoiceEnglish and Hindi (except English Language section)

Section	Questions	Marks	Per Q
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	40	60	2
Data Analysis & Interpretation	30	60	2
General / Economy / Banking Awareness	60	60	1
English Language	40	20	1
Total	170	200

Phase-II (Mains — Descriptive) — Main Examination — Descriptive Test (Online)

50 Marks30 min (40 min with scribe)

Descriptive (typed on computer)English only

Section	Marks	Per Q
Essay Writing	Variable (out of 50 total)	—
Letter / Report Writing	Variable (out of 50 total)	—
Situation Analysis / Precis Writing	Variable (out of 50 total)	—
Total	50

Phase-III

50 Marks

Answer Key Policy

Tentative KeyNot released

Fee RefundableNo

Normalization & Re-evaluation

NormalizationApplied if multiple shifts. Purpose: To adjust scores across different shifts to account for difficulty level differences

Minimum Qualifying Marks

Stage	UR	OBC/EWS	SC/ST/Others
prelims
phase III
mains Objective
mains Descriptive

Shortlisting & Merit Rules

Prelims To Mains

Category-wise shortlisting from Prelims. Approximately 10x vacancies shortlisted for Mains.

Final Merit Basis

75 (normalized Mains) + 25 (normalized Phase-III consisting of Group Exercise + Interview) = 100

Mains To Phase III

Candidates shortlisted for Phase-III based on aggregate Mains score (Objective + Descriptive). Approximately 3x vacancies.

Post Preference Rules

Taken ViaNot applicable — single bank (SBI) recruitment

EditableNo

NatureCandidates may indicate preference for Circle/Zone but SBI's decision is final.

Scribe & Compensatory Time

Extra Time20 minutes per hour of examination

Own ScribeAllowed

Opt-inMust opt during application form

Scribe Requirements

• Scribe should be from an academic stream different from that of the candidate
• Scribe should have obtained less marks than the candidate in their own graduation/equivalent exam
• The same scribe cannot be used by more than one candidate
• Both the candidate and the scribe will have to give a suitable undertaking
• If subsequently it is found that scribe qualification is not as declared, candidature of both candidate and scribe will be cancelled

Document Verification

Conducted ByState Bank of India at the time of Phase-III / joining

Required Documents

Printout of online application form
Proof of Date of Birth (Birth Certificate or 10th Marksheet/Certificate)
Graduation Certificate and Marksheets (all semesters/years)
Category Certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) if applicable
PwBD Certificate if applicable
Photo ID proof (Aadhaar/Passport/Voter ID/Driving License/PAN Card)
Address proof
NOC from current employer if already employed in government/PSU/bank
Ex-Serviceman Discharge Certificate if applicable
Experience Certificate if applicable
Recent passport-size photographs
Any other document as specified by SBI

Tie-Breaking Rules

1Candidate with higher marks in Phase-II (Mains — Objective + Descriptive)
2Candidate with higher marks in Phase-II (Mains — Objective only)
3Candidate older in age

Misconduct & Debarment

Post-exam Analysis Methods

CCTV footage reviewBiometric verificationDocument verificationHandwriting analysis

Offense	Debarment
Impersonation or procuring impersonation by any person	Permanent ban / criminal prosecution
Submitting fabricated documents or false information	Permanent ban / criminal prosecution
Obtaining support for candidature by irregular or improper means	3-5 years
Using unfair means during examination	3-5 years
Possession of mobile phone, bluetooth devices, electronic gadgets in exam hall	3-5 years
Misbehaviour with exam staff or fellow candidates	1-3 years
Tampering with answer sheets or question papers	Permanent ban
Attempting to hack or manipulate examination systems	Permanent ban / criminal prosecution

⚠ Cases may be referred to police or investigating agencies.

Public Disclosure Policy

Disqualification Rule

A candidate who has been debarred by SBI or any other banking authority from appearing in any examination/recruitment shall not be eligible. Candidates found guilty of misconduct may be debarred from future exams.

Important Warnings

⚠Candidates should ensure they fulfil the eligibility criteria as on the date specified. Admission at all stages is purely provisional.

⚠SBI PO has a unique Phase-III with Psychometric Test (qualifying) + Group Exercise + Interview.

⚠Final merit = 75 (Mains) + 25 (Phase-III). Strong interview preparation is essential.

⚠Descriptive paper carries 50 marks — significantly higher than IBPS PO (25 marks). Prepare Essay, Letter, Report and Precis writing.

⚠Candidates selected must execute a bond to serve SBI for a minimum period. Breaking the bond attracts penalty.

⚠Candidates may be posted anywhere in India. SBI's decision on posting is final.

⚠Any attempt to use unfair means will result in debarment from all future SBI examinations.

⚠Decision of SBI in all matters relating to recruitment will be final and binding.

2025 Cycle — Complete Timeline

Year2025

⚠ All dates are tentative and subject to change.

Vacancies

Total541

Per-post breakdown not yet published.

Previous Year Cut-Offs

No cut-off data available yet.

Important Dates — 2026

Event	Date	Status
SBI PO Prelims 2026 (Expected)(Tentative)	1 Aug 2026	Upcoming
SBI PO Mains 2026 (Expected)(Tentative)	12 Sept 2026	Upcoming