SBI PO Mains Exam Date 2026 Out, Check Official Shift & Schedule

The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced the SBI PO Mains Exam Date 2026. The SBI PO Mains Exam is scheduled to be conducted on 12 September 2026. The recruitment drive is being conducted for 1,500 Probationary Officer posts under Advertisement No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09. The Mains examination is the second stage of the selection process, followed by the Psychometric Test, Group Exercise and Interview.

SBI PO Mains Exam Date 2026

The SBI PO Mains Exam 2026 is scheduled for 12 September 2026. The official SBI PO recruitment notification had initially mentioned September 2026 for the Phase II examination, while the 12 September date is now being reported for the Mains exam. Candidates who qualify the SBI PO Prelims is now eligible to appear for the Mains examination. The SBI PO Mains Call Letter 2026 will provide the candidate-specific details, including the examination centre, reporting time and other exam-day instructions.

SBI PO Mains Exam Date 2026 : Overview

SBI PO 2026 Exam Schedule

The SBI PO 2026 recruitment process consists of three phases. The official notification initially provided a tentative timeline for each stage. The Preliminary Examination was scheduled for August, the Main Examination for September, and Phase III for October/November 2026.

SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026

The SBI PO Mains examination consists of an Objective Test followed by a Descriptive Test. The objective section tests candidates across Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness and English Language.

The objective test carries 200 marks, while the descriptive test carries 30 marks. The objective examination has separate timings for different sections, making time management an important part of the Mains strategy.

SBI PO Mains Objective Test

SBI PO Mains Descriptive Test

The Descriptive Test is conducted after the Objective Test and carries 30 marks. Candidates are assessed on their written communication skills through tasks such as letter writing and essay writing. The descriptive section should not be ignored during preparation because candidates need to manage both content and time effectively.

SBI PO Mains Selection Process 2026

The SBI PO selection process is conducted in three phases:

1. Phase I – Preliminary Examination: Candidates first appear for the online Preliminary Examination. The marks obtained in Prelims are used for shortlisting candidates for the Mains stage.
2. Phase II – Main Examination: Shortlisted candidates appear for the Objective and Descriptive Tests. The performance in Mains plays a major role in determining candidates who move to the next stage.
3. Phase III – Psychometric Test, Group Exercise and Interview: Candidates shortlisted after Mains appear for the final selection stage. The official notification states that the final merit is prepared using the prescribed weightage of Phase II and Phase III scores.

SBI PO Mains Admit Card 2026

The SBI PO Mains Admit Card 2026 will be released for candidates shortlisted for Phase II. Candidates will be able to download their call letter through the SBI Careers website. The Mains call letter is important because it will contain the candidate’s exam centre, reporting time, shift and other instructions. Candidates should download the call letter as soon as it becomes available and verify all details carefully.

According to the recruitment process, candidates appearing for Mains are required to carry the relevant authenticated Preliminary Examination call letter along with the Mains call letter and other documents specified by SBI.

Documents Required for SBI PO Mains Exam 2026

Candidates should carry all documents mentioned in the SBI PO Mains Call Letter. These may include:

• SBI PO Mains Call Letter
• Authenticated Preliminary Examination Call Letter
• Valid original photo identity proof
• Photocopy of the required ID proof
• Passport-size photographs, wherever specified
• Other documents mentioned in the call letter

SBI PO Mains Preparation Strategy 2026

With the SBI PO Mains Exam Date 2026 approaching, candidates should avoid starting completely new topics and instead focus on revision, practice and mock-test analysis.

1. Focus on Current Affairs : Revise recent banking, financial and economic current affairs, along with important national and international events. Candidates should give special attention to banking-related developments and RBI updates.
2. Practise Data Interpretation : Data Analysis & Interpretation can be time-consuming. Practise different types of DI sets regularly and work on improving calculation speed and accuracy.
3. Strengthen Reasoning : Candidates should practise high-level reasoning questions, puzzles and seating arrangements along with computer aptitude topics.
4. Prepare for the Descriptive Test : Do not leave essay and letter writing for the final few days. Practise writing within the prescribed time and work on maintaining a clear structure, relevant points and proper language.
5. Attempt Full-Length Mocks : Full-length SBI PO Mains mock tests can help candidates understand the difficulty level, improve time management and identify weak areas. After every mock, spend sufficient time analysing incorrect and skipped questions.

What After SBI PO Mains Exam 2026?

Candidates who qualify in the Mains examination will be shortlisted for Phase III, which includes the Psychometric Test, Group Exercise and Interview. According to the recruitment schedule, this stage is expected to be conducted in October/November 2026. The final result is expected in November/December 2026.

Therefore, candidates should not wait for the Mains result to start understanding the next stage. Those confident about their performance can begin preparing for the interview and other Phase III components alongside their Mains preparation.