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SBI PO 2026 Notification, Exam Date, Selection Process & Exam Pattern

The State Bank of India (SBI) is expected to release the SBI PO 2026 Notification in August or September 2026 for the recruitment of Probationary Officers across the country. Every year, this exam attracts lakhs of graduates who want to begin a career in India’s largest public sector bank. The SBI PO role offers a good salary, strong growth opportunities, and job security, making it a popular choice among banking aspirants. This article provides complete details about the SBI PO 2026 exam, including the tentative schedule, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, and selection process.

SBI PO 2026 Notification

The SBI PO exam is held every year to recruit candidates for the post of Probationary Officer in State Bank of India branches across the country. It is a national-level exam that includes three main stages: Prelims, Mains, and a Psychometric Test, followed by an Interview or Group Exercises. To apply, candidates must have a graduation degree from a recognized university. The exam checks skills in aptitude, reasoning, English, and general awareness. Those who clear all stages go through a two-year probation period before becoming permanent officers in the bank.

 

SBI PO 2026: Summary

This role ensures financial stability and offers vast opportunities for growth and advancement. Here are the overview of the SBI PO 2026 which will help you to make an idea of this recruitment.

SBI PO 2026
Organization State Bank of India
Exam Name SBI PO Exam 2026
Post Probationary Officers
Vacancy Soon
Category Bank Job
Job Location All over India
Educational Qualification Graduation
Application Mode Online
Age Limit 21-30 Years
Selection Process Prelims, Mains, Interview
Medium of Exam 13 languages
Number of Questions Prelims- 100, Mains + Descriptive- 155+2
Total Marks Prelims- 100, Mains- 250
Official Website www.sbi.co.in
WhatsApp Official Channel Join WhatsApp Channel

SBI PO 2026: Important Dates

The SBI PO 2026 exam schedule will be announced soon along with the official notification. Candidates should keep an eye on the important dates such as the release of notification, start and end dates of the online application, exam dates for Prelims and Mains, admit card release dates, and the final result date. Knowing these dates in advance helps candidates plan their preparation and stay ready for every stage of the recruitment process.

SBI PO 2026: Important Dates
 Activity Dates
Prelims Exam Soon
Mains Exam Soon
Psychometric Test Soon
Interview Soon

SBI PO 2026 Notification PDF

The SBI PO 2026 Notification PDF will be released on the official website of the State Bank of India at www.sbi.co.in. The PDF will contain all important details such as vacancies, eligibility, exam dates, selection process, exam pattern, syllabus, and application fees. Candidates must carefully read the SBI PO 2026 Notification PDF before applying to understand the complete requirements of the recruitment. Once released, the direct link to download the PDF will be available on the website for all candidates.

SBI PO 2026 Notification, Exam Date, Selection Process & Exam Pattern_3.1

SBI PO 2026 Vacancy

The SBI PO 2026 vacancies will be announced along with the official notification, expected in August/September 2026. Until then, candidates can refer to the previous year’s vacancy details for guidance. Last year, a total of 2200+ vacancies were released for the post of Probationary Officer across SBI branches nationwide. Candidates can reviewing these previous year vacancies can help aspirants get an idea of state-wise and category-wise seat distribution and plan their preparation before the new notification is released.

SBI PO 2026 Vacancy
Category Vacancy
Regular Vacancy 500
Backlog Vacancy 41
Total 541

 

SBI PO 2026 Notification, Exam Date, Selection Process & Exam Pattern_4.1

SBI PO 2026 Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the SBI PO Exam, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, meet the age limit and be of Indian citizens or meet the nationality requirements set by the government. It is important for candidates to review these criteria carefully to ensure they qualify, as those who do not meet the requirements will not be considered for the selection process.

SBI PO 2026 Notification, Exam Date, Selection Process & Exam Pattern_5.1

 

SBI PO Age Relaxation

Additionally, there are provisions for age relaxation based on government norms for candidates belonging to specific categories.

SBI PO Age Relaxation
Category Age Relaxation
Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes 5
Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) 3
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) (SC/ ST) 15
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) (OBC) 13
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) (Gen/EWS) 10
Ex-servicemen, Commissioned officers, including Emergency 5

SBI PO Nationality

  1. The candidates must hold Indian Citizenship.
  2. A Subject of Nepal or Bhutan.
  3. A Tibetan Refugee who came to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanent settlement.
  4. A Person of Indian Origin (PIO) who has migrated from Burma, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, or East African countries of Zaire, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Malawi, with the intention of permanent settlement in India

Note: Candidates belonging to the category 2, 3, and 4 must have a certificate of eligibility issued by the Govt of India in their favour if willing to apply for SBI PO.

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SBI PO 2026 Application Fees

For the SBI PO 2026 application, the fee structure is as follows: SC, ST, and PWD candidates do not need to pay any application fee, while candidates from General and other categories need to pay Rs. 750. The fee must be paid online and is not refundable. Once the candidates have paid the fee, it cannot be transferred to another exam or held for future use.

SBI PO 2026 Application Fees
S.NO. Category Application Fees
1 SC/ ST/ PwBD Nil
2 General/ EWS/ OBC Rs. 750/- (Including GST)

SBI PO 2026 Apply Online

The SBI PO 2026 Apply Online process will begin on the official website of the State Bank of India at www.sbi.co.in
. Candidates who wish to apply for the Probationary Officer post must complete the online form within the given dates. The application process includes registration, filling in personal and academic details, uploading documents, and paying the application fee. Applicants should carefully check the eligibility criteria before applying. Once the link becomes active, candidates can submit their applications through the direct online link provided by SBI.

SBI PO Apply Online Link (Inactive)

How to Apply Online for SBI PO 2026

Follow these simple steps to successfully complete your SBI PO 2026 application:

  • Step 1: Visit the official SBI website: www.sbi.co.in
  • Step 2: Scroll down and click on the “Careers” section.
  • Step 3: Navigate to “Current Openings” and find “Recruitment of Probationary Officers 2026”.
  • Step 4: Open the detailed notification and click on the “Apply Online” link.
  • Step 5: Complete the registration by entering your basic details.
  • Step 6: Fill in the application form with accurate information.
  • Step 7: Upload your passport-size photo, signature, and other required documents.
  • Step 8: Make the online payment of the application fee.
  • Step 9: Review and submit your application.
  • Step 10: Download and save a copy of the submitted form for future use.

SBI PO 2026 Selection Process

The SBI PO 2026 includes the various stages of the selection process which are as follows:

  • Prelims: The first stage of SBI PO is the preliminary examination. The questions asked in Phase I are objective type and candidates 10 times the number of vacancies are shortlisted for mains exam.
  • Mains: The second stage of SBI PO  is the main examination. The questions asked in Phase II are objective as well as descriptive type and candidates 3 times the number of vacancies is shortlisted for the Psychometric Test, Interview & Group Exercise.
  • Psychometric Test, Interview & Group Exercise: The third stage of SBI PO includes a Psychometric Test, Interview and Group Exercise. Those who score the minimum qualifying marks will be called for the final selection as Probationary Officers in SBI.

SBI PO Exam Pattern

The SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026 follows an objective format and includes sections on English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. The test is time-bound and designed to assess a candidate’s speed, accuracy, and problem-solving skills.

Section No. of Questions Maximum Marks Time Duration
English Language 40 100 20 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude 30 20 minutes
Reasoning Ability 30 20 minutes
Total 100 60 minutes

SBI PO Syllabus

The Prelims exam is now over, and this is the time to switch fully to SBI PO Mains preparation, focusing on each section strategically to ensure success. The SBI PO Syllabus for Mains Exam is more extensive and includes sections such as Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, and English Language.

  • The Reasoning & Computer Aptitude section covers puzzles, seating arrangements, coding-decoding, and basic computer knowledge.
  • Data Analysis & Interpretation involves topics like tables, graphs, charts, averages, percentages, and ratio-proportion.
  • English Language focuses on reading comprehension, cloze tests, para jumbles, and error spotting.
  • The General/Economy/Banking Awareness section tests candidates’ knowledge of current affairs, banking concepts, and economic updates.

SBI PO 2026 Salary

SBI offers a great salary and profile to candidates in public sector banks. Now, a probationary officer is a job that has entry pay, which is higher than almost all jobs at any other government bank. The basic pay of SBI PO is Rs 48,480. The increments will be on the pay scale Rs. 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920. Candidates can check SBI PO Salary to boost their motivation for preparing for this exam.

With the signing of the 12th Bipartite Settlement, the Gross Salary of SBI PO is expected to increase up to around Rs. 82,000/- per month including allowances.

SBI PO 2026 Number of Attempts

State Bank of India has specified the number of attempts for the candidates applying for the position of Probationary Officers. The number of attempts depends on the category of the aspirant, which we have mentioned in the below table.

SBI PO 2026 Number of Attempts
Category No. of Attempts
General/EWS 04
OBC 07
PwBD (General/EWS/OBC) 07
SC/SC(PwBD), ST/ST(PwBD) No Restrictions

 

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FAQs

What is the age limit to apply for SBI PO?

To apply for SBI PO, candidates must be between 21 and 30 years old. There are age relaxations for certain categories, such as SC/ST and OBC, which extend the upper age limit.

Will the descriptive exam be conducted offline in SBI PO Exam?

No, the descriptive exam for the SBI PO Mains will not be held offline. Instead, it will be conducted online on the same day as the mains exam. Candidates should be prepared to complete both the objective and descriptive parts in an online format.

What is the exam pattern for the SBI PO Preliminary Exam?

The SBI PO Preliminary Exam has three sections: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability. It includes a total of 100 questions, with each question carrying one mark, making a total of 100 marks. The exam lasts for 1 hour, so managing your time is important.

What is the exam pattern for the SBI PO Main Exam?

The main exam includes an objective test with four sections: Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness and English Language. It also has a descriptive test.

How can I prepare for the SBI PO Exam 2026?

To prepare for the SBI PO Exam 2026, understand the exam pattern and syllabus. Practice with mock tests and previous year papers regularly. Work on managing your time and accuracy. Keep up with current affairs, especially related to banking and finance.

Can final year students apply for the SBI PO 2026?

Yes, final year students can apply for the SBI PO 2026 exam. They need to show proof of graduation when they attend the interview. Make sure to check the exact requirements and deadlines on the official SBI website.

Is there any negative marking in the SBI PO exams?

Yes, there is negative marking in both the SBI PO Prelims and Mains exams. For every wrong answer, 1/4th of the marks assigned to the question will be deducted. This means if you answer incorrectly, you will lose a portion of the marks you would have earned.

Is a SBI PO interview tough?

Yes, the SBI PO exam is known to be one of the toughest exams in the banking sector, as it tests your knowledge, communication skills, and suitability for the job. It's important to be well-prepared by reviewing common questions, staying updated on current affairs, and practicing your responses to feel more confident and perform better.

How is SBI PO selected?

SBI PO selection is based on three stages: a preliminary exam, a main exam and an interview. You must pass each stage to move to the next. Final selection is made based on your performance in the main exam and interview.

Is the SBI PO exam held every year?

Yes, the SBI PO exam is typically held each year. The State Bank of India organizes it to hire Probationary Officers. The exam has multiple stages: a preliminary test, a main test, and an interview. The dates and details are posted on the SBI website annually.

Is SBI PO hard to crack?

The SBI PO exam can be tough due to its wide range of topics and high competition. Success depends on consistent study, practice, and understanding the exam pattern. With dedicated preparation and practice, it’s definitely possible to clear the exam.

Who is eligible for SBI PO Exam 2026?

To be eligible for the SBI PO Exam 2026, candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. They should be between 21 and 30 years old. There are age relaxations for certain groups like SC/ST and OBC. Application fees vary by category.

What is the process after being selected as SBI PO?

After being selected as an SBI PO, candidates will start a two-year probation period. During this time, their performance will be evaluated regularly. If they meet the bank's standards, they will be confirmed in their position as Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I).

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