SBI PO Recruitment 2026
Complete information guide covering vacancies, eligibility, salary, exam pattern, syllabus, selection process and the latest recruitment status.
SBI PO Recruitment 2026 – Complete Guide
The State Bank of India (SBI) conducts the Probationary Officer (PO) recruitment examination to select officers for its banking operations across India. The 2026 recruitment was notified under Advertisement No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09, with 1,500 vacancies. This guide explains the official eligibility conditions, category-wise vacancies, examination structure, salary, service bond and selection stages.
Important: The 2026 application window has closed. SBI has published the preliminary and main examination results, and the recruitment has moved to the psychometric test / Group Exercise / Interview stage. This is an informational guide for candidates tracking the current cycle and preparing for future SBI PO recruitment.
Table of Contents
SBI PO 2026: Recruitment Overview & Important Dates
Key details from the official 2026 recruitment advertisement and SBI result portal.
| Event | Official schedule / status |
|---|---|
| Advertisement Number | CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 |
| Online Registration | 18 June to 8 July 2026 – Closed |
| Preliminary Examination | 1 and 2 August 2026 – Conducted |
| Main Examination | September 2026 (as per original tentative schedule) – Result published |
| Psychometric Test / Group Exercise / Interview | Next-stage notices and tentative schedule published on SBI portal; check the latest official notice |
SBI PO Vacancy 2026 – Category-wise Details
The notification announced 1,500 vacancies, including backlog vacancies.
| Category | Regular Vacancies | Backlog Vacancies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 216 | 18 | 234 |
| ST | 108 | 36 | 144 |
| OBC | 390 | 0 | 390 |
| EWS | 144 | 0 | 144 |
| UR | 588 | 0 | 588 |
| Total | 1,446 | 54 | 1,500 |
Horizontal reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) was indicated separately in the notification: VI – 15, HI – 16, LD – 14 and d&e – 16. These are horizontal reservations and should not be added again to the 1,500 total.
SBI PO Eligibility Criteria 2026
Check educational qualification, age limit and relaxations as on the dates prescribed in the notification.
1. Educational Qualification
- A graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.
- Candidates with professional qualifications such as Engineering, Medicine, Chartered Accountancy (CA) or Cost and Management Accountancy (CMA) may also apply if they meet the notification conditions.
- Final-year / final-semester students were permitted to apply provisionally. If called for interview, they had to produce proof of passing graduation on or before 30 September 2026.
2. Age Limit
As on 1 April 2026, the prescribed age limit was:
3. Upper Age Relaxation
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| PwBD – UR / EWS | 10 years |
| PwBD – OBC | 13 years |
| PwBD – SC / ST | 15 years |
| Eligible Ex-Servicemen | 5 years, subject to notification conditions |
Application Fee & Number of Attempts
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / OBC | ₹750 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | Nil |
The application fee was non-refundable. The 2026 application window is closed.
Maximum Attempts
| Category | Maximum Attempts |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 6 |
| General / EWS PwBD and OBC categories | 9 |
| SC / ST categories | No restriction |
As specified in the notification, appearance in the Main Examination is counted as an attempt; appearing in the Preliminary Examination is not counted.
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026
The 2026 notification's structure should be followed; older SBI PO patterns may differ.
Phase I – Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination carries 100 marks and has a total duration of 60 minutes, with separate sectional timings.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
- There are separate sectional timings.
- As per the 2026 notification, there is no sectional cut-off in Prelims.
- Approximately 10 times the category-wise vacancies are shortlisted for the Main Examination, subject to the bank's process.
Phase II – Main Examination
The Main Examination carries 230 marks in total: 200 marks for the objective test and 30 marks for the descriptive test. The total duration is 3 hours 30 minutes.
Objective Test – 170 questions, 200 marks, 180 minutes| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General Awareness / Economy / Banking Knowledge | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 170 | 200 | 180 minutes |
- Email writing (one task from the given choices)
- Situation Analysis (one task from the given choices)
- Report writing or Precis writing (as per the options in the test)
Negative Marking
For objective questions, one-fourth (1/4) of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. No penalty is applied for a question left blank.
SBI PO Syllabus 2026 – Subject-wise Preparation Guide
The notification specifies exam sections. The topic lists below are a practical preparation guide, not a verbatim exhaustive syllabus issued by SBI.
English Language
Quantitative Aptitude
Reasoning Ability
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude – Mains
Data Analysis & Interpretation
General Awareness, Economy & Banking Knowledge
Descriptive English
SBI PO Selection Process 2026
Preliminary Examination
Objective screening test. Prelims marks are not included in the final merit list.
Main Examination
Objective and descriptive tests. Candidates are shortlisted for Phase III based on the bank's prescribed criteria; approximately three times the category-wise vacancies may be called.
Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview
- Psychometric Test: Personality profiling; the findings are placed before the interview panel. Candidates must follow the test instructions and complete all required questions.
- Group Exercise: 20 marks.
- Personal Interview: 30 marks.
Final Merit Calculation
The Main Examination score (out of 230) and Phase III score (out of 50) are normalised to a final weightage of 75:25, making a composite score out of 100. Prelims marks are not counted in the final merit. Candidates must qualify the required stages separately as prescribed by SBI.
SBI PO Salary 2026 – Pay Scale & Benefits
Pay details stated in the 2026 recruitment advertisement.
The notified pay scale for Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I) is:
In addition to basic pay, eligible officers may receive Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), provident fund, National Pension System benefits, medical facilities, leave fare concession (LFC), lease rental and other allowances / perquisites as applicable under bank rules.
Probation Period, Service Bond & Career Growth
Probation
Selected candidates are placed on probation for two years and are subject to continuous assessment. Confirmation is subject to satisfactory performance and fulfilment of SBI's prescribed standards.
Service Bond
The 2026 notification specifies a bond of ₹2 lakh and a minimum service commitment of three years. The bond may be invoked if an officer resigns before completing the prescribed service period, subject to the terms of the bond and notification.
Career Progression
SBI offers opportunities for advancement through its officer career structure, subject to performance, experience, eligibility and internal policies. Officers may progress to higher management grades over time. Opportunities for specialised roles and overseas assignments may also arise according to organisational requirements and applicable selection processes.
How to Apply for SBI PO 2026 (Past Application Process)
The registration window for this cycle has closed. These steps are retained for candidate reference.
- Visit the official SBI Careers / Current Openings page.
- Open the Probationary Officers recruitment advertisement for 2026.
- Complete the online registration and note the registration number and password.
- Fill in personal, educational and other required details carefully.
- Upload the photograph, signature and other documents in the prescribed format.
- Pay the applicable fee online, if required.
- Review the application and submit it before the deadline.
- Download or print the submitted application and fee receipt for your records.
How to Prepare for SBI PO – Practical Strategy
Build strong fundamentals
Revise core concepts in arithmetic, grammar and reasoning before moving to advanced question sets. Maintain a topic-wise error notebook.
Practise with sectional timers
Train with the actual sectional time limits. Prioritise accuracy and question selection rather than attempting every question.
Prepare for Mains from the beginning
Develop Data Interpretation, advanced reasoning, banking awareness and descriptive writing alongside Prelims preparation.
Analyse every mock test
Record accuracy, time spent, skipped questions and recurring mistakes. Revisit weak topics before taking another full-length mock.
Keep banking and economy awareness current
Follow RBI policy announcements, banking developments, financial institutions, government schemes and major economic events using reliable primary sources.
Practise descriptive communication
Write concise emails, structured situation analyses, reports and precis. Focus on clarity, relevance, grammar and word discipline.
Related Exam Preparation Guides
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Frequently Asked Questions – SBI PO 2026
1. What is SBI PO Recruitment 2026?
It is SBI's recruitment process for Probationary Officers under Advertisement No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09.
2. How many vacancies were announced?
SBI announced 1,500 vacancies, including regular and backlog vacancies.
3. What is the educational qualification for SBI PO?
A graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent recognised qualification is required, subject to the notification's conditions.
4. What was the age limit for SBI PO 2026?
The age limit was 21 to 30 years as on 1 April 2026, with category-based relaxations as specified in the advertisement.
5. What was the application fee?
₹750 for General, EWS and OBC candidates. SC, ST and PwBD candidates were exempted from the fee.
6. What is the starting basic pay of an SBI PO?
The starting basic pay stated in the 2026 notification is ₹48,480, with four advance increments.
7. What is the SBI PO Prelims exam pattern?
Prelims has 100 questions for 100 marks and lasts 60 minutes, divided into English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability with separate sectional timings.
8. What is the SBI PO Mains pattern in 2026?
The 2026 Mains carries 230 marks: an objective test of 170 questions for 200 marks over 180 minutes and a descriptive test of 30 marks over 30 minutes.
9. Is there negative marking in SBI PO?
Yes. One-fourth of the marks assigned to an objective question is deducted for each wrong answer. No penalty applies to unanswered questions.
10. How many attempts are allowed?
The notification specifies 6 attempts for General/EWS, 9 for General/EWS PwBD and OBC categories, and no restriction for SC/ST categories. Main Examination appearances count as attempts; Prelims appearances do not.
11. What is the SBI PO service bond?
The 2026 notification specifies a ₹2 lakh bond and a minimum service commitment of three years, subject to the bond terms.
12. What is the probation period?
The probation period is two years, with continuous assessment and confirmation subject to satisfactory performance and SBI's rules.
13. Is SBI PO a permanent job?
SBI PO is a regular officer recruitment. Candidates are initially placed on probation and confirmation is subject to the bank's prescribed conditions.
14. Is SBI PO 2026 registration still open?
No. Registration closed on 8 July 2026. SBI has published the Prelims and Mains results and has issued notices relating to the psychometric test, Group Exercise and Interview stage.
15. Where can I check the latest SBI PO result and interview updates?
Use SBI's official Recruitment Results page: https://sbi.bank.in/en/web/careers/recruitment-results
Stay Updated with EduCatn
Keep checking official SBI notices for result updates, psychometric test instructions, Group Exercise and Interview details. For future cycles, always verify dates and eligibility from the latest notification.
Visit Official SBI Careers Portal
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