SBI PO 2026: Notification, 1500 Vacancies, Exam Pattern & Complete Guide
State Bank of India has released the SBI PO 2026 notification for 1500 Probationary Officer posts. Here is everything you need in one place: dates, eligibility, vacancies, pattern, syllabus, salary and a smart preparation plan.
Latest update: The online application window (18 June to 8 July 2026) has closed. Pre-Examination Training call letters for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates were released on 17 July 2026. The Preliminary Examination is expected in the first half of August 2026. Always confirm the final dates on the official portal, sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings.
1Why SBI PO Is Worth Your Effort
State Bank of India is the country's largest public sector bank and one of the most trusted financial institutions in the world. A Probationary Officer (PO) role here is not just a job. It is a leadership entry point into a bank that serves millions of customers every day and drives a large share of India's banking activity.
What makes SBI PO special among banking exams is the combination of scale, prestige and growth. A PO starts in Junior Management Grade Scale I and, with strong performance, can rise through the ranks toward top management. This year the opportunity is even bigger, with 1500 vacancies, one of the highest counts SBI PO has offered in recent recruitment cycles after a dip in 2024 and 2025.
2SBI PO 2026 Important Dates
SBI released the notification on 18 June 2026. Here is the tentative schedule as given in the official advertisement. Treat these as indicative and check the portal for exact exam dates.
| Event | Tentative Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 18 June 2026 |
| Online Registration & Fee Payment | 18 June to 8 July 2026 |
| Pre-Exam Training (SC/ST/OBC/PwBD) | July 2026 |
| Phase I: Preliminary Exam | August 2026 |
| Prelims Result | August / September 2026 |
| Phase II: Main Exam | September 2026 |
| Main Result | September / October 2026 |
| Phase III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview | October / November 2026 |
| Final Result | November / December 2026 |
3Vacancies: Category-Wise Breakup
SBI has notified a total of 1500 Probationary Officer vacancies, made up of 1446 regular vacancies and 54 backlog vacancies. In addition, there is 4% horizontal reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD).
| Category | Regular | Backlog | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 216 | 18 | 234 |
| ST | 108 | 36 | 144 |
| OBC | 390 | 0 | 390 |
| EWS | 144 | 0 | 144 |
| UR (General) | 588 | 0 | 588 |
| Total | 1446 | 54 | 1500 |
4Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.
- Final-year and final-semester students may apply provisionally, provided they pass on or before 30 September 2026.
- Professional qualifications such as Medical, Engineering, CA or Cost Accountant are also eligible.
Age Limit (as on 1 April 2026)
- Minimum 21 years and maximum 30 years. Candidates must have been born between 2 April 1996 and 1 April 2005 (both inclusive).
- Upper age relaxation: 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer), 5 years for SC/ST, 10 to 15 years for PwBD depending on category, and 5 years for eligible ex-servicemen.
Number of Attempts
| Category | Maximum Attempts |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 4 |
| General (PwBD) / EWS (PwBD) / OBC / OBC (PwBD) | 7 |
| SC / SC (PwBD) / ST / ST (PwBD) | No restriction |
5Application Fee
| Category | Fee (Non-Refundable) |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | Rs. 750 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | Nil |
The fee is paid online through debit card, credit card, internet banking or UPI. Once paid, it is not refunded or carried forward to any other exam.
6Selection Process
SBI PO selection is a three-phase process. You must clear each phase to move to the next.
Phase I: Preliminary Examination
An online objective test of 100 marks, qualifying in nature. Candidates roughly 10 times the vacancies are shortlisted for the Main Exam. Prelims marks are not added to the final merit list.
Phase II: Main Examination
An online objective test of 200 marks plus a descriptive test of 30 marks (typed on computer). This is the decisive stage for the final merit.
Phase III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview
A psychometric test for personality profiling, a group exercise (20 marks) and a personal interview (30 marks). Final merit combines Main Exam and Phase III scores, normalised to 100.
7Exam Pattern
Preliminary Exam (100 marks, 1 hour)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 40 | 40 | 20 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 min |
Main Exam: Objective (200 marks, 3 hours)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 min |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 min |
| General / Economy / Banking Awareness | 60 | 60 | 45 min |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 min |
| Total | 170 | 200 | 3 hours |
Main Exam: Descriptive (30 marks, 30 minutes)
- The descriptive paper tests Communication Skills and is typed on the computer right after the objective test.
- It has three tasks: an Email (1 of 2 options), Situation Analysis (1 of 2 options), and either Report Writing or Precis Writing (1 of 2 options).
8Syllabus Overview
SBI does not publish a fixed topic list, so the syllabus is understood from previous years' papers. Here are the high-yield areas by section.
Quantitative Aptitude / Data Interpretation
- Simplification and approximation, number series, quadratic equations.
- Arithmetic: percentage, ratio, profit and loss, time and work, speed and distance, interest, averages, ages, partnership.
- Data Interpretation: tables, bar, line, pie, caselet and missing-value DI. Also permutation, combination and probability in Mains.
Reasoning Ability / Computer Aptitude
- Puzzles and seating arrangement (the highest-weight area), syllogism, inequalities, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense.
- Input-output, data sufficiency, and critical or analytical reasoning in Mains, plus basic computer awareness.
English Language
- Reading comprehension, cloze test, error detection, para jumbles, sentence improvement, fillers and vocabulary.
- Descriptive: emails, reports, situation analysis and precis writing.
General, Economy & Banking Awareness (Mains)
- Current affairs of the last 5 to 6 months, banking and financial awareness, static GK, and basic economy.
- Follow reliable daily sources such as The Hindu, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and Livemint for this section.
9Salary & Career Growth
An SBI PO joins in Junior Management Grade Scale I. The starting basic pay is Rs. 48,480 per month, which becomes about Rs. 56,480 with four advance increments. Added to this are DA, HRA, CCA and other allowances. The in Hand Salary is Rs.83400/- Month + Allowances and House Lease.
Promotion Path
SBI offers a fast and well-defined growth ladder. From Probationary Officer, an officer can move to Deputy Manager, Manager, Chief Manager, Assistant General Manager, Deputy General Manager, General Manager and beyond, up to the top executive grades. A service bond of Rs. 2 lakh applies, requiring a minimum of three years of service.
10Smart Preparation Strategy
With 1500 vacancies and lakhs of applicants, planning beats last-minute effort. Use this simple approach.
- Prepare Prelims and Mains together from day one. The topics overlap heavily, so building strong concepts early saves time later.
- Master puzzles and DI. Reasoning puzzles and Data Interpretation carry the most marks and decide your speed. Practise a set daily.
- Do not ignore the descriptive paper. Email, report and precis writing need regular practice. Read editorials and write one answer a day.
- Follow current affairs steadily. Cover the last 5 to 6 months for Banking and General Awareness. A monthly current affairs resource keeps this manageable.
- Take timed mock tests. Simulate exam conditions, review every mock, and note repeated mistakes in a separate notebook.
- Watch accuracy. With 0.25 negative marking and sectional cut-offs in Mains, guessing blindly hurts. Attempt what you are sure of first.
?Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacancies are there in SBI PO 2026?
There are 1500 Probationary Officer vacancies, comprising 1446 regular and 54 backlog posts, under Advertisement No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09.
What is the age limit for SBI PO 2026?
Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years as on 1 April 2026, that is born between 2 April 1996 and 1 April 2005. Age relaxation applies for reserved categories.
Can final-year students apply for SBI PO 2026?
Yes. Final-year and final-semester students can apply provisionally, provided they complete graduation on or before 30 September 2026.
What is the SBI PO 2026 selection process?
Selection has three phases: Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Phase III (Psychometric Test, Group Exercise and Interview). Prelims is only qualifying; the final merit is based on the Main Exam and Phase III.
Is there negative marking in SBI PO 2026?
Yes. In both Prelims and Mains objective tests, 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer. There is no penalty for unanswered questions and no negative marking in the descriptive paper.
What is the SBI PO salary in 2026?
The starting basic pay is Rs. 48,480 per month (Rs. 56,480 with four advance increments), and the approximate annual CTC is around Rs. 21.97 lakh at the Mumbai centre, plus allowances and perks.
Which language can I choose for the exam?
All objective papers (except the English Language section) are available in both Hindi and English, so you can answer in your preferred language.
Prepare with the Right Resources
Two areas that decide SBI PO results: current affairs and English descriptive writing. Strengthen both with these focused programs.
All In One Current Affairs Course
By Brajesh Mohan • EduGrade Learning
- Monthly Current Affairs Magazine (Jan to Dec 2026)
- Monthly PIB and RBI / SEBI circulars magazine
- Top 100 monthly MCQs based on current affairs
- Downloadable and printable PDFs for revision
- E-Book course access with 10+ compendiums
Mastering English Descriptive Writing
By Brajesh Mohan • A Topper's Favourite
- 5 descriptive tests with detailed evaluation
- Live and recorded sessions on essays, letters, precis, RC
- Descriptive compendium with 50+ model essays
- Built for SBI, IBPS, RBI, NABARD and other exams
Final Word
SBI PO 2026 is one of the biggest banking opportunities this year, with 1500 vacancies, a strong salary and a clear growth path. The candidates who succeed are not always the ones who study the most hours, but the ones who plan well, practise with mock tests, and stay steady on English descriptive and current affairs.
Start early, revise smart, and always confirm the latest updates on the official portal, sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings.
This guide is for information and preparation purposes. All figures, dates and details are based on the official SBI PO 2026 notification (Advt. No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09, dated 18 June 2026). Candidates must verify every detail from the official notification before applying, as the Bank's decisions are final.
