SBI PO
State Bank of India (SBI)
🏦 Banking
🇮🇳 National level
● Active
SBI PO (Recruitment of Probationary Officers in State Bank of India) is conducted by the State Bank of India (SBI) to recruit for: Probationary Officer in State Bank of India. Selection is through Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (qualifying only), followed by Phase-II: Main Examination, followed by Phase-III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercises and Interview.
SBI PO 2026 — Key Facts at a Glance
| Exam name | SBI PO — Recruitment of Probationary Officers in State Bank of India |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Latest cycle | CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 |
| Vacancies | 1,500 in total — 1,446 regular vacancies (588 UR, 390 OBC, 234 SC, 144 ST, 144 EWS) plus backlog vacancies |
| Posts | Probationary Officer in State Bank of India |
| Qualification | A degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. Candidates in the final year or semester may apply provisionally. |
| Age limit | 21 to 30 years as on 1 April 2026 |
| Application fee | ₹750 for general, EWS and OBC candidates. Nil for SC, ST and PwBD candidates. The fee is not refundable. |
| Selection stages | Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (qualifying only) → Phase-II: Main Examination → Phase-III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercises and Interview |
| What counts for merit | Only Phase-II and Phase-III count. The Preliminary Examination is a screening test and its marks are discarded once you are shortlisted. |
| Negative marking | Yes — one fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. |
| Official website | sbi.bank.in |
SBI PO — the Recruitment of Probationary Officers in State Bank of India — is conducted by the State Bank of India (SBI) to recruit for Probationary Officer in State Bank of India. The CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 cycle declares 1,500 in total — 1,446 regular vacancies (588 UR, 390 OBC, 234 SC, 144 ST, 144 EWS) plus backlog vacancies.
SBI PO selection process
- Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (qualifying only)
- Phase-II: Main Examination
- Phase-III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercises and Interview
SBI PO exam pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prelims — English Language | 40 | — | 20 minutes |
| Prelims — Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | — | 20 minutes |
| Prelims — Reasoning Ability | 30 | — | 20 minutes |
| Prelims total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
| Mains — Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| Mains — Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Mains — General Awareness / Economy / Banking Knowledge | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Mains — English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
| Mains — Descriptive (Email and Situation Analysis) | 3 | 30 | 30 minutes |
| Mains total | 173 | 230 | 3 hours 30 minutes |
What counts towards the final merit
Only Phase-II and Phase-III count. The Preliminary Examination is a screening test and its marks are discarded once you are shortlisted.
Negative marking
Yes — one fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
No sectional cut-off in the Preliminary Examination
SBI states plainly that there is no sectional cut-off in the Preliminary Examination — the category-wise merit list is drawn on aggregate marks alone, and roughly ten times the vacancies in each category are shortlisted. IBPS does the opposite and requires a minimum in every section. If you are sitting both, that single difference changes whether you can afford to skip a weak section.
What is next for SBI PO
The Preliminary Examination call letter is already available. Phase-I is due in August 2026, Phase-II in September 2026 and Phase-III in October or November 2026.
💬 Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SBI PO vacancy for CRPD/PO/2026-27/09?
1,500 in total — 1,446 regular vacancies (588 UR, 390 OBC, 234 SC, 144 ST, 144 EWS) plus backlog vacancies.
What is the age limit for SBI PO?
21 to 30 years as on 1 April 2026. Relaxation is 5 years for SC and ST, 3 years for OBC and up to 15 years for PwBD candidates.
What qualification is required for SBI PO?
A degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. Candidates in the final year or semester may apply provisionally.
What is the SBI PO application fee?
₹750 for general, EWS and OBC candidates. Nil for SC, ST and PwBD candidates. The fee is not refundable.
Is there negative marking in SBI PO?
Yes — one fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer.
What is the SBI PO selection process?
Selection is through Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (qualifying only), followed by Phase-II: Main Examination, followed by Phase-III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercises and Interview.
Does the Preliminary Examination score count towards the final merit in SBI PO?
Only Phase-II and Phase-III count. The Preliminary Examination is a screening test and its marks are discarded once you are shortlisted.
What is the SBI PO salary?
Junior Management Grade Scale I, with four advance increments on appointment, plus DA, HRA, city compensatory allowance and the perquisites applicable to the posting.
What is the SBI PO cut off?
It is not published. Neither IBPS nor SBI releases cut-off marks — the notification says only that cut-offs will be decided depending on vacancies and candidate numbers. Scores are shown to each candidate individually through a roll-number login, never as a category-wise table.
Are SBI PO question papers available?
No. Banks do not release question papers after an examination. Papers circulating online are reconstructed from candidate recall and are useful for pattern and difficulty, not as an exact record.
Is each section separately timed in SBI PO?
Yes. Every section has its own clock. Unused time in one section cannot be carried into another, and a closed section cannot be reopened.
What is next for SBI PO?
The Preliminary Examination call letter is already available. Phase-I is due in August 2026, Phase-II in September 2026 and Phase-III in October or November 2026.