State Bank of India Probationary Officer - Prelims

SBI PO remains one of the most sought-after banking careers in India, and the 2026 cycle has brought the largest vacancy count in years alongside several genuine changes to the exam pattern, attempt limits, and eligibility rules. With over 12 lakh candidates registering this cycle, understanding exactly what's changed and what hasn't matters more than ever. This guide brings together the complete SBI PO 2026 recruitment: notification, vacancy, eligibility, exam pattern, syllabus, and salary.

SBI PO 2026 at a Glance

Latest SBI PO 2026 Updates

• The notification was released on 18 June 2026 under Advertisement No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09, for 1,500 vacancies nearly triple the 541 vacancies announced in 2025.

• The Preliminary Examination was conducted on 1 and 2 August 2026.

• The Main Examination was conducted on 12 September 2026.

• SBI has officially removed a previously mentioned CIBIL/credit-history clause from the 2026 notification.

• The official recruitment website has moved from sbi.co.in to sbi.bank.in for this cycle.

• Phase III (Psychometric Test, Group Exercise, and Interview) is expected in October/November 2026.

What Is the SBI PO (Probationary Officer) Exam?

SBI PO recruits graduates for managerial roles at the Junior Management Grade Scale-I level across State Bank of India branches and offices in India. It's a generalist officer role successful candidates handle branch operations, credit appraisal, customer relationship management, and supervisory responsibilities, with a structured career progression into higher management grades over time. Selected officers can be posted anywhere in India.

SBI PO 2026 Vacancy

SBI has announced 1,500 Probationary Officer vacancies this cycle, comprising 1,446 regular posts and 54 backlog posts.

Category-Wise Vacancy

PwBD Horizontal Vacancy

Vacancy Trend: Recent Years

After a sharp dip in 2024 and 2025, 2026's vacancy count marks a significant rebound a useful signal that this cycle may draw an especially large and motivated applicant pool relative to the previous two years.

What's New in SBI PO 2026

A few genuine, worth-knowing changes distinguish this cycle from 2025:

The Prelims section-mark shift is the change most likely to catch candidates off guard if they're preparing from older material see our dedicated SBI PO Prelims guide for the full breakdown.

SBI PO Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit

Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years of age as on the notified cut-off date, with standard age relaxation for reserved categories.

Educational Qualification

A graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government, is required. Final-year or final-semester candidates may apply provisionally but must produce proof of graduation by 30 September 2026 for this cycle. Candidates with an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) qualify provided their passing date matches the notified cut-off, and Chartered Accountants are separately eligible to apply.

Number of Attempts

An attempt is counted only if a candidate appears for the Main Examination — appearing for Prelims alone does not use up an attempt.

How to Apply for SBI PO 2026

1. Visit the SBI careers website and locate the SBI PO 2026 recruitment page under Advertisement No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09.

2. Complete registration and fill in personal, educational, and category details.

3. Upload the required documents: photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression, handwritten declaration, and a live photo.

4. Review the completed application form carefully before submission.

5. Pay the application fee online through the available payment options.

6. Download and retain the completed application form along with the e-receipt.

SBI PO Application Fee

SBI PO Selection Process

The selection process runs across three stages:

1. Preliminary Examination — an online, objective screening test, qualifying in nature.

2. Main Examination — an online test with an objective section and a Descriptive Test.

3. Phase III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview — the final stage before selection.

Candidates must qualify each stage to proceed to the next. Final selection is based on combined, normalised performance in Mains and Phase III.

SBI PO Exam Pattern

Preliminary Examination

Prelims is qualifying only marks are not carried forward. There is no sectional cut-off; candidates numbering roughly 10 times the vacancies in each category are shortlisted for Mains based on the aggregate score. For a full breakdown, see our SBI PO Prelims guide.

Main Examination

The Mains objective and descriptive tests are conducted together in one sitting. Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies to incorrect answers in the objective test; the descriptive test carries no negative marking.

Phase III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview

The Psychometric Test assesses personality traits and may be shared with the interview panel for additional context, though it does not itself carry marks toward selection.

SBI PO Syllabus Overview

Since Mains places significant emphasis on Data Analysis and Banking/Economy Awareness, preparation should shift toward application-based Data Interpretation and consistent current affairs revision once Prelims is cleared.

SBI PO Salary and Job Profile

SBI now emphasises the overall Cost to Company figure (around ₹21.97 lakh annually at the Mumbai centre) rather than basic pay alone, since a significant share of total compensation comes through allowances and retirement benefits rather than the basic pay component. Actual take-home pay varies by posting location.

SBI PO Pre-Examination Training

SBI offers a Pre-Examination Training programme, typically over a few days, for eligible candidates (generally SC/ST, Ex-Servicemen, and minority community candidates) at designated centres across North, South, East, and West India. Eligible candidates can opt in for this training during the application process.

How to Prepare for SBI PO

• Start with Prelims fundamentals, adjusted for the current 40-30-30 section split, before moving to Mains-level depth.

• Build strong Data Interpretation and Data Analysis skills early, since this section carries substantial weight in Mains and tends to be more application-heavy than Prelims-level Quant.

• Maintain a consistent Banking/Economy Awareness habit rather than cramming close to Mains, given its 60-mark weightage.

• Practise the Descriptive Test format specifically — essay, letter, and précis writing under timed conditions — since it's graded differently from objective sections.

• Prepare for the Group Exercise and Interview well before the Mains result, since Phase III carries real weight in final selection.

Testkart's SBI PO mock test series and subject-wise quizzes are built around the current Prelims and Mains structure, helping track section-wise readiness at every stage.

For Educators

Coaching institutes and educators preparing SBI PO aspirants can use Testkart to build sectionally timed mock tests reflecting the current pattern, along with dedicated Descriptive Test practice modules and updated Banking/Economy Awareness quizzes, since these areas benefit most from structured, ongoing practice rather than one-time coverage.