SBI PO 2026: Record-Breaking 12.14 Lakh Applications Received

The SBI PO 2026 application window concluded on 8th July 2026, revealing a massive surge in interest compared to last year's figures. For the SBI PO Recruitment 2026, approximately 12,14,076 aspirants have applied, a sharp rise from the 6 lakh registrations recorded last year. As the Preliminary Exam approaches in August 2026, candidates face one of the most competitive recruitment seasons in SBI history.

1214076 Candidates Submitted Applications for SBI PO Exam 2026

If you are among the 12 lakh banking aspirants targeting the 1,500 available Probationary Officer roles, you are entering a highly competitive landscape. This significant jump in application numbers has caught the attention of the entire banking sector. With record-high interest, the competition for the SBI PO 2026 exam now stands at approximately 809 candidates vying for every single vacancy.

Why Did Applications Nearly Double This Year?

Such a dramatic surge in applicant volume within a single recruitment cycle is unprecedented. Here is a breakdown of the key factors driving this shift between the 2025 and 2026 recruitment drives:

• Vacancies nearly tripled: SBI announced 1,500 posts this year compared to just 541 in 2025- which means, more open seats mean more aspirants feel it’s worth trying.
• Salary hike: The annual CTC was revised upward from Rs. 20.43 lakh to Rs. 21.97 lakh, making the role even more attractive against other banking and government jobs.
• More attempts allowed: General/EWS candidates now get 6 attempts instead of 4, and OBC candidates get 9 instead of 7 — this alone brought back many candidates who had exhausted their earlier chances.
• Brand pull of SBI: As India’s largest public sector bank with over 23,000 branches, SBI PO remains a dream post for commerce and general graduates alike, and word of the vacancy jump spread fast across coaching circles and social media.

SBI PO Application Trend: 2026 vs Previous Years