The State Bank of India (SBI) administers the SBI PO examination annually to recruit qualified candidates for Probationary Officer (PO) positions across its diverse branches nationwide. For this recruitment cycle, the SBI PO notification features a total of 1500 Probationary Officer (PO) vacancies. Over 11 lakh aspirants appeared for the preliminary examination, and the official results are anticipated shortly.
The SBI PO position remains one of the most prestigious and competitive careers in the Indian banking sector, serving as a primary goal for millions of aspirants. The recruitment process comprises three core stages: Prelims, Mains, and the Group Discussion/Interview round. Successful candidates are appointed as probationary officers with an attractive CTC package of Rs 21.97 lakh per annum in metropolitan centers, with liability for pan-India deployment.
Latest Update:
The preliminary examination results are expected to be declared by the final week of August or early September 2026. Consequently, the mains examination is tentatively scheduled for 12th September 2026.
SBI PO 2026 Exam Summary
With the online application phase and the initial selection stage now concluded, here is a comprehensive overview of essential details regarding the SBI PO 2026 examination:
| Parameters | Details |
| Organisation Name | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Post's Name | Probationary Officers (PO) |
| Advt. No. | CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 |
| Total Vacancies | 1500 |
| Mains Exam Date | 12th September 2026 (Tentative) |
| Age Limit | 21 to 30 years |
| Educational Qualification | Graduation |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Salary | Rs. 80000 to 82000 per month |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains and Interview |
| Probation Period | 2 years |
| Job Location | Across India |
| Official website | www.sbi.bank.in |
SBI PO Mains Exam Date 2026 Out
SBI will officially release the confirmed mains examination schedule alongside the corresponding admit cards. As projected, the SBI PO Mains Exam will take place on 12th September 2026, administered in single or multiple shifts. Further particulars will be available in the call letters, scheduled for release during the first week of September 2026.
SBI PO Prelims Result 2026- Click to Check
SBI PO 2026 Important Dates
| Activity | Dates |
| Official Notification PDF | 18th June 2026 |
| SBI PO Apply Online 2026 Starts | 18th June 2026 |
| Last date for SBI PO online application | 8th July 2026 |
| Last Date to Pay Fee | 8th July 2026 |
| SBI PO PET Call Letter 2026 | 17th July 2026 |
| Pre-Examination Training | 17th July 2026 onwards |
| SBI PO Admit Card 2026 | 22nd July 2026 |
| Online Preliminary Exam | 1st and 2nd August 2026 |
| SBI PO Prelims Result 2026 | August/September 2026 |
| SBI PO Mains Admit Card 2026 | 1st week of September 2026 |
| Online Mains Exam | 12th September 2026 |
| Mains Result | October 2026 |
| GD/Interview | October-November 2026 |
| Final Result | November/December 2026 |
SBI PO 2026 Notification PDF
SBI has officially published the SBI PO Notification 2026 PDF (Advt No- CRPD/PO/2026-27/09), detailing the recruitment of 1500 Probationary Officer posts. The notification includes comprehensive information regarding vacancy breakdowns, eligibility standards, examination schedules, syllabi, and application guidelines. Candidates should thoroughly review the official PDF before proceeding.
SBI PO Notification 2026 PDF (Official) - Click to Download
SBI PO Vacancy 2026
For the 2026 recruitment cycle, the State Bank of India (SBI) has announced an aggregate of 1500 openings for Probationary Officer (PO) positions. This total comprises 1446 regular vacancies and 54 backlog vacancies.
| Category | Total | Regular Vacancies | Backlog Vacancies |
| UR | 588 | 588 | -- |
| SC | 234 | 216 | 18 |
| ST | 144 | 108 | 36 |
| OBC | 390 | 390 | -- |
| EWS | 144 | 144 | -- |
| Total | 1500 | 1446 | 54 |
1,214,076 Candidates Submitted Applications for SBI PO Exam 2026
Year-wise SBI PO Vacancy Comparison
| Year | No. of Vacancies |
| 2026 | 1500 |
| 2025 | 541 |
| 2024 | 600 |
| 2023 | 2000 |
| 2022 | 1673 |
| 2021 | 2056 |
| 2020 | 2000 |
| 2019 | 2000 |
| 2018 | 2000 |
| 2017 | 2313 |
What's New in SBI PO 2026 exam?
- Descriptive Pattern Changed
- Annual CTC revised from Rs. 20.43 Lakhs to Rs. 21.97 Lakhs
- Number of Chances Increased (UR- 6, OBC/PWD- 9)
- Official website updated from www.sbi.co.in to www.sbi.bank.in
- 4 New Exam Centres Added
- Aadhar Verification mandatory
SBI PO 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Prior to application submission, every candidate must ensure they fulfill the prescribed educational qualifications and age limitations detailed below.
Educational Qualification (as on 30/09/2026)
- The candidate must be a graduate in any discipline from a recognised university.
- Those who are in the Final year/Semester of their Graduation can apply (but on the day of the interview must provide proof of their completed graduation)
- Candidates with an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) certificate must ensure that the date of passing the IDD on or before 30.09.2026.
- Candidates with a Medical, Engineering, Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant etc. certification may also apply.
Age Limit (as on 01/04/2026)
Applicants must fall within the age bracket of 21 to 30 years as of the designated cut-off date specified in the official notification.
Age Relaxation
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) - 3 years
- SC/ ST- 5 years
- PwBD (UR/ EWS)- 10 years
- PwBD (OBC)- 13 years
- PwBD (SC/ ST)- 15 years
- Ex Servicemen- 5 years
Number of Attempts
A category-wise limit is enforced on the maximum permissible attempts, capped at 6 years for general candidates. Individuals who have exhausted their allocated attempts are disqualified from applying. Participation in the preliminary exam does not count toward this limit, whereas appearing for the mains exam is officially registered as an attempt.
| Categories | Number of Chances |
| General/ EWS | 6 |
| General/ EWS (PWD) | 9 |
| OBC/ OBC(PWD) | 9 |
| SC/SC(PWD)/ST/ST(PWD) | No restriction |
π Call for SBI PO Online Course Admission Queries
SBI PO 2026 Online Application Over
The online application window for the SBI PO 2026 examination remained open from 18th June to 8th July 2026. This submission window is now officially closed.
Noteπ: Documents to keep ready before applying: 10th/12th mark sheets, Graduation certificate or provisional certificate, Category certificate (if applicable), Valid photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN), Passport-size photograph and scanned signature.
SBI PO 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee |
| SC/ST/PWD | Nil |
| General and Others | Rs. 750/- (App. Fee including intimation charges) |
Note: Application fees are strictly non-refundable and cannot be transferred to alternative examinations. All payments must be processed online.
Why Join State Bank as a Probationary Officer (PO)?
- π¦ Brand prestige β SBI is India's largest bank, with 23,270+ branches nationwide.
- π° Best-in-class salary β Gross CTC of Rs. 21.97 Lakhs per year, highest among PSU banks.
- π Career growth β A PO can rise all the way to Chairman-level positions within SBI.
- π‘οΈ Job security β Permanent government job with pension, medical, and housing benefits.
SBI PO Biometric Verification
To maintain absolute security and integrity throughout the SBI PO 2026 selection workflow, the bank may digitally capture candidates' thumb impressions for authentication purposes. Any discrepancies identified during biometric validation will result in immediate disqualification and potential legal repercussions. Consequently, candidates are strongly advised against applying external substances such as ink, henna, or chemicals to their hands.
SBI PO 2026 Selection Process
The SBI PO recruitment examination stands out as a premier public-sector banking test in India, widely regarded as more rigorous than examinations administered by IBPS. The selection pathway for SBI probationary officers comprises three distinct stages:
- Phase 1 β Preliminary Examination (Objective, Online)
- Phase 2 β Main Examination (Objective + Descriptive, Online)
- Phase 3 β Group Discussion (GD) + Personal Interview
The final merit compilation is determined exclusively by the cumulative scores achieved in the mains examination and the interview. The preliminary test serves a purely qualifying purpose.
SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern & Syllabus
The SBI PO selection framework incorporates three consecutive phases. Written tests are conducted in an online format, followed by a personal interview. The structural layout of the examinations is outlined below:
Phase-1: SBI PO Preliminary Examination
This online evaluation requires candidates to complete a 100-mark question paper within a 60-minute duration. A negative marking penalty of ΒΌ marks is enforced for every incorrect response. The assessment features three distinct sections. Candidates should note that sectional cut-offs for the preliminary examination have been discontinued, meaning selection for subsequent rounds depends entirely on overall aggregate scores. The section-wise distribution of marks is presented below:
| SBI PO 2026 Prelims Exam Pattern | ||||
| S.No. | Name of Tests (Objective) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 40 | 40 | 20 Minutes |
| 2 | Numerical Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 Hour | |
"See the complete SBI PO exam pattern for a section-wise marks breakdown."
While SBI outlines general subject categories, these expand into specific topics based on historical trends from prior examinations. Mastering every phase is critical; thus, formulating an effective study plan relies heavily on understanding the syllabus and exam structure. The SBI PO syllabus 2026 for both preliminary and main examinations remains largely consistent, with minor modifications.
Click to View SBI PO 2026 Syllabus [Prelims + Mains + Interview]
SBI PO Previous Year Question Paper PDF with Solution
SBI PO 2026 Salary Structure
In accordance with the official notification, the starting basic salary for a Probationary Officer (PO) is Rs. 48,480/- (inclusive of 4 advance increments) within the Junior Management Grade Scale-I pay scale of 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920.
Appointed officers also qualify for Dearness Allowance (D.A), House Rent Allowance (H.R.A) or lease rental alternatives, City Compensatory Allowance (C.C.A), medical coverage, and various additional perks governed by prevailing bank regulations. The approximate CTC at the initial scale for the Mumbai Centre is calculated at Rs. 21.97 Lakhs.
π‘ Service Bond: Selected candidates must execute a bond of Rs. 2 lakh to serve SBI for a minimum of 3 years from the date of joining. This is a standard clause for all PO candidates.
Check SBI PO Salary Structure, Allowances & Perks
SBI PO 2026 Exam Centre
During online application submission, candidates are required to specify their preferred examination centers for the SBI PO 2026 process. However, due to venue seating limitations, the bank reserves the right to assign an alternative center. Applicants must select one preference each for both the preliminary and main examinations.
The list of Centres for the SBI PO 2026 Prelims Exam:
| State Code | States/UT | Exam Centres for Prelims Exam |
| 11 | Andaman & Nicobar | Port Blair |
| 12 | Andhra Pradesh | Eluru, Guntur/ Vijaywada, Kadapa, Kakinada, Kurnool, Ongole, Rajahmundhry, Srikakulam, Tirupati, Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagaram |
| 13 | Arunachal Pradesh | Naharlagun |
| 14 | Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar Tezpur |
| 15 | Bihar | Arrah, Aurangabad (Bihar), Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Hajipur, Muzaffarpur Patna, Purnea |
| 16 | Chandigarh | Mohali |
| 17 | Chhattisgarh | Bhilai, Bilaspur, Raipur |
| 18 | Goa | Panaji |
| 19 | Gujarat | Ahmedabad/ Gandhinagar, Anand / Vadodara, Jamnagar, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat/Bardoli |
| 20 | Haryana | Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Kurukshetra |
| 21 | Himachal Pradesh | Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Una |
| 22 | Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu, Samba, Srinagar |
| 23 | Jharkhand | Bokaro steel city, Dhanbad, Hazaribag, Jamshedpur, Ranchi |
| 24 | Karnataka | Belagavi (Belgaum), Bengaluru, Dharwad / Hubbali, Mangaluru (Mangalore), Mysuru (Mysore), Shivamogga (Shimoga), Udupi |
| 25 | Kerala | Alappuzha, Kannur, Ernakulam, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram |
| 26 | Ladakh | Leh, Kargil |
| 27 | Lakshwadeep | Kavaratti |
| 28 | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Satna, Sagar, Ujjain |
| 29 | Maharashtra | Amaravati, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Chandrapur, Dhule, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Latur, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Ratnagiri, Solapur, Mumbai/ Thane/ Navi Mumbai/ MMR |
| 30 | Manipur | Imphal, Chura-Chandpur |
| 31 | Meghalaya | Shillong, Tura |
| 32 | Mizoram | Aizawal |
| 33 | Nagaland | Kohima |
| 34 | Delhi -NCR | Delhi & New Delhi (All NCR cities) |
| 35 | Odisha | Balasore, Berhampur-Ganjam, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sambalpur |
| 36 | Puducherry | Puducherry |
| 37 | Punjab | Amritsar, Bhatinda, Mohali, Patiala, Phagwara |
| 38 | Rajasthan | Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur |
| 39 | Sikkim | Gangtok |
| 40 | Tamilnadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Kanyakumari / Nagercoil, Salem, Thanjavur, Thiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Virudhunagar, Villupuram |
| 41 | Telangana | Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal |
| 42 | Tripura | Agartala |
| 43 | Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Aligarh, Prayagraj, Bareilly, Ayodhya, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Noida/ Greater Noida, Varanasi |
| 44 | Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee |
| 45 | West Bengal | Asansol, Durgapur, Hooghly, Kalyani, Kolkata, Siliguri, Burdwan |
The list of Centres for the SBI PO 2026 Mains Exam:
| State Code | States/UT | Exam Centre for Mains Exam |
| 11 | Andaman & Nicobar | Port Blair |
| 12 | Andhra Pradesh | Guntur, Kurnool, Vijaywada, Vishakhapatnam |
| 13 | Arunachal Pradesh | Naharlagun |
| 14 | Assam | Guwahati |
| 15 | Bihar | Arrah, Patna, Muzaffarpur |
| 16 | Chandigarh | Mohali |
| 17 | Chhattisgarh | Raipur |
| 18 | Goa | Panaji |
| 19 | Gujarat | Ahmedabad/ Gandhinagar, Surat/Bardoli, Anand / Vadodara |
| 20 | Haryana | Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram |
| 21 | Himachal Pradesh | Shimla, Bilaspur, Hamirpur |
| 22 | Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu, Srinagar |
| 23 | Jharkhand | Jamshedpur, Ranchi |
| 24 | Karnataka | Bengaluru, Dharwad / Hubbali , Mysuru (Mysore) |
| 25 | Kerala | Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur |
| 26 | Ladakh | Leh, Kargil |
| 27 | Lakshwadeep | Kavaratti |
| 28 | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Indore, Ujjain |
| 29 | Maharashtra | Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Nagpur, Pune, Nashik, Kolhapur, Mumbai/ Thane/ Navi Mumbai/MMR |
| 30 | Manipur | Imphal, Chura-Chandpur |
| 31 | Meghalaya | Shillong, Tura |
| 32 | Mizoram | Aizawal |
| 33 | Nagaland | Kohima |
| 34 | Delhi -NCR | Delhi & New Delhi (All NCR cities) |
| 35 | Odisha | Bhubaneswar, Cuttack |
| 36 | Puducherry | Puducherry |
| 37 | Punjab | Bhatinda, Mohali, Patiala |
| 38 | Rajasthan | Jaipur, Udaipur |
| 39 | Sikkim | Gangtok |
| 40 | Tamilnadu | Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Thiruchirapalli |
| 41 | Telangana | Hyderabad, Khammam |
| 42 | Tripura | Agartala |
| 43 | Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Prayagraj, Ghaziabad, Noida/ Greater Noida, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Varanasi |
| 44 | Uttarakhand | Dehradun |
| 45 | West Bengal | Hooghly, Kalyani, Kolkata |
SBI PO 2026 Pre-Exam Training
In alignment with Government of India guidelines, the State Bank of India may organize pre-examination training programs for candidates belonging to SC, ST, and religious minority communities at designated centers. This initiative supports financially disadvantaged aspirants in their preparation. Key highlights of the SBI PO pre-exam training are outlined below.
SBI PO pre-examination training typically spans a 6-day duration.
The training program functions as an orientation initiative tailored for reserved and minority category applicants.
Experienced instructors guide participants through critical conceptual topics and high-yield questions during these sessions.
Training sessions are hosted across multiple designated centers nationwide.
Eligible candidates from qualifying categories can access this training by opting in during the online application process. An indicative directory of training centers is provided below:
| North India | South India | East India | West India |
| Agra | Bangalore | Agartala | Ahmedabad |
| Allahabad | Chennai | Aizwal | Akola |
| Bareilly | Coimbatore | Asansol | Aurangabad |
| Chandigarh | Ernakulam | Bhubaneswar | Indore |
| Dehradun | Gulbarga | Berhampur (Ganjam) | Bhopal |
| Gorakhpur | Hubli | Dibrugarh | Jabalpur |
| Jaipur | Hyderabad | Gangtok | Mumbai |
| Kanpur | Madurai | Guwahati | Nagpur |
| Lucknow | Mysore | Imphal | Panaji (Goa) |
| Meerut | Port Blair | Itanagar | Pune |
| NewDelhi | Tirupati | Kohima | Raipur |
| Srinagar | Vishakhapatnam | Kolkata | Vadodara |
| Varanasi | Vijayawada | Patna | |
| Purnea | |||
| Ranchi | |||
| Sambalpur | |||
| Silchar | |||
| Siliguri | |||
| Shillong |
SBI retains the discretion to modify, add, or remove training locations. Candidates who opt for pre-examination training must download their dedicated call letters directly from the official bank portal using their registration credentials and date of birth. Physical call letters will not be dispatched via postal mail.
SBI PO 2026 Exam Preparation
Strategic and systematic preparation aligned with the latest exam pattern is essential for cracking SBI PO. Given the extensive syllabus, selecting optimal study resources and preparation platforms ensures thorough conceptual clarity and ample practice across diverse question formats. Candidates can leverage study resources provided by our expert faculty.
SBI PO Preparation Tips and Strategy- Click to Read
"Download previous year question papers and attempt free mock tests on our SBI PO PYQ page."
FAQs
Ans. Yes, the official SBI PO Notification 2026 has been released for 1500 positions.
Ans. The recruitment structure features 3 sequential stages: Prelims, Mains, and Interview. Significant updates have been introduced to the exam pattern this year.
Ans. SBI PO stands for State Bank of India Probationary Officer. Conducted annually, this is widely considered the most prestigious entry-level examination within the banking sector.
Ans. Application fees vary by category, set at Rs. 750 for General and OBC candidates, while SC and ST applicants are exempt from fee payments.
Ans. With the exception of the English Language Descriptive Test, all objective papers are presented bilingually in both English and Hindi.
Ans. Yes, objective tests in both the preliminary and mains examinations enforce negative marking, deducting one-fourth of the allocated marks for incorrect answers.
Ans. The combined weightage allocated for the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds totals 50 marks.
Ans. Yes, the descriptive evaluation is conducted exclusively in an online format. Candidates are advised to practice typing proficiency prior to the exam.
Ans. The descriptive test comprises two components: a letter writing and an essay task. Valued at a maximum of 50 marks, it must be completed within a 30-minute time limit.
Ans. Yes, attempt limits are structured as follows: 6 attempts for General/EWS candidates, 9 attempts for OBC/PwBD, and unlimited attempts for SC/ST applicants.
Ans. The SBI PO examination is organized to select qualified graduates for entry-level managerial positions across State Bank of India branches nationwide.
Recommended Reads
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