SBI PO 2026: Exam Date, Syllabus, Eligibility & Free Mocks

SBI PO is the Probationary Officer recruitment conducted independently by the State Bank of India, India’s largest commercial bank. Successful candidates join in Junior Management Grade Scale I and serve a probation period during which they rotate through branch banking, credit, operations and customer relationship functions before confirmation.

The selection process runs in three phases — a Preliminary Examination which is qualifying, a Main Examination combining objective sections with a descriptive English paper, and Phase III comprising a Psychometric Test, Group Exercise and Interview. The final merit weights the Mains at 75% and Phase III at 25%.

SBI PO is regarded as the most prestigious banking recruitment in India because it places officers in the country’s largest bank with the widest branch network, the strongest brand and the fastest exposure to large-value banking.

SBI’s scale means a Probationary Officer handles larger portfolios and more complex banking earlier than in most other public sector banks. Career progression can reach senior executive grades, and SBI officers are routinely deputed to international branches and specialised verticals.

The compensation is also at the top of the public sector banking range once allowances, lease accommodation and perquisites are included, and the officer starts in Junior Management Grade Scale I with a basic pay of ₹48,480 following the latest wage revision.

• India’s largest bank with the widest branch and international network
• Basic pay of ₹48,480 in Junior Management Grade Scale I
• Early exposure to large-value and complex banking
• Lease accommodation, family medical cover and concessional staff loans

Expected schedule for the 2026 cycle, based on SBI’s usual recruitment calendar.sbi.co.in — Careers

The most recent SBI PO cycle carried approximately Notified per cycle vacancies.

SBI PO vacancies vary substantially between cycles depending on the bank’s recruitment plan, and are published category-wise in the notification along with any backlog vacancies. Confirm the current figure on the SBI careers portal.

Vacancies announced in the most recent SBI PO notification.sbi.co.in — Official Notification

To apply for SBI PO 2026 a candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university and be between 21 and 30 years of age as on the cut-off date specified in the notification.

Educational Qualification

A degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government.

• Candidates in the final year or semester of graduation may apply provisionally, but must produce proof of passing on or before the date specified in the notification.
• Candidates with an integrated dual degree must ensure the passing date falls on or before the cut-off date.
• Candidates possessing a Chartered Accountant qualification may also apply.

Age Limit

The age limit for SBI PO is 21 to 30 years. Age is reckoned as on the cut-off date specified in the official notification, which SBI states each cycle.

Nationality

• A citizen of India, or
• A subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or
• A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or
• A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries, Vietnam or Ethiopia with the intention of permanently settling in India.

SBI PO runs in three phases — a 100-mark Prelims with 20-minute sectional timing which is qualifying, a 200-mark objective Mains plus a 50-mark descriptive paper, and Phase III comprising a Group Exercise worth 20 marks and an Interview worth 30 marks. Final merit is Mains 75% and Phase III 25%.

1. 1Online registration on the SBI careers portal.
2. 2Preliminary Examination — qualifying only, used to shortlist for the Mains.
3. 3Main Examination — objective sections plus a 50-mark descriptive English paper.
4. 4Psychometric Test, Group Exercise and Interview in Phase III.
5. 5Final merit prepared from the Mains at 75% and Phase III at 25%.
6. 6Allotment to a circle and initial posting.

The SBI PO syllabus covers Data Analysis and Interpretation, Reasoning with Computer Aptitude, English Language including a 50-mark descriptive paper, and General, Economy and Banking Awareness, which carries 60 questions in the Mains.

An SBI Probationary Officer joins in Junior Management Grade Scale I with a basic pay of ₹48,480 following the latest wage revision, giving an approximate gross salary of ₹85,000 to ₹95,000 per month in metro postings once allowances and lease accommodation are included.

Allowances and Benefits

• Dearness Allowance (DA) — revised quarterly
• City Compensatory Allowance (CCA) by city classification
• Lease accommodation or House Rent Allowance (HRA)
• Special Allowance and Learning Allowance
• Newspaper, entertainment, books and furniture reimbursements
• Medical insurance covering the officer and family
• Concessional staff loans for housing, vehicle and education

The decisive SBI PO strategy is to prepare for the descriptive paper and Group Exercise as seriously as the objective sections, because SBI weights descriptive at 50 marks and Phase III at 25% — both considerably heavier than IBPS PO.