SBI PO Notification 2026: Exam Dates, Vacancies, Eligibility, and Selection process

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By Smartkeeda
11 Jun 2026
SBI PO Notification 2026

The SBI PO Notification 2026 is expected to be released in June 2026 on the official SBI careers website at sbi.co.in/web/careers. State Bank of India (SBI) conducts this recruitment every year to select Probationary Officers (PO) for its branches across India — making it one of the most sought-after banking exams in the country.
This article covers everything you need: eligibility criteria, exam dates, vacancy details, exam pattern, syllabus, salary structure, selection process, and application steps.

SBI PO 2026 Notification PDF and Key Highlights

The SBI PO Notification 2026 PDF will be published at https://sbi.co.in/web/careers under the “Current Openings” section. Candidates interested in the Probationary Officer (Managerial and Supervisory) post must read the official PDF carefully before applying. The direct PDF link will be updated here as soon as it is released. Below is a quick-reference overview of the SBI PO Recruitment 2026:

SBI PO Exam Overview 2026

Organisation

State Bank of India (SBI)

Post

Probationary Officer (PO)

Vacancies

To be notified

Educational Qualification

Graduation in any discipline

Age Limit

21 to 30 years

Mode of Application

Online

Frequency of Exam

Once a year

Gross Salary

Approx. Rs. 93,342 per month

Mode of Exam

Online

Selection Procedure

Prelims, Mains, and Interview (GD/GE)

Probation Period

2 years

Job Location

Across India

Official Website

https://sbi.bank.in

 

SBI PO Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

The SBI PO Notification is expected to be released in June 2026 with the application dates, so it's important to stay updated with the key dates for the recruitment process. We have compiled a table with the expected SBI PO exam dates, which you can refer to before starting your preparation. The table includes all the important dates for the SBI PO 2026 exam.

Activity Important Dates (Expected)
SBI PO Notification 2026 June 2026
Start Date of Application  June 2026
Last date for Apply Online to be announced
Last Date to Pay Fee to be announced
SBI PO Prelims Exam August 2026
SBI PO Mains Exam September 2026

 

SBI PO Vacancy Details 2026

The SBI PO vacancies will be released along with the official SBI PO 2026 notification PDF. Meanwhile, here’s a category-wise breakdown of the SBI PO 2025 vacancies for 541 posts. The table provides a rough idea of the expected vacancies for SBI PO 2026.

Category

Regular Vacancies

Backlog Vacancies

Total Vacancies

UR

203

--

203

SC

75

05

80

ST

37

36

73

OBC

135

--

135

EWS

50

--

50

Total

500

41

541

 

SBI PO Previous Year Vacancy Trends 2020-2025

The SBI PO previous year vacancy trends from 2020 to 2025 highlight that recruitment stayed high till 2023. It indicates a strong recruitment during those years. However, a sudden decrease is visible in 2024 and 2025. Showing fewer vacancies and increased competition among candidates. This trends indicates more competition, so early and focused preparation more important for aspirants.

 
Year    Vacancies
2026 to be announced
2025 541
2024 600
2023 2,000
2022 1,673
2021 2,056
2020 2,000

 

sbi po vacancy trend

 

SBI PO 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must verify all eligibility conditions before applying. Those who do not meet the criteria will be disqualified at the document verification stage. The SBI PO 2026 eligibility criteria cover educational qualification, age limit, nationality, and number of attempts.

SBI PO Educational Qualification

Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a university recognised by the Central Government. Final-year / final-semester students can apply provisionally, subject to producing proof of graduation by the interview stage. Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) holders must ensure their passing date falls within the notification’s specified window. Candidates with a CA qualification are also eligible.

SBI PO Age Limit

Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years of age. Only applicants with a date of birth between 2 April 1996 and 1 April 2005 (both dates inclusive) are eligible to apply.
Minimum age: 21 years (as of notification release date)
Maximum age: 30 years (relaxations as per category below)

SBI PO Age Relaxation Policies for 2026

There are age relaxations available for candidates belonging to certain categories as follows:

Category

Age Relaxation (In years)

SC/ST

5 years

OBC

3 years

PwBD (General/EWS)

10 years

PwBD (SC/ST)

15 years

PwBD (OBC)

13years

Ex-Servicemen

5 years

SBI PO Nationality Criteria

A candidate must be one of the following:

  1. A citizen of India

  2. A subject of Nepal

  3. A subject of Bhutan

  4. A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India

  5. A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia) or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India

Number of Attempts Allowed in SBI PO

Prelims attempts are not counted; only Mains attempts are tracked. Once all attempts are exhausted, candidates become ineligible

Categories

Number of Chances

General/ EWS

4

General/ EWS (PWD)

7

OBC/ OBC(PWD)

7

SC/SC(PWD)/ST/ST(PWD)

No restriction

SBI PO 2026 Selection Process

The SBI PO 2026 selection process consists of three phases. Candidates must clear each phase to advance to the next:

  • Phase I – Preliminary Examination (qualifying)

  • Phase II – Main Examination (objective + descriptive)

  • Phase III – Group Exercise and Personal Interview

Final merit is based on the combined, normalised scores of Phase II and Phase III only.

SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern

The Prelims is a qualifying round. Marks scored here are not counted in the final merit list. There is no sectional cut-off, but candidates must clear the overall cut-off to advance to Mains.

  • 100 questions | 100 marks | 1-hour duration
  • Sectional time limit: 20 minutes per section
  • Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer

S.No

Name of test

No. of Questions

     Marks

Duration

1

English Language

40

40

20 minutes

2

Quantitative Aptitude

30

30

20 minutes

3

Reasoning Ability

30

30

20 minutes

 

Total

100

100

1 hour

 

Phase II: SBI PO Mains Examination

Mains is the decisive phase. Your Mains score (along with Phase III) forms the final merit list. Around 3x the number of vacancies are shortlisted from Mains for the GD/Interview round.

  • Each section has a separate sectional time limit
  • Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer (objective paper)
  • Descriptive paper is evaluated separately; a minimum qualifying score is required
(i) Objective Test: The duration of objective test is 3 hours, and it consists of 4 Sections of a total of 200 marks. There will be a separate timing for
every section.
Test Name of the test No. of Qs. Max. Marks Duration
I Reasoning & Computer Aptitude 40 60 50 minutes
II Data Analysis & Interpretation 30 60 45 minutes
III General Awareness / Economy/ Banking Knowledge 60 60 45 minutes
IV English Language 40 20 40 minutes
  Total 170 200 3 hours
(ii) Descriptive Paper
Communication Skills: Emails, Reports, Situation Analysis & Precis Writing) -- 50 30 minutes
Grand Total 250  

 

Descriptive: English Language (Letter Writing & Essay)

The Descriptive Test in SBI PO 2026 will consist of Essay Writing and Letter Writing. This section is designed to assess your writing skills, clarity of thought, and ability to express ideas in a structured manner.

SBI PO Descriptive Writing Test

Phase III:  SBI PO Interview

Phase III evaluates personality, communication, leadership, and banking awareness. Only candidates shortlisted from Mains appear for this round.

Activity

Maximum Marks

Psychometric Test

Qualifying Only

Group Exercise

20 Marks

Personal Interview

30 Marks

Total

50 Marks

 

For more details of SBI PO exam pattern 2026

Psychometric Test: Qualifying in nature; used to assess personality traits, behavioural patterns, and suitability for the Probationary Officer role. No marks are awarded.

Group Exercise: A group of 8–10 candidates discuss a given topic. Evaluated on communication, logical argument, active listening, teamwork, and leadership. Carries 20 marks.

Personal Interview: Conducted by a panel of 5+ members. Tests overall personality, confidence, general awareness, and banking knowledge. Formal attire is mandatory. Carries 30 marks.
 

Final Selection

The scores achieved in the Main Examination (Phase II), including both the Objective and Descriptive Tests, are combined with the scores from Phase III to prepare the final merit list. For the final score calculation, the marks obtained in Phase II (Objective & Descriptive Tests) and Phase III (Group Exercise & Interview) are normalized to a total of 100 marks as follows:

Test

Main Exam

Group Exercise & Interview

Total

Maximum Marks

250

50

300

Normalized Marks

75

25

100

 

Steps to Apply Online For SBI PO 2026 Exam

The application window opens along with the official notification on sbi.co.in and typically remains active for 20–21 days. Ensure your documents — photograph, signature, and supporting certificates — are ready before the link goes live.
Steps to fill the SBI PO 2026 application form:

  1. Visit the official SBI website at https://sbi.co.in

  2. Scroll to the bottom of the homepage and click on the “Careers” tab

  3. Click on “Current Openings”

  4. Select “Recruitment of Probationary Officers” to access the application portal

  5. Click “Apply Online” and complete the registration

  6. Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, and other required information

  7. Upload your photograph, signature, and declaration as per the specified guidelines

  8. Preview all details carefully before final submission

  9. Pay the application fee through your preferred online mode

  10. Download and save the final application PDF for future reference


Keep your registered email ID and mobile number active throughout the recruitment cycle. All updates, admit cards, and intimations are sent via email and SMS.

SBI PO Apply Online 2026

SBI PO 2026 Application Fee Structure

The application fee is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted towards any other exam or process. Fee details are as follows:

Category

Application Fee

SC/ST/PWD

Nil

General and Others

Rs. 750/-

sbi po application fees

 

Payment can be made online via Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking, or UPI. Keep a copy of the payment receipt for future reference.

SBI PO 2026 Syllabus

A thorough understanding of the complete SBI PO 2026 syllabus is essential for scoring well in both Prelims and Mains. Below are the key topics for each section:

You can click on the following links to attempt these topic tests and strengthen your grasp of each topic in the SBI PO syllabus today! 

SBI PO Prelims Syllabus

Here's the table mentioned for the SBI PO Prelims syllabus:

SBI PO Prelims Syllabus 2026

English Syllabus

Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

Reasoning Syllabus

Reading Comprehension

Simplification/ Approximations

Alphanumeric Series

Fill in the blanks

Profit and Loss

Direction and Sense

Cloze Test

Mixtures & Alligations

Logical Reasoning

Para jumbles

Permutation, Combination & Probability

Data Sufficiency

Vocabulary

Work & Time

Ranking & Order

Paragraph Completion

Sequence & Series

Alphabet Test

Multiple Meaning /Error Spotting

Simple Interest & Compound interest

Seating Arrangement

Sentence Completion

Surds & Indices

Coded Inequalities

Tenses Rules

Mensuration – Cylinder, Cone, Sphere

Puzzle

 

Time and Distance

Syllogism

Data Interpretation

Blood Relation

Ratio and Proportion

Coding-Decoding

Number Systems

Input-Output

Percentage

Tabulation

 

SBI PO Mock Test

SBI PO Mains Syllabus

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the SBI PO Mains syllabus, along with essential links to help you practice each topic at different levels, from beginner to advanced. These resources by Smartkeeda are designed to help you strengthen your understanding of each topic and crack the SBI PO Mains exam with a good score:

SBI PO Mains Syllabus 2026

English
language


Reading Comprehension, Paragraph central Idea, Rearrangement of Sentence, Cloze Test, Connect the Sentences, Fill in the blanks, Idioms and Phrases, Word Replacement, Word Usage, Match the Column, Sentence Replacement, Sentence Completion

Reasoning
ability

 

Sequential Input Output, Blood Relation, Coding Decoding, Direction and Sense, Seating Arrangement, Puzzle, Alpha Numeric Symbol Series, Data Sufficiency, Alphabet Test, Critical Reasoning

Quantitative
aptitude

Data Interpretation, Average, Profit and Loss, Percentage , Mixture and Allegation, Ratio and Proportion, Quadratic Equation, Simple interest, Compound interest, Problems on ages, Probability, Mensuration, Time and Work, Time and Distance, Boats and Stream, Problems on Trains, Partnership, Data Sufficiency Quant, Inequality Quant

General/Financial Awareness

Current Affairs including: National and International News, Economic and Financial News, Awards and honors, Books and authors, latest appointments, Obituaries, New schemes, Banking and Financial Awareness

Computer

Internet, Memory, Keyboard Shortcuts, Computer Abbreviation, Microsoft Office,Computer Hardware,Computer Software, Computer Fundamentals/Terminologies, Networking, Number System, Operating System, Basic, of Logic Gates

 

SBI PO 2026 Salary Structure

The SBI PO starting basic pay is ₹48,480/- (with 4 advance increments, effective basic: ₹56,480). The official pay scale is ₹48,480–2000/7–62,480–2340/2–67,160–2680/7–85,920 (Junior Management Grade Scale-I). After all allowances, the gross monthly salary stands at approximately ₹93,342.61:

Check SBI PO In-hand salary 2026

Here’s a detailed look at the SBI PO Salary Structure:

SBI PO Salary Structure 2026

Parameters

Amount (INR)

Basic Pay

Rs. 56,480 (Rs. 48,480 + advanced increments)

Special Allowance (SA)

Rs. 14,967

House Rent Allowance (HRA)

Rs. 4,518.40

Dearness Allowance (DA)

Rs. 15,327.01

Location Allowance

Rs. 1,200

Learning Allowance

Rs. 850

Gross Salary

Rs. 93,342.61

Deduction (PF/Income Tax/Professional Tax/Pension)

Rs. 12,993

Net Salary

Rs. 80,350

In addition to salary, SBI PO officers are entitled to benefits including medical insurance, LTC (Leave Travel Concession), housing loan at concessional rates, and pension under the NPS scheme.


SBI PO Pre-Exam Training Guide

The State Bankof India provides a free SBI PO pre-exam training candidates from SC, ST, OBC, and Religious Minority Communities. This training helps candidates understand the exam format and structure. Eligible candidates receive a separate admit card for the training session before the actual exam admit card is issued.

SBI PO Cut-Off 2026

The SBI PO 2026 cut-off will be released after each stage of the exam (Prelims, Mains, and Final). Cut-offs vary every year depending on the exam difficulty level, total vacancies, and the number of applicants. Use the 2025 cut-offs below as a preparation benchmark:

SBI PO Previous Year Cut-Off 

Understanding the SBI PO previous year's cut-off is crucial for planning your preparation effectively. By aiming to score above the previous year's cutoff, you can increase your chances of easily hitting your target. Here’s a list of the category-wise SBI PO cutoff 2025:

SBI PO 2025 Prelims Cutoff: 

The Previous year SBI PO prelims cut off mentioned below:

Category

Cut Off Marks

UR

66.75

SC

59.25

ST

51.50

OBC

65.50

EWS

64.50

VI

52.75

HI

36.25

LD

54.50

D&E

35.50

 

SBI PO 2025 Mains Cutoff:

The table below mention category-wise SBI PO mains cut off:  

Category

Cut Off Marks (Out of 250)

UR

75

SC

62.75

ST

62.51

OBC

69.50

EWS

75

VI

62.63

LD

63.51

HI

62.50

D & E

63.75

 

SBI PO 2025 Final Cutoff:

Here’s the SBI PO Final Cut-Off released after the completion of the Interview process, which is based on the consolidated scores from both the Mains Examination and the Group Discussion (GD)/Interview rounds, all calculated out of a total of 100 marks.

Category

Cut Off Marks (Out of 100)

UR

46.79

SC

37.84

ST

31.59

OBC

41.84

EWS

41.16

VI

44.95

LD

41.55

HI 36.69
D & E 34.35

 

SBI PO Examination Centres

Here's the table below mentioned all the SBI PO examination centre:

State Code State/UT Pre-Examination Training Centre/ Preliminary Examination Centre Main Examination Centre
11 Andaman & Nicobar Port Blair Port Blair
 
12
 
Andhra Pradesh
Chittoor, Eluru, Guntur/ Vijaywada, Kadapa, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore,  Ongole, Rajahmundhry, Srikakulam, Tirupati, Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagaram Guntur / Vijayawada, Kurnool, Vishakhapatnam,
13 Arunachal Pradesh Naharlagun Naharlagun
14 Assam Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur Guwahati
15 Bihar Arrah,  Aurangabad  (Bihar), Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea Arrah, Patna, Muzaffarpur
16 Chandigarh Mohali Mohali
17 Chhattisgarh Bhilai, Bilaspur, Raipur Raipur
18 Goa Panaji Panaji
19 Gujarat Ahmedabad/ Gandhinagar,  Anand, Himmatnagar,  Jamnagar, Ahmedabad/ Gandhinagar
20 Haryana Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram
21 Himachal Pradesh Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, Solan, Una Shimla, Solan
22 Jammu & Kashmir Jammu, Samba, Srinagar Jammu, Srinagar
23 Jharkhand Bokaro, Dhanbad, Hazaribag, Jamshedpur, Ranchi Jamshedpur, Ranchi
24 Karnataka Belgaum, Bengaluru, Dharwad/Hubli, Gulbarga, Mangalore, Mysore,
Shimoga, Udupi
Bengaluru
25 Kerala Alappuzha,  Kannur, Kochi / Ernakulam,  Kollam,  Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrichur, Thiruvananthapuram Kochi/Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram
26 Ladakh Leh, Kargil Leh, Kargil
27 Lakshwadeep Kavarrati Kavarrati
28 Madhya Pradesh Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Satna, Sagar, Ujjain Bhopal, Indore
 
29
 
Maharashtra
Amaravati, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad, Maharashtra)
, Chandrapur, Dhule, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai/ Thane/ Navi Mumbai/ MMR, Nagpur, Nanded, Nasik, Pune, Ratnagiri, Solapur
Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Aurangabad, Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai/ Thane/ Navi Mumbai/MMR
30 Manipur Imphal, Kakching Imphal
31 Meghalaya Shillong, Tura Shillong, Tura
32 Mizoram Aizawl Aizawl
33 Nagaland Kohima Kohima
34 Delhi -NCR Delhi & New Delhi (All NCR cities) Delhi & New Delhi (All NCR cities)
35 Odisha Balasore, Berhampur (Ganjam), Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal,
Rourkela, Sambalpur
Bhubaneswar
36 Puducherry Puducherry Puducherry
37 Punjab Amritsar, Bhatinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Pathankot, Patiala,
Sangrur
Bhatinda, Jalandhar,                        Ludhiana,
Mohali, Patiala
38 Rajasthan Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur Jaipur,
39 Sikkim Gangtok Gangtok
 
40
 
Tamilnadu
Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Madurai, Nagercoil, Salem, Thanjavur, Thiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Vellore, Virudhunagar  
Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli
41 Telangana Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal Hyderabad
42 Tripura Agartala Agartala
 
 
43
 
 
Uttar Pradesh
Agra, Aligarh, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Bareilly, Banda, Faizabad, Ghaziabad, Gonda, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Noida/ Greater Noida, Sitapur,
Varanasi.
Agra, Prayagraj (Allahabad), Ghaziabad, Noida/ Greater Noida, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Varanasi
44 Uttarakhand Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee Dehradun
45 West Bengal Asansol, Durgapur, Hooghly, Kalyani, Kolkata, Siliguri Hooghly, Kalyani, Kolkata

 

Important Links:

SBI PO Important Links

SBI PO 2026 Syllabus
SBI PO Apply Online
SBI PO Salary Structure 2026
SBI PO Previous Year Cutoff
SBI PO Eligibility Criteria 2026