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

SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026

Stage 2: Main Examination

Once you successfully clear the Prelims round, you will be called for the Mains round, where the level of questions is a bit higher. In this phase, your deep knowledge of the subjects will be thoroughly tested, and you will need to demonstrate a higher level of understanding and problem-solving skills to move to the next round, i.e., the Interview and the GD round.

 Here are the key points you should remember for the Mains round of the SBI PO 2026 exam:

• The marks obtained in the Mains round are critical for the final merit list, so it’s important to perform well in this phase.
• Each section has a sectional time limit, and you must complete the section before moving on to the next.
• Based on the Mains performance, around 3 times the number of vacancies will be shortlisted for Phase III (Group Discussion & Interview).

Penalty for wrong answer:-  There is negative marking, and 1/4th mark will be deducted for every wrong answer, so answer properly

SBI PO Descriptive Writing Test

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. Here are some important tips to excel in this section:

Letter Writing Tips:

• Always follow the correct format for letter writing, including a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Try to write the body of the letter in a cohesive paragraph rather than using bullet points.
• Ensure that the content directly addresses the given situation or topic.
• Focus on grammar and spelling accuracy to avoid losing marks.
• Follow the word limit as exceeding it may negatively impact your score.

Essay Writing Tips:

• Include all important points mentioned in the essay question.
• Select a topic you are comfortable with and knowledgeable about.
• Start with an engaging introduction that provides context and sets the stage for your discussion.
• Stay within the prescribed word limit to avoid mark deduction.
• Incorporate numbers or statistics to make your essay more credible, but ensure accuracy.
• End with a strong conclusion that leaves a lasting impression and invites thought.

Additional Tips:

• Time Management: Manage your time effectively to complete both letter and essay writing sections within the given duration.
• Typing Speed: Since the descriptive test will be on online mode, having a good typing speed will allow you to complete the test quickly.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can improve your chances of scoring well in the descriptive section of the SBI PO 2026 exam.

Stage 3: Group Exercise & Interview

The Group Discussion and Interview form the final round of the selection process and are designed to assess your ability to handle various challenges in a professional environment. This stage evaluates your skills in communication, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving—essential qualities for the role of a Probationary Officer.

Group Discussion

• The Group Discussion (GD) involves a group of 8-10 candidates discussing a specific topic.
• The GD round assesses your communication skills, leadership abilities, and teamwork.
• Evaluation for this round is based on how well you express your thoughts, present logical arguments, listen actively, and contribute to the discussion.

Interview

The Interview is designed to assess your overall personality, confidence, general awareness, and suitability for the Probationary Officer role.

• You will be interviewed by a panel of 5 or more members.
• It’s essential to be well-dressed in formal attire to make a positive impression.
• A strong understanding of general awareness in the banking sector is crucial for this round.
• This round emphasizes how confidently you present yourself while responding to questions.

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:

SBI PO 2026 Syllabus Pre and Mains

SBI PO Syllabus 2026: Detailed Subject-Wise Topics

To prepare effectively for the SBI PO 2026 exam, it's essential to have a thorough understanding of the SBI PO syllabus for Prelims as well as mains. This will ensure you cover all the important topics and strategize accordingly to maximize your performance. To help you with your preparation, we at Smartkeeda, offer targeted topic tests designed to allow you master each subject.

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 Syllabus for Prelims

SBI PO Syllabus for Mains

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 Salary Structure: Pay Scale, Perks, and Benefits

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

Basic Pay:

• As a Probationary Officer at SBI, the starting basic pay is ₹48,480/-.

The pay scale follows: ₹48,480-2000/7-62,480-2340/2-67,160-2680/7-85,920, applicable to Junior Management Grade Scale-I.

Allowances:

• Dearness Allowance (DA): DA is revised quarterly to account for inflation.
• House Rent Allowance (HRA): Provided for accommodation costs.
• Medical Allowance: Covers medical expenses for the employee and their family.
• Leave Travel Allowance (LTA): Covers travel expenses during annual leave.
• City Compensatory Allowance (CCA) and additional perks, as per current regulations, are also included.

Gross Salary:

After combining all allowances, the gross salary is approximately ₹93,342.61.

Deductions:

• Employee PF Contribution
• Professional Tax
• Income Tax Deductions

Net Salary: After deductions, the net monthly salary is expected to be around ₹80,350.

This comprehensive package makes the SBI PO role not only rewarding but also offers substantial benefits and security, enhancing the attractiveness of this prestigious position.

Note:- At the time of joining, selected applicants will have to execute a service bond of ₹2 lakh to serve the Bank for a minimum period of 3 years. If a candidate leaves before completing this period, the bond amount will be recoverable.

SBI PO 2026 Pre-Exam Training Guide for Reserved Category Candidates

SBI also provides Pre-Examination Training for candidates from SC, ST, OBC, and Religious Minority Communities. This training helps candidates familiarize themselves with the exam's format and structure, enhancing their understanding and preparation. SBI PO 2026 Pre-Exam Training is designed to improve their knowledge for the SBI PO and help them score better in the exam. Candidates eligible for this training will receive a notification with instructions to download their admit card for the training session before receiving the admit card for the actual exam.

SBI PO Cut-Off 2026

The State Bank of India will release the SBI PO Cut Off 2026 after the results of each exam stage. Separate cut-offs will be announced for the Prelims and Mains, and candidates must clear the category-wise cut-off to qualify. Every year cut-off changes based on exam difficulty, vacancies, and the number of applicants.

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: 

SBI PO 2025 Mains Cutoff:

Here’s the 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.

SBI PO Examination Centres