SBI PO Exams 2026
When it comes to banking jobs, getting into State Bank of India, the country's largest bank is a dream for many aspirants.
Every year, the SBI Bank conducts the SBI PO exam and recruits eligible candidates for the Probationary Officers (PO) roles.
On this page you will find all the details about the SBI PO exam including information about the exam dates, schedule, salary structure, and exam pattern.
SBI PO Exam Summary 2026
State Bank of India releases a notification to announce the dates when it would conduct exams to hire new employees. The official notification is released on the SBI’s website along with online registrations and exam dates. Here is the exam summary for 2026:
SBI PO 2026 – Highlights | Details |
Organization | State Bank of India (SBI) |
Post Name | Probationary Officer (PO) |
Category | Banking Sector Jobs |
Application Mode | Online |
Age Limit | 21 to 30 years |
Total Vacancies | To Be Announced (TBA) |
Selection Process | Preliminary Exam → Main Exam → Interview |
Probation Period | Two Years |
Salary | Rs.48,480/- (approx.) |
Job Location | Across India |
Official Website | sbi.co.in |
SBI PO 2026 - Important Dates
The exam dates have not been announced yet. However, the notification is likely to come in May or June 2026, so candidates should start preparing early:
Events | Dates |
SBI PO Notification 2026 | May-June 2026 (Expected) |
Apply Online Starts | June 2026 |
Last Date to Apply | - |
IBPS PO Prelims Exam Date 2026 | 1st and 2nd August 2026 |
IBPS PO Mains Exam Date 2026 | 12 September 2026 |
SBI PO Eligibility Criteria:
The eligibility criteria which candidates need to fulfil in order to apply for the SBI PO exam are listed below:
1. Nationality
- Should be a citizen of India.
- Nepal or Bhutan candidates are also eligible.
- Refugees from Tibet who came to India before 1 January 1962 for settling permanently in India.
- Persons of Indian origin who migrated from countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Vietnam, or East African countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Zaire are also eligible.
2. Age Limit
- Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years of age.
- (They should be born between 2 April 1995 and 1 April 2004)
- Relaxation in upper age limit is provided for reserved categories as per government rules:
Category | Age Relaxation |
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
SC / ST | 5 years |
PwBD (UR/EWS) | 13 years |
PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
Ex-servicemen / Commissioned Officers | 5 years |
3. Educational Qualification
- Candidates must have completed their graduation from a recognised university or any qualification recognised by the Central Government.
- Final year or semester students can also apply, but they must provide proof of passing the degree at the time of interview.
4. Number of Attempts
- UR / EWS: Four attempts
- UR (PwBD) / EWS (PwBD) / OBC / OBC (PwBD): Seven attempts
- SC / ST (including PwBD): No limit
Application Fees:
The application fee is collected for SBI PO 2026 exam, The fee charges need to be paid online and once paid are not refundable. The application fee for the exam are as follows:
Category | Application Fee |
For SC/ST/PWD | No charge |
For general category and others | Rs.750 (inclusive of intimation charges) |
How to Apply for SBI PO Exam 2026?
The process of applying for the SBI PO exam 2026 is listed below:
Step 1: Visit the official website of SBI.
Step 2: Click on option “Careers” at the bottom of the page.
Step 3: Open “Current Openings” to see job notifications
Step 4: Click on the option “Recruitment for Probationary Officer (PO)”
Step 5: Download and read the official notification carefully.
Step 6: Click on “Apply Online” to start registration.
Step 7: Fill in personal, educational, and other required details.
Step 8: Upload the photo, signature, and necessary documents.
Step 9: Pay the application fee online
Step 10: Submit the form and save/print it for future use.
SBI PO Selection Process and Exam Pattern 2026
The SBI PO selection process has three stages in which candidates must clear each stage to move forward. The exam is conducted in online mode, and the pattern for each stage is given below.
Stage 1: Preliminary Exam (Qualifying Stage)
This is the first stage of the exam. It is qualifying in nature, and marks are not counted in the final merit list.
- Total Questions: 100
- Total Marks: 100
- Duration: 1 hour
- Negative Marking: 1/4th mark deducted for each wrong answer
Section-wise pattern:
Section | Questions / Marks / Time |
English Language | 40 / 40 / 20 minutes |
Quantitative Aptitude | 30 / 30 / 20 minutes |
Reasoning Ability | 30 / 30 / 20 minutes |
Total | 100 / 100 / 60 minutes |
Stage 2: Mains Exam (Merit Stage)
This stage includes objective + descriptive tests. Marks scored here are important for final selection.
A. Objective tests include:
- Total Questions: 170
- Total Marks: 200
- Duration: 3 hours
B. Descriptive Test include:
- Marks: 50
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Includes: Essay & Letter Writing
Section-wise pattern:
Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
General / Economy / Banking Awareness | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
Total | 170 | 200 | 3 hours |
Stage 3: Psychometric Test, Group Discussion & Interview
- A psychometric test checks personality traits.
- Followed by Group Discussion (GD) and Interview.
Section-wise pattern:
Sections | Group Discussion and Interview |
Group Discussion | 20 marks |
Personal Interview | 30 marks |
How to download SBI PO Call letter/Admit Card:
The admit card for the three stages of SBI PO Exam is released separately by the bank. The process of downloading the admit card or call letter is listed below:
- First, visit the official website of the bank.
- Next, click on 'SBI PO Exam 2026 Admit Card'.
- Enter the registration number along with your date of birth.
- On inserting the correct details, the admit card will be displayed on the screen.
- Download the same and get a printout of it.
How to Check the result of SBI PO Exam?
The result for each stage of the SBI PO exam 2026 will be declared on the official website of the bank. In order to check the results, all you need to do is visit the official website, enter the roll or registration number along with the date of birth.
SBI PO 2026 Cut-Off
The SBI PO cut-off marks for the year 2026 will be declared by the SBI bank after the result of each phase has been declared. However, to have an idea about the minimum cut-off marks, the cut-off marks announced by the SBI for PO Prelims in the year 2024 are as follows:
Category | Cut-off Marks for the year 2026 |
General | 61.75 |
SC | 55 |
ST | 49 |
OBC | 60.50 |
EWS | 60.25 |
SBI PO Salary 2026
The SBI PO salary is quite good and comes with a strong starting pay along with various allowances and benefits. It offers financial stability, growth, and job security. Here is the brief salary structure for the reference:
Details | Information |
Basic Pay | Rs.48,480 (starting) |
Pay Scale | Rs.48,480–2000/7–62,480–2340/2–67,160–2680/7–85,920 |
In-hand Salary | Rs.80,000 – Rs.82,000 (approx.) |
Allowances | Dearness Allowance, HRA, CCA, Medical Allowance, and other facilities |
FAQs on SBI PO Exams 2026
- Is the SBI PO Exam bilingual?
A: Yes, the SBI PO Exam is bilingual. You can choose to read and write the answers to the questions in either Hindi or English. However, it should be kept in mind that the English Language section will be available in English only.
- Is there any negative marking in the SBI PO examination?
A: Yes, there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer. Hence, if you get wrong answers to 4 questions, you will lose 1 mark.
- Are there fixed timings for different sections?
A: Yes, there is fixed timing for each section of the SBI PO exam. You will have to answer the questions in different sections of the exam, within the stipulated time. On the basis of the score distribution, the allotted time for each section will vary. This is applicable for both the preliminary and the mains exam.
- Is SBI PO a government job?
A: Yes, SBI PO is a government job. State Bank of India or SBI is one of the biggest public sector banking entities.
- Is there a probation period for SBI PO?
A: Yes, there is a probation period for SBI PO. Currently, the probation period for SBI PO is 2 years.
- Is there any bond that an employee has to sign during or before the probation period?
A: No, there is no bond that an employee has to sign during or before the probation period. However, if an individual decides to resign, he or she will be required to serve a notice period of 3 months effective from the date of resignation.
- Is SBI PO a permanent job?
A: SBI PO is a permanent job in the public sector. However, it should be noted that the candidate will be required to appear for an exam and clear the same after the end of the probation period of 2 years. The job will be permanent only after that.
- How much is the application fee for the SBI PO bank exam?
The application fee for SBI PO bank exam is zero for SC/ST category and Rs.750 for general category.
- What is a PO post in SBI?
The PO post in SBI stands for Probationary Officer. A Probationary Officer is basically an assistant officer. During the probationary period of 2 years, a PO might be asked to do any kind of job in the branch office - both clerical and official.
Karishma VP has over a decade of experience in content writing which includes over five years specializing in personal finance. Her career in BankBazaar has given her the opportunity to write on a wide variety of financial products ranging from credit cards and home loans to insurance policies and government schemes. She believes that an understanding of personal finance is an important step to leading an independent, empowered life. This has led to her being passionate about learning more about the BFSI sector and writing about personal finance as clearly, concisely, and accurately as possible to make it accessible to a larger audience through BankBazaar.
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