SBI PO 2026 Notification — Vacancies, Eligibility & How to Apply

The State Bank of India has released the SBI PO 2026 Notification for the recruitment of Probationary Officers (POs). Approximately 2,000 vacancies have been announced for this year's recruitment cycle. SBI, being India's largest public sector bank with over 22,000 branches, offers unmatched career opportunities in the banking sector.

SBI PO is widely considered the most prestigious banking exam in India. The rigorous three-stage selection process — Prelims, Mains, and Interview — ensures that only the most capable candidates are selected. POs undergo a 2-year probation period during which they are trained in various banking operations before confirmation as officers.

Key Highlights

Detail	Information
Conducting Body	State Bank of India
Post	Probationary Officer
Total Vacancies	2,000 (approximate)
Qualification	Graduation in any discipline
Selection	Prelims → Mains → Interview/GE
Official Website	sbi.co.in/careers

SBI PO salary starts at ₹41,960 per month (basic) under JMGS-I scale, which is higher than IBPS PO due to SBI's additional special allowance. The gross salary with DA, HRA, and other allowances ranges from ₹56,000 to ₹65,000 per month initially. SBI officers enjoy India's best banking perks including leased accommodation, vehicle allowance, and comprehensive medical coverage.

The selection includes a Group Exercise (GE) and Interview, together carrying significant weightage. SBI conducts its own recruitment independently from IBPS, and selected candidates are posted only in SBI and its associate offices.

Event	Date
Notification Release	2026-03-01
Online Application Start	2026-03-15
Application Last Date	2026-04-30
Prelims Exam	June 2026
Mains Exam	July 2026
Interview/GE	September 2026

Educational Qualification

Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university or equivalent qualification. Final year students are eligible to apply provisionally.

Age Limit

21 to 30 years

Age Relaxation

OBC-NCL: 3 years | SC/ST: 5 years | PwBD: 10 years | Ex-Servicemen: 5 years

Category	Fee (₹)
General	₹750
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	₹750
SC / ST	₹125
Female (all categories)	₹125
PwD / Ex-Servicemen	₹125

Prelims

Mains (Objective + Descriptive)

Post Name	Pay Level	Basic Pay (₹/month)
SBI PO (Initial)	JMGS-I	₹41,960
SBI PO (after 7 years)	JMGS-I	₹52,390

Release Date: To Be Announced

→ Download Admit Card

• Visit sbi.co.in/careers and navigate to the PO recruitment section
• Click on "Download Admit Card" or "Call Letter" link for SBI PO 2026
• Log in with your Registration Number and Date of Birth or Password
• Download and print the admit card on A4 paper
• Carry the printed admit card to the examination hall
• Carry one valid photo ID proof: Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID, Driving Licence, or PAN Card — candidates without both documents will not be permitted to enter

Year	Category	Cutoff Score	Total Marks
2024	General	Varies by State	100
2024	OBC	Varies by State	100
2024	SC	Varies by State	100
2024	ST	Varies by State	100
2023	General	Varies by State	100
2023	OBC	Varies by State	100
2023	SC	Varies by State	100
2023	ST	Varies by State	100
2022	General	Varies by State	100
2022	OBC	Varies by State	100
2022	SC	Varies by State	100
2022	ST	Varies by State	100

Result Date: To Be Announced

→ Check Result

→ Download Merit List

SBI PO 2026 Notification: Vacancy, Salary, Eligibility, Dates

What is the SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern and Selection Process?

The SBI PO selection process is a three-tiered structure designed to select the most suitable candidates. It consists of Phase-I (Preliminary Exam), Phase-II (Main Exam), and Phase-III (Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview). Candidates must qualify in each phase to be considered for the final merit list.

Phase-I: Preliminary Examination

The Prelims is an objective test of 100 marks conducted online. It is a qualifying examination, and marks obtained will not be counted for the final merit list. There is a negative marking of 1/4th mark for each wrong answer.

English Language303020 minutesQuantitative Aptitude353520 minutesReasoning Ability353520 minutesTotal1001001 Hour

Phase-II: Main Examination

The Main exam consists of an Objective Test of 200 marks and a Descriptive Test of 50 marks. Both tests are conducted online. The Objective Test has separate timings for each section, and there is a penalty of 1/4th mark for wrong answers.

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude405050 minutesData Analysis & Interpretation305045 minutesGeneral/ Economy/ Banking Awareness506045 minutesEnglish Language354040 minutesTotal (Objective)1552003 Hours

Immediately after the objective test, a Descriptive Test of 30 minutes duration with 50 marks will be administered. This test assesses writing skills through Letter Writing & Essay.

Phase-III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview

Candidates who qualify the Mains are called for the final phase. This phase has a total of 50 marks (Group Exercise: 20 marks, Interview: 30 marks). The final merit list is prepared based on the marks obtained in the Main Examination (out of 250) and Phase-III (out of 50), which are then normalized to 100.

What are the Previous Year Cut-off Trends for SBI PO?

Analyzing previous year cut-offs helps aspirants gauge the level of competition and set a target score for themselves. The SBI PO cut-off is determined by several factors, including the number of vacancies, the difficulty level of the exam, and the number of candidates appearing. The cut-off varies each year and for each category.

Below is the category-wise cut-off for the SBI PO 2023 Preliminary examination for reference. Candidates must aim to score significantly higher than the previous year's cut-off to ensure their selection for the Mains exam. The final selection depends on the combined score of the Mains and the Interview phase.

SBI PO Prelims Cut-off 2023

General (GEN)59.50Economically Weaker Section (EWS)59.50Other Backward Classes (OBC)59.50Scheduled Caste (SC)53.00Scheduled Tribe (ST)47.50

Source: Data based on SBI PO 2023 official results. The 2026 cut-offs may vary.

SBI PO 2026 Important Dates (Tentative)

The State Bank of India will release the official schedule for the SBI PO 2026 recruitment process along with its notification. The dates provided below are tentative, based on the previous year's schedule, to help candidates plan their preparation strategy. Please refer to the official notification on sbi.co.in for the final dates.

Official Notification ReleaseSeptember 2026Online Application Start DateSeptember 2026Online Application End DateOctober 2026Prelims Admit Card DownloadOctober / November 2026SBI PO Preliminary Exam DateNovember 2026SBI PO Prelims ResultDecember 2026Mains Admit Card DownloadDecember 2026 / January 2027SBI PO Main Exam DateJanuary 2027SBI PO Mains ResultFebruary 2027Phase-III: Interview & Group ExerciseFebruary / March 2027Final Result DeclarationMarch 2027

Important Links for SBI PO 2026

Candidates should bookmark the official SBI website for the latest updates regarding the SBI PO 2026 recruitment. All official communication, including the notification, application link, and admit cards, will be hosted on this portal.

Download Official Notification PDF (2026)Link will be activated hereApply Online for SBI PO 2026Link will be activated hereOfficial SBI Careers Websitesbi.co.in/web/careers

/sbi-clerk-notification,/ibps-po-notification,/rbi-grade-b-notification,/sbi-po-syllabus,/sbi-po-previous-year-papers

How Many Vacancies are Expected for SBI PO 2026?

The State Bank of India is expected to announce over 2000 vacancies for the post of Probationary Officer for the 2026 recruitment cycle. The final category-wise and state-wise vacancy distribution will be published along with the official notification on sbi.co.in. The numbers provided below are tentative and based on previous recruitment trends.

The vacancies include a backlog for certain categories, which will be specified in the detailed advertisement. A certain percentage of vacancies are also reserved horizontally for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). Aspirants are advised to check the official notification for the exact number of vacancies before applying.

SBI PO Vacancy 2026 (Expected)

General (UR)810Other Backward Classes (OBC)540Economically Weaker Section (EWS)200Scheduled Caste (SC)300Scheduled Tribe (ST)150Total2000PwBD Reserved Vacancies (Horizontal Reservation)LD20VI20HI20d & e20

Note: The above vacancy distribution is purely indicative. The final numbers will be confirmed by SBI.

How to Prepare for the SBI PO 2026 Exam?

A structured and consistent preparation strategy is key to cracking the SBI PO exam. Given the high competition, candidates must focus on understanding concepts, practicing regularly, and managing time effectively. A subject-wise approach is recommended for comprehensive coverage of the syllabus.

Quantitative Aptitude

This section is calculation-intensive. Focus heavily on Data Interpretation (DI) as it carries significant weightage. Strengthen your basics in topics like Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, and Averages, as these are fundamental to solving DI sets. Practice at least 2-3 DI sets and 10-15 simplification/approximation questions daily.

Reasoning Ability

Puzzles and Seating Arrangement are the most dominant topics in this section. Practice various types of puzzles (floor-based, linear, circular, scheduling) to improve your speed and accuracy. Do not neglect other topics like Syllogism, Blood Relations, and Inequality, as they are often less time-consuming and can boost your score.

English Language

Develop a habit of reading daily, preferably from financial newspapers like The Economic Times or Livemint. This improves vocabulary, comprehension skills, and grammar. Focus on practicing Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, and Para Jumbles. Regular practice is essential to master this section.

General/Economy/Banking Awareness

This section is crucial for the Mains exam. Cover current affairs of the last 6-8 months before the exam date. Pay special attention to banking and financial news, government schemes, union budget, and static banking concepts. Refer to reliable sources and make concise notes for quick revision.

SBI PO 2026 Notification (Expected). Check tentative dates, ~2000 vacancies, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, and salary structure. Apply online at sbi.co.in.

How to Apply Online for SBI PO 2026?

The application process for SBI PO 2026 will be conducted exclusively online through the official SBI careers portal. Candidates must have a valid email ID and mobile number, which should be kept active until the declaration of final results. Follow these steps carefully to submit your application successfully.

1. Visit the Official Website: Go to the SBI careers page at sbi.co.in/web/careers and find the link for 'Recruitment of Probationary Officers'.
2. New Registration: Click on the 'Click here for New Registration' tab. Enter your basic information like name, mobile number, and email ID to generate a provisional registration number and password.
3. Fill Application Form: Log in using the registration number and password to complete the application form with personal, academic, and communication details.
4. Upload Documents: Scan and upload your recent photograph, signature, left thumb impression, and a handwritten declaration as per the specifications mentioned in the notification. The declaration text will be provided in the official advertisement.
5. Preview and Submit: Carefully verify all the details entered in the application form before final submission. No changes will be allowed after clicking the final submit button.
6. Pay Application Fee: Proceed to the payment gateway and pay the application fee using a debit card, credit card, or internet banking.
7. Print Application: After successful payment, take a printout of the e-receipt and the final application form for your records.

Application Fee Details (Expected)

General / EWS / OBC₹750/- (Application Fee including intimation charges)SC / ST / PwBDNIL