SBI PO Exam 2026 Notification, Vacancies & Complete Information

SBI PO Exam Highlights

The SBI PO 2026 Notification has been officially released by the State Bank of India, Central Recruitment & Promotion Department (CRPD), Mumbai on June 18, 2026 (Advertisement No: CRPD/PO/2026-27/09).

A total of 1,500 vacancies have been announced for the post of Probationary Officer (PO) in Junior Management Grade Scale-I. Online registration is open from 18 June 2026 to 08 July 2026 at the official SBI careers portal.

The SBI PO 2026 selection process includes three phases: Phase I – Preliminary Examination (August 2026), Phase II – Main Examination / Objective + Descriptive (September 2026), and Phase III – Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview (October / November 2026).

Prelims marks are not counted in the final merit list. Final selection is based on Mains and Interview performance only.

SBI PO 2026: Official Highlights

What is SBI PO?

SBI PO (Probationary Officer) is a national-level officer recruitment examination conducted annually by the State Bank of India for managerial positions across its vast network in India and abroad.

Selected candidates are placed in Junior Management Grade Scale-I and groomed for senior banking leadership roles through a structured probation and training programme.

Why SBI PO is considered the most premium banking job in India:

• Highest starting salary among all Public Sector Bank PO posts
• Fastest and most merit-driven promotion policy in public sector banking
• High exposure role with diverse responsibilities from Day 1
• National and international posting opportunities
• Strong brand value and job security with professional excellence
• World-class training and leadership development programmes

SBI PO 2026 Important Dates

Candidates should take note of all major recruitment events to avoid missing any stage of the selection process.

SBI PO 2026 Vacancy

SBI has announced 1,500 vacancies for the 2026 Probationary Officer recruitment cycle – 1,446 regular vacancies and 54 backlog vacancies.

The above vacancies are provisional and may vary based on the Bank's actual requirements.

PwBD Vacancy Distribution

The 2026 cycle marks a significant increase in vacancies compared to the last two years, making this one of the most opportune cycles in recent times for SBI PO aspirants.

Key Notes on Reservation:

• OBC reservation is available only to Non-Creamy Layer candidates. Creamy Layer OBC candidates must apply as UR.

• OBC certificate must be issued between 01.04.2026 and the date of interview, in the format prescribed by the Government of India.

• EWS candidates must produce an Income & Asset Certificate for FY 2025–26, valid for 2026–27, in the prescribed Government of India format, on the date of document verification at interview.

• PwBD reservation (4% horizontal) is governed by Section 34 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD Act) 2016.

SBI PO 2026 Selection Process

The SBI PO 2026 Selection Process consists of four stages:

• Stage 1: Preliminary Examination (Qualifying)
• Stage 2: Main Examination (Objective + Descriptive)
• Stage 3: Psychometric Test
• Stage 4: Group Exercise & Personal Interview

SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern

Key Points – Prelims:

• Sectional timing applies; candidates cannot switch between sections
• Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer
• No sectional cut-off in Prelims; merit list is drawn on overall aggregate marks
• Approximately 10 times the number of vacancies (category-wise) are shortlisted for Mains

SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern – Objective Test

SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern – Descriptive Paper (Communication Skills)

Note: As per the official 2026 notification, the Descriptive Paper carries 30 marks (not 50), with 3 components: Email Writing, Situation Analysis, and Report or Precis Writing. The Descriptive Paper is administered immediately after the Objective Test and answers are typed on computer.

• Grand Total – Mains: 230 questions / 3 hours 30 minutes

Key Points – Mains:

• Sectional cut-offs apply to all objective sections and the descriptive paper individually
• Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer
• Approximately 3 times the category-wise vacancies are shortlisted for Phase III

Phase III – Psychometric Test, Group Exercise and Interview

Candidates shortlisted after Mains are called for Phase III, which includes:

• Psychometric Test (personality profiling; findings shared with Interview Panel)
• Group Exercise (Group Discussion format; tests teamwork, communication, and problem-solving)
• Personal Interview (tests banking awareness, subject knowledge, situational judgment, and confidence)

Final Selection Formula

Note: The Psychometric Test is conducted for personality profiling. Results are shared with the Interview Panel. All Psychometric Test questions are mandatory. Minimum qualifying marks for Group Exercise & Interview will be decided by the Bank separately.

SBI PO Eligibility Criteria 2026

Educational Qualification

• Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university.

• Equivalent qualifications recognized by the Central Government are also accepted.

• Candidates in the final year or final semester of graduation may apply provisionally.

• Proof of passing graduation must be produced on or before 30 September 2026.

Eligible Professional Qualifications:

• Engineering
• Medical
• Chartered Accountancy
• Cost Accountancy
• Integrated Dual Degree Programmes

SBI PO 2026 Age Limit & Relaxation

Age Limit (as on April 01, 2026):

• Minimum Age: 21 years
• Maximum Age: 30 years

Age Relaxation

Cumulative age relaxation is not available. Candidates must submit valid certificates at the time of Group Exercise / Interview. No change of category is permitted after submission of the online application.

SBI PO 2026 Application Fee

Key Points:

• Fee is non-refundable and cannot be held for any future examination
• Payment online only: Debit Card / Credit Card / Internet Banking / UPI
• Transaction charges are to be borne by the candidate
• Registration window: 18.06.2026 to 08.07.2026

SBI PO 2026 Number Of Attempts

• Appearing in Prelims does not count as an attempt
• Appearing in Mains counts as one attempt
• Candidates who have exhausted maximum permissible attempts are not eligible to apply

How To Apply For SBI PO 2026 (Step-by-Step)

Online applications are accepted only from 18.06.2026 to 08.07.2026. No offline mode is available.

• Visit https://sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings
• Click on Advertisement No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 and select Apply Online

• Register with a valid email ID and mobile number; note your registration number and password

• Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, and exam centre preferences

• Upload scanned photograph, signature, left thumb impression, and handwritten declaration as per the prescribed specifications

• Capture and upload live photograph via webcam or mobile QR scan during registration
• Review the complete form carefully; no corrections are permitted after final submission
• Pay the application fee online and save the e-receipt
• Download and print the application confirmation for future reference

Do not send hard copies of the application to the Bank at any stage.

Documents Required For SBI PO 2026 Application

• Scanned passport-size photograph (recent, colour, white background; 20KB–50KB, 200×230 pixels, JPG/JPEG)
• Scanned signature (black ink, white paper; NOT in capital letters; 10KB–20KB, 140×60 pixels, JPG/JPEG)
• Left thumb impression (black or blue ink, white paper; 20KB–50KB, 240×240 pixels in 200 DPI, JPG/JPEG)
• Handwritten declaration (English, black ink, white paper; NOT in capital letters; 50KB–100KB, 800×400 pixels in 200 DPI, JPG/JPEG)
• Valid photo ID proof: Aadhaar / PAN Card / Passport / Voter ID / Driving Licence / Bank Passbook with photograph
• Educational qualification documents (graduation mark sheets / degree certificate)
• Proof of date of birth
• Category certificate – SC / ST / OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) / EWS, if applicable

PwBD Disability Certificate from a Competent Authority, if applicable (dated on or before the last date of registration)

SBI PO 2026 Admit Card

Call letters for all stages (Pre-Exam Training / Prelims / Mains / Psychometric Test / Group Exercise & Interview) must be downloaded from the SBI careers portal using your registration number and password or date of birth. No hard-copy call letters will be dispatched by post.

Exam Day Instructions:

• Carry a printed call letter and one original valid photo ID proof
• Carry two additional passport-size photographs (same as uploaded during registration)
• For Mains: bring both the original Prelims Call Letter (with authenticated ID copy) and the Mains Call Letter
• Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, pen drives, cameras, and all electronic communication or storage devices are strictly prohibited inside exam premises
• Biometric data (photo, thumb impression, IRIS scan) will be captured at multiple stages

SBI PO 2026 Salary

Allowances and Benefits:

• Dearness Allowance (DA)
• House Rent Allowance (HRA)
• City Compensatory Allowance (CCA)
• Petrol / Conveyance Allowance
• Medical Benefits
• Provident Fund (PF)
• Contributory Pension (NPS)
• Leave Fare Concession (LFC)
• Lease Rental Facility

Career Path: SBI's promotion policy enables meritorious officers to progress from Junior Management Grade Scale-I to Top Management Grade in a relatively short period. International posting opportunities are available through SBI's foreign offices and branches across the globe.

SBI PO Bond Details

Candidates selected as SBI PO must sign a service bond:

• Bond Amount: ₹2,00,000
• Minimum Service Period: 3 Years

The bond will be invoked if the officer resigns before completing three years of service.

SBI PO 2026 Exam Centres

Major examination centres include:

Lucknow, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Patna, Kanpur, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and other centres across India.