SBI PO Syllabus 2026– Prelims & Mains Subject-Wise Detailed Topics
The SBI PO 2026 examination is one of the most prestigious banking recruitment tests in India. The State Bank of India has officially released the SBI PO 2026 Notification and confirmed the latest examination structure.
The SBI PO recruitment process has three phases, namely Phase I (Preliminary Examination), Phase II (Main Examination), and Phase III (Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Personal Interview). The Prelims are qualifying in nature, while the final merit is prepared using the scores candidates obtain in the Mains and Phase III.
SBI PO 2026 Exam Structure
As mentioned earlier, SBI PO recruitment process follows a multi-phase structure. Candidates must clear each phase to move to the next. The final merit is calculated based on performance in Mains (Objective + Descriptive), Group Exercise, and Interview only.
| Phase | Examination | Marks | Qualifying Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | Preliminary Exam | 100 | Qualifying |
| Phase II | Mains Objective Test | 200 | Merit Based |
| Phase II | Descriptive Test | 30 | Merit Based |
| Phase III | Psychometric Test | Qualifying | Personality Assessment |
| Phase III | Group Exercise | 20 | Merit Based |
| Phase III | Interview | 30 | Merit Based |
NOTE: Final Merit = Mains (Objective + Descriptive) + Group Exercise + Interview. Prelims score is NOT counted in the final tally.
SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 40 | 40 | 20 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 Minutes |
Key Points to Note:
- The SBI PO Exam will be conducted online and the prelims will contain Objective Type Questions
- There will be separate timings for each section with a total of 100 marks for 100 questions.
- There will be no sectional cutoff and negative marking will be applicable.
- Final selection to Phase II will be based on aggregate marks scored in Prelims.
SBI PO Prelims Syllabus 2026
The SBI PO prelims as the first screening stage tests basic aptitude, reasoning ability, and English language proficiency under a strict sectional time limit of 20 minutes per section.
English Language Syllabus (Prelims)
The English Language section in SBI PO Prelims evaluates reading ability, grammar knowledge, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. Candidates who read extensively from quality editorial sources consistently perform better in this section.
Detailed Topic-Wise Syllabus
| Topic | Concepts Covered | Expected Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Inference, Vocabulary, Theme, Tone | 10–15 Questions |
| Cloze Test | Contextual Fillers | 5–7 Questions |
| Error Detection | Grammar & Usage | 3–5 Questions |
| Sentence Improvement | Grammar Application | 3–5 Questions |
| Word Swap | New Pattern Questions | 3–5 Questions |
| Match the Column | Phrase Matching | 4–6 Questions |
| Para Jumbles | Sentence Rearrangement | 3–5 Questions |
| Fillers | Single & Double Fillers | 2–4 Questions |
| Connectors | Sentence Linking | 2–3 Questions |
| Phrase Replacement | Contextual Grammar | 2–3 Questions |
| Vocabulary | Synonyms, Antonyms | Integrated |
Most Important Areas
- Reading Comprehension
- Cloze Test
- Word Swap
- Match the Column
- Error Detection
Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus (Prelims)
The Quantitative Aptitude section evaluates numerical ability, arithmetic understanding, and data interpretation skills. SBI increasingly designs questions that require candidates to apply concepts across multiple steps.
Arithmetic Syllabus
| Chapter | Topics Included | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage | Increase-Decrease, Applications | Very High |
| Ratio & Proportion | Sharing, Comparison | High |
| Average | Weighted Average | High |
| Profit & Loss | Marked Price, Discount | Very High |
| Simple Interest | Banking Applications | Medium |
| Compound Interest | CI Calculations | Medium |
| Time & Work | Efficiency, Pipes & Cistern | High |
| Time, Speed & Distance | Trains, Boats | High |
| Ages | Family Age Problems | Medium |
| Mixture & Allegation | Ratio Based Questions | High |
| Partnership | Business Profit Sharing | Medium |
Advanced Quantitative Topics
| Topic | Importance |
|---|---|
| Number Series | Very High |
| Quadratic Equations | High |
| Simplification | Medium |
| Approximation | Medium |
| Probability | Low |
| Permutation & Combination | Low |
Data Interpretation
| DI Type | Expected Frequency |
|---|---|
| Table DI | Very High |
| Pie Chart DI | High |
| Bar Graph DI | High |
| Line Graph DI | High |
| Missing DI | High |
| Caselet DI | Very High |
Most Important Areas – Quantitative Aptitude (Prelims)
- Data Interpretation (Caselet & Table)
- Number Series
- Percentage & Profit-Loss
- Time & Work
- Quadratic Equations
Reasoning Ability Syllabus (Prelims)
Reasoning Ability is consistently the highest-scoring section for well-prepared candidates. SBI PO Prelims places maximum emphasis on puzzles and seating arrangements.
Puzzles & Seating Arrangement
| Topic | Importance |
|---|---|
| Linear Arrangement | Very High |
| Circular Arrangement | Very High |
| Square Arrangement | High |
| Floor Based Puzzle | Very High |
| Box Puzzle | High |
| Month & Date Puzzle | High |
| Scheduling Puzzle | High |
Logical Reasoning
| Topic | Importance |
|---|---|
| Syllogism | High |
| Inequality | Medium |
| Coding-Decoding | Medium |
| Blood Relation | Medium |
| Direction Sense | Medium |
| Ranking & Order | Medium |
| Alphanumeric Series | Medium |
Analytical Reasoning
| Topic | Importance |
|---|---|
| Input Output | High |
| Data Sufficiency | Medium |
| Logical Reasoning | High |
Most Important Areas – Reasoning Ability (Prelims)
- Seating Arrangement (Circular & Linear)
- Floor-Based Puzzle
- Box Puzzle
- Input-Output
- Syllogism
SBI PO Mains Syllabus 2026
The Mains Examination is the core competitive round. Performance here determines shortlisting for Group Exercise and Interview. The objective test carries 200 marks across four sections, while the Descriptive Test adds 30 marks.
Part A: Objective Test (200 Marks)
| Test | Section | Questions | 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 | 180 Minutes |
Points to Note:
- There are separate timings for each section
- The paper will be held for 3 hours for 170 questions for a total of 200 marks.
- Negative Marking will be applicable
SBI PO Descriptive Test Pattern 2026
One of the most important changes in SBI PO recruitment for 2026 is the new descriptive paper structure as given below.
| Descriptive Component | Options |
|---|---|
| Email Writing | 1 out of 2 |
| Situation Analysis | 1 out of 2 |
| Report Writing OR Precis Writing | 1 out of 2 |
Descriptive Test Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Questions | 3 |
| Total Marks | 30 |
| Duration | 30 Minutes |
| Mode | Computer Based Typing Test |
| Language | English |
What Changed?
The previous SBI PO Descriptive Tests generally focused on Essay and Letter Writing. But the new exam pattern includes Email, Report and Precis Writing along with Situation Analysis.
SBI PO Mains Syllabus
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (Mains)
The Mains Reasoning section is significantly more complex than Prelims. Questions are designed to test analytical thinking under time pressure often requiring multi-step deduction.
Advanced Reasoning Topics
| Topic | Importance |
|---|---|
| High-Level Puzzle | Very High |
| Seating Arrangement | Very High |
| Input Output | High |
| Critical Reasoning | High |
| Cause & Effect | Medium |
| Statement-Assumption | Medium |
| Statement-Conclusion | Medium |
| Course of Action | Medium |
| Decision Making | High |
| Logical Reasoning | High |
Computer Aptitude
| Topic | Concepts |
|---|---|
| Computer Fundamentals | Basic Concepts |
| Hardware | Devices & Components |
| Software | System & Application |
| Operating System | Windows, Linux |
| Networking | LAN, WAN, MAN |
| Internet | WWW, Browser |
| Cyber Security | Malware, Viruses |
| MS Office | Word, Excel, PPT |
| Memory Devices | RAM, ROM |
| Database | DBMS Basics |
Data Analysis & Interpretation (Mains)
Data Analysis & Interpretation is the most high-scoring section in SBI PO Mains, but it is also the most calculation-intensive.
Detailed Syllabus
| Topic | Importance |
|---|---|
| Caselet DI | Very High |
| Table DI | Very High |
| Bar Graph DI | High |
| Pie Chart DI | High |
| Radar DI | Medium |
| Missing DI | High |
| Quantity Comparison | High |
| Data Sufficiency | High |
| Probability | Medium |
| Permutation & Combination | Medium |
General, Economy & Banking Awareness (Mains)
The General/Economy/Banking Awareness section can be a decisive game-changer in SBI PO Mains because it requires less calculation and rewards consistent study of news and conceptual banking knowledge.
Banking Awareness
| Topic | Importance |
|---|---|
| RBI Functions | Very High |
| Monetary Policy | Very High |
| Repo Rate | High |
| Reverse Repo Rate | High |
| CRR | High |
| SLR | High |
| Basel Norms | Medium |
| NPA | High |
| Financial Inclusion | High |
| Banking Ombudsman | Medium |
| Digital Banking | Very High |
| UPI | Very High |
| NEFT | High |
| RTGS | High |
| IMPS | High |
| NPCI | High |
Economy Awareness
| Topic | Importance |
|---|---|
| Budget | Very High |
| Economic Survey | Very High |
| GDP | High |
| Inflation | High |
| Fiscal Deficit | High |
| Capital Market | Medium |
| Money Market | Medium |
Current Affairs
| Area | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Banking News | Last 6 Months |
| Economy News | Last 6 Months |
| National Affairs | Last 6 Months |
| International Affairs | Last 6 Months |
| Awards | Last 6 Months |
| Sports | Last 6 Months |
| Government Schemes | Last 6 Months |
| Summits | Last 6 Months |
ENGLISH LANGUAGE (MAINS)
The English Language section in SBI PO Mains is designed to test advanced reading comprehension and editorial understanding. Questions are longer and more conceptually demanding than in Prelims.
| Topic | Importance |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Very High |
| Editorial RC | Very High |
| Cloze Test | High |
| Error Detection | Medium |
| Word Swap | Medium |
| Connectors | Medium |
| Para Jumbles | Medium |
| Vocabulary | High |
Descriptive English Syllabus
The Descriptive Test evaluates the ability to express ideas clearly, logically, and professionally, as would be expected of a future Probationary Officer.
Descriptive Test Components
| Component | Topics |
|---|---|
| Email Writing | Official Emails, Customer Communication |
| Situation Analysis | Banking & Business Scenarios |
| Report Writing | Banking Reports |
| Precis Writing | Editorial & Economic Topics |
Frequently Asked Themes
| Theme |
|---|
| Digital Banking |
| Financial Literacy |
| Cyber Security |
| Artificial Intelligence |
| Financial Inclusion |
| Women Empowerment |
| Sustainable Development |
| Banking Reforms |
Psychometric Test
The Psychometric Test is a qualifying round with no fixed right or wrong answers. But candidates should respond genuinely and consistently. Inconsistent patterns in responses may raise flags during evaluation.
| Parameter Evaluated |
|---|
| Leadership |
| Integrity |
| Emotional Intelligence |
| Teamwork |
| Decision Making |
| Risk Management |
| Customer Orientation |
| Adaptability |
Group Exercise & Interview
The Group Exercise (20 marks) involves a discussion on a current affairs or banking-related topic among a group of candidates. The Personal Interview (30 marks) assesses banking knowledge, current affairs, personal background, and the candidate's suitability for an officer role.
Interview Topics
| Area | Topics |
|---|---|
| Banking Awareness | RBI, Banking System |
| Economy | Budget, Inflation |
| Current Affairs | Last 6 Months |
| Personal Background | Education, Family |
| Work Experience | If Applicable |
| Situational Questions | Leadership & Ethics |
| SBI Specific Questions | History, Services, Initiatives |
SBI PO 2026 High-priority Topics (80% Coverage Strategy)
Focusing on the highest-weightage topics first is the most effective preparation approach for SBI PO. The table below identifies the most important topics per subject and the expected contribution to the final score.
| Subject | Most Important Topics |
|---|---|
| Quant | Data Interpretation, Arithmetic |
| Reasoning | Puzzles, Seating Arrangement |
| English | Reading Comprehension |
| Banking | RBI, Monetary Policy |
| Current Affairs | Last 6 Months |
| Descriptive | Email Writing |
| Interview | Banking + Current Affairs |
Preparation Priority Ranking
| Priority | Area | Expected Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 25-30 Marks |
| 2 | Data Interpretation | 20-25 Marks |
| 3 | Banking Awareness | 30-40 Marks |
| 4 | Current Affairs | 20-25 Marks |
| 5 | Reading Comprehension | 10-15 Marks |
| 6 | Arithmetic | 10-15 Marks |
| 7 | Descriptive English | 30 Marks |
| 8 | Interview Preparation | 50 Marks |
