SBI PO
State Bank of India — Probationary Officer
SBI PO Recruitment 2026-27: State Bank of India Probationary Officer (Advertisement No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09)
The State Bank of India has invited online applications for the post of Probationary Officer (Junior Management Grade Scale-I) under Advertisement No. CRPD/PO/2026-27/09. This is one of the most coveted banking jobs in India: SBI recruits officers directly into its largest branch network, with a structured three-phase selection process, attractive pay and allowances, and all-India transfer and growth prospects. The advertised strength for this cycle is 1,500 vacancies in total — 1,446 regular vacancies plus 54 backlog positions, and the figures are provisional, subject to revision by the Bank.
This guide covers the confirmed 2026-27 timeline, vacancy breakup, eligibility, fees, the complete exam pattern for Preliminary, Main and Phase III, the final merit formula, syllabus, preparation strategy, call-letter instructions and frequently asked questions. Every date and number below should be cross-checked on the official SBI Careers – Current Openings page before you act on it.
Recruitment Snapshot
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | State Bank of India |
| Post | Probationary Officer (Junior Management Grade Scale-I) |
| Advertisement No. | CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 |
| Total vacancies | 1,500 (1,446 regular + 54 backlog) – provisional |
| Mode of exam | Online (computer-based) for Phases I & II |
| Selection | Phase I (Prelims, qualifying) → Phase II (Mains objective + descriptive) → Phase III (Psychometric Test, Group Exercise, Interview) |
| Application portal | SBI Careers – Current Openings |
Important Dates (Confirmed Process Schedule)
| Event | Date / Status |
|---|---|
| Online registration & payment | 18 June 2026 to 08 July 2026 (completed) |
| Preliminary Examination | Held on 01 and 02 August 2026 |
| Prelims score card | Available from September 2026 |
| Mains call letter download | Released on the careers portal; remained available through late September 2026 |
| Main Examination (Phase II) | 12 September 2026 (scheduled) |
| Phase III – Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview | Expected October / November 2026 |
| Final result / selection list | Expected November / December 2026 |
Note: Vacancies are provisional and phase dates are indicative wherever not yet ratified by the Bank. Candidates must verify the latest schedule on the SBI Careers page, since call-letter windows and exam dates can be revised at short notice.
Vacancy Details
The Bank has advertised 1,500 Probationary Officer posts for 2026-27: 1,446 against fresh regular requirements and 54 carried forward from earlier cycles as backlog positions. Reservation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and PwBD categories follows Government of India and SBI rules, and the category-wise split is published in the detailed notification PDF on the careers portal. The unfilled portion of backlog positions may also feed the subsequent clerical recruitment, as announced by the Bank.
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- A graduate or post-graduate degree in any discipline from a recognised university (or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Association of Universities of India).
- Candidates in their final year of graduation may apply provisionally, subject to the production date and cut-off conditions stated in the notification.
- Knowledge of computer operations is expected, as the exam and the job are both technology-driven.
Age Limit (as on 01 April 2026)
| Category | Age range | Relaxation |
|---|---|---|
| General / Unreserved | 21 – 30 years | — |
| EWS | 21 – 30 years | As per Govt. norms |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 21 – 33 years | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 21 – 35 years | 5 years |
| PwBD | 21 – 40/43/45 years | 10 years (UR), 13 (OBC), 15 (SC/ST) |
| Ex-Servicemen / Defence personnel | Per notification | As per Government of India orders |
Maximum Number of Attempts
| Category | Maximum attempts for PO |
|---|---|
| General / UR and EWS | 6 |
| UR (PwBD), EWS (PwBD), OBC and OBC (PwBD) | 9 |
| SC / ST | No restriction (till the age limit applies) |
An appearance at Prelims itself is generally counted as one attempt, as clarified in the notification.
Application Fee
- Rs. 750 plus applicable payment gateway charges for General, EWS and OBC candidates.
- No fee for SC, ST and PwBD candidates, subject to valid documentation.
- Fee is payable online by debit card, credit card or internet banking only; the fee is non-refundable even if a candidate does not attend the exam.
Selection Process and Exam Pattern
Phase I – Preliminary Examination (Qualifying)
The Prelims held on 01–02 August 2026 was a 100-mark, one-hour objective test with separate sectional timings. Prelims marks are qualifying in nature and are not added to the final merit, but sectional and overall cut-offs decide shortlisting for the Mains.
| Section | Questions | Maximum marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 40 | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
There is a penalty of one-fourth (0.25) of the marks for every wrong answer, and the timer for each section closes automatically once its allotment lapses.
Phase II – Main Examination (Objective + Descriptive)
The Main Examination, scheduled for 12 September 2026, is the decisive written stage: an objective test of 200 marks followed immediately by a descriptive paper of 30 marks. A representative sectional layout (as per the notified pattern) is given below; the notification PDF carries the definitive question and mark weighting.
| Objective section | Questions | Maximum marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test of English Language | 40 | 50 | 40 minutes |
| Test of Reasoning Ability | 50 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation (incl. SQL basics) | 50 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| General / Economy / Banking Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| Objective total | 190 | 200 | 2 hours 45 minutes |
The descriptive paper (30 marks, 30 minutes) is typed on the computer and typically includes business writing such as an email, a report or a letter, plus a precis, all in English. The same 1/4 negative marking applies to the objective sections, and sectional minimum time limits are enforced.
Phase III – Psychometric Test, Group Exercise and Interview (50 marks)
- Psychometric Test – 10 marks: an online assessment of personality orientation and suitability; it forms part of the Phase III evaluation.
- Group Exercise – 15 marks: a group discussion/planning task testing communication, leadership and teamwork.
- Interview – 25 marks: a panel interview on your profile, banking awareness, communication and suitability for a customer-facing officer role.
Final Merit List
The final selection list is prepared by normalising the Phase II score (objective + descriptive) and the Phase III score (out of 50) and weighting them in a 75 : 25 ratio. Phase I marks are only a qualifying gateway. Merit position, category reservation and preference for home state/regions, wherever applicable, together decide the joining offer.
Syllabus Overview
Preliminary Examination
- English: reading comprehension, error spotting, sentence improvement, cloze test, para jumbles, vocabulary in context.
- Quantitative Aptitude: simplification, number series, percentages, ratio, average, profit & loss, time & work, speed, simple and compound interest, elementary data interpretation.
- Reasoning: puzzles and seating arrangement, syllogisms, inequality, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, order and ranking.
Main Examination
- Reasoning: advanced puzzles, critical reasoning, logical and analytical problems.
- Data Analysis & Interpretation: tabular, bar, line, pie and caselet DI, arithmetic-based DI and elementary SQL/query concepts.
- General / Economy / Banking Awareness: current national and international events, economic reforms, budget and surveys, RBI policies, banking products, financial inclusion, digital payments, basics of the Companies Act and banking regulation.
- English: in-depth comprehension, grammar, vocabulary usage and sentence logic.
- Descriptive: email/report/letter writing and precis with focus on structure, coherence and formal business tone.
Preparation Strategy
- Finish the syllabus before the cycle matures: build concepts in Quant and Reasoning first, then shift entirely to practice.
- Solve previous-year papers to understand SBI's difficulty shift and sectional weighting.
- Take timed sectional mocks: SBI enforces strict per-section timers, so practise closing each section within its 20-minute (Prelims) or allotted (Mains) window.
- Read a national newspaper daily and maintain short notes on banking and economic developments for the Mains and the interview.
- Practise typing: the descriptive paper is typed, and keyboard speed of 30–35 words per minute with formal business-writing formats makes a visible difference.
- Analyse every mock for unattempted questions and silly errors; accuracy matters more than raw attempts because of the 0.25 penalty.
- Prepare for Phase III early: form a reading habit for current affairs, practise speaking on a topic for two minutes, and revise your own graduation profile and work experience (if any).
Call Letter / Admit Card Instructions and Exam-Day Cautions
- Download the call letter by logging in with your registration number and password from the SBI Careers portal; the Mains call-letter window remained open into late September 2026 for this cycle.
- Print the prescribed number of copies and paste the photograph exactly as per the format mentioned on the call letter, if required.
- Carry the Preliminary Examination call letter to the Mains venue if the Mains call letter asks for it, along with your proof of fee payment.
- Compulsory original photo ID: Voter ID, Aadhaar (e-Aadhaar accepted if notified), PAN with photo, driving licence or passport — as listed on your call letter. Name on ID must match the application.
- A biometric process (photo, thumb and signature capture) is carried out at the venue for verification; follow invigilator instructions.
- Mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, bags and electronic items are strictly prohibited inside the exam hall; rough sheets are supplied and must be returned.
- Reporting times are enforced — candidates arriving after the stipulated window are usually denied entry.
Salary and Benefits
A selected Probationary Officer is placed in the Junior Management Grade Scale-I with a starting basic pay of Rs. 48,480 (as per the advertised terms), on top of which the Bank pays Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, City Compensatory Allowance, NPS contribution, medical facilities, transport and other allowances. The overall cost-to-company is therefore attractive but genuinely location-dependent, since DA revisions and HRA/CCA rates vary with posting city and prevailing pay-settlement terms; avoid pinning your expectations on any fixed in-hand figure. After the training period and confirmation, officers move up the JMGS ladder with normal promotions to managerial grades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SBI PO exam the same as IBPS PO?
No. SBI conducts its own Probationary Officer recruitment through its careers portal under a separate advertisement number, while IBPS runs the CRP PO/MT exam for other participating public sector banks.
Are Prelims marks included in the final selection?
No. Phase I is purely qualifying. Final merit is based on Phase II and Phase III scores, normalised and weighted 75:25.
Is there negative marking?
Yes — one-fourth of the assigned marks is deducted for each wrong answer in the objective papers of both Prelims and Mains.
Can final-year graduation students apply?
Provisionally yes, provided they meet the certificate-production condition stated in the notification on the prescribed date.
Are the 1,500 vacancies guaranteed?
No. The figure of 1,446 regular plus 54 backlog posts is provisional; the Bank revises vacancies through official corrigendum, and any change is reflected on the careers page.
When will the final result be declared?
As per the current schedule, Phase III is expected in October–November 2026 and the final result in November–December 2026. Verify on the official page for updates.
Official Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| SBI Careers – Current Openings (notification, registration, call letters, results) | sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings |
| State Bank of India – Corporate Website | sbi.co.in |
Disclaimer: This guide is for general awareness only. Vacancy numbers are provisional and dates are drawn from the official process schedule as available on 08 September 2026. Always confirm advertisement details, eligibility, fees and timings directly on the SBI Careers page before applying or making travel plans.