Banking

SBI Probationary Officer Examination (SBI PO)

State Bank of India (SBI)

Post: Probationary Officer

Last updated 04 Sep 2026

Important Dates

Start Date: 18 Jun 2026
Last Date: 08 Jul 2026
Exam Date: 01 Aug 2026

Notification Summary

State Bank of India has released the SBI Probationary Officer (PO) 2026 notification under advertisement number CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 for 1,500 vacancies in the Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I) officer cadre. This is close to three times the 541 posts announced in the 2025-26 cycle, making it one of the largest SBI PO drives in recent years.

Online registration was open from 18 June 2026 to 8 July 2026. Preliminary examination call letters were released on 22 July 2026, and the preliminary examination was conducted on 1 and 2 August 2026 in four shifts on each day.

Candidates who clear the preliminary stage move to the main examination, followed by Phase 3 — a psychometric test, group exercise and interview. Prelims scores are only a screening filter and do not count towards the final merit list.

Applications for the 2026-27 cycle are now closed. SBI runs this recruitment annually, so candidates targeting the next cycle should watch the official SBI careers portal for the 2027-28 advertisement.

Eligibility

Educational qualification: A Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. Candidates in the final year or final semester of graduation may apply provisionally, on the condition that they produce proof of graduation on or before the date specified in the notification.

Integrated dual-degree (IDD) candidates must ensure that the date of passing the IDD falls on or before the cut-off date. Candidates holding a Chartered Accountant qualification are also eligible to apply on the terms set out in the advertisement.

Nationality: A citizen of India; or a subject of Nepal or Bhutan; or a Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 intending to settle permanently; or a person of Indian origin who has migrated from a specified country intending to settle permanently in India. Candidates in the latter categories must hold an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India.

Age Limit

21 – 30 years

Age is reckoned as on the cut-off date stated in the official advertisement. Upper age limit relaxations:

SC / ST — 5 years
OBC (non-creamy layer) — 3 years
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (General / EWS) — 10 years
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (OBC) — 13 years
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (SC / ST) — 15 years
Ex-servicemen, Commissioned Officers including ECOs and SSCOs — 5 years
Widows, divorced women and women judicially separated who have not remarried — 7 years

Relaxations are cumulative only where the notification expressly allows it. Always confirm your entitlement against the official advertisement before applying.

Vacancy Details

Total: 1,500

Expected Salary

₹48,000 – ₹90,000

Selected candidates are appointed in Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I). Starting basic pay is approximately Rs. 48,480 per month, progressing through the officer pay scale with annual increments.

Beyond basic pay, officers receive Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance or bank-leased accommodation, City Compensatory Allowance, a learning allowance, medical benefits for self and family, newspaper and entertainment reimbursement, and concessional interest rates on staff housing, car and personal loans.

Gross monthly emoluments typically work out to roughly Rs. 85,000 to Rs. 90,000 at a metro posting, varying with city classification and the allowances actually drawn. Two additional increments are granted to candidates holding the professional qualifications specified in the notification. Confirm exact figures in the official advertisement.

Selection Process

Selection runs across three phases.

PHASE 1 — PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION (100 marks, qualifying only)
Objective online test of 1 hour, with a separate 20-minute limit for each section:
English Language — 30 questions, 30 marks
Quantitative Aptitude — 35 questions, 35 marks
Reasoning Ability — 35 questions, 35 marks
Candidates numbering about 10 times the vacancies are shortlisted category-wise for the mains. Preliminary marks do not count towards the final merit list.

PHASE 2 — MAIN EXAMINATION (230 marks)
Objective test — 170 questions, 200 marks, 3 hours:
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude — 40 questions, 50 marks, 50 minutes
Data Analysis & Interpretation — 30 questions, 50 marks, 45 minutes
General / Economy / Banking Awareness — 60 questions, 60 marks, 45 minutes
English Language — 40 questions, 40 marks, 40 minutes

Descriptive test — 30 marks, 30 minutes, testing English writing skills through a letter and an essay. From this cycle the descriptive paper carries 30 marks instead of 50, bringing the mains total down from 250 to 230.

PHASE 3 — PSYCHOMETRIC TEST, GROUP EXERCISE & INTERVIEW
Candidates shortlisted from the mains are called for a group exercise and interview. A psychometric test may be administered, and its output is used as an input during the interview.

NEGATIVE MARKING — 0.25 marks, one-fourth of the marks assigned, are deducted for every wrong answer in the objective papers of both prelims and mains. Unattempted questions carry no penalty.

FINAL MERIT — Prepared from the main examination and Phase 3 scores combined. Preliminary marks are excluded. Sectional cut-offs apply at the mains stage.

Application Fee

General / OBC / EWS — Rs. 750 per application
SC / ST / PwBD — Nil, fully exempted

The fee is non-refundable and is paid online during registration by debit card, credit card, internet banking, UPI or the other modes listed on the application portal. Any bank transaction charges are borne by the candidate.

Qualifications

Graduate

Applications closed

Last date was 08 Jul 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to apply for Probationary Officer?

A Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university is the core requirement, and final-year students may apply provisionally if they can produce proof of graduation by the date given in the notification. Applicants must be between 21 and 30 years of age as on the cut-off date, before category relaxations.

What is the selection process for Probationary Officer?

Three phases: a qualifying preliminary examination of 100 marks, a main examination of 230 marks combining a 200-mark objective paper with a 30-mark descriptive paper, and Phase 3 comprising a psychometric test, group exercise and interview. The final merit list is built from the mains and Phase 3 only.

Is there negative marking in the SBI PO exam?

Yes. One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question, that is 0.25 marks, is deducted for each wrong answer in the objective papers of both the preliminary and main examinations. Questions left unanswered carry no penalty, so blind guessing is costly.

Do SBI PO prelims marks count in the final merit list?

No. The preliminary examination is purely a screening stage. Only the main examination and Phase 3 scores are used to prepare the final merit list, so a modest prelims score does not disadvantage a candidate who clears the cut-off.

How many attempts are allowed for SBI PO?

General and EWS candidates are permitted 4 attempts, OBC candidates 7 attempts, and SC, ST and PwBD candidates have no attempt limit within the prescribed age band. An attempt is counted only where the candidate appeared in the preliminary examination. Confirm the current position in the official advertisement.

What changed in the SBI PO 2026 exam pattern?

The descriptive paper in the main examination was reduced from 50 marks to 30 marks, taking the mains total from 250 marks to 230 marks. The objective component remains 170 questions for 200 marks across four sections in 3 hours.

When was the SBI PO 2026 preliminary exam held?

The preliminary examination was conducted on 1 and 2 August 2026, in four shifts on each day. Call letters were released on 22 July 2026 and were downloaded from the SBI careers portal using the registration number and date of birth or password.

What is the last date to apply for Probationary Officer?

The last date to apply is 08 July 2026. Applications opened on 18 June 2026.

How many vacancies are there in Probationary Officer?

A total of 1,500 vacancies have been announced by State Bank of India.

What is the age limit for Probationary Officer?

Applicants must be between 21 and 30 years of age. Age is reckoned as on the cut-off date stated in the official advertisement. Upper age limit relaxations: SC / ST — 5 years OBC (non-creamy layer) — 3 years Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (General / EWS) — 10 years Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (OBC) — 13 years Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (SC / ST) — 15 years Ex-servicemen, Commissioned Officers including ECOs and SSCOs — 5 years Widows, divorced women and women judicially separated who have not remarried — 7 years Relaxations are cumulative only where the notification expressly allows it. Always confirm your entitlement against the official advertisement before applying.

What is the salary for Probationary Officer?

The indicative monthly pay is ₹48,000 to ₹90,000. Confirm the exact pay scale in the official notification.

What is the application fee for Probationary Officer?

General / OBC / EWS — Rs. 750 per application SC / ST / PwBD — Nil, fully exempted The fee is non-refundable and is paid online during registration by debit card, credit card, internet banking, UPI or the other modes listed on the application portal. Any bank transaction charges are borne by the candidate.

When is the Probationary Officer exam?

The exam is scheduled for 01 August 2026.

How do I apply for Probationary Officer?

Applications are submitted online on the official website (https://sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings). Read the official notification in full before applying, and submit before 08 July 2026.