SBI PO is the recruitment process the State Bank of India runs to hire Probationary Officers, who join as officers in Junior Management Grade Scale-I. Unlike most public sector bank officer posts, which are filled through the common IBPS PO process, SBI recruits its POs through its own examination. This guide follows the most recent official notification, the 2026 cycle (advertisement CRPD/PO/2026-27/09, published June 2026), which advertised 1,500 vacancies. The process has three phases: an online preliminary exam, an online main exam with a typed descriptive paper, and a final phase made up of a psychometric test, a group exercise and an interview. It suits graduates from any discipline aged 21 to 30 who want an officer's career in India's largest bank.
At a glance
| Conducted by | State Bank of India, Central Recruitment & Promotion Department, Corporate Centre, Mumbai |
| Latest notification | CRPD/PO/2026-27/09; online registration from 18 June to 8 July 2026 |
| Vacancies | 1,500 (1,446 regular and 54 backlog), provisional |
| Mode | Online (computer-based) preliminary and main exams; the descriptive answers are typed |
| Phases | Phase I: Preliminary exam. Phase II: Main exam (objective and descriptive). Phase III: Psychometric test, group exercise and interview |
| Preliminary exam | 100 questions, 100 marks, 1 hour, three separately timed sections |
| Main exam | 170 objective questions for 200 marks in 3 hours, plus a 30-mark descriptive paper in 30 minutes |
| Negative marking | One quarter of the marks for the question, for each wrong answer, in both prelims and mains |
| Age limit | 21 to 30 years as on 1 April 2026, with relaxations for reserved categories |
| Qualification | Graduation in any discipline (final-year students may apply provisionally) |
| Application fee | INR 750 for General/EWS/OBC; nil for SC/ST/PwBD |
| 2026 schedule | Prelims on 1 and 2 August 2026 (reported); mains on 12 September 2026; psychometric test on 31 October 2026; group exercise and interviews from 18 November 2026 |
| Official website | sbi.co.in/web/careers |
Exam pattern
The tables below are from the official SBI PO 2026 advertisement and the "Acquaint Yourself" booklets for the preliminary and main exams.
Phase I: Preliminary exam
| Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 40 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 1 hour |
The total is 100 marks. The notification does not publish a section-wise split of marks for the prelims.
Phase II: Main exam (objective)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| General Awareness / Economy / Banking Knowledge | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 170 | 200 | 3 hours |
Phase II: Main exam (descriptive)
| Part | Choice | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Email writing | 1 out of 2 | 10 |
| Situation analysis writing | 1 out of 2 | 10 |
| Report writing or précis writing | 1 out of 2 options | 10 |
| Total (30 minutes) | 3 answers | 30 |
Notes on the pattern:
- Sectional timing. Every section in both the prelims and the objective part of the mains has its own timer. You cannot carry time from one section to another.
- Marking. Each objective question has five options. For each wrong answer, a quarter of the marks assigned to that question is deducted; unanswered questions carry no penalty. Because the mains sections carry different marks per question, the penalty differs by section: 0.5 marks in Data Analysis & Interpretation (2 marks per question), 0.375 in Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (1.5 marks per question), 0.25 in General Awareness (1 mark per question) and 0.125 in English (0.5 marks per question). The mains booklet adds that a fractional total penalty for a test is rounded to the nearest integer.
- Calculator. In the mains, an on-screen calculator is provided for Data Analysis & Interpretation only. No calculator is allowed in the prelims.
- Language. All sections except English are offered in English and Hindi. The descriptive paper must be written in English.
- Cut-offs. There is no sectional cut-off in the prelims; about ten times the number of vacancies in each category are shortlisted for the mains on aggregate marks. In the mains, you must clear a minimum score in each of the four objective sections and in the descriptive paper, and about three times the vacancies are shortlisted for Phase III.
- Prelims marks do not count towards the final merit list.
Recent changes. Comparing the 2026 advertisement with the 2025 one (CRPD/PO/2025-26/04):
- The descriptive paper fell from 50 marks to 30 marks, still in 30 minutes. In 2025 emails and reports were compulsory, with a choice between situation analysis and précis; in 2026 emails and situation analysis are compulsory, with a choice between report writing and précis writing, at 10 marks each.
- The written total therefore fell from 250 to 230 marks, and the final weighting table now reads 230 + 50 = 280 (it was 250 + 50 = 300). The written exam is still scaled to 75 and the group exercise and interview to 25.
- The maximum number of attempts rose from 4 to 6 for General and EWS candidates, and from 7 to 9 for OBC and PwBD (General/EWS) candidates. SC and ST candidates have no limit.
- Vacancies rose from 541 in 2025 to 1,500 in 2026.
- A CIBIL (credit history) clause in the 2026 advertisement was removed by a corrigendum dated 1 July 2026.
The prelims pattern and the objective part of the mains are unchanged from 2025.
What each section tests
The topic descriptions below follow SBI's own section names and the sample questions in its official booklets. SBI notes that the samples are illustrative, not exhaustive.
English Language (prelims and mains)
Grammar, vocabulary, sentence completion, synonyms, antonyms, error spotting and reading comprehension passages. In the mains, English has 40 questions but only 20 marks, so each question is worth half a mark.
Quantitative Aptitude (prelims)
SBI describes this as a test of how fast and accurately you deal with numbers: computation, quantitative reasoning and interpreting tables and graphs. The official samples include a table-based data set and short arithmetic problems such as profit and loss. Time is tight: 30 questions in 20 minutes, or 40 seconds per question. SBI does not publish a topic list, but past papers typically draw on school arithmetic (percentages, ratios, averages, interest, time and work), quick calculation and short data interpretation sets.
Reasoning Ability (prelims) and Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (mains)
The official samples include odd-one-out, analogies, word formation, syllogisms, coded operations and data sufficiency. In practice the section also uses puzzles and seating arrangements. The mains version adds computer aptitude, which tests basic knowledge of working with computers.
Data Analysis & Interpretation (mains)
SBI describes this as a test of how fast and accurately you handle numbers: computation, quantitative reasoning and interpreting tables and graphs. It has 30 questions worth 60 marks in 45 minutes, so it is one of the two heaviest sections, and an on-screen calculator is provided.
General Awareness / Economy / Banking Knowledge (mains)
Sixty questions on current events, the Indian economy and banking (the official samples include KYC, monetary policy and economic policy). This is a knowledge section: you either know the answer or you do not, and it rewards months of regular reading.
Descriptive paper (mains)
Typed answers in English: an email, a situation analysis and either a report or a précis. These test clear, structured business writing.
How it compares with IBPS PO
| SBI PO 2026 | IBPS PO 2026 (CRP PO/MT-XVI) | |
|---|---|---|
| Recruits for | State Bank of India only | 11 participating public sector banks |
| Vacancies | 1,500 | 7,565 indicative (as updated by IBPS on 27 August 2026), for 2027–28 |
| Minimum age | 21 years | 20 years |
| Prelims | 100 questions in 60 minutes; English 40, Quant 30, Reasoning 30 | 100 questions in 60 minutes; English 30, Quant 35, Reasoning 35 |
| Prelims cut-off | No sectional cut-off; aggregate merit | Must qualify in each of the three sections |
| Mains objective | 170 questions, 200 marks, 3 hours | 170 questions, 200 marks, 160 minutes |
| Mains descriptive | Email, situation analysis, report or précis; 30 marks | Essay and comprehension; 25 marks |
| Final stage | Psychometric test, group exercise (20) and interview (30) | Personality test and interview (100) |
| Final weighting | Written 75 : group exercise and interview 25 | Mains 80 : interview 20 |
| Application fee | INR 750 (nil for SC/ST/PwBD) | INR 850 (INR 175 for SC/ST/PwBD) |
In general terms:
- The syllabus is very similar. Both test English, quant, reasoning, data interpretation and banking awareness, so one preparation covers both. Many candidates sit both in the same year.
- SBI has a group exercise; IBPS does not. SBI's final phase includes a group exercise worth 20 marks alongside the interview.
- The prelims differ in balance. SBI gives English 40 questions; IBPS gives it 30 and requires you to clear each section separately.
- SBI is a single bank. You join SBI directly. IBPS allots successful candidates to one of the participating banks.
See our IBPS PO guide for the full IBPS pattern.
How Pareto Academy helps
Pareto Academy is built around CAT. The arithmetic and data interpretation in CAT overlap with SBI PO, but SBI PO rewards speed on short questions (about 40 seconds each in the prelims quant section), whereas CAT questions are longer and need more steps. Use our material to build understanding, then drill speed separately.
| SBI PO section | Covered by Pareto? | What to use |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude (prelims) | Partly | Quant questions, formula sheet and how to improve your Quant score for arithmetic concepts; simplification, approximation and number-series drills are not covered |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation (mains) | Yes | DILR questions for tables, charts and caselets |
| Reasoning: puzzles and seating arrangements | Partly | DILR questions and seating arrangement and puzzle strategies |
| Reasoning: short question types (syllogisms, coding-decoding, inequalities, blood relations, series) | Not yet | Official SBI sample questions and past papers |
| Computer Aptitude | Not yet | Official SBI material |
| English Language | Partly | VARC questions, daily reading and reading comprehension strategy for comprehension; grammar, error spotting and vocabulary drills are not covered |
| General Awareness / Economy / Banking Knowledge | Limited | Our Knowledge series on the RBI (central banking, started); for the rest, a daily newspaper and official RBI and government releases |
| Descriptive paper (email, situation analysis, report, précis) | Not yet | Daily reading helps with reading speed, but there is no writing practice |
| Psychometric test, group exercise and interview | Not yet | Not covered |
| SBI PO-pattern mocks | Not yet | Our mocks follow the CAT pattern, not SBI PO; use them for DI and reading stamina, and see how to analyse a mock |
In short, Pareto can help with the quant concepts, data interpretation, puzzles and reading parts of the paper. For general and banking awareness, computer aptitude, the short reasoning types, the descriptive paper and the interview, you will need other material.
Selection process and posts
Post. Probationary Officer, in Junior Management Grade Scale-I. Selected candidates may be posted anywhere in India.
Selection. The 2026 advertisement sets out three phases:
- Phase I: Preliminary exam. A screening test; about ten times the vacancies in each category go through to the mains, on aggregate marks.
- Phase II: Main exam. Objective (200 marks) and descriptive (30 marks). You must clear each section and a minimum aggregate; about three times the vacancies go through to Phase III.
- Phase III: Psychometric test, group exercise and interview. The psychometric test profiles personality, and its findings go to the interview panel. The group exercise carries 20 marks and the interview 30.
Final merit. Mains marks (230) and Phase III marks (50) are scaled to 75 and 25 respectively, for a total out of 100. You must qualify separately in Phase II and Phase III. Prelims marks are not counted.
Eligibility (2026).
- Age: 21 to 30 years as on 1 April 2026 (born between 2 April 1996 and 1 April 2005, both inclusive). The upper limit is relaxed by 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer), 5 years for SC/ST, 10 to 15 years for PwBD depending on category, and 5 years for eligible ex-servicemen.
- Qualification: Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university. Final-year students may apply, but must show they passed by 30 September 2026 if called for interview.
- Attempts: 6 for General/EWS, 9 for OBC and PwBD (General/EWS), unlimited for SC/ST. Only appearing in the mains counts as an attempt.
Pay and terms. The starting basic pay is INR 48,480 plus four advance increments, in the JMGS-I scale. SBI states an approximate cost to company of INR 21.97 lakh a year at the initial scale in Mumbai. POs are on probation for two years, and must sign a bond of INR 2 lakh to serve at least three years.
Preparation tips
- Build speed for the prelims. Thirty quant questions in 20 minutes is 40 seconds each. Practise arithmetic, simplification and approximation against the clock until the basic calculations are automatic.
- Protect your mains score in DI and reasoning. These two sections carry 120 of the 200 objective marks. A wrong answer costs 0.375 marks in reasoning and 0.5 in DI (2 marks per question), so be selective rather than guessing.
- Start general awareness early. Sixty questions on current affairs, economy and banking cannot be crammed in the last month. Read a newspaper daily and keep short notes on banking and RBI developments.
- Prepare for the revised descriptive paper. The 2026 format asks for an email, a situation analysis and a report or précis. Practise typing these in English within 30 minutes, since answers are typed, not handwritten.
- Do not neglect English. It is 40 of the 100 prelims questions, and with no sectional cut-off in the prelims, a strong English score can lift your aggregate.
- Take SBI-pattern mocks. The sectional timers and question styles differ from CAT and from IBPS, so practise on full papers in the SBI format.
- Plan for both SBI and IBPS. In 2026 the two cycles overlapped: SBI held its prelims in August and mains on 12 September, while the IBPS PO notification scheduled its prelims for August and its mains for October. The syllabus overlap means one preparation plan serves both.
Frequently asked questions
Which notification does this guide use?
The SBI PO 2026 advertisement, CRPD/PO/2026-27/09, with online registration from 18 June to 8 July 2026, and its corrigendum dated 1 July 2026.
Is there negative marking in SBI PO?
Yes, in both the prelims and the objective part of the mains. For each wrong answer, a quarter of the marks assigned to that question is deducted. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
What changed in SBI PO 2026?
The descriptive paper was cut from 50 to 30 marks and restructured (email, situation analysis, and a report or précis), the maximum number of attempts was raised (from 4 to 6 for General/EWS), and vacancies rose to 1,500 from 541 in 2025. The prelims and the objective mains pattern did not change.
Do prelims marks count in the final selection?
No. The prelims is a screening test. The final merit list combines the main exam (scaled to 75) and the group exercise and interview (scaled to 25).
Can final-year students apply?
Yes, provisionally. If called for the interview, you must show that you passed your graduation on or before 30 September 2026.
How many attempts are allowed?
Six for General and EWS candidates, nine for OBC and for PwBD candidates in the General/EWS categories, and no limit for SC and ST candidates. Only appearing in the main exam counts as an attempt.
Sources
- SBI Careers: current openings: list of documents for advertisements CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 and CRPD/PO/2025-26/04, including the prelims and mains results (accessed 24 October 2026). The old address, sbi.co.in/web/careers, now redirects here.
- SBI PO 2026 detailed advertisement (CRPD/PO/2026-27/09): vacancies, schedule, eligibility, age relaxations, attempts, fee, prelims and mains pattern, negative marking, Phase III marks, final weighting, pay and bond (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SBI PO 2026 corrigendum, 1 July 2026: removal of the CIBIL clause (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SBI PO 2026 preliminary exam "Acquaint Yourself" booklet: prelims sections, five options per question, no calculator, bilingual papers, sample questions (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SBI PO 2026 main exam "Acquaint Yourself" booklet: mains date of 12 September 2026, section pattern, descriptive paper structure, on-screen calculator for DI, sample questions (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SBI notice on Phase III dates: psychometric test on 31 October 2026; group exercise and interviews from 18 November 2026 (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SBI PO 2025 detailed advertisement (CRPD/PO/2025-26/04): 2025 vacancies, 50-mark descriptive paper, attempt limits and final weighting, used to identify the 2026 changes (accessed 24 October 2026)
- IBPS CRP PO/MT-XVI detailed notification: participating banks, indicative vacancies, age limit, fee, prelims and mains pattern, sectional qualifying in prelims, interview marks and 80:20 weighting (accessed 24 October 2026)
- SBI PO prelims result 2026, as reported by Careers360 (2 September 2026): prelims exam held on 1 and 2 August 2026 (accessed 24 October 2026)
Researched from official sources on 24 October 2026. Exam patterns change from year to year: always confirm the latest details on the official website before you apply.