State Bank of India (SBI) has officially released the notification for the SBI PO 2026 examination for a total of 1500 vacancies. If you are aiming to secure a prestigious position as a probationary officer, understanding the eligibility criteria, key dates, selection process, and exam pattern is crucial. Learning how to navigate the SBI PO 2026 Notification details and exam structure at this initial stage will help you design an effective preparation strategy.
Table of Contents ▼ (Click to Open)
- 1. SBI PO 2026 Important Exam Dates
- 2. How to Download SBI PO 2026 Admit Card
- 3. SBI PO 2026 Eligibility Criteria
- 4. SBI PO 2026 Vacancy Details
- 5. SBI PO 2026 Selection Process
- 6. SBI PO Prelims 2026 Exam Pattern
- 7. SBI PO 2026 Salary Structure & Perks
- 8. SBI PO 2026 Exam Centres List
- 9. Conclusion
- 10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
SBI PO 2026 Important Exam Dates
The State Bank of India has announced the prelims exam date for August 1 and 2, 2026. Keep track of all key events to ensure smooth registration and preparation.
Below is the complete official timetable for SBI PO Recruitment 2026:
| Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Post Name | Probationary Officer (PO) |
| Notification Date | 18th June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 8th July 2026 |
| Admit Card Release Date | 22nd July 2026 |
| Prelims Exam Date | 1st and 2nd August 2026 |
| Age Limit | 21 to 30 years |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains, and Interview |
| Mains Exam Date | September 2026 |
| Interview Date | October/November 2026 |
| Final Result | December 2026 |
How to Download SBI PO 2026 Admit Card
Follow these simple steps to download your call letter directly from the official portal once it is released:
• Visit the official SBI website at sbi.co.in/careers or bank.sbi/careers.
• Click on the “Join SBI” tab on the main menu and select “Current Openings”.
• Search for “Recruitment of Probationary Officers” in the list.
• Click on the link “Call Letter for Prelims Exam”.
• Enter your Registration Number / Roll Number and Password / Date of Birth.
• Click submit, download your admit card, and take a printout for exam day.
SBI PO 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before filling out the application form, candidates must ensure they fulfil the nationality, educational, and age qualifications.
1. Citizenship & Nationality
All Indian citizens are eligible to apply for this examination.
2. Educational Qualifications
• A graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or equivalent qualification recognised by the central government.
• Candidates possessing an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) must ensure that the date of passing falls on or before the eligibility cutoff date specified in the advertisement.
• The passing date is strictly evaluated based on the date appearing on the official marksheet or provisional passing certificate.
3. Age Limit & Relaxation Rules
The candidate's age must fall between 21 and 30 years. Upper age relaxations apply for reserved categories as outlined below:
| Social Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 Years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 Years |
| PwD Candidates | PwD (SC/ST): 15 Years | PwD (OBC): 13 Years | PwD (Gen/EWS): 10 Years |
| Ex-Servicemen / Commissioned Officers | 5 Years |
| J&K Domiciled (1980–1989) | 5 Years |
4. Number of Permissible Attempts
SBI strictly restricts the maximum number of attempts allowed for specific categories:
| Category | Maximum Permissible Attempts |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 4 Attempts |
| OBC / General (PwD) / OBC (PwD) | 7 Attempts |
| SC / ST / SC (PwD) / ST (PwD) | No Restriction |
SBI PO 2026 Vacancy Details
SBI has announced a grand total of 1,500 vacancies across regular and backlog seats. Here is the detailed category-wise distribution:
| Category | Regular Vacancies | Backlog Vacancies | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| UR (Unreserved) | 588 | - | 588 |
| SC | 216 | 18 | 234 |
| ST | 108 | 36 | 144 |
| OBC | 390 | - | 390 |
| EWS | 144 | - | 144 |
| Total | 1446 | 54 | 1500 |
SBI PO 2026 Selection Process
The recruitment process consists of three rigorous evaluation tiers:
1. Phase 1: Preliminary Exam
An objective screening test evaluating English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Skills. This stage is qualifying in nature to select candidates for Mains.
2. Phase 2: Mains Exam
Comprises objective testing along with a descriptive test. Topics evaluate Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Banking Awareness, and English Writing.
3. Phase 3: Psychometric Test, Group Discussion & Interview
Final shortlists evaluate candidate personality, leadership potential, communication skills, and workplace suitability.
SBI PO Prelims 2026 Exam Pattern
The Prelims exam features separate sectional timing for all three subjects:
| Name of Test | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 40 | 40 | 20 Minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 Hour (60 Minutes) |
SBI PO 2026 Salary Structure & Perks
The initial basic pay for an SBI Probationary Officer is set at Rs. 27,620 (in the scale of Rs. 23700-980/7-30560-1145/2-32850-1310/7-42020) applicable to Junior Management Grade Scale-I.
Additionally, officers are entitled to Dearness Allowance (D.A.), House Rent Allowance (H.R.A) / Lease rental, City Compensatory Allowance (C.C.A.), Medical benefits, and additional allowances governed by bank rules.
SBI PO 2026 Exam Centres List
The SBI PO Prelims examination will be conducted across multiple venues throughout India:
| S.No. | State / UT | Exam Centres |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andaman & Nicobar | Port Blair |
| 2 | Andhra Pradesh | Anantapur, Chirala, Guntur/Vijayawada, Kadapa, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Ongole, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram |
| 3 | Arunachal Pradesh | Naharlagun |
| 4 | Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur |
| 5 | Bihar | Arrah, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea |
| 6 | Chandigarh (UT) | Chandigarh–Mohali |
| 7 | Chhattisgarh | Bhilai Nagar, Bilaspur, Raipur |
| 8 | Delhi NCR | Delhi / Delhi NCR (All NCR Cities) |
| 9 | Goa | Panaji |
| 10 | Gujarat | Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat/Bardoli, Vadodara/Anand |
| 11 | Haryana | Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram |
| 12 | Himachal Pradesh | Hamirpur, Kangra, Una |
| 13 | Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu, Samba, Srinagar |
| 14 | Jharkhand | Bokaro Steel City, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi |
| 15 | Karnataka | Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Udupi |
| 16 | Kerala | Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kannur, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur |
| 17 | Ladakh | Leh |
| 18 | Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| 19 | Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar, Satna, Ujjain |
| 20 | Maharashtra | Amaravati, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Chandrapur, Dhule, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai/Thane/Navi Mumbai/MMR, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Ratnagiri, Solapur |
| 21 | Manipur | Imphal |
| 22 | Meghalaya | Shillong |
| 23 | Mizoram | Aizawl |
| 24 | Nagaland | Dimapur, Kohima |
| 25 | Odisha | Balasore, Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Rourkela, Sambalpur |
| 26 | Puducherry | Puducherry |
| 27 | Punjab | Amritsar, Bathinda, Mohali, Patiala, Phagwara |
| 28 | Rajasthan | Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur |
| 29 | Sikkim | Gangtok |
| 30 | Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Erode, Kanchipuram, Madurai, Nagercoil, Namakkal, Salem, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Tiruppur, Vellore, Virudhunagar |
| 31 | Telangana | Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal |
| 32 | Tripura | Agartala |
| 33 | Uttar Pradesh | Agra, Aligarh, Prayagraj, Ayodhya, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mathura, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Noida & Greater Noida, Varanasi |
| 34 | Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee |
| 35 | West Bengal | Asansol, Durgapur, Hooghly, Kalyani, Kolkata, Siliguri |
Conclusion
With the SBI PO Prelims notification officially released, aspirants must step up their preparation through intensive practice with PYQs and full-length mock tests. Adopting smart time management while prioritising accuracy will bring you one step closer to achieving your goal of joining State Bank of India as a Probationary Officer.
Double down on your exam strategy with reliable SBI PO preparation and reference resources available at Disha Publication.
To check out official notifications, visit https://sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the SBI PO 2026 Prelims exam date?
Ans. The SBI PO Prelims exam is scheduled for 1st and 2nd August 2026.
Q2. What are the key eligibility criteria for SBI PO 2026?
Ans. Candidates must be Indian citizens with a graduation degree in any discipline. The age limit is 21 to 30 years, with upper age relaxation applicable for reserved categories.
Q3. How many vacancies have been announced for SBI PO 2026?
Ans. A total of 1500 vacancies have been announced, including 1446 regular vacancies and 54 backlog vacancies.
Q4. What is the selection process for SBI PO recruitment?
Ans. The selection process comprises three phases: Phase 1 (Prelims), Phase 2 (Mains Exam), and Phase 3 (Psychometric Test, Group Discussion & Interview).
Q5. What is the exam pattern for SBI PO Prelims 2026?
Ans. The Prelims exam consists of 100 objective questions carrying 100 marks across three sections: English Language (40 marks), Numerical Ability (30 marks), and Reasoning Ability (30 marks) with a total time duration of 1 hour.
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