The State Bank of India (SBI) has officially released the detailed recruitment notification (ADVERTISEMENT NO: CRPD/PO/2026-27/09) for the recruitment of Probationary Officers (PO) for the financial year 2026 – 27. A total of 1,500 vacancies have been announced across various categories, and the online application process has started. The application process opened on June 18, 2026, and the last date to apply is July 8, 2026. Candidates can apply online through SBI’s official careers portal.
Important Dates
- Online Registration & Fee Payment: June 18, 2026, to July 8, 2026
- Preliminary Exam: August 2026
- Main Examination: September 2026
- Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview: October / November 2026
- Final Result: November / December 2026
Vacancy Details
SBI has announced a total of 1,500 vacancies. This includes 1,446 regular vacancies and 54 backlog vacancies. The category-wise distribution is as follows:
| Category | Regular Vacancies | Backlog Vacancies | Total Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 588 | — | 588 |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 390 | — | 390 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 216 | 18 | 234 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 108 | 36 | 144 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 144 | — | 144 |
| Total | 1,446 | 54 | 1,500 |
Note: A horizontal reservation of 4% is provided for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), resulting in a total of 61 vacancies across sub-categories.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must verify eligibility for the SBI PO 2026 recruitment before applying :
- Age Limit (As on 01.04.2026): Applicants should be between 21 and 30 years of age. This means candidates must have been born no later than April 1, 2005, and no earlier than April 2, 1996 (both days inclusive). Upper age relaxation is permitted by 3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST, and 10 to 15 years for PwBD candidates, depending on their primary category.
- Educational Qualification (As on 30.09.2026): A graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university is mandatory. Final year or final semester students may apply provisionally, but they must submit proof of graduation on or before September 30, 2026, if they reach the interview stage.
- CIBIL Status: Candidates with adverse credit history or defaults under any lending arrangements (including credit card dues) must regularise or repay their outstanding dues on or before the date of joining to remain eligible.
Application Fees & Number of Attempts
The application fee is ₹750 for candidates belonging to the General, EWS, and OBC categories. Candidates from the SC, ST, and PwBD categories are exempt from paying the application fee. The fee, once paid, is non-refundable.
The notification also specifies the maximum number of attempts allowed for each category of candidates. Importantly, an attempt is counted only when a candidate appears for the Main Examination; appearing only in the Preliminary Examination does not count as an attempt.
- UR / EWS: 6 chances
- UR (PwBD) / EWS (PwBD) / OBC / OBC (PwBD): 9 chances
- SC / ST (including PwBD variants): No restriction
Examination Pattern and Selection Process
The SBI PO selection process consists of three stages:
Phase I: Preliminary Examination (100 Marks)
This is a one-hour online objective test comprising:
- English Language: 40 questions
- Quantitative Aptitude: 30 questions
- Reasoning Ability: 30 questions
There are no sectional cut-offs in the Preliminary Examination. The marks obtained in this stage are qualifying in nature and will not be considered for the final merit list.
Phase II: Main Examination (230 Marks)
The Main Examination includes:
- A 3-hour online objective test carrying 200 marks, with 170 questions from Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, and English Language.
- A 30-minute descriptive test carrying 30 marks, which assesses candidates on Email Writing, Situation Analysis, and Report/Precis Writing.
Unlike the Preliminary Examination, sectional cut-offs apply to each section of the Main Examination.
Phase III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise, and Interview (50 Marks)
Candidates shortlisted from the Main Examination will undergo:
- Psychometric Test
- Group Exercise (20 marks)
- Personal Interview (30 marks)
Final Selection
The final merit list will be prepared based on the normalised scores of Phase II and Phase III, with a weightage of 75:25, respectively. Marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination will not be considered while preparing the final merit list.