SBI PO (Probationary Officer) 2026 — Age Limit, Eligibility & Syllabus
State Bank of India · Banking
Quick highlights
- Qualification
- Graduate
- Age limit
- 21 – 30 years
- Age as on
- 2026-04-01
- Salary
- ₹48,480 basic; gross ₹65,000 – ₹85,000 per month in metro postings
- Typical vacancies
- Roughly 2,000 – 2,500 posts per cycle
- Notification window
- Notification generally appears in September with prelims in November.
About this exam
SBI PO is India's most competitive banking officer exam, offering the highest pay and fastest promotion track in the public banking sector. Selection includes prelims, a descriptive mains and a psychometric plus group exercise and interview round.
Educational qualification: Graduation in any discipline; final year students can apply subject to producing proof of passing.
Age limit and category relaxation
| Category | Relaxation | Upper age |
|---|---|---|
| General / UR | 0 years | 30 years |
| OBC (NCL) | 3 years | 33 years |
| SC | 5 years | 35 years |
| ST | 5 years | 35 years |
Ex-servicemen get 3 years and PwD candidates up to 10 years additional relaxation as per rules.
Selection process
1. Prelims
English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning — 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes.
2. Mains
Objective 170 questions for 200 marks plus a 50-mark descriptive letter and essay test.
3. Psychometric Test
Behavioural profiling used as an input to the interview panel.
4. Group Exercise & Interview
50-mark round; final merit is 75% mains and 25% this round.
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Syllabus
Quantitative Aptitude
Data interpretation (heavy weight), arithmetic word problems, number series, quadratic equations, data sufficiency, mensuration.
Reasoning Ability
High-level puzzles, seating arrangement, input-output, logical reasoning, statement-assumption, coding-decoding.
English Language
Advanced reading comprehension, cloze test, sentence connectors, word swap, error detection, vocabulary.
Data Analysis & Interpretation
Caselet DI, missing data DI, probability, permutation-combination, mixed graphs.
Descriptive Writing
Formal letter writing and essay on banking, economy and social themes within word limits.
Cut-off trend
Prelims cut-offs typically run 55-70 out of 100 for General. Mains cut-offs are low relative to total marks because the paper is difficult — often 45-60 out of 250.
Official links
sbi.co.in/careersAlways download notifications and apply only through the official website.
Frequently asked questions
Can final year students apply for SBI PO?
Yes. Final year and final semester students can apply provided they produce proof of passing graduation by the date specified in the notification.
How many attempts are allowed in SBI PO?
General candidates get 4 attempts, OBC 7 attempts, and SC/ST candidates have no attempt limit within the age band.
Keep a Plan B ready
SBI PO level analytical writing and DI ability qualify aspirants for corporate Business Analyst, Risk Analyst and Investment Operations roles.