SBI PO 2026 — Complete Guide: Syllabus, Eligibility, Salary & Cut-off
Last Updated: 23 August 2026 · By SarkariPaper Editorial
SBI PO 2026 Overview
SBI PO (Probationary Officer) is the flagship recruitment exam of State Bank of India — India's largest public sector bank. SBI conducts its own PO exam separately from IBPS.
SBI PO 2026 is expected to notify approximately 2,000 vacancies for Probationary Officer (JMGS Scale I) posts across all circles. Selection includes Prelims, Mains, Group Exercise & Interview. SBI PO offers the highest salary among PSU bank PO exams with in-hand pay of ₹55,000–₹65,000/month in metro cities.
SBI PO is more competitive than IBPS PO due to brand value, faster promotions, and superior perks including leased accommodation in some circles. The descriptive paper in Mains and Group Discussion round differentiate it from IBPS PO.
SBI PO 2026 Important Dates
| Notification Release | 1 September 2026 |
| Application Opens | 1 September 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 25 September 2026 |
| Tier 1 Exam Date | 15 November 2026 |
| Tier 2 Exam Date | 20 December 2026 |
| Official Website | https://sbi.co.in |
SBI PO Eligibility Criteria 2026
Educational Qualification
Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized university
Age Limit
21–30 years (as on 1st January 2026)
OBC: +3 years, SC/ST: +5 years, PwD: +10 years
Nationality
Indian Citizen
SBI PO Selection Process
Prelims — Online CBT: 100 marks, 60 minutes (qualifying)
Mains — Online CBT + Descriptive: 250 marks total
Group Exercise & Interview: 20 + 30 marks
Final merit = Mains + GE/Interview (Prelims not counted)
SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026
Prelims
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
Mains
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 |
| Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 |
| General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 |
| English Language | 35 | 40 |
| Descriptive (Essay & Letter) | 2 | 50 |
| Total | 157 | 250 |
SBI PO Syllabus 2026
Full Syllabus →Quantitative Aptitude
Reasoning
English
Banking Awareness
Download the complete SBI PO topic-wise syllabus PDF →Premium (₹199/yr)
SBI PO Posts — Which is Best?
SBI PO offers 1+ posts across different departments. Here's a comparison to help you decide your target post before filling the form.
| Post | Salary | Promotion |
|---|---|---|
Probationary Officer (PO) JMGS Scale I TOP PICK | ₹55,000 – ₹65,000 | fast |
SBI PO Salary Structure
Salary varies based on post, city tier (X/Y/Z) for HRA, and DA rate. Figures above are indicative for 2026 DA rates.
SBI PO Cut-off Marks
All Cut-offs →SBI PO 2025 Tier 1 Cut-off
SBI PO 2024 Tier 1 Cut-off
Cut-offs vary by post. Detailed post-wise cut-offs (2015–2026) available withSarkariPaper Premium →
SBI PO Preparation Strategy
Phase 1: Banking Foundation (Month 1–2)
- ›Study Banking Awareness thoroughly — SBI-specific questions appear
- ›Master puzzle-based reasoning
- ›Practice DI sets daily — 2 sets minimum
- ›Read financial newspapers for economy section
Phase 2: Mains + GD Prep (Month 3–4)
- ›Practice descriptive writing — essay & formal letter weekly
- ›Attempt full Mains mocks with descriptive section
- ›Prepare GD topics: banking reforms, digital India, economy
- ›Focus on accuracy over speed in Mains