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SBI PO notification 2026 (CRPD/PO/2026-27/09): what changed and what it says
On this page
State Bank of India published its 2026 Probationary Officer advertisement (CRPD/PO/2026-27/09) on 18 June 2026, and applications ran from 18 June to 8 July 2026. The selection has three phases: prelims, mains with a descriptive test, and a final phase of psychometric test, group exercise and interview. A corrigendum dated 1 July 2026 removed the clause about adverse credit history (CIBIL), so do not believe articles saying SBI PO 2026 needs a clean CIBIL record. This page sets out the advertisement's facts and the points that differ from IBPS PO.
SBI PO 2026 at a glance
| Item | 2026 advertisement |
|---|---|
| Conducting body | State Bank of India, Central Recruitment and Promotion Department (CRPD), Mumbai |
| Advertisement number | CRPD/PO/2026-27/09, dated 18 June 2026 |
| Post | Probationary Officer, JMGS-I |
| Application period | 18 June to 8 July 2026 |
| Fee | ₹750 for UR/EWS/OBC; nil for SC/ST/PwBD |
| Phase I | Prelims, August 2026 |
| Phase II | Mains, September 2026 |
| Phase III | Psychometric test, group exercise and interview, October or November 2026 |
| Final merit | Mains (normalised to 75) plus group exercise and interview (normalised to 25) |
The advertisement states the vacancy count, but SBI can change it, so this page does not quote one. The months above are the advertisement's own schedule; SBI announces exact dates through call letters. Check the "Current openings" page at sbi.bank.in/web/careers for corrigenda. SBI's careers site moved to the sbi.bank.in domain, so links to the older sbi.co.in/careers address may redirect.
Eligibility
Age. 21 to 30 years as on 1 April 2026, meaning born between 2 April 1996 and 1 April 2005. The minimum is 21, one year higher than IBPS PO. Relaxation is 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer) and 5 years for SC/ST. For persons with benchmark disabilities it is 10 years (UR/EWS), 13 years (OBC) and 15 years (SC/ST), and ex-servicemen and commissioned officers with 5 years' service get 5 years. The advertisement says cumulative age relaxation is not available.
Education. A graduation in any discipline, with proof by 30 September 2026. Final-year or final-semester students may apply provisionally and must show proof of passing on or before that date if called for the interview. Holders of professional degrees such as medicine, engineering, CA and cost accountancy are eligible. This is the biggest practical difference from IBPS PO, where you must already be a graduate when you register.
Attempts. The advertisement caps the number of chances.
| Category | Chances |
|---|---|
| UR and EWS | 6 |
| UR(PwBD), EWS(PwBD), OBC and OBC(PwBD) | 9 |
| SC and ST, including PwBD | No restriction |
Only appearing in the mains counts as a chance. If you take the prelims and do not qualify for mains, that attempt is not used. IBPS PO, by comparison, has no attempt limit in its 2026 notification (see the IBPS PO notification).
What happened to the CIBIL clause
The original advertisement had a clause requiring that adverse credit history be cleared before joining. SBI removed it by a corrigendum dated 1 July 2026, a week before applications closed. If you read an older summary that mentions a CIBIL condition for SBI PO 2026, it is out of date. The takeaway is a general one: SBI amends its advertisements, so read the corrigenda list as well as the PDF.
The three phases
Phase I, prelims. 100 marks in 1 hour, with English Language (40 questions, 20 minutes), Quantitative Aptitude (30, 20) and Reasoning Ability (30, 20), each separately timed. There is no sectional cut-off, and roughly ten times the number of vacancies, category-wise, are shortlisted on the aggregate. The English-heavy split of 40, 30 and 30 is a change from 2025-era articles, which show 30, 35 and 35.
Phase II, mains. 170 objective questions for 200 marks in 3 hours, plus a 30-minute descriptive paper for 30 marks.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 min |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 min |
| General Awareness, Economy and Banking Knowledge | 60 | 60 | 45 min |
| English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 min |
| Descriptive: Communication Skills | 3 | 30 | 30 min |
The descriptive paper is now called Communication Skills and is typed on a computer. You write one email (a choice of 2), one situation analysis (a choice of 2) and one report or precis (a choice of 2). Older articles that describe a 50-mark letter and essay paper are out of date. A sectional qualifying score applies in every test including the descriptive paper, and about three times the vacancies are shortlisted for Phase III on the aggregate. Wrong answers lose one-fourth of the marks assigned in the prelims and mains.
Phase III. A psychometric test (a personality profile placed before the interview panel), a group exercise for 20 marks and an interview for 30 marks. You must qualify Phase II and Phase III separately. Prelims marks are not counted in the final merit. The topic-level syllabus is on the SBI PO syllabus and exam pattern page, and the interview preparation guide covers the last phase.
Pay and service terms
The starting basic pay is ₹48,480 plus four advance increments, in the scale 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920. The advertisement quotes an approximate cost to company of about ₹21.97 lakh at Mumbai. Treat that as SBI's own figure for that city and cycle, not a promise of what you will earn. The advertisement also states a joining bond of ₹2 lakh to serve at least 3 years, and a probation of 2 years.
How applying works
- Open the SBI careers page (sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings) and read the full advertisement, including every corrigendum.
- Register and apply online during the application period.
- Upload the documents and images the advertisement lists, and pay the fee online if you are in a fee-paying category.
- Keep the confirmation. Call letters are issued later for each phase.
For help choosing between SBI and IBPS, the SBI PO preparation strategy explains how the two differ in practice, and descriptive writing covers the typed paper. The bank exams hub links the rest.
Preparing with PrepMatic
SBI PO prelims is a speed test with no sectional cut-off, so it helps to know whether English, Quant or Reasoning is giving away marks. PrepMatic's free assessment (about 15 questions, no timer) shows your weakest subjects and a readiness percentage. Your plan follows your exam date and daily hours, and mocks can be full-length or custom (choose subjects, question count, duration and difficulty), with negative marking in the score. PrepMatic practice is objective only, so do your Communication Skills practice separately.
Frequently asked questions
Does SBI PO 2026 need a clean CIBIL record?
No. The CIBIL clause was removed by the corrigendum of 1 July 2026. Check the latest advertisement for future cycles.
How many attempts do I get in SBI PO?
Six for UR and EWS, and nine for OBC and for UR/EWS/OBC candidates with benchmark disabilities. SC and ST candidates have no limit. Only mains appearances count.
Can final-year students apply for SBI PO?
Yes, provisionally. You must show proof of passing on or before 30 September 2026 if you are called for the interview.
Is there negative marking in SBI PO?
Yes. One-fourth of the marks for the question is deducted for each wrong answer in the prelims and mains.
What is the weightage of the interview in SBI PO?
The final merit is Mains normalised to 75 and the group exercise and interview normalised to 25. The group exercise is 20 marks and the interview 30 marks.
Official sources
- SBI PO 2026 detailed advertisement: eligibility, pattern, pay and service terms.
- SBI corrigendum of 1 July 2026: removal of the CIBIL clause.
- SBI careers: current openings: advertisements and corrigenda.
Always confirm details in the latest advertisement and corrigenda.
Know which section is costing you the cut-off
Take a free bank-exam assessment on PrepMatic. It shows where you stand in Quant, Reasoning and English, then builds a daily study plan and mock tests focused on your weak subjects.
Start free assessment →Free forever plan · No credit card · 2-minute setupRelated guides
- SBI PO syllabus and patternSBI PO 2026 pattern and syllabus: prelims English 40, Quant 30, Reasoning 30; mains with the new email and situation-analysis descriptive; 75:25 merit weights.
- SBI PO preparation strategyHow to prepare for SBI PO: what differs from IBPS PO, a 24-week plan, mains-level DI and reasoning, the new descriptive test, and interview prep.
- IBPS PO notificationIBPS PO/MT-XVI 2026 notification explained: schedule, age and graduation rules, fee, pattern, pay and how to apply, plus what IBPS has not announced.
- Descriptive writingDescriptive writing for bank exams: SBI PO's email, situation analysis, report or précis and IBPS PO's essay, with structures, outlines and typing practice.
- Bank PO interviewBank PO interview guide: IBPS and SBI marks and weightage, the Personality Test and Group Exercise, question themes, documents and a three-week plan.
- Bank exam resultsHow bank exam results, cut-offs, scorecards and final merit work for IBPS, SBI and RBI: shortlisting, sectional cut-offs, reserve lists and allotment.
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