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How many attempts are allowed in SBI PO?
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SBI PO allows 6 attempts for UR and EWS candidates, 9 for OBC candidates and for PwBD candidates in the UR, EWS and OBC categories, and no limit for SC/ST candidates. Only appearing in the Mains counts as an attempt, so a Prelims you wrote but did not clear costs you nothing.
Attempt limits by category (2026 advertisement)
| Category | Maximum attempts |
|---|---|
| UR and EWS | 6 |
| UR (PwBD) and EWS (PwBD) | 9 |
| OBC and OBC (PwBD) | 9 |
| SC and ST, including PwBD | No restriction |
What counts as an attempt
The advertisement counts a chance only when you appear in the Mains. If you sit the Prelims and do not qualify, that attempt is not used. Once you have appeared in the Mains the stated number of times, you cannot apply again, even if you have not been selected.
The age limit still applies
A category with no attempt limit does not mean you can apply forever. The 2026 age limit is 21 to 30 years on 1 April 2026, with these upper-age relaxations:
- OBC (non-creamy layer): 3 years
- SC/ST: 5 years
- PwBD: 10 years (UR/EWS), 13 years (OBC), 15 years (SC/ST)
- Ex-servicemen and commissioned officers (including ECOs and SSCOs) with 5 years of service: 5 years
The advertisement states that cumulative age relaxation will not be available, so you take the single relaxation that applies to you. The SBI PO age limit page has the details.
How this differs from IBPS PO
IBPS PO's notification does not set an attempt limit at all; its age limit is the only ceiling. See attempts in IBPS PO. For the wider eligibility picture across exams, read the bank exam eligibility guide.
Source
- SBI PO 2026 detailed advertisement CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 (18 June 2026): "number of chances" and age relaxation clauses.
Attempt rules are set cycle by cycle. Check the advertisement for the year you apply, and see the SBI PO syllabus and exam pattern for what each attempt involves.
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- Bank exam eligibilityBank exam eligibility for IBPS, SBI and RBI: age limits and relaxations, graduation rules for final-year students, attempt limits and local-language tests.
- 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.
- IBPS PO attempt limitThe IBPS PO/MT-XVI notification sets no attempt limit. Only the age limit of 20 to 30 years, with relaxations, decides how long you can keep applying.
- SBI PO age limitSBI PO age limit is 21 to 30 years as on 1 April 2026. See upper-age relaxation for OBC, SC/ST, PwBD and ex-servicemen, and why relaxations do not stack.
More in Bank exams
- SBI PO descriptive paperSBI PO Mains 2026 has a typed descriptive test, Communication Skills: 3 questions, 30 marks, 30 minutes. See the format and why letter and essay is outdated.
- RRB PO and Clerk togetherYes. In IBPS RRBs-XV you can apply for Office Assistant and one officer post, with a separate application and fee for each. Dates, fees and limits.
- SBI PO Prelims sectional cut-offSBI PO Prelims 2026 has no sectional cut-off; about ten times the vacancies are shortlisted on total score. IBPS has one. Here is how it works.
- RBI Grade B salaryRBI Grade B starts at a basic pay of ₹78,450 a month in a 16-year scale. The 2026 advertisement states gross emoluments of about ₹1.55 lakh a month.
- SBI PO salarySBI PO starts at a basic pay of ₹48,480 plus four advance increments in scale JMGS-I. See the pay scale, the advertised CTC, bond and probation terms.
- RBI Grade B interview marksThe RBI Grade B interview carries 75 marks and final merit is Phase II plus the interview. Phase I marks do not count. 2026 rules and how it compares.
- Negative marking in SBI POSBI PO deducts one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question for each wrong answer in Prelims and Mains. See the penalty by section for 2026.
- Negative marking in IBPS POYes. IBPS PO deducts one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question for each wrong answer, in Prelims and Mains. See what it costs per section.