The State Bank of India has officially released the highly anticipated recruitment notification for the post of Probationary Officer for the financial year 2026-27. This recruitment campaign is a fantastic opportunity for competitive banking aspirants seeking a high-profile corporate banking career in India’s largest public sector bank.
The bank is inviting applications from dynamic and qualified graduates to occupy key officer-level positions across its expansive national network of branches. Candidates who look forward to taking up leadership roles in the banking ecosystem can submit their profiles exclusively via the newly updated online application gateway of the bank.
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Official Recruitment Summary and Main Changes
The formal announcement comes under Advertisement Number CRPD/PO/2026-27/09, marking a substantial increase in numbers compared to the previous year’s compact cycle. This year, the recruitment drive opens doors to a brighter employment outlook, making it one of the most attractive testing cycles post-2023. Along with a surge in numbers, SBI has rolled out critical policy updates designed to streamline verification and adjust candidate evaluation systems.
The most notable shifts introduced in the current registration framework include:
- A Shift in Primary Portal: All recruitment procedures have migrated from the old domain to a centralized, dedicated sub-portal.
- Mandatory Identity Checking: Introduction of a compulsory Aadhaar-based authentication system for all new registrants to prevent identity fraud.
- Revised Permissible Attempts: Candidates across multiple categories receive a higher number of legal attempts, giving long-time aspirants a renewed chance.
- Structural Mains Mark Revision: A downscaling of total marks allocated to the descriptive pen-and-paper segment, shifting more competitive focus onto objective competencies.
SBI PO 2026 Complete Overview Table
To help job seekers find all critical data at a single glance, the primary details of this recruitment drive have been assembled below. This structured breakdown ensures you do not miss any vital parameters of the selection exercise.
| Recruitment Component | Official Details and Values |
| Conducting Authority | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Post Name | Probationary Officer (PO) |
| Advertisement Number | CRPD/PO/2026-27/09 |
| Total Available Vacancies | 1,500 Posts |
| Application Windows | June 18, 2026, to July 8, 2026 |
| Mode of Application | Strictly Online Mode |
| Selection Method | Prelims, Mains, Psychometric, and Interview / Group Exercises |
| Initial Basic Salary | ₹48,480/- per month |
| Revised Annual CTC | ₹21.97 Lakhs (Maximum at Mumbai Centre) |
| Compulsory Verification | Real-time Aadhaar Card Verification |
| Primary Digital Gateway | sbi.bank.in |
Important Dates and Exam Schedule
Timelines are incredibly tight for this recruitment cycle, meaning candidates have exactly three weeks to complete their initial profile submissions and financial transactions. Missing a single cutoff date will invalidate your candidacy entirely.
The detailed tentative schedule as outlined in the official documentation is structured as follows:
- Online Registration and Form Modification: June 18, 2026, to July 8, 2026
- Closure for Online Fee Payment: July 8, 2026
- Download of Phase-I Prelims Admit Card: 2nd or 3rd Week of July 2026 onwards
- Phase-I Preliminary Examination Date: August 2026
- Declaration of Preliminary Test Results: August or September 2026
- Download of Phase-II Mains Call Letter: September 2026
- Phase-II Online Main Examination Date: September 2026
- Declaration of Mains Test Results: October or November 2026
- Phase-III Psychometric Testing and Interview Rounds: October or November 2026
- Declaration of Final Merit List: November or December 2026
Category Wise Vacancy Distribution Breakdown
The comprehensive pool of 1,500 vacancies is carefully distributed among various social categories, encompassing both regular ongoing positions and historic backlogs that remained unfulfilled.
The exact category-wise seat count is laid out in the data table below:
| Application Category | Regular Openings | Backlog Openings | Total Combined Seats |
| Unreserved / General (UR) | 588 | 0 | 588 |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC-NCL) | 390 | 0 | 390 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 216 | 18 | 234 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 108 | 36 | 144 |
| Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) | 144 | 0 | 144 |
| Total Openings | 1,446 | 54 | 1,500 |
Apart from these vertical reservation parameters, horizontal allocations are guaranteed under the RPWD Act of 2016 for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities:
- Visually Impaired (VI): 15 Vacancies
- Hearing Impaired (HI): 16 Vacancies (Includes 1 Backlog)
- Locomotor Disability (LD): 14 Vacancies
- Autism / Multiple Mental Disabilities (d & e): 16 Vacancies (Includes 2 Backlog)
Age Limit and Relaxation Criteria
To be deemed eligible for the online examination, an applicant’s age profile must satisfy strict boundaries calculated explicitly as of April 1, 2026. This means candidates must have been born between April 2, 1996, and April 1, 2005, inclusive of both dates.
The relaxation timelines granted for upper-age extensions across individual categories include:
- Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST): Up to 5 Years of relaxation
- Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer): Up to 3 Years of relaxation
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD – General/EWS): Up to 10 Years of relaxation
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD – OBC): Up to 13 Years of relaxation
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD – SC/ST): Up to 15 Years of relaxation
- Ex-Servicemen and Commissioned Officers: Up to 5 Years of relaxation
Mandatory Educational Qualification and Eligibility
Educational qualifications are strictly non-negotiable and evaluated with a firm cutoff date set on September 30, 2026. Applicants must possess a valid graduation certificate in any discipline from a recognized central, state, or private university.
Key educational clauses specified by the bank include:
- Final Year Eligibility: Students currently navigating their final semester or final year of college are allowed to register provisionally. However, their selection is strictly conditional upon presenting absolute proof of graduation passing on or before September 30, 2026, during the interview phase.
- Integrated Dual Degrees: Candidates holding an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) program must ensure their formal passing date falls on or before the September 30 cutoff limit.
- Professional Credentials: Individuals holding premium professional certifications such as Chartered Accountancy (CA), Cost Accountancy, Engineering, or Medicine are fully eligible to apply.
Revised Scale of Maximum Permissible Attempts
One of the most welcoming adjustments in this 2026 cycle is the extension of maximum permissible tracking attempts allowed for candidates. An attempt is only counted if the candidate actually appears for the Phase-II Online Main Examination; merely appearing for the Preliminary test does not count as an official attempt.
The modified limitations across administrative groups are:
- General and EWS Candidates: Upper limit increased from 4 to 6 unique attempts.
- OBC Category Candidates: Upper limit raised from 7 to 9 unique attempts.
- General/EWS PwBD Category Candidates: Extended up to 9 unique attempts.
- OBC PwBD Category Candidates: Extended up to 12 unique attempts.
- SC and ST Category Candidates: No restrictions whatsoever; unlimited attempts are allowed provided basic age limits are met.
Application Fees and Processing Charges
The registration financial framework requires candidates to process payments purely through digital transaction channels. Any fees paid once will not be refunded, nor can they be held in reserve for future examination cycles.
The structural distribution of application charges is as follows:
- General Category Candidates: ₹750/- (Inclusive of processing charges)
- OBC Category Candidates: ₹750/-
- EWS Category Candidates: ₹750/-
- SC / ST / PwBD Applicants: Completely Exempted (₹0/-)
Preliminary Examination Pattern and Sectional Split
Phase-I serves as a primary filtering screen to filter out massive volumes of applicants. This component is completely objective, carrying 100 marks for 100 questions, and is conducted entirely online over a restrictive span of one hour. There are no sectional cutoffs required to pass into the next stage, but candidates must secure strong aggregate scores to place within the top ten times the vacancy count per category.
The internal structure of the preliminary exam pattern includes:
| Section Name | Total Questions | Maximum Marks | Individual Time Allocation |
| English Language Section | 40 Questions | 40 Marks | 20 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude Section | 30 Questions | 30 Marks | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability Section | 30 Questions | 30 Marks | 20 Minutes |
| Total Test Weightage | 100 Questions | 100 Marks | 60 Minutes |
Revised Mains Examination and Descriptive Layout
Phase-II comprises a rigorous online main paper that blends objective test elements with an active descriptive segment. The absolute game-changer this year is the reduction of the descriptive segment from 50 marks down to 30 marks. This leaves the overall Mains layout with a fresh combined weight of 230 marks instead of the traditional 250.
The deep breakdown of objective and descriptive components is listed below:
- Reasoning and Computer Aptitude: 40 Questions | 60 Marks | 50 Minutes section time
- Data Analysis and Interpretation: 30 Questions | 60 Marks | 45 Minutes section time
- General, Economy, and Banking Awareness: 60 Questions | 60 Marks | 45 Minutes section time
- English Language Paper: 40 Questions | 20 Marks | 40 Minutes section time
- Descriptive Paper (Letter & Essay): 2 Questions | 30 Marks | 30 Minutes duration
Negative Marking Penalty: Both Preliminary and Mains objective tests impose a structural negative marking penalty of 1/4th (or 0.25) of the marks assigned to a specific question for every incorrect response recorded. No penalty applies for unattempted answers left blank.
Detailed Selection Process and Final Evaluation
Climbing up to an executive position requires conquering a three-tier selection hierarchy. No marks scored during the Phase-I Preliminary round are carried forward or added to the final score sheets; it serves purely as a qualifying filter.
The journey to the final merit selection involves the following successive milestones:
- Phase-I Preliminary Exam: Broad-scale sorting out of candidates via speed and accuracy tests.
- Phase-II Main Exam: Comprehensive testing across deep domain knowledge, analytical capability, and descriptive expression.
- Phase-III Psychometric Screening: A non-graded behavioral mapping profile used to understand candidates’ emotional maturity.
- Phase-III Group Exercises and Personal Interview: Practical testing comprising a 20-mark interactive group exercise and a 30-mark face-to-face panel interview.
The ultimate merit lists are prepared by normalizing the Mains score and Interview rounds down to a strict 75:25 ratio layout, creating a combined scoreboard out of 100 final points.
Compensation, Revised Salaries, and Legal Bonds
A massive highlight of the 2026 notification is the upward modification of the annual Cost to Company (CTC) structure. Newly recruited Probationary Officers enter the organization at Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I) with a basic starting pay of ₹48,480/- per month, complemented by four advance increments.
The detailed financial and professional conditions encompass:
- Revised Annual Package: The overall annual package values have risen significantly to ₹21.97 Lakhs per annum for premium locations like Mumbai.
- Allowances and Perks: Officers are eligible for Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA) or Lease Rental alternatives, City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), comprehensive medical insurances, and leave travel concessions.
- Compulsory Service Indemnity Bond: Selected candidates must execute a legal indemnity service bond of ₹2,00,000/- before formal joining.
- Minimum Service Commitments: The executed bond mandates serving the institution for a minimum period of 3 continuous years. Failing this timeline requires reimbursing the full bond value to the bank.
Step by Step Online Application Process
Submitting an application requires tracking an online pathway across the bank’s portal. Make sure your scanning parameters for signatures, thumb impressions, and handwritten statements strictly match the sizing regulations listed in the annexures.
The sequential methodology to complete your registration includes:
1.Visit the Official Sub-Portal:Step 1.
Navigate directly to the newly assigned recruitment portal at sbi.bank.in and enter the ‘Careers’ tab. Locate the active link titled ‘Recruitment of Probationary Officers 2026’.
2.Complete New Registration:Step 2.
Click on ‘New Registration’ and provide your functioning mobile number and primary email ID. The platform will automatically generate your unique registration number and password credentials.
3.Mandatory Aadhaar Authentication:Step 3.
Input your Aadhaar details to execute real-time identity mapping checks. This is a newly introduced, mandatory step for all applicants.
4.Fill Profile and Educational Data:Step 4.
Carefully fill out all personal details, demographic marks, category codes, and graduation point structures. Double-check your category code before proceeding.
5.Upload Required Documents:Step 5.
Upload a clear, recent passport photograph, clean digital signature, left-hand thumb impression, and the handwritten declaration text exactly as prescribed.
6.Execute Digital Fee Payment:Step 6.
Pay the required fee of ₹750/- using integrated UPI, credit card, or net banking portals (SC/ST/PwBD candidates can skip this step). Print the final submission page and fee receipt for future verification.
Key Web Links and PDF Notification Dossier
To help you proceed with your registration, use the direct resources and tracking links provided below. Avoid navigating through unverified third-party platforms to protect your personal details from data harvesting scams.
- Official Recruitment Portal Gateway: sbi.bank.in
- Direct Application Registration Link: SBI PO 2026 Apply Online Window
- Official Document Download: Download SBI PO 2026 Notification PDF
Frequently Asked Questions and Solutions
Here are answers to the most common queries candidates have about the recruitment drive:
How many total vacancies are open for the SBI PO 2026 recruitment drive?
A total of 1,500 vacancies have been officially announced, which includes 1,446 regular openings and 54 backlog seats.
What is the final closing date to apply online for the exam?
The online application window closes on July 8, 2026. Both form submission and fee payments must be completed before this date.
Has the exam pattern changed for the descriptive test this year?
Yes, the marks for the descriptive test have been reduced from 50 to 30. This brings the total Mains exam weight down to 230 marks.
What is the revised annual CTC for a newly appointed SBI PO in 2026?
The annual CTC has been increased to ₹21.97 Lakhs per annum for prime locations like Mumbai, up from last year’s ₹20.43 Lakhs.
Is Aadhaar card verification mandatory during registration?
Yes, real-time Aadhaar-based verification has been made compulsory for all applicants in this recruitment cycle.
Can final-year college students apply for this exam?
Yes, final-year or final-semester students can apply provisionally, provided they can produce proof of passing graduation on or before September 30, 2026.
What is the minimum and maximum age limit to apply?
Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years old as of April 1, 2026. Age relaxations apply to reserved categories as per government rules.
How many attempts are allowed for General category candidates now?
The maximum number of permissible attempts for General and EWS candidates has been increased from 4 to 6.
Is there any negative marking in the Prelims and Mains online tests?
Yes, a penalty of 1/4th (0.25) of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for every wrong answer. No marks are deducted for unattempted questions.
What is the value of the service bond that selected candidates must sign?
Selected officers must sign a service indemnity bond of ₹2,00,000/- to serve the bank for a minimum of 3 years.