SBI PO
Recruits Probationary Officers (Junior Management Grade Scale I) for the State Bank of India, India's largest bank.
Eligibility
A graduate degree in any discipline; final-year students may apply provisionally if they can produce proof of passing by the date SBI specifies. Age 21–30 years with standard relaxations. General/EWS candidates get 4 attempts, OBC and PwBD (General/OBC) 7 attempts, and SC/ST no limit.
Age limit: 21–30 years (relaxation as per Government of India norms)
Exam pattern
Three phases. Prelims is 100 questions in 60 minutes: English (40), Quantitative Aptitude (30) and Reasoning (30), each with a 20-minute timer, with no sectional cut-off; it is qualifying only. Mains has an objective paper of 170 questions for 200 marks in 3 hours (Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, English) plus a 30-minute typed descriptive test on English writing (essay and letter). Negative marking is 0.25 of the marks per wrong answer. Phase III comprises a psychometric test, group exercise and interview; final merit combines mains and Phase III scores.
Syllabus at a glance
Reasoning (high-level puzzles, arrangements, logical reasoning, data sufficiency), Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation (arithmetic, caselets, mixed graphs), English (reading comprehension, para-jumbles, cloze test, vocabulary). Mains adds Computer Aptitude, banking and financial awareness, economy and current affairs, and descriptive writing.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SBI PO 2026 Mains result | Oct–Nov 2026 (expected) | expected |
| SBI PO 2026 Phase III (psychometric test, group exercise, interview) | Nov–Dec 2026 (expected) | expected |
| SBI PO 2026 Final result | Dec 2026–Jan 2027 (expected) | expected |
| SBI PO 2027 notification and registration | Jun–Jul 2027 (expected) | expected |
| SBI PO 2027 Prelims | Aug 2027 (expected) | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations – R.S. Aggarwal
- Analytical Reasoning – M.K. Pandey
- A New Approach to Reasoning Verbal & Non-Verbal – B.S. Sijwali and Indu Sijwali (Arihant)
- Word Power Made Easy – Norman Lewis
- High School English Grammar & Composition – Wren & Martin
- Indian Economy – Ramesh Singh
How toppers play it
- English carries 40 of 100 prelims marks, so build reading speed for long comprehensions; it is the section that most often decides who clears prelims.
- There is no sectional cut-off in prelims, but the overall cut-off is high; aim for maximum accurate attempts in your strongest section.
- Mains reasoning is notably harder than IBPS; practise new-pattern puzzles and machine input under time pressure, and attempt only those you can solve fully.
- Track your attempts against the 4-attempt limit (General/EWS) and do not burn an attempt unprepared.
- Prepare for Phase III early: practise group exercises and read up on SBI's products, digital initiatives (YONO) and recent banking reforms.