State Bank of India (SBI)
Last Date: 8 July 2026

State Bank of India has released its Probationary Officer recruitment notification for 2026, advertisement number CRPD/PO/2026-27/09, opening up 1500 vacancies across the country. Online registration began on June 18, 2026 and closes on July 8, 2026. Graduates from any discipline can apply, and the bank will run candidates through a three phase selection process before final posting orders are issued.

SBI PO Recruitment 2026: Quick Overview

SBI PO Recruitment 2026: Quick Introduction 

State Bank of India is the country's largest public sector bank, and its PO recruitment is one of the most closely watched government job exams every year. This 2026 cycle brings 1500 vacancies under advertisement CRPD/PO/2026-27/09, with online forms open from June 18 to July 8. The selected officers will join as Probationary Officers in Junior Management Grade Scale-I, a role that has historically been one of the most sought after entry points into Indian public sector banking.

SBI PO vacancy numbers have moved around quite a bit over the years, sometimes touching above 2000 and sometimes dropping below 1500, depending on the bank's branch expansion and retirement cycle that year. Candidates who track this exam closely know that SBI PO applications routinely run into several lakh, since the eligibility is wide open to any graduate and the brand pull of SBI draws candidates who would otherwise apply only to specialised exams.

Vacancy Details

The total number of vacancies for SBI PO 2026 is 1500, in which 1446 are regular vacancies and 54 are backlog vacancies carried forward from earlier recruitment cycles where the bank could not find enough suitable candidates in certain reserved categories. The backlog count this year sits entirely in the SC (18) and ST (36) categories, with no carry-forward seats in OBC, EWS or UR. The category-wise breakup of the vacancies is as follows:

Additionally, there are horizontal vacancies for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). The bank has provided 4% horizontal reservation for PwBD candidates as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The PwBD vacancies are distributed as: 15 seats for Visual Impairment, 16 for Hearing Impairment, 14 for Locomotor Disability and 16 for the combined autism, mental illness and multiple disability category.

The Unreserved category holds the single largest share at nearly 39 percent of total seats, with OBC next at roughly 26 percent. The number of vacancies is provisional and may vary depending on the bank's actual requirement.

Application Fee

The application fee is Rs 750 for Unreserved, EWS and OBC candidates, and there is no fee for SC, ST and PwBD candidates. Payment has to be made online through debit card, credit card, internet banking or UPI during the same registration window, from June 18 to July 8.

The fee, once paid, is non-refundable and cannot be carried forward or adjusted against any other SBI exam, even if a candidate decides not to appear later. candidates should also double-check category code before paying, since SBI's rules do not allow any category change after the form is submitted, and an incorrect fee category claim can create complications at the document verification stage.

Age Limit

The age limit for SBI PO 2026 is calculated as on April 1, 2026. Candidates must be between 21 years and 30 years of age. This means candidates must have been born not later than April 1, 2005, and not earlier than April 2, 1996 (both days inclusive). Category-wise upper age relaxations are detailed below:

These relaxations cannot be combined or stacked with each other, so a candidate who falls into more than one relaxation category can only claim the single highest applicable relaxation, not a sum of both. A 30-year upper limit at PO level is fairly standard for SBI, but candidates closer to the cutoff should keep their certificates ready early since age relaxation proof has to be submitted only at the interview stage, not during form filling.

Educational Qualification

Any graduate from a recognised university is eligible, regardless of stream, as long as the degree is completed or provisionally proven by 30.09.2026. Final year or final semester students are allowed to apply now, but they must be able to show proof of having passed by that date if shortlisted for interview. Candidates with professional qualifications such as Medical, Engineering, Chartered Accountancy or Cost Accountancy are also eligible, and Candidates with Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) certificates must ensure that the date of passing the IDD is on or before 30.09.2026.

The date of passing the eligibility examination will be the date appearing on the mark sheet or provisional certificate issued by the university or institute. If the result is posted on the university's website, a certificate from the appropriate authority indicating the date of result declaration will be considered.

Selection Process

SelectionSelection runs across three phases.
Phase I is the Preliminary Examination, an online objective test of 100 marks covering English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability, completed in one hour with separate timing for each section.

Phase II is the Main Examination, combining a 200-mark objective test across four sections (Reasoning and Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis and Interpretation, General Awareness/Economy/Banking, and English Language) with a 30-mark Descriptive test on email writing, situation analysis and report or precis writing.

Phase III covers a Psychometric Test, Group Exercise and Personal Interview, with Group Exercise carrying 20 marks and Interview carrying 30 marks.

The marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination are not added to the final merit list. It is used only to shortlist roughly ten times the category-wise vacancy count for the Main exam, so the real sorting begins at Phase II. Main exam marks also carry individual sectional cutoffs, meaning a candidate who is strong overall but weak in one section, often General Awareness, can still get eliminated.

For the final merit list, Main exam marks (out of 230) are normalised to 75 and Phase III marks (out of 50) are normalised to 25, then added together. That 75:25 split gives the interview and group exercise a meaningfully larger weight than many other PO-level government exams, where interviews often contribute closer to 10 or 15 percent of the final score. Candidates who clear the written stage comfortably should not treat Phase III as a formality, since it can still move rank significantly at this weightage.

Examinations are held online across centres covering nearly every state, including locations as varied as Port Blair, Guwahati, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru, with the complete tentative list published as Annexure I to the official notification (Available in the Important Links Section toward end of the page). Main exam centres are fewer than Preliminary centres in most states, so candidates should check both lists before choosing their preferred city at the time of registration.

Salary, Job Location and Service Conditions

The starting basic pay is ₹48,480 per month (plus 4 advance increments). The pay scale is ₹48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920. In addition to the basic pay, selected candidates are eligible for Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), Provident Fund (PF), Contributory Pension Fund (NPS), Leave Fare Concession (LFC), Medical Facility, Lease Rental Facility, and other allowances and perquisites as per the bank's rules. The approximate CTC (Cost to Company) at the initial scale of pay at Mumbai Centre is around ₹21.97 lakhs per annum, though this figure will vary somewhat by city since HRA and CCA rates differ across metro, urban and rural postings.

Selected candidates can be posted anywhere in India, and SBI retains the right to allot, transfer or even depute officers to its associate banks, subsidiaries, or other organisations as per its operational needs. Requests for a specific posting location are generally not entertained. At joining, candidates must execute a bond of Rs 2 lakh committing to three years of service, and they will remain on probation for two years with continuous performance assessment during that period.

How to Apply

1. Go to the official website at sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings
2. Locate the Current Openings section and open the link for advertisement CRPD/PO/2026-27/09
3. Register using a valid email ID and active mobile number to generate your provisional registration number and password
4. Fill in personal, educational and category details carefully, since corrections are not allowed after final submission
5. Upload your scanned photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression and hand-written declaration as per the specified size and format
6. Capture and upload a live photograph through webcam or mobile camera during registration
7. Pay the application fee online through debit card, credit card, internet banking or UPI
8. Review the complete form one final time before submitting, since no edits are possible afterward
9. Download and save the system-generated application form and fee receipt for your records

Required Documents and Important Instructions

Keep your scanned photograph (4.5cm x 3.5cm, 20-50kb), signature (10-20kb), left-hand thumb impression (20-50kb) and hand-written declaration (50-100kb) ready in the exact specifications before you start the form, since the application will not register without all four. If you do not have a left thumb, the right thumb impression is accepted instead. The hand-written declaration text is fixed by SBI and must be copied exactly as given in the official notification (Available in the Important Links Section toward end of the page), written in English on plain white paper with black ink.

On exam day, candidates must carry a valid photo ID such as Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter ID or driving licence, along with the original and a self-attested photocopy. Mobile phones and any electronic devices are completely banned inside the exam hall, even in switched-off mode, and carrying one can lead to disqualification. SBI also conducts biometric and Aadhaar verification at various stages, so consistency between your registration details and physical documents matters throughout the process.

One important thing to note: candidates with unresolved loan or credit card defaults reflecting adversely in their CIBIL record will need to clear those dues before joining, or the appointment offer can be withdrawn even after final selection.

Before proceeding with the application form, applicants should go through these important practical observations:

What the CIBIL Clause Really Means for You

SBI explicitly checks credit history before confirming joining, and candidates with unresolved loan or credit card defaults will be required to either clear the dues or produce a no-dues certificate from the lender. This check happens close to the joining stage, therefore, start resolving them now rather than waiting until the final result.

Why the Interview Carries More Weight Than You Think

SBI's 75:25 normalisation between Main exam and Phase III gives the interview and group exercise a quarter of your final score, which is higher than the interview weightage in many comparable government recruitments. A candidate ranked comfortably after Main exam can still slip several positions if the group exercise or interview performance is weak. This makes structured preparation for Phase III a genuine part of the strategy here.

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❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many vacancies are there in SBI PO Recruitment 2026?

SBI has announced 1500 vacancies in total, made up of 1446 regular posts and 54 backlog posts carried forward from earlier cycles.

What is the last date to apply for SBI PO 2026?

Online registration and fee payment close on 8 July 2026. The window opened on 18 June 2026.

Who is eligible to apply for SBI PO?

Any graduate from a recognised university, in any discipline, can apply. Final year students may also apply provisionally, subject to producing proof of passing by 30.09.2026.

What is the age limit for SBI PO 2026?

Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years as on 01.04.2026, with relaxation up to 15 years available for certain PwBD categories.

What qualification is required for this post?

A graduation degree in any stream from a recognised university is the minimum requirement, as on 30.09.2026.

What does the SBI PO selection process involve?

Selection happens in three phases: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination with an objective and descriptive component, and finally Psychometric Test, Group Exercise and Interview.

What is the salary for SBI Probationary Officer?

The starting basic pay is Rs 48,480 plus four advance increments in the JMGS-I scale, with an approximate CTC of Rs 21.97 lakh at Mumbai including allowances.

What is the application fee for SBI PO 2026?

The fee is Rs 750 for Unreserved, EWS and OBC candidates, and there is no fee for SC, ST and PwBD candidates.

How can candidates apply online for SBI PO?

Applications must be submitted through SBI's official careers website, sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings, under the relevant advertisement number.

What is the official website for SBI PO recruitment?

All updates, call letters and results are published only on sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings.

Does the Preliminary exam score count in the final merit list?

No. Preliminary marks are used only to shortlist candidates for the Main exam and do not contribute to the final selection list.

Is there a service bond for selected SBI PO candidates?

Yes, selected candidates must execute a bond of Rs 2 lakh and commit to a minimum of three years of service after joining.

How many attempts are allowed for SBI PO?

UR and EWS candidates get 6 attempts, OBC and PwBD candidates get 9 attempts, and there is no restriction on attempts for SC and ST candidates.

Conclusion

The registration window for this recruitment is open right now and closes on 8 July 2026, make sure you meet all the eligibility criteria before you start filling out the form. The application process is straightforward, but do not wait until the last day. Once you have applied, shift your focus entirely to preparation. The preliminary exam is scheduled for August 2026, which gives you about two months. Use this time wisely. Take mock tests, analyze your performance, and work on your weak areas.

Once registration closes, keep checking the official SBI website for updates on admit cards, exam dates, and results. No separate communication will be sent by post. All updates will be available only on the bank's career portal. (You can also bookmark this page. We update it regularly as soon as any new information comes on the official website.)

This article is based on the official notification and simplified for easy understanding. For the most accurate and updated information, always refer to the official website.