SBI PO Selection Process 2026, Prelims, Mains and Interview Stages Details
SBI PO Selection Process 2026 for Probationary Officer includes Preliminary, Mains, and Personal Interview. Read the article for more details of the SBI PO Selection Process including Phase 1, 2, 3 Stages in detail for the upcoming recruitment process.
Priyanka Dahima12 Jan, 2026
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SBI PO Selection Process 2026: The State Bank of India (SBI) is expected to release the SBI PO 2026 notification in early 2026 on its official website sbi.co.in, announcing detailed vacancies, eligibility criteria, and application timelines for Probationary Officer posts. The multi-stage selection process for SBI PO 2026 comprises three key phases: Phase I Prelims (objective test on English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning), Phase II Mains (objective and descriptive tests covering Reasoning, Data Analysis, General Awareness, English, and professional knowledge), and Phase III Psychometric Test followed by a Group Exercises & Interview.
Candidates must qualify each stage sequentially, with final selection based on overall merit, cut-offs, and document verification. This rigorous process ensures the selection of well-rounded officers for SBI's premier management cadre.
SBI PO Selection Process 2026
The provisional allotment is done for candidates based on merit cum preference. The allotment will be based on the final SBI PO vacancies announced by the State Bank of India (SBI). Candidates of reserved categories selected as per norms applicable to the general category will be considered according to the general applicants. If two or more applicants have the same marks, the order of merit will be determined based on the date of birth. The initial allocation is subject to the eligibility requirements and identity verification.Read below to learn more about SBI PO Selection Process 2026. Candidates applying for the SBI PO Recruitment 2026 will be evaluated based on three phases as given below. Based on their performance in various phases, banking aspirants are selected.
- Phase I: SBI PO Prelims Exam
- Phase II: SBI PO Mains Exam
- Phase III: SBI PO Psychometric Test
Books for Banking Exams Preparation
SBI PO Selection Process 2026 Overview
Check out the below-mentioned details on SBI PO Selection Process to understand it in a much better way.| SBI PO Selection Process 2026 | |
| Organization | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Exam Name | SBI PO Exam 2026 |
| Post | Probationary Officer (PO) |
| Vacancy | TBA |
| Language Of Exam | English & Hindi |
| SBI PO Selection Process | Prelims, Mains, and Interview |
| Official Website | sbi.co.in |
SBI PO Selection Process
- First round SBI PO Prelims Exam: The merit list for the main examination will be drawn based on the overall rank obtained in the preliminary examination. Candidates will be selected 10 times in the number of slots for the main examination.
- The Second Phase SBI PO Mains Exam: The main exam is a combination of various types of exams and tests. The merit list for the main exam is based on total marks. Candidates, up to three times the number of places, will be selected for interviews (practice and group interviews).
- Phase Three: Phase Three consists of a psychological test, an interview (50 marks), and group work (20 marks). Candidates must obtain minimum qualifying marks in the third division to make the final selection.
- Final Selection: The marks obtained in the preliminary examination will not be added to prepare the final merit list. As per the selection process of SBI PO, only the marks obtained in the mains exam will be added to the marks obtained in the interview, group work, and interview for the final merit list. The marks secured by the candidates for the main examination will be converted into 75 out of 250 marks. Even marks from group exercises and interviews will be converted to 25 out of 50 marks. The final merit list will be obtained after aggregating (out of 100) the converted marks from Part II and Part III.
SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
SBI PO Preliminary Examination, consisting of an Objective Test for 100 marks, will be conducted online. The test will have 3 Sections (with separate timings for each section). The SBI PO Prelims exam has three subjects: English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning. The maximum marks of 100 can be completed in 1 hour. They set the time for each part separately.| SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026 | ||||
| S.No. | Name of Tests (Objective) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | English Language | 40 | Total Maximum Marks 100 | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Quantitative Aptitude | 30 | 20 minutes | |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | 30 | 20 minutes | |
| Total | 100 | 1 hour | ||
SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026
The category-wise merit list will be drawn based on the aggregate marks scored in the Preliminary Examination. There will be no sectional cut-off. Candidates numbering 10 times (approx.) the number of vacancies in each category will be shortlisted for the Main Examination from the top of the above merit list. Candidates who clear the required cut off in SBI Prelims can appear for the Mains exam. Changes have been made to the title to increase the ratio of General Finance/Banking, and the duration of the test is 3 hours. The duration of the descriptive test is 30 minutes and it has 50 marks. This exam tests candidates' writing skills by writing letters and essays.| SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026 | ||||
| S.No. | Name of Tests( i ) (Objective) | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
| 1 | Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 40 | 60 | 50 minutes |
| 2 | Data Analysis & Interpretation | 30 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| 3 | General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness | 60 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| 4 | English Language | 40 | 20 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 170 | 200 | 3 hours | |
| (ii) Descriptive Test | -- | |||
| Communication Skills: Emails, Reports, Situation Analysis & Precis Writing | 3** | 50 | 30 minutes | |
| Grand Total | 250 | |||
** Emails (Compulsory, one out of two options), Reports(Compulsory, one out of two options) and Either of Situation Analysis or Precis Writing (one of the two).
SBI PO Group Discussion & Interview 2026
Category-wise merit list will be drawn based on the aggregate marks scored in Phase II (Main Exam). There will be no sectional cut-off. Candidates numbering up to 3 times (approx.) of the category-wise vacancies will be shortlisted for Phase-III from the top of the category-wise merit list, subject to a candidate scoring the minimum aggregate qualifying score. The last step in the SBI PO selection process is a Group Discussion and Interview.- The SBI PO Group Discussion is worth 20 marks, while the interview is of 30 marks.
- If you are in the 'OBC' category, you will need to provide a certificate showing you are in the 'Non-Creamy Layer'.
- You have to obtain certain scores and marks in this round to be in the final selection.
- The weight of the main exam to the interview is 3:1, so the SBI PO Group Discussion & Interview is very important.
SBI PO Selection Process Step-wise
Online Registration
Interested candidates who meet the eligibility parameters must use the online tool for the examination. The fee to be paid online is Rs 750 for General / EWS / OBC. For SC/ST/PWD candidates, fees will be waived. Candidates should apply online through SBI PO.Admit Card Release
SBI PO Admit Card is issued separately for Prelims, Mains Group, and Interviews. Candidates can access the admit card from the official website by entering the registration number or registration number with date of birth, and password. The admit card is an important document if the candidates are not allowed to appear in the exam.Exam Conducted
SBI PO Prelims exam has 100 types of questions. Questions will be asked in the English Language, Performance Measurement and Reasoning. The total score is 100. The duration of the exam is one hour. The main exam will have 250 questions. The duration of the exam is 3 hours. The psychological test (group exercise and interview) is worth 50 marks.Result Declaration
SBI PO Final will be announced online separately for Preliminary, Online, and Mental Exams. The result will be available in PDF format in the form of a merit list. The printed copy of the result will not be sent to the candidates by mail. Based on the marks from the first exam, candidates will be called 10 times the strength available for the main exam. With the support from the performance in the main test, the candidates are called for group training and interviews for three times as many places.SBI PO Final Selection
The final selection of candidates for the SBI PO Vacancy is completed based on Phase 2 (Mains exam) and Phase 3 (Interview or Group Exercises). The marks obtained within the preliminary examination are not added to prepare the final merit list for selection. Let us check out the SBI PO 2026 final selection method in the table below.| SBI PO Final Selection | |||
| Exam | Mains Exam | GD/ Interview | Total |
| Maximum Marks | 250 | 50 | 300 |
| Normalized Marks | 75 | 25 | 100 |
SBI PO Selection Process 2026: Documents Required
Here is the list of important documents that candidates must carry for document verification after the SBI PO Selection Process 2026. Bring original and photocopies of documents. Also carry it in a waterproof folder to avoid problems.- Printout of SBI PO Interview Admit Card.
- Proof of Date of Birth (as specified in SSC/class 10th certificate)
- Hard Copy of Online SBI PO Application Form.
- Identification Proof with Photograph accepted by SBI (Aadhar Card, PAN card, etc.)
- Educational Documents
- Caste certificate as per the categories issued by the competent authority as designated by the Government of India. (if applicable)
- A disability certificate issued by the District Medical Board in case of persons with a disability must be carried along with the other documents. (if applicable)
- Ex-servicemen are required to produce a copy of the Service or Discharge book, besides the pension payment order and documentary proof of rank previously / currently held at the time of the interview.
- Experience Certificate
- Documents related to the Nationality of the candidate (if applicable)
- Documents related to the Age Relaxation (if applicable)
SBI PO Joining and Training Period
- The selected candidates shall be provided basic banking knowledge through an online course, which they shall complete before joining. The selected candidates, at the time of joining, will have to execute a Bond for a value of 2.00 Lacs ( Two Lacs only) to serve the Bank for a minimum period of three years. The Bond will be invoked by the Bank if the candidate resigns from the service of the Bank before the expiry of three years from the date of joining.
- On joining, the selected candidates will be designated as “Probationary Officers” and may be on probation for two years. They will be subjected to continuous assessment, as per the Bank’s extant policy, during the probation period. Those candidates who qualify in the assessment as per standards determined by the Bank from time to time will be confirmed in the Service of the Bank in Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I).
- If any candidate fails to achieve the minimum standards stipulated, his/ her services may be terminated as per the policy of the Bank in force at the material time.
- Bank provides immense opportunities for growth in career, including opportunities for posting abroad. The attractive promotion policy of the Bank provides an opportunity to meritorious and exceptionally brilliant officers to reach the Top Management Grade in a reasonably quick time.
SBI PO Preparation Tips
SBI PO Exam is one of the toughest banking exams that requires dedicated preparation. Here are the tips that should be followed by the candidates.- Dedicate Time for Reading: Spend an hour daily reading newspapers.
- Build Vocabulary and General Awareness: Work on enhancing your vocabulary.
- Revise and Practice Shortcut Tricks: Dedicate time to revising and practicing quantitative aptitude shortcuts.
- Thorough Understanding of Concepts: Be clear on all the concepts.
- Practice Sectional Tests and Practice sets: Focus on specific sections for targeted improvement.
- Speed and Accuracy: Keep track of your speed and accuracy.
- Mock Tests: Take mock tests regularly.
SBI PO Selection Process 2026 FAQs
Q1. How many stages in SBI PO Selection Process 2026?
Ans. The SBI PO Selection Process 2026 includes Prelims, Mains and Interview.
Q2. Is it necessary to go through the details of SBI PO Selection Process 2026?
Ans. Yes, it is essential for the candidates to go through the details of SBI PO Selection Process 2026.
Q3. How many attempts are allowed for the SBI PO exam?
Ans. The number of attempts is not limited. You can apply for the SBI PO exam as many times as you want until you reach the maximum age limit.
Q4. Is there an interview for SBI PO Selection Process 2026?
Ans. Yes, there is an interview. The selection process consists of the Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and Interview. For more detailed information on the SBI PO Selection Process 2026, check the above article.
Q5. What are the documents required to get selected for the SBI PO 2026?
Ans. To get selected for the SBI PO 2026 the documents required are mentioned in detail in the above blog.
Q6. Is the SBI PO Preliminary Exam qualifying in nature?
Ans. Yes, the SBI PO Preliminary Exam is generally a qualifying round. Marks obtained in the mains and interview round are considered for the final selection.
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