SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026: Marking Scheme, Duration & Selection Process

Understanding the SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026 is essential for candidates preparing for the Assistant Manager (Law) and Deputy Manager (Law) recruitment. The examination comprises an online objective test, a descriptive test, and an interview. Knowing the marking scheme, exam duration, qualifying criteria, and stage-wise weightage will help you prepare strategically and maximise your score. 

SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026

The SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026 consists of two parts:

• Objective Test

• Descriptive Test

Both tests are conducted online. Candidates must qualify in each test separately. The written examination carries a total of 100 marks. Candidates must qualify in the Reasoning, English Language, Professional Knowledge, and Descriptive Test as per the qualifying criteria prescribed by SBI. The written examination score used for shortlisting is prepared according to the bank's evaluation process. 

SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026 Overview 

The table below provides an overview of the SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026, including the stages of the written examination and the marks allotted to each test. 

Candidates who score the required cut-off marks and qualify in both sections are shortlisted for the interview.

SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026 for Objective Test

The SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026 for the objective test includes qualifying sections along with a Professional Knowledge paper.

Important Points

• Reasoning and English Language are qualifying in nature.

• Marks obtained in Reasoning and English are not considered for preparing the final merit list.

• Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks decided by SBI in these qualifying sections.

• Professional Knowledge carries 50 marks and forms an important component of the written examination score.

• There is no negative marking for incorrect answers.

SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026 for Descriptive Test

The SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026 for the descriptive test evaluates candidates' legal writing and analytical skills.

Candidates have to answer any five questions out of the eight questions provided.

Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks prescribed by SBI in the descriptive test. The written examination evaluation is carried out according to the criteria specified by the bank.

SBI Law Officer Marking Scheme 2026

The SBI Law Officer marking scheme 2026 is straightforward.

• The objective test carries 50 marks.

• The descriptive test carries 50 marks.

• The total written examination carries 100 marks.

• There is no negative marking for wrong answers.

• The reasoning and English sections are qualifying only.

• Professional Knowledge marks are considered for merit preparation.

• Candidates must qualify separately in the objective and descriptive tests.

Since there is no negative marking, candidates can attempt every question without the risk of losing marks for incorrect answers. 

SBI Law Officer Exam Duration 2026

The SBI Law Officer Exam duration 2026 is divided into separate time slots for each test.

The total examination time is 135 minutes. Each section has a separate time limit, so candidates should plan their attempts accordingly.

SBI Law Officer Selection Process 2026

The SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026 is only one part of the recruitment process. Selection takes place in two stages.

Stage 1: Online Written Examination

The online examination consists of:

• Objective Test

• Descriptive Test

Candidates must qualify in both sections individually.

Stage 2: Interview

Candidates shortlisted based on the written examination are called for the interview.

• Interview Marks: 100

• Minimum qualifying marks will be decided by SBI.

Stage 3: Final Merit List

The SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026 follows a weighted selection process for preparing the final merit list.

The final merit list is prepared by applying the prescribed weightage to the written examination and interview scores. 

If two candidates secure the same final marks at the cut-off point, the older candidate is ranked higher in the merit list.

SBI Law Officer Qualifying Marks 2026

SBI has not prescribed fixed qualifying marks for the SBI Law Officer Exam 2026. The minimum qualifying marks for the qualifying sections, descriptive test, and interview are decided by the bank based on factors such as the number of candidates, vacancies, and overall exam difficulty. Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks in each stage separately to remain eligible for the next stage of the recruitment process.

Indicative SBI Law Officer Syllabus 2026

The official notification provides an indicative syllabus for the Professional Knowledge paper. Candidates should prepare the following subjects:

• Constitutional Law

• Administrative Law

• Financial Sector Laws

• Procedural Laws

• New Labour Codes

• Principles of Statutory Interpretation

• Legal Drafting

• Current developments in law

The notification also states that the examination may include questions beyond the indicative syllabus if considered appropriate by the bank.

Important Instructions for SBI Law Officer Exam 2026 

Before appearing for the examination, candidates should keep the following points in mind:

• The examination is conducted online.

• There is no negative marking.

• Both objective and descriptive tests are mandatory.

• Candidates must meet the qualifying criteria at each stage to progress to the next stage of the recruitment process. 

• Only shortlisted candidates are called for the interview.

• The final selection depends on the combined performance in the written examination and interview.

The SBI Law Officer Exam Pattern 2026 is designed to assess legal knowledge, reasoning ability, language skills, and legal writing. The written examination consists of objective and descriptive papers carrying equal marks. Candidates must qualify in each section before progressing to the interview stage. Since Professional Knowledge plays a significant role in the written merit, candidates should focus on core legal subjects while also preparing descriptive answers and improving time management for the examination.