SBI PO Prelims 2026 Tomorrow: Shift Timings, Reporting Time And Exam Day Guidelines For 1,500 Vacancies

The State Bank of India will conduct the SBI PO Prelims 2026 on Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, 2026, for recruitment to 1,500 SBI Probationary Officer vacancies across the country. The preliminary examination will be held in four shifts on each of the two days, and candidates have been advised to verify their allotted date, shift and centre address on the admit card before stepping out of home.

The SBI PO Prelims reporting time differs from shift to shift, and this is where many candidates run into trouble before the paper even begins. Entry gates close strictly at the reporting time printed on the call letter. Late entry will not be permitted under any circumstance, and no relaxation will be granted for traffic delays, transport disruption or centre confusion.

SBI PO Prelims 2026 Shift Timings And Reporting Time

Shift 1 - Reporting Time 8:00 AM - Exam Time 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM Shift 2 - Reporting Time 10:30 AM - Exam Time 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM Shift 3 - Reporting Time 1:00 PM - Exam Time 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM Shift 4 - Reporting Time 3:30 PM - Exam Time 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM

Each shift runs for a composite duration of one hour. Candidates appearing in Shift 1 are advised to plan travel a night in advance if the allotted centre is in another city, since 8:00 AM reporting in metro locations leaves almost no margin for delay.

SBI PO Prelims 2026: Documents To Carry To The Exam Centre

Candidates will not be allowed inside the examination hall without the prescribed documents. Carry the following:

A clear printed copy of the SBI PO Prelims 2026 admit card or call letter An original valid photo identity proof such as Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Passport, Voter ID or Driving Licence Recent passport-size photographs, preferably matching the one uploaded during registration A photocopy of the same ID proof, where specified in the call letter

Photocopies of the identity document alone will not be accepted. The name printed on the ID must match the name on the admit card. Candidates whose name has changed after marriage or by affidavit should carry supporting documentation such as the marriage certificate or gazette notification to avoid being turned away at verification.

SBI PO Prelims Exam Day Guidelines 2026

Reach the exam centre well before the reporting time mentioned on the call letter. Carry only the permitted documents and stationery. Occupy only the seat and system allotted against your roll number. Follow every instruction issued by the invigilator and the centre supervisor. Mobile phones, smartwatches, fitness bands, calculators, Bluetooth devices, earphones, pen drives and any other electronic gadget are strictly prohibited inside the examination hall. Books, notes, loose sheets, printed material and rough paper brought from outside are not allowed. Read the on-screen instructions carefully and complete biometric and photograph capture formalities on time. Do not leave the examination hall before the shift concludes without the invigilator's permission.

Possession of a banned item, even if switched off, can lead to cancellation of candidature and debarment from future SBI recruitment examinations.

SBI PO Prelims 2026 Exam Pattern

The preliminary examination is an objective online test carrying 100 marks with a composite duration of one hour. It covers English Language, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability, with sectional timing applicable to each section. There is a penalty for wrong answers, with one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question deducted for each incorrect response. The Prelims is a qualifying stage, and marks scored here are not carried forward to the final merit list.

What Happens After SBI PO Prelims 2026

Candidates who clear the section-wise and overall cut-off will be shortlisted for the SBI PO Mains examination, which carries objective and descriptive components. Successful Mains candidates then move to the psychometric test, group exercise and interview round. The final selection is based on combined performance in the Mains and the interview stage.