SBI has released the SCO Recruitment 2026 notification for two law-specific posts: Assistant Manager (Law) and Deputy Manager (Law). Before starting preparation, candidates must go through the official syllabus and exam pattern to understand what to study and how the exam will be conducted. The selection involves an online written test followed by an interview, with the written test carrying a 70% weightage in the final merit. Knowing the structure of the exam in advance helps candidates allocate time wisely and focus on high-weightage areas.
SBI SCO Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2026
The SBI SCO 2026 exam for Law Officer posts is prepared around legal and professional knowledge, with general aptitude sections being qualifying in nature. The exam is conducted online and tests candidates across three broad areas: general aptitude (reasoning and English) and professional knowledge. The final merit is based on combined performance in the written test and interview, making it essential to perform well in both.
What is the selection process for SBI SCO?
The selection process for SBI SCO 2026 is a two-stage process. Candidates must clear each stage to move forward. Meeting the eligibility criteria alone does not guarantee a call for the written test or interview, as SBI shortlists candidates based on its own parameters. The two stages are:
- Online Written Test: Consists of an Objective Test and a Descriptive Test, conducted tentatively in August 2026.
- Interview: Candidates shortlisted based on written test performance will be called for a personal interview.
- The final merit list is prepared with 70% weight given to the online written test and 30% to the interview.
- In case two candidates score equally, the elder candidate is ranked higher in the merit list.
SBI SCO Exam Pattern 2026 for Law Officer
The Online Written Examination is divided into two parts: the objective test and the descriptive test, each carrying 50 marks. Candidates must qualify in both parts individually. The General Aptitude sections within the Objective Test are qualifying in nature, meaning marks scored in these will not be counted for the merit list. Only professional knowledge marks are considered for merit. There are no negative marks for wrong answers in the exam.
- The exam is conducted online.
- Total marks for the written test: 100 (50 Objective + 50 Descriptive).
- General Aptitude (Reasoning + English) is qualifying only. These marks do not count toward merit.
- Only the Professional Knowledge paper and the Descriptive Test determine your rank.
- No negative marking for wrong answers.
SBI SCO Objective Test Pattern
The objective test has two parts: general aptitude (qualifying) and professional knowledge (merit-based).
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Time |
| Test of Reasoning* | 25 | 25 | 45 Minutes |
| English Language* | 35 | 35 | (Combined) |
| Professional Knowledge | 50 | 50 | 45 Minutes |
*Qualifying in nature. Marks not counted for final merit.
SBI SCO Descriptive Test Pattern
The Descriptive Test carries equal weightage alongside the Objective Professional Knowledge paper. Candidates need to answer any 5 questions out of 8 in the descriptive test. Minimum qualifying marks for the descriptive test will be decided by the bank.
| Test | Questions to Attempt | Total Questions | Maximum Marks | Time |
| Descriptive Test | 5 (out of 8) | 8 | 50 (10 marks each) | 45 Minutes |
SBI SCO Syllabus 2026 for Law Officer, Topic-Wise
The SBI SCO syllabus for law officer posts covers three main areas: reasoning, English language, and professional knowledge (law). The General Aptitude sections test basic logical and language skills, while the Professional Knowledge section is the core of the exam and carries the maximum merit-based marks. The indicative syllabus for each section is listed below.
Please note that the official notification describes the syllabus as indicative and not exhaustive; questions may be asked beyond the listed topics.
SBI SCO Reasoning Ability Syllabus
The Reasoning section tests logical thinking, analytical ability, and decision-making. Topics you should cover include:
- Coding and Decoding
- Blood Relations
- Puzzles and Seating Arrangement
- Series and Analogy
- Direction Sense
- Logical Reasoning
- Alpha-Numeric Series
- Data Sufficiency
- Clocks and Calendars
- Classification
SBI SCO English Language Syllabus
The English section checks a candidate’s understanding of grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. The key topics are:
- Reading Comprehension
- Grammar and Sentence Correction
- Vocabulary
- Synonyms and Antonyms
- Spotting Errors
- Sentence Rearrangement
- Cloze Test
- Fill in the Blanks
- Idioms and Phrases
- One-Word Substitution
SBI SCO Professional Knowledge (Law) Syllabus
This is the most important section for the SBI SCO Law Officer exam and the only one that counts toward the merit list in the Objective Test. The syllabus covers key areas of law relevant to banking operations and legal compliance. As per the official notification, the indicative topics are:
| Topic Area | Key Subjects Covered |
| Constitutional and Administrative Law | Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles, Judicial Review, Administrative Actions |
| Financial Sector Laws | Banking Regulation Act, RBI Act, FEMA, SARFAESI Act, IBC |
| Procedural Laws | CPC, CrPC, Indian Evidence Act, Limitation Act |
| New Labour Codes | Code on Wages, Industrial Relations Code, Social Security Code, OSH Code |
| Statutory Interpretation and Legal Drafting | Rules of Interpretation, Legal Drafting Principles, Contract Vetting |
What is the syllabus for the SBI SCO Descriptive Test?
The Descriptive Test for the SBI SCO Law Officer post will test written communication and legal understanding. Candidates are likely to be tested on legal essay writing, case-based questions, drafting of legal opinions or agreements, and analytical questions based on banking law scenarios. As the Bank has not prescribed a specific format, candidates should practice structured legal writing and stay updated on current developments in banking and financial law.
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FAQs
Q1: What is the exam pattern for SBI SCO Law Officer 2026?
A1: The exam has two parts: an Objective Test (50 marks) and a Descriptive Test (50 marks). The objective test includes qualifying general aptitude sections (reasoning and English) and a merit-based professional knowledge section of 50 marks. The Descriptive Test requires candidates to attempt 5 out of 8 questions. There is no negative marking.
Q2: Which section carries the most weightage in SBI SCO 2026?
A2: The Professional Knowledge section carries the highest weightage among merit-based sections in the Objective Test. Combined with the descriptive test, these two sections determine a candidate’s rank in the written test, which itself has a 70% weightage in the final merit list.
Q3: Is the General Aptitude section in SBI SCO qualifying or merit-based?
A3: The General Aptitude section comprising the Test of Reasoning (25 marks) and English Language (35 marks) is purely qualifying in nature. Marks scored in these sections are not counted toward the final merit list. Candidates must score the minimum qualifying marks as decided by the Bank.
Q4: What topics are covered in the SBI SCO professional knowledge syllabus for law officers?
A4: The Professional Knowledge syllabus covers Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Financial Sector Laws (including the Banking Regulation Act, SARFAESI, FEMA, and IBC), Procedural Laws, New Labor Codes, and Principles of Statutory Interpretation and Legal Drafting.
Q5: What is the final selection weightage for SBI SCO 2026?
A5: The final merit list is prepared with 70% weightage given to the Online Written Test score and 30% to the Interview score. Both stages must be cleared individually to be considered for final selection.
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Hi, I’m Tripti, a senior content writer at Oliveboard, where I manage blog content along with community engagement across platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. With 3+ years of experience in content and SEO optimization related to banking exams, I have led content for popular exams like SSC, banking, railway, and state exams.