The SBI PO eligibility is related to nationality, age, education, category benefits, and physical benchmarks that candidates must satisfy to apply. Failure to meet any single criterion can result in rejection at any stage of the recruitment process. The final eligibility conditions will be confirmed in the official SBI PO 2026 notification.
SBI PO Eligibility 2026
Understanding the SBI PO Eligibility 2026 is a crucial step for candidates planning to apply for the probationary officer recruitment. This article explains the complete eligibility criteria, including nationality, age limit, age relaxation, educational qualification, PwBD rules, scribe guidelines, and attempt limits. The details below are aligned with the expected structure of the SBI PO 2026 notification. Any official changes will be updated once the notification is released.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|
| Nationality | Must be an Indian citizen |
| Age Limit | 21–30 years |
| Age Reference Dates | Born between 02.04.2003 and 01.04.1994 (example based on previous PDF; will update if new notification modifies) |
| Educational Qualification | Graduation in any discipline |
| Final Year Students | Eligible provisionally |
| PwBD Reservation | 4% horizontal reservation |
| Scribe Facility | Available for eligible PwBD candidates |
What is the nationality requirement for SBI PO?
To apply for SBI PO, the candidate must be a citizen of India. No other nationality categories are permitted under the official rules. The selected candidates may be posted anywhere at any SBI branch in India.
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What is the age limit for SBI PO?
As per the previous year's official notification, the SBI PO age limit is between 21 and 30 years of age:
- Minimum Age: 21 years
- Maximum Age: 30 years
This means candidates must have been born not earlier than 02.04.1994 and not later than 01.04.2003 (both dates inclusive). These cut-off dates may get updated in the 2026 notification.
SBI PO Age Relaxation
SBI provides upper-age relaxation to candidates from reserved categories as per government norms.
- Cumulative age relaxation is not allowed.
- Valid category certificates must be produced at the time of interview, or they will not be considered.
| Category | Age Relaxation (in years) |
|---|
| SC/ST | 5 |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 |
| PwBD (UR/EWS) | 10 |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 |
| Ex-Servicemen/ECOs/SSCOs (5 years of service) | 5 |
Note: Candidates seeking age relaxation must submit the relevant certificates at the time of the interview or group exercise. No request for category change will be entertained after SBI PO application submission.
What is the educational qualification for SBI PO?
The basic educational requirement is
- Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university.
- Final year/semester students may apply provisionally but must produce proof of graduation by the date specified in the notification.
- Professional qualifications such as CA, engineering, MBBS, etc., are also accepted.
- The date mentioned on the mark sheet or provisional certificate will be treated as the official date of passing.
How many attempts are there in the SBI PO exam?
SBI prescribes category-wise attempt limits. Only the Mains examination is counted as an attempt. Prelims appearance is not considered an attempt.
| Category | Maximum Number of Attempts |
|---|
| General (UR) / EWS | 4 attempts |
| UR (PwBD) / EWS (PwBD) / OBC / OBC (PwBD) | 7 attempts |
| SC / ST / SC (PwBD) / ST (PwBD) | No restriction |
Note: Attempts are counted from the SBI PO exam conducted on 18 April 2010 onwards.
What is the PwBD eligibility for SBI PO?
SBI provides 4% horizontal reservation to candidates with benchmark disabilities (≥ 40%) as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Candidates must possess a valid disability certificate issued by a competent medical authority in the prescribed format.
| Disability Type | Functional Requirements |
|---|
| Blind (B) / Low Vision (LV) | Reading, Writing, Sitting |
| Hard of Hearing (HH) | Communication, Hearing |
| Locomotor Disabilities (OA, OL, BA, etc.) | Walking, Manipulation with Fingers |
| Mental Illness / Autism | Cognitive, Behavioural |
| Multiple Disabilities | Combination of above |
Guidelines for Scribe and Compensatory Time
The issue guidelines for Scribe are
- Candidates with 40% or more disability who face difficulty in writing are allowed the facility of a scribe and compensatory time.
- The candidate must indicate the requirement of a scribe in the application.
- Candidates using a scribe are eligible for 20 minutes extra per hour of examination.
- Candidates must arrange their own scribe and submit details as per the prescribed pro forma.
- Scribes must have a qualification one level below the candidate's educational level.
- Misuse or violation of scribe rules will lead to disqualification or removal from service.
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SBI PO Category Declaration
For candidates belonging to different categories:
- Candidates from OBC (Creamy Layer) are not eligible for OBC reservation; they must apply as General (UR).
- Candidates under EWS must provide a valid Income & Asset Certificate in the prescribed format.
- No changes in the category or disability status will be allowed after online registration.
Key Takeaways
Here are the key takeaways:
- The SBI PO eligibility includes nationality, age limit, education, and PwBD conditions.
- The age limit is expected to remain 21–30 years, with standard age relaxations for reserved categories.
- Graduation in any discipline is mandatory, with provisional acceptance for final-year students.
- PwBD candidates receive 4% horizontal reservation as per the RPWD Act.
- SBI PO attempts are limited to 4 for UR/EWS and 7 for OBC, while SC/ST candidates have no attempt restrictions.
- All details provided are based on the previous year's official notification and will be updated once SBI releases the 2026 notification.
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