The State Bank of India (SBI) has officially released the SBI PO Notification 2026 for the recruitment of Probationary Officers (PO). Along with the notification, SBI has announced the complete recruitment schedule, application dates, vacancy details, and selection process. A total of 1,500 vacancies have been announced for SBI PO 2026, making it one of the biggest banking recruitment drives of the year. Candidates aspiring to join India's largest public sector bank should carefully review the SBI PO Exam Date 2026 and other important details to plan their preparation effectively.
SBI PO Exam Date 2026
The SBI PO 2026 recruitment process will be conducted in three phases: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview. As per the official notification, the preliminary examination will be held in August 2026, while the mains examination is scheduled for September 2026.
How many vacancies have been announced for SBI PO 2026?
The State Bank of India has announced 1,500 Probationary Officer vacancies for the 2026 recruitment cycle. These vacancies include both regular and backlog positions across various categories.
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|
| SC | 234 |
| ST | 144 |
| OBC | 390 |
| EWS | 144 |
| UR | 588 |
| Total | 1,500 |
The bank has clarified that these vacancies are provisional and may vary depending on organizational requirements.
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When will the SBI PO Prelims Exam 2026 be conducted?
The SBI PO Preliminary Examination 2026 is scheduled to be conducted in August 2026. Candidates who successfully submit their application forms within the prescribed timeline will be eligible to appear for the exam. The prelims examination consists of three sections:
- English Language
- Quantitative Aptitude
- Reasoning Ability
The exam carries a total of 100 marks and serves as the qualifying stage for shortlisting candidates for the mains examination.
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When will SBI PO Mains Exam 2026 take place?
The SBI PO Mains Examination 2026 will be conducted in September 2026 for candidates who qualify in the preliminary examination. The mains examination consists of:
- Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
- Data Analysis & Interpretation
- General Awareness/Economy/Banking Knowledge
- English Language
- Descriptive Test
Unlike prelims, the marks secured in the mains examination are considered for final selection.
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What is the SBI PO selection process 2026?
The SBI PO 2026 selection process consists of three stages:
- Phase I: Preliminary Examination- Candidates are shortlisted for the mains examination based on their performance in the prelims.
- Phase II: Main Examination- The mains exam includes both objective and descriptive tests. Candidates who clear the category-wise cut-off are shortlisted for the final stage.
- Phase III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise, and Interview. Shortlisted candidates will undergo a psychometric test followed by a group exercise and personal interview. The final merit list will be prepared based on main examination performance, group exercise, and personal interview.
Note: Marks obtained in the preliminary examination are not considered for final selection.
When will SBI PO Admit Card 2026 be released?
The SBI PO Admit Card 2026 for the preliminary examination is expected to be released during the second or third week of July 2026. Separate admit cards will be issued for:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Psychometric Test
- Group Exercise and Interview
Candidates must download their call letters from the official SBI careers portal and carry them along with valid photo identification on the examination day.
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