Table of Contents
What is SBI PO?
SBI PO is a prestigious national-level recruitment examination conducted annually by the State Bank of India to select entry-level Probationary Officers. It is highly sought-after due to its premium compensation package exceeding ₹90,000/month gross, comprehensive perks, and rapid promotional avenues. Candidates undergo a rigorous four-stage selection process involving Preliminary screening, Main examinations, Group Exercises, and a Personal Interview. Newly recruited officers undergo a detailed two-year probation period, during which they receive hands-on training across diverse retail, corporate, and agricultural banking portfolios.
SBI PO 2026 at a Glance
SBI PO 2026 Important Dates & Exam Calendar
Never miss a deadline. Below are the expected key dates for SBI PO 2026 based on the official notification and previous year patterns.
Official Notification Release
18 June 2026Online Application Opens
18 June 2026Application Deadline
8 July 2026Application Fee Payment Last Date
8 July 2026Prelims Admit Card Download
August 2026SBI PO Prelims Exam
August 2026 (Tentative)"These dates are indicative based on the SBI PO 2025 cycle. Official dates will be confirmed at sbi.co.in upon notification release. PrepBanker will update this page immediately."
SBI PO 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before you start your preparation, confirm you meet the eligibility requirements for SBI PO 2026.
A graduate degree in any discipline from a recognised university or equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government is required. Final year students who expect to complete graduation before the joining date are also eligible to apply.
Age Limit & Relaxation
Note: Age is calculated as of 1st April 2026.
Number of Attempts Cap
SBI PO 2026 Exam Pattern — Prelims & Mains
SBI PO selection has 3 exam stages followed by a Group Exercise and Personal Interview.
| Section | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
SBI PO 2026 Complete Syllabus — Prelims & Mains
English Language
Quant Aptitude
Reasoning Ability
SBI PO Mock Test Series 2026
Structured for both Prelims and Mains, built on the latest SBI PO exam pattern, with detailed solutions and All-India performance ranking after every attempt.
Prelims Full-Length Mocks
20 Full-Length TestsReasoning, Quant, English combined, 60-min timed with sectional clocks
Prelims Sectional Tests
30+ Tests Per SectionTopic-focused sectional drills for English, Quantitative Aptitude & Reasoning
Mains Full-Length Mocks
15 Advanced Level TestsReasoning & Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis & Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking, English
Mains Descriptive Test Practice
5 Evaluation SetsEssay & letter writing simulations with model answers and expert grading guidelines
Previous Year Pattern-Based Tests
8 Shift-Wise PapersMocks built directly from real 2021-2025 exam-shift difficulty trends
Performance Analytics
AI-Powered ReportAll-India rank, percentile, section-wise accuracy, and time-per-question breakdown
Language Support
Bilingual TestsAll mock questions and detailed solutions available in both English & Hindi
Why PrepBanker's mock tests are built differently
Our question difficulty is recalibrated every year based on the previous cycle's actual shift-wise feedback from our own test-takers, not just theoretical pattern guesses. Each query mirrors the timing pressure and sectional constraints of the live bank CBT.
SBI PO Previous Year Question Paper — Pattern Snapshot
Before you download the full previous year paper PDF, here's what the last 2-3 years of SBI PO Prelims papers actually tested most — so you know where to spend your practice time.
Topic-wise weightage (SBI PO Prelims Pattern)
Recent YearsHigh-Weightage Topics: Puzzles & Seating Arrangement, Syllogism, Inequality, Blood Relations
High-Weightage Topics: Data Interpretation, Simplification/Approximation, Number Series, Quadratic Equations
High-Weightage Topics: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para Jumbles, Error Spotting
Source Transparency: Our downloadable PYQs are built as memory-based reconstructions verified by subject experts. We strictly do not host or reproduce copyrighted questions or official PDFs from third-party sites or testing portals.
Sample-style questionsOriginal
Circular Seating Arrangement (Prelims Level)
Reasoning Ability Puzzle
Six friends — P, Q, R, S, T, and U — sit around a circular table facing the centre. Q sits second to the right of P. R is not an immediate neighbour of Q.
[full puzzle continues in your downloadable PDF]
Download the Full SBI PO Previous Year Paper PDF (2021–2025)
Includes shift-wise papers, detailed solutions, sectional time analysis, and difficulty ratings.
SBI PO Sectional Tests 2026 — English, Quant & Reasoning Practice
Sectional tests help you master each subject individually before attempting full mocks. PrepBanker's SBI PO sectional tests are topic-focused, timed, and scored — giving you a precise understanding of where you stand in each subject. Since SBI PO Prelims has separate 20-minute timers for each section, dedicated sectional practice is not optional — it is essential.
English Language Sectional Tests
| Topic | Tests Available | Questions per Test |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 15 | 10–15 |
| Cloze Test | 10 | 10 |
| Para Jumbles | 10 | 5 |
| Error Detection | 12 | 10 |
| Fill in the Blanks | 10 | 10 |
| Sentence Improvement | 8 | 10 |
| Full English Section Mock | 10 | 30 |
Quantitative Aptitude Sectional Tests
| Topic | Tests Available | Questions per Test |
|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | 20 | 5 sets |
| Number Series | 12 | 10 |
| Simplification & Approximation | 10 | 15 |
| Quadratic Equations | 8 | 10 |
| Arithmetic (Profit/Loss, SI/CI, etc.) | 15 | 10 |
| Full Quant Section Mock | 10 | 35 |
Reasoning Ability Sectional Tests
| Topic | Tests Available | Questions per Test |
|---|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangement | 25 | 5 sets |
| Syllogisms | 10 | 5 |
| Inequalities | 8 | 5 |
| Coding-Decoding | 8 | 5 |
| Blood Relations | 6 | 5 |
| Direction Sense | 6 | 5 |
| Full Reasoning Section Mock | 10 | 35 |
SBI PO Topic-Wise Practice Questions — 10,000+ Questions Bank
PrepBanker's SBI PO question bank has 10,000+ practice questions across all topics, sorted by difficulty — Easy, Medium, and Hard. Each question comes with a detailed explanation and shortcut method. Practising topic-wise before attempting full mocks is the fastest way to improve accuracy and speed.
High-Priority Topics to Focus On
Reasoning — Must-Practice Topics
| Topic | Avg Questions in Exam | Difficulty | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Puzzles & Seating Arrangements | 15–20 | High | Must Do |
| Coding-Decoding (new pattern) | 5 | Medium | High |
| Syllogisms | 3–5 | Medium | High |
| Inequalities | 5 | Low–Medium | High |
| Blood Relations | 2–3 | Medium | Medium |
| Direction Sense | 2–3 | Low | Medium |
Quantitative Aptitude — Must-Practice Topics
| Topic | Avg Questions in Exam | Difficulty | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | 15–20 | High | Must Do |
| Number Series | 5 | Medium | High |
| Simplification | 5–8 | Low | High |
| Arithmetic Word Problems | 8–10 | Medium | High |
| Quadratic Equations | 5 | Low | Medium |
English — Must-Practice Topics
| Topic | Avg Questions in Exam | Difficulty | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 10 | Medium–High | Must Do |
| Cloze Test | 5–7 | Medium | High |
| Para Jumbles | 5 | Medium | High |
| Error Detection | 5 | Medium | Medium |
Current Affairs for SBI PO 2026 — What to Study & How Much
The General/Economy/Banking Awareness section in SBI PO Mains carries 40 marks and is often the difference-maker between selection and rejection — since most candidates score similarly in Reasoning and Quant. PrepBanker publishes daily current affairs curated specifically for banking exams, so you never waste time on irrelevant news.
What to Cover for SBI PO GA
| Category | Weightage | What to Focus On |
|---|---|---|
| Banking & Financial Awareness | 35–40% | RBI policies, repo rate, CRR, SLR, banking schemes, new bank launches |
| Current Affairs (Last 6 Months) | 25–30% | National & international events, government schemes, summits |
| Static GK | 15–20% | HQs, taglines, governors, MD & CEOs of banks, countries & capitals |
| Economy & Budget | 10–15% | Union Budget highlights, GDP figures, IMF/World Bank reports |
| Awards, Reports & Rankings | 5–10% | Padma Awards, Nobel Prize, important indices (GII, HDI, GHI) |
How PrepBanker Helps
- Daily current affairs capsules tagged for banking exams — read in under 10 minutes
- Monthly PDF compilations for quick revision before exams
- Topic-wise current affairs quizzes to test retention
- RBI policy tracker updated after every MPC meeting
- Banking awareness quiz — 50 questions updated weekly
SBI PO 2026 Study Material & Preparation Strategy
How to Prepare for SBI PO in 90 Days — Month-by-Month Plan
Foundation (Days 1–30)
- Reasoning: Complete puzzles, seating arrangements, syllogisms, inequalities, coding-decoding
- Quant: Cover all arithmetic topics — percentage, profit & loss, SI/CI, time & work, speed & distance, ratio & proportion
- English: Build vocabulary with 10 new words daily; practice RC passages every day
- Current Affairs: Start reading PrepBanker's daily CA; cover last 3 months of banking news
- Target: 2 sectional tests per topic per week; review every answer
Application (Days 31–60)
- Take 2 full Prelims mocks per week; analyse every test for 1 hour after attempting
- Identify your 3 weakest topics and give them 1 extra hour daily
- Quant: Master DI — bar graphs, pie charts, tables, mixed DI, caselet DI
- Reasoning: Solve 3 new puzzle sets daily at increasing difficulty
- English: Practice 1 RC passage + 1 cloze test + 1 para jumble daily
- Current Affairs: Cover last 6 months; attempt weekly quizzes
- Target: Score above 60 marks in each Prelims mock by end of month
Speed & Accuracy (Days 61–90)
- Take 1 full Prelims mock every 2 days
- Start Mains mocks if Prelims target is achieved
- Focus on attempt strategy — which sections to start with, how many to attempt
- Revise static GK, banking awareness, and economy for Mains GA section
- Descriptive practice: Write 1 essay + 1 letter every 3 days; get them reviewed
- Target: 70+ in Prelims mocks consistently; clear Mains sectional cut-offs
Section-wise Time Strategy for SBI PO Prelims
Since sections are individually timed at 20 minutes each, you need a clear attempt strategy for each.
English (20 mins)
Start with Fill in the Blanks and Error Detection. Attempt Cloze Test next. Save RC for last.
Target: 22–25 attempts (85–90% acc.)Quant (20 mins)
Start with Simplification, Number Series, then Quadratic Equations. Attempt DI last. Skip tough Qs.
Target: 22–25 attempts (80%+ acc.)Reasoning (20 mins)
Start with Inequalities, Syllogisms, and Coding-Decoding. Attempt puzzles only if time permits.
Target: 22–25 attempts (85%+ acc.)SBI PO Previous Year Cut-off Marks (2018–2025)
Use these as your target scores. Consistently scoring above the General category cut-off in mocks = exam-ready.
Prelims Cut-off (Out of 100)
| Year | General | OBC | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 62.50 | 59.00 | 52.50 | 46.00 | 58.25 |
| 2023 | 60.75 | 57.50 | 50.00 | 44.50 | 56.00 |
| 2022 | 58.00 | 55.25 | 48.75 | 42.00 | 54.00 |
| 2021 | 55.50 | 52.75 | 46.50 | 40.00 | 52.00 |
| 2019 | 59.75 | 56.50 | 50.25 | 44.00 | — |
| 2018 | 57.25 | 54.00 | 48.00 | 41.50 | — |
Mains Cut-off (Out of 200 Objective)
| Year | General | OBC | SC | ST | EWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 89.47 | 83.10 | 72.40 | 64.20 | 81.00 |
| 2023 | 86.20 | 80.50 | 70.00 | 61.75 | 78.25 |
| 2022 | 84.10 | 78.30 | 67.80 | 59.50 | 76.00 |
| 2021 | 81.50 | 75.80 | 65.00 | 57.25 | 74.00 |
| 2019 | 78.90 | 72.50 | 62.75 | 55.00 | — |
| 2018 | 76.25 | 70.00 | 60.50 | 53.00 | — |
SBI PO Prelims Exam Analysis
SBI PO Prelims 2025 Analysis (for reference)
Held on 5 August 2025 across multiple shifts
The SBI PO Prelims 2025 exam was held on 5 August 2025 across multiple shifts. Overall, candidates rated the difficulty level as moderate. Here's how each section played out:
| Section | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts | Key Observation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reasoning Ability | Moderate to Difficult | 22–26 | Puzzles and seating arrangement were the most time-consuming; this section decided most people's overall score. |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Moderate | 20–24 | Data Interpretation sets took longer than expected; simplification and arithmetic were manageable. |
| English Language | Easy to Moderate | 22–27 | Reading Comprehension and cloze test were straightforward; error-spotting had a couple of tricky ones. |
| Overall | Moderate | 65–72 | Time management on Reasoning puzzles was the biggest differentiator between high and average scorers. |
SBI PO Salary 2026 — In-hand Pay, Allowances & Career Progression
SBI PO Monthly Salary Breakdown
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay (Scale I) | ₹48,480 |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | ~₹22,300 |
| House Rent Allowance — Metro | ₹7,272 |
| House Rent Allowance — Urban | ₹5,818 |
| House Rent Allowance — Semi-urban | ₹4,363 |
| Special Allowance | ₹5,200 |
| Transport Allowance | ₹1,200 |
| Gross Monthly (Metro) | ~₹84,600 |
| Gross Monthly (Non-metro) | ~₹71,000 – ₹80,000 |
| Annual CTC (approx.) | ₹21.97 Lakh |
Additional perks & benefits:
- Mediclaim for self & family (₹6 lakh cover)
- NPS pension
- Subsidised home loan at ~7% interest
- Subsidised car loan
- LFC / LTC twice a year
- Annual bonus
- Paid leave (30 days EL + 12 SL)
- Staff quarters in select postings
- Club membership
- Mobile reimbursement
SBI PO Career Growth & Promotion Path
| Years of Service | Designation | Approximate CTC |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 2 years | Probationary Officer → Junior Management Grade Scale I | ₹10–12 LPA |
| 2 – 5 years | Assistant Manager (JMGS I) | ₹12–15 LPA |
| 5 – 8 years | Deputy Manager (MMGS Scale II) | ₹16–20 LPA |
| 8 – 13 years | Manager (MMGS Scale III) | ₹22–28 LPA |
| 13 – 18 years | Senior Manager (SMGS Scale IV) | ₹30–38 LPA |
| 18 – 23 years | Chief Manager (SMGS Scale V) | ₹42–52 LPA |
| 23+ years | AGM / DGM / GM / ED / MD & CEO | ₹60 LPA+ |
"SBI offers the fastest promotion cycle among all PSU banks. Officers who clear internal promotion exams can reach Scale III in 5 years instead of 8."
SBI PO 2026 Selection Process — All 4 Stages Explained
Stage 1 — Preliminary Exam:
Online, 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes. Three sections with individual 20-minute timers. Qualifying in nature — marks are not added to final merit. Approximately top 10–12 candidates per vacancy are shortlisted for Mains.
Stage 2 — Main Exam:
Online, 155 objective questions (200 marks, 180 minutes) + 1 Descriptive test (50 marks, 30 minutes). The descriptive test involves an essay and a formal letter. Marks from this stage form the base for final merit. Sectional as well as overall cut-offs apply.
Stage 3 — Group Exercise (GE):
Shortlisted Mains qualifiers appear for a Group Exercise conducted at SBI's regional offices. Candidates are assessed on communication, leadership, listening, and teamwork. This stage carries 20 marks. Typically 3–4 candidates per vacancy are shortlisted from GE for the final interview.
Stage 4 — Personal Interview:
30-mark interview conducted by a panel of senior SBI officers and external experts. Focuses on banking awareness, current affairs, general awareness, candidate's background, and situational judgement. Grooming, confidence, and articulation matter significantly at this stage.
Final Merit Calculation
| Stage | Marks | Weightage |
|---|---|---|
| Mains Objective | 200 | 75% (Normalized) |
| Descriptive Test | 50 | |
| Group Exercise | 20 | 25% (Normalized) |
| Personal Interview | 30 | |
| Total | 300 | 100% |
Why Prepare for SBI PO on PrepBanker?
Free SBI PO Mock Tests
Start with 5 free full-length Prelims mocks and 3 free Mains mocks — no payment required, no card needed. Get instant scores, section-wise analysis, and rank among all test-takers.
SBI PO Sectional Tests
80+ topic-specific sectional tests covering every chapter in the Prelims and Mains syllabus. Timed exactly like the real exam sections.
10,000+ Practice Questions
Topic-wise question bank with difficulty filters. Every question has a step-by-step explanation and a shortcut method. Track what you have attempted and your accuracy per topic.
Live Exam Experience
Attempt live SBI PO mock tests with thousands of aspirants simultaneously. Real-time leaderboard, countdown timer, and instant result with all-India percentile.
Daily Current Affairs
Banking-exam-tagged daily updates. 5-minute daily capsules, monthly PDFs, and weekly quizzes so your GA preparation never goes stale.
Performance Analytics Dashboard
Know your speed, accuracy, and percentile for every topic. The analytics dashboard shows improvement trends over time and flags topics where you are losing the most marks.
Descriptive Writing Practice
Model essays and letters on banking topics with marking criteria so you are not caught off-guard in the SBI PO Mains descriptive section.
Study Material & Notes
Topic-wise notes for every chapter in the SBI PO syllabus — concise, exam-focused, and regularly updated.
Join 50,000+ aspirants already preparing on PrepBanker.
Start Preparing Free →SBI PO 2026 — Frequently Asked Questions
Senior Content Manager – Banking Exams, PrepBanker
Cleared IBPS PO (2021) • 7+ Years Experience • Verified 500+ mock papers
Yashraj Deshmukh has been writing and reviewing banking exam content for 7 years. He cleared IBPS PO in 2021, has a background in banking awareness content for 5+ years, and has reviewed 500+ mock test papers for accuracy against the latest SBI pattern. At PrepBanker, Yashraj tracks every SBI and IBPS notification the day it's released and personally verifies vacancy, salary, and exam-date updates against the official SBI/IBPS PDFs before they go live on this page.
Subject Matter Expert, Quantitative Aptitude, PrepBanker
IDBI Junior Assistant Manager • Bank of Maharashtra Customer Service Associate via IBPS PO
Divya Bhosale has been reviewing quantitative aptitude and banking exam material for PrepBanker. She has cleared the IDBI Junior Assistant Manager exam and served as a Customer Service Associate at the Bank of Maharashtra via IBPS PO, bringing invaluable real-world exam expertise to PrepBanker.