What is the age limit for SBI PO 2026?

Candidates must be between 21 and 30 years of age as on 1 April 2026.

How many attempts are allowed for SBI PO General category?

General and EWS candidates are allowed a maximum of 6 attempts.

Is there a limit on attempts for SC/ST candidates in SBI PO?

No, there is no restriction on the number of attempts for SC and ST candidates.

Can final-year students apply for SBI PO 2026?

Yes, final-year or final-semester students can apply provisionally, but must provide proof of graduation by 30 September 2026 if called for interview.

What is the age relaxation for OBC candidates in SBI PO?

OBC candidates in the non-creamy layer get an age relaxation of 3 years.

Is prior work experience required for SBI PO?

No, SBI PO has no experience requirement. Freshers with a graduation degree are fully eligible.

Does appearing in SBI PO Prelims count as an attempt?

No, appearing only in the Preliminary exam does not count as an attempt. Appearing in the Mains exam does count.

What nationality is required to apply for SBI PO?

Candidates must be Indian citizens, or fall under specific eligible categories such as subjects of Nepal or Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who arrived before 1962, or persons of Indian origin from specified countries, with a Government of India eligibility certificate.

SBI PO Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age & Rules

Q: What is the educational qualification required for SBI PO 2026?

A graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university, as on 30 September 2026.

Q: Is a candidate below 60% graduation marks eligible for SBI PO?

Yes, candidates with a percentage below 60% are still eligible to apply.

To be eligible for SBI PO 2026, a candidate must be an Indian citizen (or fall under specific eligible categories from Nepal, Bhutan, or as a person of Indian origin), be between 21 and 30 years of age as on 1 April 2026, and hold a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university as on 30 September 2026. Age relaxation is available for reserved categories, ranging from 3 years for OBC to 15 years for PwBD (SC/ST) candidates. The maximum number of attempts is 6 for General/EWS and 9 for OBC/PwBD (General/OBC), with no restriction for SC/ST candidates.

On This Page

1Eligibility Criteria Overview
2Nationality Requirements
3Age Limits & Relaxation
4Educational Qualifications
5Maximum Attempts Count
6PwBD Disability Categories
7How to Calculate Graduation %
8Common Mistakes to Avoid
9Frequently Asked Questions

SBI PO Eligibility Criteria 2026: Overview

Parameter 1

Nationality Requirements

Specific categories from Nepal, Bhutan, or Tibetan refugees eligible under Gov conditions.

Required Status:Indian Citizen

Parameter 2

Official Age Limit

Measured strictly as on 1 April 2026. Relaxation limits apply category-wise.

Required Status:21 to 30 Years

Parameter 3

Educational Qualification

Must be completed on or before 30 September 2026. Final year students allowed.

Required Status:Graduation Degree

Parameter 4

Attempt Limit

Only Mains exam counts. SC/ST candidates face no restrictions.

Required Status:6 (Gen) / 9 (OBC)

Parameter 5

Prior Experience Required

Fresh graduates are fully eligible. No professional training required.

Required Status:None Required

SBI PO Nationality Criteria

A candidate applying for the SBI PO recruitment cycle must satisfy one of the following nationality categories:

Group 1

Citizen of India

Standard native citizenship requirements apply.

Group 2

Subject of Nepal or Bhutan

Must possess an eligibility certificate issued by the Government of India.

Group 3

Tibetan Refugee (Pre-1962)

Must have arrived before 1 January 1962 with the intention of permanent settlement in India.

Group 4

Person of Indian Origin (PIO) Migrant

Migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, or specified East African countries with the intention of permanent settlement.

Note: Non-Indian citizen candidates must produce their Government of India eligibility certificate during documentation checks before final selection.

SBI PO Age Limit 2026

Target Age Range

21 to 30 Years Old

Strictly measured as of 1 April 2026

Date of Birth Boundaries2 April 1996 — 1 April 2005(Both Dates Inclusive)

Age Relaxation by Category

+3Yrs

OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)

33 Years max

+5Yrs

SC / ST

35 Years max

+5Yrs

Ex-Servicemen

35 Years max

+10Yrs

PwBD (General/EWS)

40 Years max

+13Yrs

PwBD (OBC)

43 Years max

+15Yrs

PwBD (SC/ST)

45 Years max

SBI PO Educational Qualification 2026 (As on 30.09.2026)

Graduation Status

Candidates from any discipline are eligible. Final year students qualify to apply.

Deadline: 30.09.2026

Degree StandardMust hold a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.

Final Year ProvisionFinal-year/semester students can apply provisionally, but must produce proof of graduation on or before 30.09.2026 if called for interview.

Integrated Dual Degree (IDD)Candidates with an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) must have a passing date on or before 30.09.2026.

Professional Streams AllowedCandidates holding Medical, Engineering, Chartered Accountancy (CA), or Cost Accountancy qualifications are fully eligible.

No Experience MandateNo prior work experience required — fresh graduates are eligible to apply.

SBI PO Number of Attempts 2026 (Revised)

Category 1

General / EWS

Applies to open category candidates

Category 2

OBC / PwBD (Gen-OBC)

OBC layer & Gen-OBC PwBD

Category 3

∞

SC / ST (with PwBD)

Unlimited attempts until age ceiling

Important Attempts Guidelines

Appearing only in Prelims does not count as a formal attempt.

Appearing in the Mains exam does count as one attempt.

If only one written exam was held in a given year (no separate Prelims), appearing in that exam counts as one attempt.

⚠️ Verify this against the live official notification PDF — see details regarding attempt limits and confirm correctness against the active circular.

SBI PO PwBD Eligibility: Disability Categories

4% of total vacancies are reserved for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). Eligible categories include:

Category 1

Locomotor Disability

Affects one arm, one leg, or both legs (not arms).

Category 2

Visual Impairment

Includes blindness and low vision categories.

Category 3

Hearing Impairment

Includes deafness and hard of hearing categories.

Category 4

Specific Learning Disability

Learning challenges due to specific cognitive conditions.

Category 5

Mental Illness

Various diagnosed mental health conditions.

Category 6

Multiple Disabilities

Combination of the above disability categories.

Category 7

Others

Leprosy-cured persons, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy, acid attack victims.

Review category-wise reservation allotments and PwBD vacancy splits:View Vacancy Split

How to Calculate SBI PO Eligibility Percentage

Below 60% is Eligible

Candidates with a percentage below 60% are still eligible to apply. No minimum aggregate is required.

No Rounding Rules

Percentage is not rounded up — 59.99% is treated as less than 60%. Enter your actual score.

Two Decimal Places Accuracy

Enter your percentage to two decimal places based on your actual marks — don't round off.

Official CGPA/OGPA Conversion

CGPA/OGPA holders must convert to percentage using their university's official conversion formula and present certificate proof if interviewed.

Manual Aggregation Steps

To calculate manually: add marks from all subjects across all semesters/years (including optional/honours subjects if part of the course), then divide by total maximum marks.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in SBI PO Eligibility

Wrong age calculationAlways check the exact cut-off date in the official notification, not just the year.

Corrective ActionVerify that your birthday lies precisely between 2 April 1996 and 1 April 2005 inclusive.

No proof of qualificationEven if your degree is complete, you need the official marksheet/certificate ready.

Corrective ActionEnsure your university issues the final passing certificate dated on or before 30 September 2026.

Exceeding attempt limitsTrack your attempts carefully; appearing in Mains counts, appearing only in Prelims does not.

Corrective ActionOnly count the recruitment years where you actually sat for the Mains Objective/Descriptive paper.

Missing nationality certificateCandidates under Nepal/Bhutan/Tibetan refugee/PIO categories must have the Government of India certificate ready.

Corrective ActionApply and secure the GoI eligibility certificate before completing the online SBI application form.

Frequently Asked Questions

PrepBanker Editorial & Verification Standards

Written By

Yashraj Deshmukh

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.

Reviewed By

Divya Bhosale

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.

Last updated: July 10, 2026

Next scheduled review: August 2026 (admit card release)