SBI PO Important Dates 2026.

SBI PO Vacancy 2026: Category-Wise Breakdown of 1500 Posts

PwBD Horizontal Reservation

SBI PO Age Limit 2026: 21 to 30 Years

Candidates applying for SBI PO Recruitment 2026 must be not below 21 years and not above 30 years as on 01 April 2026, meaning they must have been born between 02 April 1996 and 01 April 2005 (both dates inclusive). Age relaxation is available to specific categories, but the notification clarifies that cumulative age relaxation across multiple categories is not permitted.

SBI PO Selection Process 2026: Prelims, Mains & Interview

Phase-I: SBI PO Prelims Exam Pattern 2026

The Preliminary Examination is an online objective test carrying 100 marks, to be completed in 1 hour, with separate timing for each of its three sections. There is no sectional cut-off in the Preliminary Exam, but a category-wise merit list is prepared based on the aggregate score, and candidates numbering approximately 10 times the vacancies in each category are shortlisted for the Main Exam.

Phase-II: SBI PO Mains Exam Pattern 2026

The Main Examination is conducted online and consists of an Objective Test of 200 marks and a Descriptive Test of 30 marks, taken together in 3 hours 30 minutes. The descriptive paper is administered immediately after the objective test, and candidates must type their answers directly on the computer.

Each candidate must score a minimum qualifying mark in every individual section, including the descriptive paper, with sectional cut-offs decided by the Bank based on vacancies. A category-wise merit list is then prepared from the aggregate Main Exam score, and candidates numbering approximately 3 times the category-wise vacancies are shortlisted for Phase-III.

There is also a penalty for wrong answers in both the Preliminary and Main objective tests: for every wrong answer, 1/4th of the marks assigned to that question is deducted, while unattempted questions carry no penalty.

Phase-III: Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview

Shortlisted candidates undergo a Psychometric Test for personality profiling, followed by a Group Exercise (20 marks) and a Personal Interview (30 marks), totalling 50 marks. The Psychometric Test findings are shared with the interview panel to give a fuller perspective on each candidate, and all questions in this test are mandatory.

Final Merit List and Normalisation

The marks from Phase-II (Main Exam, both Objective and Descriptive) and Phase-III (Group Exercise & Interview) are normalised to 100 marks each before being combined into the final merit list; marks from the Preliminary Exam are not added at this stage.

If two or more candidates score identical marks at the cut-off point in the final merit list, they are ranked according to age in descending order, meaning the older candidate is placed higher.

Important Links: SBI PO Recruitment 2026