BankingCentral

SBI Probationary Officer (PO)

SBI PO is one of the most prestigious banking exams in India. As a Probationary Officer in the State Bank of India – the country's largest public sector bank – you get excellent salary, perks, and career growth. SBI PO is known for its moderately difficult exam pattern and is a gateway to a rewarding career in banking.

Official Website →
Conducting Body
State Bank of India
Frequency
Once a year
Vacancies
1,500–2,500 posts annually
Salary Range
₹41,960 – ₹67,564 per month

1Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university. Candidates with Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) are also eligible.

Age Limit & Relaxation

Minimum: 21 years · Maximum: 30 years
CategoryRelaxation
GeneralNo relaxation
OBC+3 years
SC/ST+5 years
PwBD+10 years

2Exam Pattern

1

Preliminary Exam

MCQ – Sectional Timing – Negative 0.25
Total Marks
100
Duration
1 hour (20 min per section)
English Language (30 Qs – 30 marks)
Quantitative Aptitude (35 Qs – 35 marks)
Reasoning Ability (35 Qs – 35 marks)
2

Mains Exam

MCQ + Descriptive – Negative 0.25
Total Marks
250
Duration
3 hours (objective) + 30 min (descriptive)
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude (45 Qs – 60 marks)
Data Analysis & Interpretation (35 Qs – 60 marks)
General/Economy/Banking Awareness (40 Qs – 40 marks)
English Language (35 Qs – 40 marks)
Descriptive Paper – English (Letter + Essay – 50 marks)
3

Group Exercise & Interview

GD + Interview
Total Marks
50
Duration
30-45 minutes total
Group Discussion, Case Study Discussion, Personal Interview

3Detailed Syllabus

1Quantitative Aptitude / Data Analysis
Number Series, Simplification, Approximation
Data Interpretation – Bar, Pie, Line, Tabular, Caselet, Radar
Percentage, Average, Ratio & Proportion
Profit & Loss, SI & CI, Partnership
Time & Work, Pipe & Cistern
Speed, Distance & Time, Trains, Boats & Streams
Permutation, Combination & Probability
Mensuration, Quadratic Equations, Data Sufficiency
2Reasoning & Computer Aptitude
Puzzles – Floor based, Box, Scheduling, Comparison
Seating Arrangement – Linear, Circular, Square, Rectangular
Syllogisms (Direct + Reverse), Coding-Decoding (new pattern)
Blood Relations, Direction & Distance
Inequality (Direct + Coded), Input-Output
Order & Ranking, Data Sufficiency
Computer – Basics, Hardware, Software, Networking, MS Office, Shortcuts
3English Language
Reading Comprehension (long passages – 2 sets)
Cloze Test, Error Spotting (new pattern)
Sentence Rearrangement, Para Jumbles
Phrase Replacement, Double Fillers
Word Usage, Vocabulary
Descriptive – Formal Letter + Essay (250-300 words each)
4General/Banking/Economy Awareness
SBI History, Achievements, Products & Services
Banking Terms, Types of Accounts, NPA, CRAR
RBI – Monetary Policy, Repo Rate, NABARD, SEBI
Government Schemes – PMJDY, MUDRA, Stand Up India etc.
Economy – GDP, Inflation, Budget, Fiscal & Monetary Policy
Current Affairs – Last 6 months (National + International)
Awards, Appointments, Summits, Important Days

4Study Plan

Month 1: Quant basics – Percentage, Ratio, SI/CI. Reasoning – Linear seating arrangement. Start reading economic news daily.

Month 2: Quant – DI (all types, focus on caselets). Reasoning – Circular/Square seating, Floor puzzles.

Month 3: Advanced Reasoning puzzles. English – RC practice daily. Start banking awareness notes.

Month 4: SBI-specific banking knowledge. Computer basics. English – essay and letter writing practice.

Month 5: Daily sectional tests. Focus on speed and accuracy. Deep-dive into current affairs.

Month 6: Full mock tests daily. Previous year papers. GD preparation with peers or online groups.

5Best Books

BookAuthorSubjectFree
Data Interpretation & Data SufficiencyArun SharmaQuantBuy online
A New Approach to ReasoningB.S. SijwaliReasoningBuy online
High Level DI & Reasoning for SBIMrunal (YouTube)Quant + ReasoningFree →
English for Banking ExamsAdda247EnglishBuy online
Banking AwarenessArihant / DishaBankingBuy online

6Free Resources

🌐website

SBI Careers Page

Official notifications, papers, and admit cards

🌐website

Oliveboard SBI PO Free Mocks

Free mock tests matching actual exam pattern

🎥youtube

Unacademy Banking

Free classes for SBI PO by top educators

🎥youtube

Mrunal Patel (Economy & DI)

Excellent free lectures on Economy and Data Interpretation

🌐website

GK Today Daily Updates

Daily current affairs for banking awareness

💡Expert Tips

1SBI PO DI is tougher than IBPS – focus heavily on caselet-based DI and practice calculation speed.
2Puzzles and seating arrangements together form 60-70% of the Reasoning section. Master all variations.
3For the descriptive paper, practice writing essays on banking and economic topics specifically.
4Know SBI inside out – its history, current MD & Chairman, recent initiatives, market position.
5The interview panel values banking knowledge and current affairs. Stay updated till your interview date.
6Join a study group for GD practice – group discussions require practice with actual people.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is SBI PO different from IBPS PO?

SBI PO recruits exclusively for State Bank of India, while IBPS PO recruits for 11 other public sector banks. SBI PO has a separate exam pattern, slightly different syllabus (includes GD in addition to interview), and generally offers a higher starting salary. SBI PO exam is considered slightly harder than IBPS PO.

Is there a Group Discussion in SBI PO?

Yes, unlike IBPS PO which only has an interview, SBI PO includes a Group Exercise (GE) along with the Personal Interview. The GE + Interview carries 50 marks. This tests teamwork, communication, and leadership skills.

What is the SBI PO probation period?

The probation period for SBI PO is 2 years. During this period, you undergo training and are posted at various branches. After successful completion, you are confirmed as an Officer in Junior Management Grade Scale-I.