The State Bank of India (SBI) conducts the Probationary Officer (PO) exam every year to recruit young and dynamic graduates for officer-level positions in its branches across India. The SBI PO is one of the most sought-after banking exams in the country, offering a challenging yet rewarding career in the banking sector. This article provides a detailed overview of the SBI PO Recruitment 2025, including eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, and preparation tips.
SBI PO Recruitment 2025 🗓️
Feature | Details |
Conducting Body | State Bank of India (SBI) |
Exam Name | SBI Probationary Officer (PO) Exam |
Post | Probationary Officer |
Vacancies | 600 (Expected) |
Application Mode | Online |
Selection Process | Prelims, Mains, and Interview |
Official Website | www.sbi.co.in |
Important Dates (Tentative) 📅
Event | Tentative Dates |
Online Application Start Date | December 27, 2024 |
Online Application Last Date | January 16, 2025 |
Preliminary Exam Date | March 8-15, 2025 |
Main Exam Date | April/May 2025 |
Note: These dates are tentative and may change as per the official notification.
Eligibility Criteria✅
To be eligible for the SBI PO exam, candidates must fulfill the following criteria:
1. Nationality: 🇮🇳
A candidate must be either:
- A citizen of India
- A subject of Nepal or Bhutan
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanently settling in India
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika and Zanzibar), Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia, or Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India
2. Age Limit (as of 01-04-2024): ⏳
- Minimum Age: 21 years
- Maximum Age: 30 years
Age Relaxation:
Category | Age Relaxation |
Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) | 5 years |
Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 3 years |
Persons with Disabilities (PwD) | 10 years |
Ex-Servicemen | 5 years |
3. Educational Qualification: 🎓
A candidate must possess a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university or any equivalent qualification recognized as such by the Central Government. Those in the final year/semester of their graduation may also apply provisionally, provided they can produce proof of having passed the graduation examination on or before a specified date.
SBI PO Exam Pattern ✍️
The SBI PO selection process consists of three stages:
- Preliminary Examination: This is a qualifying exam and its marks are not counted for the final selection.
- Main Examination: This exam consists of objective and descriptive tests.
- Interview: This is the final stage of the selection process.
1. Preliminary Examination:
Subject | Number 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 |
Note: There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
2. Main Examination:
The Main exam consists of objective tests and a descriptive test.
Objective Tests:
Subject | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 60 minutes |
Data Analysis & Interpretation | 35 | 60 | 45 minutes |
General/Economy/Banking Awareness | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
English Language | 35 | 40 | 40 minutes |
Total | 155 | 200 | 180 minutes |
Note: There is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer.
Descriptive Test:
Test | Maximum Marks | Duration |
English Language (Letter Writing & Essay) | 50 | 30 minutes |
3. Interview: 🗣️
Candidates who qualify in the Main examination are called for an interview. The interview carries 50 marks. The final selection is based on the combined scores of the Main examination (out of 250) and the interview (out of 50).
SBI PO Syllabus📚
The syllabus for the SBI PO exam is comprehensive and covers a wide range of topics.
- English Language: Reading Comprehension, Cloze Test, Para jumbles, Spotting Errors, Sentence Improvement, Fill in the blanks, etc.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Number Series, Simplification/Approximation, Quadratic Equations, Data Interpretation, Arithmetic Problems (Percentage, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Time & Work, etc.), etc.
- Reasoning Ability: Puzzles & Seating Arrangement, Inequalities, Syllogism, Blood Relations, Input-Output, Coding-Decoding, etc.
- General/Economy/Banking Awareness: Current Affairs, Banking and Financial Awareness, Static GK, etc.
- Computer Aptitude: Basic Computer Knowledge, Operating Systems, MS Office, Internet, etc.
- Descriptive Test: Letter Writing and Essay Writing on various topics.
Preparation Tips for SBI PO Exam 🎯
- Understand the Syllabus and Exam Pattern: Before starting your preparation, thoroughly understand the syllabus and exam pattern.
- Make a Study Plan: Create a realistic study plan and stick to it.
- Focus on Fundamentals: Build a strong foundation in all the subjects.
- Practice Regularly: Solve previous year’s question papers and mock tests to improve your speed and accuracy.
- Stay Updated: Keep yourself updated with current affairs, especially those related to banking and finance.
- Time Management: Practice time management during the exam.
- Mock Tests: Give regular mock tests to assess your preparation level.
FAQs 🤔
A1. The starting basic pay of an SBI PO is ₹41,960/-. The total compensation can be around ₹8.20 lakh to ₹13.08 lakh per annum depending on the place of posting and other factors.
A2. Yes, there are sectional cut-offs in both the Preliminary and Main examinations.
A3. Yes, final-year students can apply provisionally, provided they can produce proof of passing the graduation examination on or before a specified date.
A4. There is no limit on the number of attempts for the SBI PO exam, provided the candidate meets the age and other eligibility criteria.
A5. The official notification is released on the SBI website: www.sbi.co.in
Mufaiz Wani is a Professional content writer with over 5 years of experience crafting engaging and informative educational content. Holding a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Mufaiz blends technical expertise with creative writing to deliver articles, guides, and resources to the Students.