SBI PO Syllabus 2026
State Bank of India Probationary Officer
Conducted By
State Bank of India (SBI)
Eligibility
Graduate in any discipline from a recognized University
Age Limit
21-30 years (varies by category)
Exam Pattern
Prelims (Online), Mains (Online + Descriptive), Group Exercise & Interview
State Bank of India is the largest public sector bank in the country. Becoming a Probationary Officer (PO) in SBI is highly respected and offers great career growth. The selection process has three main stages: Prelims, Mains, and a Group Exercise with an Interview. The Preliminary test is all about speed and accuracy in English, Math, and Reasoning. The Mains exam is much tougher and tests your deep analytical skills. It also includes a descriptive test for writing letters and essays. You must practice quantitative aptitude and data interpretation daily to clear the high cut-offs. General awareness about banking and economy is also key to scoring well. Most candidates spend around six to nine months preparing for this exam. We have listed all the topics below to help you structure your study schedule daily.
Detailed Topic-wise Syllabus (57 topics)
Preliminary Examination
Online | 100 marks | 60 minutes | 100 MCQs | Sectional Time Limits (20 min each)
English Language 30 Marks
- Reading Comprehension - Economy & Current Affairs Passages
- Cloze Test
- Error Spotting and Phrase Replacement
- Para Jumbles
- Fill in the Blanks - Single and Double
- Sentence Correction and Improvement
- Word Usage and Vocabulary-Based Questions
Quantitative Aptitude 35 Marks
- Number Series - Missing and Wrong Number
- Simplification and Approximation
- Data Interpretation - Bar Chart, Pie Chart, Line Graph, Table
- Quadratic Equations
- Percentage, Profit, Loss and Discount
- Ratio, Proportion and Mixture
- Time, Work and Pipes
- Speed, Distance and Time - Trains, Boats
- Simple and Compound Interest
- Mensuration - 2D and 3D
- Probability and Permutation-Combination
Reasoning Ability 35 Marks
- Puzzles - Scheduling, Month-Based, Day-Based
- Seating Arrangement - Linear and Circular
- Inequality - Direct and Coded
- Syllogism
- Coding-Decoding
- Blood Relations
- Direction and Distance
- Order and Ranking
- Machine Input-Output
- Alphanumeric Series
Mains Examination
Online + Descriptive | 250 + 50 marks | 180 + 30 minutes | 4 Objective Sections + 1 Descriptive
Data Analysis & Interpretation 60 Marks
- Advanced DI - Caselet, Radar Chart, Mixed Graph
- Data Sufficiency
- Quantity-Based Comparison
- Advanced Arithmetic - Partnership, Boats and Streams
Reasoning & Computer Aptitude 60 Marks
- Complex Multi-Variable Puzzles
- Critical Reasoning - Strengthen, Weaken, Assumption
- Computer Hardware - Input/Output Devices, Storage
- Computer Software - OS, MS Office, Internet
- Networking Basics - LAN, WAN, Internet Protocols
- Computer Security - Virus, Firewall, Encryption
General/Economy/Banking Awareness 40 Marks
- RBI - Functions, Monetary Policy, Rates
- Banking History - Nationalization, Liberalisation
- Financial Inclusion - PM Jan Dhan, BC Model
- Capital Markets - SEBI, NSE, BSE, IPO
- Insurance - IRDAI, Life and Non-Life Insurance
- Union Budget, Fiscal Policy, Direct and Indirect Taxes
- Government Schemes - Make in India, Digital India
- SBI History, Products, Services and Subsidiaries
- Current Banking Awareness and Appointments
- International Finance - IMF, World Bank, Basel III
English Language (Advanced) 40 Marks
- Reading Comprehension - Long Economic/Policy Passages
- Advanced Grammar - Complex Error Types
- Advanced Vocabulary - Contextual Use
- Paragraph Completion and Summary Writing
Descriptive Paper 50 Marks
- Essay Writing - Banking, Economic, Social Policy Topics
- Letter Writing - Formal Business/Official Letters
- Précis Writing (where applicable)
Group Exercise & Interview
30 marks | Group Discussion / Group Exercise + Personal Interview
Group Exercise & Personal Interview
- Group Exercise - Topic-based discussion, role-play
- Personal Interview - Banking knowledge, current affairs, personality
Recommended Reference Books
| Subject | Book Title | Author / Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | R.S. Aggarwal |
| Reasoning | A New Approach to Reasoning | B.S. Sijwali |
| English | Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
| Banking Awareness | Banking & Financial Awareness | Arihant Experts |
| General Awareness | Manorama Yearbook 2026 | Mammen Mathew |
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