SBI PO Mains Exam

The State Bank of India (SBI) conducts the SBI PO exam to select eligible candidates for the post of Probationary Officer (PO). The SBI PO exam is considered one of the most sought-after banking exams in the country. Qualified candidates are posted as Probationary Officers in various branches of the bank. 

Approximately 10 lakh candidates apply for the SBI PO recruitment every year. The selection process of SBI PO comprises three phases: Prelims, Mains, and group exercises/ interviews. Check out the article to know more about the notification, vacancy, job profile, eligibility criteria, application procedure and other relevant details.

SBI PO Mains 2022 Exam Summary

Let us have an overview of the SBI PO Exam 2022 before getting into other details:

Exam Particulars	Exam Details
Exam Name	SBI PO
Conducting Body	State Bank of India
Exam Level	National level
Exam Frequency	Once a Year
Mode of Exam	Online
Total Registrations	Approximately 10 Lakh
Stages of Exam	Prelims, Mains and Interview
Exam Fees	INR 750 for General/EWS/OBC Categories SC/ST/PWD Categories Are Exempted from Fee Payment
Exam Duration	Prelims: One Hour Mains: 3 Hours 30 Minutes
No. of Papers and Total Marks	Prelims: Three (100 Marks) Mains: Four (250 Marks)
Total Questions	Prelims: 100 Questions Mains: 156 Questions
Marking Scheme	0.25 Marks Are Deducted for Wrong Answers
Language/Medium of Exam	English and Hindi
Exam Purpose	For the Selection of Probationary Officers in Various Branches of SBI
No. of Test Cities	Prelims: 200 Cities (Approx.) Mains: 70 Cities (Approx.)

The exam conducting authority will release the SBI PO 2022 notification PDF soon. The exam dates for SBI PO 2022 will also be announced along with the official notification. In 2021, a total of 2000 vacancies were announced. Candidates selected through SBI PO are posted anywhere in India. They can check out the previous year’s SBI PO notification.

The State Bank of India releases the complete schedule through the SBI notification. Aspirants must be aware of the importantSBI PO exam dates and complete all necessary tasks on time. The dates for the 2022-23 exam cycle have not been announced yet. As soon as the official notification is released, the dates will be updated in the table below. Check below the important dates of the SBI PO exam:

Events	Dates
Notification	To Be Notified
Online Registration	To Be Notified
Fee Payment Date	To Be Notified
Pre-exam Training	To Be Notified
Pre-exam Training Call Letter	To Be Notified
Prelims Admit Card	To Be Notified
Online Preliminary Examination	To Be Notified
Prelims Result	To Be Notified
Mains Admit Card	To Be Notified
SBI PO Mains Exam	To Be Notified
Mains Result	To Be Notified
Call Letter for Interview	To Be Notified
Interview	To Be Notified
Declaration of Final Result	To Be Notified

The SBI PO vacancy details will be released soon on the official website. Last year SBI announced a total of 2056 vacancies for Probationary Officers. Check the previous year’s vacancies for reference.

Category	Vacancy	Backlog	Total
GEN	810	–	810
OBC	540	20	560
SC	300	24	324
ST	150	12	162
EWS	200	–	200
Grand Total	2000	56	2056

Every year, many aspirants apply for PO exams. The job grants great career growth and prospects for a radiant future in banking. Generally, a bank PO undergoes a 2-year probation period or training and then gets the position of Assistant Manager on joining a branch. The typical prospect of this job is general banking and bank administration. Nevertheless, SBI POs are expected to possess exceptional communication skills and the capability of settling disputes in a relaxed and calm manner.

Throughout the probation, the candidates will be assigned various bank-related activities to familiarise them with the bank’s work. Additionally, the candidates will be provided training in several departments, such as marketing, finance, billing, accounting, and investment, to help them achieve practical knowledge. 

Some other duties of the Probationary Officers include handling and addressing consumer inquiries, looking into grievances concerning bank services, issuing ATM cards, demand drafts, cheque books, and revising unnecessary charges & discrepancies in accounts.

The POs are also responsible for specific managerial tasks like supervising the work bank clerks, verifying documents, managing cash balances and so on.

Additionally, once the POs are adequately experienced and qualified, they’re granted more responsibilities such as budgeting, loan processing, loan approvals, marketing, and planning and managing investments.

The SBI POs are initially posted as JMGS Scale 1. They may be posted at

• Local Head Office
• Regional Business Office
• SME Branch
• General Banking Branch
• Special Branches
• Corporate Office
• Zonal Offices 
• Specialised Branches like Cheque Clearing, Pension Clearing, etc.

After their probation period, the aspirants undergo a screening test, post which they are appointed as “Assistant Bank Manager” and are posted to one of the branches. However, as Assistant Bank Managers, the candidates are responsible for handling daily consumer transactions, like cash management, draft issuance, and passing cheques. The State Bank of India also provides foreign postings to selected officers based on their performances. It has above 190 foreign offices in 36 different nations.

SBI PO Promotion

SBI PO is promoted to good posts and the salary increase as per the bank norms. The promoted posts include:

• Probationary Officer (Assistant Manager, JMGS – I)
• Deputy Manager (MMGS)
• Manager (MMGS)
• Chief Manager (MMGS)
• Assistant General Manager (SMGS)
• Deputy General Manager (TEGS)
• Chief General Manager (TEGS)
• General Manager (TEGS)

Salary Structure

The salary structure of the SBI probationary officers is based on the Bipartite Settlement. It is important to note that the SBI offers one of the best pay scales in the banking industry, particularly for probationary officers. We have mentioned the SBI PO in-hand salary as per the bipartite settlement.

Every year, many aspirants apply for PO exams. The job grants great career growth and prospects for a radiant future in banking. Generally, a bank PO undergoes a 2-year probation period or training and then gets the position of Assistant Manager on joining a branch. The typical prospect of this job is general banking and bank administration. Nevertheless, SBI POs are expected to possess exceptional communication skills and the capability of settling disputes in a relaxed and calm manner.

Throughout the probation, the candidates will be assigned various bank-related activities to familiarise them with the bank’s work. Additionally, the candidates will be provided training in several departments, such as marketing, finance, billing, accounting, and investment, to help them achieve practical knowledge. 

Some other duties of the Probationary Officers include handling and addressing consumer inquiries, looking into grievances concerning bank services, issuing ATM cards, demand drafts, cheque books, and revising unnecessary charges & discrepancies in accounts.

The POs are also responsible for specific managerial tasks like supervising the work bank clerks, verifying documents, managing cash balances and so on.

Additionally, once the POs are adequately experienced and qualified, they’re granted more responsibilities such as budgeting, loan processing, loan approvals, marketing, and planning and managing investments.

The SBI POs are initially posted as JMGS Scale 1. They may be posted at

• Local Head Office
• Regional Business Office
• SME Branch
• General Banking Branch
• Special Branches
• Corporate Office
• Zonal Offices 
• Specialised Branches like Cheque Clearing, Pension Clearing, etc.

After their probation period, the aspirants undergo a screening test, post which they are appointed as “Assistant Bank Manager” and are posted to one of the branches. However, as Assistant Bank Managers, the candidates are responsible for handling daily consumer transactions, like cash management, draft issuance, and passing cheques. The State Bank of India also provides foreign postings to selected officers based on their performances. It has above 190 foreign offices in 36 different nations.

SBI PO Promotion

SBI PO is promoted to good posts and the salary increase as per the bank norms. The promoted posts include:

• Probationary Officer (Assistant Manager, JMGS – I)
• Deputy Manager (MMGS)
• Manager (MMGS)
• Chief Manager (MMGS)
• Assistant General Manager (SMGS)
• Deputy General Manager (TEGS)
• Chief General Manager (TEGS)
• General Manager (TEGS)

Salary Structure

The salary structure of the SBI probationary officers is based on the Bipartite Settlement. It is important to note that the SBI offers one of the best pay scales in the banking industry, particularly for probationary officers. We have mentioned the SBI PO in-hand salary as per the bipartite settlement.

In-Hand Salary	Amount (In Rs.)
Basic Pay	Rs.27,620/- (With 4 Advance Increments)
1st Increment	Increment of Rs. 980/- For the Next 7 Years
2nd Increment	Thereafter, an Increment of Rs. 1,145/- For the Next 2 Years
3rd Increment	Thereafter, an Increment of Rs. 1,310/- For the Next 7 Years

SBI PO Year-wise Basic Pay and Annual Increment

Check the year-wise basic pay and annual increment for SBI PO below:

Period	SBI PO Basic Salary	Increment
For the First 7 Years	Rs. 23,700/-	980
For the Next 2 Years	Rs. 30,560/-	1,145
Another 7 Years	Rs. 32,850/-	1,310

SBI PO Allowances and Perks

SBI PO is eligible for Dearness Allowance, HRA, CCA, Medical, and other allowances. Check out the allowances provided to the SBI PO below:

SBI PO Allowances
Dearness Allowance (DA)	46.9% of the Basic Pay (Revised Quarterly)
(CCA)	This Varies With the Place of Posting at 4% Or 3%.
HRA	9%, 8%, or 7% (Depends on the Place of Posting)
Furniture Allowance	Rs. 1,20,000/-
Medical Insurance	100% Medical Coverage for SBI Employees and 75% For Their Family Members

SBI PO Perks

SBI also provides various perks, including a settled career, fixed allowances, job security, and increments. The additional benefits of the salary involve 

• Medical insurance (100% for SBI PO and 75% for family members)
• Cashless treatment in selected medical facilities across India
• Newspaper allowance
• Books and magazines allowance
• Petrol allowance
• House maintenance allowance
• Telephone bill reimbursement
• Entertainment allowance
• Concessionary interest rates for House Loan, Car Loan, and Personal Loan

Aspirants who wish to appear for the test must fulfil the requirements specified by the authority. Eligibility is one of the crucial factors that determine the selection of candidates. Failure of this will lead to disqualification. The eligibility criteria comprise minimum qualification, age limit, qualifying marks etc. 

Age Criteria

The age limit for SBI PO exams is between 21 to 30 years. A candidate must have been born not earlier than April 2, 1990, and no later than April 1, 1999 (both dates inclusive). Age relaxation is given to the reserved category candidates as listed below:

Category	Age Relaxation (in Years)
SC/ ST	5
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	3
PwD (SC/ST)	15
PwD (OBC)	13
PwD (Gen)	10
Ex-Servicemen, Commissioned officers Including Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs)/ Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs)	5

Nationality

Applicants applying for SBI PO 2022 exams should be one of the following: 

• The candidate applying for the SBI PO Mains should be a Citizen of India.
• Candidates of Indian Origin who migrated from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Burma, Vietnam, or from East Indian countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Zaire, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Malawi with the intention of settling permanently in India.
• Origin of Nepal or Bhutan
• Tibetan refugees came to India before January 1, 1962, with the intention of permanent settlement. -Candidates belonging to categories (2), (3), or (4) must possess a certificate of eligibility issued by the Govt of India in their favour.

Education Qualification

While applying for SBI PO exams, candidates must first see if they are eligible on the grounds of educational qualification. Below we have provided SBI eligibility criteria for PO Mains: 

• Candidates should possess a graduate degree in any discipline from a recognised university or any equivalent qualification approved by the Central Government.
• Candidates in the final year/semester exam are also qualified to apply provisionally, provided that if shortlisted for the interview round, they have to prove having passed graduation.
• Candidates possessing a CA (Chartered Accountant) certificate are also qualified to apply.
• Candidates possessing an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) certificate should make sure that the date of passing the IDD is on or before 31.12.2021.

Number of Attempts

The maximum number of attempts is fixed for each category. Candidates who have used all the attempts are not qualified to apply. Those who have appeared for the Prelims exam are not counted as attempts; only those who appear in the mains exam are considered for attempts count. The number of attempts for each category is listed below:

Categories	Number of Attempts
General/ EWS	4
General/ EWS (PWD)	7
OBC	7
OBC (PWD)	7
SC/ SC (PWD)/ ST/ ST (PWD)	No Restriction

Language Proficiency

The applicant should be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking the official language of their state/UT.

SBI will tentatively release the SBI PO 2022 notification and SBI PO 2022 application form in October 2022. Candidates interested in applying for the Probationary Officer can fill out the registration form at sbi.co.in. Candidates must go through the detailed eligibility criteria before filling out the online application for SBI PO 2022. The application fee for SBI PO is INR 750/- for General/ EWS/ OBC candidates and Nil for SC/ ST/ PWD candidates.

SBI PO Mains Exam Centres 2022

Check out the state-wise test centres available for the SBI PO Exam from the table below:

State Code	State/UT	SBI PO Main Examination Centre
1	Andaman & Nicobar	Port Blair
2	Andhra Pradesh	Guntur, Kurnool, Vijaywada, Vishakhapatnam
3	Arunachal Pradesh	Naharlagun
4	Assam	Guwahati
5	Bihar	Arrah, Patna, Muzzafarpur
6	Chandigarh	Chandigarh/ Mohali
7	Chhattisgarh	Raipur
8	Goa	Panaji
9	Gujarat	Ahmedabad/ Gandhinagar
10	Haryana	Ambala, Hissar, Faridabad, Gurugram
11	Himachal Pradesh	Shimla, Solan
12	Jammu & Kashmir	Jammu, Srinagar
13	Jharkhand	Jamshedpur, Ranchi
14	Karnataka	Bengaluru
15	Kerala	Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram
16	Ladakh	Leh
17	Lakshwadeep	Kavarrati
18	Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal, Indore
19	Maharashtra	Aurangabad, Nagpur, Pune, Mumbai/ Thane/ Navi Mumbai
20	Manipur	Imphal
21	Meghalaya	Shillong
22	Mizoram	Aizawal
23	Nagaland	Kohima
24	Delhi – NCR	Delhi & New Delhi
25	Odisha	Bhubaneswar
26	Puducherry	Puducherry
27	Punjab	Bhatinda, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Patiala
28	Rajasthan	Jaipur
29	Sikkim	Bardang – Gangtok
30	Tamil Nadu	Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli
31	Telangana	Hyderabad
32	Tripura	Agartala
33	Uttar Pradesh	Agra, Allahabad, Ghaziabad, Noida/ Greater Noida, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Varanasi
34	Uttarakhand	Dehradun
35	West Bengal	Hooghly, Kalyani, Kolkata

The SBI PO Mains pattern includes three stages. The initial phase for SBI PO recruitment is the preliminary exams. Every candidate must clear the first stage to qualify for the SBI PO Mains Exam. The SBI PO Mains exam involves both objective and descriptive type questions. Check the details below:

• Candidates need to complete the objective paper in 3 hours and the descriptive paper in 30 minutes.
• There will be four sections in the objective part, namely, Reasoning and Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis and Interpretation, General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness, and English Language.
• Attempt a descriptive paper along with the above-mentioned online test. This paper will consist of two questions.
• For each incorrect answer attempted by the applicant in the SBI PO Mains exam, the conducting authority will deduct 0.25 marks as a penalty. 
• In the SBI PO Main examination, there is no sectional cut-off.

S.No.	Name of Tests (Objective)	No. of Questions	Maximum Marks	Duration
1	Reasoning & Computer Aptitude	45	60	60 minutes
2	Data Analysis & Interpretation	35	60	45 minutes
3	General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness	40	40	35 minutes
4	English Language	35	40	40 minutes
Total		155	200	3 hours
Descriptive Test		02	50	30 minutes

(i) Objective Test: The objective test, which lasts three hours and has a total of 200 marks, is divided into four sections. Every segment of the objective test will have its own timing.

(ii) Descriptive Test: The descriptive test, which will last 30 minutes and consist of two questions worth 50 marks, will be an English language test (letter writing and essay).

The SBI PO Main exam comprises 200 marks objective questions and 50 marks descriptive questions. The Mains exam comprises four sections: Reasoning and Computer Aptitude, English Language, Data Analysis and Interpretation, and General/ Economy/ Banking Awareness. The complete SBI PO Mains syllabus is discussed below:

SBI PO Syllabus for Mains: Objective

Data Interpretation & Analysis	Reasoning	English Language	General/Economy/ Banking Awareness	Computer Aptitude
Tabular Graph	Verbal Reasoning	Reading Comprehension	Financial Awareness	Internet
Line Graph	Syllogism	Grammar	Current Affairs	Memory
Pie Chart	Circular Seating Arrangement	Vocabulary	General Knowledge	Keyboard Shortcuts
Bar Graph	Linear Seating Arrangement	Verbal Ability	Static Awareness	Computer Abbreviation
Radar Graph Caselet	Double Lineup	Word Association	Banking and Financial Awareness	Microsoft Office
Missing Case DI	Scheduling	Sentence Improvement	–	Computer Hardware
Let it Case DI	Input-Output	Para Jumbles	–	Computer Software
Data Sufficiency	Blood Relations	Cloze Test	–	Computer Fundamentals /Terminologies
Probability	Directions and Distances	Error Spotting	–	Networking
Permutation and Combination	Ordering and Ranking	Fill in the blanks	–	Number System

SBI PO Syllabus for Mains: Descriptive Test 

The descriptive test has two parts: essay writing and letter writing. Each question is 25 marks which makes the total marks 50. Additionally, candidates have to complete the descriptive paper in 30 minutes. Candidates will be asked to write formal or business letters as part of the assessment. This section may ask the candidates to write essays on the economy, society, culture, politics, and so on. 

Note: Descriptive papers of an applicant will only be evaluated once they qualify for the objective test as per the qualifying marks determined by the bank.

The SBI PO Mains preparation tips will assist the applicants in being focused on the syllabus with an adequate study plan to follow daily. The candidates should attempt the SBI PO Mains with complete preparation and knowledge of each and every topic mentioned in the syllabus. This method will enable the applicants to score good marks in the SBI PO Mains exam. We have provided some tips below so that candidates can prepare for the exam most efficiently: 

Attempt Mock Tests

As the exam dates get closer, candidates should take at least one mock test daily or within a time span of every two days during the actual exam time. This way, the aspirants can train their minds to be alert during this particular day. Candidates can take free subject-wise mock tests and practice questions on Embibe. In this way, all their doubts will be cleared, and they will be more confident during the exam. 

Referring Previous Year Question Papers

As the exam day gets closer, candidates must try to focus on devoting their time to revision. Candidates can strengthen their preparations by going through the SBI PO Mains previous year’s paper, sample papers, etc. After solving the previous year’s question papers, students can analyse them to understand their weak and strong areas. Referring to SBI PO Mains previous years’ papers will also give candidates an understanding of the type of questions asked in the exam.

Mastering Shortcuts

Candidates should master shortcuts for solving questions. Since SBI PO Mains have sectional timings, learning shortcuts will help the aspirants attempt maximum questions in less time. This will help the candidates revisit the questions left behind or the ones they were doubtful about.

Cultivating the Habit Of Reading Newspaper Daily

Reading newspapers is very important while attempting any bank or government examinations. Precisely speaking, reading the newspaper daily helps candidates prepare for the exams efficiently. Newspaper reading comes in handy while dealing with two sections for the exams: General Awareness and English Language.

Make Notes

Making notes helps candidates retain the concepts, formulas, and shortcut techniques. It also sharpens memory and serves as a guide for last-minute revision. It also helps in saving time. Making notes saves a lot of time and effort by going back to the study material and reading the concepts repeatedly. Notes help candidates revise important points in an orderly manner during SBI PO Mains exams.

                                                                               SBI Mains Last Minute Preparation Tips

SBI releases the admit card for SBI PO separately for prelims, mains and interviews. Candidates can download SBI PO Mains admit cards online by entering the registration number or roll number and date of birth or password. The admit card contains information such as the candidate’s name, roll number, category, exam date, time, details of exam centre, scanned photograph and signature. 

How To download SBI PO Main Admit Card 2022?

Candidates can follow the below-mentioned steps to download the SBI PO Mains admit card:

1st Step: Visit the career page of SBI.

2nd Step: Go to the ‘Current Opening’ section from the ‘Join SBI’ tab.

3rd Step: Click the link ‘Recruitment of Probationary Officers in SBI’

4th Step: From the drop-down click, the admit card link of SBI PO.

5th Step: Enter the registration number or roll number and date of birth or password.

6th Step: SBI PO admit card appears on the screen.

7th Step: Download the admit card and take its printout.

SBI PO Mains Answer Key 2022

The SBI will release the answer key for SBI PO Mains 2022 in online mode in PDF format on the official website. Candidates can download the SBI PO mains question paper with the answer key once the SBI releases it. The answer key will involve all the correct answers asked in the SBI PO Mains exams. The conducting authority will release the stage-wise SBI PO Mains answer keys, i.e., Prelims and Mains. The candidates can download the SBI PO exam key for all sets from the links mentioned below:

S. No.	SBI PO Mains Answer Key
1.	SBI PO Mains English Language
2.	SBI PO Mains Quantitative Aptitude
3.	SBI PO Mains Reasoning
4.	SBI PO Mains General Awareness

How To Download SBI PO Mains Answer Key 2022?

Below we have provided steps to download the SBI PO Mains answer key:

1st Step: Visit the official website sbi.co.in.

2nd Step: Go to the “Careers” tab available at the top of the official website.

3rd Step: Click on the “Latest Announcements”.

4th Step: Go to the relevant link as per the answer key.

5th Step: Exam solutions in PDF Format will display.

6th Step: Save and download the SBI PO Mains answer key for future reference. 

SBI PO Mains Result 2022

Candidates who appeared for the SBI PO Mains exam can check the result on the official website. A collective score of the main examination and the interview process is considered for preparing the selected applicants’ final merit list. The SBI prepares the merit list in descending order of the marks scored by the candidates. SBI will send appointment letters to applicants who make it onto the merit list.

SBI PO Mains Cut-Off 2022

State Bank of India (SBI) will release SBI PO cut-off 2022 marks after the completion of the exam. SBI usually releases the SBI PO cut-off within a week after the SBI PO result is declared. SBI PO cut-off is released for prelims, mains and final selection. There is only an overall SBI PO cut-off and no sectional cut-off. The preliminary exam is only qualifying in nature, and candidates need to score minimum cut-off marks to qualify for the main exam. The final merit list is determined based on the combined marks of the main exam and Interview and Group Discussion rounds.

Category	SBI PO Mains Cut-off Marks (Out of 250)
GEN	88.93
SC	73.83
ST	66.86
OBC	80.96
EWS	84.60
LD	80.45
VI	93.08
HI	63.10
D and E	63.25

Following are the frequently asked questions and their answers related to SBI PO Mains 2022:

Q.1: When will the SBI PO notification be released?

Ans: The conducting authority will release the SBI PO 2022 notification PDF soon.

Q.2: What are the minimum and maximum age limits for applying to the SBI PO exam?

Ans: The minimum and maximum age limits for applying to SBI PO are 21 and 30 years. Although, relaxation in the upper age limit is given to the candidates belonging to the reserved category.

Q.3: Are graduation marks considered important in SBI PO exams?

Ans: SBI does not have any minimum percentage of marks in the graduation criteria for applying to the SBI PO exams.

Q.4: Should SBI PO candidates undergo a probationary period upon getting selected?

Ans: Yes, the shortlisted SBI PO candidates are on probation for two years.

Q.5: What is the selection process for SBI PO Recruitment 2022-23?

Ans: Applicants have to clear three stages for SBI PO Recruitment 2021-22: Prelims, Mains, and Group Exercises/ Personal Interview.

Also check:

SBI PO	SBI PO Recruitment
SBI PO Exam Date	SBI PO Application Form
SBI PO Exam Pattern	SBI PO Preparation
SBI PO Books	SBI PO Question Papers