📢 Good news for SBI PO aspirants! The State Bank of India has released the SBI PO Prelims Answer Key 2026 for the Probationary Officer recruitment. Candidates who appeared in the preliminary exam held on 02 August 2026 can now download the official answer key from the SBI careers portal and match their responses to estimate their probable scores.
This recruitment drive aims to fill 1,500 Probationary Officer posts across the country. Read on for the complete vacancy breakup, eligibility, important dates, fee details, selection process and direct download links.
Table of Contents
- Overview
- Vacancy Details
- Eligibility Criteria
- Important Dates
- Application Fee
- How to Download the Answer Key
- Important Links
Overview
The State Bank of India (SBI) released the notification for Probationary Officer recruitment on 18 June 2026. The Phase-I preliminary examination was conducted on 02 August 2026, the prelims result was declared on 28 August 2026, and the score card was released on 01 September 2026.
The provisional answer key is now available, released on 12 October 2026. Candidates can use it to cross-check their answers from the 100-question preliminary paper. Those who qualify move on to the mains examination, followed by the psychometric test, group exercise and personal interview.
Vacancy Details
| Post Name | Total Posts |
|---|---|
| Probationary Officer (PO) | 1,500 (1,446 regular + 54 backlog) |
| Category | Regular Vacancies | Backlog Vacancies | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 588 | 0 | 588 |
| EWS | 144 | 0 | 144 |
| OBC | 390 | 0 | 390 |
| SC | 216 | 18 | 234 |
| ST | 108 | 36 | 144 |
| Grand Total | 1,446 | 54 | 1,500 |
Eligibility Criteria
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Final-year candidates are eligible, provided they complete graduation on or before 30 September 2026. |
| Minimum Age | 21 years (as on 01 April 2026) |
| Maximum Age | 30 years (as on 01 April 2026) |
| Age Relaxation | Applicable for reserved categories as per government rules |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 18 June 2026 |
| Online Application Start | 18 June 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 08 July 2026 (11:59 PM) |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 08 July 2026 |
| Prelims Admit Card Release | 22 July 2026 |
| Prelims Exam | 02 August 2026 |
| Prelims Result | 28 August 2026 |
| Prelims Score Card | 01 September 2026 |
| Prelims Answer Key Release | 12 October 2026 |
| Mains Exam | September 2026 |
| Psychometric Test, Group Exercise & Interview | October / November 2026 |
| Final Result | November / December 2026 |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | ₹750 |
| OBC | ₹750 |
| EWS | ₹750 |
| SC | Nil |
| ST | Nil |
| PwBD | Nil |
Fee was payable online through UPI, debit card, credit card or internet banking.
Selection Process
The SBI PO 2026 selection is conducted in multiple stages:
- Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (100 marks, 60 minutes — English 40, Quant 30, Reasoning 30; 1/4th negative marking for wrong answers)
- Phase-II: Main Examination (objective + descriptive tests)
- Phase-III: Psychometric Test
- Phase-IV: Group Exercise (20 marks)
- Phase-V: Personal Interview (30 marks)
- Document Verification and Medical Examination
Final selection is based on performance in the mains examination and the interview. The starting basic pay for a Probationary Officer is ₹48,480 per month, with an approximate monthly gross salary of ₹80,000 – ₹95,000 including allowances.
How to Download the Answer Key
- Visit the official SBI website at sbi.bank.in.
- Go to the Careers / Recruitment section on the portal.
- Find the link for “SBI PO Prelims Answer Key 2026”.
- Enter your registration number and date of birth (or the required login credentials).
- Download the answer key PDF and match your marked responses.
- Estimate your probable score — remember, 0.25 marks are deducted for each wrong answer.
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