SBI PO Selection Process 2024 for Prelims, Mains & Interview

SBI PO exam is conducted in three phases-prelims, Mains, and group exercises and interview. The prelims exam comprises English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability. The total marks allotted to the prelims exam are 100. The mains exam comprises both subjective and objective-type tests. The total marks allotted to the mains exam are 250. The final selection is done on the basis of Mains exam and group exercises and interview. Candidates are also required to appear for the psychometric test before group exercises and interview. The performance in the psychometric test is shared with the interview panel. The psychometric test is qualifying in nature. The Group Exercises and Interview carries 50 marks.

SBI PO 2024 notification was released on December 26, 2024. The notification was released in PDF form and comprises the details related to the exam. Candidates must read the notification carefully before applying. SBI PO notification is released to fill vacancies for the post of Probationary Officers. Lakhs of candidates every year apply for SBI PO exam. The selection process of SBI PO comprises prelims exam, mains exam, psychometric test, interview and group exercises. The prelims exam of SBI PO is qualifying in nature.

Yes, the post of probationary officer in the State Bank of India is considered a government job. This is because the government of India has a 57.6% shareholding in SBI bank. As a result, the SBI is treated as a public sector bank and its employees are treated as government employees. However, it is very different from a typical government job in many aspects, as the government does not completely own SBI. If you want to apply for an SBI PO job, then you can visit this page to know in detail about the SBI PO exam process.

SBI PO exam pattern is such that it is divided into prelims, Mains, psychometric test, group exercises and interview. In 2022, SBI has revised the exam pattern. The psychometric test was introduced in the Phase 3 exam pattern. There is no weightage for this test and the performance of candidates in this stage will be shared with the interview panel. SBI PO prelims exam comprises three sections-Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and English Language. The total marks allotted to the prelims exam are 100. The test paper carries a total of 100 questions. Candidates qualifying the prelims exam are called for the mains exam. The mains exam comprises both objective and subjective-type tests. The total marks allotted to the mains exam are 250. Candidates qualifying the mains exam are called for psychometric test. The psychometric test is qualifying in nature. Candidates qualifying the psychometric test are called for group exercises and interview. The group exercises and interview carries 50 marks.

The prelims exam of SBI PO is conducted in four shifts while the Mains exam is conducted in two shifts. SBI PO prelims shift timings are 9 AM to 10 AM, 11.30 am to 12.30 pm, 2 pm to 3 pm and 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm. SBI PO Mains exam timings are 2 pm to 3 pm and 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The details regarding the shift timings are mentioned on the admit card. Candidates need to appear for the exam as per their exam slots. The exam timings for prelims and mains exam are given below.

SBI PO Prelims Exam Timings

SBI PO Mains Exam Timings

Candidates must follow the tips given below to clear the exam: Revise the important topics from each section Allot time judiciously to each question or section Attempt the maximum questions within the given time limit and with accuracy Read the complete question first Maximize your score by focusing on choosing the most accurate option as your answer Revise all the topics Attempt full-length and sectional mock test. The section-wise preparation tips for SBI PO exam are given below:

English Language

• Candidates must develop the habit of reading regularly. Candidates must read newspapers, novels, articles, journals
• Reading books help candidates in improving the vocabularly and comprehension
• Practice grammar regularly
• Candidates must brush up their grammar rules 

Reasoning Ability

This section can be tricky at times. However, with practice candidates can easily ace this section. Puzzles and Seating Arrangement are two important topics in the Reasoning section. Maximum questions in the exam are asked from these two topics. Candidates should practice questions from these two topics daily.

Quantitative Aptitude

Maximum questions in this section are asked from data interpretation. Questions of Data Interpretation are usually based on basic calculations like Ratios, Proportions, Averages, Profit/ Loss, Percentages, etc. So, understand the basics of these topics properly. The bar/ Line/ Pie/ Tabular chart may ask the questions. Questions in Artithmetic section are asked from topics such as Averages, Percentages, Problems on Ages, Profit & Loss, Partnership, Simple & Compound Interest, Mixture & Alligation, Time & Work, Boats & Streams, Pipes & Cisterns, Time Speed & Distance, Probability, Mensuration, etc. Candidates need to underatand the concepts and basic formulas.

General Awareness

To score good marks in the General Awareness section, candidates must read newspapers and watch news channels to know regarding the latest events taking place around the world.

SBI PO basic salary is INR 48, 480 (with 4 advance increments). This pay scale is applicable for Junior Management Grade Scale-I. The amount varies as per the place of posting. Employees posted in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata get comparatively more. Candidates are also entitled to the following benefits and allowances: Basic Pay Dearness Allowance City Compensatory Allowance (CCA) Leased House Accommodation Furniture Allowance Medical Insurance Travelling Allowance Petrol. The pay scale is INR 48480-2000/7-62480-2340/2-67160-2680/7-85920 applicable to Junior Management Grade Scale-I.

SBI PO salary structure is given below. Basic Pay-INR 41,960 Special Allowance-INR 6,881 DA-INR 12,701 Location Allowance-INR 700 Learning Allowance-INR 600 HRA-INR 2,937 Gross Salary-INR 65,780 Deduction (PF/Income Tax/Professional Tax/Pension)-INR 12,960 Net Salary-INR 52,820. The structure of SBI PO salary is given below.

The initial basic SBI PO salary is INR 41,960 (with four advanced increments). This means PO gets a basic of INR 36000 with an increment of INR 1490 for the next seven years, followed by a basic of INR 46430 with an annual increment of INR 1740 for the next two years, and so on. The maximum basic salary will be INR 63840. The pay scale of a Probationary Officer/ Management Trainee is INR 36000-1490/7-46430-1740/2-49910-1990/7-63840. For aspirants seeking jobs in the banking sector, SBI PO is one of the most sought-after job with a considerable career growth option. SBI PO salary is inclusive of multiple benefits and allowances that every employee is liable to get.

The minimum marks to crack SBI PO exam isn't disclosed yet by the governing committee. It depends on the level of competition and the number of vacancies they have. Based on these, after the examination is over, the committee decides the cut-off level and sends notifications to the qualifying candidates informing them of further procedures. There are no sectional cut off marks in SBI PO exam. Candidates need to secure the overall cut off marks as per their categories in the exam. The marks of candidate are calculated as per the marking scheme. The marking scheme is given below:

• There is SBI PO negative marking for wrong answers, one-fourth marks assigned to a particular question in the objective test are deducted as penalty to arrive at the corrected scores
• There is no SBI PO negative marking for the subjective part of the mains exam
• If a question is left blank, there will be no penalty for that question
• For correct answers, candidates score one mark

In 2022, a total of 1673 vacancies were unannounced for SBI PO. A total of 648 vacancies were unannounced for General category, 160 vacancies were unannounced for EWS category, 432 vacancies were unannounced for OBC category, 120 vacancies were unannounced for ST category and 240 vacancies were unannounced for SC category. The category-wise total number of vacancies are given below.

Yes, the post of probationary officer in the State Bank of India is considered a government job. This is because the government of India has a 57.6% shareholding in SBI bank. As a result, the SBI is treated as a public sector bank and its employees are treated as government employees. However, it is very different from a typical government job in many aspects, as the government does not completely own SBI. If you want to apply for an SBI PO job, then you can visit this page to know in detail about the SBI PO exam process.