🔵 Updated: May 2026 · For IBPS PO & SBI PO 2026
Exam Overview
Two premier Bank PO exams in India — IBPS PO (for 12 nationalised PSU banks) and SBI PO (State Bank of India) — offer lakhs of aspirants a gateway into public sector banking careers.
| Exam Name |
Conducting Body |
Posts |
Vacancies (Approx) |
Salary After Probation |
| IBPS PO (CRP PO/MT) |
Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) |
Probationary Officer / Management Trainee in 12 PSU Banks |
~4,000 |
₹23,700–₹42,020 basic + allowances (₹52,000–65,000 in-hand) |
| SBI PO |
State Bank of India (SBI) |
Probationary Officer (Junior Management Grade Scale-I) |
~2,000 |
₹36,091–₹63,840 gross (varies by posting city) |
Both exams follow a three-stage process: Prelims → Mains → Interview. IBPS PO results are shared across participating banks; SBI PO is exclusive to SBI.
Eligibility & Exam Pattern
Eligibility Criteria
| Parameter | IBPS PO | SBI PO |
|---|
| Education | Graduation (any discipline) from a recognised university | Graduation (any discipline) from a recognised university |
| Age Limit | 20–30 years (General) | 21–30 years (General) |
| Age Relaxation | OBC: +3 yrs | SC/ST: +5 yrs | PwD: +10 yrs | OBC: +3 yrs | SC/ST: +5 yrs | PwD: +10 yrs |
| Nationality | Indian Citizen | Indian Citizen |
Prelims Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Each section is separately timed. Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer. Prelims is qualifying — only Mains marks count for final merit.
Mains Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|
| 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 |
| Descriptive Paper (Letter & Essay) | 2 | 25 | 30 minutes |
| Total | 157 | 225 | 3.5 hours |
The Descriptive Paper is typed on computer and evaluated for candidates who qualify the objective section. Interview carries 100 marks (IBPS PO). Final merit = 80% Mains + 20% Interview.
6-Month Study Plan
1 Month 1–2: Build Strong Basics
- Quantitative Aptitude: Master Number System, Simplification, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Average, Ratio & Proportion — these appear in every exam
- Reasoning: Focus on Seating Arrangement (linear & circular), Puzzles, Coding-Decoding, Blood Relations, Direction Sense
- English: Build reading habits — read editorials from The Hindu or Economic Times daily; revise basic grammar rules (subject-verb agreement, tenses, prepositions)
- Target: Complete at least one standard textbook each for Quant, Reasoning, and English by end of Month 2
- Daily routine: 4–5 hours of focused study; solve 50 topic-wise questions per subject per day
2 Month 3–4: Topic-Wise Deep Dive & Speed Building
- Quant (advanced): Time & Work, Speed-Distance-Time, Permutation & Combination, Probability, Data Interpretation (tables, bar graphs, pie charts, missing DI)
- Reasoning (advanced): Input-Output, Syllogism, Statement-Assumption, Data Sufficiency, Inequality, Order-Ranking
- English (Mains focus): Para-jumbles, Reading Comprehension (RC), Cloze Test, Error Spotting, Word Usage; start practising 250-word essays and formal letters
- Banking Awareness: Start daily 15-minute current affairs revision; memorise key RBI policies, important committees, banking terms (NPA, CASA, REPO rate, CRR, SLR)
- Weekly mocks: Attempt 1 full Prelims mock test every week; analyse each mistake carefully
3 Month 5–6: Mock Tests, Revision & Interview Prep
- Prelims simulation: Attempt at least 20 full-length Prelims mock tests; target 75+ out of 100 for safety
- Mains simulation: Solve 10+ full Mains mock tests; improve speed in Data Interpretation and Reasoning puzzles
- Banking GK revision: Revise last 6 months of current affairs; focus on appointments, banking sector news, government schemes, and RBI circulars
- Descriptive writing: Practise 2–3 essays and letters per week; focus on structure, word limit (200–250 words), and formal tone
- Interview preparation: Prepare answers for common HR questions, banking sector GK, and your graduation subject; know your home state's economy and key banks
- Final week: Light revision of short notes; avoid starting new topics; stay rested and confident
Best Books for Bank PO 2026
📚
Arihant Bank PO Guide — Complete Preparation
Arihant Publications · Updated 2025–26 Edition
The most comprehensive all-in-one guide covering Prelims and Mains for both IBPS PO and SBI PO. Includes topic-wise theory, solved examples, and 15+ mock tests. Best starting point for new aspirants.
📙
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations — R.S. Aggarwal
S. Chand Publications
The gold standard for Quant preparation. Covers every topic from Number System to Data Interpretation with hundreds of practice questions at varied difficulty levels. Must-have for anyone targeting 30+ in Quant.
📘
High School English Grammar and Composition — Wren & Martin
S. Chand Publications
Essential for mastering English grammar rules tested in Error Spotting, Fill in the Blanks, and sentence correction. Covers tenses, voices, reported speech, and more. Pair with RC practice from previous year papers.
📗
A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning — M.K. Pandey
S. Chand Publications (B.S. Sijwali)
Best book for Analytical and Logical Reasoning. Covers puzzles, seating arrangements, blood relations, coding-decoding, and all reasoning topics in depth. Widely used by toppers for building speed and accuracy.
📖
Banking Awareness — Arihant / Kiran Prakashan
Arihant / Kiran Publications
Dedicated guide for the General/Economy/Banking Awareness section of Mains. Covers RBI, banking regulations, financial markets, government schemes, and 6 months of current affairs summaries.
Key Strategy Tips for Bank PO 2026
- Attempt Strategically in Prelims: Don't get stuck — if a question takes more than 60 seconds, skip it. In 60 minutes for 100 marks, time management is as important as accuracy. Aim for 80–85 attempts with 85%+ accuracy.
- Data Interpretation is the Game-Changer: DI sets in Mains can carry 15–20 marks. Master missing-data DI, caselet DI, and two-table comparison — these are the trickiest but also the highest-scoring if practised.
- Sectional Cut-offs Are Mandatory: Both IBPS PO and SBI PO have sectional cut-offs in Prelims AND Mains. A 95/100 total score with a poor English section can disqualify you. Never ignore any one subject.
- Banking Current Affairs: Start 6 Months Early: The GA/Banking Awareness section in Mains covers the last 6 months of news. Begin reading daily current affairs from Day 1 — it cannot be crammed in a week. Use apps like Pocket News Alert or Oliveboard Daily GK.
- Descriptive Writing — Don't Skip: The Descriptive Paper (Essay + Letter, 25 marks) is often ignored. A strong descriptive score can push you from a borderline to a safe rank. Practise the formal letter format (bank loan, complaint, request) and essay structures.
- Mock Test Analysis Over Mock Test Count: Attempting 50 mocks without reviewing mistakes is useless. After every mock, spend equal time analysing wrong answers, identifying weak areas, and revising those topics before the next test.
Salary & Career Path
Bank PO is one of the best-paid entry-level government jobs in India. Both IBPS PO and SBI PO offer structured promotion paths with significant salary growth.
| Stage / Scale |
Designation |
Basic Pay |
Approx. Gross Salary |
Years (Typical) |
| Entry (IBPS PO) |
Probationary Officer (Scale I) |
₹23,700 |
₹52,000–65,000/month |
0–2 years probation |
| Entry (SBI PO) |
Probationary Officer (JMGS-I) |
₹36,091 |
₹60,000–72,000/month |
0–2 years probation |
| After Confirmation |
Officer (Scale I, confirmed) |
₹23,700–₹42,020 |
₹65,000–80,000/month |
2–5 years |
| Scale II |
Manager / Senior Manager |
₹31,705–₹45,950 |
₹80,000–1,00,000/month |
5–10 years |
| Scale III |
Senior Manager / Chief Manager |
₹42,020–₹51,500 |
₹1,00,000–1,30,000/month |
10–15 years |
Additional perks: Medical insurance for family, Leave Fare Concession (LFC), subsidised home/car loan, pension under NPS, and official accommodation/HRA depending on posting. Salary varies by city — metro postings attract higher HRA.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the age limit and eligibility for IBPS PO 2026?
For IBPS PO, the age limit is 20–30 years for General category candidates (as on the date specified in the notification). Relaxation: OBC +3 years, SC/ST +5 years, PwD +10 years. Educational qualification: graduation in any discipline from a recognised university. Final-year students awaiting results may apply provisionally, subject to producing their degree certificate before the joining date.
How many attempts are allowed for IBPS PO and SBI PO?
IBPS does not officially cap the number of attempts — you can apply every year as long as you are within the age limit. General category candidates can attempt till age 30, OBC till 33, and SC/ST till 35. SBI PO also has no fixed attempt limit beyond the age restriction, meaning most candidates have 4–7 realistic attempts depending on their category.
Is there an interview round for Bank PO? How much does it matter?
Yes. Both IBPS PO and SBI PO include a personal interview stage after Mains. For IBPS PO, the Interview carries 100 marks and the final merit is calculated as 80% Mains + 20% Interview. SBI PO has a Group Exercise (50 marks) + Interview (50 marks) after Mains, with the final selection based on combined Mains + GE + Interview scores. Interview preparation should cover banking current affairs, personal background, and your graduation subject.
Can I prepare for IBPS PO and SBI PO simultaneously?
Yes — and this is the recommended approach. The Prelims and Mains syllabus of both exams is almost identical (English, Quant, Reasoning, Banking GK). SBI PO notification comes in February–March and IBPS PO in July–August each year. Preparing simultaneously covers both exams with minimal extra effort. The key difference is SBI PO's Group Exercise (GD round), which requires practising structured group discussions in addition to the standard preparation.