State Bank of India (SBI): A Brief Overview

State Bank of India (SBI), established in 1806 as the Bank of Calcutta, is India's largest and oldest public sector bank. With its headquarters in Mumbai, SBI has evolved into a formidable financial institution, offering an extensive range of banking services and products to millions of customers nationwide. As a key player in India's banking sector, SBI operates a vast network of branches and ATMs, providing banking solutions to diverse segments, including retail, corporate, and rural customers. SBI has a global presence, with branches in numerous countries, and it plays a pivotal role in driving financial inclusion, supporting economic growth, and fostering innovation within the Indian banking landscape.

SBI Probationary Officer (PO)

The State Bank of India (SBI) Probationary Officer (PO) position is a prestigious entry-level role that offers an exciting and challenging career path in the banking sector. As a Probationary Officer, you undergo comprehensive training, gaining exposure to various facets of banking operations, customer service, financial management, and administrative functions. This role equips you with a solid foundation in banking principles and practices, enabling you to handle diverse responsibilities such as customer relationship management, loan processing, account management, and more. SBI POs play a crucial role in driving the bank's growth, maintaining regulatory compliance, and providing innovative financial solutions to clients.

With opportunities for career progression and leadership roles, the SBI PO position serves as a stepping stone for dynamic individuals seeking a fulfilling and impactful career in the financial industry.

The SBI PO notification 2024 is not yet out, but it is crucial to comprehend a pivotal aspect of the exam – the SBI PO eligibility criteria. The SBI PO eligibility criteria entails information information about the educational qualifications for SBI PO, age limit, nationality, and other prerequisites for this post. Grasping and fulfilling these requirements is essential to confirm your eligibility for the SBI PO exam, laying the groundwork for a well-informed and prepared application process.

Importance of Understanding SBI PO Eligibility

To ensure a seamless and successful SBI PO application process, thoroughly reviewing the comprehensive SBI PO eligibility criteria for 2024 is paramount. SBI meticulously outlines specific prerequisites that must be met by aspiring candidates aiming to apply for the SBI PO 2024 exam. Since the SBI PO notification for the year 2024 is still on the horizon, candidates can refer to the details of the SBI PO eligibility criteria from the previous year. These SBI PO eligibility criteria serve as essential guidelines that you must satisfy to be eligible for participation, emphasizing the significance of understanding and adhering to these stipulations to ensure a valid and well-prepared application to the SBI PO 2024 examination.

SBI PO eligibility criteria are a must know for the aspiring candidates because it sets clear-cut expectations on age limits, educational qualifications, and other requirements. Many students either bypass or misinterpret the SBI PO eligibility criteria in the notification for SBI PO that leads to disqualification at the later selection stages. A complete comprehension of SBI PO eligibility criteria ensures that applicants are not at any point surprised throughout the recruitment process.

Moreover, knowing the SBI PO eligibility criteria allows an aspirant to understand how prepared he/she is and whether or not he/she should prepare for the exam. The realization of becoming an employee with one of the greatest banks in the country is based on the fulfillment of SBI PO eligibility criteria. SBI PO eligibility criteria help candidates filter the specific academic and age-related requirements in respect of which they have to meet before indulging themselves in the intense preparation procedure.

Prospective candidates who are aware of the SBI PO eligibility criteria would be better positioned to take a call upon whether they should look forward to acquiring further educational qualification or gain experience so that they can comply fully with the SBI PO eligibility criteria. This is especially crucial for the candidates who may not fulfill all the requirements of the SBI PO eligibility criteria, like the percentage requirement in graduation or age constraints. Such aspirants can then improve their profile to meet the SBI PO eligibility criteria.

The SBI PO eligibility criteria also give insights into the reservation benefits available for different categories. The benefit of this include those for SC, ST, OBC and PwD candidates. Candidates being fully aware of the SBI PO eligibility criteria also enables them to take advantage of these provisions and prepare themselves accordingly.

The SBI PO eligibility criteria comprise the following-

  • Nationality
  • Educational Qualifications
  • Age Criteria
  • Age Relaxation

Let’s understand SBI PO eligibility criteria in more detail below.

SBI PO Eligibility Criteria: Nationality

A candidate applying for the SBI PO exam must be either:

  • A citizen of India, or
  • A subject of Nepal, or
  • A subject of Bhutan, or

A Tibetan refugee who came over to India before 1st January 1962 with the intention of permanently settling in India, or

A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam with the intention of permanently settling in India.

Note: If you belong to a case where a certificate of eligibility is necessary, then you may be admitted to the examination but the offer of appointment may be given only after the necessary eligibility certificate has been issued to you by the Government of India.

SBI PO Eligibility Criteria: Educational Qualifications

You need to conform to the specified SBI PO eligibility criteria to ensure your candidature for the SBI PO exam 2024. You need to have certain educational qualifications in order to be eligible to fill out the application form for the SBI PO exam 2024. Please refer to the table below for complete details on the educational qualifications as per the SBI PO eligibility criteria.

Name of the PostEducational Criteria (As on December 31, 2022)
Probationary Officer (PO)
  • • Graduation in any discipline from a recognised University or any equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government.
  • • Those who are in the Final Year/ Semester of their Graduation may also apply provisionally subject to the condition that, if called for interview, they will have to produce proof of having passed the graduation examination on or before December 31, 2022
  • • Candidates having Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) certificate should ensure that the date of passing the IDD is on or before December 31, 2022. Candidates possessing qualification of Chartered Accountant may also apply.

Please Note:

  • The date of passing the eligibility examination completion will correspond to the date displayed on the mark sheet or provisional certificate issued by the University/Institute. In scenarios where a particular exam's result is posted on the University/Institute's website, an official certificate from the University/Institute's authorized body indicating the result's website posting date will be considered the date of completion. 
  • During the online application, candidates should specify their Graduation percentage, rounded to the nearest two decimals. In cases where CGPA/OGPA is awarded, it must be converted into a percentage and entered into the online application. If shortlisted for an interview, candidates need to provide a certificate from the relevant authority outlining the University's norms for grade-to-percentage conversion and the candidate's actual percentage as per those norms.
  • Calculation of Percentage: The percentage will be calculated by dividing the candidate's total marks across all subjects in all semesters/years by the maximum aggregate marks in all subjects, irrespective of Honours/optional/additional optional subjects, if any. This calculation applies even to Universities where Class/Grade is determined solely based on Honours marks. Fractional percentages, such as 59.99% and 54.99%, will be treated as less than 60% and 55%, respectively.

SBI PO Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit

The age limit is one of the most critical deciding factors for those who wish to apply for any competitive exam. The SBI PO eligibility criteria in regard to the age limit is another important prerequisite that needs to be adhered to in order to apply for the SBI PO exam. If you don’t fall in this range, you won’t be eligible to apply for the SBI PO exam. Given below is the age criteria as of the previous year notification, for reference:

Name of the PostAge Criteria (As on April 01, 2022)
Probationary Officer (PO) Minimum age - 21 years / Maximum - 30 years (As on 01.04.2023 i.e. candidates must have been born not later than 01.04.2002 and not earlier than 02.04.1993 (both days inclusive)

SBI PO Age Relaxation

SBI offers specific age relaxations based on the various categories of applicants to ensure a fair opportunity for all. These relaxations in the age criteria are provided to several categories such as SC, ST, OBC, and candidates with disabilities. The primary purpose behind incorporating these age relaxations into the eligibility criteria is to extend support to individuals from these communities who may face certain socio-economic or personal challenges that could otherwise hinder their participation in the recruitment process. By offering age relaxation, SBI ensures that these candidates are not deprived of job opportunities and have a level playing field to compete for these coveted positions. This policy reflects SBI's commitment to inclusivity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging diverse talent to be part of the organization without being disadvantaged by age constraints. The age relaxation is applied to the upper age limit mentioned in the SBI PO eligibility criteria. Please refer to the table below for more details on the SBI PO exam 2024 age relaxation.

Sr. No.CategoryAge relaxation
1 Other Backward Classes (Non-Creamy Layer) 3 Years
2 Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe 5 Years
3 Ex Servicemen, Commissioned officers including Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECOs)/ Short Service Commissioned Officers (SSCOs) who have rendered 5 years military service and have been released on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within 6 months from the last date of receipt of application) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency or physical disability attributable to military service or invalidment 5 Years
4 Persons With Bench Mark Disabilities PwBD (GEN/ EWS) 10 Years
PwBD (OBC) 13 Years
PwBD (SC/ ST) 15 Years

Please Note:

  • Cumulative age relaxation cannot be availed either individually under the mentioned provisions or in conjunction with other relaxation criteria.
  • Aspirants seeking age relaxation must furnish copies of the requisite certificate(s) during the interview or joining, provided they qualify. After online application registration, altering a candidate's category is not permissible. Any communication via correspondence/email/phone concerning this matter will not be entertained.

Reservation for Persons with Disability (PWD)

A horizontal reservation has been provided for persons with benchmark disabilities of about 4%, as per Section 34 of the “Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016”. The categories that are covered under the PWD category are as follows-

  • Locomotor Disabilities
  • Visual Impairment
  • Hearing Impaired

Category Codes

It is advised to fill in your category carefully at the start of the application. If you belong to the OBC category but come in the creamy layer, you are not entitled to OBC reservation or age relaxation. You are supposed to indicate your category as ‘GEN’ / ‘GEN’ (LD) / ‘GEN’ (VI) / ‘GEN’ (HI) / ‘GEN’ (d&e) - as applicable.

The benefits provided under the EWS category can be availed only if the ‘Income and Asset Certificate’ is produced.

CategoryCodeCategoryCodeCategoryCodeCategoryCodeCategoryCode
SC 01 ST 06 OBC 11 GEN 16 EWS 21
SC (LD) 02 ST (LD) 07 OBC (LD) 12 GEN (LD) 17 EWS (LD) 22
SC (VI) 03 ST (VI) 08 OBC (VI) 13 GEN (VI) 18 EWS (VI) 23
SC (HI) 04 ST (HI) 09 OBC (HI) 14 GEN(HI) 19 EWS (HI) 24
SC (d&e) 05 ST (d&e) 10 OBC (d&e) 15 GEN (d&e) 20 EWS (d&e) 25

Work Experience

As of the last notification, the SBI PO exam presents a promising opportunity for recent graduates without the necessity of mandatory work experience. This inclusive stance permits aspiring candidates with newly acquired educational qualifications to apply solely based on their academic accomplishments. SBI PO warmly welcomes young and adept individuals, facilitating their smooth entry into the realm of government service. This inclusive policy fosters diversity and empowers enthusiastic graduates to showcase their skills and dedication, paving the way for a promising and gratifying career.

From the preceding discourse, it is clear that a meticulous review of the SBI PO eligibility criteria is paramount before embarking on the application process. Familiarizing oneself with the SBI PO eligibility prerequisites aids candidates in gauging their suitability for the examination. This encompasses factors like educational qualifications, age limitations, potential work experience, and specific category reservations. Acquiring comprehensive knowledge of the SBI PO exam eligibility criteria ensures a valid application and mitigates the chances of disqualification or dismissal. This not only streamlines the selection procedure for both candidates and the recruiting body but also conserves time and resources. Hence, it is strongly recommended to thoroughly evaluate one's eligibility prior to initiating the SBI PO application process.