The SBI PO Notification 2026 was released on 18th June, and the apply online process is going on now. There are some major changes in the SBI PO 2026 notification related to exam pattern, official website, CTC, maximum permissible attempts, Aadhar verification, etc., which are mentioned here in detail. Candidates willing to apply for this recruitment must be aware of these important changes before applying. The last date to apply is 8th July 2026. One of the important updates is the change in the SBI PO exam pattern of the descriptive test for which the total marks allocated is now 30 marks. Before it was 50 marks, now it is reduced to 30 marks in total for all three tests of email writing, situation analysis, and report / precis writing.
Check SBI PO Latest Salary Slip 2026 PDF
New Updates In SBI PO 2026 Notification
In this SBI PO recruitment cycle, there are a few major changes in the notification released. Candidates must be well aware of these changes so that they can adjust their preparation strategy and crack the SBI PO 2026 exam.
Changes In SBI PO Notification 2026 In Detail
Here we have listed the major changes in the SBI PO Notification 2026 with its advantages and disadvantages and get to know how do these SBI PO changes impact candidates in detail.
1. What is the Change In SBI PO Exam Pattern 2026?
The SBI PO 2026 descriptive test marks is now revised to 30 marks. So, the SBI PO mains exam marks changed from 250 to 230 marks. Previously, the SBI PO descriptive test marks were 50. For more detailed information regarding this change and to know their impact on your preparation, check the table below.
| Change In SBI PO Descriptive Marks — Pros And Cons | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Lower Risk For Candidates weak in writing as the total mains score will be less affected by descriptive performance. | Proficient English Writers Lose Their Advantage, as candidates who consistently scored high in descriptive writing could compensate for somewhat lower objective scores. There is now less of an opportunity. Also, showing differences in scores has now become difficult. |
| Greater Focus on Objective Sections: A greater portion of the Mains score now comes from the objective paper. Strong aptitude and knowledge in banking can provide candidates with a greater edge. | Objective Competition Gets More Difficult. There will be higher competition in Quant, Reasoning, and GA because objective sections are comparatively more important. Ranking can be greatly impacted by even a few points. |
2. What is the Change In SBI PO CTC 2026?
The SBI PO annual CTC (Cost to Company) has increased from ₹20.43 lakh to ₹21.97 lakh (increase of ₹1.54 lakh per annum) for the SBI PO 2026 recruitment cycle.
- Monthly CTC (Approximately) increased from ₹1.70 Lakh to ₹1.83 Lakh.
| Pros And Cons Of Increase In Annual CTC Of SBI PO | |
| Pros | Cons |
| 1. Increased Attraction to Salary — when compared to the majority of other public-sector banking positions, a higher CTC makes SBI PO even more appealing. | 1. Competition Could Get Even More Intense — A more attractive compensation plan will probably draw in more candidates, increasing competition and possibly raising the cutoff. |
| 2. Increased Long-Term Benefits as an Employee: A larger starting package can have a positive effect on long-term career earnings because compensation adjustments typically impact subsequent raises, promotions, allowances, and retirement benefits. |
3. Increase In Number Of Attempts
The number of attempts in SBI PO has increased for general, EWS, and OBC candidates. Check the detailed information given below.
- Maximum permissible attempts for General / EWS candidates — Increased from 4 (in 2025) to 6 (in 2026).
- Maximum permissible attempts for General (PwBD) / EWS (PwBD) / OBC / OBC (PwBD) candidates — Increased from 7 (in 2025) to 9 (in 2026).
| Pros And Cons Of Increase In Number Of Attempts In SBI PO | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Greater Possibilities for Candidates as they are given more opportunities to fight for one of the most prominent banking positions in India, even if they had already tried everything or were on the verge of it. | Increased Competition — There are still more applicants who can take the test, which could raise the level of competition overall at every stage. |
| Less Fear of Failure and More Time for Improvement: Candidates can perform more confidently and with less fear when they are aware that additional attempts are available. Candidates can strengthen their areas of weakness, learn from past failures, and approach subsequent attempts with improved exam approaches. | Cut-Offs May Increase — Preliminary and mains cut-offs may grow more challenging as repeaters continue to compete for longer. |
| Advantages for Working Professionals — Many candidates study or work while preparing for the SBI PO. More attempts give you more time to improve your preparation with other obligations. | Beginners May Struggle — New graduates may now face competition from a wider group of applicants who have taken the test several times and are familiar with its format. |
| Get To Know | |
| SBI PO Syllabus 2026 | SBI PO Mock Test 2026 |
| SBI PO Eligibility Criteria 2026 | SBI PO Cut Off 2026 |
| SBI PO Salary 2026 | SBI PO Exam Date 2026 |
4. Why has SBI’s Official Website Changed?
- The .bank.in domain is exclusively reserved for regulated and verified banks operating in India.
- Following a strict directive from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the SBI also changed the domain of its website to .bank.in.
- This change was intended to improve cybersecurity and shield clients from online fraud.
- The State Bank of India (SBI) now uses www.sbi.bank.in instead of www.sbi.co.in, where they previously updated all the most recent information.
- Therefore, in order to receive the most recent information on the SBI PO Recruitment, aspirants should make sure to visit the newly updated official website.
5. Is Aadhar Verification Mandatory for SBI PO recruitment?
The Aadhar verification is made mandatory for SBI PO recruitment this year. Here are some of the pros and cons of this change in SBI PO 2026 notification.
| Pros And Cons Of Mandating Aadhar Verification In SBI PO 2026 | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Minimises redundant applications and lowers the likelihood of impersonation by ensuring that the applicant for the exam is the same person who appears throughout the recruiting process. Mandatory Aadhaar verification helps prevent fraudulent activities. Fair competition is ensured by making it easier to identify candidates who try to submit several applications under different identities. | Difficulties for Applicants with Aadhaar Mismatches — If adjustments are not made in a timely manner, candidates whose Aadhaar details differ from their educational certificates or application details may encounter problems with verification. |
| Promotes Transparency in Hiring — SBI may continue to have a more open and safe hiring process by associating applications with a verified identity. |
SBI PO Eligibility Criteria 2026
New Changes In SBI PO 2026 With Impact
Here is the impact of these changes in SBI PO 2026 exam.
| New Changes In SBI PO 2026 | |||
| Change In | SBI PO 2025 | SBI PO 2026 | Impact |
| Descriptive Paper Marks | 50 | 30 | More Focus On Objective Sections |
| Mains Marks | 250 | 230 | — |
| CTC | ₹20.43 Lakh | ₹21.97 Lakhs | Attractive & Better Salary Package |
| Number Of Chances (UR/EWS) | 4 | 6 | More Opportunities |
| Number Of Chances (UR (PwBD) / EWS (PwBD) / OBC / OBC (PwBD)) | 7 | 9 | More Opportunities |
| Official Website | www.sbi.co.in | www.sbi.bank.in | — |
| Aadhar Verification | Not Mandatory | Mandatory | Stronger Authentication |
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FAQs
Q. Has the SBI PO 2026 exam pattern changed?
Yes. In the SBI PO exam pattern, the descriptive test marks have been reduced from 50 to 30.
Q. Is Aadhar verification mandatory for SBI PO 2026?
Yes. Aadhar verification is mandatory for SBI PO 2026.
Q. What is the annual CTC of SBI PO mentioned in the recruitment cycle 2026?
The annual CTC of SBI PO mentioned in the recruitment cycle 2026 is ₹21.97 Lakhs.
Q. What is the official website of SBI?
The official website of SBI is www.sbi.bank.in.
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