SBI PO Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Qualification, Attempts and More
Table of Contents
The SBI PO Eligibility Criteria include the age limit, educational qualification, nationality, and category-wise age relaxation. Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university and should be between 21 and 30 years of age. Final year students can also apply on a provisional basis subject to conditions mentioned in the official notification.
SBI PO Eligibility Criteria 2026
The eligibility criteria is based on four main pillars, namely, nationality, age, education and number of attempts allowed.
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian citizen (or specified categories of foreign-origin persons) |
| Age Limit | 21 to 30 years as on 1 April 2026 |
| Educational Qualification | Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university |
| Number of Attempts | Category-wise, as detailed below |
A candidate should fulfill all the four conditions together and not just one or two. SBI checks SBI PO criteria carefully at the document verification stage, so it is worth checking your eligibility before applying rather than after.
Nationality Criteria for SBI PO
The candidate must be a citizen of India or belong to the specified categories of people of Indian origin.
As per the official notification, an applicant must be one of the following:
- A citizen of India
- A subject of Nepal
- A subject of Bhutan
- A Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1st January, 1962 with an intention to permanent settlement in India
- A person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Vietnam or East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire or Ethiopia with the intention of permanently settling in India
Candidates falling under the last three categories require a certificate of eligibility issued by the Government of India.
SBI PO Age Limit
To apply for SBI PO 2026, candidates must be between 21 and 30 years of age as on April 1, 2026. This means that applicants must have been born between 2 April 1996 and 1 April 2005 (inclusive).
The age limit is calculated as per the cut off date mentioned in the official notification. However, this may change in future recruitment cycle so please check the latest SBI PO notification before applying for the same. Please do not refer to older articles or previous notifications while checking your eligibility.
Age Limit for the General Category
For General Category candidates, the SBI PO age limit is 21 to 30 years as on the cut off date mentioned in the official notification. There is no age relaxation for the candidates belonging to general category.
If you are thinking about what the age limit is for SBI PO, then the answer is very simple – minimum age is 21 years and maximum age is 30 years. Candidates who have surpassed the upper age limit by even a day as on the cut off date will not be eligible to apply. This age limit is same for all the states for the candidates.
Age Relaxation for Reserved Categories
SBI PO age relaxation for reserved category candidates is added to the upper limit. The age relaxation ranges from 3 years for OBC to 15 years for some PwBD combinations.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| PwBD (General) | 10 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per government rules |
| Persons affected by 1984 riots | 5 years |
As per SBI PO age relaxation rules, the maximum age limit for OBC candidates is 33 years and for SC/ST candidates it is 35 years, subject to the cut off date mentioned in the official notification. Additional relaxation to eligible PwBD candidates as per SBI norms.
Age relaxation is not admissible for more than one category for the same post or service. Candidates can avail the relaxation applicable to their eligible category only and cannot club the benefits of different categories to increase the upper age limit.
SBI PO Educational Qualification 2026
Candidates should have a Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline from a recognised university or institution of the Government of India or any equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government.
There is no restriction on the stream of study.
Candidates from Arts, Commerce, Science, Engineering, Management, Medicine, Chartered Accountancy, Cost Accountancy, and other recognised disciplines can apply. the requirement remains the same: a recognised graduation degree is mandatory.
Candidates from Arts, Commerce, Science, Engineering, Management, Medicine, Chartered Accountancy, Cost Accountancy, and other recognised disciplines can apply. the requirement remains the same: a recognised graduation degree is mandatory.
Can Final-Year Students Apply?
Yes. Candidates who are in the final year or final semester of their graduation can apply for SBI PO 2026 provisionally. But, as per the official notification, they need to submit the proof of passing their graduation on or before 30 September 2026. Generally the document is verified at the time of interview or document verification stage. For Integrated Dual Degree candidates, the final passing date must be on or before the specified deadline.
How Percentage Is Calculated
There is no minimum percentage required under the SBI PO educational qualification. Candidates need to have a recognised Bachelor’s degree to satisfy the eligibility criteria.
If your university gives CGPA/OGPA instead of percentage, you need to convert it to equivalent percentage using your university’s conversion formula before filling out the application form.
Rounding off and rounding down are not the same things. If your CGPA or OGPA is converted to percentage then it is rounded down. You may be asked to produce the official conversion certificate of your university during document verification.
Distance Education
A degree earned through distance learning is accepted, as long as the university is recognised. No separate marks requirement for class 10 or class 12. However, a candidate cannot apply on the basis of a 12th pass certificate alone. A completed graduation degree is compulsory before you submit the form.
The number of attempts allowed for the SBI PO exam varies for candidates based on their category. General and EWS candidates have a fixed number of attempts, while OBC candidates are given a few extra attempts. SC, ST and PwBD candidates can apply any number of times subject to prescribed age limit.
How Many Attempts Are Allowed
The number of attempts for SBI PO exam depends upon the category of the candidate. General and EWS candidates have a fixed number of attempts, but OBC candidates get a few extra attempts. SC, ST and PwBD candidates can apply any number of times provided they fulfil the age limit prescribed for the post.
| Category | Maximum Attempts |
|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 4 |
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 7 |
| SC / ST | Unlimited (within age limit) |
| PwBD | Unlimited (within age limit) |
If you appear for Mains exam only then it will be counted as an attempt. Appearing only for Prelims will not be considered an attempt. Note: The number of attempts may be changed in future notifications. Therefore, please check the official notification before applying. However, candidates are also required to satisfy the prescribed age limit irrespective of the attempts left.
SBI PO Reservation for Persons with Disability
SBI has given 4% horizontal reservation to Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) in SBI PO 2026 recruitment. Out of the total 1500 posts, 61 posts are kept for eligible PwBD candidates against the notified disability categories.
This reservation is horizontal and applicable for all categories like SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and UR. Eligible PwBD candidates can claim the reservation as per the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
| PwBD Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Visual Impairment (VI) | 15 |
| Hearing Impairment (HI) | 16 |
| Locomotor Disability (LD) | 14 |
| Autism, Mental Illness, Multiple Disabilities (d & e) | 16 |
| Total PwBD Vacancies | 61 |
To claim a PwBD reservation, the candidate should have a benchmark disability of minimum 40% and certification of the same should be given by a competent medical authority. The disability certificate should be produced on or before the last date of online registration.
The eligible disability categories are locomotor disability or cerebral palsy, blindness or low vision, hearing impairment, autism spectrum disorder, mental illness and multiple disabilities as per official notification. Facilities such as scribe (as applicable), compensatory time, age relaxation and exemption from payment of application fee will be provided to the eligible PwBD candidates.
Other Conditions You Should Know About
Apart from age criteria, educational qualification and nationality, there are some other eligibility requirements which the candidates have to fulfill. SBI verifies these eligibility criteria at the time of selection and document verification. “Providing false information or failure to meet these conditions may lead to cancellation of your candidature.
- Keep your credit record clean. Any outstanding problems with loans or credit cards may affect your final selection
- Candidates should have good background record and character. Any misinformation or fake documents can lead to disqualification.
- Select the appropriate category on the application form, as it is not editable later.
- OBC candidates should belong to Non-Creamy Layer and produce a valid certificate in the Central Government format wherever applicable.
A Quick Self-Check Before You Apply
Go through this brief checklist, including your eligibility age, to make sure you tick every box before you submit your application.
- I am an Indian citizen or I meet one of the specified alternate nationality conditions
- I am 21 to 30 years as on the cut-off date with relaxation if I am a reserved category
- I have a graduation degree in any discipline or I am in my final year and can produce proof by the deadline
- I have atleast one more try left in my category (only mains appearances)
- I have no outstanding adverse credit report
- I have chosen the correct category code for my application
- I have all the necessary documents prepared in the right format
FAQ’S About SBI PO Exam Eligibility
Candidates must be Indian citizens, be between 21 and 30 years of age, hold a Bachelor's degree, and meet the prescribed eligibility conditions.
The age limit is 21 to 30 years as on the cut off date mentioned in the official notification. Age relaxation is available for reserved categories.
Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
Yes. Final-year students can apply provisionally, subject to the conditions mentioned in the official notification.
No. There is no minimum percentage requirement for SBI PO.
The attempt limit varies by category. Check the latest notification for the category-wise attempt limits.
No. Candidates must have a recognised Bachelor's degree to apply.