What is SBI SO Exam?
The SBI SO exam is an examination conducted by the State Bank of India (SBI) to recruit Specialist Officers (SO) in various departments like IT, HR, Law, Marketing, etc. The exam is conducted once a year or as per the requirement. The selection process typically includes a written test followed by an interview. The exam pattern and syllabus vary depending on the post applied for. Candidates who qualify the written test are shortlisted for the interview round. The eligibility criteria may also vary depending on the post applied for. The SBI SO exam is a great opportunity for candidates who wish to work in the banking sector and specialize in a particular field.
SBI SO Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criteria for SBI SO (State Bank of India Specialist Officer) may vary depending on the specific position and job role. However, here are some general eligibility criteria that candidates must meet to be eligible to apply for SBI SO:
- Age Limit: Candidates must be between 21 to 30 years of age, although age relaxation is provided for candidates belonging to certain categories as per government rules.
- Educational Qualification: The educational qualification requirement varies depending on the specific position. Generally, candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a recognized university. Some positions may also require additional qualifications such as a Master’s degree or relevant work experience.
- Nationality: Candidates must be Indian citizens or have valid citizenship proof of other countries where SBI has operations.
- Work Experience: Work experience requirements may also vary depending on the position. Candidates should have a minimum of two to five years of relevant work experience for most of the specialist officer positions.
- Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in the English language and should have passed English as a subject in their 10+2 or graduation.
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
|
SC/ST |
5 Years |
|
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) |
3 Years |
|
PWD (SC/ST) |
15 Years |
|
PWD (OBC) |
13 Years |
|
PWD (Gen/EWS) |
10 Years |
|
Persons ordinarily domiciled in Jammu and Kashmir State during the period 01.01.1980 to 31.12.1989 |
5 Years |
|
Current employees of SBI who have completed at least 5 years of service |
5 Years |
SBI SO Preliminary Paper Pattern
- The SBI SO Preliminary Exam is an online computer-based test.
- The exam consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions.
- The exam duration is 2 hours.
- There is a negative marking of 1/4th of the marks assigned to that question for each wrong answer.
The following table shows the exam pattern for the SBI SO Preliminary Exam:
| Section | Number of Questions | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|
|
English Language |
30 |
30 |
|
Reasoning Ability |
35 |
35 |
|
Quantitative Aptitude |
35 |
35 |
|
Total |
100 |
100 |
Note: The above table is based on the SBI SO exam pattern for the post of Assistant Manager (Systems).
Mains Exam Pattern
- The SBI SO Mains Exam is an online computer-based test.
- The exam consists of objective-type multiple-choice questions and descriptive-type questions.
- The exam duration is 3 hours and 30 minutes for objective tests and 30 minutes for the descriptive test.
- There is a negative marking of 1/4th of the marks assigned to that question for each wrong answer in the objective tests.
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
|
Reasoning Ability (Objective Test) |
30 |
60 |
|
English Language (Objective Test) |
20 |
40 |
|
Professional Knowledge (Objective Test) |
50 |
100 |
|
Total |
100 |
200 |
|
Descriptive Test |
2 |
50 |
SBI SO Interview Stage Details
SBI SO Interview stage:
- After clearing the online mains examination, candidates will be called for the interview stage.
- The interview will be conducted by a panel of experts and may last for about 20-30 minutes.
- The interview panel will assess the candidate’s knowledge, skills, personality, and suitability for the applied post.
- Candidates are advised to dress formally and be well-prepared for the interview. They should be confident and express their thoughts clearly and effectively.
- The interview panel may also ask questions related to the candidate’s professional experience, education, and achievements.
- The interview is an important stage of the selection process, and the final selection will be based on the candidate’s performance in the mains exam and interview.
- Candidates who qualify in the interview stage will be eligible for the final selection process.
Selection Process
The SBI SO Exam selection process involves three stages – Online Preliminary Examination, Online Mains Examination, and Interview/ Group Discussion. Candidates who qualify in the preliminary exam will be eligible to appear for the mains exam. Those who clear the mains exam will be called for the interview/ group discussion round. The final selection is based on the candidate’s performance in the mains exam and interview/ group discussion round. The selection process may vary for different positions and will be specified in the official notification.
Application Fees
The application fee for SBI SO (State Bank of India Specialist Officer) varies depending on the category of the candidate. The fee details for different categories are as follows:
- For General/ EWS/ OBC candidates: Rs. 750/- (Application fee including intimation charges)
- For SC/ ST/ PWD candidates: Nil (No fee)
Note: The application fee can be paid online mode using a debit card/ credit card/ net banking. Candidates must ensure that they have a valid email id and mobile number before applying for the exam, as all communication regarding the exam will be sent to the registered email id and mobile number.
Exam Frequency:
The frequency of the SBI SO (State Bank of India Specialist Officer) exam depends on the recruitment requirements of the bank. Generally, the exam is conducted once or twice a year, depending on the number of vacancies and recruitment needs. However, the exact frequency and schedule of the exam are subject to change and are decided by the State Bank of India as per their recruitment needs.
Conducting Authority:
SBI SO Syllabus for Prelims Exam:
| Sections | Syllabus |
|---|---|
|
Reasoning Ability |
Verbal Reasoning, Syllogism, Circular Seating Arrangement, Linear Seating Arrangement, Double Lineup, Scheduling, Input-Output, Blood Relations, Directions and Distances,
Ordering and Ranking, Data Sufficiency, Coding and Decoding,
Code Inequalities |
|
Quantitative Aptitude |
Simplification, Profit and Loss, Mixtures and Alligations, Simple Interest and Compound Interest, Surds and Indices, Work and Time, Time and Distance, Mensuration, Data Interpretation, Ratio and Proportion, Percentage, Number Systems, Sequence and Series, Permutation, Combination and Probability |
|
English Language |
Reading Comprehension, Synonyms and Antonyms, Fill in the Blanks, Para Jumbles, Error Spotting, Sentence Correction, Cloze Test, Vocabulary, Grammar, Idioms and Phrases |
SBI SO Syllabus for Mains Exam:
| Selections | Syllabus |
|---|---|
|
Reasoning Ability |
Verbal Reasoning, Syllogism, Circular Seating Arrangement, Linear Seating Arrangement, Double Lineup, Scheduling, Input-Output, Blood Relations, Directions and Distances, Ordering and Ranking, Data Sufficiency, Coding and Decoding, Code Inequalities, Critical Reasoning, Analytical and Logical Reasoning |
|
Data Analysis |
Tabular Graph, Line Graph, Pie Chart, Bar Graph, Radar Graph Caselet, Missing Case DI, Data Sufficiency |
|
General Awareness |
Banking and Financial Awareness, Current Affairs, Static Awareness |
|
English Language |
Reading Comprehension, Synonyms and Antonyms, Fill in the Blanks, Para Jumbles, Error Spotting, Sentence Correction, Cloze Test, Vocabulary, Grammar, Idioms and Phrases |
|
Professional Knowledge |
The syllabus for this section would be based on the specific domain that the candidate has applied for. The questions would be based on technical/professional knowledge in the chosen field. |
Salary Structure of SBI PO
Specialist Officer (SO) varies depending on the post and scale. Here’s a general overview of the SBI SO salary structure:
Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I) – Officer: The starting basic pay is Rs. 23,700 with four advance increments. The approximate total salary including basic pay, DA, HRA, etc. is around Rs. 42,000 – Rs. 44,000.
Middle Management Grade Scale-II (MMGS-II) – Manager: The starting basic pay is Rs. 31,705 with four advance increments. The approximate total salary including basic pay, DA, HRA, etc. is around Rs. 56,000 – Rs. 59,000.
Middle Management Grade Scale-III (MMGS-III) – Senior Manager: The starting basic pay is Rs. 42,020 with four advance increments. The approximate total salary including basic pay, DA, HRA, etc. is around Rs. 74,000 – Rs. 78,000.
Senior Management Grade Scale-IV (SMGS-IV) – Chief Manager: The starting basic pay is Rs. 50,030 with four advance increments. The approximate total salary including basic pay, DA, HRA, etc. is around Rs. 89,000 – Rs. 93,000.
Top Executive Grade Scale-V (TEGS-V) – Assistant General Manager: The starting basic pay is Rs. 59,170 with four advance increments. The approximate total salary including basic pay, DA, HRA, etc. is around Rs. 1,00,000 – Rs. 1,05,000.
Note: The above figures are only an approximation and may vary depending on several factors such as the location of posting, HRA rates, etc. The salary also includes various other benefits such as medical insurance, leave travel allowance, performance-based incentives, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SBI PO exam?
What is the eligibility criteria for SBI PO exam?
What is the exam pattern for SBI PO exam?
What is the selection process for SBI PO exam?
What is the syllabus for SBI PO exam?
The syllabus for SBI PO exam includes: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, General Awareness, and Computer Aptitude.
