About State Bank of India (SBI)
The State Bank of India (SBI) is the largest public sector bank in India and one of the most trusted financial institutions in the country. Established in 1955, it serves as the backbone of India’s banking system, offering a wide range of services including personal banking, corporate banking, loans, investments, and digital banking solutions.
SBI operates thousands of branches and ATMs across India and abroad, making it one of the most accessible banks for people from all walks of life. It plays a key role in supporting the Indian economy through its services in agriculture, small businesses, corporate finance, and government projects.
A job at State Bank of India (SBI)
The State Bank of India (SBI) is the largest and most trusted public sector bank in India, offering a wide range of career opportunities for aspirants who dream of working in the banking sector. A job at SBI not only brings financial stability and job security but also offers a sense of pride and prestige. Every year, SBI conducts nationwide exams for various posts such as Probationary Officer (PO), Specialist Officer (SO), and Clerk, attracting lakhs of candidates from across the country.At GICE Academy, we provide comprehensive coaching programs designed to help students crack these competitive SBI exams with ease. Our expert faculty focuses on concept clarity, time management, and exam strategy. We conduct regular mock tests, topic-wise practice sessions, and personality development classes to build students’ confidence for both written exams and interviews. With personalised guidance and structured study plans, GICE ensures that every aspirant gets the right mentorship and preparation needed to succeed in SBI exams.
Our Contribution to your Vision
At GICE Academy, we provide comprehensive coaching programs designed to help students crack these competitive SBI exams with ease. Our expert faculty focuses on concept clarity, time management, and exam strategy. We conduct regular mock tests, topic-wise practice sessions, and personality development classes to build students’ confidence for both written exams and interviews. With personalised guidance and structured study plans, GICE ensures that every aspirant gets the right mentorship and preparation needed to succeed in SBI exams.
SBI Probationary Officer (PO)
The SBI Probationary Officer (PO) is one of the most prestigious positions in the Indian banking sector. It is an entry-level managerial role that offers young graduates an opportunity to start their career with the State Bank of India, the largest public sector bank in the country. As a PO, you play a key role in managing daily banking operations, assisting customers, supervising clerical staff, handling loans, and ensuring smooth
branch functioning.
A PO is responsible for managing customer relationships, supervising branch operations, and handling financial transactions. Candidates must hold a graduation degree from a recognised university and fall within the 21 to 30 years age range. The SBI Probationary Officer (PO) exam is one of the most prestigious banking exams in India
Selection Process
The selection process involves three stages
∙ Preliminary Exam
∙ Main Exam
∙ Interview/Group Discussion
RBI Grade B Exam Pattern
The Phase-II examination for RBI Grade B consists of three papers, each carrying 100 marks, making a total of 300 marks. The papers are conducted online and include both objective and descriptive types.
Preliminary Examination
The Preliminary Examination is the first stage and serves as a screening test. It is an online objective exam consisting of three sections: English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability, with a total of 100 marks. The duration is 60 minutes, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. Candidates who clear the sectional and overall cut-off marks qualify for the Main Examination. The Main Examination is more detailed and carries higher weightage. It has two parts: an Objective Test and a Descriptive Test. The Objective Test covers Reasoning and Computer Aptitude, Data Analysis and Interpretation, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, and English Language, with a total of 200 marks and a duration of 3 hours. The Descriptive Test follows immediately and involves writing an essay and a letter worth 50 marks, to be completed in 30 minutes. Candidates must qualify in both sections to be shortlisted for the final stage.
The final stage is the Interview and Group Discussion, which evaluates a candidate’s personality, leadership qualities, communication skills, and confidence. The interview carries 30 marks, and the group discussion carries 20 marks, making a total of 50 marks. The final merit list is prepared based on marks obtained in the Main Examination (Objective + Descriptive) and the Interview/Group Discussion, in a ratio of 75:25.
The position offers attractive pay, fast growth opportunities, and exposure to leadership roles. GICE Academy trains aspirants through detailed syllabus coverage, descriptive writing practice, and interview preparation, ensuring they are ready to excel in every phase of the selection process.
SBI Specialist Officer (SO)
The SBI Specialist Officer (SO) is a professional role within the State Bank of India designed for candidates with expertise in specific domains such as Information Technology, Law, Human Resources, Marketing, Finance, Risk Management, and more. Unlike general banking positions, the SO role focuses on applying technical knowledge and specialised skills to strengthen the bank’s operations and services in key functional areas. An SBI SO works behind the scenes to ensure the bank’s systems, strategies, and departments run efficiently. For example, IT Officers manage digital banking infrastructure, HR Officers handle recruitment and employee management, and Marketing Officers drive campaigns and brand growth. Each specialisation contributes directly to SBI’s success and innovation.
Selection Process
The selection process for most SBI Specialist Officer (SO) positions begins with an online written examination.
This exam includes objective-type questions that test three main areas:
Reasoning Ability
Quantitative Aptitude
English Language.
Exam Process
The SBI Specialist Officer (SO) exam process is designed to recruit skilled professionals for specialised roles within the State Bank of India. These positions include experts in fields such as Information Technology, Law, Human Resources, Marketing, Risk Management, and Finance.
The recruitment process may vary slightly depending on the specific post, but it generally involves three main stages
∙ Written Examination
∙ Interview
∙ Final Selection
SBI Specialist Officer (SO) Exam Details
This section carries 45 minutes in total and evaluates the candidate’s problem-solving, numerical, and language skills. Next comes the Professional Knowledge section, the most crucial part of the test. It’s designed to assess the candidate’s technical expertise and understanding of their specific domain. This section carries 75 minutes and has a heavier weightage in the overall evaluation. In total, the exam lasts around 120 minutes, though the exact duration may vary depending on the post. For certain senior-level roles, SBI may skip the written exam altogether. Instead, candidates are shortlisted based on their qualifications, experience, and achievements, and directly called for the Interview round. During the Interview, the panel evaluates the candidate’s technical knowledge, communication skills, and ability to handle role-specific challenges. For some posts, there’s also a Group Discussion (GD) to assess teamwork, leadership, and decision-making abilities.
The final merit list is prepared by combining marks from the written test and interview (or shortlisting and interview, where applicable). Those who clear all stages are appointed as Specialist Officers in their respective fields, taking on roles that allow them to use their professional knowledge in a dynamic and innovative banking environment.
At GICE Academy, we prepare students for each step of this process. Our training covers domain-specific concepts, technical tests, and mock interviews, ensuring candidates present their expertise confidently during selection.
SBI Clerk (Junior Associate)
The SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) is another popular position that offers stability and steady career growth. Clerks are responsible for day-to-day branch operations such as customer service, deposits, withdrawals, and record management. Candidates must possess a graduation degree, be between 20 and 28 years old, and be proficient in the local language of the state where they apply. The selection process includes a Preliminary Exam and a Main Exam. GICE Academy helps students master key subjects like Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, and English, along with banking awareness and current affairs. Regular mock tests and accuracy drills help students improve speed and efficiency to perform well in the actual exam.
Selection Process
The recruitment process consists of three main stages
∙ Preliminary Examination,
∙ Main Examination
∙ Local Language Proficiency Test (LPT).
The Preliminary Examination is the first screening stage and is conducted online. It includes three sections: English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability, with a total of 100 marks. The duration of the exam is 60 minutes, and there is a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every incorrect answer. The Prelims are qualifying in nature, meaning the marks obtained in this stage are not considered for the final merit list. Candidates who clear this round move on to the next stage.
SBI Clerk Exam Deatils
The Main Examination is the most crucial stage of the selection process, as the final merit list is prepared based on marks obtained in this exam. It is also an online objective test and includes sections on General/Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude. The total duration of the exam is 2 hours and 40 minutes, carrying 200 marks in total. Each section has a fixed time limit, and a negative marking of 0.25 marks applies for every wrong answer. After qualifying the Main Examination, candidates are required to appear for the Local Language Proficiency Test (LPT). This stage ensures that the candidate can read, write, and speak the official language of the state or region they are applying for. However, candidates who have studied the local language in their 10th or 12th standard and can produce proof are exempted from this test. The LPT is qualifying in nature, and its marks are not added to the final score.
Once all stages are cleared, the final selection is made based on the performance in the Main Examination. Successful candidates undergo document verification, medical examination, and background checks before being appointed as Junior Associates (Clerks) in SBI branches across the country. This process ensures that only the most skilled, efficient, and customer-friendly candidates join India’s largest public sector bank.
“At GICE Academy, our mission is simple: to guide every aspirant toward success. With structured courses, expert mentorship, and consistent support, we ensure that students not only clear SBI exams but also build strong foundations for long-term careers in the banking industry.”
Paper I – Economic and Social Issues (ESI)
● Type of Paper:
○ 50% Objective Type
○ 50% Descriptive Type
● Time Duration: 120 Minutes (30 mins for objective + 90 mins for descriptive)
● Total Marks: 100 (50 marks each for objective and descriptive sections)
● Objective Section: 30 questions, carrying 50 marks (some questions carry 1 mark, others 2 marks).
● Descriptive Section: 6 questions will be asked, out of which candidates must attempt 4 questions
○ 2 questions of 15 marks each
○ 2 questions of 10 marks each
(If more than 4 questions are answered, only the first 4 will be evaluated.)
Paper II – English
(Writing Skills)
- Type of Paper: Descriptive (to be typed using the keyboard)
- Time Duration: 90 Minutes
- Total Marks: 100
- Number of Questions: 3
- This paper assesses essay writing, comprehension, and precis writing to evaluate writing clarity, grammar, and coherence.
Paper III – Finance and Management (F&M)
- Type of Paper:
○ 50% Objective Type
○ 50% Descriptive Type (to be typed on the keyboard)
- Time Duration: 120 Minutes(30 mins for objective + 90 mins for descriptive)
- Total Marks: 100 (50 marks each for objective and descriptive sections)
- Objective Section: 30 questions, carrying 50 marks (some questions carry 1 mark, others 2 marks).
- Descriptive Section: 6 questions will be asked, out of which candidates must attempt 4 questions
○ 2 questions of 15 marks each
○ 2 questions of 10 marks each
Total Duration and Marks
- Total Marks (Phase-II): 300
- Total Duration: 330 Minutes (5 Hours 30 Minutes)
- All question papers (except the English paper) will be set bilingually in Hindi and English.
Interview (Phase-III)
- Candidates are shortlisted for the interview based on their aggregate marks in Paper I + Paper II + Paper III.
- The Interview carries 75 marks.
- Candidates can choose to appear in the interview in Hindi or English.
- A Personality Assessment may also be conducted before the interview (no marks are awarded for it).
Final Selection
The final merit list is prepared based on the total marks secured in Phase-II (300 marks) and the Interview (75 marks). This structure ensures that candidates are evaluated on both their analytical knowledge and writing ability, preparing them for the strategic and managerial responsibilities of an RBI Grade B Officer.To apply for this post, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree with at least 60% marks (50% for SC/ST/PwBD) and be between 21 to 30 years of age. Candidates with a background in economics, finance, or management often find this exam closely aligned with their field of study
Educational Qualification
To be eligible for the RBI Grade B Officer Exam, candidates must meet specific educational qualification requirements based on the post they are applying for. For the RBI Grade B (General) post, candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline or an equivalent qualification from a recognised university with at least 60% marks in aggregate (or equivalent grade). For candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwBD categories, the minimum required marks are 50%. The marks must also meet the same criteria in both 10th and 12th standard examinations. The RBI provides a relaxation of 5% marks for candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwBD categories. Final-year students may also apply if they can present proof of passing their degree by the date specified in the official notification. These educational criteria ensure that selected candidates have the analytical, financial, and statistical knowledge required to perform effectively in India’s central banking system.
RBI Assistant
The RBI Assistant is one of the most prestigious clerical-level positions offered by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This post plays a key role in maintaining smooth day-to-day operations within RBI offices across the country. RBI Assistants handle various administrative, financial, and customer service tasks such as data entry, currency circulation, document verification, ledger maintenance, and communication with different departments. It’s a perfect starting point for graduates who aspire to build a long-term career in India’s central banking system.
“At GICE Academy, we provide result-oriented training to help students crack the RBI Assistant exam with confidence. Our courses include concept-based learning, a section-wise test series, mock exams under real-time conditions, and current affairs sessions focused on banking and finance. Our expert mentors guide students on how to manage time, boost accuracy, and develop the right exam temperament. With personalised feedback and dedicated support, GICE Academy ensures that every aspirant is well-prepared to clear the exam and secure a position in the Reserve Bank of India.”
Selection Process
∙ Preliminary Exam
∙ Main Exam
∙ Language Proficiency Test (LPT)
The Prelims and Mains are online objective-type tests covering English, Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude,
General Awareness, and Computer Knowledge. Candidates who clear both stages must qualify for the LPT,
which ensures they are comfortable with the local or regional language of the RBI office they’re applying for.
