Exam Comparison

IBPS PO vs SBI PO 2026

IBPS PO 2026 offers 6,715 vacancies across 11 public sector banks with a Prelims–Mains–Interview structure; SBI PO 2026 offers 1,500 vacancies at India's largest bank with a three-phase selection including a Group Exercise.

Last updated: July 4, 2026

Parameter	IBPS PO 2026	SBI PO 2026
Conducting Body	IBPS (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection)	SBI (State Bank of India)
Vacancies 2026	6,715	1,500
Eligibility	Graduate (any discipline), age 20–30	Graduate (any discipline), age 21–30
Application Fee	₹850 (Gen), ₹175 (SC/ST)	₹750 (Gen), ₹0 (SC/ST/PwD)
Exam Stages	Prelims → Mains → Interview	Prelims → Mains → GE & Interview
Prelims Date 2026	Oct 2026 (expected)	Aug 2026 (expected)
Starting Salary	~₹52,000/month (all-inclusive)	~₹52,000–₹55,000/month (all-inclusive)
Posting	Any of 11 PSU banks (Bank of Baroda, PNB, etc.)	State Bank of India only
Brand Value	Good — PSU bank stability	Highest — SBI is India's #1 bank
Mains Pattern	Reasoning, English, DI, General Awareness + Descriptive	Same pattern + Data Analysis & Interpretation emphasis
Interview Weight	20% of final merit	15% of final merit (GE + PI combined)
Transfer Policy	Within bank circles, varies by bank	Pan-India transfers common

Choose IBPS PO 2026 if…

Choose IBPS PO if you want more vacancies and a higher chance of selection. With 6,715 seats across multiple banks, competition per seat is more manageable.

IBPS PO 2026 full details →

Choose SBI PO 2026 if…

Choose SBI PO if brand prestige, salary perks, and career growth are priorities. SBI POs have faster promotions and better allowances than most other PSU banks.

SBI PO 2026 full details →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is easier — IBPS PO or SBI PO?▼

IBPS PO is slightly easier in terms of competition per seat (6,715 vacancies vs 1,500). However, SBI PO's exam pattern is broadly similar. The Group Exercise (GE) round in SBI PO is an additional stage not present in IBPS PO.

Can I appear for both IBPS PO and SBI PO in the same year?▼

Yes. They are conducted by different bodies on different dates. Most banking aspirants apply for both. SBI PO usually notifies in April–May and IBPS PO in July–August, so there is no schedule clash.

Which has a better salary — IBPS PO or SBI PO?▼

SBI PO has a marginally higher take-home salary (~₹52,000–55,000/month) due to better allowances. IBPS PO salary varies by bank but typically ranges ₹52,000–₹54,000/month all-inclusive. Both receive DA, HRA, and special pay.

What is the syllabus difference between IBPS PO and SBI PO?▼

The core syllabus is nearly identical — Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, English, and General/Banking Awareness. SBI PO Mains places more emphasis on Data Analysis and has a slightly different descriptive paper format compared to IBPS PO.

More Comparisons

SSC CGL vs SSC CHSL 2026

SSC CGL 2026 requires a graduate degree with 15,000+ vacancies for Group B/C gazetted posts; SSC CHSL 2026 requires 12th pass with 3,000+ vacancies for Lower Division Clerk and Data Entry Operator posts.

RRB NTPC vs RRB Group D 2026

RRB NTPC 2026 requires graduation or 12th pass for clerical and junior officer posts; RRB Group D 2026 requires only 10th pass or ITI and fills 22,195 trackman and helper vacancies — the largest Indian Railways recruitment.

NDA vs CDS 2026

NDA 2026 is for 12th-pass unmarried male candidates (17.5–23 years) joining the Army, Navy, or Air Force before graduation; CDS 2026 is for graduates seeking permanent commission as officers in all three defence services.

UPSC IAS vs SSC CGL 2026

UPSC IAS (CSE) 2026 selects ~1,000 candidates for Group A gazetted officer posts like IAS, IPS, and IFS through a year-long 3-stage process; SSC CGL 2026 selects 15,000+ candidates for Group B/C posts in a faster 2-stage online exam.

CTET vs State TET 2026

CTET 2026 is a national-level teacher eligibility test conducted by CBSE valid for central government schools (KVS, NVS, Army Schools); State TET is conducted by individual states and is mandatory for teaching in that state's government schools.