SBI CBO Syllabus 2026, Exam Pattern and Interview Details

The State Bank of India (SBI) conducts the SBI Circle Based Officer (CBO) Exam to recruit experienced banking professionals across various circles. Candidates planning to appear for the SBI CBO Recruitment 2026 must thoroughly understand the latest SBI CBO Syllabus 2026 and Exam Pattern to prepare effectively.

In this article, we provide the complete SBI CBO Syllabus, including subject-wise topics, exam pattern, marking scheme, interview details, preparation tips, and much more. 

SBI CBO Syllabus 2026

The SBI CBO selection process involves an online examination that includes both objective and descriptive sections. The exam consists of four key sections: English Language, Banking Knowledge, General Awareness/Economy, and Computer Aptitude. The test is structured into two parts: one objective and one descriptive. Unlike many other banking exams, the SBI CBO exam does not have negative marking, allowing candidates to attempt uncertain questions without the risk of losing marks. The selection process includes an Online Test, Screening, Interview, and Local Language Proficiency Test.

SBI CBO Syllabus- Overview

Before we dive into the detailed SBI CBO Syllabus and exam pattern, candidates can check the highlights for the SBI CBO 2026: 

SBI CBO Selection Process 2026

The SBI CBO selection process consists of three stages:

• Online Test
• Screening Test
• Interview
• Languange Proficiency Test(LPT)

SBI CBO Exam Pattern 2026

Alongside the announcement of the online written test for SBI CBO, the State Bank of India has also shared the updated exam pattern. Aspirants preparing for the SBI CBO exam should familiarise themselves with this structure. The combined duration for completing both the objective and descriptive sections is 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes).

SBI CBO Descriptive Test

No Penalty for Wrong Answers

There will be no penalty for wrong answers marked in the Objective Tests. Whether a question is left blank or marked with an incorrect answer, there will be no negative marking, i.e. there will be no penalty for any wrong answer.

SBI CBO Syllabus 2026 Subject-wise

To become eligible for the interview stage, candidates need to secure a good score in the SBI CBO online written examination. The exam pattern has been revised and now includes two components: an Objective Test and a Descriptive Test. The Objective Test evaluates candidates on the following subjects:

1. English Language
2. General Awareness/Economy
3. Banking Knowledge
4. Computer Aptitude

The SBI CBO Descriptive Test will feature one letter-writing question and one essay-writing question, both focused on banking-related topics. Candidates should be well-prepared for this revised exam pattern introduced for the Circle-Based Officer recruitment.

Check the topic-wise SBI CBO Syllabus for SBI Circle-Based Officer Recruitment 2026:

English Language Syllabus for SBI CBO

The English Language test is to assess the knowledge of the candidates in basic English and Grammar. The topics to be covered are:

• Cloze Test
• Reading Comprehension
• Spotting Errors
• Sentence Improvement
• Sentence Correction
• Para Jumbles
• Fill in the Blanks
• Para/Sentence Completion

Banking Awareness Syllabus for SBI CBO

Candidates applying for the CBO post must know about the Banking and Finance sector. It is important to have the knowledge because you will be working at the largest bank in India.

• Banking Terminologies Knowledge
• Financial Awareness
• Financial Markets
• Monetary Policy
• Payment Banks
• Reserve Bank of India
• Banking Sector of India
• Acquisitions and Mergers
• New Policies in news
• Knowledge of financial institutions of importance
• Principles of Insurance
• Money and Banking

General Awareness Syllabus for SBI CBO

The General Awareness section includes current affairs of National and International importance.

• Current Affairs
• GK Updates
• Currencies
• Important Places
• Books and Authors
• Awards
• Headquarters
• Prime Minister Schemes
• Important Days

Computer Knowledge Syllabus For SBI CBO

• Puzzle (Seating Arrangement, Floor-Based, Box-Based, Year-Based, etc.)
• Syllogism
• Input-Output
• Coding-Decoding
• Blood Relations
• Direction Sense
• Inequality
• Data Sufficiency
• Statement & Assumption
• Statement & Conclusion
• Order and Ranking
• Logical Reasoning (Cause & Effect, Course of Action, etc.)

Best Books for SBI CBO Preparation 2026

SBI CBO Interview 2026

The SBI CBO Interview is the final stage of the Circle-Based Officer selection process and plays a crucial role in determining a candidate’s selection. It carries 50 marks, and candidates must score the minimum qualifying marks set by the bank to be considered for the final merit list. Only those who clear both the online written test and the interview separately will be eligible for selection.

The final merit list is prepared based on the combined scores of the online exam (Objective and Descriptive tests) and the interview, with a weightage of 75% for the online test and 25% for the interview. Candidates should focus on their communication skills, banking knowledge, and current affairs to perform well in the interview round.

Check: How to Become a SBI CBO Officer

Local Language Proficiency Test

The SBI CBO Local Language Test is designed to assess a candidate’s proficiency in the local language of the region they have applied for. It evaluates their reading, writing, and comprehension skills in that language and serves as an essential component of the selection process.

Candidates who are provisionally shortlisted after the online test, screening, and interview must appear for the Local Language Test. However, those who have studied the relevant local language as a subject in their 10th or 12th grade and can provide a valid mark sheet or certificate as evidence are exempt from this requirement.

Candidates failing to qualify the local language test will not be offered an appointment, even if they have cleared the other stages of the selection process. The list of local languages is given below.