
Tue Jun 24 16:20:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text, followed by a summary:
**News Article:**
**SBI Announces 2025 Probationary Officer Recruitment Drive, 541 Vacancies Available**
**Mumbai, [Today’s Date]** – The State Bank of India (SBI) has officially launched its 2025 Probationary Officer (PO) recruitment drive, offering aspiring bankers the opportunity to join the country’s largest public sector lender. Online applications are now being accepted through the official SBI website, sbi.co.in, with a deadline of July 14, 2025.
A total of 541 vacancies are available, comprising 500 regular positions and 41 backlog vacancies. This highly competitive exam attracts hundreds of thousands of applicants vying for a coveted role in the banking sector.
SBI has released a detailed timeline for the multi-stage selection process, which includes preliminary and main examinations, followed by psychometric tests, interviews, and group exercises. Admit cards for the preliminary exam are expected in the third or fourth week of July, with results anticipated in August-September. The final results are scheduled for release in November-December.
Eligibility criteria include a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university. The age limit is set between 21 and 30 years as of April 1, 2025, with applicable age relaxations as per government rules. Final-year students are also eligible to apply, provided they can furnish proof of graduation by September 30, 2025.
Application fees are ₹750 for General, EWS, and OBC candidates, while SC, ST, and PwBD candidates are exempt.
Importantly, SBI has emphasized that candidates with loan defaults (including credit card dues) to banks or NBFCs are ineligible, unless all dues are cleared before the offer letter date. Applicants with past defaults are urged to check their CIBIL score and obtain a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the lender if applicable.
Interested candidates are advised to visit the official SBI careers page and follow the PO recruitment link for detailed information and application instructions. The application window closes on July 14, 2025.