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Banking
Verified Statutory Lexicon · Last Reviewed: Sep 09, 2026

Full Form of PO

Official Definition & Statutory Meaning

PO full form is Probationary Officer (हिंदी में: परिवीक्षाधीन अधिकारी). It functions under Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) / State Bank of India (SBI) as an official authority for examination administration and cadre recruitment.

Acronym / Short FormPO
Full Form (English)Probationary Officer
हिंदी अर्थ (Hindi Meaning)परिवीक्षाधीन अधिकारी
Domain / SectorBanking
Regulatory / Conducting BodyInstitute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) / State Bank of India (SBI)
Official Portalibps.in

1. Official Mandate, Scope & Background

Probationary Officer (PO), officially designated as Assistant Manager (Junior Management Grade Scale-I / JMGS-I), is the primary officer-cadre entry-level post in Indian Public Sector Banks (PNB, BoB, Canara, etc.) and State Bank of India (SBI). POs undergo a 2-year probation receiving intensive training in branch banking, loan appraisal, credit management, foreign exchange, and risk assessment.

2. Eligibility Criteria, Qualifications & Age Limits

Graduation in any discipline from a recognized University. Age limit: 20 to 30 years with statutory relaxations (3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST).

3. Examination Scheme & Selection Procedure

Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (100 Qs, 100 marks, 1 hour) -> Phase-II: Main Examination (Objective 200 marks + English Letter & Essay Descriptive 25 marks) -> Phase-III: Psychometric Test, Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview.

4. Core Syllabus & Key Subjects

Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, Quantitative Aptitude / Data Analysis & Interpretation, General Economy & Banking Awareness, and English Language.

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