Government employment, particularly in the banking industry, is highly sought after and regarded as a very reliable and stable opportunity. Each year, thousands of applicants sit for the SBI Clerk and SBI PO exams. The prestigious State Bank of India opens its door to eligible people through these two exams, although the positions, tasks and duties vary widely. However, most of the aspirants struggle to choose the most suitable profession for them out of SBI PO and SBI Clerk.
Although the SBI Clerk and SBI PO exams have nearly identical syllabi, there are minor distinctions between the two exams. Hence, candidates should first go through the SBI PO previous year question paper and SBI Clerk previous year question papers before starting their preparation to understand the difference in the types of questions asked. Even though it might seem like a no-brainer, we’ll look at the advantages and disadvantages of both positions in the given article.
Basic Differences – SBI PO vs SBI Clerk
- Selection Procedure: For the SBI clerk exam, the candidates need to clear two rounds only, including the pre and mains. Direct calls for the position will be made to the shortlisted candidates. For SBI PO, candidates must pass the pre, mains and interview round to be selected for the final positions.
| SBI PO | SBI Clerk |
| Phase-I: Preliminary Exam | Phase-I: Preliminary Exam |
| Phase-II: Mains Exam | Phase-II: Mains Exam |
| Phase-III: Group Exercises (20 marks) & Interview (30 marks) | Phase-III: Language Proficiency Test |
- Exam Pattern: The two tests have a similar syllabus in general. For both exams, the preliminary exam has the exact identical format. However, one should anticipate that questions in the SBI PO prelims will be a little more difficult as compared to the SBI Clerk prelims.
| SBI Preliminary Exam Pattern: PO and Clerk | |||
| S. No. | Name of Test | No. of Questions | Marks |
| 1 | English Language | 30 | 30 |
| 2 | Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
| 3 | Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Total | 100 | 100 |
The mains exams have some significant distinctions in the format, subject matter and type of questions that are asked. In the mains exam for the SBI PO and Clerk, sectional timing and a variable marking scheme have been introduced. The following are some examples of how the patterns in these two tests differ:
| SBI Mains Exam Pattern: PO and Clerk | ||
| Subject | SBI PO | SBI Clerk |
| English Language | 35 questions (40 minutes); 40 minutes | 40 questions (40 marks); 35 minutes |
| Reasoning and Computer Aptitude | 45 Questions (60 Marks); 60 minutes | 50 Questions (60 Marks); 45 minutes |
| Quantitative Ability | Not present | 50 questions (50 marks); 45 minutes |
| General Awareness | 40 questions (40 marks); 35 minutes | 50 questions (50 marks); 35 minutes |
| Data Analysis and Interpretation | 35 questions (60 marks); 45 minutes | Not Present |
| Descriptive Test | For 50 marks; 30 minutes | Not Present |
- Eligibility: The eligibility conditions for both posts are given below:
| Eligibility Condition | SBI PO | SBI Clerk |
| Nationality | Citizen of India | Citizen of India |
| Age Limit | 21 to 30 years | 20 to 28 years |
| Education | The candidate must be a graduate with a 3 or 4-year degree in any discipline. | The candidate must be a graduate with a 3 or 4-year degree in any discipline. |
- Job Profile: The differences based on the job profile are given below:
| Component | SBI PO | SBI Clerk |
| Type of Work | The responsibilities of POs include providing customer service, generating new business, managing cash flow, making timely payments and maintaining daily reports. | Their employment issues include underwriting, claims, account maintenance and data entry. |
| Probation Period | Six months | Up to 2 years |
| Work Timing | The actual office hours for SBI PO are 10 AM to 5 PM. However, due to the nature of their profession, they must put in extra time outside of normal office hours as well. | SBI Clerk has set hours from 10 AM to 5 PM. As a result, a clerk can more easily balance their professional and personal lives than a PO. |
| Promotions | An SBI PO’s career progresses significantly more quickly than an SBI Clerk’s. Promotions allow an SBI PO to take on a higher managerial position. An SBI PO gets promoted every two to three years after being assigned as an Assistant Bank Manager, depending on efficiency and performance. | In-cadre marketing and promotion to officer level are the two methods used to promote SBI Clerks. As a result, an SBI clerk receives promotion three times during their tenure. A written internal exam may be used as the basis for SBI Clerk advancement to officer rank. The exam may be taken after 3, 6 or 12 years of service. |
| Basic Pay | Starting Basic Pay is Rs 27,620, with four advance increments on the pay scale. | Starting Basic Pay is Rs 11,765, with possible increments along the pay scale. |
| Pay Scale | 23,700-980/7-30560-1145/2-32850-1310/7-42020 | 11765-655/3-13730-815/3-16175-980/4-20095-1145/7-28110-2120/1-30230-1310/1-31450 |
| Gross Salary | Depending on the location of posting, a probationary officer’s total monthly pay, including allowances, would be between Rs 68,333 and 1,08,500. | In a major metropolis like Mumbai, the total pay, including benefits, for a clerical cadre worker would be Rs 23,600/- per month. |
Both the SBI Clerk and SBI PO have a good reputation. One should start preparing for these examinations if one wishes to start a career in the banking industry. The first step is to understand the SBI Clerk and SBI PO prelims and mains syllabus and make a suitable strategy to prepare for the exam. The aspirants should complete their preparation for both stages before writing prelims.
Compared to a PO, an SBI Clerk is responsible for much fewer tasks. So, if one aims to spend quality time with their family rather than spend extra time at the office, one will prefer an exam for the SBI clerk post. However, if someone is looking for constant growth, they must attempt SBI PO. The salary package is higher, and so is the pace and extent of promotion.