Bank Exam Attempt Limits 2026: Quick Answer
IBPS PO has no attempt limit: the CRP PO/MT-XVI notice only caps your age (20 to 30 years). SBI PO 2026 allows 6 chances for General/EWS, 9 for OBC and for General/EWS/OBC PwBD candidates, and no limit for SC/ST, and only a Mains appearance counts. RBI Grade B (General) allows General/EWS candidates 6 Phase-I attempts, with no limit for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD when posts are reserved for them.
Key takeaway: SBI raised its PO attempt limit in 2026: General/EWS went from 4 to 6 chances and OBC/PwBD from 7 to 9, compared with the 2025 advertisement.
Bank Exam Attempt Limits Table (Category-wise)
| Exam (2026 notice) | General / UR | EWS | OBC | SC / ST | PwBD | What counts as an attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBPS PO (CRP PO/MT-XVI) | No limit | No limit | No limit | No limit | No limit | Not applicable; only age limit applies |
| IBPS Clerk (CRP CSA-XVI) | No limit | No limit | No limit | No limit | No limit | Not applicable; only age limit applies |
| SBI PO (CRPD/PO/2026-27/09) | 6 | 6 | 9 | No restriction | 9 (UR, EWS and OBC PwBD); SC/ST PwBD no restriction | Appearing in the Main exam |
| RBI Grade B (DR) General (RBISB/DA/01/2026-27) | 6 | 6 | No restriction* | No restriction* | No restriction* | Appearing in Phase-I |
*RBI: "No such restriction applies to candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBC/PwBD, if the posts are reserved for them."
Official sources: IBPS CRP PO/MT-XVI notification (30.06.2026), IBPS CRP CSA-XVI notification, SBI PO 2026 detailed advertisement (Section 4), RBI Grade B 2026 advertisement (item 6).
IBPS PO Attempts 2026: Is There Any Limit?
No. The IBPS PO 2026 notification (CRP PO/MT-XVI, vacancies of 2027-28) has no clause on the number of attempts. The only limit is age: 20 to 30 years as on 01.07.2026, which means you must be born between 02.07.1996 and 01.07.2006. OBC candidates get 3 extra years and SC/ST candidates 5 extra years on the upper limit.
So a General candidate who becomes eligible at 20 can, in principle, sit IBPS PO every year until the year they cross 30. See IBPS PO eligibility and age limit 2026.
SBI PO Attempts 2026 (Number of Chances)
| Category | Maximum chances (SBI PO 2026) | SBI PO 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 6 | 4 |
| UR (PwBD) / EWS (PwBD) / OBC / OBC (PwBD) | 9 | 7 |
| SC / SC (PwBD) / ST / ST (PwBD) | No restriction | No restriction |
How SBI counts a chance (Section 4 of the 2026 advertisement):
- Appearing in the Main Examination counts as a chance. Appearing only in the Preliminary Examination does not.
- In years when only one written exam was held (no Prelims), appearing in it counted as a chance.
- If you have already used the maximum chances, you are not eligible to apply.
The age limit still applies on top of this: 21 to 30 years as on 01.04.2026 for SBI PO. Full details: SBI PO eligibility and age limit 2026.
RBI Grade B Attempts 2026
The RBI Grade B (DR) 2026 advertisement (Panel Year 2026, dated 29 April 2026) says: "Candidates belonging to General Category/EWS, who have already appeared Six times for Phase-I Examination for this post/s in the past, are not eligible to apply." There is no such restriction for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD candidates if the posts are reserved for them.
- Only appearing in Phase-I is counted; applying without appearing is not.
- RBI Grade B age limit: 21 to 30 years as on 01.04.2026, with higher limits of 32 for M.Phil. and 34 for Ph.D. holders.
Bank Exam Attempts: Common Mistakes
- Counting Prelims in SBI PO. Only Mains appearances count; clearing Prelims and skipping Mains does not use a chance.
- Assuming IBPS PO has 4 or 7 attempts. Some pages copy the old SBI PO figures onto IBPS PO. The IBPS notice has no attempt limit.
- Using old SBI figures. 4 and 7 were the 2025 limits. The 2026 advertisement says 6 and 9.
- Forgetting the age limit. Even with "no limit" on attempts, you stop being eligible once you cross the upper age for your category.
Bank Exam Attempt Limits FAQs
How many attempts are there in IBPS PO for General category?
There is no limit. The IBPS PO 2026 notice caps only the age (20 to 30 years as on 01.07.2026 for General candidates).
How many attempts are allowed in SBI PO for OBC?
9 chances in SBI PO 2026, up from 7 in 2025. Only appearing in the Main exam is counted.
Does appearing in SBI PO Prelims count as an attempt?
No. SBI counts a chance only when you appear in the Main Examination.
How many attempts are allowed in RBI Grade B?
General and EWS candidates can appear in Phase-I a maximum of six times. There is no limit for SC, ST, OBC and PwBD candidates when posts are reserved for them.
IBPS PO kitne attempt de sakte hain?
IBPS PO mein attempts ki koi limit nahi hai. Bas age limit (General ke liye 20 se 30 saal, 01.07.2026 ko) poori honi chahiye. SBI PO mein General/EWS ke liye 6 aur OBC ke liye 9 chances hain.