State Bank of India has notified the much-awaited recruitment of 2,000 probationary officers (POs). According to the notification released by the SBI on Monday, online registration of applications will be done from April 13 to May 2. The preliminary examination is likely to be conducted in June.

Graduates in any discipline who are below 21 years and not above 30 years are eligible to apply for the post. Relaxation in upper age limit will be allowed according to the norms for candidates belonging to the scheduled caste/scheduled tribe, and other backward classes, among others.

With a starting basic pay of ₹16,900 (with four increments), the compensation per annum for a PO in Mumbai will be around ₹8.55 lakh; it will vary in other locations. This year, the written examination will consist if two stages — preliminary and main.

Big response likely The notification is expected to elicit massive response from candidates. Going by the record of previous years, around seven lakh candidates are likely to compete for the 2,000 posts, according to CS Vepa, Director, National Institute of Banking (NSB).

“This year, the time given to final-year degree students has been extended till September, while it was only up to August last year. This might attract more final-year students,” he told BusinessLine . The number of vacancies too, is higher by 200 this year; only 1,800 vacancies were notified last year.