Mumbai: The State Bank of India has opened the doors for some of the most talked-about jobs in Indian banking right now. Under advertisement number CRPD/SCO/2026-27/30, the bank is inviting applications for six Specialist Cadre Officer posts, and leading the list is a position almost unheard of in public sector banking: GM and Chief AI Officer. The online application window opened on October 19, 2026 and closes on November 9, 2026.
For years, the biggest AI salaries in India were signed in Bengaluru tech parks and Gurugram startups. Now the country’s largest public sector bank wants to play in the same league. The top post carries an annual compensation of up to Rs 1.6 crore, which makes this one of the most aggressively priced public sector hires in recent memory.
What posts are on offer
All six posts are on fixed-term employment, meaning these are contract appointments and not permanent officer grades. The engagement is for three years, renewable for up to two more years, with a total cap of five years. Every vacancy is listed under the unreserved category. Here is the full list:
- GM and Chief AI Officer (1 post, age 40 to 55)
- DGM, Risk and Operational Analytics (1 post, age 35 to 50)
- DGM, AI Governance and Compliance (1 post, age 35 to 50)
- DGM, Data Engineering, Model Application Development and AI Ops (1 post, age 30 to 45)
- AI Solution Architect (1 post, age 30 to 45)
- Enterprise AI Architect (1 post, age 30 to 45)
The age cut-off date for all posts is September 30, 2026. Posting can be in Mumbai or anywhere in India, depending on the bank’s requirement.
Pay and compensation
The salary figures in the notification read more like a private sector offer letter than a government pay scale. The Chief AI Officer post carries an indicative annual compensation between roughly Rs 90 lakh and Rs 1.6 crore. The three DGM posts sit in the range of about Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1.2 crore a year, while the two architect roles carry a range of about Rs 60 lakh to Rs 90 lakh.
Final figures are negotiable: SBI will settle the actual CTC after the interview, based on the candidate’s profile and market standing.
Who can apply
The bar is set deliberately high, and it is aimed squarely at working professionals rather than fresh graduates. For the Chief AI Officer post, the notification asks for a BE, BTech or MTech in computer science, IT, electronics or related streams, or an MSc in statistics or computer science, MCA or equivalent, with preferred additions like an MBA or PGDM in finance and certifications in machine learning, AI or natural language processing.
The AI Solution Architect post asks for AI solution architecture certification alongside the relevant degree, and the Enterprise AI Architect post asks for TOGAF and AI architecture certifications. Across all six posts, substantial hands-on experience in building and deploying AI systems is expected. Candidates working in government offices, public sector banks or financial institutions will need a no objection certificate from their employer at the interview stage.
How the selection works
There is no written examination in this recruitment. The selection process has three stages: shortlisting of applications, an interview, and CTC negotiation. The final merit list rests on interview marks.
The application fee is Rs 750 for General, EWS and OBC candidates. There is no fee for SC, ST and PwBD candidates. Applications must be submitted online through the SBI careers portal on sbi.bank.in before the November 9 deadline.
Why this hire matters
This recruitment is really a signal of where Indian banking is headed. A Chief AI Officer at India’s largest bank would oversee how artificial intelligence gets used across fraud detection, credit underwriting, customer service and compliance at a scale of over 22,000 branches and hundreds of millions of customers. The inclusion of a dedicated AI Governance and Compliance role shows the bank is thinking about regulation and risk as much as about speed.
For AI professionals who have spent their careers in startups and tech giants, this is a rare chance to take a corner-office role inside a 200-year-old institution. The five-year contract structure suggests the bank wants to move fast without waiting for the usual cadre pipelines to catch up.
FAQs
How many posts has SBI announced in this recruitment?
Six Specialist Cadre Officer posts: one GM and Chief AI Officer, three DGM posts and two AI architect posts, all unreserved.
What is the last date to apply for SBI SCO Recruitment 2026?
November 9, 2026. The online window opened on October 19, 2026.
What is the salary for the SBI Chief AI Officer post?
The indicative annual compensation is roughly Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1.6 crore, with the final figure negotiated after the interview.
Is this a permanent government job?
No. All six posts are fixed-term appointments for three years, renewable for up to two more years, with a maximum engagement of five years.
Is there a written exam?
No. Selection is through shortlisting, an interview and CTC negotiation.
SBI’s AI bet will be watched closely across the industry. Candidates who fit the bill should apply well before the November 9 deadline. This one will not wait.
