Same thoughts.... Have been using their website only for past several months because of this mandatory location permission issue.
Its an unethical, dark pattern. Dark pattern because they're forcing us to share our location by arm-twisting, blocking us from even accessing txns and bills if location is not shared.. And unethical because unless we're using some location related service, location service is not at all needed to check statements, unbillled txns, etc.
All SBI card users should post a negative review regarding this unethical practice, and this problem might get solved.