The State Bank of India (SBI) has released the SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026 notification for the post of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) under a Special Recruitment Drive for SC, ST and OBC backlog vacancies. The notification, issued under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 on 7 August 2026, invites online applications for 1,538 vacancies. This recruitment is only for SC, ST and OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) category candidates; General and EWS category candidates are not eligible to apply under this drive.
Eligible candidates can apply online from 7 August 2026 to 27 August 2026 through the official SBI careers portal. This article explains eligibility, vacancy details, application fee, salary, selection process, exam pattern and the step-by-step application procedure based on the official notification PDF.
SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026: Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Post Name | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) |
| Advertisement No. | CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 |
| Notification Date | 7 August 2026 |
| Recruitment Type | Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC Backlog Vacancies |
| Total Vacancies | 1,538 |
| Eligible Categories | SC, ST, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) only. Not open to General/EWS. |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Official Website | sbi.bank.in |
SBI Clerk 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 7 August 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 7 August 2026 |
| Online Application Last Date | 27 August 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination | Tentatively September 2026 |
| Main Examination | Tentatively October/November 2026 |
As per the official notification, exact Prelims and Mains dates have not yet been announced. Candidates should regularly check the SBI Careers page for updates.
SBI Clerk 2026 Vacancy Details (Circle and State-wise)
A total of 1,538 vacancies have been announced: SC: 207, ST: 1,219, OBC: 112, spread across 21 States/UTs. Vacancies are provisional and may vary as per the Bank’s actual requirement. Candidates can apply for only one State/UT.
| Circle | State/UT | SC | ST | OBC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amaravati | Andhra Pradesh | — | 88 | — | 88 |
| Bengaluru | Karnataka | 85 | 35 | — | 120 |
| Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh | — | 134 | — | 134 |
| Bhopal | Chhattisgarh | — | 26 | — | 26 |
| Bhubaneswar | Odisha | — | 111 | — | 111 |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh UT | — | — | 22 | 22 |
| Chandigarh | Jammu & Kashmir UT | — | 42 | — | 42 |
| Chandigarh | Himachal Pradesh | 11 | — | — | 11 |
| Chandigarh | Punjab | — | — | 18 | 18 |
| Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 65 | — | — | 65 |
| Hyderabad | Telangana | — | 32 | — | 32 |
| Jaipur | Rajasthan | 20 | 86 | — | 106 |
| Kolkata | West Bengal | — | — | 55 | 55 |
| Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | — | 31 | — | 31 |
| Maharashtra/Mumbai Metro | Maharashtra | — | 165 | — | 165 |
| New Delhi | Delhi | — | — | 17 | 17 |
| Gandhinagar | Gujarat | — | 289 | — | 289 |
| Guwahati | Assam | — | 39 | — | 39 |
| Guwahati | Tripura | — | 22 | — | 22 |
| Patna | Bihar | 12 | — | — | 12 |
| Patna | Jharkhand | 14 | 119 | — | 133 |
| Total | 207 | 1219 | 112 | 1538 |
Vacancy for the entire Uttar Pradesh state is under Lucknow Circle only. Candidates applying for Maharashtra (Maharashtra Circle/Mumbai Metro Circle) or Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow Circle) should verify operational areas through SBI’s Branch Locator on the official website before applying.
SBI Clerk 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit
Candidates must be not below 20 years and not above 28 years as on 1 April 2026, i.e., born not earlier than 2 April 1998 and not later than 1 April 2006 (both dates inclusive).
Age Relaxation
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC | 3 years |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen/Disabled Ex-Servicemen | Actual service rendered + 3 years (8 years for Disabled Ex-Servicemen belonging to SC/ST), subject to maximum age of 50 years |
| Widows, Divorced Women & Women Judicially Separated (not remarried) | 7 years (max age 38 years for OBC, 40 years for SC/ST) |
| Trained Apprentices of SBI | OBC – 4 years, SC/ST – 6 years, PwBD (OBC) – 14 years, PwBD (SC/ST) – 16 years |
Cumulative age relaxation under more than one category is not permitted.
Educational Qualification (As on 31 December 2026)
Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. Candidates in the final year/semester of graduation may also apply provisionally, subject to producing proof of passing by 31 December 2026.
Other Eligibility Notes
- Only SC, ST and OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) candidates are eligible. General/EWS candidates cannot apply under this drive.
- OBC certificate must be on the Government of India prescribed format with the “Non-Creamy Layer” clause, issued on or after 1 April 2026.
- Candidates currently working in SBI’s clerical cadre, or who earlier resigned from SBI while in clerical cadre, are not eligible.
- Candidates must be proficient in the specified local language of the State/UT for which they apply.
SBI Clerk 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Fee / Intimation Charges |
|---|---|
| SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen/Disabled Ex-Servicemen | Nil |
| OBC | Rs. 750/- |
The fee is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted against any other exam or selection. Payment can be made online using debit card, credit card or internet banking.
SBI Clerk 2026 Salary and Pay Scale
The applicable pay scale is: Rs.24050-1340/3-28070-1650/3-33020-2000/4-41020-2340/7-57400-4400/1-61800-2680/1-64480.
The starting Basic Pay is Rs. 26,730/- (Rs. 24,050/- plus two advance increments admissible to graduates). The total starting emoluments for a Clerical Cadre employee posted at a metro city like Mumbai will be around Rs. 46,000/- per month, inclusive of Dearness Allowance and other allowances at current rates, along with two additional increments for newly recruited graduate Junior Associates. Allowances may vary depending on place of posting. Selected candidates are also eligible for provident fund, pension under the New Pension Scheme, medical benefits, leave fare concession and other facilities as per Bank rules.
Newly appointed Junior Associates will be on probation for a minimum period of 6 months, extendable based on completion of prescribed e-lessons and performance evaluation.
SBI Clerk 2026 Selection Process
Selection consists of three stages:
- Preliminary Examination (online objective test)
- Main Examination (online objective test)
- Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT), wherever applicable
Marks scored in the Preliminary Exam are used only for shortlisting candidates for the Main Exam (approximately 10 times the number of vacancies, category-wise). Only the Main Examination marks are considered for the final merit list. Merit lists are prepared State-wise and category-wise.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern
| Test | Medium | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | English | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | English/Hindi (per state option) | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | English/Hindi (per state option) | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
There is negative marking of 1/4th mark for each wrong answer. No sectional or aggregate minimum qualifying marks are prescribed at Prelims stage.
SBI Clerk Main Exam Pattern
| Test | Medium | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General/Financial Awareness | English/Hindi (per state option) | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| General English | English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | English/Hindi (per state option) | 50 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | English/Hindi (per state option) | 50 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 2 hours 40 minutes |
Negative marking of 1/4th mark applies for wrong answers. Candidates must score minimum qualifying marks on aggregate as decided by the Bank; no separate minimum is prescribed for individual sections. Trained Apprentices of SBI meeting specified conditions receive 2.5% bonus marks (5 out of 200) added to their Main Exam score.
Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)
Candidates who have not studied the specified local language in Class 10 or 12 must qualify the LLPT after provisional selection but before joining. Failure to qualify this test will lead to disqualification.
SBI Clerk 2026 Exam Medium and Local Language Requirement
Candidates must opt for one local language at the time of application, based on the State/UT applied for (for example, Telugu/Urdu for Andhra Pradesh, Kannada for Karnataka, Marathi for Maharashtra, Gujarati for Gujarat, and so on, as listed in the vacancy table above). The exam medium options (English, Hindi and the relevant regional language) also vary by State/UT as specified in the official notification.
Documents Required for SBI Clerk Application
- Scanned recent passport-size colour photograph (4.5cm x 3.5cm, 200×230 pixels, 20–50 KB)
- Scanned signature on white paper with black ink (140×60 pixels, 10–20 KB)
- Left-hand thumb impression (240×240 pixels, 200 DPI, 20–50 KB)
- Scanned handwritten declaration in English as per the prescribed format (800×400 pixels, 200 DPI, 50–100 KB)
- Valid category certificate (SC/ST/OBC Non-Creamy Layer, as applicable) to be submitted at the time of document verification/joining
- Valid photo ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, passport, voter ID, driving licence, etc.) for exam day
How to Apply for SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026
- Visit the official SBI careers page: sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings
- Locate and click on Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 for “Special Recruitment Drive for Junior Associates 2026” and carefully read the detailed advertisement.
- Click “Apply Online” and register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Fill in the application form. Data can be saved and reopened for editing up to three times before final submission; no changes are allowed after final submission.
- Upload the scanned photograph, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration as per specifications.
- Pay the applicable application fee (if any) through debit card, credit card or internet banking.
- Download and save the system-generated e-receipt and application form printout for future reference. Do not send the printout to SBI by post.
Important Instructions
- Candidates can apply for vacancies in only one State/UT and can appear for the test only once under this recruitment project.
- There is no provision for Inter-Circle or Inter-State transfer for recruited Junior Associates, except limited intra-state transfer between Delhi & Lucknow Circles (Uttar Pradesh) and Mumbai Metro & Maharashtra Circles (Maharashtra).
- Not more than one application should be submitted; in case of multiple applications, only the last valid one will be retained and fees for other registrations will be forfeited.
- A waitlist of up to 50% of vacancies (State-category wise) will be maintained and released quarterly against non-joining/resignation, valid for one year from the declaration of the final result.
- SBI has clarified it does not endorse any external coaching platform or consultancy claiming guaranteed selection or insider access. Candidates should rely only on the official SBI career portal for authentic information.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
- Selecting the wrong State/UT or local language option, since this cannot be changed after submission.
- Uploading photographs or signatures that do not match the prescribed size and format specifications.
- Waiting until the last date to apply, risking website load issues or payment failures.
- Applying under a category (SC/ST/OBC) without holding a valid certificate in the prescribed format.
- Not verifying operational Circle areas for Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh applicants before submitting the form.
Official Notification and Application Links
Conclusion
The SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) Recruitment 2026 offers 1,538 backlog vacancies exclusively for SC, ST and OBC candidates across 21 States/UTs. Eligible candidates should read the official notification carefully and complete the online application before 27 August 2026. This information has been not yet been confirmed by the official authority regarding the exact Prelims and Mains exam dates; candidates should keep checking the official SBI careers page for the release of admit cards and further updates. A separate notification for regular (all-category) SBI Clerk vacancies for 2026-27 is expected to be released by SBI in due course, but as of this writing it has not been officially announced.
