State Bank of India (SBI) has released a new notification for the recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) in the clerical cadre. This is a Special Recruitment Drive. It fills backlog vacancies reserved for SC, ST, and OBC candidates. In total, SBI has announced 1,538 posts across 21 states and union territories. Online registration is open now. It closes on 27 August 2026. Let’s break down everything you need to know — in plain, simple terms.

1. Recruitment Overview

Particular	Details
Bank	State Bank of India (SBI)
Post	Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales)
Cadre	Clerical
Advertisement Number	CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16
Recruitment Type	Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC Backlog Vacancies
Total Vacancies	1,538
States/UTs Covered	21
Mode of Application	Online only

This drive is different from SBI’s regular clerk recruitment. It specifically targets backlog vacancies — unfilled reserved posts carried forward from earlier cycles for SC, ST, and OBC candidates.

2. Important Dates

Event	Date
Online registration starts	7 August 2026
Online registration closes	27 August 2026
Age reckoning date	1 April 2026
Educational qualification reckoning date	31 December 2026
Preliminary Examination	Tentatively September 2026
Main Examination	Tentatively October/November 2026

Keep checking SBI’s official careers page for exact exam dates. They will confirm this closer to the exam.

3. Vacancy Details (State-Wise)

SBI has notified 1,538 vacancies, split as: SC – 207, ST – 1,219, OBC – 112.

Here’s the complete state-wise breakup:

Circle	State/UT	Local Language	SC	ST	OBC	Total
Amaravati	Andhra Pradesh	Telugu/Urdu	–	88	–	88
Bengaluru	Karnataka	Kannada	85	35	–	120
Bhopal	Madhya Pradesh	Hindi	–	134	–	134
Bhopal	Chhattisgarh	Hindi	–	26	–	26
Bhubaneswar	Odisha	Odia	–	111	–	111
Chandigarh	Chandigarh UT	Hindi/Punjabi	–	–	22	22
Chandigarh	Jammu & Kashmir UT	Urdu/Hindi	–	42	–	42
Chandigarh	Himachal Pradesh	Hindi	11	–	–	11
Chandigarh	Punjab	Punjabi/Hindi	–	–	18	18
Chennai	Tamil Nadu	Tamil	65	–	–	65
Hyderabad	Telangana	Telugu/Urdu	–	32	–	32
Jaipur	Rajasthan	Hindi	20	86	–	106
Kolkata	West Bengal	Bengali/Nepali	–	–	55	55
Lucknow	Uttar Pradesh	Hindi/Urdu	–	31	–	31
Maharashtra/Mumbai Metro	Maharashtra	Marathi	–	165	–	165
New Delhi	Delhi	Hindi	–	–	17	17
Gandhinagar	Gujarat	Gujarati	–	289	–	289
Guwahati	Assam	Assamese/Bengali/Bodo	–	39	–	39
Guwahati	Tripura	Bengali/Kokborok	–	22	–	22
Patna	Bihar	Hindi/Urdu	12	–	–	12
Patna	Jharkhand	Hindi/Santhali	14	119	–	133
Total			207	1,219	112	1,538

A few important rules apply here. First, you can apply for only one state or UT. Second, you must know the local language of that state. This means reading, writing, speaking, and understanding it. Third, these vacancy numbers are provisional. SBI may change them based on actual requirements.

4. Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit (as on 1 April 2026)

You must be:

• Not below 20 years
• Not above 28 years

In simple terms, your date of birth should fall between 2 April 1998 and 1 April 2006 (both dates included).

Age relaxation for reserved categories:

Category	Extra Years Allowed
OBC	3 years
SC/ST	5 years
PwBD (OBC)	13 years
PwBD (SC/ST)	15 years
Ex-Servicemen/Disabled Ex-Servicemen	Service period + 3 years (8 years for disabled SC/ST ex-servicemen), max age 50
Widows, divorced, or judicially separated women (not remarried)	7 years (max 38 for OBC, 40 for SC/ST)
Trained SBI Apprentices	OBC – 4 years, SC/ST – 6 years, PwBD (OBC) – 14 years, PwBD (SC/ST) – 16 years

Note: you can’t combine relaxations. Only one category applies to you.

Educational Qualification (as on 31 December 2026)

You need a Graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university. That’s it — no specific subject is required.

Good news for final-year students: you can apply too. But you must pass your final exam by 31 December 2026 if selected.

Who Cannot Apply

A few groups are not eligible for this drive:

• Candidates currently working in SBI’s clerical cadre
• Candidates who previously resigned from SBI while in the clerical cadre
• Candidates with adverse reports on character or conduct

5. Selection Process

Getting selected involves three stages. Let’s walk through each one.

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination

This is your first hurdle. It’s a 100-mark, 1-hour online test with three sections:

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
English Language	30	30	20 minutes
Numerical Ability	35	35	20 minutes
Reasoning Ability	35	35	20 minutes

Each section has a separate time limit. You can’t shift time between sections. Wrong answers cost you 0.25 marks each (negative marking).

Here’s the good part: there’s no minimum passing mark for each section. Only your overall rank matters. Roughly 10 times the number of vacancies (per category) will be shortlisted for the Main Exam.

Stage 2: Main Examination

This is the real test — and it decides your final rank. It’s a 200-mark test, spread over 2 hours 40 minutes:

Section	Questions	Marks	Time
General/Financial Awareness	50	50	35 minutes
General English	40	40	35 minutes
Quantitative Aptitude	50	50	45 minutes
Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude	50	60	45 minutes

Again, wrong answers deduct 0.25 marks. You need to score a minimum aggregate percentage, decided by SBI, to qualify.

Important: only your Main Exam score counts for the final merit list. Your Preliminary score is just used to shortlist you — it doesn’t add to your final rank.

Bonus for SBI apprentices: if you’re a trained SBI apprentice who meets specific conditions, you get 5 bonus marks (2.5% of 200) added to your Main Exam score.

Stage 3: Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)

This step only applies if you haven’t studied the local language in Class 10 or 12. If your school certificate already proves this, you skip this test entirely.

If you do need it, here’s what it covers:

Test Type	Passages	Questions	Marks
Non-Verbal (Objective)	3	15	15
Non-Verbal (Subjective)	3	15	15
Verbal	–	–	20

You must pass this test to get your final appointment. There’s no way around it — even a top Main Exam score won’t help if you fail here.

Final Merit List

SBI prepares the merit list state-wise and category-wise. It’s based purely on your Main Exam score (plus bonus marks, if applicable).

A wait list is also maintained — up to 50% of vacancies per state and category. This list stays valid for one year and gets used if selected candidates don’t join.

6. Salary & Pay Structure

Let’s talk numbers. Selected Junior Associates get this pay scale:

₹24,050-1340/3-28,070-1650/3-33,020-2000/4-41,020-2340/7-57,400-4400/1-61,800-2680/1-64,480

Here’s what that means in practice:

• Starting Basic Pay: ₹26,730 (this includes 2 advance increments given to graduates)
• Total starting salary (in a metro city like Mumbai): approximately ₹46,000 per month, including DA and other allowances

On top of this, you also get:

• Provident Fund
• Pension under the New Pension Scheme
• Medical benefits
• Leave Fare Concession
• Other perks as per Bank policy

Probation Period

New Junior Associates serve a minimum 6-month probation. During this time, you must complete e-lessons prescribed by the Bank. If your performance doesn’t meet expectations, your probation may be extended.

7. Application Fee

Here’s some good news for most applicants in this drive:

Category	Fee
SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen / Disabled Ex-Servicemen	Nil
OBC	₹750

Since this drive is specifically for backlog SC/ST/OBC vacancies, most candidates pay no fee at all. Only OBC candidates need to pay ₹750. Once paid, this fee is non-refundable — so double-check your eligibility before paying.

8. How to Apply

Ready to apply? Follow these steps:

1. Go to the official SBI careers page: sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings
2. Find the link for “Special Recruitment Drive for Junior Associates 2026.”
3. Read the full advertisement (CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16) carefully first.
4. Click Apply Online and register with your basic details.
5. Fill in your personal, educational, and category information.
6. Choose your one preferred state/UT.
7. Upload these documents:
   • Recent colour photograph (200 x 230 pixels, 20KB–50KB)
   • Signature (140 x 60 pixels, 10KB–20KB)
   • Left thumb impression (3cm x 3cm, 20KB–50KB)
   • Handwritten declaration (10cm x 5cm, 50KB–100KB)
8. Pay the application fee, if applicable, using debit card, credit card, or internet banking.
9. Review everything carefully. You cannot edit your application after final submission.
10. Submit and print your application form for your records.

A quick tip: apply early. Don’t wait until the last day. Heavy website traffic near the deadline can cause delays or failed submissions — and SBI won’t take responsibility for that.

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many vacancies are there in SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026?

1,538 vacancies — 207 for SC, 1,219 for ST, and 112 for OBC candidates, under a special backlog recruitment drive.

Q2. What is the last date to apply?

27 August 2026. Registration started on 7 August 2026.

Q3. What is the eligibility for this recruitment?

A graduation degree in any discipline, with age between 20 and 28 years as on 1 April 2026 (relaxation applies for reserved categories).

Q4. Can I apply for more than one state?

No. You can apply for only one state or union territory.

Q5. What is the exam pattern for SBI Clerk 2026?

Two stages: a 100-mark Preliminary Exam (1 hour) and a 200-mark Main Exam (2 hours 40 minutes), both with negative marking of 0.25 per wrong answer.

Q6. What is the application fee?

Nil for SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen candidates; ₹750 for OBC candidates.

Q7. What is the salary for SBI Junior Associate?

Starting basic pay of ₹26,730, with total starting emoluments around ₹46,000 per month in metro cities, including DA and allowances.

Q8. Do I need to know the local language of the state I apply to?

Yes. If you haven’t studied it in Class 10 or 12, you’ll need to clear a separate Local Language Proficiency Test after the Main Exam.

Q9. Can current SBI clerical staff apply for this drive?

No. Current SBI clerical employees, and those who resigned while in the clerical cadre, are not eligible.

Q10. Is there a bond or transfer restriction for selected candidates?

Yes. There’s no provision for Inter-Circle or Inter-State transfer, except between Delhi and Lucknow Circles in UP, and between Mumbai Metro and Maharashtra Circles.

10. Official Links

Resource	Link
Official Notification – SBI Junior Associate Backlog Recruitment 2026	Download PDF
Official SBI Careers Page	sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings
Helpdesk	022-22820427 (11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Bank working days)

Read the complete official notification before applying. Rely only on SBI’s official website for updates on admit cards, exam dates, and results. SBI does not endorse any coaching platform or agent claiming guaranteed selection.