State Bank of India has announced the SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026 for Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) posts in the clerical cadre. The recruitment notification covers 7,680 regular vacancies and 287 backlog vacancies, taking the total number of vacancies to 7,967.
Online registration started on 11 August 2026 and eligible candidates can submit their applications until 31 August 2026. The SBI Clerk preliminary examination is tentatively scheduled for September 2026, while the Main Examination is expected to be conducted in November 2026.
Graduates between 20 and 28 years of age, subject to prescribed category relaxations, can apply. Candidates need to choose vacancies in only one State or Union Territory and must satisfy the local-language requirement prescribed for that State or UT.
Table of Contents
SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026 Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | State Bank of India |
| Recruitment | Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) |
| Commonly Known As | SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026 |
| Advertisement No. | CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 |
| Regular Vacancies | 7,680 |
| Backlog Vacancies | 287 |
| Total Vacancies | 7,967 |
| Application Dates | 11 August to 31 August 2026 |
| Age Limit | 20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026 |
| Qualification | Graduation in any discipline |
| Preliminary Exam | Tentatively September 2026 |
| Main Exam | Tentatively November 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Selection | Preliminary Exam, Main Exam and Local Language Test where applicable |
7,967 SBI Clerk Vacancies Announced
SBI has notified 7,680 regular vacancies across participating States and Union Territories. Another 287 backlog vacancies are included in this recruitment.
Some of the largest vacancy allocations are in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Karnataka and West Bengal.
The State/UT-wise vacancy position, including applicable backlog vacancies, is:
- Maharashtra: 1,809
- Tamil Nadu: 1,412
- Odisha: 1,100
- Karnataka: 760
- West Bengal: 580
- Chhattisgarh: 388
- Rajasthan: 350
- Gujarat: 330
- Telangana: 260
- Uttar Pradesh: 251
- Madhya Pradesh: 113
- Assam: 110
- Arunachal Pradesh: 87
- Jammu & Kashmir: 84
- Goa: 63
- Sikkim: 61
- Tripura: 48
- Mizoram: 34
- Nagaland: 27
- Meghalaya: 27
- Ladakh: 23
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands: 21
- Manipur: 17
- Himachal Pradesh: 12
Vacancies are provisional and may change depending on SBI’s actual staffing requirements.
Candidates can apply for vacancies of only one State or UT. Merit lists will also be prepared State-wise and category-wise.
Important SBI Clerk Application Dates
The online application window is already active.
Candidates can register and pay the application fee from 11 August to 31 August 2026. SBI has tentatively scheduled the Preliminary Examination for September 2026, followed by the Main Examination in November 2026.
Preliminary examination call letters are expected to become available approximately 10 days before the examination date. The same broad timeline will apply to Main Examination call letters for candidates shortlisted from the preliminary stage.
Exact examination dates have not yet been announced and candidates should treat September and November as tentative examination months until SBI issues the detailed schedule.
Who Can Apply for SBI Clerk 2026?
Candidates must fulfil both the educational qualification and age criteria prescribed by SBI.
Educational Qualification
Applicants must possess a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.
Candidates studying in the final year or semester of graduation can also apply provisionally. However, if selected, they must be able to produce proof that they passed graduation on or before 31 December 2026.
Candidates holding an Integrated Dual Degree must also ensure that their date of passing is on or before 31 December 2026.
Eligible matriculate ex-servicemen holding the prescribed Army, Navy or Air Force educational certificate after completing at least 15 years of service may also qualify under the conditions specified by SBI.
SBI Clerk Age Limit 2026
Candidates must be at least 20 years old and not more than 28 years old as on 1 April 2026.
This means an applicant should have been born between 2 April 1998 and 1 April 2006, both dates inclusive.
Upper-age relaxation includes:
- SC/ST candidates: 5 years
- OBC candidates: 3 years
- PwBD General/EWS: 10 years
- PwBD OBC: 13 years
- PwBD SC/ST: 15 years
- Eligible ex-servicemen: relaxation according to the prescribed service-based rules
- Eligible widows, divorced women and judicially separated women: up to the category-specific maximum age prescribed by SBI
SBI-trained apprentices meeting the specified conditions have also been provided additional age relaxation.
Local Language Rule Is Important
Candidates should pay particular attention to SBI’s local-language requirement before choosing a State.
An applicant must be proficient in reading, writing, speaking and understanding the specified local language selected for the State or UT.
For example, Kannada is prescribed for Karnataka, Marathi for Maharashtra, Gujarati for Gujarat, Tamil for Tamil Nadu and Hindi/Urdu for Uttar Pradesh.
Candidates who can produce a Class 10 or Class 12 mark sheet or certificate showing that they studied the specified local language will not have to undergo the separate language test.
Other provisionally selected candidates must clear the Local Language Proficiency Test before joining SBI. Failure to qualify will result in disqualification from appointment.
SBI Clerk Selection Process
Selection will consist of:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Local Language Proficiency Test, where applicable
- Eligibility and document verification
Marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination will not be counted while preparing the final merit list. Final provisional selection will primarily depend on performance in the Main Examination, subject to satisfying the local-language and eligibility requirements.
Approximately ten times the number of vacancies, subject to availability and SBI’s decision, may be shortlisted category-wise for the Main Examination.
SBI Clerk Exam Pattern 2026
| Stage | Sections | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | English Language, Numerical Ability, Reasoning Ability | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
| Main | General/Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning & Computer Aptitude | 190 | 200 | 2 hours 40 minutes |
The Preliminary Examination contains 30 English Language questions, 35 Numerical Ability questions and 35 Reasoning Ability questions.
The Main Examination comprises 50 questions in General/Financial Awareness, 40 in General English, 50 in Quantitative Aptitude and 50 in Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude.
There is one-fourth negative marking for each incorrect answer in both Preliminary and Main objective tests.
SBI has not prescribed separate qualifying marks for individual sections. Candidates need to satisfy the overall qualifying requirements determined by the Bank.
SBI Clerk Application Fee 2026
Candidates belonging to General, OBC and EWS categories must pay ₹750 as application fee and intimation charges.
There is no application fee for SC, ST, PwBD, Ex-Servicemen and Disabled Ex-Servicemen candidates.
Once paid, the application fee will not be refunded or adjusted against another SBI examination.
SBI Clerk Salary and Basic Pay
The SBI Junior Associate pay scale begins at:
₹24,050-1,340/3-28,070-1,650/3-33,020-2,000/4-41,020-2,340/7-57,400-4,400/1-61,800-2,680/1-64,480.
Newly recruited graduate Junior Associates receive two advance increments, taking the starting basic pay to ₹26,730.
According to SBI, total starting monthly emoluments at a metro location such as Mumbai are approximately ₹46,000, including DA and applicable allowances.
Employees are also eligible for benefits such as provident fund, pension under the applicable defined-contribution pension system, medical benefits, leave-fare facilities and other allowances according to SBI rules.
New Junior Associates will remain on probation for a minimum of six months and must complete prescribed e-learning requirements for confirmation.
How to Apply for SBI Clerk 2026
Applications will be accepted only through the online mode.
Candidates should visit the SBI Careers section and open Current Openings → Recruitment of Junior Associates 2026.
They should then:
- Open the Junior Associate online application.
- Complete new registration using an active email address and mobile number.
- Enter personal, educational and category details carefully.
- Choose the appropriate State/UT and local language.
- Upload the required photograph, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration.
- Review all information before final submission.
- Pay the applicable fee online.
- Save the generated e-receipt and completed application form.
Candidates do not need to send a printed application form to SBI.
Documents Candidates Should Keep Ready
Applicants should prepare scanned copies of:
- Recent photograph
- Signature
- Left-hand thumb impression
- Handwritten declaration
- Relevant educational records
- Category or reservation certificates, where applicable
A working email ID and mobile number should remain active throughout the recruitment process because SBI will communicate examination and call-letter information electronically.
Candidates are also advised to retain multiple copies of the photograph uploaded with the application, as the same photograph may be required at later examination stages.
Important Rules Before Applying
Candidates should carefully choose the State or UT because they can apply against vacancies of only one State/UT under this recruitment project.
There is no normal Inter-Circle or Inter-State transfer provision during the first five years of service for Junior Associates recruited under this exercise. After five years, transfer may be considered only in exceptional circumstances and according to the Bank’s prevailing transfer policy.
Candidates working in SBI’s clerical cadre and those who previously worked in SBI’s clerical cadre and resigned are not eligible under this recruitment project.
SBI has also advised candidates not to submit multiple applications. If more than one application is submitted, only the last valid completed application will normally be retained.
What Candidates Should Do Now
SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026 is now officially open, with the application window closing on 31 August 2026. Graduates who satisfy the age and local-language conditions should first check the vacancy availability for their preferred State before submitting the form.
With the Preliminary Examination tentatively planned for September 2026, applicants have a relatively short preparation window. Candidates should therefore complete registration early and simultaneously begin focused preparation for English Language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacancies are available in SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026?
SBI has notified 7,680 regular vacancies and 287 backlog vacancies, taking the total to 7,967 vacancies.
What is the SBI Clerk 2026 last date?
The last date to submit the SBI Junior Associate online application and pay the applicable fee is 31 August 2026.
What qualification is required for SBI Clerk?
Candidates need a graduation degree in any discipline or an equivalent recognised qualification. Final-year candidates may apply provisionally if they can produce proof of passing graduation by 31 December 2026.
What is the age limit for SBI Clerk 2026?
The general age limit is 20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026. Category-wise relaxation is available according to SBI rules.
When will SBI Clerk Prelims 2026 be held?
SBI has tentatively scheduled the Preliminary Examination for September 2026. The exact examination date is yet to be announced.
Is there negative marking in SBI Clerk 2026?
Yes. One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for every incorrect answer in the objective tests.
What is the starting SBI Clerk salary?
The starting basic pay for a newly recruited graduate Junior Associate is ₹26,730. SBI states that total starting emoluments at a metro location such as Mumbai are around ₹46,000 per month.
