The State Bank of India (SBI) has released the SBI Clerk Notification 2026 for recruitment to the post of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) in the clerical cadre. As per Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17, SBI has advertised 9,766 vacancies under this notification, comprising 7,680 regular vacancies and 2,086 backlog vacancies. Online applications opened on 11 August 2026 and will close on 31 August 2026.
Separately, SBI has also floated a Special Recruitment Drive for 1,538 backlog vacancies reserved exclusively for SC/ST/OBC candidates, under a different advertisement number and a different application window. This article explains both drives clearly, along with the complete eligibility criteria, exam pattern, syllabus, salary and application process for SBI Clerk 2026.
Aspirants preparing for the SBI Clerk 2026 exam should begin their preparation early, given the scale of competition for this recruitment. GICE Academy, a trusted banking and government exam coaching institute in Navi Mumbai, Thane and Dombivli, offers structured classroom and doubt-solving support to help aspirants build a disciplined preparation routine for SBI Clerk Prelims and Mains.
SBI Clerk Notification 2026: Highlights
Before going into the details, here is a quick snapshot of the SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026:
| Particular | Details |
| Recruiting Organisation | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Post Name | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) — commonly known as SBI Clerk |
| Advertisement Number | CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 |
| Regular Vacancies | 7,680 |
| Backlog Vacancies (within this notification) | 2,086 |
| Total Advertised Vacancies (this notification) | 9,766 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Start Date | 11 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 31 August 2026 |
| Particular | Details |
| Age Limit | 20 to 28 years (as on 1 April 2026) |
| Educational Qualification | Graduation in any discipline (by 31 December 2026) |
| Selection Process | Prelims, Mains, Local Language Test |
| Prelims Exam (Expected) | 26th, 27th September & 3rd October 2026 |
| Mains Exam (Expected) | 23rd November 2026 |
| Application Fee | ₹750 (Gen/OBC/EWS); Nil (SC/ST/PwBD) |
| Starting Basic Pay | ₹26,730 |
| Approx. Starting Gross Emoluments | ₹46,000 per month (metro city) |
| Official Website | sbi.bank.in |
Note: Exam dates marked “Expected” are tentative as per the sources reviewed and will be confirmed by SBI along with the admit card release.
SBI Clerk 2026: Regular Notification vs Special Backlog Drive
SBI has issued two separate advertisements for Junior Associate recruitment in 2026, and candidates should not confuse the two:
- Regular Notification (Advt. No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17): 9,766 total vacancies (7,680 regular + 2,086 backlog vacancies included within this same notification), open to all eligible categories as per the category-wise break-up. Application window: 11 to 31 August 2026.
- Special Recruitment Drive (Backlog): 1,538 vacancies reserved exclusively for SC/ST/OBC candidates. Application window: 7 to 27 August 2026.
Candidates should carefully check which notification they are eligible for and apply through the correct link. This article focuses primarily on the main SBI Clerk 2026 Notification for 9,766 vacancies, with the Special Backlog Drive summarised separately below.
SBI Clerk 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | 11 August 2026 |
| Online Registration Begins | 11 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 31 August 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 31 August 2026 |
| Pre-Examination Training | September 2026 (tentative) |
| Prelims Admit Card | September 2026 (tentative) |
| Prelims Exam Date (Expected) | 26th, 27th September & 3rd October 2026 |
| Event | Date |
| Prelims Result | October/November 2026 (tentative) |
| Mains Admit Card | November 2026 (tentative) |
| Mains Exam Date (Expected) | 23rd November 2026 |
| Graduation Completion Cut-off | 31 December 2026 |
| Final Result | December 2026/January 2027 (tentative) |
Special Backlog Drive — Key Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release | 7 August 2026 |
| Application Start | 7 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 27 August 2026 |
| Prelims Exam (Expected) | September 2026 (tentative) |
| Mains Exam (Expected) | October 2026 (tentative) |
SBI Clerk Vacancy 2026: Detailed Break-up
SBI has advertised 9,766 vacancies under the main Junior Associate notification. This is made up of 7,680 regular vacancies plus 2,086 backlog vacancies, which are further split into SC/ST/OBC backlog (287), PwBD backlog (355) and XS/DXS (Ex-servicemen/Dependants) backlog (1,444) categories.
| Vacancy Type | Vacancies |
| Regular Vacancies | 7,680 |
| SC/ST/OBC Backlog Vacancies | 287 |
| PwBD Backlog Vacancies | 355 |
| XS/DXS Backlog Vacancies | 1,444 |
| Total Advertised Vacancies (Main Notification) | 9,766 |
Category-wise Regular Vacancy Distribution
| Category | Regular Vacancies |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 1,114 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 837 |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 1,716 |
| Economically Weaker Section (EWS) | 760 |
| General (GEN) | 3,253 |
| Category | Regular Vacancies |
| Total | 7,680 |
State/UT-wise Vacancy Distribution (Main Notification)
The table below combines the regular and backlog vacancy figures reported for each State/UT under the main SBI Clerk 2026 notification.
| State/UT | Local Language | Regular | Backlog | Total |
| Gujarat | Gujarati | 330 | 398 | 728 |
| Karnataka | Kannada | 760 | 56 | 816 |
| Madhya Pradesh | Hindi | 113 | 196 | 309 |
| Chhattisgarh | Hindi | 287 | 184 | 471 |
| Odisha | Odia | 1,100 | 31 | 1,131 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Urdu/Hindi | 84 | 8 | 92 |
| Himachal Pradesh | Hindi | 9 | 23 | 32 |
| Ladakh | Urdu/Ladakhi/Bhoti | 7 | 25 | 32 |
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil | 1,410 | 129 | 1,539 |
| Telangana | Telugu/Urdu | 260 | 0 | 260 |
| Rajasthan | Hindi | 350 | 85 | 435 |
| West Bengal | Bengali/Nepali | 555 | 220 | 775 |
| A&N Islands | Hindi/English | 15 | 19 | 34 |
| Sikkim | Nepali/English | 60 | 11 | 71 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Hindi/Urdu | 250 | 34 | 284 |
| Maharashtra | Marathi | 1,718 | 402 | 2,120 |
| Goa | Konkani | 62 | 3 | 65 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | English | 55 | 53 | 108 |
| Assam | Assamese/Bengali/Bodo | 110 | 120 | 230 |
| Manipur | Manipuri/English | 14 | 14 | 28 |
| Meghalaya | English/Garo/Khasi | 24 | 30 | 54 |
| Mizoram | Mizo | 32 | 11 | 43 |
| Nagaland | English | 27 | 20 | 47 |
| Tripura | Bengali/Kokborok | 48 | 14 | 62 |
| Total | — | 7,680 | 2,086 | 9,766 |
Note: As per the notification, no vacancies have been reported for Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh (UT), Delhi (NCT), Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep, or Puducherry under the main notification. Vacancies are provisional and may change as per SBI’s actual requirement. Candidates can apply for a post in only one State/UT.
Special Backlog Drive — Circle-wise Vacancy (SC/ST/OBC only)
SBI has separately notified 1,538 backlog vacancies exclusively for SC/ST/OBC candidates across select circles, including Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh UT, Bihar, Jharkhand and Delhi, in addition to several states already covered in the main notification.
SBI Clerk Eligibility Criteria 2026
Nationality
Only eligible Indian citizens can apply. Candidates who are citizens of Nepal or Bhutan, Tibetan refugees who arrived in India before 1 January 1962, or Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) migrated from specified countries with an eligibility certificate from the Government of India, are also eligible as per the notification.
Age Limit (as on 1 April 2026)
- Minimum Age: 20 years
- Maximum Age: 28 years
- Candidates must be born between 2 April 1998 and 1 April 2006 (both dates inclusive).
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
| OBC | 3 years |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| PwBD — General/EWS | 10 years |
| PwBD — OBC | 13 years |
| PwBD — SC/ST | 15 years |
| Ex-servicemen/Disabled Ex-servicemen | Actual defence service period + 3 years (as per notification conditions) |
| Widows/Divorced/Judicially Separated Women (not remarried) | 7 years, subject to prescribed maximum age |
| Trained SBI Apprentices | General/EWS – 1 yr; OBC – 4 yrs; SC/ST – 6 yrs; PwBD (Gen/EWS) – 11 yrs; PwBD (OBC) – 14 yrs; PwBD (SC/ST) – 16 yrs |
Note: Cumulative age relaxation across multiple categories is not permitted. Candidates claiming relaxation must produce the prescribed supporting certificates.
Educational Qualification (by 31 December 2026)
- A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.
- Candidates in their final year/semester of graduation may apply provisionally, but must produce proof of having passed graduation if provisionally selected.
- Candidates with an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) must ensure their passing date is on or before 31 December 2026.
- The notification does not prescribe any minimum graduation percentage.
- Basic computer literacy is required.
Local Language Requirement
Candidates must be able to read, write, speak and understand the local language of the State/UT for which they are applying. Candidates who can prove through their Class 10 or Class 12 certificate that they studied the selected local language are exempted from the Local Language Proficiency Test; others must qualify this test before joining, failing which the offer of appointment may be cancelled.
Preparation tip: Many aspirants lose easy marks simply by underestimating eligibility documentation and timelines. GICE Academy’s counsellors help students verify their eligibility, plan their application timeline, and start subject-wise preparation for Prelims and Mains without last-minute confusion.
SBI Clerk 2026 Application Process
How to Apply Online
- Visit the SBI Careers – Current Openings page on sbi.bank.in.
- Locate “Recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales)” and open the SBI Clerk 2026 application link.
- Complete new registration and note the provisional registration number and password.
- Fill in personal, category, State, local language and qualification details.
- Upload photograph, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration as per the prescribed specifications.
- Capture and upload a live photograph through webcam or mobile phone.
- Preview all details carefully before proceeding.
- Pay the applicable application fee online.
- Submit the form and download the e-receipt.
- Save and print the final submitted application form for future reference.
Upload Specifications
| Document | Preferred Dimensions | File Size |
| Photograph | 200 × 230 pixels | 20–50 KB |
| Signature | 140 × 60 pixels | 10–20 KB |
| Left Thumb Impression | 240 × 240 pixels | 20–50 KB |
| Handwritten Declaration | 800 × 400 pixels | 50–100 KB |
SBI Clerk Application Fee 2026
| Category | Application Fee |
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹750 |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-servicemen | Nil |
Note: The application fee, once paid, is non-refundable and cannot be adjusted against any other examination.
SBI Clerk Selection Process 2026
Selection to the post of Junior Associate is made through the following stages, with no interview round:
- Preliminary Examination (qualifying in nature)
- Main Examination (marks used for the final merit list)
- Local Language Proficiency Test, wherever applicable
Marks obtained in the Prelims are not counted for final selection; the State-wise and category-wise merit list is prepared using aggregate marks scored in the Mains exam, subject to qualifying the local language test and document verification. Approximately ten times the number of vacancies may be shortlisted for the Mains exam, subject to availability.
- SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, XS and DXS candidates receive a 5% relaxation in the prescribed aggregate qualifying marks in Mains.
- Trained SBI apprentices may be awarded up to 5 bonus marks (2.5% of maximum marks) in the Main Examination, subject to fulfilment of prescribed conditions.
Since the Mains score alone decides the final merit, aspirants need consistent, accuracy-focused practice rather than only Prelims-level preparation. GICE Academy’s structured batches are designed to build this Mainsoriented strength through topic-wise practice, sectional tests and regular doubt-solving sessions.
SBI Clerk 2026 Exam Pattern
Preliminary Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical/Quantitative Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
- Each section has its own sectional time limit.
- Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted for every wrong answer.
- No minimum qualifying marks are prescribed for individual sections or in aggregate at the Prelims stage.
- Prelims marks are not added to the final merit score.
Main Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| 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 |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 2 hours 40 minutes |
- Each section carries a separate sectional time limit.
- Negative marking of 0.25 marks applies for each wrong answer.
- Candidates must secure SBI’s prescribed minimum aggregate qualifying marks in Mains.
Local Language Proficiency Test (LPT) Pattern
| Test | Section | Passages | Questions | Marks |
| Non-Verbal | Objective | 3 | 15 | 15 |
| Non-Verbal | Subjective | 3 | 15 | 15 |
| Verbal | Verbal Assessment | — | — | 20 |
| Total | — | — | — | 50 |
This qualifying test applies only to candidates who cannot provide acceptable proof through their Class 10 or Class 12 certificate of having studied the selected local language.
SBI Clerk 2026 Syllabus
The syllabus for Prelims and Mains largely overlaps; the difficulty level is comparatively higher in Mains. Key topics include:
| Reasoning | Quantitative Aptitude | English Language |
| Logical Reasoning | Simplification | Reading Comprehension |
| Alphanumeric Series | Profit and Loss | Cloze Test |
| Ranking/Direction/Alphabet Test | Mixtures and Allegations | Para Jumbles |
| Data Sufficiency | Simple Interest & Compound Interest, Surds & Indices | Fill in the Blanks |
| Coded Inequalities | Time and Work | Multiple Meaning/Error Spotting |
| Seating Arrangement & Puzzles | Time, Speed and Distance | Paragraph Completion |
| Tabulation | Mensuration (Cylinder, Cone, Sphere) | — |
| Syllogism | Data Interpretation | — |
| Blood Relations | Ratio, Proportion & Percentage | — |
| Input-Output | Number Systems | — |
| Coding-Decoding | Permutation, Combination & Probability | — |
Mains also includes a General/Financial Awareness section and a Computer Aptitude component within Reasoning Ability.
SBI Clerk Salary & Pay Scale 2026
The SBI Junior Associate pay scale is ₹24,050-1,340/3-28,070-1,650/3-33,020-2,000/4-41,020-2,340/7-57,4004,400/1-61,800-2,680/1-64,480.
- Starting Basic Pay: ₹26,730 (includes two advance increments admissible to graduates).
- Approximate Starting Gross Emoluments: ₹46,000 per month at a metro location such as Mumbai, inclusive of Dearness Allowance and other applicable allowances. Actual salary may vary by posting location.
- Other benefits: Provident Fund, pension under the applicable defined-contribution scheme, medical benefits, leave-fare reimbursement and other facilities as per SBI rules.
Probation Period: Newly appointed Junior Associates undergo a minimum probation of 6 months and must complete SBI’s prescribed e-learning modules; the probation period may be extended if performance expectations are not met.
SBI Clerk Job Profile
A Junior Associate is a customer-facing banking and sales-support role, involving:
- Handling customer support operations and routine banking services
- Assisting customers with deposits, withdrawals, fund transfers and account queries
- Cross-selling banking and financial products
- Making customer calls and providing basic advisory services
- Working flexible hours/shifts and occasionally travelling for official work, as per operational requirements
How to Prepare for SBI Clerk 2026
A focused, section-wise preparation strategy works best for SBI Clerk, given the short sectional time limits in both Prelims and Mains:
- Build daily practice habits for Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning, since these carry the highest weightage.
- Strengthen English fundamentals — grammar, vocabulary and reading comprehension — as accuracy matters more than speed here.
- Stay updated on General and Financial Awareness for the Mains exam through regular current affairs revision.
- Attempt full-length mock tests regularly to build speed, accuracy and exam-day time management.
- Analyse each mock test to identify and work on weak areas rather than only tracking scores.
- Practise previous years’ question papers to understand the difficulty level and recurring question patterns.
Self-study alone can be difficult to sustain over a multi-stage exam like this. GICE Academy provides structured SBI Clerk batches with experienced faculty guidance, topic-wise practice sets, full-length mock tests, and regular doubt-solving sessions helping aspirants in Navi Mumbai, Thane and Dombivli follow a disciplined and wellpaced preparation plan for both Prelims and Mains.
Conclusion
The SBI Clerk 2026 Notification, with a combined 9,766 vacancies under the main notification and 1,538 additional backlog vacancies under the Special Recruitment Drive, is one of the largest banking recruitment opportunities of the year. With online applications open until 31 August 2026 and the Prelims exam tentatively expected from late September 2026, aspirants have a limited preparation window and should begin studying without delay.
Eligible graduates should complete their online application well before the deadline, carefully verify their eligibility and local language requirement, and start simultaneous preparation for both Prelims and Mains. For aspirants who want structured guidance, regular mock tests and expert doubt-solving support through this preparation journey, GICE Academy in Navi Mumbai, Thane and Dombivli is ready to help you plan and execute a focused SBI Clerk 2026 preparation strategy.
Ready to start your SBI Clerk 2026 preparation? Connect with GICE Academy today for expert-led banking exam coaching, structured study plans, sectional practice and full-length mock tests designed to help you perform your best in Prelims and Mains.
