SBI Junior Associate (Clerk) 2026: State-Wise Vacancies, Prelims Strategy & Cutoff Benchmark

State Bank of India (SBI) has officially released the detailed notification for the recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) in the clerical cadre for the financial year 2026-27. Under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17, SBI aims to fill a total of 9,124 posts (7,680 regular vacancies and 1,444 backlog vacancies) across 24 States and Union Territories.

Interested and eligible candidates can submit their online applications starting from August 11, 2026, through the official SBI careers portal. The final date to register and pay the online application fee is August 31, 2026.

SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026: Key Highlights

Important Dates

• Online Registration & Fee Payment Start Date: August 11, 2026

• Online Registration & Fee Payment Closing Date: August 31, 2026

• Prelims Exam Date: September 2026 (Tentative)

• Mains Exam Date: November 2026 (Tentative)

Eligibility Criteria (As of Cut-off Dates)

1. Educational Qualification (Cut-off Date: 31.12.2026)

• General Requirement: A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized University or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government.

• Final Year Students: Candidates in their final year/semester of graduation can apply provisionally, provided they submit proof of passing the degree examination on or before December 31, 2026.

• Ex-Servicemen: Matriculate Ex-servicemen holding the Indian Army Special Certificate of Education (or Navy/Air Force equivalent) with at least 15 years of service are also eligible (certificate dated on or before 31.12.2026).

2. Age Limit (Cut-off Date: 01.04.2026)

• Minimum Age: 20 Years

• Maximum Age: 28 Years

• Born between 02.04.1998 and 01.04.2006 (both days inclusive).

Age Relaxations:

• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 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: Defence Service period + 3 Years (Max 50 years)

Important Note: Existing employees of SBI in the Clerical cadre or candidates who previously resigned from SBI while working in the clerical cadre are not eligible to apply.

State-wise Vacancy Breakdown

Candidates can apply for vacancies in only one State/UT and must be proficient in the specified local language.

Salary & Remuneration

• Pay Scale: ₹24,050 – ₹64,480

• Starting Basic Pay: ₹26,730 (includes 2 advance increments for graduates).

• In-hand / Monthly Emoluments: Approximately ₹46,000 per month in metro cities like Mumbai, including Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), and other admissible perks.

Application Fee Details

• General / OBC / EWS: ₹750

• SC / ST / PwBD / XS / DXS: Exempted (Nil)

• Payment Method: Online through Debit Card, Credit Card, or Internet Banking.

Selection Process

The selection scheme comprises three stages:

Phase 1: Preliminary Examination (Online)

• Duration: 1 Hour (20 minutes per section)

• Total Marks: 100 Marks (100 Questions)

• Pattern:

  1. English Language: 30 Questions (30 Marks)

  2. Numerical Ability: 35 Questions (35 Marks)

  3. Reasoning Ability: 35 Questions (35 Marks)

• Negative Marking: 1/4th mark deduction per wrong answer.

• Note: No individual sectional cut-offs apply.

Phase 2: Main Examination (Online)

• Duration: 2 Hours 40 Minutes

• Total Marks: 200 Marks (190 Questions)

• Pattern:

  1. General / Financial Awareness: 50 Questions (50 Marks)

  2. General English: 40 Questions (40 Marks)

  3. Quantitative Aptitude: 50 Questions (50 Marks)

  4. Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude: 50 Questions (60 Marks)

• Negative Marking: 1/4th mark deduction per wrong answer.

Phase 3: Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)

Candidates provisionally selected after the Mains examination who have not studied the specified local language in 10th or 12th standard will have to pass the LLPT. Those who produce marksheets proving they studied the local language in Class 10/12 are exempt.

How to Apply Online for SBI Clerk 2026

1. Visit the official SBI career portal: sbi.bank.in/web/careers.

2. Click on the link for “Recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) 2026”.

3. Register using your basic contact information to generate a Provisional Registration Number and Password.

4. Fill in the personal, educational, and professional details accurately.

5. Upload the required documents (Photograph, Signature, Left Thumb Impression, and Hand-written Declaration).

6. Complete live photo verification if prompted during application.

7. Pay the application fee online (if applicable) and review all entered details.

8. Submit the form and download a PDF copy for future reference.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the total number of vacancies announced in SBI Clerk 2026?

Ans: A total of 9,124 vacancies have been announced, which includes 7,680 regular vacancies and 1,444 backlog vacancies.

Q2. What is the last date to submit the online application?

Ans: The last date to complete online registration and fee payment is August 31, 2026.

Q3. Can final-year students apply for this recruitment?

Ans: Yes, provided they can submit proof of passing their graduation on or before December 31, 2026.

Q4. Is there any negative marking in the SBI Junior Associate exam?

Ans: Yes, 0.25 marks (1/4th of the assigned marks) will be deducted for every wrong answer in both Prelims and Mains examinations.

Q5. Can I apply for vacancies in multiple states?

Ans: No. Candidates can apply for vacancies in only one State/UT.

Ram Avtar (Editorial Lead)

Ram Avtar is the Founder and Lead Career Analyst at Govt Results Alert. With over 6 years of experience analyzing Government Recruitment Notifications, SSC, Banking, and Railway examination patterns, he leads our fact-checking team to deliver authentic, timely, and verified job alerts directly from official government gazettes.