SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026: 1538 Backlog Vacancies, Eligibility, Last Date & How to Apply

Introduction to SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026

State Bank of India (SBI) has announced a Special Recruitment Drive for 1,538 Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) backlog vacancies in the clerical cadre under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16. This drive is specifically for SC, ST and OBC backlog vacancies; General/UR and EWS candidates are not eligible under this advertisement.

The online application window runs from 7 August 2026 to 27 August 2026. Candidates can apply for only one State/UT and must satisfy the local-language condition for that State/UT. Aspirants should verify their category and graduation status before applying and keep checking the latest govt jobs notifications for call-letter and exam updates.

State Bank of India (SBI) Overview

State Bank of India is India's largest public sector bank, with a nationwide branch network and a major role in retail, corporate and digital banking. Junior Associates work in the clerical cadre and support day-to-day branch operations, customer service, transactions, product assistance and related banking activities.

SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Overview

This recruitment is a Special Recruitment Drive for 1,538 backlog vacancies, distributed across 21 States/UTs and reserved only for SC, ST and OBC candidates. The key recruitment facts are summarised below.

Expert insight: Gujarat has the single largest State-wise backlog at 289 ST vacancies, while several States/UTs have category-specific single-digit or low-double-digit competition pools; however, applicants should select a State/UT only after confirming both category eligibility and local-language proficiency.

SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Vacancy Details

SBI has notified 1,538 backlog vacancies across SC, ST and OBC categories. Candidates can apply for only one State/UT, and State-wise/category-wise merit lists will be prepared separately.

The vacancies are provisional and may change depending on SBI's actual requirement. PwBD and Ex-servicemen/Disabled Ex-servicemen candidates may apply under their respective parent SC/ST/OBC category as applicable; this drive does not show a separate horizontal PwBD vacancy column.

SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Integrated Dual Degree holders must ensure that the date of passing the IDD is on or before 31 December 2026. Matriculate Ex-servicemen holding the prescribed Indian Army Special Certificate of Education or corresponding Navy/Air Force certificate may also be eligible subject to the service conditions stated in the notification. OBC candidates belonging to the Creamy Layer are not eligible for OBC reservation under this drive.

SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Age Eligibility Checker

The age cut-off is 1 April 2026. Candidates must be at least 20 years old and not more than 28 years old before applying, subject to applicable category relaxation.

* Candidates born on or after this date satisfy the upper age limit for the post before applying category-specific relaxation. The latest permissible date of birth under the basic age rule is 1 April 2006.

Age relaxation: OBC — 3 years; SC/ST — 5 years; PwBD (OBC) — 13 years; PwBD (SC/ST) — 15 years; Ex-servicemen/Disabled Ex-servicemen — actual period of defence service plus 3 years, with the notified additional treatment for disabled SC/ST Ex-servicemen and subject to the prescribed maximum age; widows/divorced women/women judicially separated and not remarried — 7 years subject to the notified category-wise maximum age; trained SBI apprentices receive the special relaxation stated in the notification. Cumulative age relaxation is not available.

SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Application Fee

The application fee/intimation charges are non-refundable and must be paid online within the registration period.

Payment can be made through Debit Card, Credit Card or Internet Banking. Transaction charges, if any, are borne by the candidate, and fee once paid cannot be refunded or kept in reserve for another examination.

SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Salary and Pay Scale

The Junior Associate post carries the clerical pay scale notified by SBI. Graduate recruits receive two advance increments at entry, taking the starting basic pay to Rs 26,730. Allowances and benefits vary by place of posting and include DA and other admissible facilities under Bank rules.

Selected candidates are also eligible for applicable perquisites, provident fund, pension under the New Pension Scheme (Defined Contribution Benefit), medical benefits, leave-fare concession and other facilities according to SBI instructions.

SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Selection Process

Selection consists of the following stages:

• Preliminary Examination: 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour. There is 1/4th mark negative marking for each wrong answer.
• Main Examination: 190 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours 40 minutes. Negative marking of 1/4th mark applies for wrong answers.
• Local Language Proficiency Test: required for provisionally selected candidates who have not studied the specified local language in Class 10 or 12. Failure to qualify the test results in no appointment.

In the Preliminary Examination, English Language has 30 questions/30 marks, Numerical Ability 35/35 and Reasoning Ability 35/35, with 20 minutes per section. In the Main Examination, General/Financial Awareness has 50 questions/50 marks, General English 40/40, Quantitative Aptitude 50/50 and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude 50 questions/60 marks. Only Main Examination marks are considered for the final merit list; Preliminary Examination marks are qualifying in nature.

How to Apply for SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026

1. Visit SBI's official careers portal and open the current openings section.
2. Select the advertisement for "Special Recruitment Drive for Junior Associates 2026" under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16.
3. Read the detailed notification and confirm category, State/UT, language, age and graduation eligibility.
4. Complete online registration using a valid email ID and mobile number.
5. Fill in personal, educational, category and State/UT details carefully.
6. Upload the photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression and handwritten declaration according to the prescribed specifications.
7. Pay the applicable fee online; only OBC candidates are required to pay the notified Rs 750 fee.
8. Review all entries carefully before final submission because category changes and post-submission corrections are not permitted.
9. Submit the application and take a printout of the system-generated form for your records.

Complete registration and fee payment by 27 August 2026. Regularly check the SBI careers website and your registered contact details for call-letter and examination updates.

SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Documents Required

Keep the following documents ready in the prescribed format, as applicable:

• Scanned photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression and handwritten declaration.
• Graduation mark sheets/degree certificate or provisional proof of qualification.
• Valid photo identity proof such as Aadhaar, PAN Card, Driving Licence, Voter ID, Bank Passbook with photograph or other permitted ID.
• Authenticated Preliminary and Main Examination call letters and required photo ID copies at the applicable exam stage.
• Two additional photographs matching the photograph used on the call letter.
• SC/ST caste certificate in the prescribed Government format, where applicable.
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) certificate issued during the prescribed period, where applicable.
• Valid disability certificate for PwBD candidates seeking applicable concessions.
• Applicable Ex-servicemen certificates/proformas for candidates claiming XS/DXS benefits.
• Discharge certificate from the employer at joining for candidates working in Government/Quasi-Government offices, PSUs, Nationalised Banks or Financial Institutions, where required.

SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Preparation Focus

The Preliminary Examination is speed-focused because each of its three sections has a separate 20-minute limit, so candidates should build fast calculation, reasoning accuracy and English comprehension from the start. For the Main Examination, General/Financial Awareness carries 50 marks, making consistent revision through daily current affairs and Static GK highly valuable. Since wrong answers attract a 1/4th-mark penalty in both phases, timed mock practice and a daily current affairs quiz can help improve both accuracy and recall.

SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Local Language, Transfer and Probation Requirements

Candidates must be proficient in the specified local language of the State/UT applied for. Those who have studied that language in Class 10 or 12 are not required to take the local-language test; others must qualify it before joining. There is generally no Inter-Circle or Inter-State transfer for newly recruited Junior Associates, except the limited intra-state transfer arrangements notified between Delhi and Lucknow Circles within Uttar Pradesh and between Mumbai Metro and Maharashtra Circles within Maharashtra, subject to SBI guidelines. Newly appointed Junior Associates will be on probation for a minimum of 6 months and must complete the prescribed e-lessons for confirmation.

SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Important Links

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For more banking and government recruitment updates, follow the latest govt jobs notifications, revise key facts through Static GK, and keep pace with daily current affairs.