SBI Clerk Notification: 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. The regular recruitment notification was released on 11 August 2026, with applications open from 11 August to 31 August 2026. SBI has announced 9,766 regular vacancies under the current recruitment drive.
In addition to the regular recruitment, SBI has also issued a separate Special Recruitment Drive for 1,538 backlog vacancies reserved for eligible SC, ST and OBC candidates. The special-drive application window is from 7 August to 27 August 2026. Candidates should carefully check which notification applies to them before submitting an application.
The SBI Clerk examination is one of the most popular banking recruitment exams in India. Selected candidates are appointed as Junior Associates and are responsible for customer-service and day-to-day clerical activities in SBI branches. The selection process consists of Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and Local Language Proficiency Test (where applicable).
SBI Clerk 2026: Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | SBI Clerk 2026 |
| Post | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) |
| Conducting Body | State Bank of India |
| Regular Vacancies | 9,766 |
| Special/Backlog Vacancies | 1,538 |
| Total Vacancies Across Both Drives | 11,304 |
| Regular Notification Date | 11 August 2026 |
| Regular Application Dates | 11–31 August 2026 |
| Special Drive Application Dates | 7–27 August 2026 |
| Age Limit | 20–28 years |
| Educational Qualification | Graduation in any discipline |
| Selection Process | Prelims → Mains → Local Language Test |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Prelims | September 2026, tentatively |
| Mains | October/November 2026, tentatively |
| Official Website | sbi.bank.in |
Also Read: How to Prepare for SBI PO
SBI Clerk Notification 2026
The SBI Clerk Notification 2026 contains all important information related to vacancies, eligibility, application dates, exam pattern, syllabus, selection procedure, salary, local language requirements and other recruitment conditions.
The regular recruitment is open to eligible candidates as per the prescribed category-wise vacancies. The separate special recruitment drive covers 1,538 backlog vacancies for SC, ST and OBC candidates.
Candidates should download and carefully read the official notification before filling out the application form because SBI does not permit changes to several application details after final submission.
SBI Clerk Notification Download Link
SBI Clerk 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| SBI Clerk Notification 2026 | 11 August 2026 |
| Online Application Begins | 11 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 31 August 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam | September 2026, tentative |
| Main Exam | October/November 2026, tentative |
Special Recruitment Drive
| Event | Date |
| Notification | 7 August 2026 |
| Application Begins | 7 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 27 August 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam | September 2026, tentative |
| Main Exam | October/November 2026, tentative |
The exact examination dates will be communicated by SBI through subsequent notices and call letters.
SBI Clerk Vacancy 2026
SBI has announced 9,766 regular vacancies for Junior Associates under the 2026 recruitment. A separate 1,538 backlog vacancies have also been notified under the Special Recruitment Drive.
Therefore, candidates may see 11,304 vacancies when both recruitment notifications are considered together. However, these should not be treated as a single vacancy pool because they belong to separate recruitment drives with different eligibility conditions.
SBI Clerk Regular vs Special Recruitment
| Feature | Regular Recruitment | Special Recruitment Drive |
| Vacancies | 9,766 | 1,538 |
| Notification | 11 August 2026 | 7 August 2026 |
| Application Period | 11–31 August 2026 | 7–27 August 2026 |
| Eligible Candidates | As per regular category-wise vacancies | Eligible SC/ST/OBC candidates |
| Post | Junior Associate | Junior Associate |
| Selection | Prelims, Mains, Language Test | Prelims, Mains, Language Test |
SBI Clerk Eligibility Criteria 2026
Candidates must meet the prescribed SBI Clerk eligibility criteria regarding age, education and other conditions before submitting their application.
SBI Clerk Age Limit
The candidate must be between 20 and 28 years of age as on 1 April 2026 for the applicable recruitment. Candidates must have been born between 2 April 1998 and 1 April 2006, both dates inclusive.
Age Relaxation
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
| OBC | 3 years |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | As per SBI rules |
| Widows/Divorced Women | 7 years, subject to prescribed maximum age |
Specific categories such as trained SBI apprentices may receive additional relaxation according to the conditions mentioned in the official notification. Age relaxations cannot generally be combined cumulatively.
SBI Clerk Educational Qualification 2026
Candidates must possess a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.
Candidates pursuing their final year or final semester of graduation may also apply provisionally, provided they fulfil the requirement to produce proof of having passed the graduation examination by 31 December 2026, as prescribed in the notification.
Candidates with an Integrated Dual Degree must ensure that the prescribed date of passing the IDD is also satisfied.
SBI Clerk Local Language Requirement
One of the important features of SBI Clerk recruitment is the Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT). Candidates applying for a particular State/UT must be proficient in the specified local language of that State/UT. Candidates generally choose one specified language while filling out the application.
Candidates who have studied the specified local language in Class 10 or Class 12 and can produce the required marksheet/certificate are exempt from appearing in the language test. Other provisionally selected candidates must qualify the test before joining. For example, the local-language requirements include:
| State/UT | Specified Language(s) |
| Andhra Pradesh | Telugu/Urdu |
| Bihar | Hindi/Urdu |
| Gujarat | Gujarati |
| Karnataka | Kannada |
| Maharashtra | Marathi |
| Odisha | Odia |
| Punjab | Punjabi/Hindi |
| Rajasthan | Hindi |
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil |
| Telangana | Telugu/Urdu |
| Uttar Pradesh | Hindi/Urdu |
| West Bengal | Bengali/Nepali |
SBI Clerk Application Form 2026
Eligible candidates can submit the SBI Clerk Application Form 2026 online through the SBI careers portal.
How to Apply for SBI Clerk 2026?
- Visit the official SBI careers website.
- Open the current recruitment section.
- Select the Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) recruitment.
- Click on the online application link.
- Complete the registration process.
- Enter personal, academic and communication details.
- Select the State/UT and applicable examination preferences.
- Upload the photograph, signature, thumb impression and handwritten declaration in the prescribed format.
- Preview the application carefully.
- Pay the applicable application fee.
- Submit the application form.
- Download and save the confirmation page and e-receipt.
Candidates should keep their registered mobile number and email ID active throughout the recruitment process because SBI uses them for important communication.
SBI Clerk Application Fee 2026
Candidates should check the applicable notification for the exact fee structure of the recruitment under which they are applying. The fee, once paid, is non-refundable. For the special recruitment notification, SBI has specified the following application charges:
| Category | Application Fee/Intimation Charges |
| SC/ST/PwBD/XS/DXS | Nil |
| OBC | ₹750 |
SBI Clerk Selection Process 2026
The SBI Clerk selection process consists of three broad stages:
Preliminary Examination → Main Examination → Local Language Proficiency Test
The Preliminary Examination is used to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination. However, Prelims marks are not added to the final merit score. Final merit is prepared based on the marks obtained in the Main Examination, subject to fulfilment of the applicable language and eligibility requirements.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The SBI Clerk Preliminary Examination consists of three sections. Each section has a separate time limit. SBI applies negative marking of one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question for every incorrect answer. There is no separate minimum qualifying mark prescribed for individual sections or the aggregate in the preliminary test.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
SBI Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026
Candidates qualifying for the Main Examination will face four sections. The Main Examination also has a one-fourth negative marking for incorrect objective responses. SBI does not prescribe separate minimum qualifying marks for individual subjects, although a minimum aggregate score may be specified by the Bank.
| 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 |
SBI Clerk Salary 2026
The SBI Clerk post offers a competitive salary along with various allowances and benefits. The current pay scale mentioned in the SBI notification is:
₹24,050 – 64,480
The starting basic pay is ₹26,730, which includes two advance increments applicable to graduates. SBI states that the total starting emoluments for a newly recruited Junior Associate in a metropolitan location such as Mumbai are around ₹46,000 per month, including applicable DA, allowances and the additional increments. Actual salary varies according to the place of posting and applicable allowances.
SBI Clerk Career Growth
The SBI Clerk position provides opportunities for career progression within the banking organisation. Employees can gain experience in different banking functions and may become eligible for internal promotional opportunities according to SBI’s rules and service conditions.
For candidates looking for a long-term banking career, the Junior Associate role can provide exposure to retail banking, customer service, branch operations and financial services.
SBI Clerk Exam Centres 2026
SBI conducts the examination at various centres across India. Candidates can indicate their preferred examination centre during the application process, but SBI reserves the right to allot a different centre depending on administrative feasibility and other requirements.
The Bank specifically states that requests for changes to the examination centre, date or session will not be entertained after allotment.
SBI Clerk Admit Card 2026
SBI will release separate call letters for the Preliminary and Main examinations. The SBI Clerk Prelims Admit Card 2026 is expected to be available approximately 10 days before the examination, according to the notification. Candidates can download it using their registration number and password/date of birth.
Candidates shortlisted for Mains will subsequently receive the Main Examination call letter. No hard copy of the call letter will be sent to candidates by post.
What Happens After SBI Clerk Prelims?
Candidates who perform sufficiently well in the Preliminary Examination are shortlisted for the Main Examination. SBI may shortlist approximately 10 times the number of vacancies, subject to availability and the Bank’s decision.
Importantly, Preliminary Examination marks are not included in the final merit calculation. The final merit is based on the candidate’s performance in the Main Examination, subject to qualifying the applicable local language requirement and fulfilling all eligibility conditions.
SBI Clerk Final Selection 2026
The final selection is based primarily on the Main Examination performance, along with successful fulfilment of the applicable eligibility and local-language requirements.
Candidates who have not studied the specified local language in Class 10 or 12 must qualify the Local Language Proficiency Test before joining. Failure to qualify the language test can result in disqualification. A state-wise and category-wise merit list is prepared for the recruitment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the SBI Clerk 2026 exam?
The SBI Clerk 2026 exam is conducted by State Bank of India to recruit Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) for its clerical cadre. The selection process includes Preliminary and Main examinations followed by a Local Language Proficiency Test wherever applicable.
- How many SBI Clerk vacancies are available in 2026?
SBI has announced 9,766 regular vacancies for the 2026 recruitment. In addition, a separate Special Recruitment Drive has 1,538 backlog vacancies, taking the combined vacancies across both notifications to 11,304.
- What is the SBI Clerk 2026 age limit?
Candidates must generally be between 20 and 28 years of age as on 1 April 2026. Upper-age relaxation is available for eligible categories according to SBI’s recruitment rules.
- Can final-year graduation students apply for SBI Clerk 2026?
Yes. Final-year or final-semester graduation candidates can apply provisionally, provided they fulfil the prescribed condition of passing their graduation examination by 31 December 2026.
- Is there an interview in SBI Clerk recruitment?
No separate interview is part of the standard SBI Clerk selection process. Candidates are selected through the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and applicable Local Language Proficiency Test. Prelims marks are not counted towards final merit.