SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) Recruitment 2026 — 9,766 Posts

State Bank of India has invited online applications for 9,766 Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) posts — 7,680 regular and 2,086 backlog vacancies — in the clerical cadre, under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17. Any graduate aged 20–28 years (as on 1 April 2026) can apply for one State/UT of their choice at sbi.bank.in between 11 and 31 August 2026.

Who Should Apply

• Any graduate, in any discipline, from a recognised university — final-year students may also apply provisionally, subject to producing proof of passing by 31 December 2026.
• Candidates must be proficient (reading, writing, speaking, understanding) in the local language of the State/UT they apply for, or have studied that language at 10th/12th level.
• Trained SBI Apprentices (engagement started on or after 1 January 2022, with one year of branch experience completed by 31 August 2026) get age relaxation and 2.5% bonus marks in the Main exam.

Eligibility & Age Limit

Age must be between 20 and 28 years as on 1 April 2026 (born between 2 April 1998 and 1 April 2006, both dates inclusive). Age relaxation: 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer), 5 years for SC/ST, 10/13/15 years for PwBD (General-EWS / OBC / SC-ST respectively), 7 years for widows/divorced/judicially separated women (up to a maximum age cap), and additional relaxation for Ex-servicemen and trained SBI apprentices as detailed in the notification. Qualification: graduation in any discipline from a recognised university, with the qualifying exam completed (or completable) by 31 December 2026.

Salary & Pay Scale

The clerical cadre pay scale is ₹24,050–1340/3–28,070–1650/3–33,020–2000/4–41,020–2340/7–57,400–4400/1–61,800–2680/1–64,480. Graduates start on a basic pay of ₹26,730/month (₹24,050 plus two advance increments admissible to graduates). Total starting emoluments — including DA and other allowances — are around ₹46,000/month at a Metro posting like Mumbai; this will be lower at non-metro locations since HRA varies by place of posting.

Important Dates

Application Fee

₹750 (non-refundable) for General/OBC/EWS candidates. SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-servicemen/Disabled Ex-servicemen candidates are exempt from the fee.

How to Apply

1. Visit sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings and open the 'Recruitment of Junior Associates 2026' application form.
2. Scan your photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression, and a handwritten declaration as per the specifications in the notification's Annexure before you start.
3. Fill in your details, choose your State/UT and local-language option (you can apply for only one State/UT), and note down your provisional registration number and password.
4. Pay the application fee online via debit card/credit card/internet banking, then submit — no edits are allowed after final submission.

How Are Candidates Selected

Phase I, the Preliminary Examination, is 100 objective marks in 1 hour — English Language (30), Numerical Ability (35), Reasoning Ability (35); about 10 times the number of vacancies per category are shortlisted for Mains. Phase II, the Main Examination, is 200 marks in 2 hours 40 minutes across General/Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning & Computer Aptitude. Both stages carry a 1/4-mark negative deduction per wrong answer, with a 5% relaxation in minimum qualifying marks for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/XS/DXS candidates. Phase III, the Local Language Proficiency Test, applies only to candidates who haven't studied the specified local language at 10th/12th level — conducted after Mains but before joining; failing it means no appointment, regardless of exam rank.

Why This Job Matters

SBI is India's largest public-sector bank, and the Junior Associate (Clerk) recruitment is its biggest annual hiring drive for entry-level graduates — this cycle's 9,766 vacancies span 24 states/UTs, with Maharashtra (1,718), Tamil Nadu (1,410) and Odisha (1,100) carrying the largest shares. It's one of the few clerical-cadre bank jobs that combines defined-contribution pension, medical and Leave Fare Concession benefits with a career path into the officer cadre.

The FreshersLike Take

This is a strong fit if you're comfortable committing to one specific State/UT for at least 5 years (there's no inter-state transfer before that) and can clear the local-language requirement — this trips up more applicants than the written exam does. Think twice if you're hoping to write the exam in a state whose local language you don't read or write and don't hold a 10th/12th mark sheet proving you studied it; you'll be routed into a separate Local Language Proficiency Test after Mains, and failing it means no job regardless of your exam rank. Practical tip: pick your State/UT based on where you can actually clear the language test, not just where the vacancy count is highest — a large vacancy number in a state whose language you don't know isn't really an opening for you.

Documents Required

• Graduation certificate/marksheet (or provisional certificate for final-year candidates)
• 10th/12th mark sheet, if using it to claim exemption from the Local Language Proficiency Test
• Caste/EWS/PwBD/Ex-servicemen certificate in the prescribed Central Government format, if claiming reservation
• A valid photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/Passport/Voter Card/Driving Licence) for the exam day
• Scanned photograph, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration in the specified format

Important Links

Common Questions

What is the last date to apply for SBI Clerk 2026?

31 August 2026. Online registration opened on 11 August 2026.

How many total vacancies are there?

9,766 — 7,680 regular vacancies plus 2,086 backlog vacancies (287 SC/ST/OBC, 355 PwBD, 1,444 Ex-servicemen/Disabled Ex-servicemen).

Can a final-year graduate apply?

Yes, provisionally — but you must produce proof of having passed your graduation exam on or before 31 December 2026 if selected.

Is there negative marking?

Yes, in both the Preliminary and Main exams — 1/4th mark is deducted for each wrong answer.

Can I apply for more than one State/UT?

No. You can apply for vacancies in only one State/UT, and you'll be posted there if selected — there's no provision for inter-state transfer before 5 years of service.

Do I have to take a separate language test?

Only if you haven't studied the specified local language of your chosen State/UT in 10th or 12th class. This test happens after you clear Mains but before joining, and failing it means you won't be appointed.