The State Bank of India (SBI) has issued the SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026 Notification (Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16) on 2 nd April 2026 for the recruitment of 1538 Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) – Clerical cadre posts. It is a Special recruitment drive for recruitment of vacancies which have happened in respect of SC, ST, and OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) only. The candidates belonging to General (UR) and EWS are not eligible to apply in this recruitment drive.

The Online Applications for the vacant seats will start from 07 August 2026 and it will close on 27 August 2026 via the official SBI website. The eligible candidates who have completed Graduation from any recognized universities and colleges and whose age is 20-28 years as of 01 April 2026 are eligible to apply for the posts mentioned above.

The recruitment process consists of an Online Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and a Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) wherever applicable. The Preliminary exam will be held in September 2026, while the Main exam will be conducted in October/November 2026. Candidates are advised to read the official notification carefully before applying to the exam, regarding eligibility criteria, vacancies release on state-wise, age relaxation, selection process, salary, and other important dates.

SBI Junior Associate Vacancy Details

The State Bank of India (SBI) has released the vacancy notification for 1,538 backlog posts of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) on Special Recruitment Drive for SC, ST and OBC candidates. The vacancy is available in 21 States and Union Territories. The candidates can apply to only one State/UT as the final merit list will be prepared State-wise and category-wise. The candidates need to be proficient in the language mentioned in the concerned State/UT.

Important Points

• Total Vacancies: 1,538 Posts
• Only SC, ST & OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) category candidates are eligible to apply.
• Eligible candidates applying for the post should apply for only one State/UT.
• Merit list will be prepared on State/UT and category basis.
• Candidates must be proficient in the local language of the State/UT opted.
• Vacancies in Uttar Pradesh will be filled in Lucknow circle only.
• Vacancies in Maharashtra will be filled in Maharashtra/Mumbai Metro circle only.
• The posts mentioned in the vacancies are tentative and may vary according to the requirements of SBI.
• There shall be no inter-state posting. However, limited posts would be available for posting within the state as per SBI guidelines.
• PwBD and Ex-servicemen eligible for SC/ST/OBC category posts can apply as per their eligibility.

SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Eligibility

The contenders who are going to apply for SBI Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) Recruitment 2026 need to check out the eligibility criteria first before applying for an online process. The Special Recruitment drive is only for the backlog vacancies of SC, ST, and OBC (Non-Creamy Layer).

Who Can Apply?

The recruitment will be made only for the following categories of candidates: Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Non-Creamy Layer. Candidates belonging to the General (UR), and EWS categories are therefore ineligible for this Special Recruitment Drive.

Education Qualication (As on 31 December 2026)

The candidates must meet any of the following educational qualifications:

• Graduation in any discipline from a recognised University or an equivalent qualification as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
• Candidates of Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) may appear in the examination on provisional admission basis on the condition that they pass the IDD examination on or before 31st December 2026
• Candidates who have secured graduation from an Open University must meet the eligibility criteria as specified above.
• Graduates who are appearing at final year/final semester of their graduation examination in the academic year 2023-24 can also apply provided that the result of the concerned candidate is awaited to be declared on or before 31st December 2026.
• Candidates belonging to Matriculate Ex-servicemen having at least 15 years of service rendered in Indian Army with Indian Army Special Certificate of Education or equivalent certificate from Navy or Air Force are eligible to apply.

Candidates Not Eligible

The below-mentioned categories of candidates shall be ineligible for selection:

• Candidates who are serving in the clerical cadre of SBI.
• Candidates who had previously worked in the clerical cadre but have left the Bank on their own accord.
• Candidates with unfavorable reports on character, conduct, and moral values.
• OBC candidates belonging to the Creamy Layer.

PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities)

The Junior Associate post is suitable for candidates with benchmark disabilities as notified by SBI. Eligible disability categories include:

• Blindness and Low Vision
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Locomotor Disability
• Cerebral Palsy
• Leprosy Cured
• Dwarfism
• Acid Attack Victims
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Spinal Deformity or Spinal Injury (without neurological complications)
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (Mild)
• Intellectual Disability
• Specific Learning Disability
• Mental Illness
• Multiple Disabilities involving the above conditions

The candidates belonging to PwBD will apply through their respective SC, ST, and OBC categories as there is no horizontal reservation in this recruitment. The applicants need to submit a valid disability certificate issued by the concerned authority before the last date of online applications to avail of the reservation, scribe facility, or compensatory time.

Ex-Servicemen Eligibility

Ex-Servicemen candidates are eligible as per Government of India rules.

The below-mentioned candidates apply:

• Ex-Servicemen (XS)
• Disabled Ex-Servicemen (DXS)
• Dependents of Defence Personnel Killed in Action

Territorial Army Personnel (as per government norms)

Candidates should produce the relevant service certificate(s) and documents as prescribed in the SBI notification at the time of document verification.

 SBI Bank Clerk Age Limit

The candidates must not be less than 20 years and not more than 28 years as of 01.04.2026, that is, born on or after 02.04.1998 and on or before 01.04.2006.

SBI Clerk Application Fee

Once paid, fee/intimation charges will neither be refunded in any circumstances in respect of any account nor can be adjusted or carried forward towards any other examination or selection. Such fee can be paid by debit card/credit card/internet banking, the transaction charges if any, shall be borne by the candidate.

SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Important Dates

SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Selection Process

Selection shall be made by conducting an online examination (Preliminary and Main examination) and test of the candidate’s proficiency in any of the languages specified and opted by him/her as his/her local language, if any.

Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (100 Marks, 1 Hour)

Candidates answering wrong answers shall be penalized by deduction of 1/4th mark for each such wrong answer. There shall be no minimum qualifying marks prescribed for individual papers or aggregate. Candidates who are approximately ten times the number of vacancies for each category (depending upon availability) will be called for the Main Examination on the basis of highest aggregate marks.

Phase-II: Main Examination (200 Marks, 2 Hours 40 Minutes)

Negative marking of 1/4th mark for every wrong answer. There will be no qualifying marks for individual papers. Candidates have to score minimum percentage of marks as decided by the Bank in aggregate of all papers. Marks obtained in Preliminary Examination will not be counted for preparing final merit list.

Phase-III: Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)

Provisionally selected candidates who have not studied the specified local language of the applied State in Class 10th or 12th must appear for the LLPT before joining.

Candidates who did not qualify the LLPT will not be offered appointment. The trained apprentices of SBI (who joined on or after 01.01.2022 and who completed one year of branch experience by 27.08.2026) will be awarded 2.5 % bonus marks (5 out of 200) in the Main Examination.

SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Exam Centres

A tentative list of the exam centres for the Preliminary and Main Examination is given below. SBI has the sole right to cancell, add or re-allot centres without any further request for change of centre/date/session.

SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 Required Documents

• One photo identity proof (passport size, Aadhar/ PAN Card/ Driving Licence/ Voters Identity Card/ Bank Passbook with photograph or attested school/college ID) original along with one self attested copy.
• Authenticated Preliminary Exam call letter (with authenticated copy of ID proof) and Main Examination call letter along with two additional photographs same as pasted on the call letters to be produced at the time of Main Examination.
• Caste certificate for SC/ST candidates in the prescribed Government format issued by competent authority at the time of joining if called for appointment.
• OBC (Non Creamy Layer) certificate issued in the period between 01.04.2026 till date to be produced at the time of joining if found eligible
• .Discharge certificate from present employer (if any) for Government/ Quasi Government employees, PSUs, Nationalised banks or Financial institutions at the time of joining.

How to Apply for SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026

1. Visit SBI’s official careers website: bank.in/web/careers/current-openings
2. Scroll down and select the ad for“Special Recruitment Drive for Junior Associates 2026”, Ad No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16
3. Download the advertisement, go through the details, and then apply.
4. The candidates are advised to apply once as multiple applications will be rejected, only the last application will be taken as valid.
5. The candidates will be redirected to the application page where they have to fill the application form correctly with personal, academic and category details.
6. Scan and upload the photograph, signature and left hand thumb impression along with the hand written declaration as per the specifications mentioned in the official notification Annexure-II.
7. Make the payment of the application fee (for OBC candidates) using debit card, credit card, or internet banking.
8. Before you finally submit the application, ensure that all the information is correct since it will not be changed once submitted. Take a printout of the filled form for future reference (the printout is not required to be sent to SBI). Complete the registration process and payment of the application fee before 27.08.2026.

For the application form, the fee payment, and the call letter, the candidates can contact 022-22820427, quoting special recruitment drive for junior associates 2026. The timings for this contact would be 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. on the working days of the Bank. Alternatively, the candidates can also send an email to cgrs.ibps.in .

FAQs

Q1. What is SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026?

It is a Special Recruitment Drive (Advt. No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16) by State Bank of India for recruitment to 1538 backlog vacancies of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) post for SC, ST and OBC candidates only.

Q2. Is this recruitment open to General category candidates?

No, this is a special recruitment drive to fill up SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies.

Q3. How many vacancies are there in SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026?

Total number of vacancies in SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 are 1538 posts. For SC, ST, and OBC are 207, 1219, and 112 vacancies respectively.

Q4. What is the last date to apply for SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026?

The last date to apply for SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026, i.e., To submit the online application form and the fee is 27.08.2026.

Q5. What is the qualification required for SBI Junior Associate posts?

The candidate must have completed graduation in any discipline from a recognised University or any other educational institution. The date of holding the degree should be on or before 31.12.2026. Candidates pursuing their final year of the qualifying examination can also apply.