SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) Recruitment 2026: 1538 Vacancies — Full Eligibility, Vacancy Breakdown, Selection Process & How to Apply

State Bank of India (SBI) has released a Special Recruitment Drive to fill 1,538 backlog vacancies for Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) posts in the clerical cadre, reserved exclusively for SC, ST, and OBC candidates. Online registration is open from 7 August 2026 to 27 August 2026. This article covers everything from the official notification — eligibility, state-wise vacancies, exam pattern, salary, and the complete application process — so you have all the details in one place before you apply.

Advertisement No.: CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 Notification Date: 07 August 2026

Quick Facts

About This Recruitment

This is a Special Recruitment Drive specifically to clear backlog vacancies in the SC, ST, and OBC categories for the Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) post in SBI’s clerical cadre. Because this is a backlog-clearance drive, General category and EWS candidates are not eligible to apply under this notification.

Candidates can apply for vacancies in one State/UT only, and can appear for the test only once under this recruitment project.

State/UT-wise Vacancy Breakdown

Candidates must be proficient in the local language of the State/UT they apply for. The table below shows the full vacancy distribution by category.

*Uttar Pradesh vacancies fall under Lucknow Circle only. Maharashtra vacancies are shared between Maharashtra Circle and Mumbai Metro Circle — candidates applying for these states should verify their operational area on SBI’s Branch Locator before applying.

Important: There is no provision for Inter-Circle or Inter-State transfer, except intra-state transfer between Delhi Circle & Lucknow Circle (within Uttar Pradesh) and between Mumbai Metro Circle & Maharashtra Circle (within Maharashtra).

Eligibility Criteria

Age Limit (as on 01.04.2026)

Candidates must be not below 20 years and not above 28 years, i.e., born between 02.04.1998 and 01.04.2006 (both dates inclusive).

Age Relaxation

Note: Cumulative age relaxation across multiple categories is not permitted.

Educational Qualification (as on 31.12.2026)

Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university, or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government. Candidates in their final year/semester may also apply provisionally, subject to producing proof of passing by 31.12.2026.

Who Is Not Eligible

• Candidates currently working in SBI’s Clerical cadre.
• Candidates who previously resigned from SBI while in the clerical cadre.
• Candidates with adverse reports regarding character, antecedents, or moral turpitude.
• OBC candidates falling under the “creamy layer.”

Selection Process

Selection consists of three phases: Preliminary Exam → Main Exam → Local Language Proficiency Test.

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

There is negative marking: ¼ mark deducted for each wrong answer. No individual sectional cutoff — only aggregate score matters. Approximately 10 times the number of vacancies (per category) will be shortlisted for the Main Exam.

Phase II: Main Examination (Objective, 200 Marks, 2 Hrs 40 Min)

Only Main Exam marks count toward the final merit list (Prelims marks are not added). Trained SBI apprentices meeting eligibility conditions receive 2.5% bonus marks (5 out of 200) in the Main Exam.

Phase III: Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)

Required only for candidates who haven’t studied the applied state’s local language at 10th or 12th standard level. Conducted after provisional selection, before joining.

Failing the LLPT disqualifies the candidate from appointment, regardless of exam performance.

Exam Dates & Centres

• Preliminary Examination: Tentatively September 2026
• Main Examination: Tentatively October/November 2026

A full list of tentative exam centres by state is published in Annexure-I of the official notification (covers all major cities across India). Candidates should check the official careers portal regularly for centre confirmations, as SBI reserves the right to change or reallocate centres.

Salary & Pay Scale

• Pay Scale: ₹24050-1340/3-28070-1650/3-33020-2000/4-41020-2340/7-57400-4400/1-61800-2680/1-64480
• Starting Basic Pay: ₹26,730/- per month (₹24,050 base + two advance increments for graduates)
• Total Starting Emoluments: Approximately ₹46,000/- per month in metro cities like Mumbai, inclusive of DA and other current allowances, plus two additional increments for newly recruited graduate Junior Associates
• Additional benefits: Provident Fund, Pension under New Pension Scheme, Medical benefits, Leave Fare Concession, and other perquisites as per Bank rules

Application Fee

Fees can be paid online via debit card, credit card, or Internet Banking.

How to Apply — Step by Step

1. Visit the official SBI careers portal: https://ibpsreg.ibps.in/sbijasrdjl26/
2. Locate and open the notification for “Special Recruitment Drive for Junior Associates 2026”
3. Click Apply Online to access the registration form
4. Fill in personal and academic details carefully — a provisional registration number and password will be generated; note these down, as the form can be edited up to 3 times before final submission
5. Scan and upload your photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression, and handwritten declaration as per the specifications in Annexure-II of the notification
6. Pay the applicable fee online (OBC candidates only; SC/ST/PwBD/XS/DXS are exempt)
7. Submit the form and save the system-generated printout for your records (this printout is not to be sent to SBI)

Important: No changes or corrections are allowed after final submission — double-check every field before submitting.

Important Dates

Documents Required at Exam/Joining

• Valid photo ID (Passport, Aadhaar, PAN Card, Driving License, Voter’s Card, or Bank Passbook with photo)
• Preliminary and Main Exam call letters (self-download, not sent by post)
• Two additional passport-size photographs matching the one on the call letter
• Caste certificate (SC/ST, on prescribed format) and OBC non-creamy-layer certificate, where applicable — required at document verification/joining stage

Key Points to Remember

• This drive is only for SC, ST, and OBC candidates filling backlog vacancies — General/EWS category candidates cannot apply.
• Candidates already working in SBI’s clerical cadre, or who resigned from SBI clerical roles previously, are not eligible.
• A wait list of up to 50% of vacancies will be maintained per state/category and released quarterly, valid for one year from the result declaration date.
• The role requires flexible working hours, shift work, and outdoor travel for marketing and cross-selling duties.
• SBI has clarified it does not endorse any coaching platform or consultancy claiming to guarantee selection — rely only on the official portal for updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can General category candidates apply for this recruitment? No. This is a Special Recruitment Drive exclusively for SC, ST, and OBC backlog vacancies.

Q: Can I apply for more than one state? No. Candidates can apply for vacancies in one State/UT only.

Q: Will Preliminary Exam marks count toward the final selection? No. Only the Main Examination marks are used to prepare the final merit list. The Preliminary Exam is only a qualifying/shortlisting stage.

Q: Is there a Local Language Test for everyone? No. Only candidates who haven’t studied the applied state’s local language at the 10th/12th standard level need to appear for the LLPT.

Q: What is the application fee for SC/ST candidates? Nil. Only OBC candidates pay ₹750/-; SC, ST, PwBD, XS, and DXS candidates are exempt.

This article is based on SBI’s official notification (Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16, dated 07.08.2026). For the most current updates, always refer to the official SBI careers portal. JobAddaa4U is an information portal only and does not charge any fee for job applications.