SBI Clerk Notification 2026: 9,766 Vacancies, Apply Online, Eligibility, Exam Date, Fee, Pattern, Salary & Selection Process

SBI Clerk 2026 Notification has finally been released by the State Bank of India, giving graduates across the country a fresh shot at a stable banking career. Released under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 on 11 August 2026, this drive opens up 9,766 Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) posts in the clerical cadre. Online applications are open from 11 August to 31 August 2026, so candidates need to check eligibility and apply well before the window closes.

This SBI Clerk 2026 Notification guide covers everything an aspirant needs - vacancy breakup, eligibility, application fee, selection process, exam pattern, salary and preparation strategy. Whether you are appearing for a bank exam for the first time or are a repeat aspirant, this article will help you understand the notification thoroughly and plan your preparation around the confirmed 26–27 September 2026 prelims and 23 November 2026 mains schedule.

SBI Clerk 2026 Notification Out - release date, advt no., dates overview

The SBI Clerk 2026 Notification was officially released on 11 August 2026 on the SBI careers portal, sbi.bank.in, under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17. It covers the recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) across various States and Union Territories, along with a separate backlog component.

Event	Details
Notification release date	11 August 2026
Advertisement number	CRPD/CR/2026-27/17
Post name	Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales)
Online application start date	11 August 2026
Online application last date	31 August 2026
Prelims exam (tentative)	26 & 27 September 2026
Mains exam (tentative)	23 November 2026
Official website	sbi.bank.in

SBI Clerk 2026 Highlights - overview table

Before diving into the details, candidates preparing for the SBI Clerk 2026 Notification should glance through this quick highlights table that sums up the recruitment drive at a glance, from organiser to selection stages.

Particulars	Details
Recruiting body	State Bank of India (SBI)
Exam name	SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) 2026
Advt. No.	CRPD/CR/2026-27/17
Total vacancies	9,766 (7,680 regular + 2,086 backlog)
Category	Banking/Government Job
Age limit	20–28 years (as on 01.04.2026)
Qualification	Graduation in any discipline
Application mode	Online
Selection stages	Prelims, Mains, Local Language Proficiency Test
Job location	Anywhere in India (state/UT applied for)

SBI Clerk 2026 Vacancy Details

The SBI Clerk 2026 vacancy count stands at 9,766 posts, split between regular and backlog categories across states and union territories. Candidates can apply for only one State/UT, and the local language of that state becomes mandatory for the post.

State-wise Vacancy List (Regular)

A total of 7,680 regular vacancies have been notified under the SBI Clerk 2026 notification, distributed across circles based on branch-level requirement. No fresh vacancies have been notified this year for Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Delhi (NCT), Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry.

• Vacancies are notified state/UT-wise in the official PDF, and candidates can select only one state/UT while applying.
• Applicants must be proficient in the local language notified for their chosen state/UT.
• The exact state-wise numbers, circle-wise split and reserved-category distribution are listed in the detailed annexure of the official notification PDF.
• Vacancy numbers are provisional and may be revised by SBI before the final merit list is prepared.

SBI Clerk Backlog Vacancy 2026

Along with regular posts, the SBI Clerk 2026 notification carries 2,086 backlog vacancies meant to fill previously unfilled reserved-category posts.

Backlog category	Vacancies
SC/ST/OBC backlog	287
PwBD backlog	355
XS/DXS (Ex-Servicemen) backlog	1,444
Total backlog	2,086

Separately, SBI had also run a dedicated Special Recruitment Drive under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 for 1,538 SC/ST/OBC backlog posts (207 SC, 1,219 ST and 112 OBC), with applications accepted from 7 to 27 August 2026 exclusively from SC/ST/OBC candidates.

Category-wise Vacancy Breakup

The category-wise reservation for the SBI Clerk 2026 recruitment follows standard Government of India norms across UR, EWS, OBC, SC and ST, with horizontal reservation layered on top for PwBD and Ex-Servicemen/Dependents of Ex-Servicemen candidates.

• Unreserved (UR): largest share of posts, open to all eligible candidates.
• EWS: reserved for Economically Weaker Sections meeting the prescribed income and asset limits.
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): reservation as per central list norms.
• SC/ST: reservation as per Government of India guidelines.
• PwBD: horizontal reservation across all the above categories, covering benchmark disabilities.
• XS/DXS: horizontal reservation for Ex-Servicemen and Dependents of Ex-Servicemen.

SBI Clerk 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Meeting the SBI Clerk 2026 eligibility criteria on age, qualification and language is mandatory before submitting the online form, since incomplete or ineligible applications get rejected at the document verification stage.

Age Limit (As on 01.04.2026)

Candidates applying for the SBI Clerk 2026 notification must be between 20 and 28 years of age as on 1 April 2026, meaning the date of birth should fall between 2 April 1998 and 1 April 2006, both dates inclusive.

Age Relaxation for Reserved Categories

Reserved-category candidates get the following upper age relaxation under the SBI Clerk 2026 notification, though cumulative relaxation across multiple categories is not permitted.

Category	Age Relaxation
SC/ST	5 years
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	3 years
PwBD (UR/EWS)	10 years
PwBD (OBC)	13 years
PwBD (SC/ST)	15 years
Ex-Servicemen	Actual service rendered + 3 years
Widows/Divorced/Separated women (not remarried) – UR	Up to 35 years
Widows/Divorced/Separated women (not remarried) – OBC	Up to 38 years
Widows/Divorced/Separated women (not remarried) – SC/ST	Up to 40 years
J&K domiciled candidates (1.1.1980–31.12.1989)	5 years
Trained SBI Apprentices	1 to 16 years depending on category

Educational Qualification (As on 31.12.2026)

Candidates must hold a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government, on or before 31 December 2026.

• Final-year or final-semester students can apply provisionally but must produce proof of passing graduation by 31 December 2026.
• Candidates with an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) must ensure their passing date falls on or before 31 December 2026.
• No minimum aggregate percentage has been prescribed in the notification.
• Basic computer literacy or a relevant computer certificate/subject is required.

Local Language Requirement

Every applicant must know how to read, write, speak and understand the local language notified for the State/UT they are applying to, since postings are made strictly within that state.

• Candidates who studied the specified local language as a subject in Class 10 or Class 12 are exempted from the Local Language Proficiency Test.
• Those who cannot furnish this proof must qualify the LLPT before final allotment of posts.
• Failing the LLPT after selection can lead to cancellation of candidature.

SBI Clerk 2026 Reservation for PwBD Candidates

The SBI Clerk notification provides horizontal reservation for Persons with Benchmark Disability across all recognised categories of disability, along with facilitation for scribes and extra time during the exam.

Eligible Categories of Benchmark Disability

• Blindness and Low Vision
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Locomotor Disability, including Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victims and Muscular Dystrophy
• Autism, Intellectual Disability, Specific Learning Disability and Mental Illness
• Multiple Disabilities from among the above categories

Scribe and Compensatory Time Rules

• PwBD candidates eligible for a scribe as per Government of India guidelines can avail one during the exam, subject to prior intimation.
• Compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour is granted to eligible PwBD candidates using a scribe.
• Candidates must submit the prescribed disability certificate and scribe declaration form within the given timelines.

SBI Clerk 2026 Reservation for Ex-Servicemen (XS/DXS)

Ex-Servicemen and Dependents of Ex-Servicemen (XS/DXS) get horizontal reservation under the SBI Clerk notification, with 1,444 backlog posts specifically earmarked for this category this year. Eligible Ex-Servicemen must have rendered the minimum qualifying defence service and hold the requisite discharge certificate, while dependents must produce documentary proof of their relationship and the serviceman's service record at the verification stage.

SBI Clerk 2026 Application Fee

The SBI Clerk 2026 application fee varies by category and must be paid online at the time of form submission, as offline payment modes are not accepted.

Category	Application Fee
UR/EWS/OBC	Rs. 750
SC/ST/PwBD/XS (Ex-Servicemen)	Nil (exempted)

SBI Clerk 2026 Apply Online

Applying for the SBI Clerk notification is entirely online through the official SBI careers portal, and candidates should keep all documents ready before starting the form to avoid last-minute errors.

Steps to Apply for SBI Clerk 2026

Step	Action
Step 1	Visit the official SBI website, sbi.bank.in, and open the Careers section.
Step 2	Click on the "SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026" notification link.
Step 3	Register using a valid email ID and mobile number to generate login credentials.
Step 4	Fill in personal, educational and category details carefully in the application form.
Step 5	Upload scanned photograph, signature and other required documents in the prescribed format.
Step 6	Select the desired State/UT and pay the applicable application fee online.
Step 7	Review the filled form and submit it before the last date, 31 August 2026.
Step 8	Download and save the confirmation page/printout for future reference.

Documents Required for Application

• Recent passport-size photograph as per specified dimensions
• Scanned signature in the prescribed format
• Valid ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, etc.)
• Graduation certificate/mark sheet or provisional certificate
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS), wherever applicable
• PwBD certificate, if claiming disability reservation
• Ex-Servicemen discharge certificate, if applicable

SBI Clerk 2026 Selection Process

Selection under the SBI Clerk 2026 notification is a three-stage process, with final merit prepared purely on Mains marks and no interview involved at any stage.

Each stage of the SBI Clerk 2026 selection process plays a distinct role, from initial shortlisting to final merit and language clearance, as summarised below.

Phase	Stage	Description
Phase 1	Preliminary Examination	Qualifying in nature; marks scored here are not added to the final merit list, but clearing the cutoff is mandatory to advance to Mains.
Phase 2	Main Examination	The deciding stage; the final selection list is prepared strictly on the basis of marks obtained here, subject to meeting the local language requirement.
Phase 3	Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)	Candidates who cannot prove they studied the opted local language in Class 10 or 12 must clear this test; failing it after provisional selection results in cancellation of candidature.

SBI Clerk 2026 Exam Pattern

Understanding the SBI Clerk 2026 exam pattern for both Prelims and Mains helps candidates plan section-wise time management and target scores effectively.

Prelims Exam Pattern

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	1 hour

Mains Exam Pattern

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

Both stages carry a negative marking of 0.25 marks for every wrong answer, and there are no sectional qualifying marks beyond the overall cutoff.

SBI Clerk 2026 Exam Medium (State-wise)

The SBI Clerk 2026 exam is conducted bilingually in English and Hindi for Prelims and Mains, except the English Language section which is tested only in English. The Local Language Proficiency Test, however, is conducted in the specific regional language notified for the State/UT the candidate has applied under, making it essential to confirm the local language requirement before choosing a state while filling the form.

SBI Clerk 2026 Pay Scale and Salary

The SBI Clerk 2026 salary structure follows the pay scale applicable to Junior Associates under the latest bipartite settlement, offering a respectable starting package along with periodic increments.

Starting Basic Pay and Emoluments

Component	Approximate Amount
Starting Basic Pay	Rs. 24,050 per month
Gross Monthly Emoluments (with DA, HRA, Special Allowance)	Rs. 39,000+ (varies by posting location)
Approximate In-Hand Salary	Rs. 26,000 – Rs. 29,000 per month
Additional Benefits	Medical insurance, leave fare concession, pension/NPS and other standard bank perks

Probation Period

Selected candidates are placed on probation for a period of 6 months from the date of joining, during which their performance and conduct are assessed before confirmation in service.

SBI Clerk 2026 Bonus Marks for Trained Apprentices

Candidates who have successfully completed the State Bank of India Apprenticeship programme may be eligible for additional weightage in the Mains examination under the SBI Clerk 2026 notification, as specifically detailed in the official advertisement. Such candidates are advised to refer to the exact clause, applicable marks and conditions mentioned in the detailed notification PDF before claiming this benefit at the application stage.

SBI Clerk 2026 Exam Centres (State-wise)

Exam centres for the SBI Clerk 2026 prelims and mains are allotted state-wise across roughly 178 cities, generally covering major cities and district headquarters within the state/UT a candidate has applied for. The final choice of centre, date and shift is communicated through the admit card, and candidates cannot request a change of centre or state after submitting the online application.

State/UT	Exam Centres
Andaman & Nicobar Islands	Port Blair
Andhra Pradesh	Anantapur, Guntur/Vijayawada, Kadapa, Kakinada, Kurnool, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Chirala
Arunachal Pradesh	Naharlagun
Assam	Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Jorhat, Silchar, Tezpur
Bihar	Arrah, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Patna, Purnea, Aurangabad
Chandigarh	Mohali
Chhattisgarh	Bhilai/Bhilai Nagar, Bilaspur, Raipur
Delhi NCR	Delhi/NCR (all NCR cities)
Goa	Mapusa, Madgaon
Gujarat	Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar, Anand/Vadodara, Mehsana, Rajkot, Surat/Bardoli
Haryana	Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Kurukshetra
Himachal Pradesh	Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Una
Jammu & Kashmir	Jammu, Samba, Srinagar
Jharkhand	Bokaro Steel City, Dhanbad, Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Ranchi
Karnataka	Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Hubballi/Dharwad, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Udupi
Kerala	Alappuzha, Kannur, Ernakulam, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur
Ladakh	Leh, Kargil
Lakshadweep	Kavaratti
Madhya Pradesh	Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Sagar, Satna, Ujjain
Maharashtra	Amravati, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Kolhapur, Latur, Mumbai/Thane/Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Nanded, Nashik, Pune, Sangli, Satara, Solapur, Ratnagiri, Chandrapur
Manipur	Imphal, Churachandpur, Kakching, Thoubal
Meghalaya	Shillong, Tura
Mizoram	Aizawl
Nagaland	Dimapur, Kohima
Odisha	Balasore, Berhampur-Ganjam, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Sambalpur, Dhenkanal
Puducherry	Puducherry
Punjab	Amritsar, Bhatinda, Mohali, Patiala, Phagwara
Rajasthan	Ajmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, Sikar, Udaipur
Sikkim	Gangtok
Tamil Nadu	Chennai, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Erode, Kanchipuram, Madurai, Nagercoil/Kanyakumari, Namakkal, Salem, Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli, Tirunelveli, Tirupur, Vellore, Virudhunagar, Villupuram
Telangana	Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal
Tripura	Agartala
Uttar Pradesh	Agra, Aligarh, Bareilly, Ayodhya, Ghaziabad, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow, Meerut, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Noida/Greater Noida, Prayagraj, Varanasi
Uttarakhand	Dehradun, Haldwani, Roorkee
West Bengal	Asansol, Durgapur, Kolkata, Hooghly, Kalyani, Siliguri, Burdwan

Note: Vacancies have not been notified for a few of the above states/UTs this year, but candidates domiciled there may still choose the nearest available exam centre as per the official notification.

SBI Clerk 2026 Important Documents for Exam Day

• Printed copy of the valid admit card downloaded from the official portal
• One valid original photo ID proof (same as mentioned during registration)
• Photocopy of the same ID proof
• Two recent passport-size photographs (same as uploaded during application)
• PwBD certificate and scribe declaration form, if applicable
• Any other document specifically mentioned on the admit card

SBI Clerk 2026 Preparation Tips

A structured, section-wise strategy makes a real difference in cracking the SBI Clerk 2026 exam, especially given the limited sectional time in Prelims and the wider syllabus in Mains.

Section	Preparation Tip
English Language	Focus on grammar rules, reading comprehension and vocabulary building through daily newspaper reading.
Numerical/Quantitative Aptitude	Strengthen calculation speed, practise data interpretation sets and revise core arithmetic formulas daily.
Reasoning Ability	Practise puzzles, seating arrangements and syllogisms regularly to improve accuracy under time pressure.
Computer Aptitude	Revise basic computer fundamentals, MS Office shortcuts and internet/networking terms.
General/Financial Awareness	Follow current banking and financial news, RBI policies and static GK on a weekly basis.
Overall Strategy	Attempt full-length mock tests, analyse errors, and work on time management for each section separately.

Conclusion

The SBI Clerk 2026 Notification brings a strong opportunity for graduates aiming for a secure banking career, with 9,766 vacancies, a clear three-stage selection process and a well-defined exam pattern. Candidates should apply before 31 August 2026, keep all documents ready, and begin preparation immediately for the prelims scheduled around late September 2026. Staying updated on official announcements and following a disciplined study plan will help aspirants make the most of this SBI Clerk 2026 recruitment cycle.

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