SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026: Applications Open for 1,538 Posts, Check Eligibility, Fees and Last Date

The State Bank of India (SBI) has opened the online application process for a special recruitment drive for Junior Associate (Customer Support and Sales) positions, commonly known as SBI Clerk posts. The recruitment campaign aims to fill 1,538 backlog vacancies reserved for candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories.

Eligible candidates interested in a banking career can submit their applications through SBI's official recruitment portal. According to the recruitment details, the last date to apply is August 27, 2026.

Candidates are advised to carefully review the eligibility requirements, category-wise vacancies, educational qualifications and selection procedure before submitting the online application form.

SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026: Vacancy Details

A total of 1,538 Junior Associate vacancies are expected to be filled through this special recruitment exercise.

The category-wise distribution is as follows:

Since this is a special recruitment drive for backlog vacancies, candidates should carefully check the category, state or circle and other applicable conditions mentioned in the detailed SBI notification before applying.

Who Can Apply for SBI Clerk Posts?

Candidates need to satisfy both educational and age requirements to participate in the recruitment process.

Applicants should possess a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification recognized by the appropriate authority.

Candidates pursuing an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) should ensure that the date on which they complete their qualification complies with the deadline and eligibility requirements specified by SBI.

Students currently studying in the final year or semester of their graduation programme may also be permitted to submit applications on a provisional basis.

However, provisional applicants need to remember an important condition. If selected, they will have to provide evidence that they completed the required graduation qualification within the timeframe prescribed by SBI.

Applicants are therefore advised not to assume that merely appearing in the final year automatically guarantees eligibility for appointment.

SBI Clerk Age Limit

The prescribed age range for applicants is 20 to 28 years, subject to the cut-off date mentioned in the official recruitment notification.

Since the recruitment is specifically aimed at SC, ST and OBC backlog vacancies, applicable relaxation in the upper age limit should be checked in the detailed notification.

Candidates should calculate their age according to the date specified by SBI rather than the date on which they submit the application.

Any mismatch in date of birth or eligibility documents could create problems during document verification.

Computer Knowledge Is Also Required

Basic computer literacy is another important requirement for candidates applying for SBI Junior Associate positions.

Bank clerical jobs involve extensive use of digital systems for customer support, transactions and other operational responsibilities. Applicants are therefore expected to possess basic computer knowledge.

Candidates should carefully review the detailed notification to understand whether any specific documentation or educational proof of computer knowledge is required.

Is There a Limit on SBI Clerk Exam Attempts?

Unlike some competitive examinations that restrict candidates to a fixed number of attempts, SBI has not prescribed a specific attempt limit for the Clerk examination.

This means an eligible candidate may appear for SBI Clerk recruitment multiple times.

However, there is an important condition: the candidate must continue to satisfy all applicable eligibility requirements for that particular recruitment cycle.

In practice, the age limit is one of the major factors determining how many times an applicant can appear for the examination.

Candidates must also fulfil educational, category and other requirements prescribed in the relevant notification.

SBI Clerk Selection Process 2026

Getting selected as an SBI Junior Associate involves multiple stages. Candidates need to clear the required stages of the recruitment process to remain eligible for final selection.

The process begins with the Preliminary Examination.

Candidates who qualify in the preliminary stage according to SBI's criteria will become eligible to participate in the Main Examination.

The Main Examination plays a crucial role in the final recruitment process. Candidates should therefore prepare according to the latest examination pattern and syllabus provided by SBI.

Apart from the written examinations, candidates may also have to qualify in a Local Language Proficiency Test (LPT) as applicable.

The language requirement is particularly important because Junior Associates work directly with customers at SBI branches.

Only candidates who successfully fulfil the applicable examination, language and eligibility requirements will be considered for final appointment.

SBI Clerk Application Fee

The application fee varies according to the candidate's category under this special recruitment drive.

OBC candidates: ₹750

SC candidates: No application fee

ST candidates: No application fee

Applicants belonging to the SC and ST categories are exempt from paying the registration fee, while eligible OBC applicants are required to pay ₹750.

Candidates making an online payment should ensure that the transaction is successfully completed before closing the application page. They should also retain the payment receipt or confirmation for future reference.

How to Apply for SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026

Eligible applicants can submit the SBI Clerk application online through the bank's official recruitment portal.

Candidates should first open SBI's official website and navigate to the Careers or current recruitment section. They can then locate the notification for the Junior Associate special recruitment drive.

New applicants will need to complete the registration process by providing the required information.

After registration, candidates can fill out the application form, provide educational and personal details, upload the required documents and pay the applicable fee.

Before final submission, every entry should be checked carefully. Candidates should pay particular attention to their name, category, date of birth, educational qualification and contact details.

A copy of the completed application form should be saved after successful submission.

August 27 Is the Last Date to Apply

Candidates planning to participate in the SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026 should note that the online application deadline is August 27, 2026.

Waiting until the final day can create unnecessary problems due to heavy website traffic, payment failures or difficulties uploading documents.

Applicants should therefore complete registration well before the closing date.

With 1,538 backlog vacancies available across SC, ST and OBC categories, this special SBI recruitment drive presents an opportunity for eligible graduates seeking a career in India's banking sector.

Before applying, candidates should read the complete official SBI notification and verify the vacancy category, age criteria, qualification requirements, language rules, examination process and application fee applicable to them.