SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026: Applications Open for 1,538 Junior Associate Posts; Check Eligibility and Last Date
SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026: The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced a special recruitment drive for Junior Associate (Clerk) positions. A total of 1,538 backlog vacancies are being filled under this recruitment process, specifically for eligible candidates belonging to the SC, ST and OBC categories.
The online application process began on August 7, 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their applications until August 27, 2026. Candidates can apply through SBI's official recruitment portal.
SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026: 1,538 Vacancies
This recruitment drive is specifically intended to fill backlog vacancies reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) candidates.
The category-wise vacancy distribution is:
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| SC | 207 |
| ST | 1,219 |
| OBC | 112 |
| Total | 1,538 |
As this is a special backlog recruitment drive, General/Unreserved category candidates are not eligible to apply for these vacancies.
Candidates are also permitted to apply for vacancies in only one state or Union Territory, according to the recruitment conditions.
State-Wise SBI Clerk Vacancies
Vacancies are available across several states. Some of the major state-wise openings mentioned in the recruitment details include:
| State/UT | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Gujarat | 289 |
| Maharashtra | 165 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 134 |
| Jharkhand | 133 |
| Karnataka | 120 |
| Odisha | 111 |
| Rajasthan | 106 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 88 |
| Tamil Nadu | 65 |
| West Bengal | 55 |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 42 |
| Assam | 39 |
Candidates should refer to the detailed SBI notification for the complete state-, category- and circle-wise vacancy distribution.
SBI Clerk Eligibility: Graduation Required
Applicants should hold a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or institution.
Candidates who are currently in the final year or semester of their graduation may also be eligible to apply provisionally.
However, such candidates will have to provide proof that they completed their graduation within the deadline prescribed by SBI, stated as December 31, 2026, in the recruitment details.
SBI Clerk Age Limit
The prescribed age limit is calculated as of April 1, 2026.
Candidates should generally be:
Minimum age: 20 years
Maximum age: 28 years
Accordingly, applicants should have been born between April 2, 1998 and April 1, 2006, both dates inclusive, subject to the conditions in the official notification.
Eligible SC, ST and OBC candidates will receive relaxation in the upper age limit according to SBI and government recruitment rules.
SBI Clerk Selection Process
The selection procedure is expected to involve the following stages:
Preliminary Examination → Main Examination → Local Language Proficiency Test, where applicable
Candidates must qualify at each applicable stage to progress through the recruitment process.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern
The preliminary examination will consist of objective-type questions carrying a total of 100 marks.
The test duration will be one hour.
Negative marking will apply for incorrect answers, with one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question deducted for each wrong response.
According to the recruitment details, there will be no individual sectional qualifying marks prescribed for the preliminary examination.
Importantly, marks obtained in the prelims are primarily used for shortlisting candidates for the Main Examination and are not normally added to the final merit score.
When Will SBI Clerk Exams Be Conducted?
The tentative recruitment schedule indicates that the Preliminary Examination may be conducted in September 2026.
The Main Examination could be held in October or November 2026.
Candidates should regularly check SBI's official recruitment notices because examination dates, admit-card schedules and other timelines can be updated.
How to Apply for SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026
Eligible candidates can complete the application online by visiting SBI's official website and opening the Careers/Current Openings section. Select the relevant Junior Associate recruitment advertisement, complete registration and log in using the generated credentials.
Applicants should then enter their personal and educational information, select the eligible state/UT, upload the required documents and complete the fee process if applicable. Review all information carefully before submitting the form and save a copy of the final application for future reference.
SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026: Key Details
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | State Bank of India |
| Post | Junior Associate (Clerk) |
| Total Vacancies | 1,538 |
| Recruitment Type | Backlog/Special Recruitment |
| Eligible Categories | SC, ST and OBC |
| Application Start Date | August 7, 2026 |
| Last Date | August 27, 2026 |
| Minimum Qualification | Graduation |
| Age Limit | 20–28 years |
| Prelims | Tentatively September 2026 |
| Mains | Tentatively October/November 2026 |
| Application Mode | Online |
Important Point for Applicants
Since these 1,538 posts are backlog vacancies, candidates should not confuse this drive with SBI's regular Junior Associate recruitment. Eligibility depends on the category as well as state/UT-specific vacancies and other conditions.
Before submitting an application, candidates should carefully verify the category-wise vacancy, local-language requirement, educational qualification, age relaxation, application fee and required documents from SBI's detailed notification.