What is SBI Clerk?
SBI Clerk is the common name for recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales). Junior Associates handle branch customer service, transactions, account support, operational controls and sales/service work under SBI procedures. Recruitment is State/UT-specific and tied to a notified local language.
Current 2026-27 recruitment
Advertisement CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 announced 9,124 vacancies. Online registration was open from 11 to 31 August 2026. SBI lists the preliminary examination tentatively in September 2026 and the main examination tentatively in November 2026; no exact date should be inferred from those month-level windows.
Eligibility, age and local language
Graduation in any discipline must be completed by 31 December 2026. Final-year/semester candidates may apply provisionally subject to proof by that date.
Age: 20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026. Major relaxations are SC/ST 5 years, OBC 3 years and PwBD 10/13/15 years; the notice gives separate ex-servicemen and widowed/divorced women rules.
A candidate may apply for only one State/UT. Proficiency in the specified local language is compulsory. The language test is waived when the candidate provides 10th or 12th standard proof of having studied that language.
Selection process
The process is Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and, where required, a qualifying Local Language Proficiency Test. There is no interview. Preliminary marks are not added to final merit; final selection uses main-examination performance subject to language, eligibility and document checks.
Preliminary examination pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 60 minutes |
Main examination pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 160 minutes |
Negative marking
One-fourth of the marks assigned to an objective question is deducted for a wrong answer. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
Syllabus and preparation scope
The official tests cover English, numerical and quantitative aptitude, reasoning, computer aptitude, and general/financial awareness. Treat detailed micro-topics as preparation planning rather than an authority-issued exhaustive syllabus. Focus on comprehension and grammar, arithmetic and data interpretation, puzzles and analytical reasoning, basic computer concepts, current affairs, banking and financial awareness.
Pay and career context
The official clerical scale is ₹24,050–64,480. A graduate joins at ₹26,730 basic pay, including two advance increments. The advertisement estimates starting monthly emoluments at about ₹46,000 in a metro such as Mumbai; actual take-home changes with posting, allowances and deductions. Probation is at least six months. Promotion and officer-cadre opportunities are governed by SBI policy and should not be treated as time-guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions
Does SBI Clerk have an interview? No.
Do prelim marks count in final merit? No; the main examination drives merit.
Is the local-language test compulsory? It is compulsory unless the candidate has accepted 10th/12th evidence of studying the notified language.
Is there sectional timing? Yes, in preliminary and main examinations.