SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026
State Bank of India has released a special recruitment drive for Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) in the clerical cadre. Recruitment is for backlog vacancies of SC, ST and OBC categories only, and 1,538 vacancies are available in various States and Union Territories. Online registration will be open from August 7, 2026 to August 27, 2026. The selection process involves an online Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and, where applicable, a specified local language proficiency test.
The SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 is an excellent opportunity for eligible graduates seeking a clerical banking career with State Bank of India. One important feature of this recruitment is that candidates must choose only one State or Union Territory at the time of application, and the vacancy, merit list, and final posting are linked to the State/UT chosen in the application. So, candidates should check the distribution of vacancies and the local language requirement before filling the form rather than selecting a state simply because it has more seats.
The SBI Clerk official notification for backlog vacancies also makes the local language requirement a major part of the SBI Clerk recruitment process. The candidates must have the ability to read, write, speak, and understand the language associated with the State/UT chosen by them. Candidates with a Class 10 or Class 12 certificate demonstrating that they studied the relevant language are exempt from the separate language test.
1. Introduction
SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 has been announced for the recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) in clerical cadre through a special recruitment drive against backlog SC/ST/OBC vacancies. As per the notification, the application can be made online from 7 August to 27 August 2026. The SBI Clerk recruitment is being conducted for several States and Union Territories with a total of 1,538 vacancies.
This SBI Recruitment drive is not an employment process where candidates compete for a common nationwide vacancy pool, but it follows a State-wise and category-wise merit system. A candidate may apply for vacancies in one State / UT. Under this recruitment project, a candidate can appear in the examination only once. The choice of State, applicable category and local language is therefore of particular importance.
The SBI notification also indicates that the Preliminary Examination is expected in September 2026, while the Main Examination is tentatively planned for October/November 2026. Exact examination schedules are to be communicated by SBI through its authorised career portal.
2. Overview of the Recruitment Process
The recruitment is for the clerical cadre position of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales). The role is not limited to desk-based work. SBI states that newly recruited Junior Associates may be involved in customer calls, banking and advisory services, product cross-selling and duties both inside and outside the branch. Depending on business requirements, the job may also involve outdoor travel, flexible working hours and shifts.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organisation | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Post | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) |
| Cadre | Clerical Cadre |
| Recruitment Type | Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC Backlog Vacancies |
| Total Vacancies | 1,538 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Period | 7 August 2026 to 27 August 2026 |
| Age | 20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026, before applicable relaxation |
| Educational Qualification | Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university/equivalent qualification |
| Starting Basic Pay | ₹26,730 for eligible graduate Junior Associates |
| Approx. Starting Emoluments | Around ₹46,000 per month at a metro such as Mumbai, subject to applicable allowances |
| Preliminary Exam | Tentatively September 2026 |
| Main Exam | Tentatively October/November 2026 |
| Official Recruitment Notice | Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 |
State-Wise SBI Junior Associate Vacancies 2026
The notification distributes the 1,538 backlog vacancies among several SBI circles and States/UTs. The largest listed vacancy count is in Gujarat with 289 posts, followed by Maharashtra with 165, Madhya Pradesh with 134 and Jharkhand with 133. However, the number of seats alone should not be treated as an indicator of selection probability because the merit list is prepared State-wise and category-wise.
| Circle/Area | State/UT | Specified Local Language | SC | ST | OBC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amaravati | Andhra Pradesh | Telugu / Urdu | — | 88 | — | 88 |
| Bengaluru | Karnataka | Kannada | 85 | 35 | — | 120 |
| Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh | Hindi | — | 134 | — | 134 |
| Bhopal | Chhattisgarh | Hindi | — | 26 | — | 26 |
| Bhubaneswar | Odisha | Odia | — | 111 | — | 111 |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh UT | Hindi / Punjabi | — | — | 22 | 22 |
| Chandigarh | Jammu & Kashmir UT | Urdu / Hindi | — | 42 | — | 42 |
| Chandigarh | Himachal Pradesh | Hindi | 11 | — | — | 11 |
| Chandigarh | Punjab | Punjabi / Hindi | — | — | 18 | 18 |
| Chennai | Tamil Nadu | Tamil | 65 | — | — | 65 |
| Hyderabad | Telangana | Telugu / Urdu | — | 32 | — | 32 |
| Jaipur | Rajasthan | Hindi | 20 | 86 | — | 106 |
| Kolkata | West Bengal | Bengali / Nepali | — | — | 55 | 55 |
| Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | Hindi / Urdu | — | 31 | — | 31 |
| Maharashtra / Mumbai Metro | Maharashtra | Marathi | — | 165 | — | 165 |
| New Delhi | Delhi | Hindi | — | — | 17 | 17 |
| Gandhinagar | Gujarat | Gujarati | — | 289 | — | 289 |
| Guwahati | Assam | Assamese / Bengali / Bodo | — | 39 | — | 39 |
| Guwahati | Tripura | Bengali / Kokborok | — | 22 | — | 22 |
| Patna | Bihar | Hindi / Urdu | 12 | — | — | 12 |
| Patna | Jharkhand | Hindi / Santhali | 14 | 119 | — | 133 |
| Total | 207 | 1,219 | 112 | 1,538 | ||
Source: State-wise vacancy table in the SBI recruitment notification. Vacancies are provisional and can change according to the Bank's requirements.
3. Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit
For SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026, the basic age requirement is 20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026. The notification specifies that the candidate should have been born between 2 April 1998 and 1 April 2006, both dates inclusive.
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| PwBD – OBC | 13 years |
| PwBD – SC/ST | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen / Disabled Ex-Servicemen | As specified by SBI, subject to the prescribed maximum age |
| Widows / Divorced women / Judicially separated women not remarried | 7 years, subject to the prescribed maximum age limits |
| Eligible trained SBI Apprentices | Special relaxation according to category |
Age relaxations cannot be combined cumulatively. Candidates claiming relaxation must possess the relevant supporting documents when required by SBI.
Candidates who want to check their age against the recruitment's cut-off date can also use our Government Job Age Calculator before completing the application.
Educational Qualification
The minimum academic requirement is a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. Candidates with an Integrated Dual Degree must have the prescribed passing date on or before 31 December 2026.
Students who are in the final year or final semester of graduation can also apply provisionally. However, if selected provisionally, they must provide evidence that they completed the graduation examination by 31 December 2026.
Local Language Requirement
The local language requirement is one of the most important eligibility-related points in this recruitment. A candidate applying for a particular State/UT must be proficient in the specified language associated with that State/UT.
SBI will conduct a Local Language Proficiency Test after the Main Examination for candidates who did not study the specified local language in Class 10 or Class 12. A candidate who produces a suitable Class 10 or Class 12 certificate showing study of the required language will not need to take the separate test.
Category-Specific Conditions
- OBC vacancies are available to eligible candidates belonging to the Non-Creamy Layer.
- The prescribed OBC Non-Creamy Layer certificate must meet the notification's date requirements.
- SC/ST candidates must provide the required caste certificate in the prescribed format.
- Existing SBI clerical cadre employees are not eligible for this recruitment.
- Persons who were previously employed by SBI in the clerical cadre and resigned are also excluded under the stated conditions.
- Candidates with adverse character/antecedent reports or relevant issues involving moral turpitude are not eligible under the notification.
PwBD Candidates and Scribe Facility
The notification identifies several benchmark disability categories as suitable for the post. Eligible candidates requiring a scribe may avail the facility subject to SBI's prescribed conditions. The notification also provides for compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour for eligible candidates under the applicable scribe/compensatory-time provisions.
4. Application Fee
| Category | Application / Intimation Fee |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / PwBD / XS / DXS | Nil |
| OBC | ₹750 |
The fee is non-refundable. SBI states that once the fee/intimation charge has been paid, it will not be refunded or carried forward for another recruitment or selection process.
The online payment can be made through the payment gateway using options such as debit card, credit card or internet banking. Any applicable transaction charges are to be borne by the candidate.
5. Selection Process
The SBI Junior Associate selection process has three broad stages:
- Phase I: Online Preliminary Examination
- Phase II: Online Main Examination
- Phase III: Local Language Proficiency Test, wherever applicable
A major point that candidates should remember is that the Preliminary Examination is used for shortlisting and its marks are not added to the final merit score. The final merit list is based on aggregate marks obtained in the Main Examination, subject to fulfilment of the other recruitment conditions.
SBI states that approximately ten times the number of vacancies, subject to availability and the Bank's decision, may be shortlisted from the Preliminary Examination for the Main Examination.
How Final Merit Is Prepared
- Preliminary Examination marks are not added to the final selection score.
- Main Examination marks are used for preparing the merit list.
- Merit is prepared State-wise and category-wise.
- Local Language Proficiency Test must be cleared wherever applicable.
- Eligibility and documents are subject to verification.
- A wait list of up to 50% of vacancies, State/category-wise, may be maintained for one year from declaration of the final result.
6. Important Dates
| Event | Date / Schedule |
|---|---|
| SBI JA Notification Date | 7 August 2026 |
| Online Registration Begins | 7 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 27 August 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination | Tentatively September 2026 |
| Main Examination | Tentatively October/November 2026 |
| Local Language Test | After qualifying Main Examination and before joining, wherever applicable |
SBI has not provided an exact examination date in this notification. Candidates should therefore rely on the official SBI career portal and their call letters for the final examination schedule.
7. Important Links
Candidates should use only the official recruitment/application channels for submitting the form. SBI has specifically warned candidates against relying on external individuals, coaching platforms, consultancies or digital channels claiming guaranteed selection or insider influence.
8. Exam Pattern and Syllabus
SBI JA Preliminary Examination Pattern
The Preliminary Examination carries 100 marks and has a total duration of one hour. Each section has its own time limit, so candidates cannot freely transfer unused time from one section to another.
| 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 |
There is a one-fourth negative marking for an incorrect answer in the objective tests. The notification does not prescribe minimum qualifying marks for individual tests or the aggregate in the Preliminary Examination.
SBI JA 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 | 2 hours 40 minutes |
The Main Examination also carries one-fourth negative marking for wrong answers. SBI will determine the minimum aggregate qualifying percentage. The notification does not prescribe individual subject-wise qualifying marks.
What Should You Prepare for the SBI JA Exam?
The notification gives the official section structure rather than a long topic-by-topic syllabus. Therefore, candidates should use the following as a practical preparation framework, not as a substitute for the official examination booklet.
| Section | Recommended Preparation Areas |
|---|---|
| English Language | Reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, sentence-based questions, cloze-type practice and error identification. |
| Numerical Ability / Quantitative Aptitude | Arithmetic fundamentals, percentages, ratio, averages, profit and loss, time-work, speed-distance, simplification, data interpretation and calculation-based practice. |
| Reasoning Ability | Puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, inequality, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense and logical reasoning. |
| General / Financial Awareness | Current affairs, banking awareness, financial terminology, important national developments and economy-related updates. |
| Computer Aptitude | Basic computer concepts, internet, operating systems, networking, digital banking and common computer terminology. |
SBI JA 2026 Preparation Strategy: What Candidates Should Do Now
1. Start with the Main Exam in Mind
Because the Preliminary Examination is only a screening stage and its marks are not included in final merit, candidates should not postpone Main Examination preparation. A better approach is to build speed for Prelims while gradually developing Financial Awareness, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning and Computer Aptitude for the Main Examination.
2. Give Special Attention to Financial Awareness
Financial Awareness carries 50 marks in the Main Examination. Candidates should maintain a short daily revision system covering banking terms, financial developments, important government initiatives, RBI-related developments and major current events.
For regular exam-oriented current affairs practice, candidates can also explore the Weekly Current Affairs Quiz section on GovtJobsPortal.in.
3. Do Not Ignore the Local Language
Local language is not merely an application detail. For candidates who have not studied the specified language in Class 10 or Class 12, the language proficiency test is a condition before joining. Candidates should therefore verify the language requirement before applying for their chosen State/UT.
4. Practise With Sectional Timers
Both Preliminary and Main examinations have separate timing for different sections. Candidates should therefore practise using section-wise timers rather than only taking full-length tests. This is particularly useful for improving calculation speed and reducing the impact of negative marking.
5. Keep Application Documents Ready
Before starting the online form, candidates should keep their photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression and handwritten declaration ready in the prescribed digital format. SBI states that unclear uploads can create problems with application registration or may require re-uploading.
If your application photograph needs resizing, you can use the GovtJobsPortal.in Image Compressor to prepare an appropriately sized image before uploading, while still following the exact specifications given by SBI.
6. A Special Advantage for Eligible SBI Apprentices
One distinctive provision in this recruitment is the additional weightage for eligible trained SBI Apprentices. The notification provides 5 bonus marks out of 200 in the Main Examination for qualifying trained apprentices who satisfy the specified engagement, experience, performance and certification conditions.
Salary, Pay Scale and Job Profile
The notified pay scale for the Junior Associate position starts at ₹24,050 and progresses through the prescribed increments. However, graduate recruits receive two advance increments, making the stated starting Basic Pay ₹26,730.
SBI states that the total starting emoluments at a metro such as Mumbai can be approximately ₹46,000 per month, including applicable Dearness Allowance, other allowances and the two additional increments available to newly recruited graduate Junior Associates. Actual allowances can differ depending upon the place of posting.
The position also provides access to applicable benefits and facilities such as provident fund, pension under the New Pension Scheme, medical facilities and leave-fare-related benefits as per the Bank's rules.
Selected Junior Associates will normally remain on probation for a minimum of six months. During this period, prescribed e-lessons must be completed and performance is evaluated before confirmation.
Before You Click the Apply Button: SBI JA Checklist
- Confirm that you belong to the eligible category covered by this backlog drive.
- Check your age as on 1 April 2026.
- Confirm graduation eligibility by the prescribed qualification date.
- Choose only one State/UT.
- Verify the specified local language for that State/UT.
- Keep category certificates ready where applicable.
- Prepare photograph, signature, thumb impression and handwritten declaration.
- Keep a valid mobile number and email ID active until the recruitment process is completed.
- Review every field before final submission because corrections are not permitted after submission.
- Save the registration number, password, e-receipt and submitted application for future use.
9. Conclusion and Disclaimer
SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 offers 1,538 backlog vacancies through a State-wise and category-wise recruitment process. For eligible graduates belonging to the specified categories, the recruitment provides an opportunity to enter SBI's clerical cadre with a starting Basic Pay of ₹26,730 and stated metro-level starting emoluments of around ₹46,000 per month.
The most important points are not simply the vacancy number and application deadline. Candidates should pay close attention to the one-State/UT restriction, local language requirement, category conditions, Main Examination weightage and document requirements. Since the Preliminary Examination marks do not contribute to final merit, preparation should be planned with the Main Examination as the ultimate target.
10. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026?
SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 is a special recruitment drive for Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) posts in the clerical cadre. The notification covers backlog vacancies for SC, ST and OBC categories.
How many vacancies are available in SBI JA Recruitment 2026?
There are 1,538 vacancies in total. The vacancies are divided among different States/UTs and categories.
What is the last date to apply for SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026?
The last date for online registration and payment of the applicable fee is 27 August 2026.
What is the age limit for SBI JA Recruitment 2026?
The basic age range is 20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026. Category-wise and other prescribed relaxations are available as specified in the notification.
What is the educational qualification for SBI Junior Associate 2026?
Candidates generally need a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. Final-year candidates can apply provisionally subject to meeting the prescribed passing-date condition.
Can I apply for more than one State in SBI JA Recruitment?
No. A candidate can apply for vacancies in one State/UT only under this recruitment project.
Is there a local language test in SBI Junior Associate Recruitment?
Yes, where applicable. Candidates who did not study the specified local language in Class 10 or Class 12 may have to qualify in the Local Language Proficiency Test after the Main Examination and before joining.
What is the SBI JA Preliminary Exam pattern?
The Preliminary Examination has 100 questions for 100 marks and lasts one hour. It contains English Language, Numerical Ability and Reasoning Ability, with 20 minutes allotted to each section.
What is the SBI JA Main Exam pattern?
The Main Examination consists of 190 questions carrying 200 marks and has a total duration of 2 hours 40 minutes. The sections are General/Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude.
Is there negative marking in SBI JA 2026?
Yes. The notification provides for deduction of one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question for an incorrect answer in the objective tests.
Will SBI Prelims marks be counted in the final merit list?
No. SBI states that Preliminary Examination marks will not be added to the final selection score. The aggregate marks of the Main Examination are used for preparation of the final merit list, subject to the other selection conditions.
What is the SBI Junior Associate starting salary?
The notification states that the starting Basic Pay for graduate Junior Associates is ₹26,730. Total starting emoluments at a metro such as Mumbai are stated to be around ₹46,000 per month, with actual allowances depending on the place of posting.
What is the SBI JA application fee?
SC, ST, PwBD, XS and DXS candidates are exempt from the application/intimation charge. The prescribed charge for OBC candidates is ₹750.
When will the SBI JA Preliminary Examination be conducted?
The Preliminary Examination is tentatively scheduled for September 2026. SBI will announce the exact examination date through its authorised channels.
When is the SBI JA Main Examination expected?
The Main Examination is tentatively planned for October/November 2026. Candidates should wait for the official schedule and call letter for the exact date.
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