State Bank of India (SBI) has released a special recruitment drive for Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) in the clerical cadre. The recruitment is specifically for SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies, with a total of 1,538 vacancies across various States and Union Territories.
The online application process will be conducted from 7 August 2026 to 27 August 2026. Eligible candidates can apply for vacancies in one State/UT only and must have proficiency in the specified local language of the State/UT they choose.
Important: This recruitment is a special backlog vacancy drive. Candidates should carefully check their category, State/UT, local-language eligibility, age and educational qualification before submitting the application.
SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 – Overview
Particular Details Organization State Bank of India (SBI) Post Name Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) Cadre Clerical Cadre Recruitment Type Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC Backlog Vacancies Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 Total Vacancies 1,538 SC Vacancies 207 ST Vacancies 1,219 OBC Vacancies 112 Application Mode Online Application Start Date 07 August 2026 Last Date to Apply 27 August 2026 Preliminary Exam September 2026 (Tentative) Main Exam October/November 2026 (Tentative) Job Location Applied State/UT Official Website SBI Careers The advertisement was issued by the Central Recruitment & Promotion Department, Corporate Centre, Mumbai.
SBI Junior Associate Vacancy 2026
SBI has announced 1,538 backlog vacancies under the special recruitment drive.
State/UT-wise Vacancy Details
Circle State/UT 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 J&K 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 The vacancy table is provisional and may change according to SBI’s actual requirements. Candidates can apply for vacancies in only one State/UT.
Important Vacancy Rules
Candidates should note the following:
- Only one State/UT can be selected.
- Candidates can appear for the examination only once under this recruitment.
- Merit will be prepared State-wise and category-wise.
- Candidates selected under this recruitment will be posted in the State/UT for which they applied.
- There is generally no Inter-State/Inter-Circle Transfer for Junior Associates recruited through this process.
- Candidates applying for a State must be proficient in the specified local language.
- Candidates who studied the specified local language in Class 10 or 12 and can produce the relevant marksheet/certificate will not have to appear for the separate language test.
SBI Junior Associate Eligibility Criteria 2026
1. Educational Qualification
Candidates must have:
Graduation in any discipline from a recognized university or an equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government.
Candidates with an Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) must ensure that their date of passing the IDD is on or before 31 December 2026.
Candidates who are in the final year/semester of graduation can also apply provisionally, provided they can produce proof of passing graduation on or before 31 December 2026, if provisionally selected.
Therefore, candidates from streams such as:
- B.A.
- B.Sc.
- B.Com.
- B.Tech/B.E.
- BCA
- BBA
- Any other recognized graduation discipline
can meet the educational qualification, subject to the conditions mentioned in the official advertisement.
SBI JA Age Limit 2026
The age limit is calculated as on 1 April 2026.
Basic Age Limit
- Minimum Age: 20 years
- Maximum Age: 28 years
Candidates must have been born between 2 April 1998 and 1 April 2006, both dates inclusive.
Age Relaxation
Category Upper Age Relaxation OBC 3 years SC/ST 5 years PwBD (OBC) 13 years PwBD (SC/ST) 15 years Ex-Servicemen As per SBI rules Widows/Divorced Women/Judicially Separated Women 7 years SBI Trained Apprentice – OBC 4 years SBI Trained Apprentice – SC/ST 6 years SBI Trained Apprentice – PwBD (OBC) 14 years SBI Trained Apprentice – PwBD (SC/ST) 16 years The notification specifies that cumulative age relaxation is not permitted. Candidates claiming relaxation must provide the required certificates at the appropriate stage.
Category Certificate Requirements
This recruitment is specifically aimed at backlog vacancies for SC/ST/OBC categories.
SC/ST Candidates
SC/ST candidates must provide a caste certificate issued by the competent authority in the format prescribed by the Government of India during document verification/joining, as applicable.
OBC Candidates
OBC vacancies are available only to candidates belonging to the Non-Creamy Layer.
The OBC certificate must contain the Non-Creamy Layer clause and should be issued during the prescribed period beginning 1 April 2026 and continuing up to the date of joining, as specified in the notification.
Local Language Requirement
The local language requirement is an important part of this SBI recruitment.
Candidates applying for a particular State/UT must be able to:
- Read
- Write
- Speak
- Understand
the specified local language.
A Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) will be conducted after qualifying the Main Examination and before joining for candidates who do not have proof of studying the specified language in Class 10 or 12.
Candidates who fail the local-language test will not be offered appointment.
For example:
- Karnataka → Kannada
- Maharashtra → Marathi
- Gujarat → Gujarati
- Rajasthan → Hindi
- Tamil Nadu → Tamil
- Odisha → Odia
- West Bengal → Bengali/Nepali
- Uttar Pradesh → Hindi/Urdu
Candidates should select their State and local language carefully while filling out the application.
SBI Junior Associate Selection Process 2026
The selection process consists of three phases:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Local Language Proficiency Test, wherever applicable
The official notification states that the Preliminary Examination is tentatively scheduled for September 2026, while the Main Examination is tentatively scheduled for October/November 2026.
SBI JA Preliminary Exam Pattern 2026
The Preliminary Examination will be conducted online for 100 marks with a total duration of 1 hour.
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 Each section has a separate time limit.
There is a 1/4th negative marking for every wrong answer. No minimum qualifying marks are prescribed for individual tests or the aggregate in the Preliminary Examination.
Important
Marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination will not be added to the final merit list. Its purpose is to shortlist candidates for the Main Examination.
SBI JA Main Exam Pattern 2026
The Main Examination carries 200 marks and has a total duration of 2 hours 40 minutes.
Section Questions Maximum 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 There is a 1/4th negative marking for incorrect answers.
SBI will prescribe the minimum qualifying percentage on aggregate. There is no separate minimum qualifying mark prescribed for individual subjects.
Final Merit
The Main Examination marks are used for preparation of the final merit list. Preliminary Examination marks are not added to the final selection score. Merit is prepared State-wise and category-wise.
Local Language Proficiency Test
Candidates who have not studied the specified local language in Class 10 or 12 will have to qualify the Local Language Proficiency Test.
The test includes:
- Non-Verbal Test
- Verbal Test
- Objective and subjective components
Candidates must obtain the minimum qualifying marks decided by SBI.
Candidates who studied the specified language in Class 10 or 12 and submit valid proof are exempt from this test.
SBI Junior Associate Salary 2026
The pay scale mentioned in the advertisement is:
The starting Basic Pay is ₹26,730, which includes the basic pay of ₹24,050 plus two advance increments available to graduates.
The notification states that the total starting emoluments for a clerical cadre employee posted in a metropolitan location such as Mumbai are approximately ₹46,000 per month, including DA, applicable allowances and the two additional increments for newly recruited graduate Junior Associates. Actual allowances can vary according to the place of posting.
Other Benefits
Selected employees are also eligible for facilities such as:
- Provident Fund
- Pension under the New Pension Scheme
- Medical benefits
- Leave Fare
- Other applicable perquisites and facilities
SBI Junior Associate Probation Period
Selected Junior Associates will be placed on probation for a minimum period of 6 months.
During probation, newly recruited employees must complete prescribed e-lessons. Failure to complete the required lessons can result in extension of the probation period.
SBI may also extend probation where an employee’s performance does not meet the Bank’s expectations.
SBI JA Job Profile
The Junior Associate position is not limited to desk-based clerical work.
According to the notification, new recruits should have an interest in marketing and customer service. Their duties may include:
- Customer calls
- Providing banking services
- Advisory services
- Cross-selling banking products
- Customer support
- Activities inside and outside Bank premises
- Outdoor travelling, depending on job requirements
The Bank may also require flexible working hours and shift work depending on operational requirements.
SBI Junior Associate Application Fee 2026
The application fee/intimation charge is non-refundable.
Category Application Fee SC ₹0 ST ₹0 PwBD ₹0 Ex-Servicemen/Disabled Ex-Servicemen ₹0 OBC ₹750 Therefore, eligible SC/ST/PwBD/XS/DXS candidates can apply without paying an application fee. OBC candidates are required to pay ₹750.
How to Apply for SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026
Candidates have to apply online only.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Visit the SBI official careers portal.
Step 2: Go to the Current Openings section.
Step 3: Find the advertisement for Special Recruitment Drive for Junior Associates 2026.
Step 4: Open advertisement number:
Step 5: Read the detailed notification carefully.
Step 6: Click on the online application link.
Step 7: Register using the required details.
Step 8: Enter personal, educational and category information carefully.
Step 9: Select only one State/UT and the applicable local language.
Step 10: Upload the required photograph, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration.
Step 11: Pay the application fee, if applicable.
Step 12: Submit the application after checking every detail.
Step 13: Download/print the system-generated application form for future reference.
SBI specifically states that corrections will not be allowed after final submission, so candidates should carefully verify their application before submitting it.
Documents Required for Online Application
Candidates should keep the following ready:
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Signature
- Left-hand thumb impression
- Handwritten declaration
- Graduation/educational qualification details
- Category certificate, where applicable
- Valid email ID
- Active mobile number
- Other documents applicable to the candidate’s category
The application requires digital uploads of the photograph, signature, thumb impression and handwritten declaration.
Photograph and Document Upload Specifications
The notification provides specific scanning requirements.
Photograph
- Recent passport-style colour photograph
- Preferred dimensions: 200 × 230 pixels
- File size: 20 KB to 50 KB
- Light-coloured/white background preferred
- Face should be clearly visible
- Caps, hats and dark glasses are not allowed
- Religious headwear is allowed provided it does not cover the face
Candidates must also capture/upload a live photograph using a webcam or mobile phone during the application process.
Signature
- Black ink on white paper
- Preferred dimensions: 140 × 60 pixels
- File size: 10 KB to 20 KB
Left Thumb Impression
- On white paper
- Black or blue ink
- JPG/JPEG format
- Preferred 240 × 240 pixels at 200 DPI
- File size: 20 KB to 50 KB
Handwritten Declaration
- Must be written in English
- Black ink on white paper
- JPG/JPEG format
- Preferred 800 × 400 pixels at 200 DPI
- File size: 50 KB to 100 KB
The handwritten declaration and signature must be the candidate’s own and must not be written by another person. Signature or declaration in capital letters will not be accepted.
SBI JA Exam Centres 2026
SBI has provided a tentative list of examination centres across India.
Some important centres include:
- Bihar: Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Darbhanga, Purnea
- Haryana: Ambala, Faridabad, Gurugram, Kurukshetra
- Delhi NCR: Delhi/NCR
- Karnataka: Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru, Belagavi, Hubballi/Dharwad
- Maharashtra: Mumbai/Thane/Navi Mumbai/MMR, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Nagpur and others
- Uttar Pradesh: Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Noida/Greater Noida and others
- West Bengal: Kolkata, Asansol, Durgapur, Siliguri and others
The complete tentative centre list is provided in Annexure-I of the notification.
SBI reserves the right to cancel, add or change examination centres depending on administrative requirements. Requests for changing the examination centre, date or session will not ordinarily be entertained.
Pre-Examination Training
SBI will arrange online Pre-Examination Training for eligible candidates in accordance with Government of India guidelines.
Candidates who want to use this facility should select the appropriate option in the online application.
Training details will be communicated through the registered email ID and mobile number.
Important Instructions for Candidates
Candidates should remember these important points:
- Apply for only one State/UT.
- Do not submit multiple applications unnecessarily.
- Check your category before final submission.
- OBC candidates must satisfy the Non-Creamy Layer requirement.
- Check the local-language requirement before selecting a State.
- Preliminary marks will not be included in final merit.
- Main Examination marks are used for the final merit list.
- There is 1/4th negative marking in objective tests.
- Keep your registered email ID and mobile number active.
- Download call letters from the SBI website; hard copies will not be sent by post.
- Carry the required original photo ID and self-attested photocopy to the examination.
- Mobile phones, smartwatches and calculators are not permitted inside the examination premises.
- Incorrect or false information can lead to cancellation of candidature.
- Appointment is subject to medical fitness and completion of required KYE formalities.
SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 – Important Dates
Event Date Official Notification 07 August 2026 Online Application Begins 07 August 2026 Last Date to Apply 27 August 2026 Preliminary Examination September 2026 (Tentative) Main Examination October/November 2026 (Tentative) Local Language Test After Main Exam, before joining, wherever applicable The application window and tentative examination schedule are specified in the official advertisement.
SBI JA Recruitment 2026 – FAQs
Q1. How many vacancies are available in SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026?
There are 1,538 backlog vacancies under the special recruitment drive.
Q2. Who can apply?
The recruitment is for eligible candidates against SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies, subject to the detailed eligibility conditions in the notification.
Q3. What is the SBI JA age limit?
The basic age limit is 20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026, with applicable category-wise relaxations.
Q4. What is the educational qualification?
Candidates must have a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university/equivalent institution.
Q5. What is the application fee for SC/ST candidates?
The application fee for SC/ST/PwBD/XS/DXS candidates is Nil.
Q6. What is the fee for OBC candidates?
OBC candidates have to pay ₹750.
Q7. Can I apply for more than one State?
No. Candidates can apply for vacancies in only one State/UT.
Q8. Is the local language compulsory?
Candidates must be proficient in the specified local language of the State/UT they select. A language test is applicable where the candidate does not have proof of studying the specified language in Class 10 or 12.
Q9. Are Preliminary marks included in final selection?
No. Preliminary Examination marks are not added to the final merit. The Main Examination marks are considered for merit.
Q10. What is the starting basic pay?
The starting Basic Pay is ₹26,730, including two advance increments available to graduates.
Q11. What is the approximate starting salary?
The notification states that starting emoluments at a metropolitan location such as Mumbai are around ₹46,000 per month, including applicable allowances.
Q12. When will the SBI JA Preliminary Exam be held?
The Preliminary Examination is tentatively scheduled for September 2026.
Q13. When will the Main Examination be held?
The Main Examination is tentatively scheduled for October/November 2026.
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