The State Bank of India (SBI) has released the notification for recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) under a Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC Backlog Vacancies (Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16). Online registration is open from 7 August 2026 to 27 August 2026. This article explains the exam pattern for Prelims and Mains, the Local Language Proficiency Test, marking scheme, and selection process exactly as given in the official notification.
Note on syllabus: The official notification specifies the names of the test sections, number of questions, marks, and duration for each phase, but it does not publish a topic-wise syllabus. Wherever this article lists sub-topics for a section, it is clearly marked as a general guide and not an officially notified syllabus. If a detail is not available in the notification, this article states that explicitly instead of assuming it.
SBI Junior Associates (Clerk) Syllabus 2026 - Quick Overview
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organisation | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Post | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) |
| Recruitment Type | Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC Backlog Vacancies |
| Advertisement No. | CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 |
| Total Vacancies | 1,538 (SC: 207, ST: 1,219, OBC: 112) |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Selection Stages | Preliminary Exam → Main Exam → Local Language Proficiency Test |
| Official Website | https://sbi.bank.in/ |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Start of online registration and fee payment | 7 August 2026 |
| Last date for online registration and fee payment | 27 August 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination | Tentatively September 2026 |
| Main Examination | Tentatively October/November 2026 |
SBI has stated these exam dates are tentative. Candidates should keep checking the official careers page for the confirmed schedule and call letter release.
Also Read: SSC JHT PST 2026 Date
SBI Junior Associate Exam Pattern 2026
The selection process has three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and (where applicable) a Local Language Proficiency Test. Both online tests carry negative marking of 1/4th mark for every wrong answer.
Phase I: Preliminary Examination Pattern
The Prelims is an objective test of 100 marks and 1 hour total duration, split into three separately timed sections. There is no sectional cut-off, but the Bank shortlists candidates for Mains based on aggregate marks (approximately 10 times the number of vacancies per category, subject to availability).
| S.No. | Test Name | Medium of Exam | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English Language | English | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| 2 | Numerical Ability | English/Hindi (as per state) | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| 3 | Reasoning Ability | English/Hindi (as per state) | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 Hour | ||
Phase II: Main Examination Pattern
The Main Exam is an objective test of 200 marks over 2 hours 40 minutes, with four separately timed sections. Only the aggregate marks obtained in the Main Examination are used to prepare the final merit list Prelims marks are not added at this stage.
| S.No. | Test Name | Medium of Exam | No. of Questions | Max. Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General/Financial Awareness | English/Hindi (as per state) | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| 2 | General English | English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| 3 | Quantitative Aptitude | English/Hindi (as per state) | 50 | 50 | 45 minutes |
| 4 | Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | English/Hindi (as per state) | 50 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 2 Hr. 40 min. | ||
Candidates must score minimum qualifying marks on aggregate, as decided by the Bank; there are no individual sectional qualifying marks, and sectional marks are not maintained separately.
Phase III: Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)
Provisionally selected candidates who have not studied the specified local language of the applied state in Class 10 or 12 must appear for the LLPT after Main Exam qualification but before joining. Candidates who submit a 10th/12th mark sheet showing the local language as a subject are exempted from this test.
| S.No. | Test Pattern | Section | No. of Passages | No. of Questions | Max. Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non-Verbal Test | Objective | 3 | 15 | 15 |
| 1 | Non-Verbal Test | Subjective | 3 | 15 | 15 |
| 2 | Verbal Test | - | - | 20 | |
Candidates who fail to qualify the LLPT will not be offered appointment.
SBI Junior Associate Syllabus 2026 (Section-wise Guide)
The notification does not release a detailed, topic-wise syllabus it only names the test sections shown above. Based on the officially named sections, the following are the broad areas typically covered under each section for this kind of clerical-cadre banking exam. Treat this as a general study guide, not an official syllabus document.
Prelims Sections
- English Language: Reading comprehension, cloze test, para jumbles, error detection, fill in the blanks, vocabulary-based questions.
- Numerical Ability: Simplification, number series, quadratic equations, data interpretation, arithmetic problems (percentage, profit & loss, average, ratio, time & work, simple/compound interest).
- Reasoning Ability: Puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, inequality, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, alphanumeric series.
Mains Sections
- General/Financial Awareness: Current affairs, banking and financial awareness, static general knowledge.
- General English: Comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction, and para-based questions at a slightly higher difficulty than Prelims.
- Quantitative Aptitude: Data interpretation, data sufficiency, arithmetic word problems, number series, simplification/approximation.
- Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude: Advanced puzzles and seating arrangement, logical reasoning, plus basic computer knowledge (fundamentals, MS Office, internet, and banking-related computer terms).
Also Read: Bihar BPSC Auditor OMR Sheet 2026
How to Apply
- Visit the official SBI careers page: https://sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings
- Locate and open the "Special Recruitment drive for Junior Associates 2026" link.
- Download and carefully read Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16.
- Register online with a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Fill in the application form and upload the scanned photograph, signature, left thumb impression, and hand-written declaration.
- Pay the application fee (if applicable) using debit card, credit card, or internet banking.
- Submit the form and save/print the system-generated application form for your records (this printout is not to be sent to SBI).
Important Instructions
- Candidates can apply for vacancies in one State/UT only and can appear for the test only once under this recruitment project.
- There is no provision for Inter-Circle or Inter-State transfer, except intra-state transfer between Delhi Circle & Lucknow Circle (Uttar Pradesh) and between Mumbai Metro Circle & Maharashtra Circle (Maharashtra), subject to the Bank's extant guidelines.
- No changes or corrections to submitted application particulars, including category, will be entertained under any circumstances.
- Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators, and similar devices are strictly prohibited inside the examination premises.
- A wait list of up to 50% of vacancies (state-category wise) will be maintained and released quarterly, valid for one year from the date of declaration of the final result.
- SBI reserves the right to cancel the recruitment process entirely at any stage.
- SBI has clarified it does not endorse any external coaching platform or consultancy claiming to guarantee selection; candidates should rely only on the official career portal.
