The SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026 is officially live, and if you belong to the SC, ST, or OBC category and have been waiting for a banking job, this is your moment. The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced 1538 vacancies for the post of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) in the clerical cadre, exclusively to fill long-pending backlog vacancies reserved for reserved category candidates.
Online applications are open right now — from 7th August 2026 to 27th August 2026 — through SBI’s official careers portal. The Preliminary Examination is tentatively planned for September 2026, and the Main Examination for October/November 2026. The vacancy spans 21 circles across multiple states and union territories, so chances are your state is on the list.
Track every open notification & never miss a deadline
If you are a graduate with a recognised degree and fall within the age bracket of 20 to 28 years as on 1st April 2026, read on. This guide covers everything from eligibility and vacancies to salary, exam pattern, and step-by-step application instructions.
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Table of Contents
SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026 – Quick Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Post Name | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) |
| Advertisement No. | CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 |
| Total Vacancies | 1538 |
| Recruitment Type | Special Drive – SC/ST/OBC Backlog |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Application Dates | 07 August 2026 to 27 August 2026 |
| Prelim Exam | September 16, 2026 |
| Main Exam | Tentatively October/November 2026 |
| Official Website | sbi.co.in/web/careers/current-openings |
Important Dates – SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026
⚠️ Don’t wait until the last day! SBI’s portal sees heavy traffic near the deadline — submit your application a few days early to avoid technical glitches.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | 07 August 2026 |
| Online Registration Opens | 07 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply & Pay Fee | 27 August 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam | September 16, 2026 |
| Main Exam | Tentatively October/November 2026 |
| Admit Card | To be announced |
| Result | To be announced |
All updates, corrigenda, and admit card links will be published only on SBI’s official website. Bookmark it now.
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Join NowSBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive Vacancy Details 2026
The SBI Junior Associate Special Recruitment Drive 2026 covers 1538 backlog vacancies reserved as follows:
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 207 |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 1219 |
| OBC (Other Backward Classes) | 112 |
| Total | 1538 |
These vacancies are distributed across SBI Circles, states, and union territories. Candidates can apply for vacancies in only one State/UT and can appear in the exam only once under this project. Choose carefully.
State-wise Vacancy Breakdown
| Circle | State / UT | Local Language | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amaravati | Andhra Pradesh | Telugu / Urdu | 88 |
| Bengaluru | Karnataka | Kannada | 120 |
| Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh | Hindi | 134 |
| Bhopal | Chhattisgarh | Hindi | 26 |
| Bhubaneswar | Odisha | Odia | 111 |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh UT | Hindi / Punjabi | 22 |
| Chandigarh | Jammu & Kashmir UT | Urdu / Hindi | 42 |
| Chandigarh | Himachal Pradesh | Hindi | 11 |
| Chandigarh | Punjab | Punjabi / Hindi | 18 |
| Chennai | Tamil Nadu | Tamil | 65 |
| Hyderabad | Telangana | Telugu / Urdu | 32 |
| Jaipur | Rajasthan | Hindi | 106 |
| Kolkata | West Bengal | Bengali / Nepali | 55 |
| Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | Hindi / Urdu | 31 |
| Maharashtra/Mumbai Metro | Maharashtra | Marathi | 165 |
| New Delhi | Delhi | Hindi | 17 |
| Gandhinagar | Gujarat | Gujarati | 289 |
| Guwahati | Assam | Assamese / Bengali / Bodo | 39 |
| Guwahati | Tripura | Bengali / Kokborok | 22 |
| Patna | Bihar | Hindi / Urdu | 12 |
| Patna | Jharkhand | Hindi / Santhali | 133 |
💡 Pro Tip: Candidates must be proficient in the local language of the state they apply for. This will be tested in the Local Language Proficiency Test after the Main Exam.
📌 Also Read: Bank of Baroda SO Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for 206 Specialist Officer
SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive Eligibility 2026
Educational Qualification
You must hold a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or institution. Those in the final year or final semester of their graduation can also apply provisionally — but they must produce proof of passing on or before 31st December 2026. There are no exceptions to this date.
Age Limit (as on 01 April 2026)
| Category | Minimum Age | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|
| General / EWS | 20 years | 28 years |
You must have been born not earlier than 02 April 1998 and not later than 01 April 2006 (both dates inclusive).
Age Relaxation
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen / Disabled Ex-Servicemen | Actual service rendered + 3 years (8 years for Disabled Ex-SM in SC/ST), maximum age 50 years |
| Widows / Divorced / Judicially Separated Women (not remarried) | 7 years (maximum age 38 for OBC, 40 for SC/ST) |
| Trained Apprentices of SBI | OBC – 4 yrs; SC/ST – 6 yrs; PwBD (OBC) – 14 yrs; PwBD (SC/ST) – 16 yrs |
✅ Cumulative age relaxation under multiple categories is not available.
Application Fee – SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026
| Category | Fee / Intimation Charges |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen / Disabled Ex-Servicemen | Nil |
| OBC | ₹750/- (non-refundable) |
Payment must be made online using a debit card, credit card, or internet banking. No offline payment mode is accepted.
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SBI Junior Associate Salary 2026 – How Much Will You Earn?
The SBI Clerk salary structure is one of the most attractive in Indian banking. Here’s what you can expect:
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Pay Scale | ₹24050 – 64480 (with increments as per grade) |
| Starting Basic Pay | ₹26,730/- per month |
| Dearness Allowance (DA) | As per CPI, revised quarterly |
| House Rent Allowance (HRA) | Varies by city tier |
| Special Allowance | As applicable |
| Estimated In-Hand (Metro City) | Approx. ₹46,000 – ₹52,000/- per month |
In addition to the monthly salary, SBI clerks receive medical benefits, provident fund contributions, Leave Travel Concession (LTC), annual increments, and promotion opportunities within the bank. This is a secure, well-paying job with genuine long-term career growth.
💡 Pro Tip: SBI clerks also get access to the bank’s salary package benefits including concessional home loans, personal loans, and special savings accounts.
📌 Also Read: SBI Central Government Salary Package & Benefits – Complete Guide
Selection Process – SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026
The selection for the SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026 happens in three stages:
- Phase I – Preliminary Examination (Online): A 1-hour objective test covering English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability. This is a shortlisting round; marks are not counted in the final merit.
- Phase II – Main Examination (Online): A 2 hour 40 minute exam covering General/Financial Awareness, General English, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude. This is the merit-determining round.
- Local Language Proficiency Test: Candidates who clear the Main Exam may be required to appear for a test in the local language of their applied state/UT (where applicable). This is qualifying in nature.
There is no interview in this recruitment.
Exam Pattern – SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026
Phase I – Preliminary Examination
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 Hour |
Phase II – Main Examination
| Subject | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Hr 40 Min |
⚠️ There is a penalty for wrong answers in both phases. Each incorrect answer will result in a deduction of one-fourth of the marks assigned to that question.
How to Apply for SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026
You can only apply online. No other mode of application — postal, in-person, or email — is accepted. Before you start, keep your scanned documents ready.
💡 Pro Tip: Scan and save your photograph (20–50 KB), signature (10–40 KB), left-hand thumb impression, and a handwritten declaration before starting the form — it makes the process much smoother and faster.
- Visit SBI’s official careers page at sbi.co.in/web/careers/current-openings and find the Special Recruitment Drive notification for Junior Associates 2026.
- Download and read Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 carefully before filling the form.
- Click the registration link and complete the online registration with accurate personal and academic details.
- Upload your scanned photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression, and handwritten declaration as per the prescribed specifications.
- Pay the applicable application fee online via debit card, credit card, or internet banking.
- Review every detail in the form before final submission — no corrections are allowed after submission.
- Take a printout of the system-generated application for your personal records. Do not send it to SBI.
For any technical issues, contact 022-22820427 between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM on bank working days, or raise a query at cgrs.ibps.in.
Important Links – SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026
| Link | Details |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click here to apply |
| Official Notification PDF | Download PDF |
| Official SBI Careers Website | sbi.co.in/web/careers/current-openings |
| Syllabus & Exam Pattern | [Check official notification] |
| Admit Card | [To be announced on official website] |
Frequently Asked Questions – SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026
Q1. What is the last date to apply for the SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026?
The online application window closes on 27th August 2026. Fee payment must also be completed by the same date. Do not wait until the last day — apply early to avoid portal congestion.
Q2. Who is eligible to apply for the SBI Junior Associate Special Recruitment Drive 2026?
Only candidates belonging to SC, ST, or OBC categories can apply. General and EWS candidates are not eligible for this drive, as it is specifically meant to fill backlog vacancies reserved for these three categories.
Q3. How many vacancies are available in the SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026?
There are 1538 total vacancies — 207 for SC, 1219 for ST, and 112 for OBC candidates — spread across 21 circles and multiple states and union territories.
Q4. What is the minimum qualification required to apply?
You must be a graduate in any discipline from a recognised university. Final-year students may apply provisionally, but must submit proof of passing their degree by 31st December 2026.
Q5. What is the age limit for the SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026?
The general age limit is 20 to 28 years as on 01 April 2026. Category-wise relaxation applies — OBC candidates get 3 years, SC/ST candidates get 5 years, and PwBD candidates receive additional relaxation as specified.
Q6. Is there a negative marking in the SBI Clerk exam?
Yes. Both the Preliminary and Main Examinations carry a negative marking of 0.25 marks for each wrong answer. Avoid guessing blindly.
Q7. What is the in-hand salary for an SBI Clerk in 2026?
After joining, a new SBI Junior Associate can expect an in-hand salary of approximately ₹46,000 to ₹52,000 per month in metro cities, including Dearness Allowance and other allowances. The starting basic pay is ₹26,730/-.
Q8. Can I apply for more than one state in this drive?
No. You can apply for vacancies in only one State/UT and can appear in the exam only once under this recruitment project. Choose your state carefully based on the local language requirement.
Summing Up…
The SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026 is a rare and targeted opportunity for SC, ST, and OBC candidates to secure a clerical position in one of India’s largest and most trusted public sector banks. With 1538 vacancies spread across the country, a competitive salary starting at around ₹46,000 per month, and no interview in the selection process, this is a straightforward path to a stable banking career.
The application window is short — it closes on 27th August 2026 — so don’t delay. Get your documents ready, visit the official SBI careers portal, and submit your application well before the deadline.
Stay ahead of application deadlines — follow Govtserviceinfo.com for daily Sarkari Naukri alerts and banking job updates.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is based on the official SBI advertisement (No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16) released on 07 August 2026. Govtserviceinfo.com is not affiliated with the State Bank of India in any way. For the most accurate, up-to-date information, always refer to the official SBI website at sbi.co.in. Readers are advised to read the official notification carefully before applying.
