SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026: State Bank of India (SBI) has released the official notification for the Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC Backlog Vacancies for the post of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) in the clerical cadre. A total of 1,538 vacancies have been announced across various States/UTs. Candidates interested in the released vacancies can now apply online through the official website sbi.bank.in.
SBI Clerk Special (SC/ST/OBC Backlog) Recruitment Drive 2026
The Central Recruitment & Promotion Department, State Bank of India, Corporate Centre, Mumbai, has invited applications from eligible Indian citizens for appointment as Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) in the clerical cadre, specifically under a Special Recruitment Drive aimed at filling SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies. The advertisement is numbered CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16. Online registration of application and payment of fees is open from 7th August 2026 to 27th August 2026. Candidates can check the vacancy details, eligibility, selection process, and other details below.
SBI Clerk Special (SC/ST/OBC Backlog) Notification 2026 Out
SBI has released the notification for recruitment against backlog vacancies reserved for SC, ST, and OBC categories in the Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) cadre. Candidates can apply for vacancies in only one State/UT, and can appear for the test only once under this recruitment project.
SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026 Notification PDF – Click to Download
Highlights
This is a good opportunity for SC, ST, and OBC category graduates to secure a clerical cadre position with India’s largest public sector bank under a dedicated backlog recruitment drive.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Post Name | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) |
| Total Vacancies | 1,538 |
| Advt. No. | CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 |
| Category | SC/ST/OBC Backlog Vacancies |
| Mode of Application | Online |
| Registration Dates | 7th to 27th August 2026 |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, Local Language Test |
| Job Location | State/UT-wise (as applied) |
| Official Website | sbi.bank.in |
SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026 – Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration & Fee Payment Starts | 7th August 2026 |
| Last Date for Online Registration & Fee Payment | 27th August 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination (Tentative) | September 2026 |
| Main Examination (Tentative) | October/November 2026 |
SBI Clerk Special (SC/ST/OBC Backlog) Vacancy 2026 – State/UT-wise Breakup
SBI aims to fill a total of 1,538 vacancies under this special recruitment drive across various Circles, States/UTs. Candidates applying for a particular State/UT must be proficient in the specified local language of that region.
| Circle | State/UT | SC | ST | OBC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amaravati | Andhra Pradesh | — | 88 | — | 88 |
| Bengaluru | Karnataka | 85 | 35 | — | 120 |
| Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh | — | 134 | — | 134 |
| Bhopal | Chhattisgarh | — | 26 | — | 26 |
| Bhubaneswar | Odisha | — | 111 | — | 111 |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh UT | — | — | 22 | 22 |
| Chandigarh | Jammu & Kashmir UT | — | 42 | — | 42 |
| Chandigarh | Himachal Pradesh | 11 | — | — | 11 |
| Chandigarh | Punjab | — | — | 18 | 18 |
| Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 65 | — | — | 65 |
| Hyderabad | Telangana | — | 32 | — | 32 |
| Jaipur | Rajasthan | 20 | 86 | — | 106 |
| Kolkata | West Bengal | — | — | 55 | 55 |
| Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | — | 31 | — | 31 |
| Maharashtra/Mumbai Metro | Maharashtra | — | 165 | — | 165 |
| New Delhi | Delhi | — | — | 17 | 17 |
| Gandhinagar | Gujarat | — | 289 | — | 289 |
| Guwahati | Assam | — | 39 | — | 39 |
| Guwahati | Tripura | — | 22 | — | 22 |
| Patna | Bihar | 12 | — | — | 12 |
| Patna | Jharkhand | 14 | 119 | — | 133 |
Also Read: BSIP Scientist B Recruitment 2026
SBI Clerk Eligibility Criteria 2026
Check details below:
Age Limit
Candidates must be not below 20 years and not above 28 years, i.e., born not earlier than 02.04.1998 and not later than 01.04.2006 (both days inclusive).
Age Relaxation:
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC | 3 years |
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen/Disabled Ex-Servicemen | Actual service period + 3 years (8 years for Disabled ESM belonging to SC/ST), max age 50 years |
| Widows/Divorced/Judicially Separated Women (not remarried) | 7 years (max age 38 for OBC, 40 for SC/ST) |
| Trained Apprentices of SBI | OBC – 4 years; SC/ST – 6 years; PwBD(OBC) – 14 years; PwBD(SC/ST) – 16 years |
Note: Cumulative age relaxation is not available under multiple categories combined.
Essential Academic Qualification
- Graduation in any discipline from a recognized University or equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government
- Candidates in the final year/semester of graduation may also apply provisionally, subject to producing proof of passing by 31.12.2026
- Matriculate Ex-servicemen with Indian Army Special Certificate of Education (or equivalent) and 15+ years of service are also eligible
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD)
The post is identified suitable for PwBD candidates under the following categories, as defined in the RPWD Act 2016:
- Blind, Low Vision
- Deaf, Hard of Hearing
- Locomotor Disabilities: One Arm, Both Arms, One Leg, Both Legs, Cerebral Palsy, Leprosy Cured, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victims, Muscular Dystrophy, Spinal Deformity/Injury
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (Mild), Intellectual Disability, Specific Learning Disability, Mental Illness
- Multiple Disabilities involving any of the above
Note: There is no horizontal reservation for PwBD; concessions are available only to eligible candidates with a valid Disability Certificate issued on or before the last date of registration.
Scribe & Compensatory Time
- Available to candidates with 40% or more disability and physical limitation to write
- Compensatory time of 20 minutes per hour of examination
- Candidates must arrange their own scribe at their own cost
SBI Clerk Special (SC/ST/OBC Backlog) Selection Process 2026
The selection process consists of an online test (Preliminary & Main) and a Local Language Proficiency Test.
Phase-I: Preliminary Examination
Online objective test for 100 marks, 1-hour duration:
| Test Name | Medium | Questions | Max Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | English | 30 | 30 | 20 min |
| Numerical Ability | — | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
| Reasoning Ability | — | 35 | 35 | 20 min |
- Negative marking: 1/4th mark deducted for each wrong answer
- No minimum qualifying marks for individual sections; approximately 10 times the number of vacancies will be shortlisted for Main Exam
Phase-II: Main Examination
Online objective test for 200 marks, 2 hours 40 minutes duration:
| Test Name | Medium | Questions | Max Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General/Financial Awareness | — | 50 | 50 | 35 min |
| General English | English | 40 | 40 | 35 min |
| Quantitative Aptitude | — | 50 | 50 | 45 min |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | — | 50 | 60 | 45 min |
- Negative marking: 1/4th mark deducted for each wrong answer
- Marks obtained in Preliminary Exam are not added; only Main Exam marks count for the final merit list
Phase-III: Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)
Candidates not having studied the specified local language in Class 10th or 12th must appear for this test:
| Test Pattern | Section | Passages | Questions | Max Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-Verbal Test | Objective | 3 | 15 | 15 |
| Non-Verbal Test | Subjective | 3 | 15 | 15 |
| Verbal Test | — | — | — | 20 |
Candidates who fail to qualify the local language test will not be offered appointment.
Bonus Marks: Trained SBI Apprentices (engagement start date on/after 01.01.2022, completing one year of branch experience by 27.08.2026) get 2.5% bonus marks (5 out of 200) in the Main Exam.
Medium of Examination (State-wise)
Candidates can choose from English, Hindi, and the respective regional language depending on the state applied for — for example, Telugu/Urdu for Andhra Pradesh, Kannada for Karnataka, Marathi for Maharashtra, Gujarati for Gujarat, Bengali for West Bengal, and Tamil for Tamil Nadu, among others.
SBI Clerk Salary & Pay Scale 2026
Pay Scale: Rs. 24050-1340/3-28070-1650/3-33020-2000/4-41020-2340/7-57400-4400/1-61800-2680/1-64480
- Starting Basic Pay: Rs. 26,730/- (Rs. 24,050/- plus two advance increments admissible to graduates)
- Total Starting Emoluments (Metro like Mumbai): Approximately Rs. 46,000/- per month, inclusive of DA and other allowances, plus two additional increments for newly recruited graduate Junior Associates
- Additional benefits: Provident Fund, Pension under New Pension Scheme, Medical, Leave-Fare Concession, and other perquisites
SBI Clerk Application Fee 2026
| Category | Fee/Intimation Charges |
|---|---|
| SC/ST/PwBD/XS/DXS | Nil |
| OBC | Rs. 750/- |
Note: Fee/Intimation charges once paid are non-refundable under any circumstances.
How to Apply for SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026
Candidates can apply online only; no other mode of application is accepted.
- Visit the SBI official website – sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings
- Click on “Special Recruitment Drive for Junior Associates 2026”
- Register online providing basic personal details to generate a provisional registration number and password
- Fill the application form carefully; save and re-edit up to 3 times if needed before final submission
- Scan and upload photograph, signature, left-hand thumb impression, and hand-written declaration as per specifications
- Pay the application fee (where applicable) through debit card/credit card/internet banking
- On successful payment, download and retain the e-receipt and application form for record (do NOT send to SBI)
- Optionally provide Aadhaar details for verification
Documents/Images Required for Online Application
| Document | Specification |
|---|---|
| Photograph | 4.5cm x 3.5cm, 20-50 KB, JPG/JPEG |
| Signature | 140 x 60 pixels, 10-20 KB |
| Left Thumb Impression | 3cm x 3cm (240×240 px @200 DPI), 20-50 KB |
| Hand-written Declaration | 10cm x 5cm (800×400 px @200 DPI), 50-100 KB |
FAQs
Is SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026 notification released?
Yes, the notification (Advt. No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16) has been released, with online registration open from 7th to 27th August 2026.
How many vacancies are released under this SBI recruitment drive?
1,538 vacancies have been released for SC (207), ST (1,219), and OBC (112) backlog categories combined.
Who is eligible to apply for SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026?
Candidates aged 20-28 years (as on 01.04.2026) with graduation in any discipline, belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories, are eligible, subject to other conditions like local language proficiency.
What is the application fee for SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026?
No fee for SC/ST/PwBD/XS/DXS candidates; Rs. 750/- for OBC candidates.
What is the selection process for SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026?
The selection process comprises a Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and a Local Language Proficiency Test (where applicable).
Can candidates apply for more than one State/UT?
No, candidates can apply for vacancies in only one State/UT.
What is the starting salary for SBI Junior Associate?
The starting basic pay is Rs. 26,730/-, with total starting emoluments of around Rs. 46,000/- per month in metro cities like Mumbai.