SBI Junior Associate (Clerk) Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026 – Prelims & Mains

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

ParticularsDetails
OrganisationState Bank of India (SBI)
PostJunior Associate (Customer Support & Sales)
Recruitment TypeSpecial Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC Backlog Vacancies
Advertisement No.CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16
Total Vacancies1,538 (SC: 207, ST: 1,219, OBC: 112)
Application ModeOnline only
Selection StagesPreliminary Exam → Main Exam → Local Language Proficiency Test
Official Websitehttps://sbi.bank.in/

Important Dates

EventDate
Start of online registration and fee payment7 August 2026
Last date for online registration and fee payment27 August 2026
Preliminary ExaminationTentatively September 2026
Main ExaminationTentatively 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

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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 NameMedium of ExamNo. of QuestionsMax. MarksDuration
1English LanguageEnglish303020 minutes
2Numerical AbilityEnglish/Hindi (as per state)353520 minutes
3Reasoning AbilityEnglish/Hindi (as per state)353520 minutes
Total1001001 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 NameMedium of ExamNo. of QuestionsMax. MarksDuration
1General/Financial AwarenessEnglish/Hindi (as per state)505035 minutes
2General EnglishEnglish404035 minutes
3Quantitative AptitudeEnglish/Hindi (as per state)505045 minutes
4Reasoning Ability & Computer AptitudeEnglish/Hindi (as per state)506045 minutes
Total1902002 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 PatternSectionNo. of PassagesNo. of QuestionsMax. Marks
1Non-Verbal TestObjective31515
1Non-Verbal TestSubjective31515
2Verbal Test20

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.

SBI Junior Associates (Clerk) Syllabus 2026 – Important Links

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