SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 has started for the post of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) in the clerical cadre of State Bank of India. The regular recruitment application window is open from August 11 to August 31, 2026. SBI has published the recruitment under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 on its official Careers website.
This recruitment is open to eligible graduates. Candidates should check the age limit, graduation requirement, state-wise language requirement and exam pattern before applying.
A separate Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies is also running this year. That drive has 1,538 vacancies and has a different advertisement number and application deadline. Candidates should not mix the two recruitment notices.
SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026: Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | State Bank of India (SBI) |
| Post | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) |
| Cadre | Clerical Cadre |
| Recruitment Year | 2026 |
| Advertisement No. | CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Regular Start Date | August 11, 2026 |
| Regular Last Date | August 31, 2026 |
| Preliminary Exam | September 2026 (Tentative) |
| Main Exam | October/November 2026 (Tentative) |
| Educational Qualification | Graduation in any discipline |
| Age Limit | 20 to 28 years (as on 01/04/2026) |
| Selection Process | Prelims Exam, Main Exam and Local Language Test |
SBI’s official Current Openings page currently lists the Junior Associate recruitment and confirms that online applications can be submitted from August 11 to August 31, 2026.
SBI Junior Associate Vacancy 2026
The supplied recruitment data reports 7,680 regular vacancies and an additional 2,086 backlog vacancies, giving a reported figure of 9,766 posts.
However, there is an important clarification for candidates.
The official SBI Careers page confirms the regular Junior Associate recruitment under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17, but the official notification supplied with this article is not the notification for those regular vacancies. It is a separate Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies.
Therefore, candidates should not treat the 9,766 figure as an SBI-confirmed total based only on the backlog PDF.
Separate SBI Junior Associate Backlog Recruitment
SBI has separately notified 1,538 SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16.
The category-wise breakup is:
- SC: 207 vacancies
- ST: 1,219 vacancies
- OBC: 112 vacancies
- Total: 1,538 vacancies
Applications for this special drive are open from August 7 to August 27, 2026.
This is a useful distinction because the two recruitment notices have different application dates and vacancy rules.
Who Can Apply for SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026?
Candidates should meet both the age and educational qualification requirements.
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have a graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.
Final-year or final-semester graduation students may also apply provisionally. If selected, they must provide proof that they have passed the graduation examination by December 31, 2026.
This means a candidate does not necessarily have to wait for the final graduation certificate before applying if they are currently in their final year or semester.
Age Limit
The age limit is 20 to 28 years as on April 1, 2026.
Candidates must have been born between:
- April 2, 1998, and
- April 1, 2006
(Both dates are included).
Age Relaxation
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC | 3 years |
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| PwBD - OBC | 13 years |
| PwBD - SC / ST | 15 years |
| Ex-Servicemen / Disabled Ex-Servicemen | As per SBI rules |
| Widows / Divorced Women / Judicially Separated Women | 7 years |
| Eligible SBI Trained Apprentices | As per category |
The official notification also states that cumulative age relaxation is not available by combining multiple relaxation provisions.
SBI Junior Associate Local Language Requirement
The local language rule is one of the most important parts of this recruitment.
Candidates must be able to read, write, speak and understand the specified local language of the State or Union Territory for which they apply.
For example, the specified language for Gujarat is Gujarati.
A candidate who studied the required local language in Class 10 or Class 12 and can produce the relevant marksheet or certificate will generally not have to take the separate local language test. Candidates who have not studied the specified language must qualify in the language test after the Main Examination and before joining.
Important State Rule
A candidate can apply for vacancies in only one State or Union Territory.
This is not simply a preference for the exam centre. The selected candidate is posted in the State/UT for which they applied, subject to SBI’s applicable rules. The merit list is also prepared state-wise and category-wise.
SBI Junior Associate Selection Process 2026
The selection process has three stages:
- Preliminary Examination
- Main Examination
- Local Language Proficiency Test (wherever applicable)
The Preliminary Examination is used for shortlisting candidates for the Main Examination. Its marks are not added to the final merit list.
The final merit is based on marks obtained in the Main Examination.
SBI Junior Associate Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The Preliminary Examination will be conducted online.
| 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 | 1 hour |
There is a one-fourth mark penalty for every incorrect answer.
What does this mean for candidates?
The one-hour limit makes speed important. Each section also has its own time limit.
Candidates should therefore practise with sectional timers instead of preparing only with full-length mock tests.
SBI Junior Associate Main Exam Pattern 2026
Candidates who qualify for the Preliminary Examination will move to the Main Examination.
| Section | Questions | 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 |
The Main Examination also has one-fourth negative marking for an incorrect answer. The aggregate score in the Main Examination forms the basis of the final merit.
A Useful Preparation Point
The Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude section contains 50 questions but carries 60 marks. Candidates should therefore avoid treating every section as if it has the same marks-per-question structure.
General and Financial Awareness also carries 50 marks, so current banking and financial awareness should not be left until the final few days.
SBI Junior Associate Exam Dates 2026
SBI has indicated the following tentative schedule:
- Preliminary Examination: September 2026
- Main Examination: October/November 2026
The dates are tentative. Candidates should check the SBI Careers page regularly for the release of detailed schedules, call letters and other recruitment updates.
SBI Junior Associate Salary 2026
The Junior Associate post carries a structured pay scale.
The supplied recruitment data lists the pay scale as:
₹24,050 - 1,340/3 - 28,070 - 1,650/3 - 33,020 - 2,000/4 - 41,020 - 2,340/7 - 57,400 - 4,400/1 - 61,800 - 2,680/1 - 64,480
The starting basic pay is ₹26,730.
The approximate starting emoluments are around ₹46,000 per month at a metro location such as Mumbai, including applicable allowances and two additional increments for graduates. Actual allowances can vary depending on the place of posting.
Candidates should not assume that the exact in-hand salary will be the same in every city. Location-based allowances and deductions can affect the final amount credited.
SBI Junior Associate Application Fee 2026
The supplied recruitment data lists the following application fee:
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen / Disabled Ex-Servicemen | ₹0 |
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹750 |
The fee is non-refundable.
Candidates should carefully select their category during registration because the notification states that a category change is not permitted after submission of the online application.
SBI Junior Associate Application Form 2026: How to Apply
Eligible candidates can apply online through the recruitment link provided on SBI’s official Careers website.
- Step 1: Visit the SBI Careers Current Openings page.
- Step 2: Find “Recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales)” with Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17.
- Step 3: Read the official advertisement carefully before starting registration.
- Step 4: Complete the online registration form and enter your personal, educational and category details.
- Step 5: Select the one State/UT for which you want to apply.
- Step 6: Check the applicable local language requirement.
- Step 7: Upload the required documents, photograph and signature in the prescribed format.
- Step 8: Pay the applicable application fee.
- Step 9: Submit the application and save or print the confirmation page for future reference.
SBI’s official Careers page currently provides both the advertisement and the online application link for the regular Junior Associate recruitment.
One State, One Application: An Important Rule
One detail that deserves more attention is the one-State/UT rule.
Candidates cannot submit applications for multiple States or Union Territories under this recruitment project. They can also appear for the recruitment examination only once.
Therefore, candidates should not select a State simply because it has a larger number of vacancies. The local language requirement, expected posting location and long-term willingness to work in that State should also be considered.
This can be especially important for candidates who are comfortable with more than one State’s language.
What Happens After Selection?
Selected candidates are posted in the State/UT for which they applied.
SBI’s notification also states that there is no provision for Inter Circle Transfer or Inter State Transfer for Junior Associates recruited under the project, apart from specified intra-state exceptions.
Newly appointed Junior Associates have a minimum six-month probation period. They must complete prescribed e-lessons and meet the required performance standards for confirmation.
This is another reason to treat the State choice as a serious decision rather than just an application-form field.
SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026: Key Things Candidates Should Check
Before submitting the form, candidates should verify these points:
- You are between 20 and 28 years of age, unless an applicable relaxation applies.
- Your graduation qualification meets SBI’s requirements.
- Final-year students can meet the required graduation deadline.
- You are applying for only one State/UT.
- You meet the local language requirement.
- You understand that the Preliminary Examination marks are not added to final merit.
- You have checked the Main Examination pattern.
- You have selected the correct category.
- You have saved your submitted application and payment details.
- You are using the official SBI recruitment website rather than an unofficial application link.
SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026: Regular vs Backlog Drive
Candidates searching for SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026, SBI JA Recruitment 2026 or SBI Junior Associate Vacancy 2026 may come across two different SBI notices.
They should be kept separate.
| Feature | Regular JA Recruitment | Backlog Special Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Advertisement | CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 | CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 |
| Application Start | August 11, 2026 | August 7, 2026 |
| Application Last Date | August 31, 2026 | August 27, 2026 |
| Recruitment Type | Regular recruitment | SC/ST/OBC backlog drive |
| Officially confirmed backlog vacancies | Not applicable | 1,538 |
| Main Exam | October/November 2026, tentative | October/November 2026, tentative |
SBI’s Careers page lists both recruitment notices separately.
The backlog notification itself confirms 1,538 vacancies, comprising 207 SC, 1,219 ST and 112 OBC vacancies.
SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Regular JA Online Application Begins | August 11, 2026 |
| Regular JA Application Last Date | August 31, 2026 |
| Backlog Drive Application Begins | August 7, 2026 |
| Backlog Drive Application Last Date | August 27, 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination | September 2026, tentative |
| Main Examination | October/November 2026, tentative |
The regular recruitment dates are confirmed on SBI’s current openings page, while the September and October/November examination schedule is described as tentative in the recruitment information.
Bottom Line
SBI Junior Associate Recruitment 2026 is a major opportunity for graduates looking for a clerical banking career. The regular recruitment application window is open from August 11 to August 31, 2026, and candidates should complete the form well before the deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
The most important points are simple: check your age, confirm your graduation eligibility, choose only one State/UT, understand its local language requirement and prepare for both the Preliminary and Main examinations.
Candidates should also be careful with vacancy figures circulating online. The 1,538 backlog vacancies are independently confirmed by the official SBI notification, while the regular recruitment is published separately by SBI under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17. Always use the latest SBI Careers notice as the final authority before submitting an application.
