SBI Clerk Backlog Mains Admit Card 2026 Out: Junior Associate Special Drive Exam on 29 October
SBI has released the Main Examination (Phase-II) call letters for the Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales), Advt. No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16. The Mains is on 29 October 2026. SBI has also published the Mains information handout (“Acquaint Yourself Booklet”) in English and Hindi, plus guidelines for PwBD candidates who use a scribe. Your reporting time and venue are printed on your own call letter, so open it first. The Prelims result section of this article stays as it was.
How to Download the SBI Clerk Backlog Mains Admit Card 2026?
- Open the Mains call letter login page (the SBI careers page hands you on to the IBPS registration portal).
- Sign in with the details the page asks for, such as your registration number and password or date of birth, as shown on screen.
- Download the call letter and the handout. SBI does not post a hard copy of either.
- Paste a recent passport-size photograph in the space on the call letter and note your Roll Number, exam date, reporting time and venue.
The advertisement says Mains call letters become available tentatively from 10 days before the exam date. If the login page does not open for you yet, keep trying on the official site.
What Are the SBI Clerk Backlog Mains Exam Date and Key Details 2026?
| Particular | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam | Online Main Examination (Phase-II), objective type, five options per question |
| Exam date | 29 October 2026 |
| Reporting time and venue | As printed on your call letter |
| Duration | 2 hours 40 minutes, each test separately timed |
| Total | 190 questions, 200 marks |
| Negative marking | One-fourth of the marks for each wrong answer; no penalty for a blank |
| Qualifying marks | A minimum aggregate percentage decided by the Bank; no minimum for individual subjects |
| Travelling allowance | Not paid; the call letter is not an offer of appointment |
What Is the SBI Clerk Backlog Mains Exam Pattern 2026?
| Test | 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 |
Questions appear in English and the medium of your state (the handout lists the medium for each of the 21 states and UTs). If the English and translated versions differ, the handout says the English version prevails. You cannot submit before the full 160 minutes are over.
What to Carry to the SBI Clerk Mains Exam Hall on 29 October?
- Mains call letter with your photograph affixed, signed and with your left thumb impression in front of the invigilator (signature in capital letters is not accepted).
- Photo identity proof in original plus one photocopy.
- The Prelims call letter and the photocopy of photo ID that was authenticated or stamped at the Prelims.
- A ball point pen. The advertisement also asks for two extra photographs, the same as the one on the call letter.
- The Scribe Declaration Form, if you are eligible for and have opted for a scribe.
Reach the venue 15 minutes before the reporting time mentioned in the English handout. Late comers will not be allowed to take the test, and a candidate without the listed documents will not be permitted to appear. You submit both call letters, the ID photocopy and your rough sheets at the end.
What Are the Entry Rules and Banned Items at the SBI Mains Exam Centre?
- Registration at the venue includes photo capture and a left-eye IRIS scan. Remove contact lenses and spectacles during the scan. Refusing the scan can lead to cancellation of candidature.
- Not allowed inside: calculators, mobile phones, smart watches and any watch, books and notes, bags, belts, caps, metallic items and opened or packed eatables. Only a transparent water bottle is allowed.
- Avoid rings, earrings, nose-pins, chains and similar ornaments.
- Any canvassing, including a request to change the date, time or venue, is treated as disqualification.
- Copying, impersonation, sharing or taking away test content can mean disqualification and a permanent or time-bound debarment from SBI exams, besides criminal prosecution.
What Are the Scribe Rules for PwBD Candidates in SBI Clerk Mains 2026?
Candidates who opted for a scribe in the online application must submit the Scribe Declaration Form along with the call letters. The scribe guidelines PDF says you arrange the scribe at your own cost, the scribe may be from any academic stream, and the scribe must not be a candidate in this recruitment. Candidates who registered for compensatory time get 20 minutes for every hour. Candidates using a scribe under OM F. No. 29-6/2019-DD-III need a Government medical certificate, without which they cannot appear, and a scribe whose qualification is one step lower than theirs. A scribe who answers on the candidate’s behalf leads to termination of the session and cancellation of candidature.
What Happens After the SBI Clerk Backlog Mains 2026 Exam?
Prelims marks are not added. The final merit list comes from Mains marks alone. Candidates who studied the opted local language in class 10th or 12th are exempt from the language test; others take it after provisional selection but before joining. A wait list of up to 50% of vacancies is kept for one year.
Important Links for this Update
- Download Admit Card for SBI Clerk Backlog Mains Admit Card 2026 Out – Junior Associate Special Drive Exam on 29 October
- Mains Information Handout (English), exam 29 October
- Mains Information Handout (Hindi), exam 29 October
- Scribe Guidelines for PwBD Candidates, JA Backlog Drive Advt. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16
- Official Notification Page for SBI Clerk Backlog Mains Admit Card 2026 Out – Junior Associate Special Drive Exam on 29 October
- Visit SBI Clerk Backlog Mains Official Website
- Original Notification PDF for Advt. No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16
SBI Clerk Backlog Prelims Result 2026 Out: Check Junior Associate Phase-I Marks
SBI has released the Phase-I (Preliminary Examination) marks for the Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales), Advt. No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 dated 07.08.2026. The Prelims was held in September 2026, and the result page is titled “Marks Secured by the Candidate (Phase-I)”. It is a login page, so you see only your own marks. Open the Prelims result and marks link and sign in with the steps in this update.
How to Check the SBI Clerk Backlog Prelims Result 2026 Online?
- Open the official Phase-I marks page on the SBI careers website.
- Enter your Roll Number or Registration Number.
- Enter your Date of Birth.
- Type the captcha text shown on the page (use Refresh CAPTCHA if it is unreadable) and click Submit.
- Your Phase-I marks appear on screen. Save or print them for your records.
The page shows marks only to the candidate who logs in. It does not carry a cut-off or a merit list, and the notification does not prescribe any minimum qualifying marks for the Prelims. Shortlisting works category-wise: approximately 10 times the number of vacancies in each category, subject to availability, are called for the Main Examination in descending order of marks.
What is the Current Status of SBI Clerk Backlog Recruitment 2026?
| Stage | Status |
|---|---|
| Online registration and fee payment | Closed on 27 August 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination (Phase-I) | Held in September 2026 |
| Prelims marks | Out. Log in with Roll/Registration Number and Date of Birth |
| Main Examination (Phase-II) | |
| Local Language Proficiency Test | After the Main Examination and before joining, for those who have not studied the language in class 10th or 12th |
What to do next: keep checking the SBI careers website for Main Examination call letters and the exam date. The Main Examination call letter is now out and the Mains is on 29 October 2026; see the Mains update above. Remember that Prelims marks are used only for shortlisting, and the final merit list is prepared from Main Examination marks alone.
Essential Links — SBI Clerk Backlog Prelims Result 2026
- Check Result for SBI Clerk Backlog Prelims Result 2026 Out – Junior Associate Special Drive (SC/ST/OBC)
- Official Notification Page for SBI Clerk Backlog Prelims Result 2026 Out – Junior Associate Special Drive (SC/ST/OBC)
- Visit SBI Clerk Backlog Prelims Official Website
- Original Notification PDF for Advt. No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16
SBI Junior Associate 2026 Notification: 1,538 Clerical Vacancies, State-Wise Seats and Full Exam Pattern
State Bank of India (SBI) has released advertisement CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 for the recruitment of 1,538 Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) in the clerical cadre. Note this carefully, because it decided who could apply — this is a Special Recruitment Drive for SC, ST and OBC backlog vacancies only. There are no UR/General and no EWS vacancies in this drive. It was open to SC, ST and OBC graduates, with banking job vacancies spread across 21 States and Union Territories.
The online registration window ran from 7 August 2026 to 27 August 2026 and is now closed. The starting basic pay is ₹26,730 and total starting emoluments at a metro city like Mumbai come to around ₹46,000 per month. In this guide we cover the complete state-wise seat table, eligibility, age limit, fee, the full Prelims and Mains exam pattern, and a step-by-step application walkthrough. Read it end to end so nothing surprises you later, and keep GovtJobsAlert.in handy for every SBI update.
Key Highlights — SBI Clerk Junior Associate Recruitment 2026
State Bank of India is the country’s largest public sector bank, and its Central Recruitment & Promotion Department at Corporate Centre, Mumbai runs this hiring. A Junior Associate makes customer calls, cross-sells products and gives banking and advisory services inside and outside the branch. It remains one of the most secure and respected entry-level bank jobs for any graduate in India.
- Post Name: Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) — clerical cadre
- Total Vacancies: 1,538 posts (all SC/ST/OBC backlog)
- Qualification: Graduation in any discipline
- Starting Basic Pay: ₹26,730 per month
- Job Location: The single State/UT you apply for
- Application Start Date: 7 August 2026
- Last Date to Apply: 27 August 2026
SBI Clerk 2026 Vacancy List: How Many Posts in Each State?
You may apply for vacancies in one State or UT only, and the merit list is drawn state-wise and category-wise. Choose carefully, because the state you pick also decides the local language you must know.
There is no provision for Inter-Circle or Inter-State Transfer for Junior Associates recruited under this project. The only exception is intra-state transfer between two Circles in the same state — Delhi Circle and Lucknow Circle within Uttar Pradesh, and Mumbai Metro Circle and Maharashtra Circle within Maharashtra. Treat the state you choose as the state you will spend your career in.
| State / UT | Vacancies | Local Language |
|---|---|---|
| Gujarat | 289 | Gujarati |
| Maharashtra | 165 | Marathi |
| Madhya Pradesh | 134 | Hindi |
| Jharkhand | 133 | Hindi / Santhali |
| Karnataka | 120 | Kannada |
| Odisha | 111 | Odia |
| Rajasthan | 106 | Hindi |
| Andhra Pradesh | 88 | Telugu / Urdu |
| Tamil Nadu | 65 | Tamil |
| West Bengal | 55 | Bengali / Nepali |
| Jammu & Kashmir UT | 42 | Urdu / Hindi |
| Assam | 39 | Assamese / Bengali / Bodo |
| Telangana | 32 | Telugu / Urdu |
| Uttar Pradesh | 31 | Hindi / Urdu |
| Chhattisgarh | 26 | Hindi |
| Chandigarh UT | 22 | Hindi / Punjabi |
| Tripura | 22 | Bengali / Kokborok |
| Punjab | 18 | Punjabi / Hindi |
| Delhi | 17 | Hindi |
| Bihar | 12 | Hindi / Urdu |
| Himachal Pradesh | 11 | Hindi |
| Total | 1,538 | — |
The category-wise split of these 1,538 backlog seats, as printed in the notification, is given below.
| Category | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| SC | 207 |
| ST | 1,219 |
| OBC | 112 |
| Total | 1,538 |
Important: the notification states clearly that there is no horizontal reservation for PwBD in this drive. PwBD and Ex-servicemen candidates apply under their own parent SC, ST or OBC category.
Who is Eligible for SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026?
Educational Qualification
- Graduation in any discipline from a recognised University, or any equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government.
- Candidates holding an integrated dual degree (IDD) must ensure the date of passing is on or before 31 December 2026.
- Final-year and final-semester students may apply provisionally, but must produce proof of having passed graduation on or before 31 December 2026 if selected.
- The essential academic qualification is reckoned as on 31 December 2026.
- You are not eligible if you are currently working in SBI in the clerical cadre, or were earlier employed by SBI and resigned while in the clerical cadre. OBC candidates in the creamy layer cannot apply at all, and any adverse report on character, antecedents or moral turpitude also bars you.
Age Limit
You must be not below 20 years and not above 28 years as on 1 April 2026. In simple terms, you should be born not earlier than 2 April 1998 and not later than 1 April 2006 (both days inclusive).
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC / ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| Ex-Servicemen | Service period + 3 years (max age 50) |
| Disabled Ex-Servicemen (SC/ST) | Service period + 8 years (max age 50) |
| Widows, divorced or judicially separated women (not remarried) | 7 years (max age 38 for OBC, 40 for SC/ST) |
| Trained Apprentices of SBI | OBC 4, SC/ST 6, PwBD (OBC) 14, PwBD (SC/ST) 16 years |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and instantly check your eligibility — including SC / ST / OBC / PwBD age relaxation. →
Notice that the age cut-off (1 April 2026) and the qualification cut-off (31 December 2026) are two different dates. The Bank checks eligibility against both only at the time of joining.
What is the Salary for SBI Clerk Junior Associate 2026?
The pay scale printed in the notification is given below exactly as published, and it is a genuinely attractive package for a fresh graduate.
- Pay Scale: ₹24,050 – 1340/3 – 28,070 – 1650/3 – 33,020 – 2000/4 – 41,020 – 2340/7 – 57,400 – 4400/1 – 61,800 – 2680/1 – ₹64,480
- Starting Basic Pay: ₹26,730 (₹24,050 plus two advance increments admissible to graduates)
- Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and other allowances as per current rates
The notification states that the total starting emoluments of a Clerical Cadre employee payable at a Metro like Mumbai will be around ₹46,000 per month, inclusive of DA, other allowances and the two additional increments for newly recruited graduate junior associates. Allowances vary depending on the place of posting.
Beyond the monthly pay, you are eligible for reimbursement of various perquisites, provident fund, pension under the New Pension Scheme, medical benefits and leave-fare concession, as per the Bank’s instructions issued from time to time.
What is the Selection Process for SBI Clerk 2026?
Selection happens in three phases, and there is one rule here that changes your whole strategy — Prelims marks are not carried forward.
Phase 1: Preliminary Examination
An online objective test of 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour, with separate sectional timing: English Language (30 questions, 30 marks, 20 minutes), Numerical Ability (35 questions, 35 marks, 20 minutes) and Reasoning Ability (35 questions, 35 marks, 20 minutes). There is negative marking of one-fourth mark for each wrong answer. No minimum qualifying marks are prescribed. An adequate number of candidates in each category, as decided by the Bank — approximately 10 times the number of vacancies, subject to availability — is shortlisted for the Mains in descending order of aggregate marks.
Phase 2: Main Examination
An online objective test of 190 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours 40 minutes, again with sectional timing: General/Financial Awareness (50 questions, 50 marks, 35 minutes), General English (40 questions, 40 marks, 35 minutes), Quantitative Aptitude (50 questions, 50 marks, 45 minutes) and Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude (50 questions, 60 marks, 45 minutes). Negative marking of one-fourth mark applies here too. Unlike the Prelims, the Mains does carry a minimum — you must score a minimum percentage on aggregate, with the cut-off decided by the Bank. The final merit list is prepared only from Mains marks, so this is the paper that decides your fate. Build your plan around our banking exam syllabus guides.
Phase 3: Local Language Proficiency Test
Provisionally selected candidates who have not studied the opted local language in class 10th or 12th must appear for a Local Language Proficiency Test, held after provisional selection but before joining, at a centre in the state applied for and at the candidate’s own expense. Candidates who produce a 10th or 12th marksheet showing that language as a subject are not subjected to the test at all. Candidates who fail to qualify this test will not be offered appointment.
Trained apprentices of SBI get weightage in the Main Examination — 2.5% of maximum marks, that is 5 marks out of 200, added to the aggregate score. It applies only if the apprenticeship engagement started on or after 1 January 2022, one year of specified branch experience in SBI was completed on or before 27 August 2026, conduct and performance were satisfactory throughout, and the apprenticeship was successfully completed with the joint National Apprenticeship Certificate obtained.
Two final gates sit after the merit list. Appointment is subject to being declared medically fit as per the Bank’s requirement, and to satisfactory completion of KYE (Know Your Employee) formalities. Before joining you must also disclose any pending criminal cases — the Bank may verify police records independently and can deny appointment on that basis.
How to Apply Online for SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026?
Keep ready: your graduation marksheet and degree certificate, caste certificate (SC/ST/OBC), OBC non-creamy-layer certificate issued on or after 1 April 2026, a scanned photograph, signature, handwritten declaration and left thumb impression.
- Visit the SBI online application portal (direct link given in the Essential Links section below).
- Click New Registration and create your profile using a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Select the single State/UT you wish to apply for — this cannot be changed later.
- Fill in your personal, educational and category details exactly as per your certificates.
- Upload your photograph, signature, handwritten declaration and thumb impression in the prescribed size and format.
- Pay the fee online through debit card, credit card or internet banking. SC, ST, PwBD and Ex-servicemen candidates pay nothing.
- Submit the application and take a printout of the system-generated form for your records.
What are the Important Dates for SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Released | 7 August 2026 |
| Online Registration Starts | 7 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply & Pay Fee | 27 August 2026 |
| Age Reckoned As On | 1 April 2026 |
| Qualification Reckoned As On | 31 December 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination | |
| Main Examination |
What is the Application Fee for SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026?
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| SC, ST, PwBD & Ex-Servicemen | Nil |
| OBC | ₹750 |
Payment is accepted through online mode only — debit card, credit card or internet banking via the payment gateway built into the application. The fee is non-refundable, and any transaction charges are borne by the candidate.
Essential Links — SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026
- Download Official Notification PDF
- Apply Online for SBI Junior Associate 2026 (registration closed on 27 August 2026)
- Visit State Bank of India Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
All 1,538 seats in this drive are reserved for SC, ST and OBC backlog vacancies, with no UR or EWS seats. Registration closed on 27 August 2026, and the Prelims marks are now out, so use the update at the top of this post for the latest stage. Keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for bank job notifications and every admit card update.