SBI Clerk
Recruits Junior Associates (clerical cadre) for State Bank of India branches; recruitment and posting are state/circle-wise.
Eligibility
A bachelor's degree in any discipline. Age 20-28 years with standard category relaxations. Candidates apply for one state/circle and must show proficiency (reading, writing, speaking) in the specified local language of that state, tested after provisional selection.
Age limit: 20-28 years (relaxations for reserved categories)
Exam pattern
Two online objective stages plus a local language test; no interview. Prelims: 100 questions, 100 marks, 60 minutes — English (30), Numerical Ability (35), Reasoning (35) with 20-minute sectional timers; qualifying only. Mains: 190 questions, 200 marks, 2 hours 40 minutes — General/Financial Awareness (50Q/50m), General English (40Q/40m), Quantitative Aptitude (50Q/50m), Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude (50Q/60m). Negative marking is 0.25 of the marks per wrong answer; final state-wise merit is on mains marks alone.
Syllabus at a glance
Prelims tests basic English, arithmetic and reasoning at speed. Mains adds General/Financial Awareness (current affairs, banking and insurance basics, static GK), computer aptitude and harder quantitative and reasoning questions. No descriptive writing.
Upcoming dates
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Application window (Advt. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17) | 11-31 Aug 2026 (open) | confirmed |
| Prelims exam | 26-27 Sep & 3 Oct 2026 | confirmed |
| Mains exam | 23 Nov 2026 | confirmed |
| Final result | Dec 2026-Jan 2027 | expected |
Expected dates follow the usual calendar; confirm on the official notification before planning.
Free prep material
Standard books
- Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations — R.S. Aggarwal
- Fast Track Objective Arithmetic — Rajesh Verma (Arihant)
- A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning — R.S. Aggarwal
- Objective General English — S.P. Bakshi (Arihant)
- Banking Awareness — Arihant Experts
How toppers play it
- Choose your state/circle carefully at application: cut-offs, vacancy counts and the compulsory local-language test all depend on it and it cannot be changed later.
- Prelims is qualifying only — final merit is 100% mains, so give General/Financial Awareness and computer aptitude sustained daily time.
- Speed wins prelims: practise 10-minute simplification/approximation bursts; strong candidates attempt 90+ of 100 questions.
- In mains, the 50-mark GA section takes under 25 minutes if prepared — bank the saved time for the 60-mark reasoning and computer aptitude section.
- Keep accuracy above 90% in mocks; the 0.25 negative marking decides ranks when lakhs sit for under ten thousand seats.