SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) 2026: Syllabus, Exam Pattern & Dates
SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) (SBI Junior Associates) is part of India's Government Exams category, covering 5 topics. Kamiyab's SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) mock test is being built from real past papers and is not live yet; until then, this page covers the syllabus, exam pattern and dates. Eligibility: Graduate.
SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) mock is being built
We're working through the SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) previous-year papers to build a PYQ-grounded, expert-audited question bank. The syllabus, eligibility and exam pattern below stay accurate — the mock launches as soon as the bank clears audit. Live exams today: SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, and SSC MTS.
Topics covered
Topics are listed for reference. The mock launch unlocks once each topic's PYQ-grounded question bank is audited.
About SBI Clerk (Junior Associate — Customer Support & Sales)
The State Bank of India Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) examination, popularly called SBI Clerk, is the front-office clerical-cadre recruitment cycle conducted by SBI CRPD for the country's largest public-sector bank. SBI operates roughly 22,500 branches and serves over 50 crore customers, making Junior Associate the largest single-employer clerical recruitment in Indian banking. The role is the operational backbone of branch banking — front-counter customer interaction, cash and clearing operations, deposit and account opening processes, loan documentation, cross-sell of SBI Life, SBI Mutual Fund and SBI Cards products, and back-office reconciliation.
SBI Junior Associate is widely considered the most desirable clerical-tier banking job in India, ahead of IBPS Clerk in pay, prestige, transfer policy and promotion velocity. Junior Associates are typically posted in their preferred state circle and operate under a state-cadre transfer policy with relatively stable postings within the local language region — a contrast to the all-India transfer policy of officer-cadre roles. After 2 years of service, Junior Associates become eligible to write the Trainee Officer (JAIIB+CAIIB-linked) departmental exam for promotion to Junior Management Grade Scale-I (JMGS-I) officer cadre.
Selection is a two-stage funnel: Preliminary Examination (objective, screening only) and Main Examination (objective, merit-deciding). Unlike SBI PO, the SBI Clerk process does NOT have a Group Exercise or Interview round — the Mains score alone determines the merit list and final allotment. The Prelims score does NOT carry forward into the final merit list. Selection includes a Local Language Test (Class X-level proficiency) before joining — candidates failing this test forfeit their selection. A graduate joins at a basic pay of Rs 26,730 (Rs 24,050 plus two advance increments for graduates) under the 12th Bipartite Settlement (effective 1 November 2022), with DA, HRA, special allowance and transport allowance taking gross emoluments to roughly Rs 46,000 per month in a Tier-I metro (arrears for the November 2022 to February 2024 period were disbursed alongside the revised pay).
Conducted by: State Bank of India Central Recruitment & Promotion Department (CRPD), Corporate Centre, Mumbai. SBI runs Junior Associate recruitment autonomously, separate from the IBPS Clerk framework used by other public-sector banks.
Eligibility
- General eligibilityAge: 20 to 28 years as on the cut-off date specified in the notification (typically 1 April of the recruitment year). Age relaxation: SC/ST +5 years (up to 33), OBC (non-creamy layer) +3 years (up to 31), PwBD (General/EWS) +10 years, PwBD (OBC) +13 years, PwBD (SC/ST) +15 years, Ex-Servicemen including ECOs/SSCOs +5 years (subject to ceiling), Widows/Divorcees/Women legally separated and not remarried +9 years (up to age 35 for General, 38 for OBC, 40 for SC/ST). EWS candidates receive NO age relaxation.
Exam Pattern
Stage-by-stage breakdown of the recruitment process.
Preliminary Examination (Phase I — qualifying / screening only)
- Questions
- 100 multiple-choice questions
- Marks
- 100 marks total
- Duration
- 60 minutes total (sectional timing of 20 minutes per section — strictly enforced)
Main Examination (Phase II — merit-deciding)
- Questions
- 190 multiple-choice questions
- Marks
- 200 marks total
- Duration
- 2 hours 40 minutes total (sectional timing strictly enforced)
Local Language Test (LLT)
- Questions
- Not applicable — qualifying-only assessment
- Marks
- Qualifying (pass/fail)
- Duration
- Conducted at the allotment stage, before final joining
Syllabus
4 sections, 50 topics in total.
- English Language (Prelims) and General English (Mains)9 topics
- Numerical Ability (Prelims) and Quantitative Aptitude (Mains)12 topics
- Reasoning Ability (Prelims) and Reasoning + Computer Aptitude (Mains)12 topics
- General / Financial Awareness (Mains only)17 topics
Preparation Strategy
Subject-wise strategy, a study plan and the books aspirants rely on for SBI Clerk (Junior Associate — Customer Support & Sales).
Read the preparation guideRecent Changes to Know
- SBI moved to an entirely online application + admit-card + mock-test process. The mock-test link released ~1 week before Prelims runs in the same interface as the actual exam — using it is mandatory practice.
- Mains General/Financial Awareness has shifted further toward banking-specific items (RBI structure, MPC decisions, regulatory circulars, scheme parameters) and away from generic GK. Out of 50 questions, 35-40 are now banking/economy/financial-system items.
- Local Language Test is now strictly enforced before joining. Aspirants who declared local-language proficiency at the application stage are tested at allotment — failure forfeits selection without a second chance.
- The Junior Associate-to-Trainee-Officer departmental promotion path remains the single fastest in Indian public-sector banking — Junior Associates with 2+ years of service can sit for the in-service Officers Promotion exam linked to JAIIB and CAIIB credentials.
- Pre-Examination Training (PET) is offered free of cost by SBI at designated centres in major cities for SC/ST/OBC/Religious Minority candidates ahead of Prelims.
Important Dates
- Notification
- SBI Clerk notification is typically released by SBI CRPD in November or April-May on sbi.co.in/careers. The application window stays open for approximately 3 weeks. Application fee is paid online (typically Rs 750 General/EWS/OBC, NIL for SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-Servicemen).
- Exam
- Prelims: typically held in January-February or June-July, depending on the notification cycle. Mains: approximately 4-6 weeks after the Prelims result. Local Language Test: at the time of joining at the allotted circle, typically 4-8 weeks after the final result.
- Results
- Prelims result: approximately 2-3 weeks after Prelims exam. Mains result: approximately 3-4 weeks after Mains. Final allotment result with state-wise circle allocation: approximately 4-6 weeks after the Mains result.
Dates shift across cycles depending on Vacancy Notification timing and SBI's recruitment calendar. Always confirm against the official sbi.co.in/careers Current Openings page and the candidate dashboard on the online portal that SBI uses to host its Junior Associate application form.
SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) preparation guides
- SSC CGL 2026: Exam Date, Pattern, Eligibility & FeeSSC CGL 2026 notice is out with approx. 12,256 vacancies. Apply online by 22 June 2026; Tier-I is tentatively in August-September 2026.
- IBPS Clerk 2026: Exam Date, Pattern & EligibilityIBPS Clerk (CRP CSA XVI) 2026 guide: tentative exam dates, age limit, qualification, prelims and mains pattern, and how to apply.
- Create a Study Routine You’ll Actually Stick ToLearn step‑by‑step how to design a realistic, flexible study schedule that fits your life, keeps motivation high, and drives steady progress for competitive exams like SSC CGL, UPSC CSE, and IBPS PO.
- Design Your Perfect Daily Study Routine for Sarkari ExamsDiscover a step‑by‑step plan to decide how many hours you should study each day, balance intensity with rest, and keep motivation high while preparing for SSC CGL or UPSC CSE.
Other Banking exams
SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) 2026 — frequently asked questions
What is the SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) eligibility?
Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university, or any equivalent qualification recognised by Government of India. Integrated dual-degree (IDD) candidates must have passed by the cut-off date. Final-year/semester candidates may apply provisionally but must produce mark-sheet and degree certificate by the date specified in the offer. No minimum percentage is prescribed by SBI for SBI Clerk. Age: 20 to 28 years as on the cut-off date specified in the notification (typically 1 April of the recruitment year). Age relaxation: SC/ST +5 years (up to 33), OBC (non-creamy layer) +3 years (up to 31), PwBD (General/EWS) +10 years, PwBD (OBC) +13 years, PwBD (SC/ST) +15 years, Ex-Servicemen including ECOs/SSCOs +5 years (subject to ceiling), Widows/Divorcees/Women legally separated and not remarried +9 years (up to age 35 for General, 38 for OBC, 40 for SC/ST). EWS candidates receive NO age relaxation. Nationality: Citizen of India, or subject of Nepal or Bhutan, or Tibetan refugee who came to India before 1 January 1962 with intent to permanently settle, or person of Indian origin who has migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia and Vietnam to permanently settle in India. Non-Indian citizens must produce an eligibility certificate from the Government of India..
What is the SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) exam pattern?
Preliminary Examination (Phase I — qualifying / screening only) covers English Language (30 Q, 30 marks, 20 min) · Numerical Ability (35 Q, 35 marks, 20 min) · Reasoning Ability (35 Q, 35 marks, 20 min). 100 multiple-choice questions questions for 100 marks total marks, with negative marking of 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer; no deduction for unattempted or review-only items.
Can I take a SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) mock test on Kamiyab?
Not yet. The SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) mock test is being built from real past papers. Until then, this page covers the SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) syllabus, exam pattern, eligibility and dates.
Which subjects and topics does SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) cover?
SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) covers 5 topics, including Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, English Language and more.
How much will the SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) mock test cost?
It will come with the Kamiyab plan, ₹99 a month, like every mock test on Kamiyab.