State Bank of India has officially released its 2026 recruitment notification for the post of Junior Associate (Customer Support and Sales). The drive offers a total of 10,662 vacancies, carefully divided into a Regular Drive open to all eligible candidates and a Special Recruitment Drive aimed at filling backlog vacancies.
Key Highlights
- Total Vacancies: 10,662 Posts
- Regular Drive Vacancies: 9,124 Posts
- Special Drive Vacancies: 1,538 Posts (SC/ST/OBC backlog)
- Post Name: Junior Associate (Customer Support and Sales)
- Selection Process: Prelims, Mains, and Local Language Test
- Final Merit: Based on Main Examination marks
Important Dates
The application dates differ for the Regular and Special Recruitment Drives. Candidates must note the specific deadlines for the drive they wish to apply for.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Regular Drive Online Application Start | 11th August 2026 |
| Regular Drive Online Application End | 31st August 2026 |
| Special Drive Online Application Start | 7th August 2026 |
| Special Drive Online Application End | 27th August 2026 |
| Preliminary Examination | September 2026 (Tentative) |
| Main Examination | October/November 2026 (Tentative) |
Vacancy Details
The total of 10,662 vacancies is split into two distinct recruitment drives. The Regular Drive offers 9,124 posts open to all categories. The Special Recruitment Drive offers 1,538 posts exclusively for SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies.
Regular Drive State-wise Vacancies
Maharashtra has the highest number of vacancies in the Regular Drive. Several states have significant openings for Junior Associates.
| State/UT | Regular Drive |
|---|---|
| Gujarat | 635 |
| Karnataka | 799 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 272 |
| Chhattisgarh | 351 |
| Odisha | 1,118 |
| Jammu & Kashmir UT | 89 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 25 |
| Ladakh UT | 14 |
| Tamil Nadu | 1,516 |
| Telangana | 260 |
| Rajasthan | 425 |
| West Bengal | 704 |
| Andaman & Nicobar | 25 |
| Sikkim | 67 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 280 |
| Maharashtra | 1,999 |
| Goa | 63 |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 72 |
| Assam | 207 |
| Manipur | 23 |
| Meghalaya | 44 |
| Mizoram | 38 |
| Nagaland | 42 |
| Tripura | 56 |
| Total | 9,124 |
Special Drive State-wise Vacancies
The Special Recruitment Drive focuses on filling backlog vacancies in specific states.
| State/UT | Special Drive |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 88 |
| Gujarat | 289 |
| Karnataka | 120 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 134 |
| Chhattisgarh | 26 |
| Odisha | 111 |
| Chandigarh UT | 22 |
| Jammu & Kashmir UT | 42 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 11 |
| Punjab | 18 |
| Tamil Nadu | 65 |
| Telangana | 32 |
| Rajasthan | 106 |
| West Bengal | 55 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 31 |
| Maharashtra | 165 |
| Delhi | 17 |
| Assam | 39 |
| Tripura | 22 |
| Bihar | 12 |
| Jharkhand | 133 |
| Total | 1,538 |
Assam offers a total of 246 posts, which includes 207 Regular and 39 Special Drive vacancies. Tripura offers a total of 78 posts, comprising 56 Regular and 22 Special Drive vacancies. The North Eastern states together have 61 SRD posts.
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must fulfill the educational and age criteria to apply. Every candidate is permitted to apply for only one State or Union Territory.
Educational Qualification
Applicants must possess a graduate degree in any discipline from a recognised university. An equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government is also acceptable.
If you hold an Integrated Dual Degree, make sure your date of passing is on or before 31 December 2026. Final-year or last-semester students can also apply for now, but if you get selected, you’ll need to submit proof that you’ve completed your graduation by 31 December 2026.
Local Language Proficiency
Candidates must possess proficiency in the specified opted local language of the chosen State. Those who cannot prove they studied the local language in 10th or 12th standard must appear for the Local Language Proficiency Test.
Age Limit
The age limit is 20 to 28 years as on 01 April 2026. A candidate should not have been born earlier than 02 April 1998 or later than 01 April 2006.
Age Relaxation
The bank provides age relaxation for reserved categories.
| Category | Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC-NCL | 3 years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 years |
| PwBD (SC/ST) | 15 years |
Application Fee
The application fee differs by category. Candidates can pay the fee through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| UR/EWS/OBC | Rs 750 |
| SC/ST/XS/DXS/PwBD | Nil |
Salary
The Junior Associate post comes with a pay scale of Rs 24050-1340/3-28070-1650/3-33020-2000/4-41020-2340/7-57400-4400/1-61800-2680/1-64480. You’ll start with a basic pay of around Rs 24,050, which can go up to a maximum of Rs 64,480 as you progress.
Selection Process
The selection process consists of three phases. Candidates must qualify in each phase to proceed to the next.
- Phase-I: Preliminary Examination (Online Objective Test)
- Phase-II: Main Examination (Online Objective Test)
- Phase-III: Local Language Proficiency Test
The final merit list is prepared solely on the aggregate marks obtained in the Main Examination.
Exam Pattern
Understanding the exam pattern is crucial for preparation. Both the Preliminary and Main examinations have negative marking.
Phase-I: Preliminary Examination
This paper is of 100 marks and you’ll get 60 minutes to finish it. There are three sections in total, and for every wrong answer, one-fourth mark will be deducted. The marks you score here are only used to shortlist candidates roughly ten times the number of vacancies for the Main Examination.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 |
Phase-II: Main Examination
This is a 200-mark test with a total duration of 160 minutes. The test includes four sections. There is one-fourth negative marking for wrong answers. The bank decides aggregate minimum qualifying marks.
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| General/Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 |
| General English | 40 | 40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 |
Phase-III: Local Language Proficiency Test
This is a 50-mark test split into three parts: Non-Verbal Objective for 15 marks, Non-Verbal Subjective for 15 marks, and Verbal for 20 marks. If your 10th or 12th marksheet shows that you studied the local language you opted for, you’re completely exempt from this test. Others must take this test after provisional selection. Failure in this test leads to non-appointment.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their applications online. Similar to the SBI Clerk 2026 Notification, this process requires careful attention to detail. Candidates can also check updates regarding other banking exams like IBPS Clerk Recruitment 2026 for future reference.
- Visit the SBI Career website at https://bank.sbi/careers or https://www.sbi.co.in/careers.
- Click the Online Application Form link under the Important Web-Links section.
- Fill in all personal and educational particulars.
- Upload a passport-sized photograph and signature.
- Pay the prescribed fee via the available payment modes.
- Submit the form and retain a printout for future reference.
Important Web-Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online (Regular) | Click Here |
| Download Notification (Regular Drive) | Download PDF |
| Apply Online (SRD) | Click Here |
| Official Notification (SRD) | Click Here |
| Official Website | Visit |
| VacancyWallah Website | Click Here |
| Join Telegram | Click Here |
| Join WhatsApp | Click Here |
| Follow on Facebook | Click Here |
| Free Photo & Signature Resizer | Click Here |
Helpdesk and Support
For any difficulty, the Helpdesk may be contacted. Candidates can call 022-22820427 between 11 AM and 5 PM on bank working days. Queries can also be lodged at http://cgrs.ibps.in. The subject line of the email must contain the phrase "Special Recruitment drive for Junior Associates 2026".
Important Instructions
Before you apply, please go through the official notification carefully and make sure you understand all the requirements. You can apply only once for this recruitment submitting multiple forms can get you disqualified. Also, double-check every detail you fill in and make sure it matches exactly what’s written in your official documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the total number of vacancies for SBI Junior Associate 2026?
A. There are a total of 10,662 vacancies, split into 9,124 Regular posts and 1,538 Special Drive posts.
Q. What is the last date to apply for the Regular Drive?
A. The last date to apply for the Regular Drive is 31st August 2026.
Q. Is there any application fee for SC/ST candidates?
A. No, the application fee is nil for SC/ST, XS/DXS, and PwBD categories.
Q. What is the selection process for SBI Junior Associate?
A. The selection process includes a Preliminary Exam, Main Exam, and a Local Language Proficiency Test.
Q. What is the age limit for this recruitment?
A. The age limit is 20 to 28 years as on 01 April 2026, with relaxations for reserved categories.
Q. Is the Local Language Proficiency Test mandatory for everyone?
A. No, candidates who prove they studied the opted local language in 10th or 12th standard are exempted from the test.
Q. How is the final merit list prepared?
A. The final merit list is prepared solely based on the aggregate marks obtained in the Main Examination (Phase-II).
Candidates should visit the official SBI careers website to apply online and read the full notification.
