SBI Clerk
State Bank of India — Junior Associate (Clerk)
SBI Clerk Recruitment Exam - Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales)
The SBI Clerk exam, officially called the State Bank of India (SBI) Recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales), is a national-level banking exam conducted by the Central Recruitment & Promotion Department (CRPD) of State Bank of India to hire clerical staff for its branches and offices across India. It is one of the most sought-after bank clerk examinations in the country because SBI is the largest public sector bank in India, and the job offers a secure government banking career with good pay, allowances and growth.
The exam is conducted every year (on an almost-annual basis) in two online phases - Phase-I (Preliminary) and Phase-II (Mains). There is no interview for the Clerk post; final selection is based entirely on the Mains examination, subject to qualifying marks. The current recruitment cycle (SBI Clerk 2024-25) had approximately 8,282 vacancies advertised (tentative figure; the vacancy count for the latest cycle is announced in the official notification). Candidates who clear both phases are posted as Junior Associates in SBI branches anywhere in India, based on their preference and Mains rank.
Overview / Key Highlights
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducting Body | State Bank of India (SBI), Central Recruitment & Promotion Department |
| Post Name | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) - Clerk Cadre |
| Exam Level | National Level |
| Mode of Exam | Online (Computer Based Test - CBT) |
| Medium of Exam | English and Hindi (English for the English Language section) |
| Selection Stages | Preliminary Exam (qualifying) and Mains Exam (final merit) |
| Number of Stages | 2 online tests (no interview) |
| Negative Marking | Yes - 1/4th (0.25) mark deducted per wrong answer |
| Official Website | sbi.co.in/web/careers |
Selection Process
The selection process for SBI Clerk consists of two online stages and document verification. There is no personal interview or group discussion.
- Phase-I: Preliminary Exam - An online objective test of 100 marks. The Prelims is only qualifying in nature; candidates are shortlisted for Mains on the basis of their Prelims scores, subject to section-wise and overall cut-offs.
- Phase-II: Mains Exam - An online objective test of 200 marks. The Mains paper is merit-based, and the final merit list is prepared on the basis of the candidate's performance in the Mains examination alone.
- Document Verification - Candidates who figure in the final merit list are called for document verification. Appointment is subject to the candidate meeting the eligibility, age and category certificate requirements.
Since the final selection is entirely on Mains scores, every mark in the Mains exam matters, and the Prelims only acts as a screening filter.
Exam Pattern
Preliminary Exam Pattern (Phase-I)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 hour |
Mains Exam Pattern (Phase-II)
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 35 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 45 | 60 | 45 minutes |
| Total | 170 | 200 (approx.) | 2 hours 40 minutes |
Notes: Each section in both phases is separately timed, and candidates cannot switch between sections during the allotted time. Negative marking of 1/4th mark applies to every wrong answer in all sections of both papers; unanswered questions carry no penalty. The Mains is of a higher difficulty level than the Prelims, especially in Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning.
Detailed Syllabus
English Language (Prelims & Mains)
- Reading Comprehension (factual, inferential and vocabulary-based questions)
- Cloze Test and fill in the blanks
- Para Jumbles / Sentence Rearrangement
- Spotting Errors and Sentence Correction
- Phrase / Sentence Replacement (improvement)
- Word Usage, synonyms and antonyms
- Idioms & Phrases and their usage
- Sentence Completion and para completion
- Vocabulary-based questions (word swap, word match)
- Para summary / Paragraph formation
Quantitative Aptitude (Prelims & Mains)
- Simplification / Approximation and BODMAS
- Number Series (missing and wrong number series)
- Quadratic Equations / Inequality-based quantitative questions
- Data Interpretation - Tables, Bar Graphs, Line Graphs, Pie Charts and Mixed DI
- Data Sufficiency
- Percentage, Profit & Loss and Discount
- Ratio & Proportion, Partnership and Mixture / Alligation
- Averages, Ages and Numbers
- Simple Interest and Compound Interest
- Time & Work, Pipes & Cisterns
- Time, Speed & Distance (including Boats & Streams, Trains)
- Mensuration (2-D and 3-D figures)
- Permutation & Combination and Probability
- Statistics - Mean, Median and Mode (Mains)
Reasoning Ability (Prelims & Mains)
- Seating Arrangements - Linear, Circular and Rectangular
- Puzzles - Box, Floor, Scheduling, Day/Month/Year and Categorisation puzzles
- Syllogism (all types including possibility-based)
- Inequality (Coded and Direct)
- Blood Relations and Family Tree problems
- Direction Sense and Distance
- Coding - Decoding (including new pattern coding)
- Alphanumeric, Number and Letter Series
- Ordering & Ranking, and Comparisons
- Input - Output (machine arrangement)
- Data Sufficiency (Reasoning-based)
- Logical Reasoning - Statement & Assumption, Conclusion, Argument
- Analogy, Classification and Odd One Out
Computer Aptitude (Mains, with Reasoning)
- Basics of Computers - History, types and generation of computers
- Computer Hardware - CPU, memory, input/output devices
- Computer Software - System and application software
- Operating Systems - Windows, functions and file management
- MS Office - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook basics
- Computer Networks - LAN, WAN, MAN, topologies, protocols
- Internet, Web Browsers and Search Engines
- E-mail, social media and digital communication
- Computer Shortcuts and keyboard functions
- Database Management basics and Data Storage units
- Computer Security - virus, firewall, malware and cyber safety
- Abbreviations and full forms related to computers
General / Financial Awareness (Mains)
- Banking Awareness - RBI, SBI, NABARD, SEBI, IRDAI, RRBs and cooperative banks
- Indian Economy - GDP, inflation, fiscal and monetary policy
- Financial Terms - Repo Rate, Reverse Repo, CRR, SLR, MSF, MCLR, Base Rate
- Current Affairs of the last 6-8 months (national and international)
- Budget and Economic Survey highlights
- Government Schemes - PMJDY, Mudra, PMSBY, PMJJBY, APY, Ayushman Bharat
- Banking Regulations - Basel norms, KYC / AML norms and RBI guidelines
- Payment Systems - UPI, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, AEPS and digital wallets
- Financial Inclusion initiatives and Priority Sector Lending
- Insurance - LIC, IRDAI, general and life insurance basics
- Static GK - awards, sports, books & authors, capitals, currencies
- International Organisations - IMF, World Bank, WTO and ADB
Marking Scheme
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Marks per question | 1 mark per question in Prelims; 1 mark each for General/Financial Awareness and General English in Mains, and roughly 1.3-1.7 marks per question in Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning & Computer Aptitude sections (section-wise weightage as per the official notification) |
| Negative marking | 0.25 mark (1/4th) deducted for each wrong answer |
| Qualifying marks (Prelims) | Set section-wise and overall by SBI for each category; only candidates above the cut-off proceed to Mains |
| Merit basis (Mains) | Final selection is purely on the total Mains score; no interview weightage |
| Cut-off factors | Number of vacancies, number of applicants, difficulty level and category of the candidate |
Eligibility Criteria
Educational Qualification
- Candidates must hold a Graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Government of India / University Grants Commission (UGC).
- Final-year / final-semester students are eligible provisionally, subject to producing proof of passing the graduation examination at the time of document verification.
- Those who have integrated dual degrees (e.g., CA, MBA) should have completed the course within the prescribed time.
Age Limit
- Minimum age: 20 years; Maximum age: 28 years (as on the cutoff date notified by SBI).
- Age relaxation (as per previous-cycle norms, subject to the official notification):
- SC / ST: up to 5 years
- OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): up to 3 years
- Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD): up to 15 years for SC/ST, 13 years for OBC and 10 years for General candidates
- Ex-Servicemen: up to 5 years
- Persons affected by the 1984 riots: up to 5 years
Number of Attempts
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for the SBI Clerk exam, as long as the candidate is within the age limit and fulfils the educational eligibility. Candidates may apply in every recruitment cycle.
Application Process & Fees
Candidates apply online through the SBI careers website by completing one-time registration, filling the application form, uploading scanned photograph, signature and the required documents, and paying the application fee. No offline / paper application is accepted.
| Category | Application Fee (previous-cycle norms, tentative) |
|---|---|
| General / EWS / OBC | Rs. 750 + applicable GST (intimation charges) |
| SC / ST / PwBD / Ex-Servicemen | Nil (intimation charges only, if applicable) |
Important dates (tentative, based on the previous cycle): The official notification is generally released in December - January, online application closes in January, the Preliminary exam is held in February, the Mains exam in March - April, and final results are declared in April - May. Exact dates for the current cycle are announced on the official SBI careers website.
Salary / Pay Scale
SBI Clerk (Junior Associate) pay and allowances are governed by the industry-standard bipartite settlement for bank clerical staff. As per the current settlement (pay scale effective from the 11th Bipartite Settlement period), the approximate salary structure is:
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Basic Pay | Rs. 17,900 per month (start of the clerical pay scale) |
| Pay Scale | Rs. 17,900 - 1,000/3 - 20,900 - 1,230/3 - 24,590 - 1,490/4 - 30,550 - 1,730/7 - 42,660 - 2,000/11 - 64,660 - 2,340/1 - 67,000 |
| Allowances | Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), City Compensatory Allowance (CCA), Special Allowance and other perks |
| Gross Salary | Approx. Rs. 26,000 - Rs. 29,000 per month at the start (tentative, varies by place of posting) |
| In-hand Salary | Approx. Rs. 26,000 - Rs. 28,000 after deductions (tentative) |
These figures are indicative and based on the previous-cycle pay structure; the exact emoluments depend on the place of posting and the latest wage revision and are specified in the official notification.
Official Links & PDFs
- SBI Official Careers Page (sbi.co.in) - official notification, application link and updates are published here
- SBI Careers (bank.sbi) - alternate official careers portal
- SBI Official Website (sbi.co.in) - main website
Direct links to the current-cycle notification and syllabus PDF are published under Current Openings on the official careers page when the notification is released. Please download the official notification PDF from there; we recommend verifying all figures directly from that document.
Preparation Tips & Strategy
- Go through the official notification and syllabus first, and build a section-wise study plan covering all topics listed above.
- In the Prelims, speed matters - each of the three sections has a fixed 20-minute timer. Practise attempting around 85-95 questions accurately with sectional timing.
- Since the Mains decides selection, prepare the Mains-level Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning thoroughly - focus on high-level puzzles, seating arrangements, complex DI and number series.
- For General / Financial Awareness, read daily current affairs of the last 6-8 months, banking awareness capsules and monthly affairs compilations from credible sources.
- Strengthen speed arithmetic and calculation tricks - learn tables, squares, cubes, percentage and fraction conversions to save time.
- Take full-length mock tests and previous-year papers under exam-like conditions, and analyse every mock to identify weak topics.
- Use the attempt-with-accuracy rule: with 0.25 negative marking, never attempt questions you are unsure of; focus on accuracy first.
- For English, read editorials daily to improve reading speed, grammar and vocabulary; practise cloze tests and error-spotting regularly.
- Maintain a revision notes notebook for formulas, shortcuts, banking terms and static GK.
- Keep checking the official SBI careers website for notification release, admit card and result dates, and do not rely on unofficial sources for exam dates.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is there an interview for SBI Clerk?
No. The SBI Clerk selection process has no interview. Final selection is made purely on the basis of the Mains examination score, subject to the candidate passing the Preliminary exam and document verification.
Q: What is the minimum educational qualification required?
A candidate must be a graduate (in any discipline) from a recognised university. Final-year students can apply provisionally but must pass the degree before document verification.
Q: What is the age limit for SBI Clerk?
Candidates must be between 20 and 28 years of age. Category-based relaxations apply (up to 5 years for SC/ST, 3 years for OBC, and more for PwBD and ex-servicemen).
Q: Is there negative marking in the SBI Clerk exam?
Yes. A penalty of 1/4th (0.25) mark is deducted for every incorrect answer in both the Prelims and Mains. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
Q: Is the SBI Clerk exam conducted online or offline?
The exam is conducted fully online as a Computer Based Test (CBT) at designated test centres. Candidates can choose the medium of the exam as English or Hindi (except for the English Language section).
Q: How many times can I apply for SBI Clerk?
There is no limit on the number of attempts. As long as you are within the age limit and meet the educational and other eligibility criteria, you can apply in every recruitment cycle.
Closing note: The SBI Clerk notification is released on an annual basis, and all exam-related information - vacancy count, application dates, admit cards, results and the official syllabus PDF - is published only on the official SBI careers website. Keep following sbi.co.in/web/careers and bank.sbi/web/careers for authentic, timely updates, and beware of fraudsters circulating fake selection lists in the name of SBI.