SBI Junior Associate (Clerk) Syllabus & Exam Pattern 2026 – Prelims & Mains

State Bank of India (SBI) has released the notification for recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) under a Special Recruitment Drive for SC/ST/OBC Backlog Vacancies (Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16). Below is the complete exam pattern and section-wise syllabus for the Preliminary and Main Examinations as per the official notification.

Quick Overview

Important Dates

Exam dates are tentative. Candidates should keep checking the official SBI careers page for the confirmed schedule.

Selection Process

The selection process has three stages: Preliminary Examination, Main Examination, and (where applicable) a Local Language Proficiency Test. Both online tests carry negative marking of 1/4th mark for every wrong answer.

Phase I: Preliminary Examination Pattern

Objective test of 100 marks and 1 hour total duration, split into three separately timed sections. There is no sectional cut-off; the Bank shortlists candidates for Mains on aggregate marks (approximately 10 times the vacancies per category).

Phase II: Main Examination Pattern

Objective test of 200 marks over 2 hours 40 minutes, with four separately timed sections. Only the aggregate marks of the Main Examination are used for the final merit list; Prelims marks are not added at this stage.

Candidates must score minimum qualifying marks on aggregate, as decided by the Bank. There are no individual sectional qualifying marks. SBI trained apprentices who meet the specified conditions are given a weightage of 2.5% of maximum marks (5 marks out of 200) in the Main Examination.

Phase III: Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT)

Provisionally selected candidates who have not studied the specified local language of the applied state in Class 10 or 12 must appear for the LLPT after Main Exam qualification but before joining. Candidates who submit a 10th/12th mark sheet showing the local language as a subject are exempted.

Candidates who fail to qualify the LLPT will not be offered appointment.

Syllabus – Section-wise Study Guide

Note: The official notification specifies the names of the test sections, number of questions, marks and duration for each phase, but does not publish a topic-wise syllabus. The topics below are a general study guide for each section, not an officially notified syllabus.

Prelims Sections

• English Language: Reading comprehension, cloze test, para jumbles, error detection, fill in the blanks, vocabulary-based questions.
• Numerical Ability: Simplification, number series, quadratic equations, data interpretation, arithmetic problems (percentage, profit & loss, average, ratio, time & work, simple/compound interest).
• Reasoning Ability: Puzzles, seating arrangement, syllogism, inequality, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, alphanumeric series.

Mains Sections

• General/Financial Awareness: Current affairs, banking and financial awareness, static general knowledge.
• General English: Comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, sentence correction, para-based questions at a slightly higher difficulty than Prelims.
• Quantitative Aptitude: Data interpretation, data sufficiency, arithmetic word problems, number series, simplification/approximation.
• Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude: Advanced puzzles and seating arrangement, logical reasoning, plus basic computer knowledge (fundamentals, MS Office, internet, banking-related computer terms).

Important Instructions

• Candidates can apply for vacancies in one State/UT only and can appear for the test only once under this recruitment project.
• No provision for Inter-Circle/Inter-State transfer, except intra-state transfer between Delhi Circle & Lucknow Circle (UP) and Mumbai Metro Circle & Maharashtra Circle, subject to Bank guidelines.
• No changes or corrections to submitted application particulars, including category, will be entertained.
• Mobile phones, smartwatches, calculators and similar devices are strictly prohibited in the examination premises.
• A wait list of up to 50% of vacancies (state-category wise) will be maintained and released quarterly, valid for one year from declaration of final result.

Important Links