Question 1

What is the age limit for SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

You must be at least 20 and not more than 28 years old on the cut-off date. In the 2026 notification the cut-off date was 1 April 2026, so candidates born between 2 April 1998 and 1 April 2006 were eligible.

Question 2

How much age relaxation do OBC, SC, ST and PwBD candidates get in SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

As per the 2026 notification, the upper age limit of 28 is relaxed by 3 years for OBC (non-creamy layer), 5 years for SC/ST, 10 years for PwBD (General/EWS), 13 years for PwBD (OBC) and 15 years for PwBD (SC/ST).

Question 3

What is the age relaxation for ex-servicemen in SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

Ex-servicemen get relaxation equal to their actual period of service in the defence forces plus 3 years (8 years for disabled ex-servicemen from SC/ST), subject to a maximum age of 50, as per the 2026 notification.

Question 4

Do widows and divorced women get age relaxation in SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Widows, divorced women and women judicially separated from their husbands who have not remarried get 7 years of relaxation, up to a maximum age of 35 (General/EWS), 38 (OBC) or 40 (SC/ST), as per the 2026 notification.

Question 5

Can final-year students apply for SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Students in the final year or final semester of graduation can apply provisionally, but if selected they must show they passed on or before the date in the notification (31 December 2026 for the 2026 cycle).

Question 6

What minimum percentage in graduation is required for SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

No minimum percentage is required. The notification asks only for graduation in any discipline from a recognised university, or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.

Question 7

Is a distance learning or open university degree valid for SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

SBI asks for graduation from a recognised university or an equivalent recognised by the Central Government. Under UGC rules, a degree earned through a UGC-recognised open and distance learning programme is treated as equivalent to a regular degree.

Question 8

Do I need to know the local language of the state to apply for SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You must read, write, speak and understand the local language of the State/UT you apply for. If your 10th or 12th mark sheet shows you studied it, no test is needed; otherwise you take a language test after Mains.

Question 9

Can I apply for SBI Clerk vacancies in a state other than my home state?

Accepted Answer

Yes. There is no domicile rule. You can apply for any one State/UT, but you must be proficient in its local language, compete on that state's category-wise merit list, and be posted in that state if selected.

Question 10

Can citizens of Nepal or Bhutan apply for SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

Not under the recent notifications. The 2024, 2025 and 2026 SBI Junior Associate notifications invite applications only from eligible Indian citizens.

Question 11

How many attempts are allowed in SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

The SBI Junior Associate notifications set no limit on the number of attempts. You can keep applying in every cycle as long as you meet the age and other eligibility conditions, but only once per recruitment.

Question 12

Can I apply for SBI Clerk if I have a backlog in graduation?

Accepted Answer

You can apply, but you must clear every paper and have the date of passing graduation on or before the cut-off in the notification (31 December 2026 for the 2026 cycle). If the backlog is not cleared by then, your selection will not hold.

Question 13

Can I apply for SBI Clerk if I already work in another bank or a government job?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if you meet the eligibility rules. If you work in a government office, PSU, nationalised bank or financial institution, you must produce a proper discharge certificate from your employer when joining SBI. Current SBI clerks cannot apply.

Question 14

Is a good CIBIL score or clean credit history required for SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

There is no minimum CIBIL score. The 2025 notification said candidates with unpaid defaults on loans or credit cards would not be eligible for appointment unless they repaid before the offer letter. Check whether the latest notification has the same clause.

Question 15

Is there a limit on the number of attempts?

Accepted Answer

No. SBI does not cap the number of attempts. You can apply every year as long as you meet the age and other conditions, but you can appear only once in each recruitment.

Question 16

Do I need a minimum percentage in graduation?

Accepted Answer

No. A degree in any discipline from a recognised university is enough. The notification does not set a minimum percentage.

Question 17

Can I choose the state I want to work in?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You apply for vacancies of one State or UT only, and if selected you are posted in that state. The merit list is drawn up state-wise and category-wise.

Question 18

Do I need to know the local language of the state I apply for?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You must be able to read, write, speak and understand the language listed for that state. If your Class 10 or 12 mark sheet shows you studied it, you skip the language test; otherwise you must pass the Local Language Proficiency Test after the mains.

Question 19

Can I apply if I already work as a clerk in SBI?

Accepted Answer

No. Serving SBI clerical staff cannot apply, and nor can people who resigned from SBI while in the clerical cadre.

Question 20

How do I apply for SBI Clerk online?

Accepted Answer

Apply only online through the SBI careers page (sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings) during the registration window: register, fill the form, upload photo, signature, thumb impression and handwritten declaration, pay the fee and print the form.

Question 21

What is the application fee for SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

As per the 2026 notification, the fee is Rs 750 for General, OBC and EWS candidates and nil for SC, ST, PwBD, ex-servicemen and disabled ex-servicemen. It is non-refundable.

Question 22

What photo size is required for the SBI Clerk application form?

Accepted Answer

A recent passport-style colour photo (4.5 cm x 3.5 cm), preferably 200 x 230 pixels, in JPG/JPEG format and between 20 KB and 50 KB, taken against a light, preferably white, background.

Question 23

What are the signature and left thumb impression specifications for SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

Signature: black ink on white paper, 140 x 60 pixels (preferred), 10-20 KB. Left thumb impression: black or blue ink on white paper, 240 x 240 pixels at 200 DPI (3 cm x 3 cm), 20-50 KB, JPG/JPEG.

Question 24

What should I write in the SBI Clerk handwritten declaration and what size should it be?

Accepted Answer

Write the declaration text given in the notification in English, by hand, in black ink on white paper (not in capital letters). Scan it at 800 x 400 pixels at 200 DPI (10 cm x 5 cm), 50-100 KB, JPG/JPEG.

Question 25

Can I edit or correct my SBI Clerk application after final submission?

Accepted Answer

No. You can re-open and edit saved data up to three times before final submission, but once you submit, no change or correction - including category - is allowed.

Question 26

My SBI Clerk fee payment failed or the amount was deducted - what should I do?

Accepted Answer

The 2026 notification says that if the online transaction is not completed successfully, you should register again and make the payment online. If money was deducted without an e-receipt, raise a query on the helpdesk before the last date.

Question 27

Can I apply for more than one state in SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

No. You can apply for vacancies of only one State/UT in a recruitment cycle, and you can appear for the test only once. Your candidature is considered only against that State/UT.

Question 28

What documents do I need while filling the SBI Clerk application form?

Accepted Answer

To fill the form you need scanned images of your photo, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration, a working email ID and mobile number, and your personal, category and education details. Certificates are checked later, at joining or document verification.

Question 29

How do I choose my exam centre for SBI Clerk, and can it be outside my chosen state?

Accepted Answer

You select a centre from the tentative list in Annexure I of the notification. You may take Prelims and Mains at any notified centre, even outside the State/UT you applied for, but SBI can allot a different centre.

Question 30

What is the SBI Clerk special recruitment drive for SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies?

Accepted Answer

It is a separate Junior Associate recruitment only for SC, ST and OBC (non-creamy layer) candidates to fill unfilled reserved vacancies. In 2026 it was advertised as CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16 with 1,538 vacancies.

Question 31

Does SBI give free pre-exam training for SC, ST, OBC, PwBD and ex-servicemen candidates?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SBI arranges online pre-examination training for SC/ST/OBC/ex-servicemen/PwBD candidates. You must opt for it in the relevant column of the online application.

Question 32

Who do I contact if I have a problem with my SBI Clerk application?

Accepted Answer

As per the 2026 notification, call 022-22820427 (11 AM to 5 PM on bank working days) or lodge a query on cgrs.ibps.in, mentioning 'Recruitment of Junior Associate-2026' in the subject.

Question 33

When will the next SBI Clerk notification come?

Accepted Answer

The 2026 recruitment was notified on 11 August 2026 and its prelims were held on 26 and 27 September 2026. The next one has not been announced; based on the last two cycles, it is expected around August-September 2027. Earlier notices came as late as December, so keep checking SBI's careers page.

Question 34

Can I take the exam in a different state from the one I apply for?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can take the prelims and mains at any notified centre. Only the language test has to be taken at a centre in the state you applied for, at your own cost.

Question 35

What is the application fee?

Accepted Answer

Rs 750 for General, OBC and EWS candidates. SC, ST, PwBD, ex-servicemen and disabled ex-servicemen pay nothing. The fee is not refunded.

Question 36

Can I change my application after submitting it?

Accepted Answer

Before final submission you can reopen and edit the saved form up to three times. After you submit, no change is allowed, including your category.

Question 37

Can I apply for more than one state?

Accepted Answer

No. You may submit only one application. If you submit more than one, SBI keeps only the last complete application and the other fees are lost.

Question 38

Where should I check official SBI Clerk updates?

Accepted Answer

Only on SBI's careers page at sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings. Call letters, results and notices are posted there, not sent by post.

Question 39

Which certificates do OBC and EWS candidates need?

Accepted Answer

OBC candidates need a non-creamy layer certificate issued on or after 1 April of the recruitment year. EWS candidates need an Income and Asset Certificate for the previous financial year, shown at document verification.

Question 40

What is the SBI Clerk Prelims exam pattern?

Accepted Answer

Prelims is an online objective test of 100 questions for 100 marks in 1 hour: English Language (30 questions, 20 minutes), Numerical Ability (35, 20 minutes) and Reasoning Ability (35, 20 minutes), with one-fourth negative marking.

Question 41

What is the SBI Clerk Mains exam pattern?

Accepted Answer

Mains has 190 questions for 200 marks in 2 hours 40 minutes: General/Financial Awareness (50 Qs, 50 marks, 35 min), General English (40, 40, 35 min), Quantitative Aptitude (50, 50, 45 min) and Reasoning Ability and Computer Aptitude (50, 60, 45 min).

Question 42

Is there sectional timing in the SBI Clerk exam?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Both Prelims and Mains have separate timing for each section. In Prelims each section gets 20 minutes; in Mains it is 35, 35, 45 and 45 minutes.

Question 43

Is there negative marking in SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

Yes. In both Prelims and Mains, one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer. Unanswered questions get no penalty.

Question 44

Is SBI Clerk Prelims only qualifying, or are its marks counted in the final result?

Accepted Answer

Prelims is only a screening test. Its marks are not added for selection; the final merit list is based only on the aggregate marks in the Main exam, subject to the local language test.

Question 45

Is there normalisation of marks in SBI Clerk, and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

SBI's Junior Associate notification and exam booklets do not describe a normalisation method. The exam runs in several shifts, and education sites say IBPS-style equipercentile equating is used, but SBI has not published the formula for this exam.

Question 46

Is there an interview in SBI Clerk selection?

Accepted Answer

No. SBI Clerk has no interview. Selection is through the online Prelims and Mains, followed by the Local Language Proficiency Test for those who need it, and then document verification and medical fitness.

Question 47

What is the Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) in SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

The LLPT is a qualifying test of the local language of the State you applied for. It is taken after Mains and before joining, only by candidates who did not study that language in 10th or 12th. Failing it means no appointment.

Question 48

Is there a sectional cut-off in SBI Clerk Prelims or Mains?

Accepted Answer

No. As per the 2026 notification, there are no minimum qualifying marks for individual sections in either Prelims or Mains. Prelims has no aggregate minimum either; Mains requires a minimum aggregate decided by the Bank.

Question 49

Is a calculator allowed in the SBI Clerk exam?

Accepted Answer

No. Candidates are not permitted to use or even possess calculators in the exam premises. Mobile phones, smart watches and other communication devices are also banned. Rough sheets are provided.

Question 50

In which languages can I write the SBI Clerk exam?

Accepted Answer

The English sections are in English only. The other sections are available in English and Hindi, and in many states also in the regional language, depending on the State/UT you applied for. For example, Tamil Nadu adds Tamil and Telangana adds Telugu and Urdu.

Question 51

How many candidates are selected for SBI Clerk Mains after Prelims?

Accepted Answer

About 10 times the number of vacancies in each category, subject to availability, are shortlisted for Mains from a list of candidates in descending order of Prelims aggregate marks.

Question 52

Can PwBD candidates use a scribe and get extra time in SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Persons with 40% or more benchmark disability who have a physical limitation to write may use a scribe, and eligible candidates get compensatory time of 20 minutes for every hour of the exam, whether or not they use a scribe.

Question 53

What documents should I carry to the SBI Clerk exam centre?

Accepted Answer

Carry the call letter with your photo pasted, two extra copies of the same photo, an original photo ID with a self-attested photocopy, and, for Mains, the authenticated Prelims call letter as well. Banned items such as phones and calculators must not be carried.

Question 54

Is there a sectional cut-off in SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

The notification sets no minimum qualifying marks for individual sections in either stage. In prelims, about 10 times the vacancies in each category are shortlisted on total marks. In mains, you need a minimum aggregate decided by SBI.

Question 55

Do prelims marks count in the final selection?

Accepted Answer

No. Prelims only decides who goes to the mains. The final merit list uses mains marks alone.

Question 56

Is there an interview for SBI Clerk?

Accepted Answer

No. Selection is based on the mains exam, followed by the local language test where needed, document checks and a medical.

Question 57

What is normalisation and does it affect my score?

Accepted Answer

Normalisation is a statistical adjustment used when an exam runs in several shifts, so a harder or easier shift does not decide results. SBI's notification does not describe a method. You cannot control it, so focus on accuracy in your own shift.

Question 58

Which languages can I write the exam in?

Accepted Answer

The English section is in English only. Other sections are in English, Hindi and, for many states, the state language, as listed in the notification.

Question 59

Is a calculator allowed?

Accepted Answer

No. Calculators, mobile phones and smart watches are not allowed in the exam hall, so practise calculations by hand.

Question 60

When is the SBI Clerk notification usually released?

Accepted Answer

There is no fixed month. The last three regular notifications opened for registration on 17 December 2024, 6 August 2025 and 11 August 2026, so recent cycles have leaned towards August.

Question 61

What are the SBI Clerk 2026 exam dates?

Accepted Answer

For the 2026 regular recruitment (CRPD/CR/2026-27/17), Prelims was held on 26 and 27 September 2026 and the Main exam is tentatively in November 2026 as per the notification. Watch SBI's careers page for the confirmed Mains date.

Question 62

When is the SBI Clerk Prelims exam usually held?

Accepted Answer

Usually about a month after registration closes. In recent cycles Prelims was held from 22 February to 1 March 2025, on 20, 21 and 27 September 2025, and on 26 and 27 September 2026.

Question 63

When is the SBI Clerk Mains exam usually held?

Accepted Answer

Mains usually follows a few weeks to two months after Prelims. It was held on 10 and 12 April 2025 for the 2024-25 cycle and on 21 November 2025 for the 2025-26 cycle; for 2026 it is tentatively in November 2026.

Question 64

When is the SBI Clerk admit card released and how do I download it?

Accepted Answer

Call letters are released on SBI's careers page tentatively from about 10 days before the exam. Log in with your registration number or roll number and your password or date of birth, then download and print it. No hard copy is posted.

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