There is good news for young people aspiring to work in one of the country's largest public sector banks. The State Bank of India (SBI) has released the notification for the 2026 Clerk (Junior Associate) recruitment. A total of 1,538 vacancies will be filled through this special recruitment drive. The application process began on August 7, 2026, and interested candidates can apply online until August 27. Candidates should note that they can apply for only one state or Union Territory. Additionally, knowledge of the local language of the respective state is mandatory.

**Selection in Three Stages**

The selection process for the SBI Clerk recruitment will consist of three stages. First, a preliminary examination will be held. Candidates who qualify in the prelims will then appear for the main examination. The final stage will be the Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT). The preliminary exam is likely to be held in September 2026, and the main exam is expected to take place in October-November 2026.

**Prelims: 100 Marks; Negative Marking for Wrong Answers**

The preliminary examination will carry a total of 100 marks, with a duration of one hour. All questions in the paper will be objective-type, and the exam will be divided into three sections. There will be negative marking of one-fourth of a mark for every incorrect answer. SBI has not set any sectional or overall qualifying cut-off marks for the preliminary examination.

In the main examination, candidates must secure the minimum marks prescribed by the bank. However, there will be no requirement to secure minimum marks in any specific section individually.

**Language Test**

Candidates who have studied the local language of the state in Class 10 or 12—and have this reflected in their marksheets—will be exempted from the LLPT. Other candidates will be required to take a language test after selection, which will assess their reading, writing, speaking, and comprehension abilities.

**Age Limit**

Candidates must be between 20 and 28 years of age as of April 1, 2026. Candidates belonging to reserved categories will receive age relaxation in accordance with the rules. Candidates should keep their mobile numbers and email IDs active while applying, as information related to the recruitment will be sent through these channels.

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