SBI Clerk Exam – Eligibility, Pattern, Salary, Selection

About SBI Clerk

SBI Clerk is the recruitment exam of State Bank of India (SBI) for its clerical cadre. The post is called Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales). The Central Recruitment & Promotion Department of SBI in Mumbai runs it, and the bank holds the exam on its own, not through IBPS.

SBI hires state-wise. You can apply for one State or Union Territory only, and you have to know its local language. The bank holds this recruitment every year, and the notification can include regular vacancies and a backlog vacancies drive for reserved categories.

Selected candidates are posted at branches and handle customer-facing work such as service, sales and basic banking operations.

SBI Clerk at a glance

Eligibility

Qualification

A graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government. Final-year or final-semester students can apply provisionally, but must show proof of passing by the date given in the notification (31 December of the year in the latest notice). If you have an integrated dual degree, the passing date must be on or before that date.

Matriculate ex-servicemen with the Army Special Certificate of Education (or the Navy/Air Force equivalent) after at least 15 years of service are also eligible.

Age limit

The age limit is 20 to 28 years on the cut-off date in the notification (1 April in the latest cycle). The upper limit is relaxed as follows:

The relaxations are not cumulative; they cannot be combined with each other.

Other rules

• Only Indian citizens can apply under this notification.
• OBC candidates must belong to the Non-Creamy Layer. Creamy-layer candidates apply as General.
• Staff currently working in SBI in the clerical cadre, and those who resigned from SBI while in the clerical cadre, cannot apply.
• You can apply for one State/UT only and can appear for the test only once in the project.
• You must know the local language of your chosen state. If you did not study it in Class 10 or 12, you must pass a language test.

Selection process

• Phase I – Online Preliminary Examination: a 100-marks screening test. About ten times the number of vacancies are shortlisted for the Main exam.
• Phase II – Online Main Examination: 200 marks. You must score the minimum aggregate marks decided by the Bank.
• Phase III – Local Language Proficiency Test: only for candidates who have not studied the state language in Class 10 or 12. It is held before joining.

The merit list is state-wise and category-wise, based on the Main exam marks. Trained apprentices of SBI get bonus marks (2.5 percent of the maximum marks) if they meet the conditions in the notice.

Exam pattern

Preliminary Examination

There is no minimum qualifying mark for individual sections or the aggregate; only the shortlist cut-off matters. Section-wise marks are not kept.

Main Examination

One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question is deducted for each wrong answer in both stages. In the Main exam there is a minimum aggregate score, with a 5 percent relaxation for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/ex-servicemen candidates. No minimum is set for individual sections.

Local Language Proficiency Test

The language test has a non-verbal (objective) part and a verbal (subjective) part. You need the minimum qualifying marks set by the Bank (5 percent relaxation for reserved categories).

Syllabus

The notification gives only section names, number of questions and marks. SBI shares the detailed pattern in the "Acquaint Yourself" booklet that you download with your call letter. As per the latest notification, the sections are:

• English Language – in both Preliminary and Main.
• Numerical Ability / Quantitative Aptitude – number and data-based questions.
• Reasoning Ability – logical reasoning in the Preliminary; in the Main it is combined with Computer Aptitude.
• General / Financial Awareness – Main only.
• Computer Aptitude – Main only.

Check the "Acquaint Yourself" booklet on the SBI careers page for the exact topics.

Salary and posts

The notification gives this pay scale: ₹24,050 – 1,340/3 – 28,070 – 1,650/3 – 33,020 – 2,000/4 – 41,020 – 2,340/7 – 57,400 – 4,400/1 – 61,800 – 2,680/1 – 64,480. Graduates start with two advance increments, so the starting basic pay was ₹26,730 in the latest notice. The total starting emoluments in a metro city like Mumbai were stated at around ₹46,000 per month, including DA and other allowances at the rates of that time.

The post carries Provident Fund, pension under the New Pension Scheme, medical benefits and leave fare concession as per bank rules. New recruits are on probation for at least six months and must finish the bank e-learning modules for confirmation. There is no transfer between states for the first five years, except in rare exceptional cases.

How to apply

1. Open the SBI careers page: sbi.bank.in/web/careers/current-openings.
2. Find "Recruitment of Junior Associates" and click Apply Online.
3. Register with an active email ID and mobile number. Keep both active until the results are out.
4. Fill in the form and choose one State/UT and your local language.
5. Upload your photograph, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration as per the guidelines.
6. Pay the fee online by debit card, credit card or net banking.

Fee in the latest notification: ₹750 for General/OBC/EWS, and nil for SC/ST/PwBD/ex-servicemen/disabled ex-servicemen. The fee is not refunded. SBI also arranges free online pre-exam training for SC/ST/OBC/ex-servicemen/PwBD candidates who opt for it in the form.

Exam calendar

Usual, may change. In the latest cycle the order was:

• Notification and online application: August.
• Preliminary exam: September (tentative).
• Main exam: November (tentative).
• Local language test: after the Main exam and before joining.

Always check the dates in the notification, because SBI shows them as tentative.

Preparation tips

• Study the pattern: the Preliminary has three 20-minute sections, so practise strict time limits.
• Take online mock tests regularly, as both stages are computer-based.
• Make a short daily plan for English, numbers and reasoning, and revise it weekly.
• For the Main exam, read current affairs and banking and financial news each month.
• Learn computer basics for the Computer Aptitude part of the Main exam.
• Avoid blind guessing because one-fourth of the marks is deducted for each wrong answer.
• Check the local language of your chosen state before applying and plan to learn it if needed.

FAQs

What is the age limit for SBI Clerk?

20 to 28 years on the cut-off date in the notification. OBC get 3 years, SC/ST get 5 years, and PwBD candidates get 10 to 15 years of relaxation. Ex-servicemen and some women candidates also get relaxation.

What is the qualification for SBI Clerk?

A graduation degree in any discipline. Final-year students can apply provisionally if they pass by the date in the notification.

How many stages are there in SBI Clerk?

Two online exams (Preliminary and Main) and a local language test for candidates who have not studied the state language. There is no interview.

Is there negative marking in SBI Clerk?

Yes. One-fourth of the marks of a question is deducted for each wrong answer in both stages.

Do Preliminary marks count in the final result?

No. The Preliminary only shortlists candidates for the Main exam. The merit list uses the Main exam marks.

Can I apply for more than one state?

No. You can apply for one State/UT only and appear in the test only once.

What is the application fee for SBI Clerk?

₹750 for General, OBC and EWS in the latest notification. SC/ST/PwBD/ex-servicemen pay nothing.

Is SBI Clerk the same as IBPS Clerk?

No. SBI conducts its own Junior Associate exam, while IBPS conducts the exam for many other public sector banks.

Always confirm the details in the official notification of the year you apply for.