SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026: 5 Important Prelims & Mains Schedule Updates
Quick Overview
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SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 has received an important official update. State Bank of India has released the regular recruitment notification for Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales) under Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17. Online registration and payment of application fees are open from 11 August 2026 to 31 August 2026.
According to the official notification, the SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Date 2026 is tentatively scheduled in September 2026, while the SBI Clerk Mains Exam Date 2026 is tentatively scheduled in November 2026. SBI has announced the tentative examination months, but exact candidate-wise exam dates, shifts and centres will be communicated through call letters and further official updates.
SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 Overview
| Particulars | Official Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | SBI Clerk / Junior Associate 2026 |
| Conducting Authority | State Bank of India |
| Post | Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales) |
| Advertisement Number | CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 |
| Online Registration | 11 August 2026 to 31 August 2026 |
| Application Fee Payment | 11 August 2026 to 31 August 2026 |
| SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Date 2026 | Tentatively September 2026 |
| SBI Clerk Mains Exam Date 2026 | Tentatively November 2026 |
| Prelims Call Letter | Tentatively from 10 days before the exam date |
| Mains Call Letter | Tentatively from 10 days before the Main examination |
| Exam Mode | Online |
| Selection Process | Preliminary Examination + Main Examination + Local Language Proficiency Test, wherever applicable |
| Official Website | SBI Careers – Current Openings |
SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026: 5 Important Prelims & Mains Schedule Updates
1. SBI Clerk 2026 Notification Is Officially Released
The regular SBI Clerk Notification 2026 has now been released. Candidates should remove or ignore older information stating that the notification is still awaited. The official recruitment advertisement is CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 for recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales).
2. SBI Clerk Application Dates Are 11 August to 31 August 2026
The online application process and payment of fees are open from 11 August 2026 to 31 August 2026. Candidates can apply through the official SBI Careers portal. A candidate may apply for vacancies in one State/UT only and may appear for the test only once under this recruitment project.
3. SBI Clerk Prelims 2026 Is Tentatively in September
The official SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 notification states that the Preliminary Examination will be conducted tentatively in September 2026. SBI has not announced one exact examination date applicable to every candidate.
The final exam date, reporting time, shift and examination centre applicable to a candidate will be mentioned in the official call letter.
4. SBI Clerk Mains 2026 Is Tentatively in November
The SBI Clerk Mains Exam Date 2026 is tentatively scheduled in November 2026. Candidates shortlisted through the Preliminary Examination will be eligible to appear for the Main Examination.
Candidates should therefore begin Mains-level preparation alongside Prelims rather than waiting until the Preliminary Examination result.
5. Call Letters Will Be Available About 10 Days Before Exams
SBI has stated that candidates should be able to download the Preliminary Examination call letter and the “Acquaint Yourself” booklet tentatively from 10 days before the exam date.
Candidates qualifying for the Main Examination will similarly be able to download their Main Examination call letter tentatively from 10 days before the Main exam date. Hard copies of Preliminary or Main call letters will not be sent by post.
SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 – Official Schedule
| Event | Official Status / Date |
|---|---|
| SBI Clerk Notification 2026 | Released |
| Online Application Start Date | 11 August 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 31 August 2026 |
| Last Date for Fee Payment | 31 August 2026 |
| Prelims Call Letter | Tentatively 10 days before examination |
| SBI Clerk Prelims Exam | Tentatively September 2026 |
| Prelims Result | To be announced by SBI |
| Mains Call Letter | Tentatively 10 days before Main examination |
| SBI Clerk Mains Exam | Tentatively November 2026 |
| Mains Result / Provisional Selection | To be announced by SBI |
| Local Language Proficiency Test | For applicable provisionally selected candidates before joining |
SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 official tentative schedule: Prelims in September 2026 and Mains in November 2026.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Date 2026
The official notification confirms that SBI Clerk Prelims 2026 is tentatively scheduled in September 2026. Candidates should not continue using the older September/October expected window now that SBI has published its official tentative month.
SBI Clerk Prelims 2026 Timeline
- Official Tentative Month: September 2026
- Exact Candidate Date: To be communicated through call letter
- Mode: Online
- Call Letter: Tentatively from 10 days before examination
- Result: To be announced after the examination
SBI Clerk Mains Exam Date 2026
Candidates shortlisted after the Preliminary Examination will appear for SBI Clerk Mains 2026. The official notification places the Main Examination tentatively in November 2026.
SBI Clerk Mains 2026 Timeline
- Official Tentative Month: November 2026
- Exact Candidate Date: To be communicated officially
- Mode: Online
- Eligibility: Candidates shortlisted through Prelims
- Call Letter: Tentatively 10 days before the Main exam
SBI Clerk Vacancy 2026 – Correct Category-Wise Regular Vacancies
According to Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17, SBI has announced 7,680 regular vacancies for Junior Associates. The correct category-wise regular vacancy distribution is given below.
| Category | Regular Vacancies |
|---|---|
| SC | 1,114 |
| ST | 837 |
| OBC | 1,716 |
| EWS | 760 |
| General | 3,253 |
| Total Regular Vacancies | 7,680 |
SBI Clerk Backlog Vacancies Shown in the Regular Notification
The notification also contains separate backlog vacancy columns. The SC/ST/OBC backlog vacancies shown in Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 are:
| Category | Backlog Vacancies |
|---|---|
| SC | 58 |
| ST | 161 |
| OBC | 68 |
| Total SC/ST/OBC Backlog | 287 |
How Many Candidates Will Be Shortlisted for SBI Clerk Mains 2026?
There is no fixed nationwide candidate number announced for the Main Examination. According to the official selection procedure, SBI will shortlist an adequate number of candidates in each category, as decided by the Bank.
The number shortlisted for the Main Examination will be approximately 10 times the number of vacancies, subject to availability. Therefore, candidates should not use an unofficial fixed number of Main-exam candidates as confirmed information.
SBI Clerk 2026 Selection Process
The official SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 notification confirms the following selection stages:
- Phase I – Preliminary Examination
- Phase II – Main Examination
- Phase III – Local Language Proficiency Test, wherever applicable
There is no interview stage for SBI Junior Associate recruitment.
SBI Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern 2026
The SBI Clerk Prelims 2026 will be an online objective examination consisting of 100 questions for 100 marks. The total duration is 1 hour, with a separate timing of 20 minutes for each section.
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 30 | 30 | 20 Minutes |
| Numerical Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability | 35 | 35 | 20 Minutes |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 1 Hour |
There will be negative marking. One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for each wrong answer. SBI has stated that no minimum qualifying marks are prescribed for an individual test or for the aggregate score in Prelims, and section-wise marks will not be maintained.
SBI Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2026
The SBI Clerk Mains 2026 examination consists of 190 questions for 200 marks and has a total duration of 2 hours 40 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General / Financial Awareness | 50 | 50 | 35 Minutes |
| General English | 40 | 40 | 35 Minutes |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 50 | 50 | 45 Minutes |
| Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude | 50 | 60 | 45 Minutes |
| Total | 190 | 200 | 2 Hours 40 Minutes |
Negative marking of one-fourth of the marks assigned to a question applies to wrong answers in the objective tests. Candidates have to obtain the minimum aggregate marks decided by SBI.
For SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, XS and DXS candidates, SBI provides a 5% relaxation in the aggregate qualifying requirement. No minimum qualifying marks are prescribed for individual subjects.
SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 official Prelims and Mains exam pattern with section-wise questions, marks and timings.
Will SBI Clerk Prelims Marks Be Added to Final Merit?
No. Marks obtained in the Preliminary Examination will not be added for final selection. SBI will consider the aggregate marks obtained in the Main Examination for preparation of the final merit list, subject to eligibility and the specified local-language requirement.
Eligible trained SBI apprentices may receive the bonus marks specified in the official notification subject to fulfilling the prescribed conditions.
SBI Clerk Local Language Test 2026
Candidates applying for vacancies in a particular State/UT must be proficient in the specified opted local language of that State/UT in reading, writing, speaking and understanding.
Candidates who produce a Class 10 or Class 12 mark sheet/certificate showing that they studied the specified opted local language will not be required to undergo the language test.
Other applicable provisionally selected candidates will have to qualify the Local Language Proficiency Test before joining the Bank. A candidate who fails to qualify the specified local-language test will not be offered appointment.
SBI Clerk Eligibility Dates Candidates Must Check
| Eligibility Point | Official Requirement |
|---|---|
| Age Cut-off Date | 1 April 2026 |
| Minimum Age | 20 Years |
| Maximum Age | 28 Years before applicable relaxation |
| Date of Birth Range | Not earlier than 2 April 1998 and not later than 1 April 2006, both dates inclusive |
| Academic Qualification Cut-off | 31 December 2026 |
| Essential Qualification | Graduation in any discipline from a recognised University or equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government |
| Final Year / Semester Candidates | May apply provisionally but must produce proof of passing graduation on or before 31 December 2026 if provisionally selected |
SBI Clerk Age Relaxation 2026
| Category | Upper Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| OBC | 3 Years |
| SC / ST | 5 Years |
| PwBD (General / EWS) | 10 Years |
| PwBD (OBC) | 13 Years |
| PwBD (SC / ST) | 15 Years |
Other category-specific relaxations, including those applicable to Ex-Servicemen, eligible women candidates and trained SBI apprentices, should be checked directly in the official notification before applying.
SBI Clerk 2026 Category Certificate Rules
- OBC: Reservation is available only to OBC candidates belonging to the Non-Creamy Layer.
- OBC Creamy Layer: Such candidates are not entitled to OBC reservation/relaxation and should indicate General category, as applicable.
- OBC NCL Certificate: The prescribed certificate containing the Non-Creamy Layer clause should be issued during the period from 1 April 2026 to the date of taking up appointment, if selected.
- EWS: Income and Asset Certificate should relate to financial year 2025-26 and be valid for 2026-27 as per applicable DoPT guidelines.
- SC/ST: Caste certificate in the prescribed Government of India format has to be produced during document verification.
- PwBD: The disability certificate should be dated on or before the last date of registration.
SBI Clerk 2026 Application Fee
| Category | Fee / Intimation Charges |
|---|---|
| SC / ST / PwBD / XS / DXS | Nil |
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹750 |
When Will SBI Clerk Admit Card 2026 Be Released?
The SBI Clerk Admit Card 2026 will be released online. For Prelims, candidates should be able to download their call letter and “Acquaint Yourself” booklet tentatively from 10 days before the examination date.
Candidates qualifying for Mains will be able to download the Main Examination call letter tentatively from 10 days before the Mains exam date.
No hard copy of the Preliminary or Main Examination call letter or the “Acquaint Yourself” booklet will be sent by post.
Important SBI Clerk Exam Day Photograph Rule
Candidates must bring two additional photographs identical to the photograph pasted on their call letter along with the required documents. A candidate reporting without a photograph pasted on the call letter or without the two additional matching photographs will not be allowed to appear for the examination.
SBI also advises candidates to retain at least 8 copies of the same photograph uploaded during the application process because photographs may be required at later stages.
Can Candidates Change SBI Clerk Exam Centre, Date or Session?
No request for change of examination centre, date or session will be entertained. SBI also reserves the right to cancel or add examination centres or allot a candidate to a centre other than the one originally selected, depending on response and administrative feasibility.
Important Application Rules for SBI Clerk 2026
- Candidates may apply for vacancies in one State/UT only.
- Candidates may appear for the test only once under this recruitment project.
- Candidates must be proficient in the specified opted local language of the State/UT applied for.
- Merit lists will be prepared State-wise and category-wise.
- No change in category is permitted after registration of the online application.
- Candidates should regularly check SBI Careers for official updates.
How to Check SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026
- Visit the official SBI Careers portal.
- Open the Current Openings section.
- Find Recruitment of Junior Associates (Customer Support & Sales).
- Verify Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17.
- Open the latest notification, call-letter link or examination update.
- Check your individual call letter for the exact date, shift, reporting time and centre.
Check SBI Clerk 2026 Official Updates →
Why SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 Is Important for Preparation
The official SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 schedule gives candidates a much clearer preparation timeline. With Prelims tentatively scheduled for September 2026 and Mains tentatively scheduled for November 2026, candidates should prepare both stages together.
1. Complete Prelims Fundamentals Quickly
Strengthen Numerical Ability, Reasoning Ability and English Language while working on both speed and accuracy.
2. Attempt Sectional Tests
Each Preliminary section has a separate 20-minute timing, so sectional tests should be an important part of preparation.
3. Start Full-Length Mock Tests
Use full-length mock tests to improve examination temperament, question selection, accuracy and time management.
4. Prepare Mains Alongside Prelims
General/Financial Awareness, advanced Quantitative Aptitude and Mains-level Reasoning should not be postponed until after the Preliminary result.
5. Track Official Updates
The announced September and November examination months are tentative. Candidates should keep checking SBI Careers because SBI may publish further notices relating to examination dates, call letters or other recruitment stages.
What Is the Correct SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 Right Now?
The correct official position is that SBI Clerk Prelims 2026 is tentatively scheduled for September 2026 and SBI Clerk Mains 2026 is tentatively scheduled for November 2026.
SBI has not yet announced the exact individual examination dates for every candidate. The candidate’s call letter and subsequent official SBI notices should be treated as the final source for the exact examination date, shift, reporting time and centre.
Final Words on SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026
SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 is no longer an awaited-notification topic. State Bank of India has released Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17, opened applications from 11 August to 31 August 2026, scheduled the Preliminary Examination tentatively for September 2026, and scheduled the Main Examination tentatively for November 2026.
Candidates should avoid relying on older expected dates and should verify all future SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 updates directly through the official SBI Careers portal.
Related SBI Clerk Guides
If you are checking SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026, you should also understand the latest notification, eligibility conditions and State-wise vacancies. Explore these important SBI Clerk guides on ExamTune:
1. SBI Clerk Notification 2026:
Check recruitment updates, selection process, exam pattern, important dates and application rules.
Read SBI Clerk Notification →
2. SBI Clerk Eligibility Criteria:
Check age limit, educational qualification and local-language requirements before applying.
Check SBI Clerk Eligibility →
3. SBI Clerk Vacancy:
Check State-wise and category-wise SBI Clerk vacancies before choosing your State/UT.
Check SBI Clerk Vacancy →
State Bank of India Careers – Current Openings
Advertisement No.: CRPD/CR/2026-27/17
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026?
The official SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 for Prelims and Mains has not yet been announced by the State Bank of India. Candidates should regularly check the SBI Careers portal for the confirmed schedule.
When will SBI Clerk Prelims 2026 be conducted?
The SBI Clerk Prelims 2026 date is yet to be officially confirmed. Based on previous recruitment timelines, candidates can prepare for a possible September or October 2026 examination window, but this should be treated only as an expected timeline.
When will SBI Clerk Mains 2026 be held?
The official SBI Clerk Mains Exam Date 2026 has not been announced yet. Candidates may keep November or December 2026 as a tentative preparation window until SBI releases the official schedule.
Has SBI officially announced the SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026?
No. As of 7 August 2026, SBI has not officially announced the exact Prelims and Mains dates for the new SBI Clerk 2026 recruitment cycle.
Where can I check the official SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026?
Candidates should check the official SBI Careers website under the Current Openings section. All official SBI Clerk notification, admit card and exam-date updates are published there.
Will SBI Clerk Prelims 2026 be conducted in multiple shifts?
Answer SBI Clerk Prelims is generally conducted in multiple shifts and may be held on more than one day depending on the number of candidates. The exact date, shift and reporting time will be mentioned on the candidate's admit card.
When will the SBI Clerk Admit Card 2026 be released?
The SBI Clerk Prelims and Mains admit cards will be released separately before their respective examinations. SBI will announce the exact call-letter download schedule through its official recruitment portal.
What is the selection process for SBI Clerk 2026?
he SBI Clerk selection process generally consists of the Preliminary Examination, Main Examination and a specified local language test wherever applicable. There is normally no interview for the Junior Associate post.
Is there a Local Language Test after SBI Clerk Mains 2026?
Yes, the Local Language Test may be required for candidates who qualify the Main Examination but cannot provide the prescribed academic proof of having studied the specified opted local language. Candidates meeting the required language-proof conditions may be exempted.
Should I wait for the SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 before starting preparation?
No. Candidates should begin preparation before the official SBI Clerk Exam Date 2026 is announced. Starting early provides enough time for concept building, mock tests, revision and simultaneous preparation for both Prelims and Mains.
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