SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026: State-Wise Seats & 7 Important Rules

SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026 Overview

Important clarification: The backlog figures given below are the net backlog vacancies shown in Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 after accounting for vacancies advertised separately under SBI’s Special Recruitment Drive, Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/SPLDRIVE/2026-27/16. They should not be confused with the total vacancies of that separate Special Recruitment Drive.

SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026 State-Wise Seats

The official SBI notification provides regular vacancies as well as separate net backlog vacancies. The following table focuses specifically on SC and ST seats so candidates can understand the SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026 correctly.

The 2,170 figure above is the mathematical total of the regular SC/ST category vacancies and the net SC/ST backlog vacancies separately shown in the official vacancy table. It should not be presented as SBI’s total number of vacancies for the entire recruitment because the notification also contains OBC, EWS, General and horizontal reservation categories.

Which State Has the Highest SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026?

Based on the regular plus net backlog SC/ST figures shown in the official notification, Odisha has 418 SC/ST seats, while Maharashtra has 365 and Tamil Nadu has 283.

For regular SC vacancies, Tamil Nadu has 267 SC seats, followed by Odisha with 176, Maharashtra with 171, West Bengal with 127 and Karnataka with 121.

For regular ST vacancies, Odisha has 242 ST seats, followed by Maharashtra with 154, Chhattisgarh with 91, Karnataka with 53 and Gujarat with 49.

Candidates should not select a State/UT only on the basis of vacancy numbers. The specified local language and posting rules are equally important.

SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates applying for SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026 must satisfy SBI’s prescribed age, educational qualification, nationality, category and document requirements as on the relevant cut-off dates.

1. SBI Clerk SC ST Age Limit

The basic age limit prescribed by SBI is 20 to 28 years as on 1 April 2026.

Candidates must have been born:

• Not earlier than: 2 April 1998
• Not later than: 1 April 2006

Both dates are inclusive.

SC and ST candidates receive an upper-age relaxation of 5 years.

Therefore, subject to satisfying SBI’s date-of-birth conditions and other eligibility requirements, SC/ST candidates receive the benefit of five additional years in the prescribed upper age limit.

For PwBD candidates belonging to SC/ST, the notified age relaxation is 15 years.

SBI has specifically stated that cumulative age relaxation is not available either under the listed categories or by combining one relaxation with another.

2. Educational Qualification

For SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026, the essential academic qualification is graduation in any discipline from a recognised university or an equivalent qualification recognised by the Central Government.

The educational qualification cut-off date is 31 December 2026.

Candidates in the final year or final semester of graduation are permitted to apply provisionally. However, if provisionally selected, they must provide proof that they passed the graduation examination on or before 31 December 2026.

Candidates holding an Integrated Dual Degree must also ensure that the date of passing is on or before 31 December 2026.

3. SC/ST Caste Certificate Requirement

SC and ST candidates claiming reservation benefits must submit a caste certificate issued by the competent authority in the format prescribed by the Government of India during document verification or at the stage required by SBI.

Candidates should ensure that the category entered in the application form is correct because SBI states that no change in category is permitted after registration of the online application.

The notification also states that an SC/ST candidate who has migrated from a state where his or her community is scheduled to another state where the community is not scheduled will continue to be deemed SC/ST, subject to the applicable reservation rules and required documentation.

SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026 Application Fee

For SC and ST applicants, the application fee and intimation charge is:

SC / ST / PwBD / XS / DXS: NIL

For comparison, the notified fee for General, OBC and EWS candidates is ₹750.

Even though SC/ST candidates do not have to pay the application fee, they must complete all stages of online registration successfully and ensure that the application has been finally submitted.

The online application window is open from 11 August 2026 to 31 August 2026.

Important Local Language Rule

The local language condition is extremely important for SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026.

A candidate applying for vacancies of a particular State/UT must be proficient in reading, writing, speaking and understanding the specified opted local language of that State/UT.

Candidates have to opt for the relevant language at the time of online application as prescribed by SBI.

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 provisionally selected candidates will have to appear for the Local Language Proficiency Test after provisional selection and before joining the Bank.

Candidates who fail to qualify the required local language test will not be offered appointment.

SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026 Selection Process

The selection procedure consists of:

• Phase I – Preliminary Examination
• Phase II – Main Examination
• Phase III – Test of Specified Opted Local Language, wherever applicable

SBI Clerk Preliminary Examination Pattern 2026

There is a penalty for wrong answers in the objective tests. One-fourth of the marks assigned to a question will be deducted for each wrong answer.

SBI states that no minimum qualifying marks are prescribed for individual tests or the aggregate score in the Preliminary Examination, and section-wise marks will not be maintained.

Approximately 10 times the number of vacancies, subject to availability and SBI’s decision, may be shortlisted category-wise for the Main Examination based on aggregate Prelims marks.

SBI Clerk Main Examination Pattern 2026

The Main Examination also carries a penalty of one-fourth of the marks assigned to the question for every wrong answer.

Candidates must score the minimum aggregate qualifying marks decided by SBI. The notification provides a 5% relaxation in the prescribed aggregate qualifying requirement for SC/ST/OBC/PwBD/XS/DXS candidates.

No minimum qualifying marks are prescribed for individual Main Examination subjects.

Most importantly, Preliminary Examination marks are not added to the final merit. The aggregate marks obtained in the Main Examination are considered for preparation of the state-wise and category-wise merit list, subject to satisfying the other selection conditions.

7 Important Rules for SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026

Rule 1: A Candidate Can Apply for Only One State/UT

Under the SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026 recruitment, candidates can apply for vacancies in one State/UT only.

Candidates should therefore carefully check SC/ST vacancies, local language requirements and their preferred posting state before completing registration.

Rule 2: Candidate Can Appear Only Once Under This Recruitment Project

The SBI notification clearly states that candidates can appear for the test only once under this recruitment project.

Candidates should not submit or use applications in a manner that could violate SBI’s recruitment conditions.

Rule 3: Local Language Requirement Is Mandatory

Candidates must be proficient in the specified opted local language of the State/UT for which they apply.

Candidates who cannot establish through their Class 10 or Class 12 records that they studied the specified language may have to qualify the Local Language Proficiency Test before joining.

Failure to qualify the required language test means appointment will not be offered.

Rule 4: Category Cannot Be Changed After Registration

Candidates applying under SC or ST reservation must enter their category carefully.

SBI states that no change in the category of a candidate is permitted after registration of the online application.

The required caste certificate in the Government of India prescribed format must also be produced when required.

Rule 5: Final Merit Is State-Wise and Category-Wise

SBI does not prepare the final selection list for Junior Associates as a single all-India merit list.

The merit list is drawn State-wise and category-wise. Candidates are considered against the State/UT for which they have applied.

Preliminary Examination marks are not counted for final selection. The Main Examination score is used for preparation of the merit list, subject to eligibility verification and local language qualification wherever applicable.

Rule 6: Posting Is Linked to the State Applied For

Candidates selected under SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026 will be posted in the State for which they applied.

The official notification states that there is no provision for Inter Circle Transfer / Inter State Transfer before completion of 5 years of service.

After completion of five years, transfer may be considered only in exceptional cases such as Extreme Compassionate Ground or Spouse Ground, at the sole discretion of SBI and according to the Bank’s applicable transfer policy.

Rule 7: Vacancies Are Provisional

All vacancy numbers announced by SBI are provisional.

Depending on the actual requirement of the Bank, the notified vacancies may vary.

Candidates should therefore use the official SBI Careers website for subsequent corrigenda, examination notices, call letters, results and recruitment updates.

How to Choose the Best State for SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026

Candidates should not choose a State/UT only because it has a high number of SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026 seats.

First, check your relevant SC or ST vacancy count.

Second, check the specified local language.

Third, understand that the final merit list is State-wise and category-wise.

Fourth, remember that your posting will be linked to the State/UT for which you apply.

For example, Odisha has a high number of regular SC and ST vacancies, but candidates applying there must satisfy the Odia language requirement.

Similarly, Maharashtra offers a substantial number of SC/ST vacancies, but Marathi is the specified opted local language.

Tamil Nadu has a particularly high number of regular SC vacancies, but candidates should consider the Tamil language requirement before selecting the state.

Therefore, vacancy numbers, local language proficiency and long-term posting preference should all be considered together.

Documents SC/ST Candidates Should Keep Ready

• Valid photo identity proof.
• Recent photograph as per SBI’s prescribed upload specifications.
• Signature as per the prescribed specifications.
• Left-hand thumb impression. If the candidate does not have a left thumb, the right thumb may be used as permitted in the notification.
• Handwritten declaration in the prescribed format.
• Graduation mark sheets, degree or eligible provisional qualification proof.
• SC/ST caste certificate issued by the competent authority in the Government of India prescribed format.
• Class 10 or Class 12 mark sheet/certificate showing the specified opted local language, where applicable.
• Relevant age-relaxation or disability certificates wherever applicable.
• Preliminary and Main Examination call letters and prescribed identity documents at the relevant examination stage.

Additional Benefit for SC/ST Candidates

Eligible SC/ST candidates can opt for Pre-Examination Training as provided under Government of India guidelines.

According to the official notification, SBI will arrange Pre-Examination Training for eligible SC/ST/OBC/Ex-servicemen/PwBD candidates.

The training will be conducted online. Eligible candidates who wish to avail themselves of this facility must select the relevant option in the online application form.

SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026 Important Dates

Final Words

SBI Clerk SC ST Vacancy 2026 provides a major opportunity for SC and ST banking aspirants. According to Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17, SBI has announced 1,114 regular SC vacancies and 837 regular ST vacancies, giving a combined 1,951 regular SC/ST seats.

The same notification separately shows 58 net backlog SC seats and 161 net backlog ST seats. These backlog vacancies are specifically described by SBI as net of vacancies already advertised under the separate Special Recruitment Drive.

Candidates should therefore avoid mixing the figures of Advertisement No. CRPD/CR/2026-27/17 with the separate Special Recruitment Drive notification.

Before submitting the application, candidates must check their category, date of birth, graduation eligibility, caste certificate, State/UT selection and specified opted local language carefully.

Applications for the present recruitment are open from 11 August 2026 to 31 August 2026. The Preliminary Examination is tentatively scheduled for September 2026 and the Main Examination for November 2026.

Most importantly, candidates can apply for only one State/UT, final merit is prepared State-wise and category-wise, and selected candidates will be posted in the State for which they apply.