How many vacancies are announced under SBI Clerk Special Drive 2026?

SBI has announced 1,538 backlog vacancies for Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales).

Who can apply for SBI Clerk backlog vacancies?

Only eligible candidates belonging to the SC, ST and OBC categories can apply. General/UR candidates are not eligible for this special drive.

What are the SBI Clerk application dates 2026?

Candidates can apply online from 7 August to 27 August 2026 for special recruitment drive and those candidates who want to apply for regular vacancy they can apply online from 11 August to 31 August 2026.

What is the SBI Clerk age limit 2026?

Candidates must be 20 to 28 years old as on 1 April 2026, with applicable age relaxation for reserved categories.

Why has SBI announced a separate Clerk backlog recruitment?

The drive has been announced to fill reserved vacancies that remained unfilled in previous recruitment cycles.

Can an OBC candidate apply for any State/UT?

A candidate can select only one State/UT. The candidate must also fulfil the applicable OBC eligibility and certificate requirements.

Can a General category candidate apply if there are vacancies in their preferred state?

No. The vacancies are specifically reserved backlog posts for SC, ST and OBC candidates, so General/UR candidates cannot apply.

Can General or EWS category candidates apply for these 1,500+ backlog vacancies?

No. These vacancies are specifically reserved for SC, ST and OBC candidates. Therefore, General/UR and EWS candidates cannot apply for this special backlog drive but in Regular vacancy the General and EWS can apply.

I belong to the OBC category, but I fall under the “Creamy Layer.” Can I apply?

No. OBC candidates must fulfil the prescribed Non-Creamy Layer (NCL) conditions. OBC candidates falling under the Creamy Layer are not eligible for the OBC vacancies under this recruitment.

I am in my final semester of graduation. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, candidates pursuing their final year/semester of graduation can apply provisionally, provided they fulfil the prescribed conditions and obtain the required qualification within the specified deadline.

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

Yes. You can apply for a State/UT other than your home state, provided you meet the eligibility and local language requirements for the State/UT selected. However, you can apply for only one State/UT.

If selected in another state, can I later apply for an Inter-Circle Transfer (ICT) back to my home state?

Generally, inter-circle/inter-state transfer is not permitted under this recruitment. Candidates should therefore choose their State/UT carefully. The notification provides specific exceptions for Delhi–Lucknow Circle in Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai Metro–Maharashtra Circle.

Are there any fee exemptions for reserved candidates in this backlog drive?

Yes. SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-servicemen/Disabled Ex-servicemen candidates are exempted from the application fee, while eligible OBC candidates have to pay ₹750.

SBI Clerk Vacancies 2026 Out for 11304 Posts (Regular + Backlog), Download Official PDF

The State Bank of India (SBI) has announced a special recruitment drive for the Clerical Cadre to fill backlog vacancies for the post of Junior Associate (Customer Support & Sales). A total of 1,538 vacancies have been notified under this drive for eligible SC, ST, and OBC candidates. Candidates meeting the prescribed eligibility criteria can complete their registration and submit the application form within the given deadline.

SBI Clerk Recruitment 2026

Candidates who meet the prescribed eligibility conditions can apply online through the official SBI recruitment portal. To be eligible, applicants must have a graduation degree in any discipline and should be 20 to 28 years of age, subject to the applicable relaxations for reserved categories. The selection process will involve the Prelims Examination and Mains Examination, followed by the Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) wherever applicable.

SBI Clerk 2026: Important Dates

Events	Dates
Vacancy Release	7th August 2026
Application Starts	7th August 2026
Last Date to Apply	27th August 2026
Admit Card	September 2026
Prelims Exam Date (Expected)	26th, 27th September, 3rd October 2026
Mains Admit Card	November 2026
Mains Exam Date (Expected)	23th November 2026

SBI has also released the regular SBI Clerk Notification 2026 with 9,000+ vacancies. Unlike the special backlog drive, the regular recruitment includes vacancies across different categories and provides a separate opportunity for eligible candidates.

SBI Clerk Backlog Vacancy 2026

SBI has announced 1,538 vacancies under this special recruitment drive. These vacancies are exclusively for backlog positions belonging to SC, ST and OBC categories.

Category Wise Vacancy

Category	Vacancy
SC	207
ST	1,219
OBC	112
Total	1,538

State-wise Vacancies

State/UT	SC	ST	OBC	Total Vacancies
Andhra Pradesh	—	88	—	88
Karnataka	85	35	—	120
Madhya Pradesh	—	134	—	134
Chhattisgarh	—	26	—	26
Odisha	—	111	—	111
Chandigarh UT	—	—	22	22
Jammu & Kashmir UT	—	42	—	42
Himachal Pradesh	11	—	—	11
Punjab	—	—	18	18
Tamil Nadu	65	—	—	65
Telangana	—	32	—	32
Rajasthan	20	86	—	106
West Bengal	—	—	55	55
Uttar Pradesh	—	31	—	31
Maharashtra	—	165	—	165
Delhi	—	—	17	17
Gujarat	—	289	—	289
Assam	—	39	—	39
Tripura	—	22	—	22
Bihar	12	—	—	12
Jharkhand	14	119	—	133
Total	207	1,219	112	1,538

Who Cannot Apply for SBI Clerk Special Drive 2026?

The SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026 is only for SC, ST and OBC backlog vacancies. The following candidates are not eligible:

General/UR candidates cannot apply.
Candidates currently working in the SBI clerical cadre cannot apply.
Candidates who previously resigned from the SBI clerical cadre are not eligible.
Candidates cannot apply for more than one State/UT.
Candidates failing to meet the prescribed local language requirement, wherever applicable, may not be considered.

Note: General/UR candidates cannot apply even if they meet the age and educational eligibility criteria.

SBI Clerk 2026 Application Form

The SBI Clerk Special Recruitment 2026 application window is nearing its closing date, with 27 August 2026 being the last day to apply online. Candidates who are yet to register should complete the application process and fee payment before the deadline to avoid missing the recruitment opportunity. Applicants should also verify all the details entered in the form carefully before final submission.

How to Apply for SBI Clerk Special Drive 2026?

Candidates can apply for the SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026 through the online application process. Follow these steps:

Visit the official SBI website and open the current recruitment section.
Select the SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026 application link.
Complete the online registration using your basic details and valid contact information.
Select one State/UT for which you want to apply.
Fill in your personal, educational, and category details carefully.
Upload the required documents, including a photograph, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration in the prescribed format.
Complete the required live photograph capture through webcam/mobile.
Pay the applicable application fee.
Preview the application carefully and submit it.
Download and save the application form and fee receipt for future reference.

SBI Clerk Application Fee 2026

The application fee varies according to the candidate’s category:

SC/ST/PwBD/Ex-servicemen/Disabled Ex-servicemen: No fee
OBC: ₹750

Local Language Test Rules Explained

The Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT) is an important part of the SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026 for candidates who do not meet the language exemption criteria. Candidates should carefully check the language prescribed for their selected State/UT before submitting the application.

Candidates must be proficient in the specified local language of the State/UT selected.
Candidates who studied the required language in Class 10th or 12th and have valid proof may be exempted from the LLPT.
Candidates who cannot provide the required language certificate may have to appear for the LLPT.
The test may assess the candidate’s ability to read, write, speak and understand the prescribed language.
Candidates who fail to qualify the LLPT, wherever applicable, may not be considered for appointment.
Therefore, candidates should verify the local language requirement before choosing a State/UT in the application form.

Documents Required for Application

Candidates must keep the required documents ready at different stages of the SBI Clerk recruitment process. The photograph, signature, thumb impression, and handwritten declaration must be uploaded in the prescribed format.

Document	Specifications
Photograph	Recent colour passport-size photo, 4.5 × 3.5 cm, 200 × 230 pixels, 20–50 KB
Live Photograph	Real-time photo through webcam or mobile, mandatory
Signature	Black ink on white paper, 140 × 60 pixels, 10–20 KB; not in capital letters
Left Thumb Impression	Black/blue ink on white paper, 240 × 240 pixels, 20–50 KB
Handwritten Declaration	English, black ink, prescribed text, 800 × 400 pixels, 50–100 KB

SBI Clerk 2026 Local Language Requirement: Important Details

Candidates applying for the SBI Clerk Special Recruitment Drive 2026 must have proficiency in the local language of the State/UT they select. Candidates who have studied the specified local language in Class 10th or 12th and can produce the relevant marksheet/certificate are generally exempted from appearing in the Local Language Proficiency Test (LLPT).

This is an important eligibility condition that candidates should check before applying.

States/UTs With Multiple Language Options. Some States/UTs provide more than one language option, giving candidates greater flexibility:

Jammu & Kashmir: Urdu/Hindi
Punjab: Punjabi/Hindi
Andhra Pradesh: Telugu/Urdu
Telangana: Telugu/Urdu
Assam: Assamese/Bengali/Bodo
Tripura: Bengali/Kokborok
West Bengal: Bengali/Nepali
Jharkhand: Hindi/Santhali
Bihar: Hindi/Urdu
Chandigarh: Hindi/Punjabi

Important: Candidates should select a State/UT only after checking its prescribed language requirement, as failure to qualify the LLPT, wherever applicable, can affect their appointment.

How Is SBI Clerk Special Drive Different From Regular Recruitment?

The SBI Clerk Special Backlog Drive 2026 is conducted to fill reserved vacancies left vacant from previous recruitment cycles, while regular SBI Clerk recruitment is conducted to fill fresh vacancies.

Aspect	Special Backlog Drive	Regular Recruitment
Purpose	Fill previous backlog vacancies	Fill fresh vacancies
Eligible Categories	Only SC, ST & OBC	UR, EWS, OBC, SC, ST & others as applicable
General Candidates	Cannot apply	Can apply
Vacancies	1,538 backlog posts	Varies each year
Selection	Prelims, Mains & LLPT	Prelims, Mains & LLPT
Salary	Same as regular SBI Clerk	Same